FRANKLIN—Effie King enjoys giving back to the community and having a chance to catch up with her former students.

While she was out of town Monday, King was honored during the Franklin City Council meeting.

When she found out, the retired S.P. Morton Elementary schoolteacher was in shock about being recognized.

“I didn’t know they were going to do this,” she said. “I’m the sort of person that is kind of a stand in the background type. Accolades are nice, but I do things because I feel the need to do them and help the community.”

When she started volunteering as an election official, she said it was because there was a need, but now there is much more to it.

“It gives me a chance to meet people, and to meet the young people that I taught,” she said. “It is good to see them interested in coming out and voting. It has truly been a joy.”

Over the years, King has volunteered for the Chamber of Commerce, the city Treasurer’s Office, the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center fundraising efforts, the Presbyterian Church’s first facility in Franklin for special needs children, Southampton Memorial Hospital’s East Pavilion Patient Surrogate Program, the Camp Food Bank, Baker’s Home donor program, and she personally maintains a children’s clothing bank in her own home.

In her efforts on the election commission, her service includes the chief election officer for precinct four, and she is the assistant chief for the precinct, with activities including training other volunteers.

“She has worked for many years,” said Mayor Raystine Johnson-Ashburn. “She has tutored children, and I know that because she is my former neighbor. For years, I have seen parents take children to her home since she has retired.

“She is a very nice person, and she has been a good neighbor for 20 years.”

King is also being honored at her church, Shiloh Baptist Church in Boykins. She has served as chair of the trustee board, the chair when they built the new facility, in various ministries and also her keeping a clothes bank for disadvantaged youth.

“I tried to get out of that one,” she said with a laugh. “But they wouldn’t let me. It was a shock, but it is nice. I’m more into doing than selling myself.”