FORNEY, Texas — What a memory Connie Claxton has of her first Whataburger.
“I thought it was the best burger I ever ate,” she said. “And I thought, well I could do that.”
Claxton was a young mom trying to balance raising kids and commuting to an office job in downtown Dallas. The flexible hours of the fast-food industry sounded appealing, and the bonus was – she loved the hamburgers.
“I still eat a junior burger every morning,” she said.
Claxton quit her downtown job and went to work for Whataburger of Mesquite, Inc. - the franchise that owns several Whataburger locations in Dallas and Kaufman Counties.
That was 1970, and she never left--until now.
“I just loved the owners. They loved me. And it just became part of my life!” of the Heiman family –who started Whataburger of Mesquite, Inc. decades ago.
Claxton reached 54 years of service with Whataburger in 2024, and she finally decided to retire. Wednesday was her last day, and she spent it behind the counter of the Whataburger in Forney.
“I feel like in my heart it’s time to give it up,” she said. “But I’m going to miss all my good friends – the customers, employees, management.”
Claxton ended her career in Forney, but she worked at multiple locations.
The 18 years she spent at the Terrell Whataburger are the most memorable to Claxton.
“I became the general manager and was there approximately 18 years,” she said. “And I married one of my customers!”
She recalls the love and care she saw when Glenn Claxton would come into her Terrell restaurant with his son, who had special needs.
“He was so kind to him. And I thought, man, what would it be like to be married to him,” Connie Claxton said. “I was in love with him before he ever asked me.”
They were married for 30 years, until Glenn’s death 11 years ago.
Through the ups and downs of life, Claxton’s commitment to Whataburger never waivered, and she said the Heiman family always “graciously” took care of her.
Whataburger of Mesquite, Inc. threw Claxton a party at the restaurant on Tuesday.
She timed her retirement to coincide with their annual awards banquet Wednesday night.
Claxton said she had a hard time sleeping before her final shift.
“But I got up this morning and I thought, you know what – thank you, Jesus, for letting me do it one more day.”
Congratulations, Connie.
What a woman.