Lowndes County Commissioner Joyce Evans speaks with outgoing Commissioners Richard "Dickey" Lee, left, and G. Robert Carter at a reception held in their honor Tuesday afternoon before their last county commission meeting.

A retirement reception honoring and celebrating the life and achievement of Lowndes County Commissioner (District 3) G. Robert Carter was held Tuesday before the county council meeting.

Carter has served as County Commissioner since 2000 after a long career of public service.

County Commissioner Richard Lee, who is also retiring from his service as a Lowndes County Commissioner, exchanged stories and jokes with Carter while sitting in rocking chairs.

“(Mr. Carter) has basically become a permanent institution in Lowndes County. He’s been around since I was a child,” Lee stated. “I’ve always called him the scribe or historian due to his depth of wisdom.”

“If we were in a tense meeting, he had a knack for getting to the heart of things or breaking the ice. I’ll miss the dialogue and banter,” Lee  said.

County Commissioner-Elect Crawford Powell will be taking Carter’s place on Dec. 28. ”It’s great that Carter will still be around after I take  office to contact for assistance and to learn from his many years of experience,” Powell stated.

Read more on this story in today’s edition of The Times.