LaGrange Daily News editor Andrea Lovejoy will retire next month, ending a local newspaper career that has spanned 31 years.

Lovejoy, 61, joined the Daily News as a part-time feature writer in June 1978 and never left. She was named city editor in 1985 and has been editor since April 1995. Her final day as editor will be Nov. 20.

“It has been a high privilege to tell the stories and direct the coverage of people and events in this great community,” Lovejoy said. “I have loved doing it - and still find great pleasure in being part of it - but it’s time to step back and give myself freedom from deadlines and 24/7 responsibilities.”

Lovejoy’s first newsroom desk held a manual typewriter, soon replaced by a “modern” electric model. She saw the paper through its conversion to electronic publishing, the introduction of color photography, the transition to digital photography and the launch of the online edition, among many other changes.

The newspaper, its staff members - and Lovejoy - received dozens of awards under her leadership, including four straight General Excellence awards, the highest recognition conveyed by the Georgia Press Association. Her writing, especially personal columns and editorials, has been recognized year after year as winners in GPA and Associated Press competitions. She has been active in industry leadership roles, including many years as member and a term as president of the AP News Council, advisory body of Georgia’s AP newspapers.

“Andrea Lovejoy has brought commitment, skill and integrity to her work at LaGrange Daily News and to the journalism profession. She will be truly missed,” publisher Lynn McLamb said. “It has been our great good fortune to have one of Georgia’s most respected editors in our midst.”

A native of Hancock County and graduate of Georgia State University, Lovejoy moved to LaGrange in 1973 when her husband, Bill, took a job with Milliken & Co. Bill Lovejoy retired in January, and the opportunity to travel with him and pursue their shared hobbies, gardening and grandchildren, are among the editor’s priorities for retirement.

“I am blessed to have four generations of my family living in LaGrange and look forward to more quality time with my mother, Betty Jackson, my children and their spouses and my grandchildren,” she said.

Both of the Lovejoy offspring - known to readers of her column as the “girlchild” and “boychild” - were born in LaGrange and returned to their hometown after college. Liza Lovejoy Fritchley is vice president of West Georgia Health System, and Kyle Lovejoy is an attorney with Roberts and Lovejoy.

“I pretty much raised my children on the pages of LaGrange Daily News,” Lovejoy said, laughing. “They each went with me on countless interviews - or waited for me to finish an interview before picking them up, late, from school. Now, I’m writing about my grandchildren.”

Readers will not have to miss hearing about the “grandtwins” and “princess.” Lovejoy plans to continue writing a weekly column and also will do some feature writing for the newspaper.

She expressed appreciation to the four publishers for whom she has worked - the late Glen O. Long, who hired her, mentored her, urged her to try column writing and promoted her to the city desk; Louis P. Harvath III, who named her editor; David M. “Mike” Pippin, the newspaper’s leader during its run of General Excellence awards; and McLamb, who has encouraged her to remain a contributor in retirement.

“But my greatest thanks go to the dedicated men and women, past and present, in the forefront and behind the scenes, who put the ‘daily’ in Daily News,” Lovejoy said. “Their talents and dedication, their humor and support, their quirks and willingness to rise to countless challenges, have made my career rewarding, enjoyable and … possible. I will be forever grateful.”

McLamb said a successor to Lovejoy will be named soon.