‘Lucky’: Atrium surprises hospital security guard with recognition for his retirement

CHARLOTTE — For as long as Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital has been taking care of young patients, security guard Fla Marks has been there greeting families from the moment they walk in.

“They transferred me down here and didn’t know where to put me. This was the day before Levine opened; there were no patients in the building,” Marks said. “They put me at the podium, they said ‘this is your job.’”

Now, after 33 years with the Atrium Health family, Marks is stepping down from his podium into retirement. He’s leaving a job that’s become so much more than that.

“I’m not married, I don’t have any children, I’m single and live in a traditional neighborhood with families around,” Marks said.

He said in a way, the kids at Levine have become his family, and he’s there on some of the best days of people’s lives and some of the worst.

“Sometimes, God puts you into a place and my favorite saying I live by every day: God tests you with people and they are angels, and I look at some of these patients are angels,” he said.

He said he remembers the families that he’s met so well that he can call them by name.

While his friendly face will disappear from the front lobby, his name will forever be there. Marks was surprised, on his last day, with the dedication of a security podium and a Tree of Life Coin. The coin is the highest honor at Atrium that recognizes someone’s outstanding dedication to their mission.

As he takes off his badge, he’ll be taking with him the gratitude and the love for the hospital family and patients who’ve filled his life all these years.

“A lot of them make me realize how lucky I am, and how lucky I am in helping the families,” Marks said. “Sometimes, it gets lonely walking into the house but I’m tired and I have a good feeling because I’ve been with my family all day.”

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