Feeds‘Ms. B’ steps down after 42-year career
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Brenda Joyce PearsonThe traditional gold watch didn’t seem quite sufficient to mark the retirement of Brenda Joyce Pearson from her 42-year career with Wayne County last month.
That usual symbol was replaced with an engraved Danbury clock, a Detroit City Council Testimonial Resolution, a certificate of achievement from Wayne County Commissioner Joan Gebhardt and a certificate of congratulations from Wayne County Clerk Cathy M. Garrett.
All were presented to thank “Ms. B.” for her long tenure in the office of the Detroit City Clerk, where she had become a mainstay after more than three decades.
Pearson, an Inkster resident, graduated from Robichaud High School in 1965 and enrolled at Ferris State College where she attended classes for two years. Some financial reverses prompted her to take a new career direction and earn her accreditation as a hospital technical assistant. She was hired at Wayne County General Hospital in May of 1967 where she worked for 11 years.
She was initially assigned to the Walter P. Reuther Building psychiatric division and then to the newborn nursery. She also worked in pathology as a laboratory technician during her health care tenure. When the hospital was closed in December of 1978, she was assigned to the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, then called the City County Building.
After completing her training, she was sworn in as a registered deputy clerk in December of 1978 and worked in several county departments.
She said she enjoyed all her assignments, working in assumed names, registering gun permits and notary publics. Pearson said her co-workers made her job enjoyable and that she was fortunate to work under three terrific Wayne County clerks.
She wouldn’t name a favorite from her first boss James R. Killeen through Teola P. Hunter and Cathy M. Garrett.
“All three were very good leaders,” she said with a bright smile.
“I’m going to miss working downtown. It’s time to go into a new direction,” she said.
In addition to her other accolades, Pearson also received a certificate of appreciation from AFSCME upon her retirement.
