Patti Dozier/Times-EnterpriseCheryl Presha is administered the oath of office by City Attorney Tim Sanders.

THOMASVILLE — Thomasville City Council’s newest member entered council chambers Monday night and immediately burst into tears.

Cheryl Presha had just been been approved — in a unanimous council vote — to temporarily fill the District 1 council seat vacated by Greg Hobbs when Hobbs was suspended after being indicted in a criminal case.

City council recently began meeting at 6 p.m. instead of 7 p.m. second and fourth Mondays. Presha thought meetings were still at 7 and arrived about 6:40.

Upon learning she had been chosen for the position from a field of four applicants, Presha began to cry, obviously stunned at being selected.

She stood just inside council chambers as the audience delivered a standing ovation.

City Attorney Tim Sanders administered the oath of office, and Presha was seated at the council dias.

Presha thanked the council for choosing her.

“I’m quite sure I have a lot of people behind me,” she said. “I’ll try to do the best I can for District 1 and the City of Thomasville.”

Presha, 62, is retired manager of Burger King in Thomasville. She also managed Burger King restaurants in Cairo, Valdosta and Havana, Florida.

Council member Todd Mobley made the motion to name Presha, with a second by Council member Jay Flowers.

“(Ms.) Presha, we’re looking forward to your words of wisdom,” Flowers told Presha.

After the meeting, Presha said, “I’m a basket with a hole in it,” in reference to her tears.

The new council member said she became interested in politics when the late Earl Williams served as a council member and mayor.

When asked why she sought the council seat, Presha said, “I just felt there was a need for the entire city.”

Presha said she was too emotional at the moment to describe her thoughts about being the only woman on the council.

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