A local bank announced last week a change in leadership at the helm of the financial institution, the Cairo Messenger reported in its Dec. 17 issue.

Citizens Bank Chairman of the Board William N. Searcy announced that R. Johnson Parker is retiring and the bank has employed Edgar B. Smith III to assume the presidency of the 104-year-old bank.

Smith, formerly president of Cairo Banking Company now known as Ameris Bank—Cairo, retired from Ameris in 2006. His long career in banking includes leadership roles at banks in Alpharetta, Nashville and Pembroke, Ga.

Fresh out of college Smith worked for 10 years as a bank examiner. He came to Cairo in 1992 to manage Cairo Banking Company, which was later sold by the LeGette family to what is now Ameris Bank.

“I am looking forward to this opportunity and am eager to serve the customers of Citizens Bank. I appreciate the confidence of Chairman Searcy and the bank’s board of directors,” Smith said.

Smith’s employment was approved by the board during a board of directors meeting at the bank Dec. 15.

Edgar Smith and his wife, Joy, are active members of Cairo First United Methodist Church. Smith is a member and former president of the Cairo Rotary Club. The Smiths are the parents of three grown children and they have five grandchildren.

Parker served as the president of Citizens Bank since 1990, during which time the assets of the bank grew from approximately $11 million to $55 million. President Parker also oversaw the construction of the bank’s new main office on North Broad Street during his tenure as president.

“We thank Johnson for his many years of service and dedication to the bank and wish him the best in his retirement,” Chairman Searcy said.