GSL BIDS FAREWELL TO LONGTIME EMPLOYEES

By Marci Woodmansee ’83

We are sad to bid farewell to both Marilyn Kidd and Sherry Emerson at the end of this school year! Great colleagues and longtime Saints fans, they are pictured here during the Shelby 7/8 League Basketball Tournament championship games in February.

Season after season, Marilyn faithfully, loyally, and steadfastly worked on GSL’s behalf to keep business accounts in order, while also serving as one of the school’s biggest advocates and fans.

As our de facto, one-woman human resources department, Marilyn onboarded new employees before onboarding was a thing. She served as counselor for countless colleagues and in-house mom for the younger employees. She could always be counted on for her kind but truthful advice.

Outside the financial office, she served as guardian angel of sorts for hundreds of student field trips by overseeing the school’s transportation needs. Marilyn was the one who kept our small but mighty fleet of iconic red and white buses (including both the ’70s and ’80s versions of the beloved Bullet) in operational shape for trips around –and sometimes outside of – Memphis.

She also organized GSL's commercial bus transport for years of overnight field trips, faithfully watching for each driver’s timely arrival on Lemaster (generally alone, in the dark, at 5 a.m.) as sleepy parents arrived to put excited children on buses headed to Chicago, New Orleans, or Nantahala. At the end of every trip, you could count on her being back on Lemaster, waving them in when they returned.

And if you’ve EVER attended a GSL sporting event, you know there’s no bigger Saints fan than Marilyn Kidd! In her signature red top and vintage GSL football or basketball button, she attended home games, away games, and even games of our students when they went on to play at the high school level.

Steady, dependable, and a friend to all, Marilyn has been GSL’s rock. Through her own good times and bad, she’s been a faithful and loyal Saint, and is the second longest-serving employee in school history (after Debbie Callahan). Having a great memory and the vast institutional knowledge that comes from working with nine different heads of school (Elbert Fields, Canon Lloyd Gesner, Eddie Gamble, Barbara Daush, John Effinger, Father John Merchant, Tom Beazley, Thor Kvande, and Andy Surber), she’s an invaluable resource on school history. And with her immense love for the school, Marilyn in many ways defines community at GSL.

Marilyn linked her family to the GSL family from their first moments on campus, and for that, we are forever grateful. Her late husband is memorialized at Snowden Field, and her son Paul, also deceased, is memorialized in the Lower School 2nd floor hallway. Her son Phillip and his wife Jodi were at her side at this year’s 75th Anniversary celebration.

While a pending medical procedure kept her away from the office more than any of us anticipated this year, it’s no surprise that she made sure to be courtside for the boys and girls 7/8 Shelby League championship games this winter. With a well-deserved retirement now in her sights, she will move forward as our VIP retiree, and we look forward to seeing her continue to cheer us on from the sidelines. She spent most of this year and last year training her successor, Cindy Sorrells, with the same love, encouragement, and sense of humor that has characterized her entire tenure at GSL.

“It’s been an adventure for sure, but it’s been a wonderful trip,” she says. “It never felt like work, it always felt like family. It’s important to keep it going that way, and with all the good folks here, it will! I will dearly miss it. It’s been great fun. GSL let me stay around that long, since 1971? How about that!”

Sherry Emerson Leaves Legacy Of Excellence

Associate Director of Advancement, Appointment 2004

When Sherry Emerson first became involved at Grace-St. Luke’s, it was as a parent and Parents' Association volunteer for the Anchor Auction. And when she actually joined the staff in 2004, she anticipated a temporary, part-time stint assisting with the school’s capital campaign. But when then-Head of School Tom Beazley witnessed her remarkable skill set and focus on customer service, he knew he needed to convince her to stick around full time.

Nineteen years later, his decision clearly paid off for GSL. With her unparalleled relationship-building abilities and gift for event organization, Sherry quickly became integral to the school’s success.

“From the moment I met and hired Sherry, I knew her love of the school was genuine and contagious,” Beazley says. “Her enthusiasm and positive attitude were so important in motivating and assisting all the many volunteers for the school events. I never had a concern, because I knew everything would be done flawlessly and professionally.”

A school parent when she joined the staff, Sherry's son Webb ’08 was then in 5th grade, and Tess ’14 was a junior kindergartner. Both children graduated from eighth grade at GSL; Tess is now a nurse in Kentucky and Webb is a general contractor in Mississippi. Sherry’s husband Jeff, executive vice president and chief risk management officer for Montgomery Martin Contractors, was also a regular and trusted presence on campus who served as a Board of Trustees member from 2001-2007, the last two years as President. In addition to helping oversee construction of our Anchor Center from 2008-2010, Jeff always cheerfully shared his expertise when facilities questions arose at GSL.

For 19 years, Sherry helped oversee a number of events and worked closely with the P.A. Board and event chairs. She also shepherded the Alumni Association, overseeing its relaunch in 2004 and working tirelessly to keep alumni connected. She orchestrated five fantastic reunion events in 2005, 2007, 2010, 2014, and 2018, culminating with the epic 75th Anniversary event held in August 2022.

And if that wasn’t enough, Sherry enthusiastically tackled a gigantic additional assignment for 13 years – organizing the Lisa Lassandrello 5K Memorial races at GSL (and collaborating with our peers at St. Agnes during their years to host) from 2006 to 2018. These races became a beloved tradition at GSL and were recognized by the local race community as exceptionally well-organized events that drew hundreds and hundreds of runners every year.

With her fantastic sense of humor, incredible institutional knowledge, and steadfast advocacy for the school, Sherry became an absolutely integral part of the community. Her announcement that she planned to retire at the end of this year prompted a search for a worthy successor. The school ended up tapping Mackay Lee, who will begin training with her in May until her last day at GSL. Sherry leaves big shoes to fill, and has set an extremely high standard of excellence during her career at this school. She will be greatly missed!

“Sherry’s ability to delicately navigate the most complicated situations, paired with her love for GSL, is unmatched,” says Director of Advancement Brenda Berry. “It has been an honor to work alongside my dear friend Sherry for the past seven years. I think all will agree that GSL is a better place thanks to her contributions over the last 19 years.”