Greer Cox to retire after 35 years with YMCA organization

Sep. 25—After over 35 years of employment, Greer Cox, the branch director of the Butler-Mason YMCA, will be retiring after a career of working with and supporting the local community.

According to Cox, her relationship with the YMCA began long before she ever stepped into an official position.

"So, if you want to talk work, I've been working for the YMCA for over 35 years, but I've been involved with the YMCA over 50 years," she said. "I grew up at the Everett-Milton YMCA as a young girl, playing basketball."

Drawn to the Y by encouragement from her friends after she moved from Indiana, Cox said that getting involved at such an early age was where it all began.

"There began my love for the YMCA," she said.

After graduating high school, Cox moved away from Thomasville for 10 years, but upon her return, she began volunteering at YMCA.

Not long after, in 1986, Wiley Grady, the physical director at the time, asked her to give him a few days he might just have a job for her soon.

"When I went back, that's when we began the after school program at the YMCA," Cox said. "I was one of the employees that helped implement that new program at the YMCA, the after school program."

Over the years since then, Cox said that she's helped with youth sports, bussing around kids, manning the front desk and everything else under the sun at the YMCA.

"I guess I've done a little bit of everything here at the Y," she said. "You never know what you're going to be asked to do."

The decision to retire, Cox said, was not an easy one to make.

"That was very challenging to admit, that it was time to retire," she said. "It's a happy-sad feeling, you know, because I've never felt like I've come to work in all of my years, I've never felt like I've had a job."

Now, however, with her plans to retire on the week of Thanksgiving, Cox said that she plans to make more time for her grandchildren.

"I have four grandchildren and three of them live in Savannah," she said. " They're getting older, and I'm missing out on their activities. So, I'm going to spend back and forth time between Savannah and Thomasville to enjoy my grandchildren."

While Cox is eager to spend time with her family, it doesn't take away from the sadness that she feels from having to say farewell from her family at the Y.

"I'm happy to be able to spend more time with my family, but I'm sad that I'm going to miss my Y family and won't see them day to day," she said.

Getting ready to say goodbye, Cox said that she'd miss everything equally and that it was hard to have a favorite part about the YMCA when she was enamored with every inch of it.

"I loved everything about the Y," Cox said. "I truly enjoy each aspect that is thrown at us, I love opportunities. That's what I share with my staff, we have opportunities, we don't have problems."

Tom Everett, the CEO of the Thomasville YMCA, said that Cox has been a huge impact on the lives of those involved with the YMCA.

"Greer's commitment and dedication to the YMCA mission has impacted so many lives in our community over the last three decades," he said. "She is a great example of a servant leader. No job is too big or too small for her."

According to Everett, the service Cox provided will always be a valued cornerstone of the community.

"Her service to the Thomasville YMCA — and particularly the youth of the community — will forever be a part of her legacy," Everett said. "We wish her nothing but the best in her retirement."

A member of the local Kiwanis Club for over 20 years and other local organizations, Cox said that, while retiring from the Y, she won't be retiring from the community.

"I hope to continue being involved in Thomasville," she said. "Yes, I'm one that's not going to be able to sit at home and watch TV. I'll be doing something, I haven't got it all lined up yet, but I'll definitely be doing something in our community."

She said her thanks went to the Thomasville community for all the help they'd given through volunteering and financial support, keeping the lights on for her and her staff and helping them service the community.

Cox concluded by thanking the volunteers, who have spent countless hours with her over the years.

"I just want to thank the community for supporting the YMCA through volunteering, volunteering is always a challenge," she said.