Housekeeper ends 41 years of service to Keesler Published Jan. 28, 2009 81st Training Wing Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, MISS. -- Annette Jackson retires Friday after more than 41 years of service with the Inns of Keesler. Ms. Jackson, who recently celebrated her 70th birthday, was raised on a farm where she began helping to cook for the farmhands when she was only 5 years old. She developed a strong work ethic and still enjoys cooking, developing a reputation among her coworkers for her potato salad and lemon meringue pie. She performed private-custodial work before joining the Inns of Keesler in 1967 with starting pay of $1.25 an hour. At that time, guests were housed in barracks that were located in the area occupied by the former officers club that closed after Hurricane Katrina. Each barracks had 13 rooms and each housekeeper had two barracks to clean. Ms. Jackson was later assigned on the transient floor at Muse Manor, an area that frequently saw 23 checkouts a day. Her speed and work ethic ability to work quickly paid off as she was the only housekeeper who could consistently finish all of her rooms by herself. After working to maintain the rooms occupied by NCO Academy students at Muse Manor, Ms. Jackson became responsible for Muse Manor's distinguished visitors suites, a position she volunteered for even though it's more demanding and exacting than caring for standard rooms. "Ms. Jackson personified the Air Force core values of 'Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence In All We Do' during her entire career with the Inns of Keesler," said housekeeping manager Karen Ray. "She's consistently set an example of professionalism, dedication, and loyalty. In her 41 years of employment at Keesler, she's never been late for work or received any type of disciplinary action." Over the years, Ms. Jackson has received frequent cash awards, sustained superior performance awards and recognition from both supervisors and guests. "One of her favorite stories about her customers is about a man who lost his wedding ring," Ms. Ray commented. "He searched all over the base trying to find it, and Ms. Jackson found it stuck behind the bed. The happy and grateful guest told Ms. Jackson that she had not only saved him $3,500, but she had saved him his wife, too!" According to Ms. Jackson, the biggest change she's seen during her years at Keesler has been the new buildings on base. Of the almost 20 buildings that currently belong to the Inns of Keesler, the only one still in existence that was here when Ms. Jackson started is Tyer House. Ms. Jackson said she's remained at the Inns of Keesler because "the work is good and I like to work." She said she'd miss working in the DV suites because she enjoys keeping them looking nice. When asked if she has any advice for newer employees, Ms. Jackson remarked, "Stay away from the gossip and just focus on the job. If you do your job right, you'll always be busy and you'll never be bored." Ms. Jackson lives in Ocean Springs and has four children, 16 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.