Memory of school custodian to be preserved in garden

By DAVE HAMRICK
dhamrick@thecitizennews.com

Friends and coworkers will dedicate a garden today in memory of the “tremendous impact” Shirley Reid had on Fayette County students and faculty over the years.

Reid, a custodian at LaFayette Education Center, passed away April 3. Her 51st birthday would have been April 19.

She had worked in the Fayette County School System since the 1970s, and at Fayette County High School for several years before moving to LaFayette. She was a graduate of the high school before it became Fayette County High, when it was known as the Fayette County Training Center.

“Her passing was a shock to all of us and we miss the warmth of her presence every day,” said Jerry Whitaker, vocational coordinator for Fayette schools.

“Shirley's Garden” will be dedicated at 4 p.m. in the commons area of the LaFayette Center, which is the old Fayette High School building.

According to Gena Turner, Whitaker's secretary, Reid was far more than a custodian to the thousands of students who came in contact with her over the years.

“She was loved and admired by the administrative staff, the faculty as well as the kids,” said Turner. “The kids just loved her and went to her for advice... she was just a very special lady. She made an impact on an awful lot of people.”

Reid worked most of her career at the old Fayette County High School, moving to the new school when it was completed recently. But when there was an opening at the LaFayette Center, which occupies the old building, she took it. “It was like coming home for her,” said Turner.

She was known for working with children with special needs when they came to the center for certain programs, said Turner, and was especially liked by those special children. “She just went out of her way to be extremely kind and courteous to everyone.”

She also became well known at the monthly administrative breakfasts that follow Board of Education meetings, cooking for the department heads.

School workers and students alike would have liked to participate in Reid's funeral, but her death occurred during spring break, said Turner. “We wanted a way to show how well loved she was,” she said.

In addition to keeping the buildings clean and well ordered, Reid “liked to keep things pretty around here,” said Turner. “She liked flowers and liked to plant things.”

Hence the idea of a memorial garden on the grounds of the center. Students at the Crossroads School have been working to get the garden patch ready.

Reid is survived by her husband, Frank, two sons, a daughter, give brothers, four sisters and two grandchildren.