For Neva Cashion, retirement was merely a change, not a stop.

Cashion, who taught music for 30 years at P.S. Jones Middle School, has continued to teach through Inner Banks Music Academy.

“I knew that after 30 years it was time for me to kind of explore something a little different,” she said. “This is that ‘little different.’ It still, you know, allows me the opportunity to pursue my passion, which is teaching music.”

Cashion opened Inner Banks Music Academy in the fall of 2013 upon her retirement.

While she knew she wanted an active retirement, she did not plan to continue in music at first. She applied for a secretary position at a doctor’s office in Greenville.

“I did a little bit of soul searching and I was like, you know, I really don’t want to do this,” Cashion said. “I still love teaching.”

Her epiphany spurred the founding of Inner Banks Music Academy.

Kylee Clancy, who had Cashion as a teacher in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades, says she is not at all surprised that Cashion continued to instruct music even after retirement.

“Not only was she a good teacher, but she loved to teach,” Clancy said. “I couldn’t see her doing anything else.”

Cashion said she is happy with the way things have worked out.

While she misses certain aspects of being a teacher, she said Inner Banks Music Academy offers everything she loved about teaching without the parts she disliked. She enjoys being able to choose what to teach and having eager students without having to worry about lesson plans, testing and turning in grades, she said.

Her passion for her work is reflected in praise from her students.

Mary Grace Wilder, who has been taking voice lessons with Cashion for three years, said she views Cashion as a mentor as much as a singing instructor.

“Mrs. Cashion is not only a great music teacher, but a great person,” Wilder said.

While Inner Banks Music Academy is successful today, Cashion was initially worried there wouldn’t be enough interest to sustain her business.

However, once she spread the word about Inner Banks Music Academy, “business started booming,” she said. “It’s gone really, really well. I’m feeling very thankful, very blessed.”