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Staff, friends and family of The I.G. Brown Air National Guard Training and Education Center gathered at a local restaurant Monday to honor and bid farewell to a longtime staff member upon her retirement.

"It's hard to believe it's my last day," said Edna C. Davis, a secretary at the Training and Education Center. "It has been a joy to be here at the TEC and to be a part of instructing the leaders of the Air National Guard."

Davis began working at the Training and Education Center at McGhee Tyson Air Base on Feb. 9, 1992. She will be best remembered for her 17 years of service as the secretary for the Academy of Military Science (AMS), the Air National Guard's officer commissioning program, which relocated to Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., in July.

Numerous past and present staff members of the Training and Education Center came to honor Davis with presentations and gifts. Many shared stories of her accomplishments, experience and impact on the center.

"You knew the day was starting off on the right foot when you heard Miss Edna laughing and starting the day out right with good words to say about everybody," said Senior Master Sgt. Timothy Kumes, the director of education for the enlisted professional military education branch.

"Yellow roses signify friendship," said Kumes as he presented a bouquet to Davis. "You have been a true friend of this center. We're going to miss seeing your happy face and your bright, sunny personality."

During her years at the Training and Education Center, Davis served under five commanders and seven AMS commandants, she worked with 92 AMS staff members, and contributed to the commissioning of more than 7,300 second lieutenants in the Air National Guard.

Davis was recognized for outstanding performance many times during her career here. She won the center's quarterly award four times and received the Civilian of the Year, Category 1 award for both the Training and Education Center and the Air National Guard Readiness Center in 2002.