Tuesday night was a night to celebrate the long list of accomplishments and many years of service that Luther Conyers gave to the residents of the City of Bainbridge. Having served as a member of the Bainbridge City Council since 1978, Conyers will retire next month after deciding to not seek re-election.

Sandwiching a regular Bainbridge City Council meeting was a ceremony to dedicate the green space plaza and courtyard behind the Bainbridge City Hall as the Luther H. Conyers, Jr. Plaza and a reception held in Conyers’ honor in the fellowship hall at First Baptist Church of Bainbridge.

On his way to the podium to address the crowd, Conyers led the room in singing the gospel hymn “Lord I Can’t Make This Journey By Myself.”

On the dais, Conyers told the crowd how his parents, who were not educated, insisted that their five sons get high school diplomas. Conyers and his four brothers not only earned high school diplomas but all earned at least bachelors degrees from Savannah State University.

“I took Booker T. Washington’s advice when he said ‘Cast down your bucket where you are,’ so I chose to stay home in Bainbridge and it hasn’t been too bad,” said Conyers. “You, the City of Bainbridge, have helped us accomplish a whole lot through years. We have the renovation of city hall, a recreation complex that is second to none, we have the boat basin. We have everything in Bainbridge you could want for successful living.”

He added, “Over the years, I have done my best for you and I hope you have been satisfied with me.”

Georgia State Senator Dr. Dean Burke, who served with Conyers on the Bainbridge City Council before moving on to represent District 11 in Bainbridge, said that despite almost 38 years on the city council Conyers was not a career politician, but instead a community servant.

“You can tell the difference between a community servant and a politician once you hear them speak and Luther has never been a politician, he has always been a community servant,” said Burke. “All of us who work with the public can learn a lot from what he has done for us and with us.”

The packed room of well-wishers saw Conyers receive a Georgia Municipal Association Lifetime Service Award presented by Lamar Norton, Executive Director of the GMA.

Norton spoke of the long list of committees that Conyers served on through the years as an active participant in GMA meetings. GMA offers six-hour continuing education classes for elected municipal officials, Norton said that people are recognized at the highest level of taking 204 hours of classes. Conyers took 318 hours of classes, Norton said.

“In your community, he has done a tremendous job over the years. But, for GMA, he has been a leader, he’s been a statesman, he handles himself with distinction at all times and its rare in these days and we certainly appreciate you,” Norton told the gathered crowd.

“Over the years, I hope I have done my best for you and I hope you have been satisfied with me. I am reminded of a song as I close my remarks. That song is I Will Not Complain,” Conyers said.

Conyers’ last Bainbridge City Council meeting will be Dec. 15 at 6:30 pm.