Submitted photoValdosta City Schools honored 17 new retirees who served a combined total of 339 years at different campuses within the school system. 

VALDOSTA — Valdosta City Schools honored 17 retirees in a small ceremony May 28. 

For Pamela Rogers, who spent most of her career teaching at J.L. Lomax Elementary School, her retirement is bittersweet.

“I’m happy, but I’ve also already been crying all week,” Rogers said. “I’ll miss it every day, and I’ll always have a piece of Valdosta City Schools in my heart.”

A first grade teacher, she taught at J.L. Lomax for 30 years. Only one other teacher that night had the same years of service, which were the highest among the new retiree class.

Other retirees in the group had  from three to 29 years of service, coming out to a total of 339 years of service at Valdosta City Schools, said public relations director Jennifer Steedley.

The retirees were served a shrimp and grits dish with lemonade to drink.

They were also each given a  plaque to recognize the occasion and their years of service. 

“This is a happy day, but it’s also a sad day,” said Valdosta City Schools Board of Education chairman Trey Sherwood. “We hope you have nothing but the best of luck and success, and your retirement is everything that you wish it will be. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

After the ceremony, Rogers has some plans for how she’s going to spend her retirement.

She hopes to get more quality time in with her husband and son, and she also plans to put more time aside for community involvement.

“I hope to volunteer at the Pregnancy Support Center and with my church more,” Rogers said. “Hopefully I’ll have more time to help the community and be more involved. I’m just so excited.”

Katelyn Umholtz is a reporter with the Valdosta Daily Times. She can be contacted at (229)244-3400 ext. 1256.