FUNSTON — After Friday, anyone driving through Funston on Highway 37 will notice the road has been renamed in memory of its former mayor.

In a ceremony held at the Funston Community Center Friday, Highway 37 that runs through Funston was officially renamed as the Edward Sydney “Dick” Chambers Memorial Highway. The road was named in memory of E.S. “Dick” Chambers, the mayor of Funston for almost 50 years until his death in December.

Current Mayor Ferrell Ruis said he felt honored to serve under Chambers for about 30 years. The ceremony Friday was a chance to honor and commemorate Chambers for his years of public service, Ruis said.

Ruis said Chambers was able to accomplish a lot as mayor, such as creating the Funston Volunteer Fire Department, building a new city hall and community center as well as several water projects.

“He was truly a great servant,” Ruis said, “and this is well-deserved of him.”

State Rep. Richard Royal said he had known Chambers since 1983, and he created a truly unique community in Funston. No other community in the state of Georgia has as low property taxes and a mayor and council that serve without pay.

Two house resolutions, HR 436 and HR 171, were introduced by Royal and adopted in February, one to honor Chambers and the other to rename Highway 37 in his memory. Royal had framed both resolutions and presented them to Chambers’ widow, Bettie Chambers.

“Chambers was a true Southern gentleman,” Royal said.

Several local dignitaries spoke about Chambers with kind words. Colquitt County Commissioner Ray Saunders said Chambers was a pleasure to work with, and no man was more deserving of such an honor. Moultrie Mayor William McIntosh said Chambers was a truly exceptional man who was always kind and dedicated himself to his community.

Reading a letter from U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, Debbie Cannon of the senator’s office said renaming the road for Chambers was a tribute to a man who dedicated himself to his country and his community. The Rev. Vance Mathis, a retired Methodist minister, said Chambers lived his life mostly in the service of other people and had a goal of making Funston a better place to live for everyone.

“Chambers was a man of deep faith and prayer,” Mathis said. “He allowed the light of Christ to shine through him. He cared for the good and well-being of others.”

Chambers’ son, Sid Chambers, said his dad loved his family as much as he loved the city of Funston. On behalf of the family, he thanked everyone for coming to honor his dad.

Scott Chambers, from the state Department of Transportation and Chambers’ grandson, said Funston came first in his grandfather’s life except for his family. As long as Scott could remember, almost everything he did with Chambers involved Funston in some way.

“It’s an honor to represent the DOT today,” Scott Chambers said, “but it’s more of an honor to represent my grandfather.”

After a sign designating the road as Edward Sidney “Dick” Chambers Memorial Highway was unveiled, Bettie Chambers said her husband was very proud of Funston. She was also very appreciative of everyone coming out to honor her husband, who loved the town he served as mayor so much.

“He loved Funston like a third child,” she said.