For the last 15 years, Fran Davidson has guided thousands of students in their academic careers.

Now, Davidson has said goodbye to LBW Community College and her position as admissions counselor, as staff, family and friends gathered Thursday to celebrate her retirement.

Davidson, who also spent 18 years in the public school system, has served a number of positions at LBW – adjunct math professor, campus coordinator for student support services and counselor.

“When I started to work at LBW, it was with a program called the ‘Win Program,’ which was for displaced homemakers,” Davidson said, and from there, she was encouraged by mentor/friend/boss Dr. Lelia Vaughn to obtain a second master’s degree in counseling.

“I love people,” she said. “I believe God gave me an opportunity to be a part of people’s lives, and I was able to do that through counseling.”

Davidson met with incoming students to help select a major, chose a career and determine schedules, as well as help with personal problems.

While at LBWCC, Davidson also worked with students with disabilities, served on the Covington County Employment of People with Disabilities Council, helped administer the GED and ACT tests at the college, and also established a tutoring program.

“My retirement is bittersweet,” she said. “It’s exciting, but bittersweet.

She said she plans to spend time with family now that she’s retired.

“I decided that since I am youngest of my siblings, I wanted to be able to spend time with them while I’m healthy and young enough to do that,” she said. “I also have two precious granddaughters I want to spend time with and three children – two who live out of state – too.

“Sometimes we work until there’s no time left, and I didn’t want to do that,” she said. “I was very fortunate to have over 30 years in education, and I decided, through a lot of prayer, (retirement) was the right thing to do.”