We are Mike & Joyce Hendrix. We reside in Pensacola, Florida.
Pensacola has been our home for nearly
40-years. We are active members of First Baptist Church of Pensacola (when we
are in town). Mike Retired from a Civil Service job at the local Naval Air Station
in March of 2001. The majority of our travelogues cover trips that we have made
since that time.
We have one Son, Jeffrey, a Daughter-in-law Kathryn,
two Grandsons, Stephen age 7 and Bennett age 4 and a Granddaughter Carolyn age
1. They live a few blocks from us in Pensacola.
We travel in a 35',
2000 Winnebago, Adventurer with two slides and pull a 2007 gray Saturn Ion-3.
Mike:
I
am retired from Federal Civil Service where I spent the majority of my career
in financial management, chiefly with the Naval Aviation Depot in Pensacola, Florida.
Panama City, Florida was my childhood home. Growing up I spent my teenage years
on fishing boats (charter and head-boats). I spent 4 years in the Navy as an aviation
electronics technician (AT) servicing S-2 and EC-121 aircraft principally at Glynco
Naval Air Station in Brunswick, Georgia. Glynco Naval Air Station was closed in
the early 70s and is now home to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.
It was during my tour of duty in Brunswick that I met and married Joyce.
While in the Navy, in Brunswick, I attended Brunswick Junior College. Upon my
discharge we moved to Valdosta, Georgia and Valdosta State College, where I completed
my degree in Accounting.
After a short stint in the accounting department
of a large South Georgia mobile home manufacturer we moved to Pensacola and began
my career with Federal Civil Service at the Naval Air Rework Facility, later the
name was changed to Naval Aviation Depot.
Five years before I could
retire, the Department of Defense closed the Depot in Pensacola throwing nearly
4,000 of us into a job-hunting frenzy. I ended up spending my last 5 years of
Civil Service with the Chief of Naval Education and Training also located in Pensacola.
Joyce
and I supplemented my Civil Service income by dabbling in real estate. Over a
period of years we purchased, renovated, rented and maintained residential rental
properties. We grew this business until we had a total of 45 rental units.
Living
in Pensacola we always had a boat. Fishing and shelling was an important part
of our family's recreational activity.
Although I am putting together this
web page I am a novice in every sense of the word. If you find errors, or if you
have suggestions for improvements, by all means let me know.
Joyce:
After
graduation from high school I was employed by the Glynn Brunswick Memorial Hospital
in Brunswick Georgia.
I met and married my wonderful husband of 41
years in 1969 in my hometown of Brunswick, Georgia while he was stationed at Glynco
Naval Air Station.
In 1970 Mike and I moved to Valdosta, Georgia where
he received his degree in accounting and I received my degree PHTC (pushing hubby
through college) by working as a cashier in the business department at Pineglen
Hospital
In 1974 Mike and I became parents to our son, Jeffrey. I was
privileged to be a "stay-at-home-Mom" during the years we were raising
our child. It was during these years (l974-1984) that we were acquiring the rental
property. We were all involved in maintaining and managing these 45 properties.
In the process we learned so much as a young family. The business venture took
me out of my comfortable suburban home and into inner city Pensacola.
That
experience led me back to college where I received my BA degree in Social Work
from the University of West Florida. Afterwards, I worked for Children's Home
Society of Pensacola, for two years, as a caseworker, in the Florida Foster Care,
Homeward Bound Program. It was a heart-rending job and I cried buckets of tears
for the children.
In l986 a dear friend and I developed and directed
the Samaritans Hands Ministry of First Baptist Church in Pensacola (designed to
meet the physical and spiritual needs of Pensacola's poor and homeless). I served
as a volunteer with this program for five years while I was working on my degree
in social work.
In 1996 I established Joyce Hendrix Publications and
self published my first book, Bonding With Your Children Through Nature.
I
have been a Mary Kay Beauty Consultant since 1996 and have met many wonderful
women who have blessed my life.
Later, I spent three years as a substitute
teacher in several elementary schools. It was a low paying job, but very rewarding.
When Mike and Joyce are not enjoying their motorhome travels they reside
in Pensacola, Florida where they enjoy the company of their Son Jeffrey, Daughter-in-law
Kathryn and Grandchildren Stephen, Bennett and Carolyn.