Moultry’s Service Center in Brundidge was honored by the Brundidge Business Association as the “Business of the Year” at the association’s annual awards ban- quet Thursday night.

Willie Moultry accepted the award on behalf of the Moultry family by saying, “Let the church say ‘amen.’ Can you say, ‘amen’ again.”

Most of those in atten- dance have attended a pro- duction of “Come Home, It’s Suppertime” at the We Piddle Around Theater in Brundidge, and immediate- ly recognized the lines from Moultry’s role in the folklife play. And, it was fitting that, in accepting the award, Moultry did so with a story that related back to times when the folklife play is set.

“My daddy, James Moultry was a sharecrop- per,” Moultry said. “He didn’t have much, and he wanted a better life for him- self so he went to work at a service station washing cars. My daddy had a talent for working on stuff so he went to Mr. Colin Sheffield and told him that he thought he could make him more money working on cars than he was making washing them. Mr. Sheffield gave him the chance.”

It was evident that James (Punch) Moultry had a tal- ent for working on stuff, and

he was hired by Johnston’s Garage where he gained the experience he needed to fol- low his dream and go into business for himself.

In 1971, James Moultry took a big and bold step. He applied for a federal loan to open a service station busi- ness and was approved.

“At that time, 72 people received those loans, and my daddy was the only per- son that paid his loan back,” Moultry said.

James Moultry worked hard and he was dedicated to doing a job and doing it right. He instilled that same work ethic in his son.

“When I was seven years old, he had me out there dipping oil sticks and learn- ing how to fix stuff,” Moultry said. “He taught me how to work hard and to always do what I said I was going to do. He taught me how to fix stuff and how to survive in business by standing behind my work.”

The elder Moultry taught his son that, to survive in business, a man has to be willing to change with the times.

“Back when we were pumping gas as a way to help us stay in business, we saw that wasn’t working so we closed down the gas pumps and just put all our efforts on working on cars,” Willie Moultry said. “My daddy taught me that you adapt to the changing times,

or you lose out.”

Moultry Service Center

has adapted to the changing times and has been recog- nized for its ability to fix stuff and survive in the doing of it with the 2015 Brundidge Business of the Year award.

“God has blessed us always and to the Lord, alone, be the glory,” Moultry said.

The Brundidge Business Association also recognized the Teachers of the Year at Pike County High School and Pike County Elementary, which are located within the city.

Tammy Goss, who teach- es science at PCHS, and Ramona Pope, who teaches non-English-speaking stu- dents at PCES, were the recipients of the prestigious awards.

Goss has taught in the Pike County School System for 17 years, 12 of those years at Banks School before Pike County High School was fortunate enough to get her, said Willie Wright, PCHS prin- cipal.

“Ms. Goss is most deserv- ing of this award,” Wright said. “She cares about her students and always goes the extra mile to make sure they have every opportunity to be the best they can be, and she pushes them to be the best they can be.”

Wright said Goss is not

only involved with her stu- dents during the school day, she supports them in their extracurricular activities.

“Her students look for her at their after-school activi- ties and miss her if she’s not there,” he said. “If they get behind in their studies, she’s there to help them catch back up. Kids need teachers like Ms. Goss in their lives, and we are proud to have Ms. Goss at Pike County High School.”

Goss expressed apprecia- tion to the BBA for the award, and said she is hon- ored to be able to do what she loves the most, working with her students. She acknowledged her parents for the guidance they have given her as a teacher and in life.

Pope is rather new to Pike County Elementary School but she has already made her mark on the school, said Anita Grant, PCES princi- pal.

“Ms. Pope has done her job so well that I’m afraid of losing her,” Grant said. “Her students are speaking English so well that they are moving out of the EL class. Ms. Pope is a wonderful teacher, and we certainly want her to stay at PCES.”

Grant said Pope goes above and beyond what is expected or required of her.

“She reaches out to the families of her students and helps them with their needs

whether it’s food, clothing or furniture. She has a good heart.”

Pope also writes grants for the school and assists in various other ways.

Pope thanked the BBA for the recognition, which she called a huge honor, and expressed appreciation for the community’s support of the Pike County schools.

Both Goss and Pope were also honored as Teachers of the Year for the school dis- trict and will represent the district at the state level.

BBA President Chuck Caraway presented the Business of the Year and Teacher of Year awards and expressed appreciation for their commitment to their community and its people.

Caraway recognized Miss Brundidge Aimee Frankum and Little Miss Brundidge

Addie Davis and thanked them for their outstanding representation of their hometown.

He also expressed appre- ciation to the BBA’s 2014 officers, Dixie Shehane, vice president; Dorthea Dow, secretary; and Tonya Williams, treasurer and the board of directors, Ernestine Beachum, Isabell Boyd, Linda Faust, King Isaac and Lamar Steed.

Caraway announced the BBA officers for 2015, Dixie Shehane, president; Chuck Caraway, vice presi- dent; Dorthea Dow, secre- tary; and Tonya Williamson, treasurer. The board mem- bers for 2015 are Ernestine Beachum, Don Dickert, Linda Faust, Anita Grant, Martha Griffin, King Isaac, Olof Lieb, Shane Smith and Lenny Trawick.