Jackson Free Press logo

This story originally appeared in the Jackson Free Press. It was added to the Mississippi Free Press website in 2025.
Note that any opinions expressed in legacy Jackson Free Press stories do not reflect a position of the Mississippi Free Press or necessarily of its staff and board members.

The following is a brief message from Crunchie Burga World’s Employee of the month: “I’m Miss Wanda, your senior greeter. I’ve been working at Crunchie Burga World here almost two years. I work to supplement my fixed retirement income. My granddaughter, Lucretia, the morning-afternoon shift manager, said she needed a greeter during the breakfast-lunch rush. So, she hired me. With warmth and enthusiasm, I greet each incoming customer daily with the phrase: ‘WELCOME TO CRUNCHIE BURGA WORLD!’

“As a senior now forced to come out of retirement, I wonder what has happened to society. Sometimes I’m concerned if my fake smile shows any sincerity when I greet people at the door. I looked forward to relaxing in a rocking chair, planting a garden and playing with my great-grandchildren. My dream has been deferred.

“Today, I work the 7-to-3 shift at a fast-food joint with my granddaughter. Therefore, I believe as G.W. makes the world go ’round, life for future seniors will be more ironic than mine.

“With all that said, enjoy our Crunchie Burga specials such as the Crispy Crunchie Supreme Breakfast Sausage Sandwich, Bigg-N-Crunchie Burga, Double Fat Meat Crunchie Combo with Crispy Crunchie Fries and 32-ounce Slurp-It-Real-Good fountain drink. And remember our Atkins and South Beach Diet-friendly Real-N-Crunchie Blackened Chicken and Toasted Crunchie Crouton salad smothered with low-carb ranch dressing.

“This has been your senior greeter, Miss Wanda, saying make your world a Crunchie Burga World!”

Ken Stiggers is a television producer in Jackson and the co-host of The Lyric Lounge Thursdays at Santiago’s on South Street. Join the JFP this Thursday, May 12, there as we help Ken celebrate his birthday.

MFP Solutions Lab logo

The Mississippi Free Press produced this story through the MFP Solutions Lab, supported by the Solutions Journalism Network. This series digs into Mississippi’s systemic issues and sheds light on responses to them in other communities. Beyond just reporting on problems, these stories interrogate their causes and inspect potential solutions.