Yet this sister still smiles . . . Happy Educators Week!!!

I have a sister friend who always carries a smile. We just meet last year but we both joked about me not remembering her name which I now know is Verdina Worsley. Her greeting to me for the first six months was, “Ms. Price, what’s my name?” I would respond, “Wexford, Winters, Williams.” And she would give me a look, that started every morning with laughter. She is an awesome educator, mother of 2 and just a dear person to know.

Well, in a world of few speakers, less "huggers" and great ignorers, Ms. Worsley always knows how to give you a little bit of sunshine. I look forward to her smile before going on my duty station and as educators, most of us try to put on our best face everyday. Yet on one particular day, Ms. Worsley was not there. And then the next day she was not there. And a couple of days went by and I missed my encouraging friend’s smile. Then someone shared with me that her brother was murdered. My heart dropped to my chest, knowing that this would wipe away the smile from a laughing clown and I had to be sensitive. 

Ms. Worsley’s brother’s name was Jamarcus Sellers; her baby brother. Ms.Worsley is the oldest of 6, from Bennettsville, SC, residing in Tarboro, NC.  Her brother had some trouble with the law and served some time but had completely turned his life around. He was a great father of 2 daughters and 1 son. He would give the kids his routine breakfast; oatmeal and apple sauce each morning and of course the shirt off his back. He was only 29 years old. Ms. Worsley return to work and the smile was not as prominent but it was still there. I gave her a hug and told her I wanted to write about her brother but it took me several months to talk to her about the lost. I would pass her class and see that she was teary eyed and would leave it alone. 

Well isn’t just like God to give Ms. Worsley back her signature smile on the day that I had time to talk. She had her two beautiful kids with her and we proceeded to talk casually about Jamarcus. She expressed how she was sad they didn’t talk often yet everyone said such kind words about him at the funeral. She was disappointed that she didn’t know he was trying to become a boxer. I then asked what she did know and she said, “he taught me how to play fish”. 

I was happy Ms.Worsley’s smile was coming back but I learned that we don’t have much time. We don’t have much time to joke, to speak, to smile. In honor of Jamarcus Sellers, we have to stop this killing because you are not just destroying the smile of your victim but their loved ones smiles too. Keep smiling Ms. Worsley.