Sgt. Maj. Shirley Warner-Preacely lives to take care of others.

In May 1976, she joined the Army with the goal of buying her mother a house. Thirty-five years later, she’s retiring from her military job as chief human resources sergeant of the 412th Theater Engineer Command.

The 55-year-old said her duties are simple.

“I take care of soldiers,” Warner-Preacely said. “I make sure they’re trained and ready to be deployed, and I mentor them. People need to be listened to, and I’m an ear for them.”

One of her fondest memories, however, was when a soldier took care of her.

While stationed in Iraq from February 2008 until January 2009, Warner-Preacely was injured when a rocket exploded 30 feet from where she was standing.

Though everyone was on lockdown, a soldier ran to his bunk and returned with a first-aid kit.

“He didn’t have to come back,” Warner-Preacely said. “I’ll remember that for the rest of my life.”

In 1998, she became the first black woman to rise to the rank of sergeant major in the 412th.

“I don’t look at it as an accomplishment for myself,” she said. “I am just a soldier that succeeded in rank by doing what I’m supposed to do.”

Warner-Preacely will continue to work with the 412th as a civilian, as an Internal Review auditor, a job she has done since 1990.

Her last day in uniform was July 31, and her first day in her civilian job was Monday.

“I’ll miss the soldiers, but I’ll be working here — so I’ll still get to see everyone,” Warner-Preacely said. “But I can spend a lot more time with my family.”

Jacqueline Johnson is a human resource specialist for the 412th and has known Warner-Preacely since 1982. They began working together in 1996.

“She took me under her wing,” Johnson said. “I was at a point where I was ready to leave the military, but she sat me down and here I am 29 years later.”

Johnson added, “She’s an excellent leader. She goes to bat for her soldiers, and she’ll stand up against anybody.”

Warner-Preacely was born in Bolton and raised in Vicksburg with nine siblings by her mother and father, Ada and Berry Brown. She has a 16-year-old daughter, and her mother is now 85.

“I want that quality time with my family,” Warner-Preacely. “I enjoy what I do, but it’s time for this sergeant major to step down so someone else can step up.”

And, by the way, she has met her original goal. “My mom’s house is paid for. Now I’m going to concentrate on my own dream house.”