Ann Wood, advertising manager for The Cedartown Standard, is retiring from the newspaper Jan. 31 after working with the the publication for nearly 25 years.

Even though Wood’s position has been in advertising for the last 20 years, she has worn many hats during her tenure at the Standard including editor, sports writer, photographer and other positions.

Her work began in Cedartown when she only had a staff of two and did “everything manually,” she said, including developing pictures and climbing a ladder to get in the press box at the high school football games.

“The newspaper business has changed so much from 23 hours-a-day doing everything manually to being completely computerized,” she recalled. In order to meet deadlines Wood said, “We often worked all night on Tuesday and the paper would be closed on Wednesdays.”

Since working in advertising, Wood has established lasting and extensive relationships with individuals in the Cedartown community, faithfully calling on her customers every week.

“I have met a lot of people that I enjoy working with each day. I enjoy people—the customers and people inside the office,” Wood said.

Casey’s Food Store owner, Kenny Casey, said, “She’s been real nice to us for 20 years, very congenial. She always goes-to-bat for her customer.”

Co-worker Carissa Aiken, who will soon fill Wood’s vacant position, said, “This newspaper company has been fortunate to have her represent them and she will be missed every day.”

Aiken also said that Wood had not only been one of her best and most reliable friends, but also a “wonderful mentor.”

Publisher and Editor Jim Penney said that Wood would certainly be missed at the Standard. “She has a knack for making sales and calling on customers that makes a sometimes tough job look easy,” he said.

Wood moved to Cedartown in 1981 after living in Nashville for three years. She worked in Corrugated Sales for Inland and Green Bay Packaging.

“I got tired of being on the road with sales and really wanted to get into journalism and I enjoyed writing,” Wood said.

Wood grew up in Cartersville where she graduated from high school and then attended Emory University in Atlanta.

“I have been employed since I was 11, when I started babysitting, so now I am going to play house and travel.” Wood said she has several trips already planned. She also plans on visiting family and her two sisters living in Bartow County.

Wood has been married to Cedartown native and City Commissioner, Bert Wood, Jr., for 24 years. They have four children, seven grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Ann and Bert are both active members of Cedartown’s First Baptist Church.