06/12/2026
Please join us in celebrating our May retirees and thanking them for their years of service, leadership, and dedication.
🎉 Michelle Blower, Director of Retail and Branch Administration, is retiring after five years with The Southern Bank. Her contributions have helped support our team, our branches, and our customers, and we are grateful for the impact she has made.
🎉 J. Preston Conner retires with a remarkable legacy of leadership and service. As former CEO of The Southern Bank and a member of the Board of Directors since 1985, he has played an instrumental role in shaping our organization. His commitment extends far beyond banking, having served as President of the Community Bankers Association of Georgia, President of the Chamber of Commerce of Burke County, and current Chairman of the Development Authority of Burke County.
Fun fact: He also served as Mayor for 14 years and City Councilperson for two years! His dedication to both our institution and the community has left a lasting impact that will be felt for generations.
We extend our sincere gratitude to Michelle and Preston for their contributions and wish them both health, happiness, and fulfillment in retirement. Congratulations on this well-earned milestone!