Rockdale County E-911 employee Terry Stewart was recognized Tuesday at the Board of Commissioners meeting for two decades of calm, steady guidance as a dispatcher helping callers in their time of crisis.

The average length of service is five to 10 years, said Stewart's supervisor Bill Cate, making Stewart's employment that much more extraordinary. "She is always willing to volunteer her time and effort to an educational outreach project, especially going to schools and teaching children how 911 works," he said. "Your dedicated service has been a blessing to all of us."

Stewart said her first career had been in the restaurant industry, where she had worked for 20 years since she was a teenager. Twenty years ago, she decided to go to school to become a paramedic, but while she was in the process of doing that, a position as a Rockdale E-911 dispatcher came open and Stewart has been there ever since.

"I love my job, I'm dedicated to my job," said Stewart. She noted the dedication of her co-workers and other public safety agencies.

A proclaimation was read by Commissioner Oz Nesbitt and a pin given by Commissioner JaNice Van Ness.

Stewart was joined at the ceremony by her grandson Koty Tait, daughter Kelly Defoor and friend Gloria Samut.