What’s Right With Our Schools: Rutland High School lunch lady makes major impact

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – One step outside the classroom, and you are bound to meet those who impact the lives of teacher and students each day.

A Rutland High School lunch lady never stops putting smiles on staff members and students’ faces, even when life’s toughest moments are thrown her way.

With a warm greeting, “Mighty find day ya’ll,” Veronica “Ronnie” Hatfield’s voice can be heard from across the cafeteria each morning at breakfast, and during lunch.

After nine years, feeding almost 300 students in the morning, and more than 800 at lunch, serving it is not a job to Ronnie.

Her students say she is the highlight of their morning.

“It just helps me get my day started,” says student Jaquez Campbell.

Jeremy Moore adds, “She’s always really sweet to me. She’ll be singing, she’ll be talking to everybody, asking everybody how their morning is. It’s just really nice to hear.”

Ronnie shares songs with her lunch staff for encouragement, and as a reminder for her students to get their breakfast.

“We’re the Rutland servers and we’re hear to say you need to get your breakfast each and everyday,” sings Ronnie and her staff.

Behind her smile, life has been challenging for Ronnie, but she says her job gives her joy.

“I had my last treatment in January,” says Ronnie.

After undergoing several radiation treatments for breast cancer, Ronnie is now cancer free.

What impacted her the most during the time she was in treatment was her “babies,” or students’ concern for her well-being.

“Especially when I came back, and they were telling me about how much they were asking about me, and wanting to know where I was.”

A battle won, and yet another begins. This time it happens to deal with Ronnie’s dad.

“He has  Alzheimer’s, and he pretty much can’t do anything for himself anymore,” with tears in her eyes Ronnie says, “He still walks, talks a little bit, but everything else is on my sister and I.”

The journey has been emotional for a person who looks at life half full.

“To know the man he once was and now he’s…it’s rough. It gets rough sometimes.”

She offers advice to all she meets.

“Share their love…let everybody know that they’re loved, because when you feel like you’re not, that’s a hard feeling,” she says.

Not knowing what each individual is going through outside of Rutand High, Ronnie remembers to serve lunch with a smile, and a little Southern charm.

“I’ll do whatever I can to give them stuff I’m not suppose to give them,” she laughs saying, “If you want an extra biscuit, here baby.”

Ronnie adds, “You’ve got to make life what it is.”