By Dina Weinstein

With a swipe or tap of student ID cards, and with a smile that’s just as consistent, Miss Peaches ushers in hundreds of breakfast and lunch patrons every day to the student cafeteria at the top of Shafer Court’s spiral staircase. (And her sunny disposition belies the pain of two arthritic knees.)

Born in Fauquier County, Cherry was 12 when her mother moved the family to Richmond. She has worked since age 18, in jobs as varied as sausage maker and certified nursing assistant. Cherry’s daughter, Kim Lee, a supervisor at the Starbucks at VCU’s Cabell Library, encouraged her to apply to work for Aramark on campus in 2008, and she had several roles at Shafer Court before becoming the friendly face at the entry.

VCU Dining is an even broader affair for Cherry. A granddaughter, Drieka, previously worked in Shafer Court, and her son, Keith Lee, works in the Commons. (Her husband of 22 years died several years ago.)

Amid the busyness of her shift, which starts with a pre-dawn arrival and ends at 3 p.m., VCU News caught up with Cherry for a peach of a chat.

How did you choose the nickname Miss Peaches?

I wanted something different. There was more than one Jackie working here at the time I started, so I came up with Peaches. I like peaches. Peaches are good fruit!

How do you view the purpose of your work?

My job is all about making sure that my babies have a good experience when they come upstairs. I’m the first person they meet when they walk into the Shafer dining room. You gotta give that first impression. You gotta make sure it’s pure love right there. Introduce yourself. “Hi, I’m Peaches. How are you doing today?” It doesn’t hurt to say good morning to anybody. And once we get that connection, that’s all. It flows.

Every day they look around that corner. If somebody different is up there, they ain’t going to say too much, but they’re going to ask where I’m at. If I’m there, they’ll come up the steps saying: “Good morning, Miss Peaches.” I say: “Morning, baby. How y’all doing this morning?”

And can you see your impact?

When students first come in, they don’t want to say nothing. They swipe that card and keep moving, even though I say “Good morning, baby. How you doing?” They probably get tired of me saying it. But they come back about six months later, and when I ask, they’re like, “I’m doing fine, Miss Peaches. How you doing?’ I say, “Took you long enough to get there!”

Some students say: “I’ve just been going through stuff.” I say: “What are you going through? What have you gone through? Remember this, I believe in you. I have faith in you, that you can do anything. Don’t you forget that.” That’s what I tell them. “No matter what you’re going through, you always stay peached up.”

“Stay peached up”?

It just means that nothing can get inside of you. Whatever’s going on with you that day, stay peached up. It’s going to go away. Go home with a clear mind and a clear heart.

What prompted that sensibility?

It was always instilled in me. I treat people decent every day. It’s just my humble way. I’m only doing God’s work. If my grandkids were going to college, I would want somebody to treat them with respect and show them support.

Speaking of family, what motivates you?

Life. Love. Grandbabies (she has 16, plus six great-grandchildren). Family. This is my other family (gesturing to Shafer Court and her colleagues). Aaron Morgan (who is food services director for Aramark VCU Dining Services) is one of the most incredible people you ever want to work for. He listens. If a child has got a problem, I call him on the phone. He listens.

That’s what motivates me. Don’t care how much pain I’m in in the morning: I’m going to get up and come feed my babies. I’m going to be at that register.

But forever? Retirement might be close, right?

I only need about three more years. But they told me I can’t retire because they can’t find anybody to replace Miss Peaches!

Gotta ask: What’s your favorite meal?

T-bone steak, mashed potatoes and gravy, string beans and carrot cake. Coconut cake, too.

And your dream meal companion?

Denzel Washington. He would hold a good conversation.

If you had to choose an “un-” word to describe yourself, what would it be and why?

Unimpeachable. It just occurred to me. That describes me!