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The Opp Chamber of Commerce has announced that Opp Mayor Becky Bracke will be inducted into the Opp Hall of Fame during the Opp Hall of Fame Banquet on Thursday, June 23.

Bracke was born Rebecca Woodham on Jan. 1, 1948, to Luther Marshall Woodham and Anna Lois Moore Woodham of Opp, Alabama. She was the youngest of three girls and adored her big sisters, Marsha and Linda. She had a wonderful small-town childhood and graduated from Opp High School in 1966. She has three children, two step-children, 12 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Her children, Brett Ballard (Wendy); Christy Harrell (Gary); Brock Ballard (Carla); Brent Bracke (Amy); and Carrie Buckelew (David) all live in Opp. All of her children and grandchildren received an excellent education in the Opp City Schools system and five of her children/grandchildren are employed as educators in this system.

Bracke’s passion is people and her accomplishments in life over the years have revolved around caring for and improving the lives of the people of Opp. Seeing the need for a child care center in Opp (a new concept in the 1970s), she opened Becky’s Kinder Kollege in September 1977. From its inception, Bracke incorporated a teaching component into her daycare. At that time, there were no kindergarten classes in the Opp City School System. After seeing another need for school-aged children to attend after-school daycare as well as summer daycare, she expanded the business by adding an extra house for these school-aged children. Bracke’s Kinder Kollege now has an enrollment of approximately 100 children per day each year. Over the course of its 45-year existence, hundreds of Opp’s children have spent many hours of their formative years as students in her care.

As her own parents became elderly and in need of care, Bracke began researching another new concept, assisted living. After a year of research and planning, she broke ground on such a facility. In November of 1998, The WoodMoore Assisted Living Facility opened its doors. This facility has 16 units, and has served as home to more than 100 senior citizens.

Bracke has been a member of First Baptist Church of Opp since 1957 and has been deeply involved in the church, serving in its nursery for over 50 years and singing in the choir for at least 30 years. She has also served on several church committees. She has been a member of the Opp Chamber of Commerce for over 40 years, and served on the board for three years. In addition, Bracke was an elected as a member of the Opp City Board of Education for a full term. She is currently in her second term as the City of Opp’s first female mayor. She has had, and continues to have, a major influence on many citizens of Opp who are now contributing to our hometown through their work as teachers, business owners, administrators, and coaches — to name just a few.

“Bracke possesses a sincere love for Opp — her hometown — and her desire is for Opp to become a revitalized community where residents can work, learn, shop, dine, and play. Through her vision and actions, Becky has made an indelible imprint on Opp and Covington County,” said Opp Chamber Director Kelly Brandin.

Bracke said she is honored to be inducted into the Opp Hall of Fame.

Bracke will be inducted into the Opp Hall of Fame during the Opp Hall of Fame Banquet scheduled for Thursday, June 23, beginning at 6:30 p.m., at the First Baptist Church of Opp Fellowship Center. Tickets are $30 per ticket and may be purchased at the Opp Chamber of Commerce office located at 200 S. Main St.