MOULTRIE — Department of Labor Career Center Manager Demishia Croft retired Friday after a 34-year career with the department, a career spent entirely in Moultrie.

Croft, 51, said she started with the Moultrie office in 1974 as a secretary and “worked her way through the ranks.” She served as an interviewer, marketing representative and supervisor before being named manager in 1987.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my career with the Department of Labor,” Croft said,” and I know I will miss the people here.”

Croft said she has seen a lot of changes since she began with the Department of Labor. When she started, the Moultrie office was a claim center for other area offices and became a full service office in 1985. She also remembers when everything was paper-driven and how everyone in the office had to share the first computer when it arrived.

The Moultrie office was one of the first offices in the state to have every staff member with his own computer, Croft said. The office was able to pay for the computers with incentive funds it received based on staff performance, and the office continues to receive recognition.

Croft said the Moultrie office has twice won the state’s Department of Labor Platinum Award, established in 2005 to honor office quality and quantity of service. Since the award has been given only twice, the office literally is in a class by itself.

Although she did not know what she will do with retirement, Croft said she hopes to continue to be involved in the community. She has served on several boards, and she will remain the Moultrie-Colquitt County Chamber of Commerce chairman for the remainder of 2006.

“I want to continue to help people,” Croft said. “I truly enjoy doing that.”

Croft said she also hopes to enjoy her free time by doing some traveling, especially to visit her daughter in Clairmont, Fla.

At a reception honoring Croft Friday, several people spoke of Croft’s competitive drive yet sweet demeanor. The Rev. Hugh Ward said he knew Croft’s father and where she gets her strength and faith; he said he has become a better Christian after walking with her through her breast cancer diagnosis last year. Croft said she is now cancer-free.

Croft’s sisters-in-law said she was the family hero, and former fellow employee Gene L. Chestnutt said Croft was a great manager, being able to balance getting the most out of people while showing how much she cares, earning their respect.

“You are the best manager I’ve ever worked with,” former fellow employee Royce Hopkins said of Croft. “You will be successful in whatever you do.”