By Blake Deshazo | The Selma Times-Journal

Four council members will retire their seats Monday when four new members take the oath of office.

And those four new council members have some big shoes to fill.

Cecil Williamson, Greg Bjelke, Benny Tucker and Bennie Ruth Crenshaw have served the city for a long time. Combined, they have dedicated 57 years of service to the city of Selma.

“It was a pleasure working with them,” said outgoing Mayor George Evans. “Naturally, we didn’t always agree on every subject and matter that came up, but the relationship overall was very good.”

Crenshaw has served on the council the longest of the four, serving Selma for 20 years and being reelected five times. Crenshaw chose not to run for reelection this year after deciding she wanted to go in a different direction.

“My 20 years serving on the city council have been challenging and rewarding,” Crenshaw said. “My objective has always been to serve. The obvious expressions from so many people at my last council meeting was a testimony that my mission to serve the city and its people was greatly appreciated. I am thankful.”

Crenshaw was presented with flowers and a program in her honor at her last meeting.

While dedicating 20 years of her life to the city has been something she enjoyed, it wasn’t an easy feat.

“Had it not been for prayers and close support from friends and family, it would have been a difficult journey,” Crenshaw said. “It has been a blessing to have been a servant for the people for 20 years, and I give God all of the honor, all of the praise and all of the glory.”

Jannie Thomas will take Crenshaw’s place on the council for Ward 7.

Cecil Williamson has spent a total of 16 years on the council. He was first elected in 1980 and served one term. He was reelected in 2004 and has served on the council for 12 years since. He chose not to run for reelection this year.

“I have certainly enjoyed being a member of the city council and serving the city,” Williamson said. “I am most pleased about being able to help keep the city solvent during some difficult economic times.”

Williamson said he will miss serving with his fellow council members, who he has spent a lot of time with over the years.

“I’ve developed some good friendships with the members of the council through the years,” Williamson said. “I’ll probably miss interacting with the other council members more than anything else.”

One of the many projects Williamson is proud to have been a part of is the development along the riverfront.

“I think we made some progress as far as the riverfront development with Water Avenue, the streetscape projects and the sewer projects that are underway now, “Williamson said.

The Ward 1 spot on the council will be taken by Carl Bowline.

Like Williamson, Tucker also served 16 years on the council.

“I just want to thank the people for giving me 16 years of service, and I thank God that I was able to do 16 years,” Tucker said. “I made a lot of people happy, and I made some of them angry.”

Tucker said he plans to spend more time with his wife, who is ill, and family.

“I thank the Lord’s will that I can put more of my time with her,” Tucker said.

Tucker said he was instrumental in helping the pool in East Selma to be renovated and reopened, as well as having streets in his ward paved and pushing raises for police officers.

“It was great because I was able to help the people and do a lot in the ward and try to keep things going with the city,” Tucker said. “I tried to do the best I could with what we had to work with.”

The Ward 6 seat will go to Johnnie Leashore, who narrowly defeated Tucker.

Greg Bjelke spent five years on the council after filling in on an expired term for Ward 3.

“It was frustrating at times, but very rewarding as well,” Bjelke said. “I was glad to do it. My constituents in Ward 3 are spoiled. I bent over backwards to help them if there was an issue. I was glad to help them. It was tough at times, but it was good.”

Bjelke said he is proud of several projects that were completed during his time, including blocking off Mallory Drive, having part of the Alabama River declared a historic site to stop people from scavenging and diving for artifacts.

Regardless of how long they served, these four have accomplished a lot during their tenures. The new council will be sworn in Monday.