Guyla Gould is the 2008 Retired Education Personnel of Vicksburg-Warren County’s Retiree of the Year, an honor for which she was chosen from 16 other nominees.

“I am just surprised and honored and truly humbled,” Gould said as she accepted the award Monday. “I promise I will continue to work to grow this group into one of the best in the state.”

Gould, who is REPVWC’s president, is a retired teacher and principal and boasts a resume that includes Halls Ferry Elementary School and Vicksburg Middle School, both of which are closed, and Bowmar Avenue Elementary. Prior to moving to Vicksburg, she taught in Wichita, Kan., and Kosciusko.

Gould retired from the education field in 1992 after 29 years of service. She and her husband, Don, have been married for 45 years.

Gould was announced as the Retiree of the Year by last year’s winner, Jimmie Mullins, a former Vicksburg Warren School District administrator.

The event featured remarks from VWSD Superintendent Dr. James Price and Bob Rhoads with the Mississippi Public Employees Retirement System and a song from Jo Ella Walls.

The REPVWC is a branch of the Retired Education Personnel of Mississippi, a group that works to promote fair retirement standards for educators as well as support scholarships and community service.