Tanya Brownlee has a way with people and numbers.
Brownlee, 39, a native of Milwaukee, has worked as secretary for the Leflore County Unit System for the past three years. Prior to that, she was a full-time field representative for the U.S. Census Bureau for 10 years.
Asked how she liked her county job, Brownlee replied, “I love it. I like the hours, 7 to 4. It’s right close to home. I don’t have to do a lot of traveling, and I love working with the people.”
In her job with the Census Bureau, Brownlee enumerated residents in Leflore and Carroll counties. The job, she said, did not involve a lot of knocking on doors at random.
“I drove most of the time, so I didn’t go door-to-door. I went to certain addresses,” Brownlee said.
Although her hours varied, it still was a full-time job, she said.
It also provided another useful tool for Brownlee’s career. “It taught me how to deal with people. It prepared me for this job,” she said.
The Sidon resident was looking to make a career change when the Leflore County job almost fell into her lap.
One day she went to apply for a part-time position in Sidon’s Water Department. “I went in to leave my resumé. I was looking for something where I didn’t have to travel so much. My kids were getting older,” she said.
There she met Jerry Smith, the county unit system manager, who is now Brownlee’s boss. Smith also serves on the Sidon Board of Aldermen. He happened to be in Sidon’s City Hall when Brownlee came in with resumé in hand.
“It seemed like he looked up and took it out of my hand and told me he thought a position for a secretary would be coming open, and he asked me if I was interested,” Brownlee said.
She worked part time in the position for a year before becoming the system’s full-time secretary.
In June, the unit system moved from its old offices on Mississippi 7 to new digs in the Greenwood-Leflore Industrial Park. The change has been a welcome one, Brownlee said.
The offices house Smith, Brownlee, the unit system’s assistant manager and two of the five road managers.
The job itself is rewarding. “They have great state benefits. The health side of it can’t be beat,” she said.
Brownlee, who is separated, has five children: Devin, 24; Jarvis, 19; Ataysia, 15; Natalya, 13; and Anthony II, 12.
Her mother, Florie Gomilla, lives in Itta Bena. Her father, Mark Gomilla, is deceased.
Brownlee attends Empowerment Deliverance Temple.
In her spare time, she sells Mary Kay cosmetics.
The cosmetics business comes naturally to her. “When you meet somebody, just talk to them,” she said.
Brownlee moved with her family to Leflore County when she was in the fifth grade. She graduated from Leflore County High School in 1995 and attended Mississippi Valley State University for three years, majoring in mathematics.
She said Leflore County has got Milwaukee beat hands down.
“I love the small hometown environment. Everybody knows everybody, and you never meet a stranger,” she said.
• Contact Bob Darden at 581-7239 or bdarden@gwcommonwealth.com.
