Coming of Age
Radiating positive energy and approachability, Cassaundra Inge Burks is happy to talk about aging because for her, it’s been an opportunity for positive change. From her prestigious position as Vice President and Private Banker with Renasant Bank to her love for her family and the countless ways she serves her community, Cassaundra is determined to pay her well-earned success forward by mentoring the next generation.
By Amber Wielkens Photos Stevye Photography, StevyePhotography. com Hair
Felisha Allen, Identity Salon, 251.478.2409 Makeup Courtney Matthews Makeup Artistry, Cocokat1978 @gmail.com
Upon meeting Cassaundra, it’s immediately clear she’s no shrinking violet. Instead, we have before us a woman unafraid to share her opinion, self-confident, and genuinely open to tackling any subject. With a Southern twang and a smile, she readily speaks on her childhood, her parents’ influence, her road to success, and her treasured family. Married to William Burks III for 27 years, they have four children and one new grandchild, whom she calls “sweet baby boy Mekai.” Most importantly, she shares her thoughts on aging and what forced her to remember to put herself first after a lifetime of caring for others.
On her unique name, Cassaundra says, “My name is a blend of Cassie and Saundra, my grandmother and mother, a good ol’ Southern tradition of which I am extremely proud.” Shortly after she was born in Mobile, her family moved to Mississippi and five years later, Cassaundra became a self-proclaimed “Tallahassee Lassie” when they relocated to Florida, where her dad, “a bright and eager compounding pharmacist,” joined the faculty of the Florida A&M University School of Pharmacy and her mother continued her career as an elementary school music teacher.
Gratitude for her parents is baked into her personality. “I’m a proud alumnus of Florida A&M University (FAMU) just like my dad and siblings. Dad, along with other like-minded professionals, filled the void of accessible continuing education opportunities for Black pharmaceutical professionals,” she states. “He started the Pharmaceutical Symposium at FAMU over 45 years ago. Because of his impact, it’s been officially renamed The Leonard Lebaron Inge Sr. Clinical Pharmacy Symposium,” she smiles. While her father instilled in her a passion for science and social justice, her mom was equally influential. “My mother, an accomplished musician and vocalist, exposed me to art and culture— she could see the beauty in everything and everyone. Everything she touched became a little bit better.”
After graduation, Cassaundra got busy. Recruited by Parke-Davis Pharmaceuticals to work as medical sales representative, she quickly proved herself and after five successful years, she was relocated to the Flora-Bama Gulf Coast. “Wonderfully chaotic” is her colorful description of the following years, “A few twists, turns, corporate acquisitions, Big Pharma lay-offs, and management changes kept me spinning. I married William, started a family, and threw myself headfirst into volunteering with many agencies and a new career in banking,” she says, adding, “I’ve spent the past 15 years serving the financial needs of corporate clients, institutions, and individuals throughout Florida and South Alabama.”
It’s easy to understand her no-nonsense approach to aging when Cassaundra illustrates what’s important to her. “Throughout my life, I’ve been told ‘You haven’t changed at all!’ Well, we know I have—it’s impossible to not have physically changed,” she chuckles. “I believe they’re talking about feeling comfort and familiarity when we’re together. I like to think I make people feel seen.” Her take on life’s speedbumps? “When I encounter difficult situations or people, I remind myself I’m not inviting that issue or those people into my home for Christmas dinner—I just need to work through the situation. It instantly calms me and I get through it with a smile on my face.” We’re definitely using that one. Cassaundra’s plainspoken manner adds weight to her words regarding how she lives her life and gives us a wake-up call to privilege. “Just like most women of color in the South, I’ve experienced my unfair share of racism and sexism. It’s an exhausting generational burden that shouldn’t be. Every day, I work hard to represent my family and my culture to the best of my ability. I welcome the opportunity to share historical and personal facts about Black culture with any and every person willing to listen. This is the precise reason I choose to be my authentic self, always!” How many of us think about how our actions might reflect on everyone with our skin color?
At this point, Cassaundra shares the moment everything changed for her. “I was a clichéd Southern woman doing for everyone but myself: dressing kids, cooking meals, working full time, and volunteering often. Add in trying to care for my aging and ill father in another state, and there came a time where I literally couldn’t see while driving—I was terrified.” While receiving medical care, she was strongly advised to change her lifestyle, advice she immediately took to heart. “It was a divine intervention. Months earlier, I’d started hinting I wanted a rowing machine for my 50th birthday. As fate would have it, while driving to get a handful of prescriptions filled, I saw a group of people unloading rowing machines out of a moving truck,” she grins.
“A quick U-turn away from the pharmacy and into the parking lot of Mission Fitness changed everything for me. My now-dear friend and Mission Fitness owner Alison Jones was setting up her new gym when ‘Hurricane Cassaundra’ powered through her front door and I said, ‘You have rowing machines. Help me.’” Before officially opening for business, Alison began working her magic on Cassaundra, who still considers Mission Fitness her happy place. “Needless to say, I never needed to fill those prescriptions. I changed my mindset, my diet, my fitness routine—I made my personal well-being a priority.” She calls her new, healthier self ‘Cassaundra 2.0.’ Who among us doesn’t want to follow her lead in becoming better versions of ourselves?
Among her too-many-to-list contributions to our community, Cassaundra is passionate about mentoring. “I tell young women they can’t be me at 23, that they need to find their tribe, people that impress them, and spend time with them or time with me,” she says. “I always ask how I can help. There are so many awesome and diverse girls and women I’ve been blessed to work with professionally and personally. I love ‘em all! They keep me young and I’m honored to be of service.” When it comes to aging, no topic is off limits. Menopause? “I’m happy to chat about it and always willing to overshare when asked. I’ve had surgeries, taken medication, received injections, meditated, prayed, and experienced hair loss. I’ve cried about acne breakouts, sleepless nights, ‘personal summers,’ and anything else you can name,” she claims.
Going gray? “I have zero interest in coloring my hair, despite people mentioning it to me,” she says before emphasizing, “But make no mistake, this girl reserves the right to do whatever she wishes with her appearance,” voicing the feelings of women everywhere who are constantly offered “help” with their looks. Speaking of appearances, Cassaundra adds, “I have a side hustle as a model, M.C., and actor, and I was once asked to wear a natural hair color instead of my ‘usual gray wig.’ I told the casting agent that my hair was my natural hair color and was my own, not a wig.”
Asked what she loves about growing older, Cassaundra waxes eloquent, telling us, “I know exactly who I am and have very close ‘friendships’ with my flaws and imperfections. I absolutely adore the cast of characters in my life and I know for a fact that I don’t know what I don’t know and I’m okay with that.” While we ponder her wise words, she wittily adds, “My favorite movie quote is from Steel Magnolia’s Clairee (the late, great Olympia Dukakis), who claimed, ‘The only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorize!’ I’m very comfortable in my fifties. This age feels like a favorite item of clothing I get to accessorize any way I want—and every style option is amazing!”
Neon Dress: Dress, $550, Earrings, $78; The Holiday
Black top: Top, $49, Pants, $89; Dillard’s, 251.471.1551. Necklace, $98; Debra’s, 251.343.7463. Bangles, $85-$245, Earrings, $55; The Holiday, 251.432.4911.
Purple Jumpsuit: Jumpsuit, $179, Blazer, $179; Dillard’s, 251.471.1551. Necklace, $100; The Holiday, 251.432.4911. Heels, Call For Price; Debra’s, 251.343.7463. Belt, $154; Rise, 251.341.7096. Sunglasses, Call For Price; JJ Eyes Optical Boutique, 251.929.0015.
