Star Profile: Deloris Bodie

Deloris Bodie is going to Disney World - for real.

Orlando is indeed on the near horizon for Bodie, as she is retiring this week, wrapping up almost 17 years of secretarial service in the North Augusta Department of Parks, Recreation and Leisure Service. A two-week Florida vacation is looming large.

Tuesday was her last day on the job, and she was honored at a Friday reception that included dozens of employees and boosters from her department, which she described as "a place that I've loved to come to work every day."

She pointed out that her duties came to involve helping organize such events as the Rest Fest, Yellow Jasmine Festival and Jack-o-Lantern Jubilee.

"I enjoyed it, and each year, as I did it, it got easier, and I really enjoyed working with the people with the festivals," she said.

Helping lead Friday's tribute was Bob Brooks, who retired in late 2011 as the department's director.

Brooks recalled that a vacancy in the department arose, leading to a procession of people serving as secretary. Challenges of the day included learning to handle radio code (with such lingo as "10-4" and "What's your 20?") and unwieldy computers.

Bodie came on board during the same time as Riverview Park Activities Center was being established, Brooks recalled.

He noted that she had been working at First Baptist Church of North Augusta and had proven herself as an adaptable, hard-working, mature, self-motivated, honest, reliable woman of Christian faith who could field phone calls pleasantly.

"We wanted a person with a pleasant personality, who was friendly to the public and could do multiple tasks, often at the same time. We wanted somebody to be a planner, a bookkeeper who would make deposits and keep change for the front-office folks," he said.

Brooks described Bodie, in those early days, as having been brought aboard as "somebody to run the department when I wasn't there."

She applied for the job and was on duty in 48 hours, he recalled.

Also on hand was Rick Meyer, the department's interim director, who made similar comments, describing her as hugely committed to her family.

"It starts as being a sibling to two brothers and a sister," he said. "It starts with a deceased husband, Sammie, who she loved dearly; a mother to Ashley, Paige and Todd; and a 'nana' to four grandchildren right now - soon to be five."

He pointed out that he always knows where to look for Bodie on Sunday mornings, when he attends the early worship service at First Baptist. "I know exactly where she sits."

Bodie's professional achievements along the way included being named as 2001's municipal employee of the year, Meyer noted, citing such duties as bookkeeping, counting money, paying bills and "most important to our employees - payroll."

"She's a scheduler of concession employees. I think half of North Augusta High School's students have worked for Deloris, in concessions."

Meyer also suggested a word for each letter in Bodie's first name: dependable, efficient, love, office ("She's the face of our office"), ready, inspiration and special.

Among other municipal employees acquainted with Bodie is Mike Strauss, the animal-control officer. Describing Bodie, he noted, "She is one who wanted the City to shine in a positive light while standing in the dark background. Her steadfast service and a positive role model to the children of this community will not be forgotten."

"Her love for people" is one of Bodie's distinguishing characteristics, in the words of Jonathan Stephens, a part-time employee in parks, recreation and leisure services.

Bodie's longtime friends include Vivian Babb, who noted, "She lost her husband at a very young age and has raised three children all by herself, and they have become very good and responsible young adults, and she loves her grandchildren."