By SANDRA THAMES / Community Columnist

You will not see Beth Eddings in the “front office” at Thompson High School as she is in an office which is set aside for tardies and early checkouts and is behind the main office on the 100 hall.

She personally “checks in” each child, noting the reason for the tardy.

If a student has a doctor or dental appointment, family business, is sick or the parents show up to pick up their child, Eddings does the appropriate paperwork for that check-out.

In 2003 Eddings began substituting at Thompson High School, and in 2009 the Attendance Clerk position came open. Eddings got the job.

Recently, Eddings was selected as the Thompson High School Support Person of the Year.

She is an important part of the school’s office staff.

Before Thompson High School, Eddings worked at Southtrust Bank and in the Placement Department at Samford University.

A real family woman, Eddings’ family consists of husband Buddy (she met him through her late brother Jimmy), daughter Jeannie Eddings Burnette, age 26, son-in-law Chace Burnette and son Zachary, age 22.

Zachary is now a Marine reservist after having completed his active duty.

“We have been to Washington, D.C. to the Marine Barracks at 8th and I (oldest barracks in the United States),” Eddings said. “Along with our trip to Arlington National Cemetery, this is a vacation I will never forget.”

First Baptist Church in Alabaster is their home church, and Eddings recently joined a crochet class there.

Definitely a “mountain lover,” Eddings says, “The Smokey Mountains are definitely my favorite vacation spot, and Cades Cove with its pioneer atmosphere is a favorite destination when we get to the area. I do love the beach, but the mountains just can’t be beat in my book.”

Everyone has a dream trip and Eddings has an unusual dream trip. She wants to go to Los Angeles, Calif., and try to appear on a game show.

“I love ‘Let’s Make A Deal’ and really several different shows would appeal to me,” she said. “Oh well, it’s just a dream, right?”