Gene and Jeannette Waits of Fayetteville will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Aug. 23, 2008. Their daughter, Joanie, and son-in-law, Brian, will treat them to a private dinner on Saturday followed by a special “night out” scheduled in mid-September.

Mr. and Mrs. Waits are both Georgia natives and were married at the home of the Rev. Roy Smith of Lithia Springs. As newlyweds, they settled in the “West End” district of Atlanta before eventually moving to East Point. For the last 31 years, they have called Fayette County home.

Mr. Waits celebrated a long career in the paper and transportation industries before retiring in 1996. Prior to his retirement, he began a part-time career simultaneously with Manheim and is currently celebrating his 17th year of service at Bishop Brothers Auto Auction.

After having her daughter in 1965, Mrs. Waits devoted herself to motherhood. In the early ‘70s, she taught kindergarten at East Point First Baptist, and was a volunteer in local school systems. In 1993, she retired from the Fayette County Board of Education after 13 years of service. She is a volunteer with the Piedmont Fayette Hospital Auxiliary and is an avid reader, walker, and quilter.

In their spare time, the couple enjoys yard sales, trips to Mexico Beach, and helping others.