I walked into the First Federal Bank looking for Jacalene Edwards to conduct her interview.
“She’s not here,” responded a woman behind the counter.
Her name plaque said, Andrea Alvarez. Saddened, I began to believe Edwards stood me up. The woman then smiles and confesses to being Jacalene Edwards.
“ I’m not much on words,” Edwards said.
A woman of few words but quite funny when you talk to her.
Jacalene Edwards, a longtime Littlefield resident, has worked with First Federal Bank for over 35 years. She started working for First Federal on May 30, 1989 and will retire on Dec. 31, 2024. She has worked in mortgage loan servicing for 32 years and as a teller for over three years.
She is married to Dell Edwards and has two children, Kaitlyn and Trace Edwards.
“This has been my only job with banking,” Edwards said.
She graduated from high school and started working. Before working for First Federal, Edwards was a receptionist at Littlefield Clinic, now known as Lamb Healthcare Center.
The bank was downtown when Edwards began working. The bank then moved to its current location on 2313 Phelps Ave in 2011.
Yvonne Maxfield started working before Edwards in 1980.
Maxfield described Edwards as a “great employee.”
“She’s a great friend and I sure am going to miss [her],” Maxfield said.
Following the standard hiring process, Edwards was hired and stuck around because she found the people interesting.
“The people were fun to work with. They had a sense of humor. We could joke around,” Edwards said.
President of First Federal Bank, Dezi Vargas grew up around Edwards.
“I started working with Jacalene in 1995,” Vargas said.
Vargas described his relationship with Edwards as “terrible.”
“No, kidding, like I said I grew up with her kids,” Vargas said.
Growing up around the company allowed Vargas to be around Edwards and her family for many years. This led to a fun dynamic of jokes and laughter between the two.
“I feel like she’s my boss sometimes,” Vargas said.
Her daily life in mortgage loan servicing started at 8:45 a.m. and ended at 4:15 p.m. She then transferred to the front and became a teller from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“Now that I’m fixing to retire, I’m working from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.,” Edwards said.
As her retirement comes near, Edwards looks forward to not having to be anywhere at a certain time and going on trips.
“I think it’s hard to say or put into words how grateful this organization is [for Jacalene],” Vargas said.
He wishes her the best in her retirement.
“I wish her all the luck in the world at retirement,” Maxfield said.