Accolades at City Council Meeting

During last Thursday night’s last regular monthly meeting for 2023 of the Hazlehurst City Council, plenty of accolades were bestowed upon and among outgoing mayor R. Bayne Stone, Ward 3 Councilwoman Diane Leggett and Ward 4’s John Bloodworth. In their own words, here’s what they had to say.
Former Ward 2 Councilman and Mayor-Elect John Ramay: “I look forward to serving our citizens of Hazlehurst for the next four years, and I am thankful to this community for trusting me that much and showing me the respect to do that. With this being the last meeting, I would like to recognize the three members of the body in John Bloodworth, Diane Leggett and R. Bayne Stone for the hard work and all the diligence you have put in and the service you have given our community. I would also like to thank you personally myself for all the things I have learned as I spent time on the council with you. I do appreciate all the service that you have given our citizens and thank you one more time for all of these things again. I think that we owe these people a whole lot, and I ask everybody to please give them applause.” (Ramay’s remarks were met with a hearty round of applause.)
Ward 1 Councilman Dywane Johnson: “Mayor Stone, Ms. Leggett and Mr. Bloodworth, it’s been a pleasure these four years. These four years have turned into, well, I won’t say how many others. I’ve enjoyed it, and I’ve learned in the classes we have taken. It’s been a pleasure to work with you to try to do something for our people. Thank you. I still think our minds have started to think alike, and that won’t change. So, I thank you for being here, and I thank you for helping the people of Hazlehurst because that’s what we are elected for. I will always remember you, even though you may forget me.”
Ward 3 Councilwoman Diane Leggett: “I would like to say, without [City Clerk Vernice Thompson] right here, we would never make it. She takes care of us. I get very emotional when it comes to Vernice. Had it not been for her, we wouldn’t have our notebooks. We wouldn’t have our notes. We would just be at the meetings without anything because she takes care of us. And I appreciate her for that … she’s our backbone. I love her and wouldn’t have made it four years without her.”
Ward 4 Councilman John Bloodworth: “It’s been a pleasure serving with you all. It’s been a pleasure serving the citizens. I appreciate you all and the job that you’ve done. It’s time to close the door. I love you all.”
Fire Chief Charles Wasdin: “I just want to say thank you to this council for what you’ve done for us, the employees, and the support you have given my department especially. I appreciate that. At a time when cities, counties and businesses are cutting things, and not looking after their employees, you have not done that … that’s what this city is, the employees who work for the city. I thank you very much.”
City Clerk Vernice Thompson: “I would like to say to John Bloodworth, Diane Leggett and Mayor Stone—Papa—thank you for the opportunity to serve with each and every one of you. Thank you for the guidance you have given me, and the words of encouragement and words of wisdom. And, Mayor, to you, thank you for stepping in and being kind of a daddy to me now and then. I truly appreciate that. To the people of Hazlehurst, thank you for allowing me to serve as city clerk. I look forward to continuing to serve. To these three people [Stone, Bloodworth and Leggett], I am going to miss you. My door is always open, and you can reach out to me. Thank you for what you’ve done for this city.”
Outgoing Mayor R. Bayne Stone: “I would like to request that my statement be the final statement in the minutes for this date. It is my sincere wish that in my tenure as the mayor of the City of Hazlehurst, that for the citizens of Hazlehurst now and those in the future, that I may have done some small thing for something good for the present and future citizens and I’ve enjoyed serving you.”