Price retires from DHS after 30 years
Being able to help community members and her coworkers was the greatest reward of Kim Price’s 36-year career in the Neshoba County Department of Human Services.
“Whenever I helped someone with a problem they were having, it was a great feeling. I felt I had accomplished something that day,” Price said. “I’ve worked with so many people and developed many lasting friendships.”
Price retired in May as director of the Neshoba County DHS, and her colleagues said they will miss her guidance and help.
“Kim always wanted to help people, and she volunteered for a ton of projects and just went out of her way to help others,” said Andrea Mitchell, case manager at the Neshoba County DHS, who worked under Price for 10 years. “Getting to know her as a person and knowing her family was by far my favorite part of working for her.”
Price was the youngest employee at the Neshoba County DHS when she started working there in 1985 as an eligibility worker determining people’s eligibility for food stamps and other benefits.
“The people I worked with at the beginning all went on to either retire or were hired elsewhere, but we’re still friends and still get together from time to time,” Price said. “That was a great thing about the job.”
Price was promoted to supervisor over the eligibility workers in February 1993 and became the director of the DHS in Neshoba County in February 2002, the position she held until her retirement in May.
The biggest challenge of being the director, Price said, was trying to please everyone and trying to keep everyone happy.
“Neshoba County has always had a good working staff and office,” Price said. “That’s the biggest challenge, having to work and know you can’t please everyone. I try to be a people pleaser, and I want to make sure everyone is happy.”
Price was born in Jackson but moved to Philadelphia with her family when she was 12. She and her husband, Cecil Price, have two children, Bass and Cicily. They also have a daughter-in-law, Virginia, and son-in-law, Layne.
Price said she does not have any specific retirement plans besides getting ready for the Neshoba County Fair — the Prices have owned a cabin since 1985 — and spending time with her daughter, Cicily, who was recently married.
In her spare time, Price said she loves going to the beach, spending time outdoors and watching sports. She said she hopes to have grandchildren in the future, and she looks forward to planning all sorts of fun things for them to do.
“I’m just enjoying retirement right now,” Price said. “I’ll also have more time to help out at my church, First United Methodist, and do some volunteering.”
Mitchell said she is sad to see Price go.
“She was easy to talk to, she listened, and would stop what she was doing to help us,” Mitchell said. “I’m very happy for her, and I know she’s going to enjoy retirement.”