Deaf Walmart associate puts customers first

In some circles, Sherry Bryant is an international celebrity.

She’s known for her great customer service, friendly manner, and ever-ready willingness to help anyone who needs it.

She loves her job, and loves talking about it — by writing, typing or through sign language.

Bryant was born deaf.

She’s one of the Walmart associates recognized on the Walmart50 website, which celebrates the global company’s 50 years in business.

“I write a lot, and it is the way I communicate!” she said. Bryant sees someone in need of help, she goes right up to them, taps them on the shoulder and whips out her memo pad and pen and asks what she can do.

She said she is touched by the recognition the company has shown her.

“It inspires me and I always will love Walmart. They are treating me equally and treat me like a hearing person … I love to serve customers and talk with them and (see) what their needs are.”

She laughs silently when she writes that she can read lips “if they talk slow.” She communicates with customers through “a lot of gestures” and writing and seems to have little trouble getting her message across.

“Her performance is great,” said her store manager, Suzzy Cortes. “She’s very outgoing, proud of the store, and proud of her work.”

Bryant works part time, and said her customers mostly want to know where things are or they have a question about an item. When not at Walmart, the mother of four likes to work with bead craft, recycling items into home décor, and going to ballet and Girl Scouts with her young daughters.

She and her husband Eric, who also has been deaf since birth, moved from Anthem to Senita in July. Married for six years, the couple has four children.

Sherry, who is 37, said the family moved to Maricopa because they like to be in the country and in a small town.

“I love it here and people are friendly and I like the way it is.”