The Effingham County Board of Education recognized retiring employees on Wednesday.

Superintendent Randy Shearouse told the retirees it was a happy day for them, but not a happy day for the school system.

“We lose a lot of talented people from the classrooms, school principals, media center and lunchroom workers and custodial staff,” he said. “We lose you, and I know you’re all smiling and you’re happy to be retiring, but it’s not such a happy day for the school system because we do hate to see you go.”

Shearouse noted that retirement today is different, as employees once worked for 40 years or more before ending their careers. Now, retirees are getting younger.

“A favorite saying of mine is don’t die before you’re dead, and it’s a new life that you’re entering. You’re not really retiring,” he said. “Very few of you sit in the rocking chair on the front porch. That’s just not what we do anymore.

“They say today’s 60 is like yesterday’s 40,” Shearouse said. “So as you get close to 60 you’re only like 40 years old, so don’t you feel fortunate you’re only 40 years old.”

He said there comes a point when people are ready to do something else.

“Rest is not idleness and to lie sometimes in the grass under trees on a summer day and listening to the murmur of the water or watching the clouds float across the sky is by no means a waste of time,” he said. “Sometimes it’s just nice to have that opportunity.”

The retirees recognized at the reception were Margaret Boutwell, Fran Brown, Jeanette Brown, Mary Frances Bryan, Sally Bunch, Sandra Burrell, Ken Copley, Dorothy Folder, Dennis Folker, Elnora Gadson, Dr. Cheryl Goldwire, Sarah Hallman, Laura Harrelson, Evelyn Helmly, Brenda Jenkins, Norma Nease, Joan Neidlinger, Glenda Newkirk, Lenora Robertson and Patsy Zeigler.