Thirty-five years of public service — wow!

I look back on all my years of serving the public including work at The Memphis Skills Center as related education teacher in January 1975, food stamp eligibility worker at the Department of Human Services, insurance co-ordinator at Natchez First Federal, ninth-grade teacher at the Natchez-Adams School District and, my final position, as the director of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program from September 1989 to Dec. 31, 2010.

After 21 years as an employee of the City of Natchez, I am finally stepping down from my position as RSVP director and stepping into a new life — retirement.

The Natchez Senior Center gave me and two other retirees a farewell celebration last Wednesday. Mayor Jake Middleton presented me with a key to the city plaque commemorating my 21 years of service with the city.

I have mixed emotions about leaving the job I love most in the world. On one hand, I am looking forward to leisure activities and travel. On the other hand, I am leaving my work family as well as my seniors at the senior center and all my RSVP volunteers whom I have grown so fond of over the years.

I want to give special thanks to the members of my RSVP Advisory Council and members of the TRIAD “S.A.L.T.” committee.

I also want to give thanks to my assistant, Connie Thomas, who has been my right hand for the past four years.

I have faith and assurance that the RSVP program will continue and thrive in her capable hands.

Although I will be exiting the work field, my passion to assist and help others will carry on as a volunteer of RSVP, as well as a board member for RSVP and TRIAD.

Thank you, City of Natchez, for supporting RSVP for the past 36 years and giving me the job of a lifetime.

I will never forget you.

Janet McNeely is the former director of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program at the Natchez Senior Center.