Recreation Department to lose coordinator
Beth Roberson dons the largest pair of 7 1/2 -inch sneakers in the county.
Columbia County Recreation Department Special Events Coordinator Beth Roberson will resigns on May 21.
Photo by Donnie Fetter
Those are the figuratively big shoes to be filled when Roberson leaves her position as the Columbia County Recreation Department Special Events Coordinator.
Her husband, Brad, works as a chemical engineer for Shaw Industries and recently received a promotion and transfer to a plant in Dalton, Ga.
Roberson plans to exit her Patriots Park office for the final time May 21 to move to north Georgia.
Though she's only been planning the events for a short time, she has left a strong impression with officials countywide.
"It's a big loss to our department," Recreation Department Director Charlie Beale said. "Beth has just been a real spark plug to our department. Wherever she goes, she brightens things up. She's always smiling and has such a great personality."
At a Wednesday planning meeting for the Red, White and Blue Veterans' Celebration, several people jokingly threatened to author scandalous letters of recommendation on her behalf in the hopes that no one in the Dalton area would employ her and she would be forced to return.
In an e-mail note to Roberson, Columbia County Commission Chairman Ron Cross wrote: "You have broken my heart. I don't even want to talk about you leaving. I am too distressed."
Roberson herself claims to have shed more than a few tears about her impending departure.
"It's been a real struggle going through all of this, because I really wanted to be here for a while," she said. "Whoever gets this job should start counting their blessings. I'm sure they will be just as happy as I have been."
In the past year-and-a-half that Roberson has performed her coordinating duties, she has overseen Memorial Day and Fourth of July events, the Veterans' Day Barbecue, the county's Christmas tree lighting, Spring Jingle, Easter egg hunt and much more.
The move to Dalton offers Roberson one positive. Her hometown of Chattanooga, Tenn., where most of her family lives, will only be a 30-minute car drive away.
"I'll be happy to be closer to my family, but I'm also sad to be leaving behind so many great people," she said. "I love my job, because of the people I work with. I'm going to miss them all very much."