Posted: 4:28 PM - Feb 07, 2009
Part of a larger news story called The Firsts - Recognizing our areas African-American pioneers published in The Winchester Star dated Saturday 7 February 2009.
Sharon Harris, 65, was a fixture with F&M Bank, now BB&T Bank, serving in a variety of capacities at a number of branches in her 38 years and four months with the organizations.
She said she was hired as a bookkeeper in 1968 at the main F&M branch on Cameron Street. Four to five years later, she became a teller, and to her knowledge the first African-American in the area to have the position.
Harris recalled one man would not come to her window because of her color. But she didnt mind too much: I didnt want to wait on him either.
Other patrons, however, hold a special place.
Harris said Winston McKay of Grocers Wholesale was her first commercial customer and was sent from heaven.
McKay, who was white, was very kind and the type of customer a person gets once in a lifetime, she said.
Harris still receives Christmas cards from McKays former head bookkeeper.
Over the years, customers invited her to baby showers and weddings, and she attended funerals, too, she said. And even today, more than two years after her 2006 retirement, Harris said people will stop her and say, Youre the lady from the bank.
She loved her time in banking, and her positions which also included branch management made her family proud, too, she said.
It was really a blessing for me.
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Sharon Harris First bank teller |
She said she was hired as a bookkeeper in 1968 at the main F&M branch on Cameron Street. Four to five years later, she became a teller, and to her knowledge the first African-American in the area to have the position.
Harris recalled one man would not come to her window because of her color. But she didnt mind too much: I didnt want to wait on him either.
Other patrons, however, hold a special place.
Harris said Winston McKay of Grocers Wholesale was her first commercial customer and was sent from heaven.
McKay, who was white, was very kind and the type of customer a person gets once in a lifetime, she said.
Harris still receives Christmas cards from McKays former head bookkeeper.
Over the years, customers invited her to baby showers and weddings, and she attended funerals, too, she said. And even today, more than two years after her 2006 retirement, Harris said people will stop her and say, Youre the lady from the bank.
She loved her time in banking, and her positions which also included branch management made her family proud, too, she said.
It was really a blessing for me.