PLAINS — Berince Cullison comes into the room with a grin as wide as the Mississippi River is long, and as genuine as the Mona Lisa. The 75 year-old widow, mother of six, grandmother of 13 and great-grandmother of one, sits down with a “How are you? Where did you come from?”

The conversation takes a while to turn to her story, because Cullison said, “What you see with me is what you get.”

“I am just me,” she said.

Cullison was a medical technician at the local hospital.

“I was there for 37 years,” said Cullison, “and it is ironic how I got there. My neighbor was the hospital adminstrator and she needed some help and asked me to be a nurses’ aide and when I got there, they asked me if I would go to school to train to be a technician.”

“So, my career chose me,” she said.

Born in Webster County, “Preston to be exact,” Cullison enjoys reading, quilting, crocheting, flowers, gardening, and “ I love my computer,” she says.

Her gardening has been more than just a stress reliever, according to Cullison. “I just enjoy it. I thought last year I wasn’t going to do a garden, then I planted grass over everything and then by spring I was ready to have a garden.”

“I like flowers, especially the Knock-Out Roses. They are pretty new and easier to grow,” said Cullison.

“It is a lot of fun to garden, and I love to read.”

According to Cullison though, her church ,First Presbyterian, “is my life. I have been a member there for 42 years. My life is centered around my church family and my family.”

A volunteer with the Community Service organization, Cullison believes strongly in the Golden Rule. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

“I can’t think of any other way to live, that and learning to within your means and don’t try to keep up with the ‘Joneses’. Money is not important. I think people need to learn how to live practical,” she said.

“And I encourage young people to get their education and read more.”

Cullison smiled, “You can go all over the world when you read a book.”

But, according to Cullison, “There is no place like home. I went to Colorado for a wedding recently. I was really impressed with the people and their kindness, and of course, the beauty of the place, but I found myself longing for home.”

Heading out the door, Cullison turned with her infectious grin and said, “Anytime you need a Momma, come on out and see me.”

“I’ll be there.”

And there is no doubt that she will be.