Life is full of challenges, and for most of us, it is hard to face our battles and keep on going. Louise Hancock has faced multiple hardships throughout her time on Earth. She is the epitome of strength and resilience and has shown the world that no matter what challenges are thrown at us, God can get us through it all.
Ms. Louise grew up in Graniteville, South Carolina and was the oldest of six children. In her early years, she contracted the Polio virus, resulting in losing her ability to walk. She stated that she would go play in the dirt by herself, and while outside she would see a van that would transport her neighbors to the nearby church.
“One Sunday morning, I was sitting outside and the driver of the van came up to me and asked if I would like to go to church. I told him that I could not go because I could not walk. He then offered to carry me. For the first time in my life, I heard of a man called Jesus.” stated Miss Louise.
Sometime later, she and her mother travelled to Warm Springs, Georgia to visit the rehabilitation facility there. After hearing news that she would never walk again, she began to give up and struggle in her faith. After a single prayer, her faith became stronger than ever, though.
“I began to pray, and I felt something in my heart tell me, ‘I will not hurt you; I will not forsake you’. As I was looking into the stars praying, I decided I wanted to be with those stars one day,” she stated.
Years later, she met her husband whom she spent 55 years and raised two sons with. As they made their move to Swainsboro, Ms. Louise was hired at Walmart as a door greeter where she worked for almost 30 years.
In Fall of 2025, according to Ms. Louise, she was let go from her job at Walmart. At this time, she felt like she had nowhere to go, until she went grocery shopping at the newly opened Piggly Wiggly. As she approached owner Del Brown, she told him about the loss of her job, and asked if she could get a job in the new store. Brown immediately hired her, and she now greets shoppers at the Piggly Wiggly.
Ms. Louise has a great support system behind her. She is most thankful for her son, Grady, and her granddaughter, Michael. Both individuals play a hug role in her day-to-day life, with Grady living in the same neighborhood as her. She expressed that he is the reason she keeps going every day and does not know what she would do without him or Michael.
Although she will celebrate her 92nd birthday in November, she plans to continue working for as long as possible and encourages all to stop by Piggly Wiggly and talk to her!
