Retiring school janitor given surprise send-off by students, staff

Eighty-three-year-old retiring janitor John Lockett is given a moving send-off by the students, faculty and administrative staff of Sand Hill Elementary School in Georgia, United States. Image: Facebook/Sand Hill Elementary School

A retiring school janitor from Georgia, USA, was reduced to tears after students, faculty and administrative staff surprised him with a moving send-off.

Eighty-three-year-old John Lockett is a familiar face in the Carroll County School System, having worked as a janitor for the system for over 10 years, as per 11Alive last May 17. So, when Lockett had to retire, it was only apt the students and staff of Sand Hill Elementary School in Carrollton throw a send-off worthy enough for their beloved custodian.

“He’s at work every day no matter how bad he feels with a smile on his face,” school principal Carla Meigs said in the news report. “Almost the grandfather at school. The kids like to give them hugs.”

The school threw the send-off for Lockett on Friday, May 17, calling the occasion “Mr. John Day.” Scenes from the event were shared on the school’s official Facebook page and showed a tearful Lockett draped in a cape and crown as the children surrounded him.

https://www.facebook.com/sandhillelementary/posts/2318076488256231?__xts__[0]=68.ARDTSn0INFyVhNN3jmEBp6Wt72P1sqpgZEkr12yzn0pd_ZJEtOWUn054Wwgx8i7AcH0XGGhQXoM1q73-Ql951cwkWdDfBpmNRWnxiui1jZIIRrMDxolMKnZyVB6uRBi3B4Iniu5VSpm1-k5G_psCwpCtTDNapzJveiZ03lC-iAl8P4RXBGYWwFfIcgsR6DNd_370Eq80QRIxqxgt-ZfSXCi6b62o1vvvRtS76db8sk2REaO8V-wIJcJwws5zOsCErhB7peiT3GWm8ENiCILaXcIk2XSOTVNSFEJ-19quWjh2fmuZ1YkeKui7ggA_mzwCQZXIrQyohe5AQtnO4F2Bhnh5Iw&__tn__=-R

As he walked down the hallway carrying baskets, students gave him cards and chanted his name. Lockett was not expecting the send-off and said he was “surprised to death.”

“These kids mean the world to me,” said Lockett. “I come here and try to clean their school and I try to do it right because I know germs and disease is out there. The school is definitely a family to me. I love every one of those teachers.” Cody Cepeda /ra

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