Beloved Northside Nutrition Center worker retires

Courteous, extremely dependable, valued and always smiling are ways coworkers and friends describe Martha Bean.

While Bean’s 18-year career working at the Northside Nutrition Center ended Tuesday, she was surprised with an early retirement party Friday at the Twin Towers.

Bean went about her job as center staff members and the Poplar Bluff Housing Authority personnel decorated a table with cakes, cards, flowers and gifts honoring her. They had to use the microphone to get her attention to get her to come from the kitchen to celebrate.

Bean proclaimed of the retirement party, “Oh, I loved it. They surprised me. I thought it was for someone else.”

She worked in the dish line washing pots, pans and dishes as well as doing other chores at the center.

While she intends to enjoy retirement, Bean said, she might be interested in a part-time job in the future.

“Martha has been a valued member of Northside Nutrition Center Nutrition,” said Linda Sedrick, the center’s assistant administrator. “She has always been extremely dependable, always has a smile on her face and courteous to everyone. She has always been willing to do anything that is asked of her. She will be missed.”

Poplar Bluff Housing Authority Office Manager Tammy Harper agreed Bean has been extremely valued.

“I don’t think she has ever met a stranger,” Harper said. “She will not only be missed by us but by the patrons at the center. She is like family. We are going to miss her tremendously but are excited for her to enjoy her retirement.”

Bean applied and began working full-time when the nutrition center was located on Garfield Street. She recalls the staff from the northside facility moving to the Twin Towers when JoAnn Ward retired.

She also has worked at Mark Twain Nursing Home, the Diagnostic Clinic on Highway PP and she even spent time inserting advertising circulars in the Daily American Republic newspaper.

“I’ve worked for a long time,” Bean said.

She’s looking forward to resting, going to flea markets and visiting different churches. Her home church is New Life Apostolic Tabernacle, 603 Victor St.