Co-workers salute ‘second mother’ Elsada Turner
Elsada Turner, 60, may be the biological mother to two boys, but is considered to be mother to several of her co-workers at Facey Commodity Co. Ltd.
Turner, a devout Christian, works as a warehouse and delivery supervisor at Facey. Many of the approximately 100 workers who she supervises have described her as an upstanding woman, who will give her last to ensure that others are comfortable.
Michael Davis, logistic clerk, is among those who have benefited from Turner’s benevolence. The 31- year- old Denham Town, Kingston, resident told THE WEEKEND STAR that he feels blessed to know Turner, who hails from Pusey district, Point Hill, St Catherine.
“She is like everything to me. Without her I would not be the man who I am today,” said the father of two, who Turner supervises. “Yea, mi have a great relationship with my mother (Lorna Gordon) but the bond I have with Ms Turner is very special.” Davis said Turner’s guidance helped to keep him out of trouble.
“God bless her! When she came in my life it was at the right moment because I am always surrounded by negative influences while growing up in my community,” he said.
According to Kay Green-Campbell, Turner’s warmth and affection are akin to a mother’s touch, which her staff cling to when work becomes overwhelming.
“She is the backbone for everyone of us here, and it is not only for work. We can come to her with any problem we have and she is there for anyone of us. It doesn’t matter who you are or how old you are, Ms Turner is always willing to be a mother,” said Green- Campbell, an administrative assistant/ document clerk.
Turner, who started at Facey in June 1998, attends the United Holiness Deliverance Church of God on Washington Boulevard, St Andrew.
WOMAN IN A MAN’S WORLD
“It is no easy task, especially being a woman in a man’s world. But it gives me great joy that I am able to be like a mother to so many people. It doesn’t matter who, I am always happy when a young person can come to me and leave feeling positive,” said Turner. She described the relationship with Davis as “special” after recalling their first encounter, when Davis came for an interview.
“I look at him and said to myself ‘but him likkle’. I showed him to his chair and while he sat behind the computer you could hardly see him, plus him shy,” she said. “Over time I realised that he had the potential for growth, so therefore I took him under my wings, and from that moment we have had this beautiful bond.”
Turner said she enjoys similar relationships with youth in her Cooreville Gardens, St Andrew, community, as many of them also look up to her.
“It feels good because it is not everybody who gets this opportunity to have people to come and talk with them. I appreciate this blessings so much,” she said. Davis said that Turner is like an “angel walking earth”.
“I faced situations where things could have been different but when you see people like Ms Turner in your corner, you don’t want to disappoint them, especially with so much you have learnt from them. I am very blessed to have two mothers. She has pushed me to be a better man over the years, and I really appreciate that,” he said.