Sue Lomax, a Local Legend, Retires After 30-Year Career
By Heather Sleuter
Special to The Enterprise
Sue Lomax embodies hope and love for children and is a leader in Yolo County early childhood education. Having helped countless children and families over her nearly 30-year career, Sue joined the Yolo Crisis Nursery staff in 2019 and has been a wonderful part of our team. In addition to her vast expertise in the developmental needs of children ages birth to 5, Sue has a special way to bring the really hard days into light and make us all smile.
Sue’s ability to understand the trauma children have experienced and help them to learn how to express their feelings and behaviors in a more positive way is remarkable. Sue’s talents lie not only with the children she helps but also with the many childhood development professionals she mentors. Yolo County is a better place for children to grow up in as a result of Sue Lomax’s work and guidance.
“Sue is like a mother to the youth of Yolo County,” said Jennifer Thayer, president of Yolo Crisis Nursery. “Her love for working with children is immense.”
Sue delights in all children. She believes every child’s behavior is telling us something. Aggressive or bad behavior is not personal, it is just the only tool a child may have to express themselves. Our job is to see the behavior as information to better inform us on how to help a child. Sue loves to work with children to understand them and help them break out of a negative experience by developing the skills to take charge of how they feel and act.
In honor of Sue’s mother and mentor, Pamela, she and her family founded Pama’s Shoe Closet in her mother’s memory. Sue’s mother believed every child should have a new pair of shoes. Pama’s Shoe Closet is dedicated to making sure every child can experience the joy of a new pair of shoes. Pama’s Shoe Closet is now a permanent part of the Yolo Crisis Nursery. We are honored that Sue chose the Nursery to house Pama’s Shoe Closet, an organization so dear to her heart, in perpetuity.
Sue Lomax is retiring as the Yolo Crisis Nursery Assistant Director, but she has held numerous positions throughout Yolo County including ones with Communicare Health Centers, Head Start, and Yolo County Office of Education.
“Sue led Child Development and Family Services at CommuniCare Health Centers for over nine years, paving the way for innovative and child-centered approaches and services, said Sara Gavin LMFT, LPCC, Chief Behavioral Health Officer, CommuniCare Health Centers. “Sue has set the standard for all of us by modeling relentless commitment to children. Every family and community deserves a Sue Lomax.”
Sue has made our community stronger by helping thousands of children and families. At the Nursery, we will miss Sue’s compassion, smile, and sense of humor. Sue we will not say goodbye, only see you soon!
If you would like to make a donation to help a child in honor of Sue, you may do so at www.yolocrisisnursery.org/give and note that your donation is in honor of Sue Lomax.
— Heather Sleuter is the executive director of Yolo Crisis Nursery. This article originally appeared in the Davis Enterprise on Sunday, June 25, 2023.