When the clock strikes 5 p.m. on Friday, June 29, Doris Middleton will leave the job she’s known for the past 31.2 years.
Middleton, who serves as deputy chancery clerk in the Forrest County Chancery Clerk’s office, was recognized during Monday’s meeting of the Board of Supervisors for her work with the county.
Board President David Hogan read a proclamation in her honor recognizing her as a faithful servant and for her exemplary service to the citizens of the county since March 2, 1987.
“My longevity in the chancery clerk’s office has been due to having outstanding employees,” said Chancery Clerk Jimmy Havard. “Doris is one of those. She’s really defined the term public servant. She has helped thousands of people who have come into the office and helped in collecting more than $1.5 million in child support each year.”
Havard said she’s done an outstanding job and he will definitely miss her after 31 years.
“She was very good with the public and in this job that’s very important,” he said. “It can make you or break you.”
Middleton is looking to retirement as giving her the time to do what she wants to do, when she wants to do it.
But truth be known, she’s really going home to spend more time with her two-and-a-half-year-old grandson, Aiden, who calls her Gigi.
Doris and her husband, Mack, have two children, a son and a daughter, both who live in the Hub City. Her husband is already retired and has just been waiting on her. “We’ll see how this works,” she said.
In addition to doting on Aiden, the Middletons are also looking to do some traveling.
“We’ve already got Christmas booked at Disney and are looking at New York, Las Vegas and Washington, D.C.,” she said.
Middleton grew up in Shuqualak and went to Valley State University, where she majored in office administration. She moved to Hattiesburg in 1974, where she worked for Barnes Cleaners for 12 years doing their books. After that she applied for a job with the county where she has been ever since.
“I always wanted to be a secretary, so I’ve done that and now I’m ready to do a little something different,” she said.
“I’ve enjoyed working with the public. I just love working with people. And now that I have a grandson and I’m in a position to do that (retire), I just thank God for it, to be able to go home and do some of the things I’ve always wanted to do.”
She also wants to run around while she still can, citing that Aiden is a busy, busy boy.
She describes her work as fun, but she admits she had to learn how to deal with all types of people.
“My My mom taught me a long time ago to ‘do unto others as you would have them do unto you.’ I don’t have a problem doing that, once you learn certain things, when it comes to people, dealing with all kind of people. Some work your nerves.”
Middleton also serves as event coordinator at her church, Priest Creek Missionary Baptist, where she also works with the youth department and the nursery. She looks to do a lot more of that.
She said she’ll be back for visits with her office family and welcomes any calls regarding questions they might have.
“I appreciate Mr. Havard for giving me the opportunity to serve the people of Forrest County,” she said. “It’s truly been a blessing. It’s just time for a little something different.”
