Each announced her retirement with clarity and confidence, leaving on a high note rather than clinging to one. They understood that leadership is not diminished by transition, it is defined by it. Their example shows that stepping aside at the right time isn’t an act of weakness, it’s the ultimate act of respect for both the institution and the people it serves.
Metro Atlanta and Georgia, as a whole, deserve that same courage. Its residents, from Snellville to Conyers to Jonesboro, are younger, more engaged and more diverse than ever. They are organizing online, building businesses and demanding representation that understands modern solutions to modern problems.