After 22 years in the Brundidge banking business, Jim Medley is “closing out his account.”

Medley was honored with a retirement party Thursday night at Sisters Restaurant. Members of his family joined him at the celebration along with his bank “family.”

“Jim has done a great job for us for 22 years,” said Jimmy Ramage, First National Bank board chair. “He brought stability to our group and has been a real asset from the beginning.”

Ramage said he knew he had made a good choice when he hired Medley but the hire was even better than he had expected.

“I just can’t say enough good things about Jim and what he has meant to First National Bank,” Ramage said. “He will be missed but we wish him all the best in his retirement.”

Medley has already experienced retirement once in his life and found that he wasn’t quite ready for the rocking chair.

This time, it will be different but he’s still not ready for the rocking chair.

“Linda and I plan to travel, spend more time with the family and just do some things that we’ve wanted to do but didn’t,” Medley said. “We’ll still be around. Brundidge is home.”

Medley has been a dedicated community servant. To his credit is membership in the Lions Club, Pike County Chamber of Commerce, Brundidge Business Association, Brundidge Rescue Squad and a Rotary Club Paul Harris Fellowship. He was Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 34 and is chair of the Pike County United Way. Medley is a deacon at Salem Baptist Church.

Medley is originally from New Brockton but Rocky Head was home because that’s where he grew up.

He attended school at New Brockton, Ariton and Troy University. He worked as a produce inspector for the state and federal government in places as far away as New York and Maine.

It was while he was grading grapes in the Pine Tree State that Medley found his bride.

“Linda’s dad was a produce inspector and he took me home for supper. That’s how we met,” Medley said and smiled at the remembrance.

He found his way back home where he worked as the assistant plant manager at Fruit of the Loom in Brundidge until his retirement after 20 years.

But retirement was not for Medley.

“I wanted something to do so I was working at Pinckard’s when Jimmy came in and asked me if I was interested in a job at the bank,” Medley said. “He said for me to come see him and I did. First National Bank has been good to me. Jimmy gave me a job to do and the support to do it. These 22 years have been the best work years of my life.”