Sisters bound by work of service Sisters bound by work of service
(Seguin) — The nursing profession is often described as a calling. And for two sisters at Windsor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center of Seguin, that calling has lasted more than four decades.
In an industry where employee turnover is often measured in months, certified nursing assistants Pam Lackey and Derlene Cockrum have spent a combined 81 years caring for residents at the local nursing facility. The sisters were honored Friday afternoon during a special ceremony that also helped wrap up the observance of National CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) Week. Together, they were recognized before family members, residents, friends and fellow staff members for their 40-year dedication.
Company officials say the milestone is remarkable not only because of the length of their careers, but because both women have spent those decades working side-by-side in one of healthcare’s most demanding professions.
In fact, during their tenure, the facility has even operated under multiple ownership groups and names, beginning as ARA.
Former Administrator AJ Saldana, who led the facility for a decade before recently leaving his position, returned to Windsor to take part in the recognition ceremony. He says the sisters’ commitment “extends beyond longevity.”
“It’s about following one’s path and believing that you have a purpose in this world. And I truly believe that their purpose was to take care of each other, number one, as being sisters, and to take care of the residents that they serve. And to continually do that for 40 years, they truly are, like what has been described as angels on earth,” said Saldana.
Jorge Ramirez, regional human resources manager for the West and Dallas regions of Regency Integrated Health Services and Wellsential Health, says reaching the 40-year mark is especially significant for CNAs.
“Usually, the tenure is anywhere from, on average, two years, right? So, to celebrate 40 years, which the CNAs are the backbone of our organization, it does make an impact and it’s something that you don’t see as often. Forty years is a very difficult accomplishment to hit when you’re dealing with the day in and day out of the industry and the job,” said Ramirez.
For Lackey, she says the journey began in 1985 when she walked through the facility’s doors looking for work.
“I can sum it up as I walked in this building one day looking for a job, and I took it. They hired me the same day as I started. Didn’t know what to expect or if I would keep it. After 10 years is when I really knew that this was a job for me — and all the compassion that I have for the elderly. I love them,” said Lackey.
It wasn’t until almost a year later, however, that Lackey finally convinced her younger sister to join her.
Cockrum says that decision was finally made easy after schedule changes at her original job at Motorola Automotive, now known as Vitesco Technologies.
“I was working at Motorola. So, when Motorola decided to take away evenings, then they were only going to have the morning shift, so I had my daughter — and I said, well, I got to get a job. And then she (Pam) said, hey, why don’t you come over to Windsor? Well, it wasn’t Windsor then. I think it was called ARA at that time. And then I said, well, I think I’m going to go to school because I wanted to be blood drawer. So, I started out with that. And then I said, ah, this ain’t for me. And she said, you need to come on over here and get a job. So that’s what I did. I came over. Got in, got the hands dirty, and been here ever since,” said Cockrum.
As for what has kept her here all these years — Cockrum says it’s been the residents and their families.
“Working in this facility was a God’s blessing. I came here young, dumb, but I came in looking for a job. I found a job and I said, you know what, this is God’s calling. So, every time I say, oh man, I can’t do this anymore, I’m leaving, I can’t do it. And then, the residents just drew me back and family members — they’d say, I’m going to bring grandma. Don’t quit yet, because I’m going to bring grandma. And I said, oh man, no, I’m trying to leave. And so here comes another grandmother, here comes another uncle, here comes another aunt. And so it just led on from there,” said Cockrum.
Most importantly, Cockrum credits much of her passion for caregiving to her mother.
“It’s always been a passion for helping people, because that’s the way my mom brought us up, you help people, because that’s what my mom did. We lived next door to a little cafe, and there was always street women, stuff like that, and they were getting beat up by the men. My mom would just go over there and get them and bring them into our home, and we would take care of those people. And I guess I got that from my mom,” said Cockrum.
Today, the sisters still work the same 2 to 10 p.m. shift – a shift that Lackey says they have shared for much of their careers.
“We work the same shift, work the same days right now. We work the 2 to 10 shift. So we’ve been on that shift for years, most of the 40, the 2 to 10. I work a lot without her. If she’s here or not, I’m still going to do what I have to do,” said Lackey.
Lackey says all in all, she believes it’s been the facility’s overall success that has helped her stay at the same job.
“We have a lot of long-term employees here, and I think that’s what makes a difference here. Our admissions’ coordinators, they keep our facility full. It’s very seldom that we are below. The employees here enjoy working together, and that’s what makes a difference too. We work like we’re a family,” said Lackey.
Although both women admit they have considered retirement over the years, neither is making plans to step away anytime soon.
As part of the recognition, each woman received a community reception, a commemorative glass plaque plus a $1,000 check.