CAIRO — A new chapter of life is beginning for Al Ball.

Ball, 64, has officially retired as school social worker for Grady County Schools after 18 years with the system. He began working part time in December 2005 and his last day was Dec. 20.

“Today is the first day of the rest of my life,” Ball said Friday. “It’s been a great run.”

He moved to Grady County in June 1989 and, in November, began teaching 10th grade history at Cairo High School.

In the summer of 1990, he was hired as school social worker for the system.

“At the time I was the only one and I was also the only African-American in the central office,” Ball said. “Things have not changed as much as they should, but they have changed. I think, traditionally, the primary role a school social worker was expected to do was bring kids into school. Even though I saw that as part of my role, I was never one to believe people had to be dragged or forced. I took the avenue that you have to talk to people, listen to them, try to find out why they are not sending their children to school or their children are not going. Then we can try to help those families deal with those issues. I really feel, over the years, the climate of what we were trying to do did change. The first couple of years I think people saw me as someone there to grab their kids, but as time went on, they realized I was there to help them.”

Ball’s job included dealing with suspected child abuse cases, attendance issues, housing and how to help parents in need get necessary school items for their children, as well as being a representative of the school system to the community and a liaison between the school and court systems.

He also once won School Social Worker of the Year for Southwest Georgia.

An improvement for Grady County Schools, Ball said, was the addition of two more social workers.

“They were certainly needed and I knew I wasn’t going to stay forever,” he said. “We obtained a grant through the state department of education to work with homeless families. That allowed us to give better services to those who were basically homeless. Identifying that got a part-time homeless worker who also serves as a part-time secretary for our other hired social worker. I’m really proud of the expansion of our social service department.”

Ball is also proud of the establishment of the Boys to Men organization, a mentoring program for sixth to 12th grade boys without fathers at home. He was one of the original members and the organization is a school-related club, even though it has its own charter.

But, just because he’s retired does not mean Ball is kicking back.

He still plans to be active in Habitat for Humanity, area housing, youth services and the Grady County Board of Commissioners.

“This is a great community to work for — not because things are so good, but because there is so much to do and there is such a need,” he said. “One of my missions has been to help show people they may not be able to do certain things, but there are other things they can do to help in the community. I feel good about that. I really feel like this is another phase of my life that I’m going to enjoy.”