As Wythe County prepares for 2012, it says goodbye to five retirees who have more than 70 years of working for citizens among them. The retirees were honored with resolutions at the December 27, 2011, Board of Supervisors meeting.

For months, the retirees and their colleagues have known December 31 would be a day of saying farewell; however, December 27 proved itself to be emotional. Each was presented with certificates of appreciation accompanied by a resolution of recognition near the end of the bimonthly meeting.

Many emotions were on the faces of those honored including happiness, humbleness and even a little sadness.

“For as many years as I’ve served, this today is probably the hardest,” said Mary “Sis” Cassell, exiting Commissioner of Revenue, after receiving her certificate and holding back her tears. “I’ve enjoyed the citizens…Thank you for giving me the opportunity to do this.”

Board members honored had the same sentiments as Cassell and remarked that their time spent on the Wythe County Board of Supervisors was about friendship, learning to work together and putting the residents of Wythe County first.

“I just want to say I’ve never worked with a group as tight as this,” said Martha Umberger, exiting supervisor for the West Wytheville District. “Maybe we didn’t always agree but we became friends and we worked through our problems.”

“It’s been my pleasure to work with the citizens of Wythe County and the Board,” said Wythe “Bucky” Sharitz, exiting Supervisor at Large.

In their time on the Wythe County Board of Supervisors, the three leaving members have seen many milestones including the development of Progress Park, a 1,210 acre super industrial site, introduction of new industry and renovations of many County schools.

Sharitz held a seat on the Wythe County Board of Supervisors for 16 years, spanning four consecutive four-year terms. He was named chairman of the board from 1997 to 1999, 2004 to 2005 and 2007 to 2011.

Umberger has served on the Board for six years, following her leadership on the Wythe County School Board. She was named vice-chair of the Wythe County Board of Supervisors in 2008, 2010 and 2011

Maggie Poole was first elected to the Board in November 2007 and has served for four years. She has served on various committees as a Board member including the Budget Committee, Southwest Virginia Agricultural Exposition Center Committee and more.

Cassell has served as the County’s Commissioner of Revenue for 28 years, beginning in 1984. Her dedication, devotion and love for the citizens of Wythe County has allowed her to modernize the Commissioner of Revenue’s office from a paper oriented office to an office that can be accessed from any Internet based computer.

Elizabeth Cook, the final retiree, has been Wythe County’s General Registrar for almost 21 years. She was appointed by the Wythe County Electoral Board in 1991 and has assisted in the registration, voting and record keeping procedures during her tenure.

Remaining Board members and staff agree, the five retirees will be missed and are appreciated for all of the work they have done throughout the years.