Fixtures in school system among 50 calling it quits

No school, no Moores.

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After a combined 50 years of service in the Columbia County school system, Benji and Annette Moore decided to retire this year.

Benji, a former coach and teacher at Harlem Middle School, retired in March.

Annette will serve her last day as a media clerk at Columbia Middle School when school ends Friday.

"Did you cry?" Benji, 55, asked his wife of nearly 30 years after school officials announced last week that Columbia Middle's yearbook is dedicated to her.

"I did," said Annette, 62. "I'm going to cry all week.

"When you've been walking through the same set of doors for 20 years, it's going to be hard not to do it anymore," she said. "I'll miss the kids and all the friends I've made here."

Like his wife, Benji said he misses and will continue to miss pupils and co-workers, but he said he has fared well in his first three months of retirement, rising late in the morning and going fishing.

The Moores are among about 50 Columbia County educators retiring this year. That is about 30 to 40 fewer teachers than typically retire, said school system Human Resources Director Anthony Wright.

Wright said he suspects that a poor economy prompted many teachers to forgo retirement and continue earning a paycheck.

Though a dire economy gave the Moores pause, it didn't stop them from retiring.

Their Pumpkin Center home is paid off and their four children are grown.

"Benji's bought a Harley-Davidson and we're going to travel," Annette said.

"For as long as the money lasts," Benji said.

They said they believe they'll find ways to stay busy when they're not out on the motorcycle.

Benji has sold real estate part time for nearly 20 years and probably will continue to do so.

Annette intends to baby-sit her two grandchildren.

"I think we'll stay active, if we don't kill each other," Annette said.