VIDALIA, La. &045; Almost two decades, Eva King has worked her way up the food chain at the local chicken franchise.

The climb from crew member to breakfast manager to general manager hasn’t always been easy, but she’s more thankful than tired.

Working her shift Sunday afternoon as general manager at Popeye’s on Carter Street, where The Dart landed Sunday, she said the job has been good to her and her family.

It was 19 years ago when Eva King, then a single mother, moved back to her native Concordia Parish from Houston. When the job at Popeye’s became available, &uot;I needed the money &045; and it was better than going on welfare.&uot;

She never thought back then she would stay with Popeye’s almost 20 years, and over the years she’s toyed with the idea of taking other jobs. &uot;But I would have had to start from the bottom, and I couldn’t afford the cut in pay,&uot; she said.

And over the years, the Popeye’s job has been a key to a good life for her and her family.

Two of her daughters are also building their own lives with jobs at Popeye’s. Her eldest, 33-year-old Juanita King, works as breakfast manager at the Vidalia location.

&uot;She started as a prep cook,&uot; Eva King said. &uot;She knows customers and knows their orders before they even say anything.&uot;

Youngest daughter Tiffany Harden &045; 21 and married, with a child of her own &045; also works at the Vidalia location.

Both Harden and middle daughter Bernice King, a 26-year-old licensed practical nurse, are studying at Copiah-Lincoln Community College to become registered nurses.

&uot;I’ve sent three kids through school, and I’m buying my house, not renting,&uot; she said. &uot;It’s been good.&uot;