By Wilson Cherry

For the Salisbury Post

SALISBURY — Terry Davis’ bright, beaming smile radiates from his face anytime you meet or see him out and about. Few people would comprehend his joy and infectious spirit, given the many challenges he has endured over the last few years. 

Davis has demonstrated a great deal of intestinal fortitude and resilience as he has experienced the untimely deaths of his father, mother and one of his sisters. 

While a North Rowan High School student, he joined the North Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Program. This state agency assists individuals with emotional, mental and physical disabilities in becoming gainfully employed and contributing, tax-paying members of their communities. 

Davis participated in a job-seeking skills workshop and a summer vocational evaluation at Rowan Vocational Opportunities, Inc. to help determine his skills and job readiness before graduating.

When he graduated from North Rowan in 2001, he applied and was hired at Food Lion in Spencer. 

He returned to Rowan Vocational Opportunities in the fall of 2001 and began working as a warehouse assistant. Little did he realize that with his summer work experiences, he would soon be linked to Food Lion and RVO for over 20 years each.

Effective partnerships between community employers and RVO have become vital when preparing young people for employment opportunities. Rowan and Cabarrus Vocational Opportunities have provided a contractive pathway for individuals to learn job-seeking and retention skills while helping with job placement and life skills training.

“Hiring positive, hardworking people like Terry certainly enhances our brand, image and quality of service,” said Jennifer Bextre, Davis’ customer service manager at the Food Lion located in Spencer. “Terry is amazing. There is no job too big for him once he is given proper directions and instructions. Terry is a popular and valued employee for our customers and staff alike. He always brings an enthusiastic, positive and committed work ethic to the job, which really has a significant impact on our workplace culture.”

Meanwhile, RVO Executive Director Gary Yelton said, “Terry’s dependability, desire and motivation are tremendous assets to our agency’s productivity and growth.”

Davis said the lessons he lives by were learned from his parents. 

“My parents taught me that whatever I do, to do it well,” Davis said. “My dad believed you should be reliable, with no excuses. It’s my responsibility to be courteous, cooperative and kind to everyone who enters the store or the workshop. I really love both of my jobs, and I feel a special sense of belonging at each place.”

Despite common misconceptions about people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, Curtis Williams, warehouse manager at RVO and Davis’ supervisor, said, “Terry is like a fine-tuned watch; accurate, precise and always 100 percent moving forward.” 

“When I’m not at work, I’m fully confident that Terry will follow the instructions I leave for him and get the job done correctly. He takes a personal sense of pride in successfully completing whatever task he is assigned. Terry frequently asks questions, and he is always interested in learning new things.”

Yelton described how Davis stands out as an example of how individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities can excel. 

“Terry’s dependability, punctuality and desire to help others is a major asset to our agency’s growth and productivity,“ Yelton said.

Mark Schiemann, another of the RVO supervisors who works closely with Terry, said, “Terry stays busy all the time and is quite capable of performing most of the jobs in the production area with proficiency. He is very thorough in providing parts, supplies and tools for other employees.“

Garland Scarboro, Food Lion’s human resources manager for diversity, equity and inclusion, added, “At Food Lion, diversity, equality and inclusion are important to all aspects of our business, including workplace, marketplace, suppliers and the communities where we are located. Hiring people with various disabilities and special needs can enhance employee morale and provide various new insights, as well as creative and innovative ideas that can help improve company efficiency and overall operations.”

April Byrd, one of Davis’ lifelong friends and another RVO supervisor, revealed some interesting insights into Terry’s personality and values. 

“My mother, Ann Byrd, and Terry’s parents, Horace and Dorothy Davis, worked together for many years at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Salisbury,” Byrd said. “Our mothers were best friends, and our families did a lot of things together. Terry is very humble, yet he has a very off-beat and unique sense of humor. If you say to him, ‘I’m glad to see you,’ he usually responds with, ‘Aren’t you lucky.’

“He is such a funny and pleasant person to be around, and I’m very glad that we are friends and coworkers.”

Davis is often seen with headsets on and listening to gospel music. He is an avid Bible student who does not like to miss Bible study or Sunday worship services. He is an active member of Rhema Praise and Worship Center in Spencer.

Davis credits his parents for instilling a strong work ethic and spiritual commitment in him.

Food Lion recently donated $10,000 to RVO to help with their 17,000-square-foot warehouse extension. 

“Roddy Cobb and his many Food Lion associates have been very instrumental in supporting our efforts through their collaborative partnership with RVO,” Yelton said. 

Linda Johnson, senior vice president of human resources and communications at Food Lion, recently presented a check for $10,000 to RVO as a part of the company’s Community Investment Program. 

“We believe a diverse workforce makes us a better company, and it is essential to our continued growth,” Johnson said.

Food Lion has been at the forefront of hiring and supporting individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities.