Tribute Given To Sally Grubbs, Who Served Every Archbishop Of Atlanta

Published: August 21, 2003

A retirement luncheon was held at the Catholic Center July 25 in honor of Sally Grubbs, who for over 40 years directed business for all five archbishops of Atlanta. The following is the tribute given by Archbishop John F. Donoghue

Dear Friends,

Probably one of the most often-heard phrases in places of business is the simple request— “Could you get to the point?” But I would wager that the woman -- the lady -- we honor today, rarely if at all, ever heard that request during her entire career. And I would also wager that it was rarely necessary for her to make that request of anyone else.

Sally Grubbs has a way of understanding the point immediately, and of wasting no time at all in getting to it. And she has an equal gift for eliciting directness from those she is working with. The result of this has been a gift to the Archdiocese of unequalled achievement. For over forty years, Sally has directed business for the Archbishops of Atlanta in a way that wasted no one’s time, and respected everyone’s needs. And added to the monument of forty years of service is the fact that it was done for -- not one, not two, but for five archbishops of Atlanta, all of whom found her to be essential to their lives and irreplaceable in managing their business.

But Sally has also been the best of co-workers -- not because she was sweet and nice, or even the most patient of people, for we all know that in the heat of busy times, it was not wise to get in her way -- but Sally was the best of co-workers, because from her, you could always get an answer, and you could always count on that answer being the correct one. When you’re trying to get a project done, or trying to locate a person or place in the vast complexity of the Church, or you’re trying to pin down a particular bit of legislation or a local custom that everyone will be mad at you if you forget to observe -- if those are the kind of answers you are seeking, then you will value the person who can provide the answers, and that person, Sally Grubbs has always been.

Finally, and I know that Sally is probably thinking, along with some others -- “I wish he would get to the point” -- finally, we have to be grateful to Sally for her presence -- for being here -- day after day, year after year, most often the first at her desk, and almost as often, the last to leave -- and from the first to the last, loyal to the Church, loyal to the Lord.

That presence is what we will all miss the most. But Sally, we know that you will be thinking about us, and praying for us, and we want you to know that we will be thinking of you and praying for you as well. For nothing -- nothing can ever sever the connection that you have forged. We know that you have a family, who loves you, and who now want to enjoy your company, as we have been able to enjoy it for so many years. But we are also your family -- and we hope that as long as you can, you will visit us, and let us see you often. For we cannot imagine life in this building, or life in the Archdiocese of Atlanta without you, in body and in spirit. And to show how we feel, I ask everyone now to stand, and with me to applaud this most honored of our co-workers, and our good friend, Sally Grubbs.