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Wednesday, April 3, 2002 Thompson retires from neighborhood organization By JANET
McGREGOR Joan Thompson has earned her moniker, "Ms. Peachtree City." As the area representative for the New Neighbors League, she has personally greeted 5,419 new families who moved into Peachtree City over the past 19 years. Thompson was honored by a group of approximately 100 at her retirement luncheon at the Wyndham Peachtree Conference Center last week. Thompson is largely responsible for starting the 400-plus Peachtree City chapter. According the Peachtree City Mayor Pro Tempore Annie McMenamin, the population of Peachtree City tripled since Thompson moved to the area. She said it was "mind-boggling" to think that she had greeted more than 5,000 of those families. McMenamin presented Thompson with a proclamation from the city. Thompson received accolade after accolade during the luncheon. Members of the book club she attends, "Reading Between the Lines," and friends who have moved away attended and made presentations. The tissue box was passed around as tales were shared regarding her contributions to New Neighbors, the community and her friends. Carol Givens, a member of her bridge club closed her remarks saying, "After many years of shaking hands, now it's time to play bridge hands." Thompson's grandson, Cameron, was a hit. The six-year old, visiting from California with his mother, took pictures of everyone and everything. He stood on tiptoes to reach the podium speaker so he could tell the group how wonderful he thought his grandmother was and to wish her a happy retirement. Cece Coffee was reminded that during her tenure as club president she gave Thompson the nickname of "Mother Superior." Coffee said Thompson was always behind keeping everyone going in the right direction. Thompson was 60 when she and two new friends decided Peachtree City needed a greeting service for new community members in 1983. New Neighbors now boasts a membership of more than 400. After lunch, a group from the luncheon drove to City Hall for a tree planting ceremony. A Leland Cyprus will grace the front lawn of City Hall in Thompson's honor. Cheryl Beaudreault, National Board President, said, "We hope that every time someone sees the tree waving in the wind they will see Joan Thompson waving and saying, 'Welcome to Peachtree City'."
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