CHERAW - The Nov. 3 Cheraw Municipal Election ended as fast it came in which two members of the town council will no longer be onboard.

Mickey Workman and Robert Benton will now move on, as two new members, Reid McBride and Billy Wallace, will fill those seats in January 2010.

Both McBride and Wallace will be officially sworn in during the next Cheraw Town Council meeting scheduled for Jan. 12, 2010 at Cheraw Town Hall.

Mickey Workman (District six)

Mickey Workman, who currently represents District six, is a native of Cheraw where he and his wife Nancy, have two sons and two grandchildren.

Workman, who lost his council seat to upcoming new council member, Reid McBride, said, “I wish Reid all the best with the council and in all he does.”

Workman still remains busy with other projects and continues to be active in Nancy’s Kids.

Workman has served 52 years as a youth sports coach and is the former president of the Cheraw Braves Booster Club as well as former president of the Cheraw Lions Club. In addition, he also served two four-year terms on the Cheraw Recreation Commission. He currently serves as a deacon at Cheraw Baptist Church, which he has held for the past 20 years. Workman has been a Cheraw Council member for the last four years. He has received several awards such as the Lion of the Year, Cheraw Citizen of the Year, and a Volunteer Award from the governor’s office in the past. In addition, he also received the Volunteer of the Year Award from the United States Postal Service for the Eastern Region. He is also a co-founder of Nancy’s Kids in Cheraw.

Robert Benton (District two)

Robert L. Benton who also sought re-election to Cheraw’s Town Council seat in District two will also be leaving the Cheraw Town Council in January 2010. Benton has been a member of the Town Council for the past four years. He also serves as a board member on the Greater Cheraw Chamber of Commerce. Benton currently serves on The Economic Development Committee and the Education Committee. He is a graduate of Long High School (now Long Middle School) and Chesterfield-Marlboro Technical College (now NETC).

He served as a Chairman of the Board of Trustees, a member of Stewards, Sunday School Superintendent, the president of the Male Choir and is a member of the NAACP. Benton is also a Vietnam Veteran and devoted 20 years of service to his country as a National Guardsman. He is also an active member of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV). Benton retired from Delta Mills in Wallace as a heat and air technician. He is married to the Reverend Sandra K. Benton and is a member of Mt. Hebron A.M.E. Zion Church. He is a faithful supporter of 19 other churches on the Cheraw-Bennettsville District of the Pee Dee Conference. He serves as president of the Pee Dee Conference Usher Board as well.

Benton will be replace by Billy Wallace who will represent District two. During a recent town council meeting, Benton said, “I have no hard feelings about anything or anyone and I wish the best for the town and the new members.”