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18 SOUTHERN SENIOR MAGAZINE | Fall 2021 Juanita Gex makes no beans about it; this wonder- ful lady loves history (especially genealogy), she loves helping others, and she has a unique array of activities that allow her to display those passions. She also believes in guardian angels as you will see as she recalls her early years. Around Christmas of her senior year of high school, Juanita’s father, Printie Loveless, was injured in an accident at his job as a farm manager in the Cata- houla Community in June. Due to his diagnosis, Mr. Loveless was no longer able to work, which in turn would keep her from being able to go to college as she had hoped. At this point, the first action from her guardian angel occurred. “Gladys Haas, who was my teacher in high school at Kiln, came by our house in June after graduation to tell me she had a taken a new job in Bay St Louis working as the director at the Hancock County Wel- fare Department. She said she needed a secretary, so I moved to Bay St Louis and went to work for her.” Juanita was very good in typing, loved shorthand, and it was a near perfect fit. “Mrs. Haas practically saved my life when she gave me that job,” Juanita stated. So where did the interest of history begin? She says it came from her husband. So how did she meet her husband? Her guardian angel was looking out for her again, according to Juanita. Juanita Gex History and more... By: Carey Meitzler