After putting in a combined 926 years of service, 32 Vicksburg Warren School District professionals were honored at the district’s Retiree’s Recognition Ceremony Tuesday.

Former Vicksburg mayor and VWSD board of trustees vice president Joe Loviza addressed the retirees and reminded them he also retired from the school district.

“Twenty years Vicksburg Warren School District was in the top five in the state, we wavered a little bit, but we’re coming back,” he said. “This is due to your hard work.”

Superintendent Chad Shealy was also on hand to thank the teachers and staff for their years of service and dedication to the district.

Honored retirees were presented by their administrators or department heads, who spoke a few words about each of them before presenting them with a plaque in appreciation of their work.

The retirees honored at the ceremony represented numerous schools and departments from within the district: Beechwood: Hazel Mason and Patricia Smith; Bowmar: Sherry Garmon; Career and Technical: Henrietta Spates; Central Office/Athletics: Elbert Wright; Child Nutrition: Pamela Barns, Shelia Gilliam and Ethel Reese; Dana Road: Dawn Register and Mary Anne Walls; Finance: Paula Jones and Nona Smith; Grove: Jack Leist; Information Management: Tammy James; Instructional Services: Charlotte Grant; Redwood: Rita Mendrop and Audrey Tyrone; Sherman: Mark Holdiness; South Park: Nellie Hopkins; Special Education: Rhonda Denman; Transportation: Lucinda McDonald and Boyd McNeil; Vicksburg High: Jenny Drake, Billie Jean Mosley, Cheryl Swan, L.T. Walker and Edward Wong; Vicksburg Junior High: Marilyn Jones; Warren Central High: Sandra Clark; Warren Central Intermediate: Mary Jackson; Warren Central Junior High: Jean Rhodes; and Warrenton: Catherine Carson.