Joan Thompson

has earned her moniker, "Ms. Peachtree City." As the area representative

for the New Neighbors League, she has personally greeted 5,419 new families

who moved into Peachtree City over the past 19 years.

Thompson was

honored by a group of approximately 100 at her retirement luncheon at

the Wyndham Peachtree Conference Center last week. Thompson is largely

responsible for starting the 400-plus Peachtree City chapter.

According the

Peachtree City Mayor Pro Tempore Annie McMenamin, the population of Peachtree

City tripled since Thompson moved to the area. She said it was "mind-boggling"

to think that she had greeted more than 5,000 of those families. McMenamin

presented Thompson with a proclamation from the city.

Thompson received

accolade after accolade during the luncheon. Members of the book club

she attends, "Reading Between the Lines," and friends who have

moved away attended and made presentations. The tissue box was passed

around as tales were shared regarding her contributions to New Neighbors,

the community and her friends.

Carol Givens,

a member of her bridge club closed her remarks saying, "After many

years of shaking hands, now it's time to play bridge hands."

Thompson's

grandson, Cameron, was a hit. The six-year old, visiting from California

with his mother, took pictures of everyone and everything. He stood on

tiptoes to reach the podium speaker so he could tell the group how wonderful

he thought his grandmother was and to wish her a happy retirement.

Cece Coffee

was reminded that during her tenure as club president she gave Thompson

the nickname of "Mother Superior." Coffee said Thompson was

always behind keeping everyone going in the right direction.

Thompson was

60 when she and two new friends decided Peachtree City needed a greeting

service for new community members in 1983. New Neighbors now boasts a

membership of more than 400.

After lunch,

a group from the luncheon drove to City Hall for a tree planting ceremony.

A Leland Cyprus will grace the front lawn of City Hall in Thompson's honor.

Cheryl Beaudreault, National Board President, said, "We hope that

every time someone sees the tree waving in the wind they will see Joan

Thompson waving and saying, 'Welcome to Peachtree City'."

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