When Sally Williams walks the halls of the third floor in the Communications/Music building, she’s not just any blue-collared worker. She is the veteran custodian — the caretaker. Yet the 64-year-old LaPlace native requires little effort to make her presence known. From the squeak of her cleaning cart to the crack her wide smile, she shows that she’s ready and open for business.
As 6 a.m. nears, Williams, decked out in her blue uniform, glasses and hoop earrings, rolls her cleaning cart down the halls of the third floor. Holding a broom in one hand, she gently knocks on each classroom and office door before entering, knowing she’s probably the only one around. She inspects the areas, taking in what needs to be cleaned — emptying trash bins and sweeping the floors is her first priority.
When she’s done, she starts on the restrooms right in time for her first visitor, searching for a dose of cheer. Williams welcomes the female professor with a big smile and friendly conversation, leaving the professor with a big grin — a grin many share after conversation with her.
As the day continues, she smiles as professors and students greet her. Many engaging in the usual, “Hi, Ms. Sally, how’s it going?” She answers in her southern twang, while holding onto her broom or fixing her glasses every so often.
This is what the students and professors on the third floor see each day. But, what few may know is the real woman behind the blue uniform and the deep-set dimples.
Williams recalls a childhood, raised on a farm in St. Francisville, La., where she woke up early every morning to help her father on the farm. She says she’s worked all her life.
“My parents were really poor and we couldn’t have what we wanted because they didn’t have the money to buy things,” Williams says. “We didn’t have a lot of stuff, but my father would make way to get it for us.”
Williams has always remained optimistic by developing a philosophy for life.
“I try to live everyday without thinking about the past and living in the moment,” she says.
Williams, who once worked at a meat-packaging company, is thankful for her current job at Loyola. She says everyday is memorable because there are always funny things happening and nice people to meet.
As for her role in the Loyola community, Williams says her place in the school is simply to “keep everything clean and be friendly and polite with the students.” Yet, to many, she’s so much more.
WFF Director of Facility Scottie Anthony says Williams is one of their “shining stars” and with 70 custodians altogether, Williams “always does her job well.”
Bob Thomas, communications professor and director of the school of mass communications, says Williams is a hard worker.
“Mrs. Sally is a person who works from the moment she gets here to the time she leaves,” Thomas said.
“She’s a delight to work with and always accommodating on everything we need in the school and we just love having her as part of our mass communication family,” he said.
While she enjoys coming to work every day, it is a reminder of one her biggest regrets — that she didn’t have the opportunity to go to college. The John Dawson High School graduate always wanted to go to college. If she had, she wouldn’t have the job she has now, she says. Instead, she would be a nurse, her childhood dream job. Williams says that she loves taking care of sick people, but that she’s too old to get into anything else now.
Recently, Williams’ dream job turned into reality when she had to take care of her ailing husband. Her husband of 33 years had open-heart surgery and she helped nurse him back to health. She describes it as “a very tough time.”
“We didn’t expect him to make it, but he’s out of the hospital and well now,” said Williams.
Williams expects and wants only the simpler things in life, she says. She settles for food, clothing and shelter alone. She adds, “And, a car, maybe; how else am I going to get to Loyola.”
The mother of four is not all work and no fun. “When I’m not at school, I like going to church, shopping centers and cooking,” said Williams, who brags that she can cook everything.
Williams, a ninth-year custodian, says she came to Loyola expecting only a part-time gig — but what she found was a home away from home.
“I consider Loyola my home after almost ten years. Loyola feels like family to me and I love the students,” she says.
Kieu Tran can be reached at [email protected].
