The Power of Positivity: Larry Johnson Builds Strong Bonds Through Service

Doing the right things consistently over time paves the path to success. Larry Johnson demonstrates this daily as a 14-year veteran employee with GFL Environmental. While many in the world pursue success for their own gain, Larry’s view isn’t inward-facing. Instead, he uses his time to help others. As he diligently picks up waste as part of his 11-hour days, he lifts the spirits of people he meets.

All the Small Things
Josh has long seen the impactful difference Larry makes in Farmville. “Larry has been picking up at our house and office for several years. He always has a smile on his face, always speaks, and always can be seen doing the ‘small’ things that aren’t so small,” Josh explains.

“I try to get up early and go for a walk in the morning before a lot of the world wakes up, and I can’t count how many times I have seen Larry rolling a trash can for an elderly person. While others might say, ‘That isn’t in my job description,’ it’s not uncommon to see him going out of his way to pick up trash on the ground and help others in ways that aren’t in a job description.”

Satisfaction and Friendship
While Larry has a remarkable eye for detail and following through on his work, he has become a true friend to the town of Farmville. Larry is satisfied when he thinks about the people he feels close to in the community.

“A big part of what I love about my job is meeting people and becoming friends with many of them. I like the act of serving, and I especially like helping the older people here. This is a special place I feel connected to. I even know the names of all the dogs,” he says with a smile. “I was raised in a small town in La Grange, North Carolina. Farmville has always given me that same warm feeling I had growing up.”

Humility and Contribution
Many in Farmville have noticed Larry’s above-and-beyond mindset and positive spark. In November, Larry learned he had been nominated for GFL Environmental Driver of the Year. As part of the nomination process, many locals wrote letters of recommendation.

Larry says, “I had a chance to read about 40 of them. I was taken aback as I looked through what people had to say. I said, ‘Wow, are they talking about me?’ There aren’t many people who compliment what someone in this line of work does. Reading all their kind notes and comments means a lot to me.”

A Deep Bond
The bond between Larry and the town is one of mutual respect, admiration, and care. It is a friendship that just happens to involve waste collection. Farmville has touched Larry in many ways. One of the most meaningful to him occurred several years ago.

“It was about five years ago when my son, Emanuel Fisher, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He was 15 years old, and it was a very hard time,” Larry remembers. “But the town rallied around me. They prayed, supported me, and showed me how much they cared. It means a lot when people are in your corner.”

Today, Larry feels very grateful that Emanuel is cancer-free and leads a healthy life. In the process of getting to know Farmville, Larry has given back. When someone is sick or has suffered a loss in the family, Larry often makes extra visits to properties during the week.

“Somewhere down the line, it got personal between Farmville and me,” Larry says. “During my time with the company, I’ve been offered promotions. But I’ve had to turn them down. It’s like I work for Farmville. I don’t know when it got that way. When I started with GFL, I worked in another town and then transferred to Farmville. When that happened, I immediately fell in love with the town. It’s important to me that the people here know I care about them,” he says. “You can’t always tell, but people are going through many things. I want to be that person that comes to them, brings them positivity, and uplifts them.”

Away from work, Larry leads a busy life. He attends church on Sundays, looks forward to time with his family, bowls in a league each week, and cheers on his favorite sports teams, including the San Francisco 49ers. And if you’re looking for an example of someone who builds strong bonds with service, look no further because Larry Johnson is proof-positive of that ideal.