Willie and Mary Brumfield were announced as the City of Laurel Healthy Marriage Initiative’s April Couple of the Month.

The Quitman couple are both retired and have been married 46 years.

Mr. Brumfield, who is originally from Laurel, worked in community development in Laurel and for the Jones County Board of Supervisors. Mrs. Brumfield is a native of Pachuta and taught second grade for 36 years.

Mr. Brumfield said the key to a happy, long marriage is to stay committed to each other while setting positive goals to work toward as a couple in partnership.

“I think mainly being committed and having children. Teach them the right things and set positive goals,” he said. “They need to get God first and be committed to the marriage.”

Mrs. Brumfield added the importance of a married couple actually building a friendship.

“Keep a line of communication,” she said. “Become friends. Do things together. Like he said, set positive goals. Set the goal where every person can work together, and be positive.”