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Jim and Judy Neighbors, affectionately known as “Mom and Pop” by Miss Troup County contestants for more than four decades, were recognized on Tuesday for their service to the pageant and Troup County.

Troup County Commission Chairman Patrick Crews issued a proclamation during Tuesday’s Board of Commissioners meeting naming Oct. 4, 2022, as Jim and Judy Neighbors Day for Troup County.

The proclamation was a surprise for the couple. Crews said he invited Jim and Judy to recognize Miss Troup County, but behind the scenes, friends, family and former pageant winners were invited to recognize the couple for their long service to the pageant.

“I have a proclamation tonight for the two of you for all the years of all the hard work and labor that you put in to make sure that our community had a Miss Troup County Pageant,” Crews said.

Jim and Judy Neighbors served as volunteer directors and advisors for the Miss Troup County Scholarship Pageant and the Miss Troup Teen pageant for more than 47 years.

In the proclamation, Crews noted that the Neighbors’ dedication to both programs greatly benefitted countless young women by providing opportunities to develop maturity, poise, self-confidence and educational opportunities through scholarship funding.

Jim and Judy officially retired after the 2022 Miss Troup County competition in January due to health and age-related reasons. Judy still assists the Miss Troup pageant as a consultant.

The couple began helping with the pageant in the 1970s due to Jim’s membership in the LaGrange Lions Club.

Since then the couple has been mentors and surrogate grandparents to countless young women in Troup County.

Jim is a native of Hogansville and attended Hogansville High School and later Barry College and Nolan Park College. He worked as an accountant for years and served on many local organizations including the Troup County Humane Society, Life Board, Historical Society, Lions Club and executive committee and board for the Lafayette Society for the Performing Arts.

Judy is a native of LaGrange and attended LaGrange High School. She graduated magna cum laude at Georgia Southern University and holds a master’s degree in education from LaGrange College. Judy retired after 30 years as a sixth-grade teacher.

“Jim and Judy have been very special to this community for more than 47 years,” Crews said.