TIFTON — South Georgia Banking Company recently announced the retirement of three long-serving members of their Board of Directors: Jones Ponder, Dr. Joe Turner, and Grady M. Thompson Jr.

Jones Ponder, a founding organizer and board member since 1970, made an immeasurable impact on the bank, SGBC said in a press release. Over the years, he served in various roles and on multiple committees, offering invaluable counsel to the board, management, and employees. His dedication to enhancing Tift County and the South Georgia community, especially through his work with agricultural and educational organizations, was truly remarkable.

Dr. Joe Turner joined the board in 1976 and made significant contributions to the Tift County community, particularly in the medical field, as well as through his involvement with religious and civic organizations, the bank said. His unwavering commitment to improving the lives of others was a guiding force for the bank.

Grady Thompson has been a board member since 1990, and his dedication to strengthening both Tift County and Georgia communities was reflected in his extensive involvement in local,
county, and state organizations, the press release said.

Together, these leaders played an essential role in the bank’s growth, helping increase assets to $600 million, expand to nine banking centers, and maintain continuous shareholder dividends. To honor their contributions, the bank is making a $5,000 donation to a cause significant to each individual: $5,000 to Omega Elementary School in honor of Ponder, $5,000 to the Tifton Council for the Arts to support the Bette Turner Arts Annex of the Syd Blackmarr Arts Center in honor of Dr. Turner, and $5,000 to create a Soil and Water Conservation Scholarship Fund in honor of Thompson.

“All three of these men have given many years in service to our organization, and we could not be more grateful for their invaluable leadership during that time,” said Glenn P. Willis, CEO of South Georgia Banking Company and chairman of the SGBC Board of Directors. “They have all given us a wealth of sound business advice and valued counsel in the decades they have served, in addition to their service to Tift County and South Georgia as a whole, both personally and professionally. We wish them well in their retirement from the board.”

South Georgia Banking Company has locations in Tifton, Omega, Moultrie, Ashburn, Cordele, Vienna, and Sylvester, Georgia. Learn more at SGBConline.com.