Richmond Hill paid tribute Tuesday night to the late Betty Miner, the first woman to serve on city council.

“I don’t think anyone has served this city more than Betty Miner and her family,” said councilman Steve Scholar, who added, “Betty was an icon in this city and we’ll miss her.” Mayor Russ Carpenter said Tuesday’s recognition was “bittersweet.”

“We planned it late last year to recognize her while she was still with us,” Carpenter said, praising Miner’s “trailblazing spirit and dedication to the community.”

Miner died in January at the age of 87. She served on the council in the early 1970s, and was also the first woman to serve the city as mayor pro tem. She and her husband, Dickie, owned Miner’s Service Station and she also worked in real estate.

Miner was involved in the Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce and the Bryan County Republican Party.

Carpenter said he considered the outspoken Miner a “friend and advisor.” “She never minded telling me her opinion of what was going on in this city.”