Thursday, July 9, 2015
It is with great sadness that I write my thoughts and feelings about Marietta after learning of our collective loss. I had the pleasure and good fortune to be one of Marietta's supervisors at the Northport VA Medical Center. She was one of approximately 23 applicants who applied for one of two employee labor relations positions in the section I managed. I still remember her enthusiastic interview and the positive energy she exhibited. We knew she would be a great addition to our team when we chose her among the many excellent candidates we met. Marietta proved in a short amount of time that she was a wonderful employee and a major contributor to our service. She shared her expertise and ideas with everyone on our team and willingly took on new tasks to meet our customer's needs. As a manager in a busy program area, I replied on Marietta to meet multiple deadlines with accuracy and a high degree of competency. She never disappointed me. In addition to her dedication to her work, Marietta cared deeply for her children and family members. She often spoke of her love for her family. As a team member, Marietta cared, shared, and dared to implement new and innovative ideas. One of my favorite work photographs is one with Marietta and our award committee. We had donned sun glasses and wore flip flops for one of our many themed award ceremonies. My sincere condolences go to Marietta's children, husband, family, friends, and VA colleagues. We will all remember her smile and the many gifts she shared with us.
