The halls of the second floor of the American Heritage building will look empty next week after housekeepers Norma Redman, who worked at Harding for 22 years, and Mona Brinkley, who worked at Harding for 7 years retired this Thursday.
Redman and Brinkley, who are often mistaken for twins because of their matching uniforms, said they clean the Public Relations and Advancement offices every day after most staff members and students have gone home.
Both agreeing that it is time to retire, Redman and Brinkley said they are looking forward to having time with their families.
“I just think it is time to slow down in life,” Brinkley said.
While Brinkley said she plans to trout fish on the river with her husband and relax in a rocking chair on her front porch, Redman said she hopes to see her six grandkids more often since she will cut back to only one job.
In addition to housekeeping, Redman starts her days at 5 a.m. at a home day care. She said she works alongside three of her other sisters and her niece to take care of 16 children. Even after a long day of working at the day care, Redman said she enjoys seeing students on campus.
“It kind of keeps you young to see students around,” Redman said.
The sisters said their work ethic comes from the values that their parents instilled in them from a young age on their farm. Living just outside of Pangburn, Ark., Brinkley said that she and her seven siblings milked cows and picked cotton and strawberries.
“You know, I am not ashamed I did that work,” Redman said. “It made me a better person because of it.”
Public Relations secretary Kelly Brackett said she sees Redman and Brinkley every afternoon around 4 p.m. in the office. Brackett said the sisters always seem to know how to best help each other.
“They work together so well,” Brackett said. “It’s neat to see their relationship.”
The sisters said they will miss the positive environment at Harding, and Brinkley said she hopes that the people who fill their positions will develop the same connection with the Harding community they have made.
“That’s the thing that we are going to miss the most, the people in the offices that we have really grown to love,” Brinkley said.
