#Stately: Deceased Employee to be Mounted in Familiar Pose

by Wanda Rowell
February 21, 2007

Yolanda Fitzgerald, former State Administration of Human Services and Health Related Stuff Deputy Commander for the Audit Investigation Management and Law Effectiveness Service Society from 2004 to 2006, died Sunday evening after a long illness. As requested, the body will be stuffed and mounted and on display in her former office at her desk after a special ceremony later this year.

"Yo was a great boss, she'll be missed," longtime employee Danny Turner said, who worked with Fitzgerald for nearly 20 years prior to her appointment to the deputyship. "She had a real presence about herself. You always knew she was hunched over at her desk, with the door closed, steadily working at something or festering in her own despondent anger."

Fitzgerald’s former office will be renovated into a special climate-controlled area to allow the long-time occupant to retain its customary stance and motions. Preliminary plans include having Fitzgerald face the door, somewhat of an irregularly, to remind future generations of employees what Fitzgerald looked like. Continuing tradition, the door will be shut and the wall-high windows will have the curtains drawn.

"I can't say I will be glad to see her again, but at least I know I can tell her off again and this time not get chastised and docked in pay," said employee Bruce E. Fresh. "That's cool."

Fitzgerald enlisted in state government work in 1981 and toured around to various agencies and department for the next decade, before settling down in the State Health Agency in 1992. In 1998 she joined the Phrenocaid program and in a few years had wrestled her way to the top of the interview sheet for promotion to deputy-level management. For the next two years a new sense of attitude was forged with Fitzgerald's undeniably frigid leadership style and values. She is credited with bringing a more "suspect" sense to the position and outlawed personal calls during the 2005 holiday season due to numerous volume of calls and few people showing up to take them.

SAHSHRS Exalted Commander Lewis "Sweet T" Bailey said that Fitzgerald’s death was a “major drag,” adding “achy one-two, one-two-three.” Bailey noted in an email to staff that “while deaths happen all the time, it wasn’t a good time for her to go. I’ve worked with her on some stuff and, while I didn’t git the jist of it, I knew she knew what she was sayin’. Schlow-low, low.”

Fitzgerald is survived by her husband, Anthony, of 32 years; two sons, Josef and Xavier; a daughter, Grisdela; and nine grandchildren. Monetary memorials can be thrown at the body’s feet once it is installed and securely fastened in her chair.