THOMASVILLE — More than 20 local residents provided funding for and prepared breakfast to express gratitude to Thomasville city employees and others who continue to respond to the turmoil left in the wake of Hurricane Michael blowing through the town 10 days ago.

Few of Thomasville Utilities’ 15,500 electric customers had power once Michael exited the community.

The 200 fed at the breakfast included TU linemen, other city employees and lineman crews that responded from Tennessee and elsewhere in Georgia.

Art Williams was among the cooks at the breakfast at the city operations center on Smith Avenue. Williams was on grits duty for a menu that included his Southern specialty, steak, eggs and biscuits. Homemade coffee cake, muffins and monkey bread also were on the menu.

City council members Jay Flowers, Todd Mobley and Terry Scott dropped by during the breakfast. 

City employees began to prepare for the storm before it struck, showing they cared about the city and residents, Williams said.

He felt compelled to do something to express his appreciation for the city’s response to residents’ needs.

“They let their families to take care of us,” Williams said. “What these people have done in 10 days or less has been nothing less than phenomenal.”

Williams, owner of DTI Laboratories Inc., moved to Thomasville from San Francisco, California, 22 years ago after earthquakes did him in.

Before living in California, Williams was director of the Diabetes Research Institute at the University of Miami. He did not like South Florida’s hurricanes, “and I don’t like them up here.”

Margaret Brinson, a Thomasville resident since 1996 and a breakfast host, said she was delighted and proud to do something for city employees and others who responded after the storm.

“They are the nicest people you’d ever want to meet,” she said about breakfast guests, adding that all were “in good humor.”

The fifth of seven Navy children, Brinson said, “You were expected to participate and help out where you were needed.”

Brinson, who works as a private travel consultant, said it is her obligation to serve for the greater good.

Those who provided the breakfast represented “a very broad variety of people,” she said.

“Everyone wanted to pitch in,” Brinson added.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820