The Troy Recreation Department will honor Gail Jones with a retirement celebration at 2 p.m. today at the Troy Parks and Recreation Center and the public is invited.

Jones has been with the recreation department for 33 years and, for many of those years, she has served as the program coordinator for the department.

Dan Smith, Troy Parks and Recreation director, said Jones has been a fixture and an icon in the department for decades.

“Everyone knows Gail and she is very involved in the community and in her church, Saint Paul A.M.E., as well as with the parks and recreation department,” Smith said. “So, it is important to us that everyone is invited to show their love and appreciation for Gail by being here for her retirement celebration.”

There will be a brief ceremony at 2 p.m. followed by the reception honoring Jones who began her career with the city recreation department at Murphree Park. “Gail then moved with the recreation department to Elm Street and then to our new facility,” Smith said. “So, Gail has seen many changes from the small department that it was to what it is today. She has played a key role in the growth of our department in many ways.

“Gail is a people person and we will miss her for the advice and wisdom that she has been able to share with us on a daily basis. Gail has been a valuable part of the Troy Recreation Department for many years and she will be greatly missed.”