For soon-to-retire employee Willie Mae Wilson, custodial
work for the Broward County School District has indeed been
a family affair. Her mother, Willie N. Wilson, started the
trend by serving as a custodian at Bennett Elementary School
in Fort Lauderdale for eight years. Willie Mae followed suit
by joining the school’s staff 33 years ago as a substitute
in the kitchen and then working her way into full-time custodial
work soon thereafter. These days, Willie Mae shares the hallways
with even more family members: her two grandchildren who
attend school at Bennett. “I love children,” said
Willie Mae, “and sometimes I wish I wasn’t retiring
so soon because I’m sure going to miss having them
around after all these years.”
Rumor has it Willie Mae won’t be the only person at
Bennett with regrets about her retirement this June. It seems
the entire student body and her co-workers are sad to see
her go, as well. Anji Scarbrough, the school’s Front
Desk Receptionist, has known Willie Mae for years. “My
son, who’s 22 now, went to Kindergarten here,” she
said. “He used to call her ‘Miss Keys’ because
of all the keys she carried. Willie Mae is a very loving
person who goes above and beyond in her responsibilities.
It’s amazing how many comments we get in the front
office about how great our 51-year-old school looks. Whoever
takes her place will have some mighty big shoes to fit into.”
The school planned a whole week of celebration to mark Willie
Mae’s retirement. Activities they planned included
student performances, dancing around the “Mae” pole,
high school band concerts, assemblies and poetry recitations.
They even organized “Almond Joy Day” in honor
of Willie Mae’s favorite candy bar, decorating the
school with wrappers and making an Almond Joy-filled gift
basket for Willie Mae to take home. All of these festivities
culminated in a retirement dinner held in her honor on May
6th.
“
Willie Mae’s nickname around here is ‘The Goddess.’ For
33 years she has bent over backwards for anyone who asked
and even works extra shifts at other schools whenever she’s
needed. There’s no telling where she gets all that
energy from,” says Ms. Scarbrough. Willie Mae plans
to continue her energetic activities, too. “I plan
on donating my time in a nursing home helping others who
can’t do for themselves,” she says.
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