Pictured L-R are Durrett seated, L-R standing Alvis Storey, Kevin Jockisch, and Ralph R. Banks, III.

After 57 years, Melvin K. Durrett is retiring from Merchants & Farmers Bank effective January 31, 2011.
Durrett, a life-long resident of Greene County, graduated from Greene County High School in 1947 He attended Alabama Polytechnic Institute (better known today as Auburn University) and graduated in the Spring of 1952.
He joined the staff of the bank as a teller in 1953.
He also helped form a National Guard Unit in Eutaw and was company commander for a number of years.
At the time he was employed by Merchants & Farmers, the bank was located on Courthouse Square and had assets of $3 million. Today the bank has assets of $52 million.
Durrett has held every office in the bank up to Chairman of the Board. “This has been a good profession for me,” he said. “I have enjoyed it for the past 57 years.”
When asked how he intended to spend his retirement, Durrett said that he has a little woodworking shop at his home and enjoys creating things there, plus he loves riding his four-wheeler. Although he has given up hunting, he enjoys riding the four-wheeler out in the woods and doing some target shooting.
He also plans on being able to visit his two children – one in Detroit, MI and one in Chattanooga, TN, and spend more time with his grandchildren.
“I was born here, lived here all my life and Eutaw has been a real pleasant place to live,” said Durrett.
The Bank Board has elected Alvis Storey as Chairman of the Board, CEO and Investments Officer. Ralph Banks has been elected President of the Bank and Kevin Jockisch, a local businessman and farmer, has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Bank.
The Board conveyed upon Durrett the title of Chairman Emeritis.