SELF PORTRAIT

Sharon Heflin

DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH: Nov. 29, 1946, in Little Rock.

HOW BIRD AND BEAR GOT ITS NAME: Jay, as a young boy, was nicknamed Jay Bird. Marc, who is younger, loved Winnie the Pooh, and his nickname was Marckie Pooh Bear. When Marc was 5 years old and playing teeny league baseball (with Johnny as one of his coaches) I, the supportive mother, yelled “Hit the ball, Pooh!” to Marc as he was walking to home plate to bat. When we returned home after the game, Johnny — in no uncertain terms — asked me to never call Marc “Pooh” again in public. Therefore, he became Marc Bear. When the boys were grown and actually out of college, Johnny and the boys were beginning a new company, which Johnny named Bird and Bear after the boys, his partners.

MY ONE GUILTY PLEASURE is chocolate.

WORKING WITH MY SONS is my dream job. I get to see them more than I probably would otherwise. We even go to lunch together some days. I don’t think they would “fire” me, although I’m not actually really sure of that fact. They don’t complain when I come in late and need to leave early. I can’t think of two better people to work for than Jay and Marc.

THE BEST ADVICE MY PARENTS GAVE ME: My daddy was always preaching to me to never give up on something I start. That has stuck with me all my life.

ADVICE I’D PASS ALONG TO YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT VOLUNTEERING: Volunteering gives more back to you than you can ever give away. We are made to help our fellow man, and there is nothing that makes you feel better than that.

ONE THING I WISH PEOPLE WOULD STOP GETTING WRONG ABOUT ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE is it’s not just a sign of old age.

ONE WORD TO SUM ME UP: Understanding.