This is how school sent beloved custodian off to retirement

DURHAM, North Carolina -- After 44 years spent at Pearsontown Elementary School, a beloved custodian received a very special send-off Friday afternoon.

Gerald "Mr. Pearsontown" Snipes has deep roots at the Durham elementary school, even as a kid he attended the school as a student. Now, he will forever be a part of the school after they named the gym after him.

Snipes spent 38 of his 44 years at the school working as a custodian.

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"I'm ready to go and I'm ready to retire," Snipes said in front of a gym full of supporters. "I love y'all too... I love all y'all."

A GoFundMe page raised more than $17,000 that will allow him to travel in his retirement.