Former Bryan County Schools Superintendent Dr. Sallie Brewer, center, accepts a silver platter from Board of Education member Mary Warnell (right) and former BoE Vice Chairwoman Frances Meeks during a reception held in Brewer’s honor Sunday at Meeks’ historic Folly Farms home. The event drew a large crowd, including a number of school and government officials. Brewer spent 34 years with Bryan County Schools as a teacher and administrator before her superintendent’s contract was bought out by the BoE earlier this year in a controversial 4-3 vote. "I had a wonderful career in Bryan County Schools," Brewer said. "The successes of the school system came from the cooperative work of many people who all had the same goal -- doing what is best for Bryan County children. A group of friends planned a retirement reception for me as an opportunity for staff members and the community to say thank you for my 34 years of service to Bryan County Schools. Thanks to Frances Meeks, Mary Warnell, Martha Hall, Wynelle Purcell, Olivia Harvey, Elizabeth Harn and Carolyn Downs for giving me this great gift --- the opportunity to say my own face-to-face thank you’s to the people who love our schools. Thanks to every person who attended the reception. I miss school every day, but the friends I made are with me always. The reception was a very uplifting experience for me." (Jeff Whitten)