Arlene Hughes has ended her long career as the top administrative assistant to three county mayors.
Jim Coppinger, the current officeholder, said the staff wanted to honor Ms. Hughes with a reception, but she chose to slip out quietly.
She served 43 years with county government, including four decades as the administrative assistant to the county mayor.
Ms. Hughes first worked for Dalton Roberts and then for Claude Ramsey.
She has been the administrative assistant to County Mayor Coppinger for seven and a half years.
Her last day was Tuesday.
County Mayor Coppinger said, "Arlene was an iconic figure in county government.
"With the knowledge she had of this government, she is going to be missed. She was part of the 'institutional knowledge' that we depend on."
Her replacement is Jennifer Pukenas, who has been in the office almost three years.