School employees gathered in the Lee-Jackson/Thomas Hunter cafetorium in Mathews last Thursday afternoon to celebrate the end of the 2018-2019 school year and to recognize some employees for reaching milestones in their careers with Mathews County Public Schools.

By far, the biggest milestone celebrated was that of Lillian K. Hudgins who, at the age of 87, continues to work part-time in the school cafeteria a half century after she began her career with Mathews schools in 1969.

Nelda Gibbs, the division’s cafeteria manager, got the opportunity to make this special presentation, which was doubly special because Lillian Hudgins is also her aunt.

Gibbs reflected on such things as the price of gasoline (35 cents/gallon) and a first-class postage stamp (6 cents) in 1969, adding, “I was in the eighth grade at Thomas Hunter … and that’s been a long time.” Gibbs recalled growing up in Aunt Lillian’s kitchen as a child and the favorite meal she would ma...