{"id":2385,"date":"2016-04-12T09:15:46","date_gmt":"2016-04-12T14:15:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/pressrelease\/?p=2385"},"modified":"2016-04-12T09:15:46","modified_gmt":"2016-04-12T14:15:46","slug":"at-82-mama-keeps-serving-soldiers-retirees-at-fort-sam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/pressrelease\/?p=2385","title":{"rendered":"At 82, \u2018Mama\u2019 Keeps Serving Soldiers, Retirees At Fort Sam"},"content":{"rendered":"

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON \u2013 <\/span><\/b>At 82, an age when most Americans have long settled into retirement, <\/span>Stella Graham<\/span><\/a> just keeps working, as she has for decades at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

For nearly 48 years, <\/span>Graham<\/span><\/a> has stayed true to her mission of serving Soldiers, families and retirees at Fort Sam through her part-time job with the Army & Air Force Exchange Service. Her servant\u2019s heart keeps her young and is a testament to the Exchange\u2019s core value of family serving family.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"23771717903_6b36ce706d_o\"<\/a>\u201cI like helping, giving back and giving words of encouragement,\u201d said Graham, who works at the Exchange\u2019s food court at Fort Sam.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The San Antonio resident has spent her entire career in food service at the Fort Sam Exchange. Her husband served in the Army, and he brought her to Fort Sam in 1968, after he returned from Vietnam. Since then, Graham has dedicated her career to serving Soldiers, families and retirees.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone knows her,\u201d said Fort Sam Food Court Manager Marjorie Wilson-Granvle, who has been Graham\u2019s boss since 2007. \u201cEveryone calls her \u2018Mama.\u2019 I started it, and everyone picked up on it.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Graham works several hours every weekday. Her duties include preparing salads, baking bread and ensuring the dining room is ready for Soldiers.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd if she\u2019s not here, customers will ask about her,\u201d Wilson-Granvle said.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Graham\u2019s favorite part of her job is talking to retirees every morning and helping them get their coffee. She also relishes the chance to talk to active-duty Soldiers.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI love their uniforms,\u201d Graham said.\u00a0 \u201cMy father, my brother, my husband\u2014they all wore the uniform. God bless them.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Even though she\u2019s 82, Graham isn\u2019t slowing down. Her dedication to doing her job\u2014and doing it well\u2014makes her an exemplary associate, Wilson-Granvle said.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s here early and willing to stay late,\u201d Wilson-Granvle said. \u201cShe\u2019s faithful and loyal. Her co-workers have nothing but respect for her.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Graham tried to retire once, back in December 1994. Her retirement lasted just two months. She returned to the Exchange because, as a former military spouse, she loved the connection with the military.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

When she\u2019s not working, Graham spends time playing bingo and checking on her daughter and son-in-law, both of whom have physical disabilities that require them to use wheelchairs.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

When it comes to her job at the Exchange, Graham says she wants to continue working until she reaches 50 years of service.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI can handle anything that comes my way,\u201d she said. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

— 30 —<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>The Army & Air Force Exchange Service goes where Soldiers, Airmen and their families go to improve the quality of their lives through goods and services provided. Exchange earnings provide dividends to support military morale, welfare and recreation programs. The Exchange is part of the Department of Defense and is directed by a Board of Directors, responsible to the Secretaries of the Army and Air Force through the Chiefs of Staff.\u00a0 To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our Web site at <\/span>http:\/\/www.aafes.com\/about-exchange\/public-affairs\/press-releases.htm<\/span><\/a>or follow us on Twitter at <\/span>https:\/\/twitter.com\/ExchangePAO<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>###<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Media Notes:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/b>For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Julie Mitchell, 214-312-3327 or mitchelljul@aafes.com.<\/span><\/p>\n\t

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