Beloved environmental services worker at Sentara Obici Hospital celebrates 35 years

“I don’t have nothing to depend on but God’s word,” is a song lyric you are likely to hear coming from patients’ rooms at Sentara Obici Hospital. Paulette Butler works in environmental services and her soft, beautiful voice has been singing it and lifting spirits for 35 years. Her supervisor, Tamara Spires, refers to Ms. Paulette as “her songbird” and said, “She brings light and love to everyone around her.”

Paulette Butler was born at Louise Obici Memorial Hospital 65 years ago and still lives in the city of Suffolk, Virginia. In 1990, she had two job interviews scheduled, and the bus stopped first at Louise Obici Memorial Hospital, which became Sentara Obici Hospital in 2006. She was applying to join the custodial staff and was asked if she could start immediately. Ms. Paulette did just that and has been on the job ever since.

For her, however, it is more than just a job, it is a calling. Not only does Ms.Paulette ensure each room is spick and span, but she also sits with patients and helps them with meals, baths, and wheelchair rides. She will repeatedly tell you how much she loves her patients, and they love her right back.

Reconnecting with a patient

In 2015, Lisa Nowalski was admitted to the Sentara Obici Hospital Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Her condition was grave, and she was diagnosed with sepsis. She spent five weeks in the ICU. She was in and out of consciousness, and she was uncertain and afraid.

Lisa’s “angel”, as she calls her, was Ms. Paulette. Her calm and reassuring presence set Lisa at ease, so much so that her condition would stabilize, and her blood pressure would improve. Lisa’s husband took notice and requested Ms. Paulette stop in as much as she could.

Eventually, Lisa recovered and was released from the hospital. For a while, the two women stayed in touch, but the pandemic set in and forced distance.

In March of 2025, Lisa wanted to reconnect with Ms. Paulette and shared an “in search of” post on the Everything Suffolk Facebook page. That’s all it took. Dozens of people responded about their experiences with Ms. Paulette, how her kindness impacted them, and what a special person she is to every patient she encounters. Lisa was able to find her “angel” again, and the two ladies intend to stay close.

Many of Ms. Paulette’s patients have remained in her life. Each morning and every evening, she sends inspirational messages to at least 35 former patients from her little flip phone. “It’s hard for me to forget a person,” she said.

In addition to her work at the hospital, Ms. Paulette volunteers at a local thrift store and at a nursing home, and she teaches Bible school. Ms. Paulette’s life has been one of service to others, and she is a cherished friend and colleague at Sentara Obici Hospital.