Emily Paine Carter

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Here was a silent scolding to my slacker-hood: Two fact-filled pages of Linda Markham's accomplishments, tallied during her 40-year banking career.

Proud daughter Mendy Flynn had felt moved to honor her mom's recent retirement from BB&T with that detailed news release.

"She's a very special lady, and definitely an inspiration to me," said Mendy, 41. "She's worked very hard, and achieved much."

Linda, 63, recalled having to get a permit at 15 or 16 for part-time work at J.J. Newberry's Main Street [Salem] department store during her Andrew Lewis High School days.

She said that after her 1962 ALHS graduation, "I thought I would just be married, with a family."

But life -- as life tends to do -- surprised her: in 1967 she ended up a single mom, she said. Needing to support herself and Mendy, she was hired as a bank teller by Frank Morton, one of the founders of Salem Federal Savings and Loan on College Avenue.

"I just needed a job! I had no plan that it would turn into a career," Linda said with a smile.

She added new skills and titles -- all the more impressive for having "started with only a high school education," as Mendy had e-mailed. "Within a year, she assumed duties of bookkeeper and treasurer."

Linda would come to wear many hats: assistant branch manager; manager; regional manager; vice president; retail banking manager; regional sales coordinator; regional branch operations manager -- through ever-growing numbers of bank branches. Her final promotion, in 2006, was to senior vice president, responsible for the 84 branches of BB&T's Southwest Region. Her hometown savings and loan had also seen changes through being sold or merged and merged again: Salem Federal, Virginia Federal Savings & Loan, Virginia First Savings Bank, BB&T, Main Street Financial, One Valley Bankcorp, First Virginia.

Along with her on-the-job training, Linda gained more education through Virginia Western Community College (later she served as adjunct faculty), and banking and leadership institutes.

The Salem native has quite the list of business, church and community activities and achievements: Salem/Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce president, 1990; Lewis-Gale Hospital trustee, 1990; outstanding member and president in 1993 of Valley Network Business and Professional Women; active member and officer of American Business Women's Association, Salem Charter Chapter; Funding Advisory Committee, Salem Rescue Squad.

She also has been an active member of Salem Baptist Church for 30 years, serving on many committees and as a Sunday School teacher. Folks, she can even sing, as she does in the sanctuary choir.

Somehow she also found time for volunteering with the United Way, American Lung Association, the Heart Fund and Muscular Dystrophy drives.

Such efforts earned Linda prized designations: Charter inductee, Salem Alumni Hall of Fame, and Roanoke Valley's Mother of the Year for 1993 in the business and professions category.

She became a reliable, beloved friend to longtime customers, Mendy wrote. Many turned out for a BB&T reception "to send me on my way," Linda said. Her plans are mostly about "catching up, doing things I couldn't before, like keeping my grandkids Kassie and Brandon over spring break. And maybe some small trips with my husband [Lawrence].

"I'll take it easy for a while. But I loved banking and the clients; it never seemed like a job. I've been blessed: One thing just led to another."