Featured Operator: ADA HONEYCUTT
 “I thought I might try driving a church bus or something, but working for JeT kind of happened by accident.”

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Sometimes we choose our jobs and sometimes they seem to choose us.  For Ada Honeycutt, fifteen-year veteran bus operator for Jefferson Transit, the latter would appear more accurate.  Although her work history has varied with five years at Avondale as an insulation installer and time spent as an insurance representative at Charity Hospital, becoming a bus operator was not in her plans. When approached with the opportunity to drive for JeT, Honeycutt was looking for a part-time job.  “I thought I might try driving a church bus or something, but working for JeT kind of happened by accident.”  Fortunately for Jefferson Transit and its riders, a career that began “by accident” evolved into a decade and a half of excellent service and close relationships.

When asked what she thought made a good bus operator, she said “it’s the ability to control situations respectfully.”  Tenacious, good-hearted, easy-going, resourceful, and truly a people-person, Honeycutt embodies all the traits necessary to excel at nearly any job, but particularly as a bus operator.  As of December 18th, however, Honeycutt has retired; trading in her seat at the helm of a JeT bus for one she has lovingly reupholstered for her Avondale home or for one on a sunny dock with fishing pole in hand. 

Although saying goodbye to what she considers to be her extended family, her co-workers at JeT and her riders, is very difficult for Honeycutt, she will have even more time for her large family of six children and more than fifteen grandchildren all of whom live near her on the Westbank.  Most important to Honeycutt, is that her riders know that her retirement was unplanned. Chronic neck pain resulted in her doctor’s recommendation that she resign. “If I had known, I would have shared the news, but I want my riders to know that I’ll miss them very much.” 

Read about some of our other wonderful JeT bus operators.