Tomorrow, Norma Smith is retiring after serving 16 years with Habitat Wake. Norma is Habitat Wake’s longest tenured staff member in our history. Thousands of volunteers from near and far have interacted with Norma over the years and have been greeted by her as they came out to volunteer. I always tell our staff that we are here to set the stage and enable the work of volunteers. Norma’s work embodied that. Everyone is welcome and everyone has something to give.
Norma joined the Habitat Wake team in 1997 as a construction superintendent after years in the teaching profession. In the mid-2000’s she shifted over to our Volunteer Services team. Most recently, Norma created a group of “hospitality volunteers” greeting other volunteers as they come to our construction sites and to our office. The positive, relational spirit that Norma has shared with so many on behalf of Habitat Wake will live on in our work as her legacy.
Norma is motivated by her Christian faith and knows well what it means to welcome others in Jesus’ name. She has lived that out each of the days she has served at Habitat Wake. Norma’s daily presence with Habitat Wake will be missed and we wish her the best in her well-deserved retirement, which based on her volunteer activities at her church and other places, will not be your typical “sit back and rest” type of retirement. Godspeed, Norma, and thank you!