Written by Janet Orgain
“Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord, as though working for God, not for man,” Colossians 3:17.
On any given weeknight, while walking from the cafeteria to the student center, you might see them. They might be chatting in theHeritagelobby or marching from one office to the next with cleaning supplies in tow. Either way, they are both wearing smiles and identical outfits.
Sisters Mona Brinkley, 68, and Norma Redman, 63, made it their mission to brighten the offices of the Heritage and brighten the lives of those who work there. The sisters work for Aramark custodial services.
“We’ve grown very fond of the people in the offices, and they seem like they are fond of us,” Brinkley said. “They say they look forward to us coming in at 4:30 every evening.”
Brinkley and Redman have worked the evening cleaning shift together in the Heritage building for five years. However, the sisters said they have never been strangers to work.
Growing up on a farm with a household of eight children inPangburn, Ark., the sisters learned to work at an early age. Redman said she remembers picking cotton and strawberries with siblings at 7 and 8 years old.
“Ever since we were young, we worked,” Brinkley said. “We were a close-knit family, and to this day we still get together with all five sisters that are still living.”
Redman has worked as housekeeper for 21 years and got the job through her older sister, Thelma Pate, who began working at Harding more than 30 years ago. Pate, 76, retired but has returned to work in the Ganus Athletic Center. Redman is one of nineAramark Facility Servicesemployees who have worked for the company for more than 10 years.See the interactive pie chart below for more information.
After the cleaning service changed from in-house ownership to Aramark, Brinkley joined her two sisters. Today, Brinkley and Redman work side-by-side like they did more than 50 years ago. Redman said they still work well together.
“We haven’t had one argument,” Redman said. “I think we take that from our mother. She taught us so much. We work really good together.”
Their calm, content attitudes do not go unnoticed. Liz Howell, director of Alumni and Parent Relations, said it is worth staying late to have an encounter with Redman and Brinkley.
“They are the salt of the earth,” Howell said. “Everybody knows them because of their sweet spirit. They are very genuine in what they do because they consider it working for the Lord.”
The sisters said working at Harding has been a blessing because of the kind atmosphere students and faculty alike provide. No matter what, Redman and Brinkley keep a positive outlook.
“Everyone we’ve ever come into contact with was very nice and polite and thoughtful,” Redman said. “We are thankful for our job and thankful for what we do. We never dread coming to work.”
Learn more fromFive Lessons About the Way We Treat People.
