Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / Sept. 1, 1983, edition 1 / Page 12
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In Last Five Years Growth Of Blacks With Food Lion Increased Tremendously BEAT THE HEAT - The record high temperatures that have been broiling the state for the past week didn i spare Campbell University students who had to - register for fall classes in more than 100 degreed temperatures. The registrar's office is trying to mov-j the students along as quickly and conviently ns possible, but for students stuck under a hot sun, th< cool breezes of autumn seem as far away as the end of , the line. < Photo Bv Charlie £D yitwriNN l» *A\TJ fl „ TjQI S«Mm®VUII >!>i,7 K. DU I uwa wD^tK (eAttfi m&mvn TP® 7DDD pijJDDDDJ'VJJtiU . By Lori Grier and Karen Parker Post Staff Writers Food Lion Stores, then called Food Town, opened in Salisbury, N.C. with one store and a handful of em ployees. Today, there are more than 200 stores and approximately 9,000 em ployees. Many of those employees are black, but instead of being cashiers, bag boys or janitors, they hold top positions at Food Lion. Mrs. Anne Davis, 36, of Salisbury, N.C., works in the Accounts Payable De partment. As a former cashier in 1977, she or dered drugs and worked in the meat department. Mr:— Berrier, former treasurer secretary of the company, called Davis and told her about the position avail able in the Accounts Pay able Department in 1979. “I like the company. I have felt comfortable working here since day one,” admitted Davis. Although there are nine blacks and 17 whites in her department, she feels that “there are no opportun ities for other blacks at present, because the com pany isn’t hiring anyone now.” She would like to see Food Lion develop a screening process where both black and white em ployers could screen the employees to rid some of the negative attitudes of the employees.” She definitely has a fu ture with Food Lion. ‘‘I have been asked to apply for promotions, but I turned them down. My fa mily comes first, and my children keep me busy. I have flexible hours, and I just want to do what I’m. doing,” she informed. Mrs. Anne Davis is a graduate of Dunbar High School, East Spencer, N.C. and attended Salisbury Business College. She is a member of the Senior Usher Board and Gospel lers Choir at Shady Grove Baptist Church where Rev. John Gaston is pastor. She and Andrew Davis Sr. are the parents of Andrew Jr., 15 and L’Reisha, 7. Her hobbies include bingo, cre ative writing and short stories. Mr. Vernon Sloan, 30, of Salisbury, N.C., is the Re ceiving Supervisor in Warehouse No. 1 on Har rison Road. Mr. Jerry Sloan, his brother, worked as a selector in the ware house in 1971. During that time, Vernon was a senior in high school. Vernon picked Jerry up from work one day and decided to fill out an application. Five days after graduation, he was hired. He has been supervisor for one year. “I like some of the people who were here when I first came. During my second year, I quit twice because of a misunder standing with my boss. Mr. Tom Smith, president of the company, told me about the good future and benefits I could have with the company. Things are better now,” pointed out Sloan. There are approximately 35 blacks and 165 whites in the warehouse. Sloan knows that there are pos sibilities for other blacks, "if they are willing to put up with the hard work." He would like to see a black personnel depart ment manager assist in the screening process for hiring. "I would also like to see more blacks have the opportunity to show their abilities in other areas be sides selecting products,” he added. His quitting days at Food Lion are events of the past. “I want to stay and grow with Food Lion. I’m going to try to end my career here because of the bene fits. I hope to get 30 or 35 years,” he predicted "I would like to thank Mr. Willie Thompson for convincing me to stay during those hard times and Mr. Ed Jones for giving me a chance to enroll in courses the com pany offered and attend seminars," acknowledged Sloan. Mr. Vernon Sloan is a graduate of West Rowan High School, Mt UHa, N C. and took a correspond ing course from Cornell University in marketing retailing. He is a member of the Church of Christ, Woodleaf, N.C. where Rev Atkins is pastor. He and Pictured above are some of Food Lion’s administrative and management em ployees. Tliey are seated left to right: Vernon Sloan, Anne Davis, Jerome Fun derburk; standing left to right are Johnnie Carson and Darrell Elliott. Roseiia are the parents of Christopher, 10; Vernon Jr., 9; Tonya, 6; and Lekesha, 15 months. Mr. Johnnie Carson, 43, of Davie County, N.C„ is Supervisor of Maintenance in the Salisbury and Petersburg, Va. areas. Mr. Joe Mitchell, supervisor at Food Lion, told him about the position in 1978. It took three months for them to hire Carson, because he didn’t want the job offer. He wanted his business, Carson Services, which specializes in refrigera tion, to be a success. His business began to fail in the latter part of 1978, He was the first black refrigeration man in Salisbury and the first hired by Food Lion. I feel like I should have been here 15 years ago. I would have had a better opportunity in advance ment for skills and pro motion. If you apply your self, this company will help you,” related Carson. The man voted most like ly not to succeed in high school is in charge of six men. One who is black, Mr. Issac Markham, gives 110 percent effort, according to Carson. “The first thing I ask a person is if they are prejudice against me, be cause they don’t spend black money. They spend green money,” he empha sized. Carson believes that blacks could have a chance in the company. “Most of the time blacks want some thing easier than refri geration work. It’s hard work, and you really have to apply yourself. What ever I get I work for it. It doesn’t take an education to make money, but it takes skills and wanting to do.” He would like to have more communication about the new products to know what’s going on in the refrigeration industry. He predicts a big future with Food Lion. “I want to be president of Food Lion, but I’m satisfied being supervisor of maintenance. I always aim for big goals. Just in case I fall one step short, I’ll be vice presi dent,” he stated. Carson continued, “If I see you’re trying, I’ll help you. If you don’t put forth an effort then forget it. That's also the company's outlook.” Mr. Johnnie Carson is a graduate of Davie County High School and attended North Carolina A&T State University where he had to withdraw and enlist in the 82nd Airborne Division be cause of financial pro blems. Later he attended IBM in Charlotte and Ro wan Technical School where he received certifi cates in refrigeration. He is president of the Refrigera tion Service Engineer So ciety, certified heat pump specialist, licensed in re frigeration, and is a mem ber of the Scottish Rite Masons. He is also a mem ber of New Bethel Baptist Church, Davie County, where they’re in the pro cess of getting a new minister, rte and Martha are the parents of Mrs. April Butler and Mrs. Angel Bush. Darrell Elliott and Jerome Funderburk hold administrative positions with Food Lion. They agree a sincere interest in the business and enthu siasm has been the key to their success Elliott, 24, is the perish able foods supervisor for Food Lion stores in eastern North Carolina. Projecting 280 more Food Lion stores will open throughout the Southeast in the next 10 Second in series years, the Newark, New Jersey native speculates blacks can have a profes sional future with the grocery chain. “The growth of blacks with Food Lion has in creased considerably in the past five years,” Elliott explained. “It takes initia tive on the part of the employees to really pro gress. You must let people know what you want.” Though Elliott began his career with Food Lion only r r four and a half years ago, he feels that “his exceD tional progress will con tinue and looks forward to soon advancing to regional perishable foods supervi sor.” Elliott stated, “If blacks will realize that there can be more to working for a food chain than doing the basic duties, they will understand the many opportunities available to them. When they get gro cery store jobs they shouldn’t stop at front-end Jobs or settle for always 17 mg. "tar". 1.3 mg. nicotine av. per cigarette by FTC method. I ! § © You've got what It takes. Warning: The Surgeon General Has Determined That Cigarette Smoking Is Dangerous to Your Health. .-.'i1'---— .. being a grocery manager; they must let somebody know what they want.” Funderburk certainly didn’t hold back about his ambitions with Food Lion Stores. At 25 years of age he has progressed to gro cery manager, and has every intention of becom ing a store manager for Food Lion. “I received my first job with Food Lion while I was a senior at Livingstone College,” revealed Funder burk. “At the time I was a bagger and had plans to return back to my home in Washington, D.C. when I graduated.” Apparently Funderburk was perform service which Food Lion stores claim. His post graduation plans were in terrupted by an invitation from the store manager in Salisbury to remain with the company. Now in a three-year period, Funderburk is store manager of Food Lion No. 10 located, in Salisbury. “I’m still trying to move up to higher positions and I feel that I deserve to,” Funderburk frankly stated. Presently he has trained ‘ over 200 managers for Food Lion Stores. One disappointment that Funderburk experiences is the small number of blacks who train for management positions. “Out of the 200 managers which I have trained, only two of them have been black,” re marked Funderburk. “There are many oppor tunities for advancement, but the employee must have enthusiasm." Elliott added, “Food Lion is a company that shows pride. That's what makes our company grow and that’s what employees must have,” he assured. Elliott and Funderburk feel they are considered two of Food Lion’s “good employees,” not “good, black employees,” sug gesting promotion isn’t. based on the employee’s color but his or her devo tion to perform satisfac —torily:-— Elliott is a graduate of the University of South Carolina where he majored in accounting. He is mar ried to Anita Gale who also works for Food Lion Stores. They are the parents of one son, Darrell Jr. Funderburk and his wife, Adrian Renee, have two children, Nadezhda and Jerome Jr. Mrs. Funder burk is also a member of the Food Lion team as an employee._ .. Do you have something to say? Then do so for everyone to read. The Charlotte Post, the only other voice in town, wel comes all letters on various subjects.
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Sept. 1, 1983, edition 1
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