Hundreds packed into David’s Catfish House Monday evening for First National Bank & Trust’s annual Celebrity Waiters event.

Once again, the event proved profitable for the bank’s Relay for Life team, raising more than $8,000 for the American Cancer Society to go towards cancer research.

According to FNB&T vice president Rene’ Godwin, it took numerous dedicated individuals to make the event a success.

“I want to say ‘thank you’ to everyone who participated, purchased, ate, cooked, prepared, served and donated to last night’s First National Bank & Trust’s Celebrity Waiter fundraiser for the Atmore Area Relay for Life,” she said Tuesday morning.

Celebrity Waiters this year included Sharon Brown and Teresa Martin, Shane Hadley, Chandler Myers, Zickeyous Byrd, Shep Marsh, Becky Ganey, Darryl North, Mike McCall and Darrell Jackson, Arthur Mothershed, Willie Hawthorne, Brandon Smith, Blake Bell, Robin Parker and Sandra Day and Alisha McDuffie.

Godwin said she was simply amazed by the Celebrity Waiter staff that volunteered this year.

“Wow,” she said. “What a great group of community leaders who were all in it for a great cause.”

Brown and Martin and Brandon Smith were also recognized for being Celebrity Waiters for three years in a row.

The group of waiters worked to sell at least 10 tickets to the steak dinner as well as offered great customer service to earn additional donations in tips. Mothershed won the “Most Tips Award” and one of his guests, Jay Dorris, won the grand prize 42-inch Samsung flat-screen television donated by Audio Plus. Dorris generously donated the TV back to the event and it was raffled off raising an additional $500 for the cause.

The “Best Decorated Table Award” went to Parker and Day who worked tirelessly all day to decorate their table all in memory of their brother, Bruce Lowery.

“I think I can speak for Bruce when I say he would be so proud of his sisters and how they are contributing to the fight against cancer,” Godwin said.

In addition to the Celebrity Waiters, several FNB&T employees assisted with set up, preparation of food and clean up. Those employees included Wanda Hall, Susan Tuthill, Sue Parker, Peggy Phillips, Sonya Ellis, Tracey Hodgen, Nana Day, Maegan Robinson, Melissa Ward, Alisha McDuffie, John Brantley, Mark Clayton, Stephen VanPelt, Jessica Peebles and Carl Staples.

“Of course, none of this could be possible without a location and all the compliments,” Godwin said. “Words can’t adequately thank Rob, Bull and Sheilo Faircloth for year in and year out, donating the facilities, utensils, water, electricity, all the little things that no one really thinks about when hosting such an event. Now that David’s is open on Sundays for lunch, the Celebrity Waiter event meant their team of workers most likely didn’t have a day off this week. We can’t thank them enough for all they do. ‘Juice’ (Josh Coley), Vickie and Gavin Grant, Jannie Benjamin and LaTonia Benjamin…you are truly the best to work with and we appreciate you so very much.”

Grand Champion grillers John and Kathy Swift, Walt Butler and Lamar Godwin grilled the steaks for the dinner at no charge to the bank. The steaks went along well with the cole slaw, baked potatoes, Texas toast and pound cake.

Last year’s event raised more than $7,500. The bank cleared $8,500 this year.

For additional photos, see page 14.