Cora Randolph was thrilled when Larry Geib was in attendance for her retirement reception on Sept. 29 at the Jonesburg Elementary School gymnasium.

Geib hired Randolph to work as secretary at Bellflower Elementary School in January 1991. Randolph went on to turn in a 31.5-year tenure as a secretary in the Montgomery County R-II School District that officially ended on Sept. 30.

“He meant a lot to me,” Randolph said. “We turned out to be brother and sister.”

Over 40 people attended Randolph’s retirement reception. Randolph received hugs and congratulations from numerous people during the 90-minute event.

“It’s bittersweet,” Randolph said. “I’m not a person who likes to be recognized.”

Randolph also got thank you cards from students in the school district.

“These kids become your family,” Randolph said.

Now that she’s retired, Randolph plans to spend more time with her family, which includes a daughter living in Georgia and a son living in South Carolina. Chris Futhey took over Randolph’s place as JBE secretary.

During her long tenure as secretary, Randolph served numerous students and staff members, five principals and eight superintendents. She also worked as a cook for several years at Jonesburg Elementary.

“She was a wonderful secretary,” Geib said. “She’s one in a million.”

Randolph grew up in Erwin, Tenn., a town of nearly 6,000 people that’s located 39 miles south of Bristol. She headed west to Missouri in 1987, when she moved to Bowling Green. Two years later, she moved to Bellflower.

“I had some friends here,” Randolph said. “My husband and I were divorced. I had the kids by myself, so it was just a new start. The kids and I prospered and we did well.”

Randolph worked with Geib for 15 years. She said after getting hired as secretary at Bellflower Elementary, Geib taught her a lot about how to deal with people.

“He was a good people person,” Randolph said. “You can’t always come in irate and be upset. He had a common way. He would say, ‘Don’t argue with them. Just listen to them.’”

Randolph worked at Bellflower Elementary for several years before moving to Jonesburg Elementary.

“When they closed New Florence schools, they shifted people around to cover spots,” Randolph said. “When they closed New Florence, they moved me to Jonesburg to become their secretary.”

Randolph said she enjoyed working with current Jonesburg Elementary principal Jenny Krattli.

“She’s terrific,” Randolph said. “She’s a people person, kind hearted and willing to give to others and cares for the kids. That’s what it takes.”