LANETT — The Lanett City Council honored Floyd and Floy Aikens during Monday’s meeting with a proclamation recognizing their 71st wedding anniversary.
Councilmember Kim Roberts read the proclamation on behalf of Mayor Jamie Heard and the council.
According to the proclamation, the Aikenses first met at age 13 at Shiloh Baptist Church. They later reunited after Floyd was invited to attend Floy’s senior class picnic.
After Floy returned from a class trip to New York, Floyd surprised her with an engagement ring. The couple married Sept. 17, 1955.
“Giving God priority in their marriage, the Aikenses have lived a blessed life,” the proclamation stated. “They are loving parents to their sons and loving grandparents to their grandchildren and great grandchildren.”
The proclamation extended congratulations and best wishes to the couple.
Roberts said the Aikenses taught her for years in Sunday school at Westside Baptist Church and played an important role in the lives of Lanett’s youth.
“These two taught me for years in Sunday school at Westside Baptist Church,” Roberts said. “They were the parents of all the youths of Lanett. So thank you for loving us.”
Floyd Aikens, a retired preacher who served as pastor of Happy Valley Baptist Church for 19 years, thanked the council after the proclamation.
“We’ve been honored all these years by God’s grace and God’s message,” Aikens said. “We put each other first, honor each other and put God first in our marriage.”
The council also recognized former city chaplain Rodney Jones.
Councilmember Denise Zachary read a proclamation honoring Jones, who was surrounded by family members.
“Thank you for being a steady anchor, a listening ear and a community source of great comfort for our community,” Zachary said. “On behalf of Lanett Mayor Jamie Heard and the members of the Lanett City Council, it gives me great pleasure to present you with this plaque.”
Jones thanked the council for allowing him to serve as the city’s chaplain.
“First of all, I just want to give it all to God, who has had my heart,” Jones said. “Again, I just want to take time and say thank you to the city of Lanett for allowing me to serve as the chaplain of this great city.”
The council also recognized Team WHIP for its upcoming breast cancer awareness events in October.
Narfunda Ross, Team WHIP’s founding director and an 18-year breast cancer survivor, spoke to the council about the organization’s annual awareness celebration, scheduled for Oct. 4 at the Lanett Regional Airport.
“Along with the Recreation Department and the city, we have been working diligently,” Ross said. “This year, we’re going to focus not only on breast cancer but also on the reproductive system, which includes ovarian and cervical cancer, as well as prostate cancer for males.”
Ross said the event also will feature a men’s fashion stroll that will culminate with a walk.
“Everyone is invited, but you do not have to be a survivor to participate,” Ross said. “It’s all about raising awareness and decreasing the disparities that we have in our rural community.”
