Maw Maw, Donna Frazier, adored by many, has been cleaning the elementary school for over 20 years. Not only does she keep the classrooms and halls spotless, she also builds relationships with the children she is with. Even at 81, she doesn’t let her age stop her from her dedication to cleaning the school. Maw Maw is tough yet kind, which is why she is adored by so many people. I sat down and got the chance to ask her a few questions about her and her past to see how it shaped who she is today.

Q: Everyone calls you Maw Maw. Why is that?

A: That started from the very first kindergarten class in this school. The kids asked me what they could call me and I said, ‘Well, ‘Ms. Frazier’ is a little long [of a] name, and ‘aunt’ is not good, but my grandchildren call me Maw Maw. So they started calling me Maw Maw! And then all at once, the teachers started [calling me Maw Maw], and then my whole neighborhood called me Maw Maw! And I’m flattered about it. I like that.

Q: Can you tell me about where you are from and about your childhood?

A: I was born in Arkansas and I have lived all over the country! I was born in 1940, and back then, the only place you could get a job was working out in the fields if you were a poor person. I hated school, I didn’t want to go to school! So when my dad would go to the field, I’d sneak out of the house and go pick cotton in a bucket! I hated being in the house. I’ve picked green beans, I’ve picked fruit, you name it, I’ve picked it. Not many people like to work, but I do. As you know, I’m 81 years old and still working!

Q: How did you get involved with cleaning at CSD?

A: I got hurt many years ago, my legs, and I would sit around and cry and feel sorry for myself, so we moved to Virginia just to get me away from that area. Joy wanted me to move [to Davidson] so if anything happened I would be by her. We did. I said ‘If I move there, you let me clean the school’ and she said ‘absolutely’! So I started cleaning! And pretty soon I told her, ‘I don’t want to sit at home feeling sorry for myself. I need to get well.’ And so I’ve been here something over 21 years and I’ve loved every minute of it. These are my babies!”

Q: What do you do at CSD? 

A: I sweep, mop, clean toilets if they need to be done. I have little kids that wanted to start helping me. I picked out “Trash Kids” and ended up with little sweepers. It started out as two or three kids and I would pay them a dollar a day, candy, pizza parties at the end of the year, and five dollars for Christmas!”

Q: What’s your favorite part about what you do at CSD?

A: There’s so much. Ms. Joy asked me, “Mom when I retire what are you going to do? Are you going to stay at school?” I said dagum right! My babies are at this school. That’s my favorite part, keeping [the school] clean because I was brought up by a mom that believed that everything was supposed to be clean. If we [siblings] got near a bed after she got it made… Ooh boy! I just feel like every child should go to a clean school.