By CAROLYN CARY
ccary@thecitizennews.com

Brooks Town Library's children's room is now The Lurline Putman Room.

The library Board of Directors made the surprise announcement as part of a day of activities honoring Allen and Lurline Loyd Putman as pillars of the community.

The Town Council passed a proclamation honoring the couple, who are both native Fayette countians and were married in 1940.

Allen was a former town councilman from 1967 until 1985 and served as mayor from 1985 until 1989. He served with the Georgia State Patrol for 27 years, until his retirement in 1973.

He was instrumental in bringing street lights, a zoning code, a recreation department, first responder capabilities and many other integral services to the town of Brooks.

Lurline Loyd Putman taught at the Brooks Elementary School from 1950 until her retirement in 1980. She was instrumental in putting together the Town Library in 1987 and remains on its Board of Directors.

More than 80 persons attended a surprise luncheon following Sunday services at the Brooks United Methodist Church. A show of hands reflected about 20 percent of the audience were former students of Lurline. One of these students, Linda Butler Spradlin, now teaches at Brooks Elementary herself.

After lunch, everyone traveled to the library for dessert and the surprise announcement.

Plaques also were hung honoring all those who were instrumental in starting and equipping the library.

Said Brooks native Cecil Thomas, “If everybody were like Lurline and Allen, the world would be a better place.”