Jerry McDurmon has sold his business – McDurmon Sales & Service - to Hagan Morris.

No announcement has been made on future use of the building, located at 227 South Marble Street.

However, McDurmon said the shop would close on Saturday, July 1, after continuous operation for more than 15 years.

Prior to opening his business, McDurmon was a supervisor in the repair section at General Motors. After 31 years, he said he was tired of the lengthy commute and wanted to retire.

However, he did not want to spend the rest of his life in leisure. So, he sought another place to work.

During a conversation with Richard Bell, he mentioned that he would like to own a business. Bell asked, “What about this one?”

At that time, he owned and operated Bell’s Sales & Service at the same location. Bell purchased the building and adjoining structure from Tom Fuller, a schoolteacher and insurance agent.

McDurmon decided to buy the business and building.

He said he always kept his mower running and felt he could do the same for other people

The idea was to kick back and watch the money roll in. Surprise! It did not work that way.

McDurmon quickly discovered that it was more involved than he had realized.

“I learned that rebuilding an engine requires more work than maintaining one,” he said.

He also watched Kenneth Jones, who remained on the job and proved a great asset.

“Kenneth was very experienced with lawn mower repairs,” McDurmon said.

In the years that followed, he never regretted his decision to leave General Motors.

However, he recently felt it was again time to make a change and transition into something different.

“I don’t wish to retire from work,” he said. “I have been busy since Fred Braswell gave me a job in his grocery store.”

After his business closes, McDurmon said he hopes to find a part time job so that he can spend more time with his wife Sheron, children and grandchildren.