This year marks Miss Thelma Russel’s incredible 68th year of service with Salem Academy and College. She began working for Salem in 1957 as a dining hall supervisor, and has since served as a cashier, a cook, and a worker of the salad bar and other stations in the dining hall. Russell started with the Academy, but came to work with the College when the Academy building closed. Harvest Table, Salem Academy and College’s dining service, describes her as “a cherished part of the Salem community.”
And a cherished part of the community she is. Whenever she is working, Russell is one of the most consistent and warm presences in the Refectory. Her pancakes and french toast are to die for — not to mention her made-to-order omelets, which I am a frequent and grateful partaker of.
Salem Dining, in a sweet spotlight post for their Employee Appreciation event on March 24, praised her character, saying, “Her dedication, punctuality, and unwavering work ethic make her a true inspiration to all who know her. Rarely missing a day, she has set the gold standard for commitment in the workplace.”
Salem Dining staff group photo celebrating Miss Thelma. Photo Credit: Salem Dining.
“I have a good time,” she expressed as her favorite part about working here at Salem. She shared that her sons used to work at Salem when they were going to school. “My mother worked here, and my sisters and brothers, they worked here too. Then they left here and went to… R.J. Reynolds. They retired from R.J. Reynolds.” When asked if she plans on retiring any time soon, she replied, “I don’t know… as long as I’m able, I think I’m going to stay on.” It is a true testament to her family’s legacy, and we are all incredibly grateful for all the years she and other members of her family have put into this institution.
For nearly seven decades, she has been a steady presence in our midst. Perhaps, when getting breakfast or lunch, it wouldn’t hurt to stop for a moment of conversation with her. It’s vitally important that we continue to look up to her as a keeper of a wealth of stories, soft-spoken wisdom, and character that all of us should strive to exemplify in our personal and professional lives.
