Karen Graham Callaway was honored on several occasions upon her retirement from the Oglethorpe County Health Department after 34 years of service.

Mrs. Callaway was guest of honor at a luncheon at The Savannah Room at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education in Athens on October 15. The occasion was hosted by the Northeast Health District accounting personnel and the accounting personnel from Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Madison, Morgan, Oconee, and Walton counties.

Mrs. Callaway was presented a beautiful hand-painted porcelain pedestal cake stand. The names of everyone were painted on the bottom of this plate. She was also presented an oil painting of the Oglethorpe County Health Department building by Penni Walden, her co-worker of 19 years.

Celebrating continued as Mrs. Callaway was honored on October 29 at a reception given by The Oglethorpe County Health Department staff and Oglethorpe County Board of Health. The event was held at the Health Department which was beautifully decorated with arrangements of fall flowers. A beautiful arrangement of yellow roses, a gift from her mother, Doris Callaway, and sister, Kristie Huff, adorned the main table. Guests signed in on a mat surrounding a picture of the Health Department building.

An array of party foods was served in the reception area.

In honor of her friends, Mrs. Callaway provided an assortment of her famous cakes and desserts in the conference room. The table was beautifully decorated with candles and arrangement of flowers, a gift from her aunt, Jeannie Fincher and family.

Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners Chairman Billy Pittard, Dr. Claude Burnett, Medical Director, Northeast Health District, and Dr. Raymond Schofield, Oglethorpe County Board of Health Chairman, all spoke fondly of Mrs. Callaway and cited her outstanding dedication to the Health Department as well as Oglethorpe County. Dr. Robin Doker read a letter from Mrs. Callaway which included many memories from her career.

Mrs. Karen was presented an IPOD from the staff, a watch from the Oglethorpe County Board of Health and many other gifts and sentiments. She honored her staff by donating a crepe myrtle tree for the landscape and a plaque which will be placed under the tree in honor of their dedication to the Oglethorpe County citizens.

Mrs. Callaway left immediately following the reception with her daughter, Kimberly Phillips, and her best friends for a celebratory trip to Amelia Island, Fla.

She will continue to work part time at the Health Department as well as Athens Regional Medical Center Emergency Department.