Grocery shoppers in Canadian now will find themselves missing a smiling and familiar face in Lowe’s aisles. Bernita Thompson has retired as of today, Friday, Aug. 11, and she is just short of having served there for 28 years. She started at Lowe’s in October of 1995. Thompson says she has worked since she was 16 years old, when she had her first job at the local Dairy Queen, eventually becoming a manager. For several years she ran a home daycare center. Thompson’s plans for retirement are, in her words, “to enjoy life.” She also aims to have longer coffee breaks with her 93-year-old mother, Alma Thompson. And … her coworkers have a standing order in for her “monkey bread,” since she will have all that extra time. Thompson’s good friend, Dayla Cates, snapped the photo with the cake, cupcake and flowers at her retirement party which featured messages with versions of “No More 9-5.”

---In the photo: Lowe’s manager Jacque Wilson (left) with Bernita Thompson.