ROXOBEL – After nearly half a century of working, Talmadge Barnes is finally calling it quits.

The Northampton County resident has worked at Southern Bank in Roxobel for the last 47 years, even back when it wasn’t called by that name.

When Barnes began working there in 1961, it was known as Roanoke-Chowan Bank.

That institution merged with Southern in 1969, and Barnes stayed on.

Barnes, who retired as bank manager two weeks ago, now plans to rest and travel with his wife of 45 years, Betty.

&uot;I plan to just relax and do some local traveling… my wife wants to travel and go some places,&uot; he told the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald.

Barnes, 70, never went to college, but graduated from Jackson High School before joining the United States Air Force (USAF).

He spent four years in the service doing administrative duties before coming to Bertie County to work at the bank straight out of the USAF.

Barnes said the part of his job he will miss the most is the people.

&uot;I’ll miss the people the most; both the customers and the people I work with,&uot; he stated.

Barnes’ wife works part time with the Northampton County Chamber of Commerce.

&uot;I think of Bertie County as my home, since I spent more time here than in Northampton County over the last 47 years… I’ll miss it here,&uot; he noted.

Certainly the residents of Roxobel, bank patrons and Bertie County citizens will miss Barnes, who has been an area fixture for so many years, as well.