Tuesday, April 9, 2019

Following Footsteps


April 9, 2019
Law enforcement is a calling and sometimes following in one’s footsteps.

Oftentimes family traditions are carried out for generations and the Levy County Sheriff’s Office is family and we have our own traditions. Our family is not unique but we do have the best traditions.
Telecommunicator Edna Fuller (911 dispatcher) began her career with the LCSO on February 19, 1990. She has answered almost every type of call imaginable during her career. In addition to being the most tenured in the Telecommunications Division she is also a sworn deputy sheriff. Edna elected to be the “calm voice in the night,” and help our citizens in crisis by ensuring the right resources were sent to the people in need. 

Edna retired from the LCSO on November 20, 2014 with all of the fanfare one could imagine to honor her esteemed career. Edna spent her short lived retirement days with her grandchildren and enjoying her favorite past-time, fishing. But, how much fishing can one lady do? About a year and a half and then she came back to work. She rejoined the Communications Division on February 1, 2016 in a part time status doing what she loved for so many years, answering the calls for those in need.
Edna didn’t just return empty handed, she had fostered the love for telecommunications within her own family. We are certain had a big hand in directing her own granddaughter, Samantha Gilliard, into joining the LCSO team.

Samantha joined the LCSO Telecommunications Division on August 31, 2015. Samantha is currently assigned to the Alpha shift nights. She too is “the calm voice in the night,” and has excelled in this position following her grandmother’s footprints. 

Telecommunications Division Supervisor Donna Capps had the following to say about her experiences with Edna and Samantha:

“I have worked with Edna Fuller since 1995 and I admired her knowledge and passion for this career. I recall watching her perform her duties as a Telecommunicator and witnessed her quickly switch roles no matter the need of the caller.

Mrs. Capps continued by saying, “Over the years of working together, I’ve listened to stories about her family. Soon, her family became a familiar part of our Sheriff’s Office family; it felt as though they were an extension of our family as well.  They cooked family dinners on holidays, but also remembered their family members at the Sheriff’s Office, often delivering meals to the telecommunicators who were on duty during the holiday times. 

“I recall Edna telling us stories about their family gatherings, and one particular granddaughter taking interest in our work. She would tell us how she was constantly questioned about what she did at work.  In 2015 I finally met this granddaughter, Samantha Gilliard.”

Samantha had recently moved from Georgia to be closer to her mother and grandmother, Edna.  Soon Samantha became a part of our work family and it was apparent she was “A chip off of the old block”.  Her passion and deep commitment to the Levy County Citizens was immediately evident and undeniable. Both of these ladies share this same trait.

Sheriff McCallum said we at the Sheriff’s Office and most importantly our citizens have been and continue to be blessed by the dedication, work ethic and caring attitude of these two wonderful employees. Thank you to this grandmother and granddaughter team for the exceptional job you both do each and every day.