Well-wishers packed Mineola city hall Friday to say thanks and offer congratulations and best wishes to retiring Mineola City Manager Mercy Rushing.

Given the last word of the two-hour event, Rushing spoke only for a minute. “I’ll always be around in Mineola because I love Mineola,” she said.

After greeting friends and colleagues from near and far for an hour, Rushing was seated to receive accolades and presentations.

Former Mayors Rodney Watkins and Kevin White praised Rushing’s effort on behalf of the city in her nine years as city manager along with a prior 17 years serving the city, which was interrupted by a five-year stint with the city of Canton.

Mayor Jayne Lankford proclaimed Feb. 28, 2025 as Mercy Rushing Day, but as son, Bray, recalled, with sister April at his side, that when she would drop them off at school, her parting words would be “Have a Mercy Rushing day.”

Bray quipped that while he did not inherit his mother’s talent for public speaking, he was also not as long-winded.

He explained that while his mother, and his father Tim, both worked, they were able to strike a work-life balance, and at least one of them would always manage to be there to support their children.

And they continue to be just as present for their four grandchildren.

T.J. Moreland spoke on behalf of those grandchildren, saying that their grandmother, whom they call Lola, had spoiled them rotten.

“What a joy it has been to work with Mercy,” Lankford said. She leaves a legacy of progress, prosperity and community spirit.

White also presented Rushing a gift from the Wood County Economic Development Commission, which Rushing helped to establish as the Wood County Industrial Commission.

“She is one of the cornerstones of our county,” he said.

Cindy Karch, who takes over the reins as city manager, said that when she and Rushing started on this journey trying to fix the city’s financial woes, they cried, and here they are crying once more.

Watkins reminded the crowd of the financial crisis that Rushing inherited and solved, and listed a string of words to describe her work, including hardworking, astonishing, workhorse and relentless.

Among the presentations was a quilt crafted with t-shirts from a variety of Mineola events, a framed copy of the Wood County Monitor article concerning Rushing’s retirement, and State Rep. Cole Hefner presented a Texas flag that had been flown over the state capitol in Austin, saying that Rushing had an amazing career and life of service.

Congressman Lance Gooden sent a congratulatory letter, and State Sen. Bryan Hughes’ office presented a Senate resolution congratulating Rushing.