By Betty Dawson

My personal tribute to Petrina Sankey presents a woman who never gives up even when the goal seems impossible. 

When I see Petrina, Trina to me, my mind goes back to the tall skinny little girl with big eyes and ponytails playing basketball in my back yard with the boys. One day I asked my son, “Who’s the new boy playing with you today?” His answer was, “That’s Trina. She’s a girl.” 

I immediately went to the door and told her to come inside and play with my little girl. I said, “You do not need to be playing with those big boys. They will hurt you.” Her answer was, “They are my brothers”. 

She played with them all the time. From that day forward, I learned she was just as tough as her brothers and could play basketball better than some of them. 

Trina was in and out of my house regularly for the next twelve years. She babysat for me, and I nurtured her when she had a broken arm, leg or jammed finger. Trina was accident prone. We celebrated if she went three months without an accident.  

As I watched her grow up, we talked and discussed what she wanted to do in her career. She was always loving and caring. She was left in charge of her older brothers and made sure they did their chores before her mother came home from work.  

I could clearly see Trina was going to be a strong-minded and no-nonsense lady ready to do whatever was necessary to get the job done.

She selected education as her choice of career. She graduated from Luverne High School (LHS) in 1994, then attended Lurleen B. Wallace Community College and received her associate’s degree. 

Trina is the mother of two beautiful children and has one grandson. Her children have finished high school and attended the colleges of their choice. Trina kept her goal of completing her own degree in education. She graduated with her Bachelor of Science in education from Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) in 2020. 

Trina is currently pursuing her master’s in education from AUM. I know she will accomplish this in due time. Petrina never gives up.

She started working with the Crenshaw County Board of Education at LHS in 2015. She wears many hats in her position aside from the librarian. She’s the varsity girls’ basketball coach and past sponsor for the cheerleaders.  

She works in the concession stands, and organizes events to celebrate the holidays the school participates in. You can find her knee deep in decorations or helping another teacher with their events. She does not know how to say no. 

Petrina is willing to do 100% and more to get the job done. She’s loving, smart, strong minded, nurturing and kind to everyone. 

She recently lost her dad, brother and mother. She grieved appropriately but returned to school to continue her job as an educator.  

I commend her perseverance this Women’s History Month for never giving up. She has dedicated her life to education, mentorship and leadership to shape the minds and futures of all generations. 

Keep moving forward Trina. Together we will all win.