By By Adrienne McKenzie
The Atmore community honored Betty Warren Friday at a reception to celebrate her receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Warren was recognized at the Atmore Area Chamber of Commerce's 61st Annual Banquet Monday night. She is the principal at Huxford Elementary School. Warren was absent from the banquet because she was in Long Beach, Calif. accepting the award of National Distinguished Title I School.
The Lifetime Achievement Award is given to an individual who has made contributions to this community over his or her lifetime.
Warren was extremely shocked to learn she was the Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.
"It floored me," Warren said. "I never had any idea I'd be awarded this."
The supporters of Warren were incredibly excited for her and believed that she was well deserving of this award.
"I think it's terrific," Norman Rogers said. "Betty's involved in everything in this town, she gets into every little thing."
Dr. Mary Funderburk from Mobile was one of the attendees at the reception. Funderburk taught Warren at Auburn University at Montgomery and was thrilled about Warren's award.
"I think it's wonderful," Funderburk said. "She's a wonderful person, she would do anything for anybody."
"We are very proud of her," Superintendent Billy Hines said. "It speaks highly of the community to have a principal at this level. It is nice that the people reward her because of what she does for the town."
"It's great," Cindy Lee, administrator at the Atmore Nursing Center said. "She's so enthusiastic about children and education. It's great to have someone in education get this award."
"This is one of the most deserved awards," Dale Johnson added. "There are so many folks she's known through the years."
"It's just fantastic," Warren said when asked how she felt knowing that so many people in this community truly love her so much. "Love is the most important thing to me. I've always had people taking care of me; it's good to be loved. I have one aunt and one cousin in Kentucky. The people of Atmore are my family and I claim them as my family."
Warren truly feels as if Atmore is her home and knows she can count on the community if she needs anything.
"I have never met people like the people who are in Atmore," Warren said. "Atmore has adopted me. The people are so loving; there is nobody in town that I can't call for help. This is home to me."