Three officials who have spent many years serving Bryan County are retiring and retirement receptions were held for them recently.
Bryan County Court Clerk Donna Alexander has served with the court clerk’s office for 39 years and a reception was held for her Dec. 9 in the third-floor courtroom.
She became court clerk in 2014 and when asked why she is retiring, she said, “I’m just old enough.”
Alexander plans to travel in the U.S. with her husband David to places they have never been.
She said she will miss the people she works with.
“Just all of the people I’ve worked with over the years have been great,” Alexander said. “It’s exciting, but apprehensive. I’m going to miss everybody.”
Current Court Clerk Deputy Stacy Canant, who did not have an opponent when she filed for the office, will assume duties as court clerk in January.
District No. 2 Commissioner Tony Simmons and County Clerk Tammy Reynolds are also retiring and a reception for both of them was held Dec. 16 in the courthouse annex.
Simmons has been commissioner since September 2001 and he said it is just time to move and and do something different for a few years while hopefully getting closer to total retirement.
“There’s lots you’ll miss and very little you won’t miss,” he said. “But it’s been good and my road crew is second to none and the team we have now as elected offi cials, they should be able to accomplish a lot.
“I’m going to work for an engineering firm for a few years and see how that works out and then maybe just fishing and hunting.”
Asked about specific memories as commissioner, Simmons said, “Well, there’s good ones on bridges we’ve built and roads we’ve built and offi ces being added onto for the county and getting ready to build a new building for the county and remodeling of the community building. You know, just trying to make things better. I don’t miss the jail escapes and all of that that was going on years ago. The county’s been good to me.”
Justin Boone was elected Bryan County District No. 2 Commissioner in the June 18 primary election and he will take the oath of office in January.
Reynolds began her career with Bryan County in April 1996 when she accepted a job in then-County Assessor Glendel Rushing’s office. In 2007, she moved to the county clerk’s office where she has been ever since. Reynolds became county clerk in 2010.
“I have mixed emotions (about retiring) because I love what I do,” Reynolds said. “I love the people I work with. I’ve been very blessed with employees that have just touched me in many ways and have had many years with them. I’ve seen all of their kids grow up. I have mixed emotions, but you know, another journey, another time.”
She plans to take care of her husband.
“I’ll miss everything because I love what I did and I loved everybody I worked with and made lots of memories, seen lots of changes, but I’m ready for the next journey in my life,” Reynolds said.
County Clerk Deputy Lacy Allred will assume duties as county clerk in January. She was elected to the office in June.
