“I thoroughly enjoy helping children and motivating them to become productive citizens, and the camaraderie among my colleagues makes Gretna Middle a wonderful place to work. “ -- Sue Funderburk

Sue Funderburk, guidance counselor, has been proudly selected as Employee of the Week for Gretna Middle School.  Her dedication to her job, her willingness to give more than 100% for students, her detailed organizational skills with testing, and her fervent desire to secure the emotional and academic welfare of students make her one of a kind.  “Mrs. Funderburk is just a true jewel in so many remarkable ways,” states Principal Vera Glass.  “She has become an integral and vital component of our GMS family.”

Sue Funderburk has been a guidance counselor at Gretna Middle School for the past five years and previously at Dan River Middle for nine years.  A Chatham native, she started her teaching career in the Richmond City Schools over the objection of her father who wanted her to teach in the County.  During the past fourteen years, she realized that her father’s advice was absolutely best. 

She says, “I thoroughly enjoy helping children and motivating them to become productive citizens, and the camaraderie among my colleagues makes Gretna Middle a wonderful place to work.  I often wish that parents could have some idea of the amount of time and dedication that our entire staff puts into each child’s education.”

Sue lives with her husband Jim in Altavista.  Between them, they have five children, all married, and seven grandchildren.  She is an active member of Lane Memorial United Methodist Church where she sings in the choir, teaches an adult Sunday School class, belongs to a circle, and is a trustee. Her hobbies include flower gardening, genealogy, antiquing, and helping her husband in his photography work.