Simonia “Cocoa” Young has always been a hard worker, starting her first job at the age of 13.
Now 30, she currently works at and manages Kountry Kitchen in Eupora. Young has a wide variety of responsibilities at the restaurant, such as payroll, ordering, assigning daily functions and cooking when needed.
Born and raised in Bellefontaine, she is the daughter of Paul and Ruby Young. She graduated with honors from Eupora High School in 2010 and from Grantham University in 2017.
She worked with eye insurance for about three years before managing the restaurant. Young said she has enjoyed the experience of getting to meet and know new people. She is happy where she is, but if not in the restaurant business, Young said she’d like to be in the medical field.
“I love to cook,” she said. “My grandmother started teaching me at a very young age. Some people like to ride bikes or go get massages to clear their mind but I love cooking. Watching her made me realize food has a way of bringing people together and making them happy.”
Young also enjoys walking at the lake. She is the newest member of the Eupora Rotary Club, which meets weekly at Kountry Kitchen, and attends Mt. Zion (Dentontown) AME Church in Calhoun County.
Young said her main goal in life to make sure her daughter, Akirea, gets to accomplish any dream she has.
