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On Wednesday, the Troup County School System held a retirement reception for 48 faculty and staff members in the district retiring this year.

Superintendent Brian Shumate said he appreciated all the hard work put in over the years by the retirees.

“We are thankful for the services of these 48 retirees at the Troup County School System. They represent the many different job classifications who all contribute to the daily operations and overall success of our students,” Shumate said.  “This was a very nice ceremony and a great way to honor them in front of their family and friends as they end their careers and begin the next phases of their life. We are hopeful some of them will choose to come back to work for us part-time. We are very proud of them and honor them for all the service they gave to Troup County.”

Guest speaker, LaGrange Mayor Willie Edmondson said he was thankful for the long-lasting impact the retirees have had on the youth of Troup County and encouraged them to get involved in afterschool programs in their newly allotted free time.

“I’m standing on the shoulders of a lot of people. I’m standing on the shoulders of teachers that said that I could make it. I’m standing on the shoulders of teachers that went out of their way to make sure that I had everything in education I could possibly get,” Edmondson said. “In the 30 years that you’ve been teaching, you have changed many lives. Your former students will come up to you and thank you, for chastising them, thank you for leading them and thank you for making a difference in their lives.”

Troup County Commission Chairman Patrick Crews said he encourages the new retires to take time to rest but also stay active.

“It’s very important to stay active. You cannot just be at home for the rest your life — you’ve got to stay active. With the skill set you all have, I’m sure Dr. Shumate would be to be happy to welcome you back in many different positions,” Crews said. “The children need you — you are needed and I encourage you to look for something that will allow you to use that knowledge and get involved in the city.”

The full list of retirees are the following:

Callaway Elementary

Laura Eady – Eady is retiring after 30 years in TCSS She was a third grade EIP teacher. In her retirement, she will continue working with her mother in real estate, join Burns marketing with her brothers and spend many extra hours with her grandchildren.

Elizabeth Johnston — Johnston is retiring after 12 years.

Kaye White — White is retiring after 21 years in TCSS but has a total of 33 years in education. She is planning to learn new hobbies, spend time with family and friends and enjoy living life.

Clearview Elementary

Elizabeth Gilmartin — Gilmartin is retiring after 11 years in TCSS and has 24 years in education.

Sherri Watts – Watts is retiring after 23 years in education.

Ethel Kight Elementary

Kay Allen – Allen is retiring after 21 years in TCSS.

Janie Cummings – Cummings is retiring after 18 years in TCSS

Elaine Harless – Harless is retiring after 18 years and plans to travel, volunteer, garden and enjoy being with her family.

Charles Smith – Smith is retiring after 28 years in TCSS.

Franklin Forest Elementary

Kimbrough Crawford – Crawford is a title one teacher and is retiring after 30 years in TCSS. She plans to enjoy family and friends and see what the future holds.

Donna Jones – Jones is retiring after 29 years in TCSS.

Mary Denise Giddens –  Giddens is a TOSA and is retiring after 28 years in TCSS. She plans to spend lots of time with her new grandbaby, do mission work through her church, and tour the United States with her husband. Her goal is to visit the best shopping mall in every state while he visits the best golf club in every state.

Hillcrest Elementary

Dorothy Kay Deloach – Deloach is retiring after 29 years in TCSS.

Sherri Everett – Everett is a K-5 Gifted Resource Teacher and is retiring after 30 years. During retirement, she plans to become a substitute teacher as often as possible because she still has a love for teaching, and spending time with her family. 

Hollis Hand Elementary

Deborah Brannon – Brannon is a second grade teacher at Hollis Hand is retiring after 16 years in TCSS and 28 years in education. She plans to spend time with her grandchildren, travel and read.

Georgia Hammock – Hammock is a Kindergarten paraprofessional is retiring with 34 years in TCSS. She plans to spend time traveling and with her grandchildren.

Jeannie Partridge – Partridge is a first grade teacher and is retiring with 30 years in TCSS. Next school year, she plans to teach second grade at Springwood in Lanett, Alabama.

Long Cane Elementary

Carla Edmonson – Edmondson is a family liaison at Long Cane and is retiring after 18 years. After retiring, she will become a caregiver for her mom and her sister.

West Point Elementary

Yvetta Abercrombie – Abercrombie is a Kindergarten teacher and is retiring after 23 years in education. She plans to travel, spend time with family and friends.

Callaway Middle

Coach Jimmy Askew  –  Askew is a technology teacher at Callaway Middle. He is retiring after 10 years. His future plans will be to work at home in his wood craft shop.

Gardner Newman Middle School

Jennifer Jones –  Jones is retiring with 2 years in TCSS but a total of 30 years in education. She is currently enrolled at Auburn University in the Adult Education Department. She plans to eventually seek employment at Auburn, hopefully to work with new teachers.

Angela Lockhart – Lockhart is retiring after 22 years and says her future plans include waiting for her next assignment in life.

Serena Norris – Norris was the school secretary at Gardner Newman. She is retiring with 21 years.

Long Cane Middle School

Gay Davis – Davis is retiring after 16 years as a paraprofessional. She plans to volunteer in the community, going to the beach, dabbling in her art and traveling at any time.

Ronald Sivell – Sivell is a math co-teacher and cross country coach. He is retiring after nine years in TCSS but has a total of 30 years in education. He’s not sure of his future plans at the moment, but he wants to travel to see the Tour de France and see more of the U.S. He also wants to ride his bicycle from coast to coast one day.

Callaway High School

Deborah Chambers – Chambers is retiring after 16 years and was the Exceptional Education Department Chair and teacher at the school. She has 30 years in education and plans to continue working in Alabama.

Jackie (Jack) Morman – Morman is retiring after 30 years and has served in several roles at different schools in TCSS including principal, assistant principal, teacher and drama teacher. In retirement, he plans to play with his grandchildren Cyrus and Gwen as much as possible and continue to put on theatrical productions in schools and in the community.

Lurlene Partridge – Partridge is retiring as the discipline secretary and is retiring after 34 years. She plans to travel and enjoy life.

LaZette Reich – Reich is an Ex Ed teacher and is retiring after 30 years.

Bernice Stephens – Stephens is retiring after 27 years as the records clerk in the registrar’s office. She plans to spend more time with her grandchildren.

THINC College & Career Academy

Dawn Hunt – Hunt us an Exceptional Education teacher and is retiring after 18 years. Her future plan is to do whatever comes up and travel to Spain and Portugal for a few months and visit friends around the U.S.

Troup High School

Judy Robinson – Robinson is retiring after 18 years.

Janie Sargent – Sargent is retiring after 13 years in TCSS and 34 years in education.

Sandra West – West is retiring after 19 years.

Pamela Bridges –  Bridges was the bookkeeper at Troup High School. She is retiring after 13 years. She plans to relax and enjoy life.

TCSS Virtual Academy at Hillcrest Elementary

Amelia Combs – Combs retiring after 17 years. She was a reading and social studies teacher. She plans to spend time with her parents and grandchildren, going to the beach, camping at her cabin and working in her yard.

Curriculum and Instruction

Angela Chaffin – Chaffin was the Secondary Education Administrative Assistant. She retired after 30 years.

Kathy Drake – Drake was Executive Administrative Assistant to the Assistant Superintendent of  Curriculum and Instruction. She retired after 32 years but is now back part-time.

Maintenance 

Steve Cagle – Cagle was a Maintenance and Utility worker and is retiring after 10 years.

Operations

Lisa Brening – Brening retired after 22 years. She was the Executive Administrative Assistant to the Assistant Superintendent of Operations.

Dennis Chip Medders – Medders was the Assistant Superintendent of Operations and retired after 30 years in education. 

Public Relations

Deb Myers – Myers retired after 18 years in TCSS. She was the Administrative Assistant in the PR department.

Transportation

Gary Colvin – Colvin is retiring with 10 years in TCSS.

Tammie Janney – Janney is retiring after 27 years as a bus driver in Troup County Schools.

Maria Lucas – Lucas is retiring after 29 years as a bus driver in TCSS. Her future plans are to volunteer with Sleep in Heavenly Peace, woodturn, travel and work part-time with transportation.

James Newson – Newson is retiring after 23 years in the transportation department. He was the route and field trip driver. His future plans are to pastor a church, travel to the north to see family and become a part-time driver for TCSS.

Technology

Neva Shiver – Shiver is retiring after 30 years as the Network Administrator in the technology department. She plans to enjoy an unscheduled life, travel and spend more time with her family.

Janice Shelnutt – Shelnutt is retiring after 13 years in the technology department.