Collierville honors their retiring mayor by naming the historic Collierville high school “Stan R. Joyner Municipal Annex”

Family, friends and colleagues of Mayor Stan Joyner gathered at Collierville’s Historic High School on Thursday evening, November 14, 2024, to celebrate his 26 years of service to the town he loves and calls home.

The Historic High School was the perfect setting for the mayor’s celebration, as he attended school there years before he began his career as a public servant. The building, which was built in 1935 has recently undergone renovations to begin a new life as office space for various Town government departments. As he steps down from public service, the mayor is starting a new life as well. Where better to acknowledge it publicly than on the steps of the educational institution that launched him into the world?

The evening began with mixing and mingling, music from local bluegrass musicians, as all of those interested in wishing Mayor Joyner a happy next chapter gathered in the front lobby of the school. Representatives of the departments now housed in the building were available to give tours to visitors.

The formal program for the evening began on the front steps when Town Administrator Molly Mehner welcomed all and introduced special guests. She then invited friends, colleagues, and mentees to the podium to speak.

Collierville Mayor-Elect Maureen Fraser recalled Mayor Joyner’s “generous sharing of knowledge and insight, as well as his desire to simply do the job and not be in the spotlight”. She thanked him for his guidance over the years and in the years to come.

Former Town Administrator James Lewellen noted Mayor Joyner’s “generous gift of his time to the Town of Collierville, and his decision to put criticism aside and always do what he felt was the right thing for the Town”.

Tennessee State Representative Kevin Vaughn, Shelby County Commissioner David Bradford, and Tennessee State Senator Brent Taylor all thanked Mayor Joyner for his friendship and guidance over the years and wished him a wonderful retirement. They presented him with gifts of remembrance and words (sometimes humorous) that highlighted his impact in their lives and the life of the Town.

Preston Carpenter recalled meeting Mayor Joyner in Collierville youth sports in 1962, and remaining friends over the years. He added to the humorous memories that were shared, especially one of learning that his friend “Stanley Ray” had been elected mayor.

Mayor Joyner then came to the podium to speak. He thanked everyone for the memories and the kind words, and then proceeded with what he felt was the most important presentation of the evening. He read a framed proclamation that praised and thanked his wife Linda for her commitment and support over the years, and declared November 14, 2024, as “Linda Joyner Day”.

Molly ended the program with a big surprise, the announcement that the building would be renamed the “Stan R. Joyner Municipal Annex”. he was not only tearful, but speechless. It was a full circle moment for Mayor Stan Joyner.

He will be missed as the mayor, but his legacy will live on through the imprints he made throughout the entire Town of Collierville.