MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. -- Every morning, Diane Frazier, 70, walks several blocks from her home in The Town of Quantico to the Marine Mart also known as the 7-Day Store, on Barnett Ave. It’s a familiar routine for the cashier who has worked for 23 years at Marine Corps Community Services but, on June 27, she will retire.
Frazier, affectionately known as “Ms. Diane” among Marines and other store patrons is more than a “Jane Doe” clerk who handles payments.
“Our customers know and love her. They wait in line [specifically] for Ms. Diane,” said Cheryl Menonna, store manager. “We had one Marine who hit big in Vegas, come back and bring her T-shirts, baseball caps and all kinds of souvenirs.”
It’s a close bond that Frazier said is mutual. Born in 1943, the Town of Quantico native spent her entire life completely surrounded by Marine Corps Base Quantico. In the early 1900s, her parents migrated from Greece to the small town of only 11 streets, where they raised Frazier and three other daughters.
“My dad owned a restaurant here — I can’t remember the name of it because he sold it before I was born,” Frazier recalled. “I remember when there was no back gate, [Marine Corps] University or a lot of what you see here today.”
Frazier’s career with MCCS began in 1991 at a store, located on Barnett Avenue, where the Barber Physical Activity Center is now. The store was a flower shop during the warm months and a toy store during winter months. Then, in 1994, she transitioned to the Marine Mart as a cashier, where she remains today. For the Quantico native, working among military members seems natural.
“I really love my Marines, they are like my second family, and I enjoy being a cashier,” Frazier said.
In the store’s employee break room, a photo of the 70-year-old and her co-workers dressed in Halloween costumes is taped on the wall. Frazier is dressed as a “lady of the evening” and her former boss dressed as a cop.
“She’s very upbeat, and she doesn’t take herself too seriously,” Menonna said, with a giggle as she glanced at the photo.
On a typical day, Frazier can be found behind the counter cracking jokes with customers and co-workers. Although she has a laid-back personality, Menonna said Frazier’s dedication to the job is unparalleled.
“I’m just amazed that she walks to work every day,” Menonna said. “Also, if I’m in a pinch on a Saturday because somebody calls out, I can call always call Diane, and she has no problem coming in.”
Despite health problems including, diabetes and epilepsy, which prevents Frazier from driving, she said the Marine Mart team has stood by her.
“When I found out that I had diabetes back in 2008, one of the employees, Eric Carter, came to see me in the hospital and that really meant a lot,” Frazier said. “They are really good to me here. I like to call them my second family.”
In the next chapter of her life, Frazier said she wants to spend more time with her three older sisters who are ages 76, 77 and 82. Although she will retire from full-time work this summer, Frazier hopes to work a day or two at the store.
“I won’t be able to stand staying home forever,” Frazier said. “I’m just so used to working, but if I don’t leave, eventually they’ll probably push me out.”
The plan is to take it a day at a time, but either way her absence won’t go unnoticed.
“I’m going to miss her personality, work ethic and laugh; she has an evil laugh,” Menonna said with a chuckle. “I hate to even place a tobacco order without her because she remembers everyone’s order.”
For anyone who wants to take an aim at working 23 years doing her job, Frazier leaves this parting advice.
“To be a good at this job, there needs to be cooperation among everyone, not just the managers or cashiers,” Frazier said. “You really have to work together as a team.”
Writer: afelton@quanticosentryonline.com