Winthrop employee retires after 46 years, friends, family celebrate

By Jonathan McFadden
mcfaddenj@mytjnow.com

With encouragements and congratulatory statements echoeing across the walls, Roesetta Cureton embraces her loved ones, including her son, Tommy Cureton, Jr. Photo by Sarah Auvil • auvils@mytjnow.comIn she walked.

The shouts of “SURPRISE” echoed throughout the fellowship hall of Rock Hill’s Union Baptist Church. The applause of family and friends thundered through the room. The faint taps of drumsticks on a cymbal and fingers tickling the ivories of a keyboard gave her proper marching music. 

Tears cascaded down her cheeks as her husband led her to the table of honor for the woman of honor.

That woman was Rosetta Cureton, and this past Saturday she celebrated her retirement after 46 years of service with Winthrop University.

For almost five decades, Rosetta poured her heart and soul into her job at Winthrop. 

When she first started the job, Winthrop was an all-girls school and she was helping to hold down the fort at McBryde Hall. 

As the years went by and “the boys came in,” she was transferred to Thomson Hall where she remained for the rest of her time at the university.

First was her tenure in the baker’s shop, a position Rosetta looked on with fondness. 

“I loved it,” she said.

Some more transfers later and Rosetta found herself on dish duty, a position she admitted wasn’t her cup of tea.

A friend in a high place did some talking on Rosetta’s behalf, and soon she was assigned to clean and prepare Thomson’s tables.

Surprise, surprise 

“They really surprised me this time,” said Rosetta, who was expecting a trip to Gastonia, N.C. for dinner.

Instead, she found something more memorable.

Before she even made it to her seat, loved ones greeted her with hugs and kisses, whispering “congratulations” into her ear. Still others stood in recognition, while some wept alongside her.

Her youngest daughter, Angela Byers, opened the program with “I don’t want to prolong the time…we love you mom.”

A song selection, Bible passage and prayer later, some of those who worked with Rosetta in Thomson Cafe stepped up to the podium to share words of love and appreciation. 

Chris Everett worked with Rosetta for the past 11 years, he said, and lauded praise on her for her dedication to students.

“As students came in, she’d always say ‘hello,’ or offer some kind of other warm greeting,” Everett said.

To prove the depth of Rosetta’s bond with students, Everett relayed the story of her last day.

Before her shift was over, all the students who were eating in Thomson stood up and gave Rosetta a standing ovation, he said.

That day, Everett said his heart “swelled with pride.”

Kermit Anderson, also a Thomson employee, had plenty to say of this “extraordinary young lady.”

Rosetta was instrumental in helping many new students adjust to their transitions from home to college.

“You had a part in their lives,” he told her. “There’s a glow to her.”

Loveda Warren echoed that sentiment.

“She touched me to become a better manager,” said Warren, location manager in Thomson. “When she left, students were stunned. She’s hard to replace.”

Her son, Tommy Cureton, Jr., shared his own “Winthrop” memories of his mother.

Because his mother already worked at Winthrop for many years, Cureton already knew he entered a workplace of “high expectations” when he took a job at the university. 

“I couldn’t do no less than her,” he said. 

And, he didn’t. If he did, his mother would always give him “the eye,” he said.

For Annie-Laurie Wheat, professor of theatre and dance, the Cureton clan have become like family.

“I feel like I sort of adopted them,” Wheat said on Saturday.

Initially, Wheat became close to Sylvia and her grandson, who Wheat tutored. But she became acquainted with Rosetta when Wheat and her husband ventured to Thomson for lunch each Monday.

“She always had a word for someone,” Wheat said. “She’s just a lovely, gentle person.”

More impressive than anything to Wheat was Rosetta’s long-term stay at Winthrop.

“People don’t stay at jobs that long [any more],” Wheat said. 

Staying on the job 

Staying on the same job nearly five decades was a product of God’s grace, Rosetta said when she stepped up to the podium to greet attendees. 

Working at a school allowed her to take summers off and stay home without worrying about finding babysitters, she said.

Then, there were times when she was able to offer students sage wisdom and encouragement. 

Though she couldn’t talk too much about God in the university setting, Rosetta recalled an instance when she encountered a student that was “down.”

She encouraged the student to remain uplifted and told her, “God has allowed you to see another day.”

The next day, the student thanked Rosetta and explained that she now had the courage to finish school and work through her problems. 

Challenge hasn’t been a stranger to Rosetta either.

While working in Thomson, she enrolled in Winthrop’s W.I.L.L. (Winthrop Invests in Lifelong Learning) program, an ongoing reading and computer skills program for staff members. 

During her time there — every  Monday and then later every Tuesday — she grew close with her tutor, Charlene Boggs. 

She also improved with every class she took, said Sylvia Cureton, a custodial worker currently working in Johnson Hall and Rosetta’s eldest daughter. 

Saturday, her mom’s hard work paid off. 

Rosetta’s niece, Carlesha Byers, presented her aunt with a certificate of completion for the program.

Though she has no immediate plans upon retirement, Rosetta said she already misses getting up and greeting students in the mornings.