Bettie Chambers, left, receives an award in honor of her late husband from Lamar Norton, executive director of the Georgia Municipal Association, Monday at the Fall District 10 Meeting of GMA in Camilla. Her husband, Dick Chambers, served as mayor of Funston for more than 49 years.

CAMILLA — Former Funston Mayor E.S. “Dick” Chambers received the Lifetime Service Award from the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) in recognition of his nearly 50 years of service to the city.

The award was presented to his widow, Bettie, at the GMA fall district meeting in Camilla on Oct. 20. Current Funston Mayor Ferrell Ruis was also on-hand for the presentation.

Chambers served as mayor of Funston from 1957 until his death in 2007, and during his tenure the city purchased a well and water tower and installed water lines and fire hydrants; built a new city hall that is a replica of the old Funston Elementary School; extended the city limits and water lines to accommodate the growth; built two city parks and a new volunteer fire department; and began the collection of household garbage.

Chambers, who also served on the Georgia Rural Development Commission for many years, never received pay for his service to the city.

“Mayor Chambers demonstrated his love of his hometown through his many years of generous service to its citizens,” said GMA Executive Director Lamar Norton. “Funston is fortunate to have that kind of dedicated leadership, and GMA and Georgia’s cities are also grateful to have seen the example he set for all city leaders.”

Based in Atlanta, GMA is a voluntary, non-profit organization that provides legislative advocacy, educational, employee benefit and consulting services to its 521 member cities.