Cordele —
CORDELE — She serves over 300 cups of coffee a day. Because of her cheerful attitude, Mary Fletcher has been nominated as Pilot Travel Center’s ‘Best Coffee Host in America’.
Ricky Smith, a regular customer at the local Pilot, nominated Fletcher. “She is such a great ambassador for Cordele,” he says. “We get a lot of interstate travelers who come in Pilot. If they talk to Mary a little bit, they leave with an awesome impression of Cordele.
“She is such a happy and cheerful person,” Smith says. “She just makes my day. If you can start your day with a cup of coffee and Mary Fletcher, it is a great day.”
Continuing Smith says, “I have been in a few Pilots and I have no doubt in my mind that we have the ‘best coffee host.’ We just need to get people to vote for her.”
If Mary finishes as one of the top 3 coffee hosts, Smith will receive free coffee for a year because he nominated her.
The voting period for the contest begins Aug. 1 and continues through Aug. 31. Anyone can vote for Mary at www.facebook.com/pilotcareers.
“I sure would appreciate your vote online,” Fletcher says.
If she wins, she will receive a 5-day paid vacation, 500 Top Gun Points, special recognition at the 2011 general managers meeting, and a special uniform shirt displaying her ‘Best Coffee Host’ status.
Fletcher, who helped open the Pilot Travel Center in ‘97, has been a coffee host there for five years. “I have many regular customers,” Fletcher says, with whom she is on a first name basis.
When she arrives at work at 4 a.m., Mary says she rinses out all the pots and makes fresh coffee every morning for her valued customers.
Fletcher’s hard work and contagious smile have carried her a long way to becoming well-known in the area. She always receives 100 on her evaluation by mystery shoppers, she says.
One such shopper is quoted as saying, “I observed Mary in the coffee area cleaning, brewing coffee, greeting and assisting customers, and suggestive selling during my visit.”
She also said the coffee area was very clean, free of debris and all the products/condiments were available for use and fully stocked.
“She’s awesome,” says Ateet Panjwani, manager at the Pilot. “She makes my job a lot easier. She is always smiling.”
Panjwani said the fact that the Pilot has a coffee host is what differentiates it from all other gas stations. He says it is a very important piece to the store.
Besides the 14 years she lived in Atlanta, Fletcher has been a resident of Cordele all her life. “I moved back in ‘95,” she says. “I am one of ten children. My parents, who are now deceased, had eight girls and two boys.” Fletcher has a son, Loroderick Smith, who lives in Riverdale and is a truck driver.
She enjoys reading, shopping, and playing with her two puppies, Chico and Deuce. “I love to watch Oprah Winfrey,” she says. “I have to watch her every day at 4 p.m.” She is a member of the New William Grove Baptist Church.
Fletcher says, “I plan on retiring from here.”
Everyone in the community is encouraged to vote for this sweet, dedicated lady online to make her America’s “best coffee host.”
Local news
Related Photos
-
Vote Fletcher 'Best Coffee Host'
Vote Fletcher 'Best Coffee Host'
- Local news
-
-
Jones named Crisp teacher of year
LaCrystal Jones, Crisp County High School's teacher of the year, was named system-wide winner of the top honor during a program at Crisp County Middle School Thursday morning.
-
Police make arrests for armed robbery, theft by deception
Police have provided no details for a couple of arrests officers made in non-routine cases listed in a press release reporting the department’s Wednesday activity.
-
Four sheriff's candidates qualify
By 3 p.m. Thursday, four candidates had qualified to run for sheriff of Wilcox County.
-
Qualifying begins with several seats contested
Qualifying for the July 31 partisan and non-partisan primary elections began Wednesday, and activity has been brisk in the tri-county area so far.
-
Crisp Superior Court clerk receives award
Jean H. Rogers, clerk of the Superior Court of Crisp County, is the recipient of the Stetson E. Bennett Superior Court Clerk of the Year award for the State of Georgia.
-
Suspect still being sought in $750,000 marijuana seizure in Wilcox
The search continues for a suspect wanted for questioning in connection with the seizure of $750,000 worth of marijuana last Thursday at a home on May Road.
-
Police called to investigate burglary, thefts
City police have been asked to investigate a burglary and two thefts that took place on Monday or Tuesday.
-
Crisp 4-H shooter takes top honors
Nikki Smith, a member of the Crisp County 4-H .22 Rimfire Team finished 1st out of 75 shooters with a score of 594 out of a possible 600 at the state match at Rock Eagle 4-H Center near here.
-
Convenience store clerk, resident wounded in early Sunday shootings
A convenience food store owner leaving his business for the night and a man inside his home were wounded in shootings that occurred within a span of just over two hours early Sunday morning.
-
Burnette passes
Long-time resident and community leader Jean Burnette passed away Sunday. Burnette served the City of Cordele first as assistant city administrator from 1974 until 2000 when she became city administrator. She retained that position until her retirement in 2010.
- More Local news Headlines
-
Police: Man Arrested in Etan Patz Disappearance
Hurricane Forecast: 15 Named Storms Expected
NYC Protests: the Revolution Will Be Scripted
Chicago U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald Resigns
Neighbors of Etan Patz's Suspect: It's Shocking
Search Intensifies for Missing Louisiana Woman
Bloomberg: Man Implicates Self in Etan Patz Case
NYPD: Person Implicated in Etan Patz Death
Raw Video: Fire on Nuke-powered Sub in Maine
Illegal Burn Suspected in Nevada Fire
Obama: 'We've Got More Work to Do'
Astrologers Predict Outcome of Presidential Race
Gulf Fishermen Reel From Seafood Troubles
Stuntman Makes Skydive Without Parachute in UK
FAMU Bandmates: Victim Volunteered to Be Hazed
Raw Video: Bride Who Faked Cancer Released
Raw Video: Tornado Appears During Wedding
Raw Video: Passed Out Man Robbed
Inquiry Hears Wider Secret Service Misbehavior
HP to Cut 27,000 Jobs, Save Up to $3.5B
