I grew up in the south also, in fact I am still here. I also woked in th public for many years. However, my family was big on calling . Sir or Ma'am. To this day I have no problem calling someone Sir or Ma'am, regardless of their age.

Did you have the "Big Table" and the little table growing up? I so badly wanted to sit at the Big table when I was young.. When I was grown that was my chance, however I had a baby, and still had to sit at the big table, lol