Occasionally, you meet someone who needs no introduction because they will let you know who they are. When I walked into the conference room, I saw this attractive woman who greeted me with a smile. Within seconds, I knew who she was. She is my school principal’s mother. Within the first few minutes, I realized Mrs. Sample was hilarious.
So, my meeting with Mrs. Sample occurred at a Spa Bag Showcase. This had become her new venture after retirement. What started as a hobby, making gift bags for friends and family has now turned into an exciting business. These Spa Bags, meticulously crafted by Mrs. Sample, are designed to provide a luxurious spa experience at home. They contain various high-quality spa products, carefully selected to pamper, and rejuvenate the body and mind.
I love these fabulous Spa Bags because they can be the perfect gift for any female of any age. They fit well into my idea of a gift, which is multiple items in a pretty bag, and I am known for doing that for close friends. Now, I no longer must find all the specialty items. I can put in an order for the size I want with Mrs. Sample. Every person I have given one to has enjoyed them.
If you went to one of Mrs. Sample’s Spa Bag Showcases, you would enjoy finding the surprises in the bag you purchased for yourself or someone else. These surprises could be anything from soothing bath salts to fragrant candles, all carefully chosen to enhance the spa experience. I am the ultimate spa girl, and my upstairs bathroom, Shangri-La, is the Mecca of spa for me.
One day, I thought, “Here is a woman who retired and created a new job for herself.” So, after asking my principal if she thought her mother would be willing to do an article, Dr. Greene told me to call her. So, I called Mrs. Sample and asked her about her story. After hearing her life story, I knew others might be inspired to come out of retirement to create their dream job. Why not? Retirement does not mean becoming stagnant or bored.
Here is Mrs. Marcenia Sample’s story –
I am Marcenia Maria Noel Sample, born August 22, 1952, in Memphis, Tennessee. It took an aunt three days to name me, so my birth certificate only says, “Baby Girl.” My mother, a powerful, loving lady, raised four of us alone. She is no longer with us but instilled significant values I have used throughout my life. She taught me to love and serve God, to be honest and kind, and always to help others. Mom loved her children, and even though she had little money, she always met and exceeded our needs. Christmas and birthdays were always fun occasions. Despite the challenges, I persevered and learned the value of resilience.
My personal life is just as fulfilling. I am married to a fabulous man, Danny Sample, from Memphis. I met Danny at Eastern Star Missionary Baptist Church in Memphis, TN, where he was the Minister of Music. I admit now that I joined the choir to get to know him. This was one of the best decisions I ever made. He is kind, honest, loyal, handsome, and just my best friend. Danny is a wonderful father, and being married has made me a better person. We share a love for music and often perform together, adding another layer of joy to our relationship.
We have two daughters: Dr. Ursula Sample Greene and Jodi Sample. I have instilled in my daughters the same values my mother instilled in me: honesty, compassion, loyalty, and kindness. These values will serve anyone well in life. I also always wanted them to get a good education and a job they loved, possess integrity, and know they could be anything they wanted. Even though I adore children, I have not been blessed with grandchildren of my own (yet), so I spoil everyone else’s.
As a little girl, I wanted to be a recording artist. I don’t remember how I discovered my talent for singing, but I do remember sponsoring a talent show when I was in the sixth grade. Since it was my show, I decided to sing, and the rest is history. I have been singing for as long as I can remember. My husband and I have been performing music together for over thirty-five years. However, our plans don’t always work as we hoped they would. After retirement, I continued as lead singer with the Danny Sample Trio featuring “Marcenia.”
I have an A.S. in Information Systems from Chattanooga State and a B.S. in Computer Science from UTC. My career as a Programmer/Analyst lasted over twenty years. I have a gift for numbers and a fascination with computers, and with nudging from my husband, I decided upon a career in Programming. I married a Mechanical Engineer who thought his entertaining wife could program computers. I have been retired since December 2010. Even though I retired from Programming, I continued performing for quite some time. I love to perform, but my life has taken a different path since I had three knee operations.
I am now the proud owner of M&D Custom Spa Bags. I’m not even sure how this came about. I was initially making bags as gifts for friends. Before I knew it, this hobby had emerged as a new career, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I am committed to giving ladies and young women a sensational spa experience without leaving home and without that hefty spa price. I love people and continue striving to be a better person, wife, mother, and entrepreneur. You ask, “What do your co-workers not know about you?” Frankly, most people do not know I graduated high school at fifteen. I could not attend Memphis State University unless I were 16. My birthday was in August, and the semester started in September, thank goodness. I spent several years there. I worked in my family-owned barbeque business, was employed by South Central Bell, and even joined the Army Reserves. My new career brings me immense joy and fulfillment.
I do not know where God is taking me in the future; however, as one can see, my life is constantly evolving, and I cannot wait to see what the next chapter brings.
This is the part of the article where I find someone to provide words about the subject. Fortunately, Mrs. Sample’s daughter, Dr. Sample Greene, is also the Principal at the Elementary school where I work.
Dr. Ursula Sample Greene –
I am honored to have the opportunity to talk a little about my Mom. Anyone who knows her knows she is generous, kind-hearted, and hilarious. My Mother will give the shoes off her feet if she feels like blessing someone. Because of my mom, I understand what unconditional love is. Our family is not perfect, but despite our flaws, she loves hard and expects very little in return. She is also very protective, so beware (smile). At times, she talks of her childhood and growing up poor. This is one reason she goes over and beyond to ensure her family has everything we need.
One of my proudest moments with my mom was the night we graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga together. One not-so-fond memory was when she made my siblings, and I wear our skates to the movies because we did not return home on time to get changed.
I am proud to call the Queen, Mrs. Marcenia Noel Sample, my mom.
What I will take away from Mrs. Sample’s story is that just because you have come to the retirement stage of life in your job, it does not mean you have come to the retirement stage of life. Marcenia Sample is the perfect example of that. Mrs. Sample, you make me very proud to be a senior.
If you can think about it and want to do it, get to it.
I guess nothing is left to say except thank you, Mrs. Sample and Dr. Sample Greene.
