Some people are so inspiring it brings a tear to the eye of all who truly think about the impact that person has had on their lives.

John Parson, or “Mr. P.” as he is affectionately called, is the custodian at Bowmar Elementary School and he is beloved by the facility, staff and student body in a way not many have ever seen.

“No job is ever too big,” Susan Mims, physical education teacher, said.

“Or too small,” sixth grade teacher Carolyn Bradley added.

Mr. P. is known for always having a smile on his face and telling everyone hello and wishing them a good morning.

“It starts my day off, and it makes my day,” Mr. P. said.

He even makes cheerful announcements on the intercom some mornings and makes sure to high-five students in the hall.

“You see so many sour attitudes, and he just lifts you,” Mims said.

Bradley said Mr. P. always has a smile on his face and will bend over backward to help, even when he’s asked to do something not in his job description.

“He’s been a guest speaker in my classroom when we had a lesson on civil rights and segregation in Vicksburg,” Bradley said.

She called him irreplaceable and a great role model for the students.

“My little boy is in first grade and adores him,” Bradley said.

Bradley said when anything goes wrong in the classroom, the students are quick to alert Mr. P because they know he will be there to help.

“Whatever it is he takes care of it, literally anything, light bulb, trash can, a leaky ceiling, the air conditioner doesn’t work, you name it, he comes and he takes care of it,” Bradley said. “He’s pretty special. He has a really good rapport with all the kids here and the teachers.”

Through the Leader in Me Program, last year a sixth grader named Ka’Trent Johnson saw a need to offer assistance to Mr. P with pulling trash cans out in the afternoon and created the job of being a junior janitor. Johnson would help Mr. P take out the trash daily and voluntarily gave up his recess time to do so.

“The part I like about that is that he saw a need where he could help, and that’s where The Leader in Me really is the most effective,” principal Tammy Burris said.

Another condition of the job was that he turn in all his assignments in the classroom first, and sure enough Johnson was more punctual about turning in his work than ever before. He took pride in his job and really looked up to Mr. P as a role model.

“He took such pride in that job, and Mr. Parson would brag on him,” Bradley said. “They just developed a really unique relationship as a mentor, and I really saw that young man grow that year.”

The job has evolved and now Mr. P has a total of 10 junior janitors that rotate daily so that he has three helpers a day.

Mr. P. worked at Anderson Tully for 25 years and has been at Bowmar for 11 years, and he considers it an honor. Some of his responsibilities include keeping the playground clean, assisting in the cafeteria and upkeep and maintenance of the building.

He said working at Bowmar has advanced him personally just by being around the people he works with.

“I have considered retiring, but with this family here, Bowmar, I never will,” Bradley said. “They make me to be who I am.”

He considers Bowmar to be his family, along with his wife, and said they have molded him into who he is today. When he was in the hospital, he said the doctor gave him medicine, but his real medicine was the get-well cards from the students.

“That was the best medicine I had,” he said. “I read all the cards and letters.”

He is proud of his job and the relationships he has formed.  “I’m proud and very happy to be here at Bowmar with the faculty staff that Bowmar has here,” Mr. P. said. “I really love them. I really, really do. From the bottom of my heart.”