WINDER—Betty Cohron was honored for her 50 years of service to St. Matthew Church, in Winder, as the community celebrated a milestone with a picnic.

The Cohron family saw St. Matthew grow from its early days in a school building to the construction of the current sanctuary seven years ago. Parish leaders honored Betty with a plaque of recognition.

The Winder mission, about 50 miles northeast of Atlanta, was established in 1964 and it became a parish in 1999.

Hundreds attended the Sept. 21 festivities, with lots of food, games, cakewalks and dancing.

The parish started in a vacant schoolhouse built decades before. It was in bad shape until church members made it their house of worship. As the parish grew, more space was needed and a new sanctuary was built. The original building continues to be used. The pastor is Father Gilbert Exumé.