Tuesday was Martha Hall Appreciation Day at the Robert E. Barr Nutrition Center in Brundidge. Friends and family of the center’s manager gathered to wish “Miss Martha” all the best as she closed one door and opened another.

Hall is stepping aside as the manager of the city’s nutrition center but, as she said, she will be back – tomorrow.

Hall will remain the center’s manager until someone steps into her shoes. Even then, she will be available to assist the new manager for a while. Then she’ll take her place at the domino table.

Barb Homann, program coordinator, expressed appreciation to Hall for her dedicated service to the center and to the senior residents of the community.

“Martha has served as our director for seven years and as a volunteer before then,” Homann said. “She has always given us her best. She has been dedicated to keeping the Brundidge Nutrition Center going. And we thank her for that. We appreciate her and we love her. We are looking forward to having her come back as a member.”

Linda Faust, Brundidge City administrative assistant, expressed appreciation on behalf of the city with “thanks from the bottom of our hearts.”

She, laughingly, said Hall was lassoed into the manager’s position. Through her efforts, the center kept going without skipping a beat in providing a place for senior adults to come to talk, laugh and sometimes cry. It’s a place where we all love each other.”

Faust said Hall has the ability to handle any situation with poise and grace and steadfast determination.

“Nothing has stopped her,” Faust said. “She has been here at the nutrition center when she didn’t need to be here.  There have been times when it was difficult for her to just make her way into city hall. I’ve watched her out the window and thought ‘what a pre-cious soul.’ What dedication. ‘Miss Martha,’ we thank you for all that you do.”

Brundidge Mayor Isabell Boyd expressed congratulations to Hall on her pending retire-ment read to her the certificate of recognition for outstanding service to the community and to the city’s senior center.

Boyd said Hall has been a dedicated community servant.

“And, you have touched the hearts of so many in our community,” Boyd said. “We thank you for your service to our community and to our seniors. We appreciate you and we love you. And we want to see you back again tomorrow.”

Hall said she has worked with a wonderful crew of people who were always willing to lend a helping hand. She thanked them all for their help, their friendship and their love.

“I’ve enjoyed my time here and I appreciate all the city has done for me,” Hall said. “Thank you. Thank you. And, I’ll be back. You’ve not gotten rid of me yet.”

The Rev. Ed Shirley closed the program by quoting from Matthew 23:11.

“‘He that is the greatest among you shall be your servant,’ and Martha Hall has a servant’s heart,” he said. “She has served with love.”