After more than 20 years with the system, Demopolis City Schools Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Linda Agee is stepping down.

Agee offered her resignation Monday after 22 years and intends to join the Saraland School District which puts her closer to parts of her family in South Alabama.

“I need to be closer to my brothers,” said Agee, who has called Demopolis home for the past 40 years. “It’s tough because on one hand I’ll be further away from my grandchildren. But like I told them, halfway is Thomasville.”

Agee joined the Demopolis system in 1989 as an accountant before being named CFO in 1991.

“This was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make,” Agee said of leaving the place she’s called home for three-quarters of her life. “I thought and thought and thought and I prayed and prayed and prayed and the Lord just kept opening the door. This was just something I needed to do.”

The move reunites Agee with former Demopolis Superintendent of Education Dr. Wayne Vickers, who is now head of the Saraland School System.

Demopolis Superintendent of Education Dr. Al Griffin said the search to fill the roll of CFO would begin immediately. Advertisements for the position were posted Tuesday and would remain for at least 14 days.

“I’ve enjoyed every minute of it,” Agee said of her time at Demopolis, “but (my brothers and I) aren’t getting any younger and I need to do this while I still can.”

Agee’s resignation and subsequent move also frees a part-time position in maintenance which was occupied by her husband, Gus.

Agee’s resignation is effective Feb. 18 and she will begin her role at Saraland Feb. 21.