Erik Yabor/Times-EnterpriseAlphonso Williams, right, receives an award from Mayor Howard Thrower

CAIRO — The City of Cairo held a special ceremony last week to bid farewell to multiple longtime city employees.

Community Service employee Alphonso Williams and Fire Department employee Joshie King Jr. received special recognition from the city at last Monday’s meeting of the Cairo City Council.

Both men were awarded honorary plaques highlighting their years of service to the city. Williams retired in February of this year after more than 37 years with the city. King, who will be retiring at the end of the year, has spent the last 33 years with the city.

Mayor Howard Thrower said the retirements “leave a great big gap in all of our lives and hearts.”

“A workplace is never quite the same when someone like you departs,” the mayor said to both men.

A third employee, William Peterson, signed his retirement paperwork last week but was unable to attend the ceremony. Peterson has served as a member of the city’s tree trimming crew for 20 years.

Williams and King weren’t the only employees honored last week. 

Landfill and Construction Director Raymond Stokes was honored for 45 years of service.

Rod Prince was recognized for 35 years with the city Utilities Administration.

Joey Wandell Asbell of the Cairo Police Department and Community Services director Charles Pat Mitchell received awards for 30 years with the city.

Vicky Redden, Building Department; Michael Ponder, construction crew; Michael Bogan, water distribution; Owen Doug Mitchell and Willie Sherman, both at the landfill; and Peter Garland, Gas Department, have spent 25 years working for the city.

Terrence Griffin, Police Department; Andrea Armstrong and James Roscoe Johnson, both of the Water and Sewer Department; Scott Ferguson, construction crew; Johnnie Hester, construction crew; Ralph Fred Wilder, construction crew; Fred Chandler and William Peterson, both electric distribution; and William C. Thomas Jr., city shop were recognized for 20 years of service.

Brian Hayes, Building Department; Dana Barfield, City Clerk; Shanda Brinson, Police Department; Jonathan Walden, water distribution; and Valrelyn Heard, Utilities Administration; received awards for 15 years of employment.

Terrence Blake, Fire Department; Cynthia Trawick, Utilities Administration; and Shontarious Brown and Jimmie James, both cemetery and parks division, were recognized for 10 years of service.

Kristopher Weaver, Police Department; Stephen McKinnon, Fire Department; Antonio Hardy and Miguel Tapia, both electric distribution; Daira Bell and Shannon Harrell, both utilities; and Randy Fulton, cemetery and parks division, marked their five-year anniversaries with the city.

Thrower thanked the employees honored Monday night for their service to the city and the courtesy with which they deal with the public.

“As mayor I appreciate you, but more importantly as a citizen of this town I appreciate what you do for us,” he said.

City council member Jerry Cox agreed with that sentiment. 

“The number of people we’ve had for that many years says a lot about the city,” Cox said. “I know we always have some issues, but overall that’s a good indicator that we have a good city employee group with us and good leadership.”