Connect Savannah | June 2023

ADMINISTRATIVE

ERICA BASKIN PUBLISHER erica@connectsavannah.com (912) 721-4378

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CONTENT

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CHANTEL BRITTON MANAGING EDITOR chantel @connectsavannah.com

MCKENNAH DRURY GRAPHIC DESIGNER (912) 721-4354

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS

Jesse Blanco, Beth Logan, Bunny Ware,, Alan Sculley, Lauren Wolverton, Kareem McMichael

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DIGITAL SALES MANAGER logan@connectsavannah.com (912) 721-4369

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE

DEAR CONNECT SAVANNAH READERS, Summer is here, and we are delighted to present our June issue, packed with stories and features that celebrate the spirit of the season. As the days grow longer and the temperature rises, we invite you to dive into the pages of this edition, where you'll find a vibrant tapestry of articles that embody the essence of June.

In this issue, we shine a spotlight on the significance of Juneteenth, a day that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States, and especially in Coastal Georgia. Additionally, we share what's going on for Pride Month, a time of celebration, advocacy, and solidarity for the LGBTQ+ community. Find out what the First City Pride Center has planned for its annual Stonewall Block Party.

Savannah obviously has become the backdrop for many shows and movies, and as season 8 of "Fear the Walking Dead" drops, you'll no doubt notice local faces and places in the background.

Check out Beth Logan's piece on a Savannah favorite, Jessica Leigh Lebos. Her new book shows she really "gets" what it's like living in Savannah.

And let's not forget the unforgettable moments from our annual Best of Savannah Party! Our cameras captured the energy, laughter,

ON THE COVER

and camaraderie that filled the air as we celebrated the city's finest. Browse through the vibrant photographs and reminisce about the memorable night that honored the heartbeat of Savannah.

And last, but not least, peruse our special annual Graduation Section, with all the graduates from Savannah Chatham County Public High Schools. You'll want to save this issue as a keepsake if your loved one graduated this year. Congrats to all the grads.

We also have fun summer safety tips, news about concerts, events and interesting things locals are doing every day. And don't forget to check out the event calendar to plan your month. Don't forget Father's Day! We can help you plan a great night out for Dad. Eric Curl brings us another Property Matters column. And, as always, we have a great food feature from Jesse Blanco.

We hope that this issue will inspire you to embrace the vibrant spirit of June, whether it's through commemorating the past, celebrating diversity, appreciating our city's cultural significance, or relishing in the joyous moments that bring us together. Thank you for being a part of our magazine, and we look forward to experiencing the splendor of June with you.

Erica Baskin Publisher

OUR VALUES

Connect Savannah is an arts, entertainment and news magazine, focused on Savannah and the Coastal Empire life and experience. We strive to feature stories that impact our community and the people who live here— to educate, entertain, inform and foster conversation.

We appreciate and encourage readers to share news and information with us, and to share any criticism and questions.

We want to be your comprehensive source for what happens in our community and beyond. We are here to serve you.

Find us on the following social media platforms or reach out to us at news@connectsavannah.com or 912-721-4378.

Lillian Grant-Baptiste photographed in the courtyard of the Beach Institute AfricanAmerican Cultural Center.

Photo by Adriana Iris Boatwright

A GIANT BEST OF SAVANNAH THANK YOU!

YOU'RE THE

We want to extend our sincerest appreciation to the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce's Ambassador's Councilfor their incredible efforts as volunteers at the 2023 Connect Best of Savannah Party. Your dedication and help made all the difference and we couldn't have done it without you!

EMILY JONES

GEORGE FREEMAN

HEIDI ALLEN

IAN LEWIS

JENNIFER BREWSTER

JENNIFER MCGAHEE

JESSIKA GARCIA BASSAT

JORDI GRANGER

MARY CATHERINE HOLLOWAY

MATTHEW LOWENTHAL

MELANIE MARCHLAND

MICHELLE STENSON

NICHOLE WHITT

SEAN VEGA

JUNE CONNECT SAVANNAH AT

A GLANCE

REWIND! 70s, 80s, and 90s

LIVE ON STAGE

JUNE 7-29

Come be part of the totally awesome experience with a cast of singers, dancers and live band performing all the hit songs. SAVANNAH THEATRE, 222 Bull Street, Historic District Showtimes and tickets at 912 233-7764 or savannahtheatre. com

SUMMER READING CHALLENGE

ALL MONTH

Celebrate this summer with Live Oak Public Libraries! Read great books, enjoy special events, and earn amazing prizes. Visit your local library and join the fun at liveoakpl. org/summer

SUBMERGED: AN UNDERWATER EXHIBITION OF BIOCERAMIC ARTWORK

JUNE 10-JULY 31

Join us at the UGA Aquarium on June 10 for the opening week of “SUBMERGED: An Underwater Exhibition of Bioceramic Artwork.” The pieces are made from a native algae material, and they will be displayed in the aquarium’s 16 exhibit tanks. On opening day (June 10), some of the artists will be on hand as part of World Oceans Day celebration to talk about the inspiration behind their artwork, which will eventually be placed in the Skidaway River behind

TAKE DAD TO DINNER

FATHER'S DAY IS JUNE 19

the aquarium with the goal of forming new oyster reefs. Learn more at gacoast.uga.edu

AN EVENING WITH HARRISON SCOTT KEY

JUNE 11

Join Service Brewing Company for an evening with Harrison Scott Key, in conversation with Amy Paige Condon and a guest appearance by Lauren Key. E. Shaver Booksellers and The Savannah Book Festival invite you to this exciting author event you won't want to miss!

Local author Harrison Scott Key will be in conversation with fellow local author Amy Paige Condon and special guest Lauren Key to discuss Key's newest book, "How to Stay Married.”

DOWNTOWN DELILAHS MODERN BURLESQUE CABARET

JUNE 16

Head to Mata Hari’s Speakeasy for a modern burlesque cabaret. A high-energy performance that takes a modern twist on the original cabaret experience, and the tantalizing nature of burlesque. The show features some of Savannah's most talented performing artists guaranteed to delight your senses through song and flirtatious dance numbers from our very own dance troupe, The Downtown Delilahs. The show includes dancing, light-hearted strip

tease, comedic entertainment, audience games and more!

SAVANNAH CHILDREN’S THEATRE GALA

JUNE 17

Join Savannah Children’s Theatre at the American Legion Ballroom for a night of fun celebrating & raising funds. Ticket includes dinner, access to live & silent auctions, plus a sneak peek at some of the shows they'll be producing in their 20th season!

TWERKFIT WORKSHOP

JUNE 17

Love to listen to hip hop and want a great workout at the same time? Well, this class will get you moving and sweating learning how to "TWERK."

Darrell has designed this to be fun and a great way to experience how Hip Hop has evolved. The class will only be open for ages 16+ 4:30pm-6:00pm No experience to join! (knee pads are encouraged) *Workout clothes, tennis shoes, and water* Salon de Baile Dance & Fitness Studio 301 US Hwy 80 E. Pooler

FATHER'S DAY SUNDAY GOSPEL BRUNCH

JUNE 18

Plant Riverside District will host a special Father's Day Gospel Celebration on Sunday, June 18 at District Live. This high-energy event, which celebrates the upcoming

Juneteenth holiday, will feature inspiring live gospel music by top regional artists as well as a lavish Southern-style buffet prepared by the exceptional culinary team at Plant Riverside District. Reservations are required for the Father’s Day Gospel Celebration. Reservations are available at plantriverside.com

DUDE PERFECT

JUNE 22

(ABOVE) The 2023 Dude Perfect Panda-Monium Tour is kicking off on in Savannah. YouTube sensations, Dude Perfect will bring their engaging and action-packed show to Enmarket Arena, which has been recently nominated for Pollstar Family Event Tour of the Year. In the 2023 iteration of their tour, the Dudes will bring their laugh-out-loud antics to the stage and compete in crazy, trick-shot themed battles. enmarketarena.com

AN EVENING WITH AMY GRANT

JUNE 24

Gospel Music Hall of Famer Amy Grant will perform live at SCAD's Lucas Theatre in Savannah on Saturday, June 24th. Conventional wisdom has it that Amy Grant put Contemporary Christian Music on the map, becoming the first CCM artist to have a platinum record, the first to hit No. 1 on the Pop charts, and the first

THE OLDE PINK HOUSE: This historic mansion offers a refined dining experience, perfect for fathers who appreciate elegant ambiance and classic Southern cuisine. The Olde Pink House is known for its impeccable service, ensuring a memorable and enjoyable Father's Day celebration.

Looking to celebrate Father's Day in Savannah? Here's a curated list of five fantastic dining destinations where you can treat your dad to a memorable experience.

OAK 36: (LEFT) Fathers with an appreciation for a modern and sophisticated dining experience will love Oak 36. This restaurant showcases a contemporary approach to American

to perform at the GRAMMY Awards. Since then, Grant has been strumming her way through a thirty-plus year adventure as a singersongwriter, author, television host, and speaker.

HIGHLIGHTED PICKS FROM HOSTESS CITY HAPPENINGS THIS MONTH

To have your event considered for inclusion, please visit connectsavannah.com and enter your event in our online calendar. There, you can manage your entries, change and add dates, times, etc.

HEROES & VILLAINS

SUMMER: JAWS

JUNE 29.

Lucas Theatre for the Arts. Steven Spielberg's rollicking, career-making mammoth of a thriller set the bar for all future summer blockbusters with a villain that doesn't even need to be seen to send chills down your spine. When Amity Island is terrorized by a deadly great white shark, embattled police chief Brody (Roy Scheider), boy wonder oceanographer Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss), and salty old shark hunter Quint (Robert Shaw) join forces to track down and destroy the skinny dipper-crunching, man-lunching beast. 7 PM. savannahboxoffice.com

PLAN YOUR JUNE NOW:

Visit ConnectSavannah.com to find our 24/7, comprehensive list of all the things to do in Savannah this month. From theater performances to live music shows, art exhibitions to food festivals, Connect Savannah has got you covered. So, check out the website now and start planning your perfect March experience in the Hostess City today!

cuisine, featuring dishes crafted with locally sourced ingredients. The stylish atmosphere and innovative menu make it an excellent choice for a special Father's Day meal.

THE CRAB SHACK ON TYBEE: If your dad loves seafood and a laid-back coastal atmosphere, The Crab Shack on Tybee is the perfect spot. Located on nearby Tybee Island, this restaurant offers a relaxed and rustic setting, where fathers can enjoy fresh seafood, including delicious crab dishes, while taking in the coastal breeze

MCDONOUGH'S: For dads who appreciate a cozy and casual setting, McDonough's is an excellent choice. This restaurant offers a relaxed atmosphere with a menu that focuses on hearty American fare. From juicy burgers to comforting dishes like mac and cheese, it's a place where fathers can kick back and enjoy delicious comfort food.

THE COLLINS QUARTER: Fathers who appreciate a modern and trendy atmosphere will feel right at home at The Collins Quarter. This restaurant blends

Australian and Southern influences, offering a diverse menu that caters to different preferences. From innovative brunch options to flavorful dinner dishes, there's something to satisfy every dad's palate.

Remember to make a reservation in advance, as these popular restaurants tend to book up quickly on special occasions like Father's Day.

LILLIAN GRANTBAPTISTE

Photo by Adriana Iris Boatwright

TELLING STORIES OF STRENGTH, RESILIENCE AND LIBERATION

Lillian Grant-Baptiste is a Savannah native with stories to share. A gifted orator, Grant-Baptiste uses the power of storytelling to uplift and inspire audiences throughout the Hostess City and beyond. Stories have always been an important part of her life ever since childhood, and she fondly recalls the spirited stories her great grandmother used to tell her growing up. She would sit at her feet alongside her two brothers as the matriarch would regale them with stories passed down through generations.

“The way my Nana showed up and moved through the world was unique, and part of her uniqueness was her ability to capture and tell a story,” said Grant-Baptiste. “The stories that she told were stories that sparked the imagination and stirred and soothed the soul. These were stories that were a part of her Gullah/Geechee upbringing. Stories of faith, reconciliation and sometimes even resistance. But they were always stories that helped you to reflect and find your center and inner strength.”

Grant-Baptiste said these stories helped her to understand who she was, providing invaluable insights into her tradition, history and culture. These stories proved vital once Grant-Baptiste entered adulthood.

“Sometimes as a young adult, in an effort to find ourselves, we end up losing ourselves by distancing

ourselves from the very thing that is the foundation of who we are, and that’s exactly what I did. I wanted to stand in my own independence and freedom, and for some reason, I thought that meant moving away from the traditions that centered me and gave me succor. I came to the realization that to stand strong and firm as a woman, I had to venture back to my roots,” she expressed.

In an effort to reconnect with those roots, Grant-Baptiste began researching and studying stories and traditions from the African Diaspora, with a particular focus on Gullah/ Geechee culture. She also sought out the counsel of elders within her family and community. Armed with this rich knowledge, Grant-Baptiste found a renewed sense of self-worth and agency, which has enabled her to empower others through storytelling.

“Communities gather and find strength around storytelling. Values and lessons are taught through storytelling. In the African American tradition, much of our history was passed down through the oral tradition of storytelling. . . Our people endured so much, but through the power of the stories, they found strength,” she expressed.

Today, Grant-Baptiste is a respected master storyteller, celebrant and motivational speaker with more than three decades of experience enchanting audiences through her work. Prior to pursuing storytelling

full time, she served the City of Savannah for over twenty years. During her tenure, she created and led the community planning and development department’s Leadership Development Institute, which provides organizational and leadership training for grassroots community leaders to address local issues and foster change and positive outcomes.

She retired from the city during COVID but remains very active within the community. She serves on the boards of Healthy Savannah, the King Tisdell Cottage Foundation and the Martin De Porres Society. She is a member of the Faith and Health Coalition and Mayor Van Johnson’s Racial Equity and Leadership Taskforce. She has been an instructor for Parent University for more than 20 years, and she is a faculty member of Step Up Savannah’s faith-based committee.

Since her retirement, Grant-Baptiste has focused on her storytelling, continuing in the time-honored traditions of great orators before her. In addition to her public speaking, she also helps others commemorate pivotal life events through celebration and ceremony.

“A celebrant is like an officiant. As a celebrant, I have performed celebrations that mark major life cycle events like adolescent rites of passage programs, wedding renewals, birthing ceremonies and naming ceremonies. I have also

facilitated memorials and libation ceremonies to bring purpose and meaning to certain historical events,” she described.

Such events include community Kwanzaa celebrations, the Weeping Time commemoration and the Lazaretto Creek commemoration among others. June is a very busy month for Grant-Baptiste because of all the Juneteenth celebrations taking place throughout the community.

This year, she is the keynote speaker for the Savannah Area Realtors Juneteenth Celebration on June 15, and she will be conducting libation ceremonies and sharing stories during the Tybee MLK Juneteenth Celebration as well as the Savannah Juneteenth Fine Arts Festival, both of which are on June 17. She will also recite stories at Georgia Southern University’s Gullah Geechee Cultural

Heritage Center’s Juneteenth event on June 19.

She encourages community members to come out and attend these important Juneteenth events, noting that they will be fun, celebratory and jam-packed with liberating and uplifting information. She sees these events as opportunities to celebrate how far we’ve come while

considering strategies for further progress.

“Juneteenth is important because it makes space for a fixed time for us to remember, reflect and celebrate individually and collectively . . . the significance of our history and the strength, endurance and resilience of our people. It is also a time that we can reflect upon and reckon with the present inequities and injustices that are still pervasive and persistent in our nation and community,” GrantBaptiste expressed. “Ultimately Juneteenth is, more than anything, a time to look back, gather strength from our story, reckon with our present and recommit ourselves to the continual struggle for equity, fairness, justice, forward movement and liberation.”

For more information, visit lilliangrantbaptiste.com

'Our people endured so much, but through the power of the stories, they found strength'

Lillian Grant-Baptiste photographed at the Beach Institute. | Photo by Adriana Iris Boatwright

VOICES UNITE: PERSONAL STORIES ILLUMINATE THE MEANINGS OF JUNETEENTH

Juneteenth takes place on Monday, June 19. With the holiday fast approaching, we wanted to hear from community members about what Juneteenth means to them, how they like to celebrate it, and why it’s important to commemorate this holiday both in our community and as a nation. Here are their responses:

years by reflecting, learning, sharing and honoring my history Celebrating the wisdom, perseverance of my ancestors and the victories won; and Planting seeds for our current and future generations. I welcome all to join me at our 3rd Annual Juneteenth Celebration where this is how we will be celebrating.

The 4th of July is one of our nation’s most widely celebrated holidays because the nation’s independence was/is an important part of our history, which we are very proud of. Although the reading of Major General Gordon Granger’s 1865 Special Order # 3 confirmed granting the enslaved a mere semblance of independence, the former enslaved celebrated! And with faith, hope, skills, wisdom and perseverance, they contributed greatly to the building of this nation — and for this, if nothing else, Juneteenth should be celebrated in our community and as a nation!

JULIA PEARCE, TYBEE

MLK HUMAN RIGHTS

ORGANIZATION, CO-FOUNDER AND COORDINATOR

officially come to grips with the legacy of slavery. The Juneteenth national commemoration is a major step in that direction. Juneteenth is the true liberation of our Nation, not the 4th of July.

Juneteenth is a day of reflection of the journey of my ancestors from both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, those I’ve known and the unknown, but whose spirit lives in me. I have been celebrating Juneteenth for the past 20

The commemoration of Juneteenth is important to our collective national identity. The making of Juneteenth as a federal holiday should make us reflective and proud of our country. We, African Americans throughout the diaspora, wait on America to

Juneteenth honors the date, June 19, 1865, when the last Confederate community of enslaved Americans in Galveston, Texas, received word that they had been freed from bondage two years earlier, January 1, 1863. Only through the Thirteenth Amendment did emancipation end slavery throughout the United States.

We as a nation are proud of ourselves for standing up to rid America of tyranny from Great Britain. At the

LISA JACKSON, SAVANNAH AFRICAN ART MUSEUM, EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH LIAISON

VOICES UNITE:

PERSONAL STORIES ILLUMINATE THE MEANINGS OF JUNETEENTH

onset of the War for Independence, approximately 500,000 African Americans lived in the colonies, of whom some 450,000 (90 percent) were enslaved; that was 19% of the US population — yet and still most Americans celebrate the 4th of July as a freedom holiday. It was freedom for some but profitable skin trade made it horrific for others. America has never had a war where Black men and women did not serve. We love America even through slavery, reconstruction Jim Crow lynchings, KKK, redlining drug war and mass incarceration. Juneteenth is a holiday of triumph for humanity.

For the last 7 years, Tybee MLK Human Rights Organization has commemorated Juneteenth with a Wade-In into the

Atlantic Ocean. The same ocean our ancestors crossed withstanding subhuman treatment, and came here and built a nation.

I write this as I stand at Elmina Slave Castle, Cape Coast, Ghana where atrocities that took place before exit through The Door of No Return before the brutal middle passage. Then centuries of bondage — the history of Black folks in America is the true brave resilience spirit Americans pride themselves to possess.

Juneteenth is freedom day for everyone — not just some people.

MONCELLO STEWART, GREATER SAVANNAH BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, PRESIDENT

Juneteenth means turning hope to reality. I celebrate Juneteenth by first reflecting and then acting. I reflect on the gains that we have seen as African Amercians, and then I act by supporting organizations and businesses that would help our community see real freedom.

It is important to commemorate this in both ways. Juneteenth came with a hefty price tag. The price tag is the many lives lost. So it is important that we commemorate so that we can build upon it and honor those that came before us.

-Compiled by Chantel Britton

JUNETEENTH: ITS IMPORTANCE AND SIGNIFICANCE IN COASTAL GEORGIA

Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day or Freedom Day, commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States, specifically marking the day when news of freedom reached enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865. While Juneteenth has gained national recognition, its roots and significance vary from region to region. In coastal Georgia, this day holds a profound importance for the community, as it both honors the past and celebrates the progress made toward equality and justice.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:

Juneteenth traces its origins back to the Emancipation Proclamation, which was issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863. While the proclamation declared that all enslaved people in Confederate territory were free, its implementation faced challenges due to the ongoing Civil War. Slavery persisted in many areas until Union forces could secure victories and enforce the Proclamation.

The announcement of freedom arrived in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, when Union General Gordon Granger arrived and read General Order No. 3, proclaiming the end of slavery in Texas. This momentous event, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation, marked a turning point in the struggle for freedom and became the foundation for Juneteenth.

JUNETEENTH

IN COASTAL GEORGIA:

In coastal Georgia, Juneteenth carries special significance as the region has a deep connection to African American heritage and the fight for civil rights. Cities like Savannah, Brunswick, and St. Simons Island are known for their rich African American history.

Juneteenth is celebrated throughout the coastal Georgia region with a blend of historical remembrance and festive events. Community gatherings, music performances, and art exhibitions pay tribute to African American culture, resilience, and achievements. These celebrations often include educational workshops, storytelling sessions, and exhibits showcasing the heritage, struggles, and contributions of African Americans.

IMPORTANCE TO THE COMMUNITY:

Juneteenth holds immense significance for the coastal Georgia community. To community leaders and members it serves as a reminder of the progress made in the ongoing struggle for equality and justice, while also acknowledging the work that still lies ahead. Juneteenth celebrations provide a platform for local artists, musicians, and performers to showcase their talents and express their cultural heritage.

LOCAL EVENTS ABOUND FOR THE HOLIDAY

Two years ago, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law making Juneteenth a federal holiday. Juneteenth celebrates the end of chattel slavery in the United States, which is a reason for all Americans to rejoice. Locally, Juneteenth has been celebrated among community members for some time, and this year there are several events taking place throughout greater Savannah in honor of this important holiday. Join the community in celebrating Juneteenth by attending these freedom festivities and emancipation events.

BRYAN COUNTY NAACP JUNETEENTH FREEDOM DAY

The Bryan County NAACP invites the public to attend their third annual Juneteenth Freedom Day Celebration, which will take place June 17 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at J.F. Gregory Park. This year’s theme is “A Celebration of Community, Culture and Unity!” It will be a day of food, fellowship and fun featuring guest speakers, arts and crafts vendors and more. There will also be special live performances from talented musicians and vocalists like Dolette McDonald, Huxsie Scott, Basik Lee, Laiken Love, the Bryan County NAACP Choir and more. This celebration is free and all are welcome to attend. Visit bryancountynaacp.org/ juneteenth-celebration to learn more.

SAVANNAH AFRICAN ART MUSEUM JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION

The Savannah African Art Museum will hold their third annual Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday, June 17 from 11 a.m to 4 p.m. on the museum grounds. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Planting Seeds,” and the festivities will reflect on and

honor the past while celebrating the future. The free event will feature music, dancing, spoken word performances, a marketplace, craft activity tables, traditional African food samples, resource tables and more. In addition to the celebration, attendees will be able to enjoy tours of the museum’s West African art collection and performances by the Gullah Geechee Ring Shouters and the Deep Slam Team among others. Attendees are welcome to bring folding chairs as seating will be limited.

CULTURAL JUNETEENTH MUSIC FESTIVAL

The Daughters of Mary Magdalene and the City of Savannah have come together to present the Cultural Juneteenth Music Festival on Saturday, June 17 at Wells Park. From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., the park will be bustling with activity. It all starts with the Juneteenth Motorcade Parade followed by live entertainment throughout the day. Performers include JD Music Group and Jimmy Lloyd Brown of Grammy-award winning group Brick, and local gospel and dance groups will take the stage as well. This family friendly event is free and open to the public, and attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs and tents for comfort and shade.

POOLER JUNETEENTH FESTIVAL

The Pooler Juneteenth Celebration Committee is hosting their second annual Juneteenth Celebration on June 17 from 12 to 6 p.m. at Tanger Outlets. The celebration is free and open to the public featuring live music, food trucks, vendors, storytellers, games and more. Visit poolerjuneteenth.org/ for more information.

MAKE

SAVANNAH JUNETEENTH FINE ARTS FESTIVAL

Chosen for the Arts will host the first ever Savannah Juneteenth Fine Arts Festival on June 17 from 1 to 7 p.m. at Forsyth Park. The organizers welcome the public to join them in celebrating freedom through music, food and fun giveaways. The festival will include an ancestor tribute, drumming ceremony, gospel concert, storytelling, vendors, food trucks and more. There will be a designated play area for children and exciting kids’ activities. Community organizations will also be present to inform and engage with attendees. The festival is a free local event, so there’s no reason not to come out and enjoy. For more details, visit chosenfta.org/festivalevents.

TYBEE

JUNETEENTH

Tybee MLK human rights organization will host their third annual Tybee Juneteenth celebration of freedom. The free festival spans three days between June 17 and 19, featuring all sorts of exciting activities to engage and unite community members.

On June 17 and 18 between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., celebrators will gather at Memorial Park to enjoy spoken word, storytelling, children’s arts and crafts, vendors, food trucks and more. There will also be drummers and a live DJ bringing reggae, soca and Afro beat vibes. The weekend will culminate with Wade-In Sunday. On June 19 at 8 a.m., participants will meet at Tybrisa Street to wade into the Atlantic together while the sounds of jubilee from the Saltwata Players and Samba Drummers fill the air. Community members can bring their own instruments to join in the joyful noise as well.

-Compiled by Chantel Britton

SURE TO CHECK CONNECTSAVANNAH.COM FOR UPDAGED JUNETEENTH EVENTS

CONGRATULATIONS

TO THE 2023 VISIONARIES OF THE YEAR T

O TAL

RAISED:

$864,902

T HE LEUKEMIA & LYMPHO MA SOCIETY congratulates this year’s Visionaries of the Year, and the entire class of candidates who competed. Their efforts and commitment have made an impact in the search for cures and effective blood cancer therapies. For more information or to nominate a candidate for 2024, please visit www.llsvisionaries.org or email our Savannah Campaign Manager jessiebrinsfield@lls.org

WINNER GREG COLEMAN COLEMAN COMPANY

THANK YOU!

The Leadership Team who helped make this year’s campaign a success: Caroline Gregory CO-CHAIR

RUNNER-UP HEATHER SUGARBAKER ERA REALTY

THE TEAM:

Ciara Thomas

TJ Hollis

Charles Anderson

Charlie Webber

Matt Usher CO-CHAIR

Nancy Adair

SECOND RUNNER-UP

NANCY BACKUS MIDTOWN MEDICINE

Texas Cates

Alison Harris

Stephanie Willingham

Emily Scribner

Zach Thomas

Christy Marsengill

TAKING PRIDE: First City Pride Center to host Stonewall Block Party, a celebration of LGBTQ+ community and advocacy

Since 1970, the queer community and allies have observed June as Pride Month, a special time for LGBTQ+ individuals and supporters to celebrate their identities while advocating for liberation. The celebration was started in honor of the 1969 Stonewall Riots, an uprising in New York City’s Greenwich Village that served as a catalyst for the gay rights movement in the U.S. and beyond.

“Stonewall was a really pivotal event in LGBTQ history, people standing up for their rights. . . It was a riot primarily against police officers and other agencies that were directly attacking the LGBT community at that time via legislation, which I think sounds familiar to the time we’re in right now,” said First City Pride Center Executive Director Lawrence Appenzeller.

According to the American Civil Liberties Union, nearly 500 anti-LGBTQ bills have been proposed in the 2023 legislative session. Though not every bill will be signed into law, the rise in these bills represents harmful attacks on the queer community, with transgender individuals being particularly targeted.

“So from the perspective of being a trans person who lives in the South, it’s very scary and upsetting, and I think it really is coming from a lot of ignorance and lack of education,” Appenzeller expressed. “On behalf of the First City Pride Center, we fight for equality for everyone. Everyone should have the same rights, and no matter who it is, the government shouldn’t be intervening with what we do to our own personal bodies.”

Despite the barriers to gender-affirming care, anti-trans legislation and the attacks on youth, FCPC remains as a safe place for LGBTQ+ people to find support, resources and community. As a commitment to remain visible and active during these difficult times, FCPC is getting ready for its upcoming Stonewall Block Party.

Taking place on the fourth Saturday in June, the Stonewall Block Party will celebrate FCPC’s sixth anniversary.

The party will be complete with musical entertainment, advocacy and community resources, free HIV testing, a bead game, food trucks, drinks and more. Performers include the Stardust Pixxies, Basik Lee, Marie Con and Itz*Nobi. There will also be a ‘So You Think You Can Drag’ competition, featuring local drag performers and an elite judging panel.

“We’re really trying to amplify local queer voices so people can hear the personal stories behind the entertainment they’re watching,” Appenzeller remarked.

He encourages everyone in support of LGBTQ rights to come out and attend this year’s event.

“If you’re queer and you’re looking for a sense of community, if you want to connect, and to learn about services that are locally accessible for free and low cost, we definitely want you to come out. And not just our community but also our allies in the community. Come out, show up and show that you’re here to support us and all of the Savannah and Southeast queer community during this really difficult time,” he said.

Beyond this event, there are several ways that community members can support the mission at FCPC and the advocacy work they do.

“There are a ton of different ways you can support, obviously monetary donations, which all go to center operations and programs. Also, volunteers are always needed. We have everything from skill-specific committee volunteer positions to just showing up for an event like the Stonewall Block Party and lending a hand,” Appenzeller explained. “And then, of course, sharing information, sharing what we do, what programs we have — you never know who might be looking for that.”

FCPC is one of just two LGBTQ+ centers in Georgia, and it serves the greater Savannah community and more than 12 surrounding counties. The center provides programming, free HIV testing, low-cost therapy services and support and social groups for those in need. The volunteer-driven nonprofit works toward an inclusive community where everyone has safety, acceptance and equal rights under the law.

“We are not a super highly visible organization partially for safety reasons, but we want to make sure that people who need our services know we’re here,” he said. “ We’re here for them and ready to help if they’re just looking for resources or referrals to safe medical providers or whatever services they’re looking for.”

The FCPC Stonewall Block Party will take place on Saturday, June 24 from 5 to 10 p.m. at 1515 Bull Street between E 31st and E33rd Street. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit firstcitypridecenter.org/stonewall-2023.

-Chantel Britton

'We’re really trying to amplify local queer voices so people can hear the personal stories behind the entertainment they’re watching.'

by Bunny Ware

2023 CONNECT BEST OF SAVANNAH PARTY

Our annual Best of Savannah Party was on May 18 at Kehoe Iron Works at Trustees' Garden, and as usual, the setting did not disappoint. Relive the night's festivities and find your friends and award winners in these photos by Bunny Ware.

See more photos by scanning the code.

by Bunny Ware

PROPERTY MATTERS SAVANNAH AGENDA:

By Eric Curl savannahagenda.com

While some people binge Netflix, I binge building permits and meeting agendas. This column is based on what I find.

Stay Engaged Savannah!

GRAVEFACE RECORDS & CURIOSITIES BRINGS

SOME LOCAL LIFE TO OGLETHORPE MALL

As one William Falkner may have said, "The past is never dead. It's not even past."

He could easily have been talking about 7804 Abercorn St., where the Oglethorpe Mall continues to host shoppers searching for the latest sameness sold for decades to the American shopper. There are indications of a pulse, however, according to one local business owner.

Amid national chain stores such as Macy's, Express and Auntie Anne's Pretzels, patrons of the Oglethorpe Mall can now find a locally owned source of records, goth attire, arcade games and horror themed memorabilia.

Ryan Graveface has brought his love of music and the macabre to the mall with the opening of a temporary "pop up" version of Graveface Records & Curiosities, the business he established almost 13 years ago at 5 W. 40th St. in the area branded as the Starland District within the Thomas Square Streetcar Historic District.

Graveface said he was inspired to open the shop after he and his wife visited the mall on a rainy day and he found nothing he was interested in, aside from maybe the horror magazines at Barnes and Noble.

“We reached out and they were interested in having us," he said. “And this is more affordable than Starland because you know, word on the street is that malls are dead or dying."

Located in a space formerly occupied by a Hollister, Graveface's customers will find record crates packed full of classic

and contemporary artists such as Charles Mingus, Hüsker Dü, Kendrick Lamar, Iron Maiden and Cigarettes after Sex, in addition to Savannah-based bands on his Graveface Records label. On the surrounding walls, shelves of toy figures, games, costumes, Tarot cards and animal skulls are on display. A back room further showcases Graveface's love of horror and goth with clothing, hair dye, masks, candles, VHS rentals and obscure movie soundtrack cassettes produced under his Terror Vision label. A side room is packed with classic arcade games and pinball machines customers can play for $5 an hour.

In a way, the new store is Graveface's own past catching up to him. When "mall

age" in Toledo, Ohio in the mid-90s, he said there was not much to do but hang out at the now-closed North Town Square. While at that mall, he said he found his fondness for records, which were cheaper than CDs, the popular format at the time. In addition, his dad would also take him to horror expos there, "which was [expletive] great," he said. Graveface's arrival comes as malls are closing and being repurposed across the country. The Oglethorpe Mall itself is in the process of a major transition, with the pending demolition of the shuttered Sears on the mall's west end to make room for a 240-unit apartment complex. And the future of the Savannah Mall is a big question mark after it was auctioned off last year to a new

The Graveface Records and Curiosities shop is located in the Macy's wing of the Oglethorpe Mall | Eric Curl

Ryan Graveface recently opened his pop-up location in the Oglethorpe Mall. | Eric Curl

owner that has kept mum on plans for the site.

Oglethorpe Mall officials did not respond to a request for comment, but Graveface said the foot traffic there has been great and business at the mall has been better than at the Starland location, with cheaper rent.

“If somebody had even the slightest motivation to open a retail shop this would be the place to do it," he said.

The shop is open during mall hours on the Macy's wing of the building. Graveface expects to operate out of the space through "the holiday", which for him is of course Halloween and not Christmas. He said he would like to operate out of the space longer, but he does not think a lease extension is in the cards due to a perception that he is involved in "shenanigans" or his stuff is "weird."

"Landlords just don't like me," Graveface said. "They don't like the aesthetic."

While you'll find some odder items, including a display of small animal hearts encased in resin - the store's "aesthetic" is actually on the tamer side compared to the Starland location and his Graveface Museum on Lower Factors Walk. There was no artwork by serial killers and the taxidermied creatures were out of public view in the storage room in the back. The uniqueness of the store largely stems from the fact it is locally owned and operated, with a Savannah-based entrepreneur simply showcasing his personal interests as an alternative to the corporate owned cookie-cutter operations throughout similar US shopping destinations.

After purchasing the building that houses the Starland store last year, Graveface doesn't have to worry about any landlord squabbles there. However, a rift with the owner of 415 West Boundary St. means he will be vacating the building where his Lodge of Sorrows music venue currently operates.

But NeverNotGoth fans, shouldn't fret? Graveface said he is now preparing to purchase a property on Stiles Avenue in the area the city has dubbed the Canal District near the city's Enmarket Arena, where he intends to reopen the music venue, along with a variety of other businesses such as a theater, vinyl pressing plant and screen printing operation.

"I'm going to call it the 'Graveface District' because it's funny to me," he said.

Meanwhile, the Lodge of Sorrows still has some shows lined up, including Austin-based Urban Heat, which recently played the Cruel World festival in Pasadena, Ca. with artists such as Siouxsie and Iggy Pop.

Runners, cyclists and nature lovers are once again able to enjoy all five miles of the McQueen's Island Trail along the Savannah River, after damage caused by tropical storms in 2016 and 2017 shut off access to the waterfront trail along US 80 between Savannah and Tybee Island.

Chatham County recently reopened the remaining 3-mile stretch on the trail's west end, after the first 2-mile segment west of Fort Pulaski’s entrance of US 80 was reopened last summer.

While the entire trail is now accessible, work is ongoing. County staff is working on a plan to repair a section of sea wall on the newly opened portion of the trail that is starting to compromise, according to Holly Holdsworth, deputy director of Chatham County's Parks & Recreation department. The failing sea wall was one of the first ones built after the hurricanes and engineers later adjusted the design for the other sections to prevent similar issues, Holdsworth said. The county also plans to make some repairs to benches, picnic tables and bridge railings that were not part of the scope of the project.

"Having open natural trail access for the public is something that has been stressed as very important from the community and something we are striving to offer," Holdsworth said. "We have just a handful of trail systems available and (McQueen's) is unique and an interesting one to have in our inventory."

First approved by the Chatham County Commission in December 2018, the trail stabilization project’s completion has been delayed multiple times – with costs increasing from almost $1.5 million to almost $2.6 million –due to storms and high tides. Before the project even began, the trail was extensively damaged by several extreme high tide events, resulting in the need for additional materials, according to county officials. New funds were also reportedly required to comply with state requirements to remove the midpoint access on US 80 near the Bull River Bridge.

Visitors now have to park at the eastern entrance to the trail at the Fort Pulaski entrance. The former midpoint parking lot and access point about a mile past the Bull River bridge has been permanently closed by the Georgia Department of Transportation to address US 80 traffic concerns.

Photos by Eric Curl

The McQueen's Island Trail stabilization project consisted of the installation of timber bulkhead and rip-rap shore protection to prevent further erosion. | Eric Curl

ENTIRE MCQUEEN’S ISLAND TRAIL IS NOW OPEN

SUMMERTIME SAFETY TIPS

BOATING SAFETY TIPS FOR FUN ON LOCAL WATERS

National Safe Boating Week recently passed, having been observed this year between May 2026. The week is a part of a global campaign designed to raise awareness and promote safe boating practices. Here in Savannah, our auspicious coastal location is perfect for recreation on the water, and boating is certainly a favorite activity for locals, especially during the warmer months. With summer ahead, many Savannahians will soon set sail, and so it’s very important to keep safety top of mind when venturing out on the water. To help prepare boaters for their aquatic adventures this summer, we spoke with Maren Moss, general manager of Savannah’s Freedom Boat Club about safe boating practices.

Moss likened boating to riding a bike around the neighborhood in youth where keeping your head on a swivel and watching out for cars and other potential hazards is a necessity. She said people tend to go on autopilot when driving a car, but boating requires a more engaged and defensive approach.

At FBC, all new members undergo a three-hour orientation, during which they are trained on safe boating practices and relevant information. The training covers safety gear, trip planning, weather and tides and navigating waterways among other things.On the subject of safety gear, Moss recommends that boaters keep several items onboard including life jackets, Coast Guardapproved flotation devices and more.

“[Boats] need to have a fire extinguisher. They need to have a set of three flares. Additionally, they need a sound-making device. . . Make sure you have two anchors. Make sure you have dual forms of your registration, things like that,” she said.

Having the appropriate safety equipment onboard is key to mitigating risks and preparing for different kinds of hazards.

“For physical hazards, we do have a good amount of rocks and oyster beds around here, and we have

an 8 to 10-foot tide change here.Things that are not visible at high tide are visible at low tide. We advise [boaters to] . . . go out at lowest low tide and just look around. Look at what’s under the surface of the water so you know what’s actually there when it’s at high tide and you can’t see it,” Moss explained, identifying other boaters and changing weather and water conditions as additional potential hazards.

When on the water, it’s important to navigate appropriately.

“Your driveway while boating is the middle lane, like in the dead middle. . . That gives you the most clearance visually around any turns and lets you have the greatest eyesight clearance,” she stated.

Moss added that FBC includes training on rightof-way rules as determined by the Coast Guard. They also cover the different intercoastal and river markers that boaters encounter when sailing.

“We also train on how to handle the boat, how to go over a wake, how to slow down, how to handle crosswinds. It’s quite extensive,” she remarked.

When it comes to navigation and weather tracking, Moss had a few recommendations.

“For navigation things, the app we recommend for tides is Tides Near Me. That’s what we all use at Freedom. . . If people want additional applications, we recommend Navionics. It’s a very well-known boating application that helps with all things. And then for weather, I don’t use hourly weather, I always use radar to see what’s potentially around you in the area. The wind can shift and come toward you. I use Weather Channel radar. There’s also some weather put out by the Coast Guard,” Moss detailed.

For every boater planning to sail out this summer, Moss encourages planning beforehand to ensure safety.

She said, “Boating is extremely fun. As long as you have a plan to mitigate all the dangers and potential hazards, it can be a very good time.”

- Chantel Britton

Freedom Boat Club of Savannah

GEORGIA POWER PREPARES FOR 2023 HURRICANE SEASON, OFFERS TIPS AND SAFETY INFORMATION

Being prepared not only helps alleviate the anxiety caused by emergencies, it greatly increases the ability to overcome adversity. In Georgia, we face the threat of natural disasters year-round. Hurricane season alone runs June 1 through November 30. Hurricanes are often accompanied by high winds, heavy downpours, tornadoes and flooding. With the possibility of these incidents comes the possibility of power outages.

Before a storm hits, we closely monitor the forecast and mobilize extra crews in case they are needed. The Storm Center monitors changing conditions and is ready to respond to major storms 24/7. Once the storm has passed and it is safe, skilled assessment teams survey damage, identify the cause of an outage and what’s needed to fix it. After a storm, we won’t stop until all customers are back on.

However, weathering the storm starts well in advance. Georgia Power prepares all year long for natural disasters, including hurricanes. While no energy grid can be hurricane proof, the company is making smart investments to make the grid stronger and more resilient for customers. These

investments include:

Installing smart technology on power poles that helps prevent power outages, and when interruptions occur, they can help us to restore power faster;

Inspecting and improving power poles, lines and equipment, strengthening areas especially in coastal regions, and adding power line connections in neighborhoods;

Upgrading, sometimes rebuilding, substations for safe and reliable power delivery to homes and businesses;

Clearing brush and trimming tree limbs away from power lines, which also increases access for crews meaning faster restoration times if service is interrupted, and Where it makes sense, we are relocating power lines underground.

Like Georgia Power is prepared, the company urges customers to be prepared too. We recommend having enough supplies to get you and your family through three days without electricity or running water. If you have kids and pets, don’t forget to prepare for them, as well.

First, create a family emergency plan and ensure everyone in your family is aware

WHAT TO DO WHEN BACKYARD WILDLIFE BECOMES TOO WILD

It’s nice to see songbirds at the bird bath and rabbits hopping around your backyard. But what do you do when wildlife digs through your trash or eats up the pet food you stored in the garage? Most people have had some sort of human-wildlife conflict issue.

Why? In most cases, it is most commonly because of easy access to a food source, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division.

“Most wildlife species will almost always take advantage of easy-to-get food source opportunities,” says Kaitlin Goode, Urban Wildlife Program Manager for the Wildlife Resources Division.

“So, as homeowners, it is our job to ensure that we are keeping nonnatural foods away from wildlife – for our safety, the protection of our homes and pets, and for wildlife.”

HERE ARE SOME BASIC TIPS:

• Keep items such as grills and pet food off-limits. Clean and store grills when not in use, keep pet food indoors and feed pets indoors.

• Refill bird feeders less frequently and in small amounts.

• Make trash cans inaccessible. Keep lids securely fastened or store trash cans in a secured location until the morning of trash pick-up.

Resources for resolving human-wildlife conflicts, including fact sheets, tips on managing land for wildlife, a list of professional nuisance trappers, wildlife rehabilitator information, and much more can be found at GeorgiaWildlife.com

of the plan. It should include how you will communicate, a meeting place if your home is not an option, evacuation routes and shelter information, important phone numbers, storage and access to important documents and anything else that’s needed for your family.

Next, build an emergency kit and keep it handy. The kit should include a batteryoperated radio, first aid kit and medications, flashlight and extra batteries, non-perishable food including supplies for infants and pets, water (one gallon per person per day), a multi-purpose tool and personal hygiene items

Additionally, it is important to stay informed when the threat of an emergency is looming and throughout the incident. During severe weather and in blue skies, Georgia Power is committed to keeping customers informed through its personalized, free Outage Alerts, through the Georgia Power Mobile App and on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

For more information, preparation guides and safety tips, please visit georgiapower. com/storm

COMMUNITY SCIENCE IS FOR THE BIRDS:

UGA AQUARIUM VOLUNTEERS MONITOR NEST BOXES ON THE COAST

With a pair of binoculars and data sheets in hand, Beth Webster heads out the back door of the UGA Marine Education Center and Aquarium to her first stop, a wooden nest box just outside the facility. She walks up to the box, gently knocking a few times so as not to alarm any birds, before opening the door to peer inside.

Four Eastern bluebird eggs, no bigger than peanut M&Ms, are nestled inside among twigs, grasses and pine needles. She records her observations on her data sheet before heading to the next box.

Webster is one of five aquarium volunteers participating in UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant’s bird nest box monitoring program on Skidaway Island. The program involves tracking the nesting and breeding behaviors of common birds, including Eastern bluebirds and Carolina chickadees.

Between March and August, members of the group take turns checking the small circuit of boxes on the UGA Skidaway Marine Science Campus. They collect data on nesting activity, noting failed and successful nesting attempts, and submit their data to NestWatch, a nationwide nest-monitoring program designed to track status and trends in the reproductive biology of birds.

Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant educators have maintained a nest box trail on campus for more than a decade. Katie Higgins, marine educator and volunteer coordinator, decided to establish a more robust community science effort in 2019 with the goal of engaging aquarium volunteers in scientific research and increasing awareness of bird populations on the island.

“Community science is a really useful way to collect broader data on common birds,” said Higgins. “Scientists have access to this data so they can have basic information on developmental time periods and species prevalence. They can also look at long-term trends, like shifts in [population] range or when nesting is beginning in an area and when it’s ending.”

Information gathered through community science can also inform conservation efforts and management decisions. The Eastern bluebird is a prime example of this. From 1920-1970, the number of bluebirds in the U.S. plummeted due to habitat destruction, pesticide use, an influx of domestic cats and competition with non-native birds for nesting space.

In response, community members formed the North American Bluebird Society and set up bluebird boxes, creating networks of trails and monitoring bluebird nesting success. Because of these efforts, Eastern bluebird populations have rebounded and even stabilized.

In 2021, Higgins received funding from the Georgia Ornithological Society to expand the nest box monitoring program and develop a new educational display at the UGA Aquarium focused on community science and bird conservation.

She recruited and trained more volunteers and increased the number of boxes on campus with support from Skidaway Audubon. During last year’s nesting season, six volunteers gave 38 hours of service to the effort. In total, the group documented 28 nesting attempts and 74 baby birds.

“It’s really a magical experience,” said Webster. “You’re in nature, you’re watching the cycle of life really unfold in front of your eyes. From the birds building a nest to the baby birds fledging, it’s a privilege to be able to peek into their world and see this cycle of life that happens so incredibly quickly.”

As part of the new educational display, aquarium visitors will be able to witness the nesting process in real time thanks to a live camera feed. The exhibit also provides information about birds that commonly nest in coastal Georgia and ways to support bird conservation efforts.

“I hope visitors take away that birds are fascinating and easy to observe,” said Higgins. “There are lots of local organizations that are working with bird species, and they can do something to enhance habitat or add to greater scientific knowledge.”

- Emily Kenworthy | UGA Aquarium

Volunteer Beth Webster monitors a nest box at the UGA Marine Education Center and Aquarium on Skidaway Island.

Carolina Chickadee

HOT RYE: ROLLING OUT A FOOD REVOLUTION ON WHEELS

EAT IT AND LIKE IT

By Jesse Blanco eatitandlikeit.com

One of the quickest ways to make a chef or restaurant owner wince these days is by brining up the idea of their restaurant expanding. It could be the thought of lunch service, maybe brunch or even the occasional thought of staying open later. We all know we can use a few more options for later in the evening eats around here.

Years ago I asked Cotton and Rye’s owner Zach Schultz if they’d been considering lunch service. Their restaurant was certainly popular enough. It was away from the crush downtown and there was a good

EAT IT & LIKE IT

PRESENTED BY SAVANNAH

TECHNICAL COLLEGE

amount of parking available. It seemed like a no-brainer.

When you think about it though, it is never as simple as it seems. Opening extra hours requires more staffing. Servers and bartenders and kitchen staff have been hard enough to find for dinner service already. The thought of adding more for longer hours of service could make a grown man cry just thinking about it.

Fast forward a handful of years and now Zach and his staff think they’ve found the answer to doing more with what they already have. Cotton and Rye is now offering weekend lunch service without bringing anyone inside their restaurant.

Hot Rye is C&R’s new food truck. An idea that’s been in the works for years is finally a reality, and it’s fantastic.

“We’ve been talking about it for a while, wow.” Says Caleb Ayers,

Cotton and Rye’s Executive Chef. “I think I’ve made something like 10 different menus leading up to this.”

“This” is a Barth custom coach. It’s more camper/motor home than it is flat panel food truck. It’s parked just outside the back gate at Cotton and Rye and serving lunch every weekend from 11am until 2pm.

“I wanted something different than a regular flat panel Fed-Ex looking truck.” Is how Zach put it when describing it.

“If it was going to be parked outside here every day, I wanted something that at least looked cool” he says.

He got it.

“I was on a Facebook page following the sales of trucks and I found this in Waco, Texas. It was a first responder camper there. We transported it to Houston and got it totally fitted as a food truck.”

He showed me the photos. The entire thing was gutted and redesigned as a food truck.

“When they were done there, we shipped it here, painted it and added some branding.”

Yeah, yeah, yeah…but what about the food? Inside, Chef Caleb was tasked with trying to do something different, but also knowing what this community will want to enjoy for lunch.

The Nashville Hot Chicken sandwich –a crispy fried chicken thigh dipped in a wonderful sauce and dashed with some spice is plain and simply the best I’ve had in Savannah.

Their answer to the demand for burgers is their Chopped Cheese Sandwich. Six ounces of ground beef, onions and blackened seasoning griddled on a flat-top and topped with American cheese. Your bun (house made every day) is slathered with Pimento Cheese before the beef goes in. It’s finished with a line or two of ketchup, shredded lettuce and diced tomato.

The Hot Rod sounds like a beast. House made tasso ham, bacon, provolone, lettuce, tomato, onion, avocado, potato chips, mustard and ranch spread. All of it on onion rye bread. Yes, the potato chips are in the sandwich.

“There was a place I used to go when I was in San Diego that did something like that. It was very popular.” Caleb says. “I wanted to do a version of it.” Sounds like it could be very popular.

There are a couple of vegetarian options, including a spicy provolone cheese sandwich with slaw and pickles and their “Loaded Latkes” (fried potato cakes) which could include Chili or Hot Chicken or Sour Cream/Caramelized Onions and scallions.

Salads, House made banana pudding and/or chocolate chip cookie round out the opening day roster. Caleb tells me once they get rolling, they are planning to roll some weekly specials through the truck.

“We’ve already done a couple, but we will do more.” He says.

The eats I had were delicious, as I figured they would be. Cotton and Rye’s following in Savannah is well deserved. It’s hard to find a ‘downtown’ restaurant with stronger support from the locals. They know what the regulars want and they deliver, consistently.

Now you get to enjoy their creativity for lunch. Seating is available just inside the gate in the covered patio of the restaurant. They offer soft drinks, beer and wine. As we mentioned earlier, it’s weekends only for now. The truck is parked outside Cotton and Rye on Habersham St.

Eventually, the truck will roll to some of the more popular spots around town for food trucks and, yes, they’ve already been fielding phone calls for catering opportunities.

In the meantime, options for lunch around town are always good. Now you have another one.

Cotton & Rye | Social Media

JESSICA LEIGH LEBOS:

THE ART of TELLING IT LIKE IT IS

By Beth Logan ART COLUMNIST

There have been book signings and readings at the Lattimore House and the DeSoto Hotel, articles in the Savannah Morning News and Savannah Business Journal, an WRUU radio show, a “Bunny in the City” column replete with numerous photographs in this publication, and even a TV appearance or two.

Lebos may be best summed up by best-selling author and founder of The Moth, George Dawes-Green, who writes, “She’s always bubbling, sharp, loquacious; she drinks Savannah to the dregs, and we drink with her, and find every molecule perfectly delicious.”

Her second book is indeed “perfectly delicious” – a little salty, as is her way – but also, this time, perhaps a tad sour. That’s because it deals not only with the characters and charms of the city she’s called home since the mid-90’s, but also with the changes wrought since the pandemic. She calls it an issue of “Savannah the Community versus Savannah the Commodity.” But more of that later….

We meet in the happily cluttered kitchen of her Ardsley Park Home, where she and husband Mark have raised two children: Liberty, finishing her freshman year at the University of Georgia, and Abraham, on a year-long adventure in South America before he enters a postgraduate course of study.

The endearing thing about Lebos is that we, subscribers to Savannah Sideways on the Substack platform, feel like we’ve been with her and her family every step of the way…

She is refreshingly open and honest about both the joys and the challenges of her life: the visit to Athens to drop off her second child and the subsequent bittersweet emotions and occasional unravelling evoked by her new “empty nest”; the post-surgical relief following the removal of her husband’s benign tumor; the adherence to weekly Shabbat, an aspect of Judaism that prevails despite “Mark’s shrimp addiction and the constant temptation of Waffle House bacon;” and fond memories of the joyous bike rides over Savannah’s deserted streets and riverfront during the pandemic, and of how oddly wonderful, but also scary, it felt to be around people again after our confinement.

"The Camellia Thief and Other Stories" Lebos explores a plethora of local characters and experiences that make Savannah both unique and wonderful: afternoon tea with HRH the Duchess of State; celebrating the birthday of 96 year-young Miriam Center; the Juneteenth wade-in at Tybee with Julia Pearce and Pat Gunn; exploring roadside ditches to discover native plants with landscape architect, activist, and artist Lisa D. Watson; and many more.

Throughout her tales, Lebos’ razor-sharp wit, her intellect, her progressive views, her humor, and her enviable use of metaphors is evident. As a former editor of Savannah’s now defunct "Skirt Magazine", and a longtime columnist for Connect Savannah, she has received numerous awards from the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and is a long-running favorite of this publication’s Best of Savannah poll.

Lebos’s strikingly beautiful mother Marcia Fine, with whom she shares the same radiant smile and high cheekbones, is a scholar of the Sephardic Diaspora who became an award-winning author of eight novels.

Fine’s children grew up in Arizona and Lebos attended the State University. Lebos always wanted to be a writer, although she says the decision had nothing to do with her mother’s later-in-life success as an author.

After graduating with a degree in creative writing Lebos says, “I shaved my head and moved into my Volkswagen van” with plans to go to Alaska.

But the van broke down in northern California, and cousins in the area persuaded her to stay. In 1996 (shortly after reading Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil!)

It seems like all eyes are on Jessica Leigh Lebos right now as she tirelessly promotes her recently-published "The Camellia Thief and Other Tales," a second volume of "Savannah Sideways" stories.

she met husband Mark, a native of Savannah, who was taking his Masters of Exercise Physiology at San Francisco State.

They married in Savannah’s Temple Mickve Israel a year later. The couple’s children were born in California and bi-annual trips to Tybee and Savannah to visit Mark’s parents followed.

After Mark’s mom (interestingly, also a Jewish history buff) started to decline from dementia, the young parents decided to move here permanently to help his dad, local oncologist Dr. Harvey Lebos.

“It was just this revelation that it was what we were supposed to do. We sold the Volkswagen, bought the Absurdivan and drove across the country a year later.” [Interested readers can read Lebos’ 2015 Connect Savannah column “Death of the #Absurdivan” where she fondly recalls her 2000 Mazda minivan with its “figurine-festooned dashboard that provided endless entertainment for its driver, passengers and anyone who bothered to stop texting at stoplights.”]

While raising her family, Lebos continued the writing career she had begun in California, saying it gave her access to meet interesting people, to attend interesting events, and hopefully to serve the community where she lived.

“I’ve always written. About who I am, where I am, who I’m meeting. The first law of journalism is ‘don’t make yourself part of the story’ but I started my career in alt. journalism – the weekly papers that don’t really follow those laws.”

Her first job was with The Pacific Sun, “the longest running alternative newsweekly on the planet,” conceived as a West Coast ver-

sion of The Village Voice in 1963.

“I’m interested in stories that are about helping people, about equity and equality and justice and environmental justice. One of the first stories I wrote for Connect was about the Ogeechee fish kill,“ she continues. “I grew up with this understanding that we are Jewish, and we support the civil rights movement. My parents believed in equality and justice for everyone.”

Lebos has certainly continued that legacy of acceptance, openly talking about how her son Abraham came out when he was 14, espousing feminism and all manner of social justice causes, while supplementing her Substack income by writing for various nonprofits such as the microlending company Kiva.

The self-described “garrulous guide to Savannah’s nitpicky nuances and eccentric enigmas,” published her first book "Savannah Sideways" in 2018. A compilation of published columns, it tells the story of her coming to Savannah and learning how to belong as an outsider.

Lebos says the new book, published this January, is about the new Savannah she woke up to after her months of COVID quarantine – the cranes, the development, the huge condo buildings, all the many, many new people who disregard the social codes and mores that Savannah had previously operated under.

“How do we reconcile Savannah, the community, and Savannah, the commodity?” she asks. “We do feel quite powerless to stop all this development. All I can do is offer my commentary…and advocate for the causes that are important to me…Our local Planned

Lebos with good friend Molly Haden, her collaborator, editor and designer who helped create the book remotely whilst living in Korea

Parenthood community, our Ogeechee and Savannah Riverkeepers, Chatham-Savannah Citizen Advocacy, Girl Scouts, the Flannery O’Connor Childhood Home, Savannah Widows’ Society, Loop it Up Savannah….Organizations that support the bedrock of what it means to be a community.”

She declares, “If you’ve just moved here, I really encourage you to seek out one or more of them. If you want to create community and experience community, it is already here. And there is no need to reinvent it. But it’s all been a little obscured by Savannah, the commodity.”

This undercurrent of commodification echoes in my favorite entry in the book - the witty exchange between the oft-confused Jane Fishman, 30-year-long columnist for the Savannah Morning News and Jane Fishel, owner of restaurant/bars Savoy Society and Colleagues & Lovers. Their memories of living in the “old” Savannah of the 90’s – prostitutes on sketchy street corners, low rents in unrestored downtown buildings, drinks at Café Metropole situated in the spot now occupied by The Grey – make me positively nostalgic.

Fishman sadly passed away in October of last year, and Lebos dedicates "The Camellia Thief" to “Jane the Elder” who first inspired her to collate her writings.

Be sure to pick up your copy at Savannah’s E. Shaver Booksellers, The Book Lady, or ARTS Southeast’s Sulfur Shop. Lebos’ next book signing will be at ARTS Southeast’s Sulfur Street Fair at 39th and Bull on the evening of Friday, June 2 and, of course, be sure to visit SavannahSideways.com to subscribe to her regular musings.

As she prepares to celebrate her 25th wedding anniversary this fall, Lebos is working on a coffee table book about an old Savannah family, and is writing a TV pilot about her experiences here...because, without question, “There are just endless Savannah stories!”

UNDERWATER EXHIBITION AT THE UGA AQUARIUM EXPLORES THE INTERSECTION OF ART, SCIENCE AND COASTAL CONSERVATION

The University of Georgia Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant is collaborating with Georgia Southern University to host a special exhibition, “SUBMERGED: An Underwater Exhibition of Bioceramic Artwork,” at the UGA Aquarium. The exhibition will debut during the aquarium’s World Oceans Day event on June 10 and will showcase a collection of sculptures created by Assistant Professor Casey Schachner and her undergraduate students at Georgia Southern University.

Schachner received funding to create bioceramic pieces as part of UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant’s Artists, Writers and Scholars program. The program supports projects designed to produce professional-quality art and literature that increases awareness of Georgia’s marine environments, improves understanding of Georgia’s coastal communities, and helps document history, culture, or heritage of Georgia’s coast. Schachner was one of three projects awarded this year.

The pieces are made using algal biomass produced from Algal Turf Scrubbers®, which are designed to remove nutrients from the water and enhance water quality. The algae are harvested from the Skidaway River, ground into a powder and mixed with regional Georgia Lizella clay to make artwork.

“In 2023, it is an important element to consider environmental impacts of the materials we work with as artists,” said Schachner. “To work with material that has such an important link to the local ecosystem is exciting.”

The bioceramic sculptures created by Schachner’s students will be submerged in the UGA Aquarium’s 16 saltwater tanks, where they will serve as underwater features to be explored by the aquarium’s ambassador education animals, such as stingrays, striped burrfish, red drum and diamondback terrapins.

“This is a great opportunity for Georgia Southern art students to create professional quality work to be displayed out in the community, said Schachner. “It also expands their interpretation of the role of an artist as an advocate by engaging with the community about environmental awareness and sense of responsibility as coastal Georgia residents.”

The exhibition will run throughout the summer, concluding on July 31. Afterwards, some of the pieces will be recycled and used to create

new oyster reefs along the shoreline behind the aquarium facility. Oyster reefs are an essential part of coastal ecosystems, providing habitat and protection for a wide range of marine organisms. Educators at the facility will be able to show visiting school groups how the sculptures are being used to establish new reefs.

“We are excited to present SUBMERGED as a means to engage visitors and raise awareness about the critical importance of our coastal habitats,” said Mark Risse, Director of UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant. “The artwork not only bridges the gap between art and science but also supports our ongoing efforts to promote coastal conservation and restoration.”

The UGA Aquarium’s World Oceans Day event on June 10 is free and will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., providing attendees with the opportunity to explore the exhibition and talk with Georgia Southern students about the inspiration behind their work. Staff at Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant’s Shellfish Research Lab, who specialize in oyster aquaculture and reef restoration, will also be offering oyster-themed activities for people of all ages.

For more information about the event, please visit: https://t.uga. edu/96w

- Emily Kenworthy | UGA Aquarium

Casey Schachner places students’ work in a tank at the UGA Shellfish Lab to begin the process of growing oyster spat on them before being shown in an underwater exhibit at the UGA Aquarium.

Georgia Southern students visited the UGA Aquarium to gather ideas and inspiration for their ceramic pieces.

326 Bull Street

Behind the Desoto Historic Downtown Savannah 912.234.7257

eshaverbooks.com

WHAT ARE WE READING?

PRESENTED AND CURATED BY

E. SHAVER, BOOKSELLER

As we step into the month of June, eShaverBooks.com is thrilled to present a handpicked selection of reads that are bound to captivate your imagination. Grab your reading glasses and prepare to embark on a literary journey for June!

A MARVELLOUS LIGHT by Freya Marske is a captivating fantasy novel that takes readers on a thrilling journey into a world where magic and politics intertwine. Set in Edwardian England, this enchanting tale follows the adventures of Robin Blythwood, a young man who unexpectedly becomes entangled in a secret society of magic users. As Robin navigates the treacherous waters of political intrigue and forbidden romance, a perfect choice for those seeking a blend of adventure, mystery, and a touch of the supernatural.

EVEN THOUGH I KNEW THE END by C.L Polk is a beautifully poignant novel that explores the complexities of love, loss, and self-discovery. The story follows Grace Park, a young woman who is struggling to come to terms with the sudden death of her partner. As she grapples with grief and the weight of unfinished conversations, Grace discovers a series of letters that provide glimpses into her partner's past. Through these letters, Grace embarks on a journey of healing and understanding, ultimately finding solace and a renewed sense of self.

FOUR HUNDRED SOULS, edited by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain, is a groundbreaking anthology that chronicles the four-hundred-year journey of Black people in America. Bringing together the works of ninety different authors, this powerful collection takes readers on a comprehensive exploration of Black history and experiences, from the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in the United States to the present day. Through essays, poems, and personal narratives, the book offers a multifaceted and nuanced perspective on the struggles, triumphs, and contributions of Black Americans. This book serves as a vital resource for understanding the past and shaping a more inclusive future.

Savannah’s Independent Bookstore since 1975 offering a selection of fiction, nonfiction, regional, and children’s books

UNLOCK YOUR IMAGINATION: LIVE OAK PUBLIC LIBRARIES LAUNCHES FREE SUMMER READING PROGRAM FOR ALL AGES

By Lauren Wolverton

Live Oak Public Libraries will kick off its annual 2023 Summer Reading Program for children and adults of all ages. From June 1 through July 31, local libraries will offer reading challenges, performances, workshops and more, all completely free of charge and open to the public.

This year’s Summer Reading Challenge asks kids ages 0 to 18 to read 10 hours this summer. Once 10 hours of reading are complete, participants will get a free book and will be entered for grand prizes like an iPad, a Nintendo Switch and more.

Kasey Haessler, Regional Youth Services

Librarian, explained that the point of summer reading is to encourage kids to read during the summer months to prevent learning loss.

“Those two months between school years can be critical,” Kaessler said. “We really want to make sure kids are engaged with reading and learning and being curious. We want to make sure they’re keeping up with their reading skills. We’re still seeing a lot of catch up that needs to be done post-COVID.”

There is no reading list created by the library, as librarians want kids to explore topics they’re naturally drawn to.

“Summer is a great time to encourage kids to read books that they want to read and encourage them to develop a nice relationship with

reading, guided by their own interests and their own passions,” Kaessler said. “We want them to have fun with it and grow a nice relationship with books for the rest of their lives.”

Kaessler said the libraries highly encourage adults to participate in summer reading, both for the children in their lives and for themselves.

“The reason why we make adults such a big part of the Summer Reading Program is that reading as a family, or when kids see their parents or caregivers or adults in their lives reading, they associate it with good things,” Kaessler said. “It becomes part of their routine. If they see reading as a part of their family life, the higher chance they will be drawn to reading

independently. Reading as a family, or making time to read daily, is one of the best things caregivers can do for kids at a young age.”

She went on to say, “For adults, the more we expose ourselves to other people’s stories, and stories outside of our own experience, the more open-minded and empathetic and caring our communities and cultures can be, because we’re building connections to people who are different from ourselves. It makes a better, more involved populus I think.”

In addition to the Summer Reading Challenge, Live Oak Public Libraries are offering performances and workshops including a didgeridoo performance, magic shows, storytelling, music classes, henna art classes, and improv classes in partnership with Front Porch Improv.

Live Oak Public Libraries also partners with local and state museums and parks. The public can check out passes the same way they would check out a book for up to eight people to visit select museums in the Telfair and Coastal Heritage Society networks. The library also provides free entry into most Georgia state parks with a library park pass.

All programs are designed to be free and fun for families.

“21st century libraries are really cool,” Kaessler said. “Books will always be important, but it’s also about community engagement and connecting with people.”

Local libraries will also offer free lunch for kids in partnership with America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia. Lunch will be provided Monday through Friday in June and July.

Live Oak Public Libraries is a system of 16 libraries providing programs and services in Chatham, Effingham, and Liberty Counties. For more information on Live Oak Public Libraries and a full schedule of Summer Reading Programming, visit liveoakpl.org.

LOCAL LIBRARIES OFFER PASSES TO PARKS & MUSEUMS

Did you know your library card allows you to check out free passes or obtain discounted tickets to cultural centers across the state of Georgia? Summer trips can be made easier and more economical with just a visit to your local library branch. For more information, visit liveoakpl.org

EXPLORE CLOSE TO HOME

GEORGIA STATE PARKS

Borrow a Georgia State Park ParkPass or Historic Site Pass and get free admission at parks statewide. You can also check out a Discovery Backpack that contains binoculars and wildlife guides.

COASTAL HERITAGE SOCIETY MUSEUMS

Check out a seven-day Coastal Heritage Society Museums Family Pass, usable for up to eight people per visit, for free admission to Savannah History Museum, Savannah Children’s Museum, Georgia State Railroad Museum, Old Fort Jackson, and Pin Point Heritage Museum.

TELFAIR MUSEUMS

Check out a seven-day Telfair Museums Family Pass, usable for up to eight people per visit, for free admission to the Telfair Academy and the Jepson Center for the Arts in downtown Savannah.

VENTURE OUT OF TOWN:

GEORGIA STATE PARKS

Borrow a Georgia State Park ParkPass or Historic Site Pass and get free admission at parks statewide. You can also check out a Discovery Backpack that contains binoculars and wildlife guides.

CENTER FOR PUPPETRY ARTS

Check out a “Passport to Puppetry” and get museum admission for up to four plus special discounts.

CHATTAHOOCHEE NATURE CENTER

The Library Family Pass admits up to four people for free. Enjoy wildlife, hiking, and environmental education.

GEORGIA AQUARIUM LIBRARY DISCOUNT

The Aquarium offers exclusive discounted tickets purchased online.

GO FISH EDUCATION CENTER

Get a free Family Pass for as many as four family members to the Go Fish Education Center.

MACON MUSEUM PASS

The Tubman Museum, the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, and the Museum of Arts and Sciences partner to provide free passes to their locations in Macon. Up to four people can get free admission with the passes, valid for one week.

MICHAEL C. CARLOS MUSEUM

Check out a Family Pass to the Carlos Museum for up to six people to enjoy arts and culture from around the world.

WILLIAM BREMAN JEWISH HERITAGE MUSEUM

The Georgia Public Libraries Family Pass admits up to four for free. Connect with Jewish history, culture, and arts.

ZOO ATLANTA

The Zoo Atlanta Library Pass provides free admission for three guests.

SAVANNAH NOW THE EPICENTER OF UNDEAD DRAMA

Local Talent, Captivating Locations, and Georgia's Production Incentives Lure AMC's Hit Series to Savannah, Elevating the City's Reputation as a Top Filming Destination

By Kareem McMichael

The eighth and final season of "Fear the Walking Dead" is here, and you might see some familiar faces and places because the prequel to AMC's popular show "The Walking Dead" was filmed in Savannah and the surrounding areas.

"We were very excited to hear that 'Fear the Walking Dead' was looking to move production back to Georgia and narratively shoot Georgia as a scripted setting," said Katie Schuck, assistant director at The Savannah Regional Film Commission.

The Savannah region boasts a huge variety of locations, including the nation's largest historic district, an evergreen urban forest, and unique and timeless coastal and rural settings that have served many different places around the world.

"Anytime a production is looking for a swamp, we know we have a good opportunity to attract the production since we have no shortage of water looks here in the Lowcountry. When you combine our locations with the tax incentives, Savannah becomes a very attractive place for productions to land," said Schuck.

The Georgia Film, Music, & Digital Entertainment Office offers Georgia production incentives up to 30 percent of their Georgia production expenditures in transferable tax credits.

Season Eight premiered on May 14 and consists of 12 episodes. It will be split into two six-episode parts, with the second half debuting later in 2023.

They filmed all over the Coastal Empire region, including locations in Savannah, Wilmington Island, Midway, Townsend, Richmond Hill, Port Wentworth, Bloomingdale, Rincon, and Hutchinson Island.

"We are very lucky to have had a full and final season of this great series filmed here. We hope that a lot of the locations featured in the show will help spur more film-induced tourism, where visitors can experience the real-life places filmed in the series. We'd love to see more 'walkers' visit us," said Schuck.

Bill Marinella Casting had an open call for 'walkers,' and many local people were cast as background and features in different parts.

One of those people is Lavon Youins, (Right) a local actor who is registered to receive casting notices from Marinella.

"It was during October, and I applied simply because I wanted to show off to everybody else who was talking about their Halloween costumes. I expected to shoot for maybe a day or two as a zombie, and then I could go out in my costume," said Youins.

Youins faced challenges, though. Like many others, he was working a full-time job, and though he made a costume and sent in his audition tape, he was not able to get time off for his initial casting.

"People need to be 100% sure that they have the entire day off before they accept the casting. Because after you send in an audition, they send this email to confirm that you can or can't do the booking," said Youins.

Youins apologized to Marinella for accepting the casting to do background for a day only to turn around and decline it. He was concerned this would ruin his chances of getting cast in the future, but that was not the case.

"I had left that job; I had applied again, and they cast me for months and months and months. I was a walker on Halloween day. Then they wanted to cast me as a feature, actually, as a certain specialty zombie that I won't reveal," said Youins.

All of the top-billed actors from season seven return for season eight, and stars like Lennie James (Morgan) and Kim Dickens (Madison) are once again going to head up the show's final season.

"I got to work with the main cast, and the significance of my role is pretty big. I'm prominently featured and connected to the main characters in a very intimate way," said Youins.

Other survivors will return, including Colman Domingo as Victor, Danay Garcia as Luciana, Austin Amelio as Dwight, and Jenna Elfman as June.

"Kim, Colman Domingo, and everyone were just super friendly to each other. All of the main cast, crew, and background were very

friendly. As background, we are sometimes around the stars, but when you're on set, it's still work," said Youins.

After the work is over, the cool perks of the job sometimes include getting to have conversations with the stars or even getting autographs. Youins was able to get Domingo's autograph on his August Wilson's "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" playbook.

In addition to our local talent and locations, having a strong local crew is very important as well. With these pillars in place, it makes it easier for the Savannah Regional Film Office job easy to pitch to studios to come to Savannah.

"It's not just the attractive incentives that persuade productions to choose Savannah; it's also our talented local crew, our fabulous locations, and our growing infrastructure that have turned Savannah into the second-largest production hub in the state of Georgia," said Schuck.

"Fear the Walking Dead" airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on AMC.

STILL A SAVANNAH RAP ICON TWENTY YEARS AFTER HIS MURDER

By Travis Jaudon @JaudonSports

In 2002, Jason Akeil Johnson said he knew he was always destined for fame.

"Everyone knew it was going to happen. I just wanted to be like all the boys I saw on the corner,” he said. “The gold teeth and the fancy cars."

Twenty years ago last week, the hip-hop artist from Savannah’s Hitch Village was gunned down outside of his West 37th Street recording studio, Pure Pain Records. The shooting took place at roughly 4:30 p.m. on Monday, May 19, 2003 while the 21-yearold walked the sidewalk with his toddler son, Yadon Moultrie. Later that evening, Camoflauge was pronounced dead at Memorial Health University Medical Center. His son was unharmed.

Savannah’s most beloved rapper was well on his way to stardom and fame, just as he predicted. But that was the day it all ended. Twenty years later, his murder is still unsolved.

His debut came in 1999 with the Crime Affiliates collaboration, Crime Pays. Camoflauge's first solo album, I Represent, was released in 2000 and it climbed to as high as No. 58 on Billboard’s Hip-Hop chart. The album put him, Pure Pain Records and the City of Savannah squarely on the rap map. Universal signed him for his follow-up album, Strictly 4 Da Streets: Sex, Drugs and Violence, Vol. 1. But the major label dropped the rapper after his arrest in Savannah on drug charges that were eventually dropped.

In 2002, his final album, Keepin It Real was released and the single “Cut Friends” is still one of the most popular southern rap tracks of the era. Other popular Camoflauge tracks include “Hot Grits,” “Layin’ My

Stunt Down,” “Murder Was The Case” and “Down By The Water.” Almost all of his songs included Savannah references, often dealing with themes like poverty, crime and yes, drugs.

It was his unwavering loyalty to Savannah and the people in the city’s hoods that made him a hero to many.

“I could come out on the street and see him rapping. He felt so relaxed. He didn’t even have bodyguards around him,” Jeanne Bryan told local reporter Anne Hart after the murder.

Hart sent me a text this week when I asked her for her memories of covering the events.

“I remember the overwhelming sadness displayed by the people who lived and worked in the neighborhood where the shooting happened, where Camoflauge’s studio was,” she said. “The fact that this local musical star was shot and killed in the very town that helped form him was jarring to say the least.”

“I also remember his packed, barely any standing-room funeral where his life and musical talents were celebrated. That was a mournful day for Savannah.”

His legacy had long been cemented in Savannah, but over the last few months, Camoflauge has been revived in a sense, his music now expanding well beyond Savannah thanks in large part to a daughter he never got to meet.

When Camoflauge was killed, Kia Jones was pregnant with his daughter. That afternoon in May of 2003, the girl’s life was altered before it ever began.

Flau’Jae Johnson (born Flau’Jae Jones) [inset photo at left] just won a NCAA Women’s Basketball National Championship as a key part of the backcourt for the LSU Tigers. Just a freshman, Flau’Jae averaged 11.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.2 steals per game. She is also a hip-hop artist with talent aplenty.

She has a distribution deal with Roc Nation, the label of hip-hop icon Jay-Z. As a child, she appeared on TV several times, doing well in popular competition shows like American Idol, America’s Got Talent and Lifetime’s The Rap Game.

Flau’Jae and Kia moved to Atlanta when the girl was eight because she was determined to pick up where her dad left off. She went to pursue hip-hop in the rap capital of the world. Turns out, she was pretty good at both basketball and rapping. Doing more than her dad could have ever dreamed of.

“When I hear his voice in his songs, I get chills,” she told ESPN’s Maya Jones in April of 2023. “I think about my dad everyday just about. He’s the reason I picked up the mic. Sometimes I think, ‘Dang, I wish he could see what I’m doing. I know he’s proud of me, but I wish he could see it all.”

As far as the status of his unsolved murder case, Camoflauge’s killer has yet to be identified, for now. When reached by email on May 19, 2023, Savannah Police Cold Case Unit Commander Lt. Zachary Burdette said that his team was in the process of “pulling the (Camoflauge) case file … to review it and see what all is there.”

By Aaron Irons Music and Clubs

It’s been a notorious few years marked by a pandemic, wild politics, confrontation, and no small amount of social upheaval. So when Early James croons in a voice of the finest grit, “Oh Lordy, what a strange time to be alive,” it’s the kind of truth that makes and breaks smiles.

The native Alabamian (born James Mullis) had barely tuned his guitar in support of his Easy Eye Records debut, “Singing For My Supper,” before COVID-19 wrecked the best-laid plans of promoters and bands in March of 2020. But in the wake of loss grew opportunity, and the songs for James’ latest effort, “Strange Time To Be Alive,” took shape.

“I would say right when we got vaccinated, we immediately started talking about it,” James remembered. “By the time the (“Singing For My Supper”) album had come out, it had already been done for six months. I guess we started talking about getting in the studio toward the beginning of 2021.”

Even with about half the album conceived before the pandemic, James nevertheless captures the absurdity and anxiety of the moment. The title track itself sprung immediately from the experience.

“That one was written in late March of 2020… That was the weirdest one because I got to write that one with Rob Thomas and Austin Jenkins. It was the very first of many Zoom meetings I did,” James said with a laugh. “We all were just talking about how, ‘Ah, this’ll blow over. Hopefully, gonna see you guys out in the real world soon.’ We had no idea.”

“Strange Time To Be Alive,” which has recently been re-released in a deluxe edition with three additional songs, vacillates between the evocative and the nightmarish, cruising right up to the edge of dissonance while relying on dark melodies that swirl around raw sugar and woodchip observations. In the album’s opening track ‘Racing To A Red Light,” James places himself squarely in the maelstrom, namechecking some of the era’s polarizing figures while poking the proverbial bear with lines like, “Internet ideas are all stolen, it took ’em all from Joe Rogan,” and “Elon built a hearse in hindsight…”

“I was worried that people would hear that line the wrong way. And I’m still not completely sure what I mean by it,” James chuckled. “I think I was just so damn tired of hearing their names at the time that I wrote that line. It wasn’t really anything against the two of them, it was just that sometimes it seems that the world’s way to deal with that is to put them at the top, like, ‘Let’s build their audience. Let’s make more people aware of them so that they have more power.’ It just doesn’t make any sense to me.”

A proud Southern artist acutely aware of the hypocrisies of the Bible Belt, James also explores his own questions surrounding faith.

“‘Dance In The Fire’ has a lot of harkening back to some religious things that had happened in my childhood,” James said. “I hate to cast any stones because I have a lot of religious friends, a lot of good Christian friends, but you’ll hear a disembodied opinion on the internet about how children are being pulled into a cult, indoctrinated, and it’s like, ‘That’s how I felt when I was kid being forced to go to church.’ The best way I put it is religion is a lot like a tool just in that way that a hammer’s a tool. You can use a hammer to build a wonderful house to live in; you can use a hammer for truly despicable things.”

In “If Heaven Is A Hotel, James delivers one of the album's best and most vulnerable lines when he growls, “Don’t believe it when anybody says they’ve been doing fine, so I guess I’m doing fine,” a desperately current notion that also harkens back to “Singing To My Supper” and the artist’s candor surrounding mental health.

“I remember when it rolled around that [“Singing For My Supper”] had been out for a year, that was just mindblowing to me that a whole year had passed and we hadn’t gotten to do very much with it. [“If Heaven Is A Hotel”] was an attempt to joke about dark thoughts in my head, to perhaps get me out of thinking about them,” James said. “I was extremely lucky. I don’t know what I would’ve done if I’d been alone. I spent the entire time with my girlfriend Cammie [Windley] and my roommates, which are musicians. We were able to livestream and still play, still write together, and Cammie and I were able to spend time together. Honestly, other than it appearing for my career to be ending, it was a pretty good time.”

For many, the sudden end to touring and live events was a blessing in disguise offering a never-before-taken (or offered) opportunity to slow down and make sense of their own next steps.

“To have that little bit– lot of bit– of time to think about everything and what was happening definitely helped. I never thought I would be saying this now, but I’m definitely a whole bunch more relaxed about what it entails to do this for a living,” James said. “I’m definitely thankful for the time off within my romantic relationship, within the band and us having some time to get tighter. Communication goes a long way in life. I’m weirdly thankful for that.”

When James entered the studio with Easy Eye impresario and Black Keys frontman Dan Auerbach to record “Singing For My Supper,” it was with the producer’s handpicked band of studio ringers. This created a new challenge for Early and his longtime time bandmate Adrian Marmolejo to figure out how to translate the finished studio product for the stage, a continuing, but now welcome, endeavor as James and his band tour to support “Strange

Time To Be Alive.”

“I knew we’d be able to do it. Honestly, that first record was harder to do as a four-piece band than this new one for whatever reason,” James said. “Adrian, first of all, who’s been playing with me for years, he was the bass player on the new record, so that was nice. I think Adrian and I were both all the way through recording, we were talking about, ‘Ah, that’s gonna be fun to do with four and pedal steel or four with mandolin.’ It’s nice with four because he plays three different instruments.

“I used to think that you should sound exactly like you do on the record because that’s what people are expecting. For whatever reason, I don’t know why I thought this. Eventually, I realized, ‘Why would you want to give the people what they expected?’ So now I’m like, ‘Cool, let’s do whatever we want in the studio, and then with whoever’s in the band at the time, we just come up with a new way to play it.’ We don’t really stick to time signatures or sometimes not even the same chords. That’s a lot of fun for all of us to put our heads together and figure out how to make it work with a four-piece band instead of an eightpiece band in the studio.”

Jim Harrington

EARLY JAMES PLAYS THE LUCAS THEATRE SAT., JUNE 10 AT 8 PM TICKETS AND INFO: SAVANNAHBOXOFFICE. COM

BLUES MAESTRO KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD TAKES CENTER STAGE IN SAVANNAH

By Alan Sculley Music and Clubs

Kenny Wayne Shepherd's recently released DVD, "Straight To You Live," is the first concert DVD he's released in a career that now stretches back more than 25 years. But it's not like he's been trying to avoid doing such a project all of this time.

“The fans have been asking for a live DVD for decades,” Shepherd acknowledged in a recent phone interview. “We record audio every night, but we’ve done a number of shows with video as well. And for one reason or another, we just never felt like we had the right night.”

It’s possible this concert, which was filmed in Germany for broadcast on the legendary concert series “Rockpalast,” might have stayed on the shelf, too, if it hadn’t been followed just a few months later by the COVID pandemic.

“It was a real honor to be asked to do it,” Shepherd said of “Rockpalast.” “And so we did the show, and that night we all watched it after the show was done. We watched it back and we were like ‘Wow, it’s actually a really great performance.’ And then we really didn’t think

much more about it – until COVID happened. Then we started realizing that people are not going to be able to come and see us for awhile, and they’ve been asking for a live concert for years, and we have this. The audio is great, the performance is great, the camera work is great. Maybe we should put this together and get it out to them so they can watch it in the comfort of their own homes until we can get back out on the road.”

It turned out the “Rockpalast” appearance came at a good time for the Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band, near the end of a European tour when the musicians -- guitarist/singer Shepherd, singer Noah Hunt, drummer Chris Layton (formerly of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s Double Trouble), bassist Kevin McCormick, keyboardist Joe Krown, saxophonist Joe Sublett and trumpet player Mark Pender -- were in top form.

“On that tour, we were on fire. I mean, almost all the entire European tour was sold out, so we were on a really good run,” Shepherd said. “The band was just firing on all cylinders. The timing was great, and we had no idea actually how good the timing was going to be and that we would have that (concert) available to

put out for the fans during this pandemic.” The Rockpalast concert came near the end of a busy and productive period for Shepherd and his band. The group released a new studio album, “The Traveler,” in May 2019 and was well into the touring cycle for that release when the “Rockpalast” performance happened.

Shepherd and the band then went into the studio to record a new album, which was finished just before the pandemic hit and the world shut down. Originally set for release in 2021, the new studio album is now tentatively planned for release in the coming months, which opened up the window to release “Straight To You Live” in late 2020.

Shepherd said he’ll wait until closer to the release date of the next studio album to debut those songs. Instead, fans will see a show highlighted by a performance of Shepherd’s second studio album, “Trouble Is...,” which was released 25 years ago. That platinum-selling album gave Shepherd a signature hit, “Blue On Black,” which, of course, is included on “Straight To You Live,” and a few other songs from the DVD figure to remain in Shepherd’s current live set as well.

But one more recent song may well be included in Shepherd’s shows. It’s “Hit ‘Em Back,” a collaboration between Shepherd and blues singer/songwriter Shemekia Copeland that also features guest appearances from lap steel guitar player Robert Randolph and veteran blues drummer Tony Coleman.

Copeland (daughter of the late blues artist Johnny Copeland), reached out to Shepherd to write music to the lyrics she and co-writer John Hahn had completed. The lyrics have a strong and multi-dimensional message calling for unity, respect and cooperation, while also pointing up the divisiveness that exists in today’s society overall and the blues community in particular. Shepherd wrote muscular and soulful bluesrock music to accompany the lyrics, which was what he felt the song demanded.

“I just thought it should sound large,” he said. “We have a message we’re conveying in this song, and it’s multi-faceted. Like there are a number of ways to interpret the song. There are a number of ways to apply the lyrics. There are a number of things that are addressed in the song. We’re making a statement, and to

transmit a message, you want to transmit it as loud as possible. So I thought the song needed musically to be big and powerful because I feel the message is powerful. It addresses a lot of the complicated things that are happening in our (blues) world today and in the world today, but it’s also expressing a message of love and unity. It’s time to bring people together, which is what we were doing by doing the song and the way that we did it by collaborating together.”

Shepherd, 45, has grown into one of the leading artists in blues (or blues-rock or whatever description one wants to attach to his music). He exploded onto the scene at age 17 with his impressive 1995 million-selling debut album, “Ledbetter Heights,” followed two years later by “Trouble Is…” As the years have gone on, Shepherd has continued to release albums at a steady clip that have seen his skills as a songwriter and guitarist only grow stronger. He’s also shown his genuine talent, knowledge and appreciation for the blues, not only with his music, but specifically with the 2007 CD/ DVD 10 Days Out: Blues from the Backroads.”

The project found Shepherd traveling around to meet and collaborate with a host of blues veterans, including B.B. King, Henry Townsend, Cootie Stark and Hubert Sumlin. The film documented the trip and the album included songs Shepherd recorded with these blues masters. Despite a quarter-century-plus history with the blues, Shepherd said he had not encountered the kind of anger and divisiveness within the blues community that are referenced in “Hit ‘Em Back.”

“Frankly, I thought of the community having always been very inclusive just up until recently,” he said. “And a lot of things have been revealed to me that I just was unaware of, but have obviously been going on in the blues community for a while. I had no idea. So we thought it was time to address that because a lot of people are trying to use situations to divide people, and united we stand, divided we fall, right?

“We’re all here in the same music community and we do ourselves much more of a service if we get along and appreciate one another than trying to draw lines in the sand,” Shepherd said.

DOUBLE THE ROCK, DOUBLE THE EUPHORIA AT EL ROCKO LOUNGE

El Rocko Lounge is gearing up to host nights of electrifying performances. The lineup boasts a diverse array of talent that is sure to captivate music enthusiasts.

Kicking off the event on June 17 is Space Coke, a unique fusion of psychedelic and metal music hailing from Columbia, South Carolina. Known for their otherworldly album "Lunacy," Space Coke offers an immersive experience that delves into the depths of human madness. With their high-quality riffs, stomping rhythms, and captivating vocals, the band promises a memorable performance.

Joining the stage is Hollow Leg, originally a duo from Jacksonville, now expanded to a quartet. Blending American blues roots with English metal influences, Hollow Leg's latest release, "Civilizations," delivers a sludge-infused sound reminiscent of Crowbar, Weedeater, and Eyehategod. Their powerful and anguished music reflects the spirit of working-class musicians. Clamfight, a group of childhood friends turned rockers, brings their passion for big riffs to the forefront. Influenced by their dads' vinyl collection, as well as heavy bands like Sleep, Clutch, Neurosis, Eyehategod, and Mastodon, Clamfight's distinctive blend of influences creates a unique and dynamic sound.

Also taking the stage are The Manarovs, a Savannah-based power pop trio. Drawing inspiration from the Ramones and armed with catchy beats and downstrokes, The Manarovs promise an energetic and entertaining performance. Their forthcoming record on Mom's Basement Records tells a captivating story of parallel lives, adding an extra layer of intrigue to their music.

On June 22 at El Rocko Lounge check out Rock Eupora and Lakin Crawford. Rock Eupora, the musical project of Clayton Waller (Left), showcases heartfelt lyrics combined with catchy pop sensibilities. Reminiscent of Weezer's Blue Album era or early Beatles singles, Rock Eupora's discography is a testament to their infectious hooks and melodic charm.

Lakin Crawford, a talented musician who has made a name for himself in Savannah, offers a diverse range of music, from bluesy and melancholic tunes to upbeat and danceable tracks. Known for his versatility, Crawford invites listeners to explore his musical repertoire, which is available on Spotify and Bandcamp.

A Special Publication of the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System and Connect Savannah

School of Liberal Studies at Savannah High School

HONOR GRADUATES

Oliva Allen

Jmia Lawton****

Joshua Avinger

Brian Baltazar-Ramirez

Vanessa Gutierrez

Karina McNeal

Brendan Moore

Antonio Avendano***

Kaliah Orr

Terrance Taylor Jr.

Brandon Amaree Ager

Bernardtica Nardaisha Albright

Ian Aguero

Olivia Reina Allen

Sai’naya Armoni Anderson

Antonio Jose Avendano

Joshua Avinger

Kent Fabian Awer II

Brian Manuel Baltazar- Ramirez

Amya Barnett

Ryland Darnell Bartley

Amarra Andrea Baxter

Joseph Siree Benniefield

Amonti Makiyla Dejonae Biffle

Destini Biggins

Kiah Marie Biggins

Jabari Altarel Black

E’Nyah Lanae Bolton

Jakeem Jermaine Bowens

Jeremiah K’juan Boyd

Alena Karina Brathwaite

Alaijah Shala Bridges

Makiyah Sinii Briscoe

Antwon Jadon Brown

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Ra’kayla Lea Brown

J’den Asim Bryant

Rakierrea Shabree Bryant

T’Nyah Kamille Bryant

Maurice Christopher Bryant-Felton

Erick Mical Buckner

Ke’Davien Lamar Butler

Samontae Ixavier Cansler

Heaven Ra’ Janae’ Capers

Christian Omar Colon-Arroyo

Mi’Aisha C’niyah Coppock

Josiah Samuel David

Jacob Andrew David

Oscar Gabriel Davila

Amare Arnez Davis

Antrell Davian Demery Wright

JaFaria HaVannah Denisha Latrell

Dennis

Keshawn Jamal Dixon

Nakeira Elyssa Abreya Fickling

Dmitri Lanard Fields

Kiara Janae Ford

StarLa Jennifer Foster

Kaylin LashayWanenasia Franklin

Lauryn Chantel Freeman

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Jakhia Shymaine Gordon

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Myles DeVante’ Green

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Kimora Darne Gregory

Vanessa Gutierrez

Jahreal Martine Hamilton

Shayne Jordan Hamilton

JaPrince Anthony Hampton

Che’Von Landon Hardeman

Keyonna Victoria Lachelle Harris

A’nya Nakienna Haynes

My’a Aleah Heyward

Nickiel Termaine Houston

Breyonna Latrese Howard

TreShawn Hurley

Alexandre’a Teresa Jones

Miles Xander Jones

Kimani Arianna Jordan

D’aisia Monique Joyner

Ashlie You’Nique LaCue

Yosept Alexander Lainez

Jmia Umaria Lawton

Autumn Lynn Lewis

Miracle Malave

Aaliyah Tatyana McAllister

Leonard McCann

Aylana McKnight

Karina Lela McNeal

Sanathan Yasir Mercer

Arianna Rochelle Mikell

Brendan Wayne Moore

Marshayla Chanel Spencer Moore

Armone’ Jernel Moore-Graham

Alexis JaNala Newton

Kaliah Ciera Orr

Kenniya Renee Owens

Sabria Renae Owens

Willie Payne

Kweli Zemarkie Pickens

Corey Namon Pointer

Khaleel Antonio Polite

Reitta Ann Price

Anesia Ijane Reese

Xavier Roberto Requena McIntyre

Andriell Maria Reynolds

Parnell Maurice Rogers

Kayla Nicole Roundtree

Lacey Mahkelia Scofield

Javon Jaquay Scott

Thomas Kenneth Scott

Matthew Duane Segure

Jaleel Travon Shellman

Christopher Kaleb Sheppard

Boshen Diaz Shields

Ra’Naiyha Alonda Sheanier Shuman

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Antonasia Debrayah Singleton

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Leroy Lamonte’ Spann

Jayla Na’Shay Spaulding

Asia Maria Stafford

India LaJean Stafford

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Darrell Pernell Sullivan

Terrance Xavior Taylor, Jr

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Va’Shauna Deshana Truesdale

Michael Louis Tucker III

D’Avion Mikel Tyson

David Javon Walker

Di’Ajuaney Marjanae Walker

Nymbia Tyne’ Trinity Walker

Zambia Miracle Walker

Gabriel Sibert Walker-Fuller

Aniya Amani Ward

Paris KeLis-Makate Washington

Sha’Nia Kywauna Washington

Amarion Watson

Zariah Delaija White

Neilesha Jai’Nyah Wilder

Ashanti Williams

Camren Josiah Williams

Daniel Demetrius Williams

JaNaya Raquel Williams

Kenneth Leonard Williams, Jr

Sa’Vion Ahmad Williams

Satavia Jasmine Williams

Levi Omar Wilson

Jaden Mekhi Wong

Micyh Anthony Wong

Blessed Yvonnie Wright

Carl Dwayne Wright III

2023 VALEDICTORIAN Leah Morgan Worrill

New Hampstead High School

HONOR GRADUATES

Jaylee Shanice Adams*

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Conner John Brinson*

Taniyah Janay Cheeks**

Dallas Blade Eugene Mitchell Crosby*

Dayanara Cruz*

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Aurora Arely De Hoyos Diaz*

Alejandra Mia De Leon Muniz**

Aniya Joi Dixon*

Elizabeth Ann Fears*

Jasmine Simone Gaffney**

Daisy Penelope Gates*

Rosiemel Milagros Geraldino Silverio*

Irasema Gomez-Zagada*

Xavier Randall Guzman*

Fallon Simone Hall**

Franklin Aurelius Tion Ham*

Auriana Arissa Hammond*

Gabriel Thomas Harper*

LaNiya Tiona Harris**

Jada Shani Hendrick**

Lizvette Isamar Acosta Murillo

Rayven Ifraj Danielle Alberic

Derrick Raschad Albertie

Quamere Malik Alexander

Sha’mya Jalizabeth Allen

Leeanet Allende Davila

Gabriel Elliott Mitchell Alston

Hailey Michelle Anderson

Ramon Francisco Arocho Jr

Mark Francis Aubuchon

Brianna Michelle Azoon

JuLeah Elizabeth Baker

Noe Alejandro Banegas

Tin Dai Banh

Jesus Angel Barrera

Diandrae Anthony Barrett

Ka’nye Pharrell Bates

Devion Shawn Bates-Carrington

Quiyianna Lamonia Benjamin

Breanna Bennett

Madeline Rose Bernstein

Chloe Luree Berry

Christian Lamont Beverly-Massey

Makayla LeeAnne Bevins

Devanta Ra-Kee Lee Blidge

Ka’naiya Sirray Boles

London Aimee Bouquett

Taylor Tauren Bradley

Jaiden Marie Braet

Sha’Dai Alexia Monia Brand-Daney

Brandon Austin Britt

Jakaylen Alexander Brockington

Andrew Paul Brown

Denisha Dekeira Jan’ae Brown

Destiny Donayjah Brown

Kyshaun Ry’Merius Brown

Devin Leonard Burack

Cayla LaJuan Burnett

Cyla ShaJuan Burnett

Brianna Marcia Butler

Jackson Montgomery Butler

Taige Kennedy Campbell

Angel Monique Carter

Kai Elizabeth Carter

Benjamin Tyler Cheatham

Reese Makaala Clause

Tariq Aamir Collier

Naviier Herbert Collins

2023 SALUTATORIAN Jediel Lopez Cabrera

Tyler Jeffrey Conaway

Kavon Charles Lee Cook

Sierra Rose Cope

Jonah Traivon Coppock

Herben Cornelio-Bautista

Mia Jeniece Costa

Zion Josephaine Crawford

Austin Davis Lee Mitchell Crosby

Maria De Los Angeles Cruz Sanchez

Lourdes Galvan Cruz-Guzman

Elijah Wade Dalton

Alexander James Damon

Arica’nayshia Jayda Davis

Destiny Rania Davis

Ryan Jermaine Davis

Alan Aakash Day

Isaiah Tariq DeGruy

Destini Nicole DeZerne’

David Diaz Ibanez

Ranfhi Diaz-Vidal

Shambry Shamya Hernton*

Teriana Taylor Hervas*

Kelly Dorice Jones*

Jared Alan Christopher Kierstead*

Emma-Lyn Grace Kristof**

Destinee Michelle Lewis**

Jediel Lopez Cabrera***

Draydon Lee Lundy*

Ella Willow Lynn*

Natalia Moncerratt Mar Morales*

Alaina Hope McCartha*

Ashlynn Brianna McKay*

Rose Allison Mejia*

Ashley Aaliyah Mighton*

Dylan Richard Nessen*

Toni Ajae Newton*

Jonathan Khang Nguyen**

Lily Thi Ngoc Nguyen**

Madison Meresa Osburn*

Archi Jagatkumar Patel*

Madison Michelle Purvis*

Ansley Nicole Rowland**

Joshua Todd Dillard

BrianKeith Lexley Douglas

Davian Lashaun Eason

Hector James Trumbo Eide

Tamiah Tanaee’ Famble

Luis Fernando Ferrer Heras

Arianna Maria Festa

Denali Tyrone Ford

Jermaine Markees Francis

Kyla Imani Francis

Ziheemah Flauge’ Frazier

Ja’Corra Maylaijah Fryar

Xavier Garces

Isabella Marie Garcia

Luis Miguel Garcia Pion

Erick Garcia-Aparicio

Jeremiah Michael Garrett

Renan Gomes De Melo Maisatto

Jeymi Jareht Gomez

Kelly Joanna Gomez Rodas

Jalen Richarde Goss

Lauren Gabrielle Graham

Mollena Denise Grant

Layton Carter Gray

Makayla Celeste Gray

Giovanni NeCole Green

Dylan Tyler Greene

Zion Jajaun Griffin

Nickolas Santana Guyton

Jaheim N’Isaiah Hall

Paul Lamont Hall Jr

Shaheim Ty’rek Hamilton

Brian Lamont Hammons

Rayvonn Kaleb Hardy

Kameron Andreas Hargrove

Bryce Henry Harn

Christopher Blake Harris

Regan Marie Harris

Demetrius Alphonsa Hawthorne

Genevieva Simone Haynes

Emma Grace Hendrix

Ellington Miles Hereford

Blake Jackson Hernandez

Gage Edward Hernandez

Juan Diego Hernandez Lopez

Miriam Hernandez Nazario

Leah Nicole Heyward

Keyami Neria Hines

Daelyn Tamera Howard

Oscar Ibarra-Rodriguez

Christian Edward Jenkins

Asia A’Nique Patricia Jenks

Ismael Jimenez-Pena

Lolita Tychay A. Jolley

Layla Amani Jones

Markellis Lamari Jones

Naja Mone’ Jones

Payton Leigh Justice

Chase Alexander Kearney

Malik Keyshawn Demetrius -

Hughes Kent

Brandon Kyle Kersey

Jondre’ Talik Kinsey

Annastasia Lynne Knight

Alijah Kani Lacey

Brooklyn Nicole Lameo

Landen Michael Lane

Nalayah Shanice Law-Wilson

Makenna Lynn Ruiz*

Max David Ruiz*

Kimberly Diane Salas**

Joshua Michael Schrambeck*

Paul Levan Seeley**

Madison Noelle Sherrills*

Medina Shirin*

NaTasia Lashay Simmons*

Kaleb Isiah Smith*

Malaysia Emonie Smith*

Morrigan Lilith Storts**

Luke Aaron Strange*

Ryan Davis Sutherland*

Cassidy Marie Elizabeth Swanson*

Jessica Nguyen Tran*

Camila Alejandra Vargas Freire*

Alyssa Lynn Viens**

Matthew Avery Wishon*

Leah Morgan Worrill****

Dilyn Dinh Zanetti*

Anieya Cheire Lewis

Quincy Omarion Lofton

Bryanna Geleta Lord

Aaron David Loyd

Dea’Vonna Janay Elmesa Mack

Tevernicus Randrin Mack

Walter Javon Mack Jr

Ca Sean Emmanuel Malone

Moses Wel Malwal

Lucas Aguiar Martins

Erica LeNari Maxwell

Tarek Naasson Madison Maxwell

Brandy Rachel McCarey

Kavon Maurice McDonald

Aaron Hunter McGirt

Levi Joseph Mehl

Maria Guadalupe Mendez Cruz

Juan David Mendoza El Salman

Waltrez La’Trell Milsap

Jenna Minak

Davianna Lanette Minor

Aria Divine Mitchell

Jordan Kentele Mitchell

Destiny Tamera Mobley

Jadrian Xavier Mojica Ortiz

Jaylen Amari Morris

Za’Reyonna Unique Morris

Taylor Tateona Mosley

Tommy Wade Mosley

Noah Aiden Mowery

Iyanah Joyce Mundle

Lauanne Abrantes Nascimento

David Miguel Neal

Alauna Marie Nevels

Shanae Sutanya Nevins

Shahiem Shandell Newton

Greg Vincent Norris

Mia Elizabeth O’neal

Abby Jo Overmire

Nivea Samai Paredes

Nandni Ketankumar Patel

Shivam Dharmeshkumar Patel

Tanya Ben Patel

MiaBella Rose Pepponi

Jayden Paydric Pratt

Diamond LaTrell Pristell

Trevon Eric Pruiett

Hunter Reid Purnell

Alyssa Paige Ratliff

Tayda Yamilet Reyes-Cuenca

Avari Myles Rice

Ian Kevin Richardson

Kaya Nicole Richardson

Tahniya Jacqueline Richardson

Kaelob Skyler Ricks

Kali Elyse Rico

Ryan Alexander Rivas-Santiago

Emiley Alexandra Rivera-Bursey

Ra’Mya Nyree Robinson

Jaime Enrique Roman Gonzalez

Seth Hunter Rousch

Ahmadi Lamya Royal

Juan Benjamin Salgado Jr

Joshua Zackery Schenck

Erin Marie Schreiber

BryAnna Mercedes Scriven

Collin Boune Seangthong

Ja’Kya LaTraya Singleton

Herschel V. Jenkins High School

HONOR GRADUATES

Nicolas Antonio Aguirre Laupa*

Kaylin Nicole Anderson*

Xavier Lorenzo Anderson*

Annie O’Brien Barr*

Michael Joseph Becton*

Mary Grace Berg*

Araia Sanaa Burgest*

Madeline Mary Alice Candline*

Tahj Tamir Cook*

Cameron Ashton Davis*

Shane Dalton Dyal*

Marlene Ray Everhart*

Fasiha Fatima*

David Shaddai Franklyn Francois*

Micah MyQuan Futch*

Joshua Lamont Javier Gadson*

Luis Uriel Aguilar Gongora

Octavian Termain Anderson

Ashley Desiree Andrade Trujillo

Charlie George Bailie

Miguel Alexander Barrientos

Zion Ontonio Tee Bartley

Antwan James Braxton

Izayah D’Shaun Brown

Keyuna A’mir Brown

Mikel Josiah Brown

Dylan McKay Browne

Jaylin Jamel Campbell

Yesmin Lizbeth Cano

Ty’auna Shamari Christian

Donovan Lamar Coles

Rahnie Mo’na Cooper

Edgar Jesus Cruz

Tori Maya Cummings

Antwan Milton Davis

Ikiah Tyanna Davis

Jaylen Allen Deloach

Jonathan James Dillon

Ja’Marqust Robert-Bernard Dingle

Courtney Denise Dixon

Jason Thai Do

Sereese Swanson Donre

Jacob Gerald Dyches

Demetrius Lorenz Eady

Angel Janee Ervin

Ty’quawn Mo’quez Fields

Deltron Jakheen Floyd

Malayjia Latrell Jne’ Ford

Felix Louis Friedman

Tavion James Gadson

Omar Kareem Godfrey

Dexter Denzil Gordon

Jaydin Styles Gordon

Rhasheen Ahmaad-Mikell Graham

Zy’Kerrea Renee Green

Samiya Diamond Gregory

Aniyah Shavonne Griffin

Amaya Shay Grimes

Chance Jai’Quan Hamilton

JerCory Keith Hannah

Hayden Dustin Hartley

Jennifer Hernandez

Jacob Maxwell Hessinger

Harry Gerard Hicks

Derrick Lamont Holmes

James Byron Garrity*

Thomas Benjamin Griffin*

Rousse Jacqueline Hernandez Lopez*

Roy Huang*

Lisa Lin*

Aiden Joshua Maxwell****

Jonathan Martin Milboer*

Aaliyah Rivelle Denise Murray*

Jane Ellen Nease*

Nadia Lanyra Nichols*

Divya Devendrakumar Pandya*

Abhishek Rakeshkumar Parikh*

Anshkumar Bipinbhai Patel***

Nidhi Chirag Patel*

Larissa Platas Garcia*

Zane Alexander Pope*

Jhordan Isaiah Holmes

Ahman Elijah Howard

William David Hughes

Elliott Anthony Hutchinson

Evelyn Iniguez

Paris Patricia Jackson

Jaiden Anthony David Jones

Jakobi Devon Jones

Jonathan Damon Jones

Kaylanna Louise Jones

Ta’mara Chelle’ Jones

Tre’lyn James Joyner

Jalen Juwan Kenny

Laiba Shahzad Khan

Ronan Mark Carroll Kilkenny

Starla Lee Kirk

Ke’Shon Emanuel Leggett

Ma’Khi NaQuon Liddell-Mitchell

Gracie Ann Light

Yuanying Liu

Jenna Elizabeth Lloyd-Mills

Alexander Lopez-Acuna

Cesar Lopez-Luna

Omar Lopez Luna

Eimy Gissel Lugo Gonzalez

Eric Elton Manning

Kahlil Malik Marshall

Jabre Markell Martin

Kayla Kimorah Martin

Isaiah Charles Massey

Kyron Damon McCray

Stephen Glenn Merriman

Germaine Lee Middleton

Jaiden Rhashad Middleton

Michelle Arianna Irene Miller

Timothy Steven Miller

Chareanna Komora Denise Mitchell

Sa’Niyah Takia Mobley

Attasia Alease Moore

Attesha Alaya Moore

Brandon D’Wayne Moore

Jeaneva Nichelle Moore

Jose Guadalupe Mora-Garcia

Nicholas Scott Morgan

Koran Morrell

Nika Ashlie Myrthil

Madison Aniyah Newton

Katelyn Minh Nguyen

Nikola Amaka Odili

Continued New Hampstead High School

Lanasa Emony Singleton

Jordan Alexander Sisskin

Johnny James Smalls Jr

Taywana Jah’nay Smalls

Ja’Von Eugene Amaru Smith

Kaleb Amah Smith

Rebekah Madeline Smith

Tyllee Andrion Smith

Syncere Antonio Spann

Tamia Monique Spencer

Caliyah Seymone-Ann Stevens

Anarion Jaquan Stewart

Eric Ryan Stewart

Joerell Lamont Sturgis

Nicholas Ryan Taylor

Derrick Sherard Teemer

Kaila Queen Terry

David Theodore Tilicea

Da’marion Jaylen Tremble

Erika Fernanda Treto Martinez

Bao Truyen Gia Tu

Ricardo Javier Uzcategui

Jacob Noah Valentin

Conner Patrick Vanhorn

Johnathon Chase Vaughn

ManFredo Velasco

Amaya Brooke Walker

Elijah Maurice Walker

Hannah Wajjoud Walker

Jayvon Michael Walker

Julius Sharrod Walls Jr

Nyre Iyana Warthern

Jordasia Denise Washington

Kanye Emmanuel White

Guneet Singh Randhawa*

Paul Andrei Santiago*

John Ramon Seidensticker*

Alexis Maya Smith*

Taniya Kanarey Smith*

Christian Miguel Suarez*

Arnez Marquiz Thompson*

Ethan Alex Toraya*

Jamie Ryan Torres*

Angel Anh Tuyet Tran*

William Tran*

Wilson Tran*

Hayden Lee Washington*

Sanaa Victoria Washington*

Lauren Noelle Whiteford*

Terrance Darby Williams*

Honor Kaitlyn Oliver

Cristina Onofre

John Willie Parks

Antonio Demetris Petty

Ariana Monae Poindexter

Joshua De’Andre Pridgen

Alaysia Latrice Pringle

Timothy Tyjuan Jermaine Randolph

Kalaysia Reeves

MacKenzie Kiara Reid

Alajah Jalese Richards

Samari Brittany Robinson

Doni Isaiah Rodriguez

Destin McIntyre Rose

Nathan Alan Ross

Alton Cedrick Sabb

Robert Earl Sanders

Isaac Scott

Vrinda Vishal Shah

Braylin Demetrious Shields

Graci Helana Shiver

Angel Ty’moni Simmons

Jelani Asim Simmons

Tatiyana Regina Singleton

Kensley-Grace Terea Smith

Rondajnah Simone Smith

Trenton Deshun Smith

Troy Terrell Smith

Louis Martin Stevens

Jalen Khalil Swinton

Keshawn Marquis Tallington

Andrew Williams Thomas

JaKayla Amerie Thomas

Amontay Lee Thompson

Jacob William Tidwell

Samyia Alexandrea Tolbert

Andrew Shawn Waldhauer

Tiahna Jelicia Walker

Cariah Cody Warren

Kurt-Anthony Christopher Watson

Antwan Julian Wesby

Abbie D’naye White

Andrew Scott Wilds

Morgan Aljana Williams

Quateria Monna Williams

Zion Maurice Williams

Samuel Donald Wise

Airen Juliane Young

Mario Antoine Mason Young

2023

Angelica Joye Wilks

Briana Ny’Kera Williams

Coryale Simone Williams

Dameerriona Diamond Williams

Damien Dashawn Williams

Marquasia Tymia Nishai Williams

Nichelle Valaina Williams

Ramone Malik Williams

Rayquan Ke’Ron Arkeem Williams

Talia Latrice Williams

Brakel Jouet Woods

Ashley Wu

Corine Eleece Yates-Giles

Amari Tyrek Young

Kareem D. Young

Dareli Jasmin Zavaleta

2023

VALEDICTORIAN Aiden Joshua Maxwell

SALUTATORIAN Anshkumar Bipinbhai Patel

**** Graduation Regalia Key

***

2023

Savannah Arts Academy

VOCAL MUSIC

Sarah Marie Heidi Braun

Hope Elizabeth Bull

Ethan Tyler Carelock

Rowan West Carter

John Stephen Connell

Abbegayle Kathleen Daugherty

Stuti Hetal Dave

Sommaria Madison Drawsand

Briana Kaytlin Gallerani

Mary Matelynn Garvin

Sarah Gabrielle Garvin

Nicolas Gavrillas

Mariangel Alexandra Guanique

Villaba

Kaelyn Julianne Hallman

Alaina Rhiannon Holmes

Laynnie Ericha Jacobi

Aaron James

Sarah Kate Maher

Jazmine Marie Mobley

Ana Maria Nieves-Concepcion

Jayden Elizabeth Padgett

Makayla Jamyiia Rudolph

Ashlyn Elizabeth Rusgrove

Sierra Renee Silver

Angelina Marie Stack

Reese Madison Stainback

Benjamin Ariail Varner

SaNiya Imani Warren

Nahshon Alexander Wimes

Ella Grace Zipperer

ORCHESTRA

Nasele Aiden Berrios

Catherine Lilly Bock

Hannah Victoria Buckles

Samantha Leigh Butler

Benedict Emmanuel Cabral

Preston Vi Chen

Ava Grace Coffey

Owen Capra Cooper

Angel Joe Garcia

Jayce Matthew Harder

Nolan Christopher Haupt

Zarea Anise M’yaniah Hunter

Olivia Abigail Jones

Ruby Rider Joyner

Sean Sun Kim

Sheila Lan Nguyen

Lyric Denise Olson

Arthur Assuncao Radosavljevic

Jonathan Santana

Dallas Indar Singleton

ZiWei May Tang

DANCE

Jayla Hunter Alberti

Camille Adelyn Arango

Anna Beth Baker

Joel Balangue Balinao

Carolyn Calhoun

Samuel James Carper

Nadia Alysse Cofer

Kamille Kiley Doreus

Arianna Gavrillas

Natalie Claire Heddleson

Summer Denise Linton

Monica Joelle Manker

Nicholas Alexander Motley

Harper Liv Nelsen

Baylee Marie Popham

Nicole Yvette Reid

Grace Katherine Leigh Ross

Colin Fletcher Sanders

Sarah Kate Southerland

Jameson Estelle Stafford

Rylie Rebecca Tanrath

Margaret Steele Wade

Kennedy Nicole Wingster

Sadie LeeAnn Young

PIANO

Julia Arden Beck

Tucker Graham Butler

Ty Joseph Dohrman

Colin Ou

Anton Ferdinand Pirro

Dakota Rain Weaver

Genevieve Sue White

Andrew Yang

Richard Henry Yang

VISUAL ARTS

*Charity Rain Anchors

JJuliet Grace Ahle

Iona Lauren Albuna

McClain Alexandria Allen

Ethan Nathaniel Anchors

Chakii Jewel Bisard

Isabelle Anglyn Brown

De’ja Mersigh Burns

Lyla Castle

Abigail Claire Cusack

Luke Hamilton Davis

Alyssa Maria Dunn

Kaitlyn Renee Endsley

Avery Liette Evans

Ivory Serene Furnari

Katherine Ann Gelok

Alana Estrella Guifarro

Jeremy Xavier Hall

Arianna Chasity Hangartner

Elizabeth Baylor Haynes

Wiley Christopher Hendrix

Allayna Pilar Henriquez

Emmanuel John Kennerly

Grace Choi Kim

Rose Julia Knudsen

Spencer Nathaniel Krieg

Kenzie Marie Kurdys

Micayla Ann Latson

Jillian Faith Layser

Idaly Lopez

Athalea Johanna Miller

Nishka Shyam Mirchandani

Joseph Matthias Murphy

Ronni Antonia Ochoa

Bronwyn Antonia Parish

Brenden Allen Parrin

Kayla Seanna Peters

Sydney Paige Preiss

Kirsten Elizabeth Ray

Taygan Whitney Rolle

Chloe Noreen Rylander

Emily Robyn Sarinana

Nyriel Jessica Saures

Cristian Silva-Lara

Kaleigh Ray Simmons

Kadynce Beth Singer

Evan Donovan Smith

Kaylee Camille Stern

Oliver Henry Thomas Stone

Kylie Grace Tanner

Christopher John Thomas

Derek Jerrell Thorpe

Elizabeth Grace Vaughn

Angelica Mariel Velez-Vega

Minh-Chau Dinh Vu

Zoe Olivia Watt

Katherine Kylie Wild-Miller

Mykle Elizabeth Williams

Amaris Zahara Woods

Mallory Elizabeth Wornom

Nikki Yang

Zuri Alijah Young

FILM STUDIES

*Ellie S Allgire

MBenjamin William Bethel

Maria Rose Buelterman

Elise Ione Cookson

Catherine Elizabeth Costner

Gabriel James Dionne

Qua’Mira Jamilah Ervin

Gavin Lanier Foreman

Nicholas Michael Foti

Ann Marie Gigis

Valerie Marie Kapitan

Phoebe Jane Ketron

Mikayla Nicole Lane

Eunsol Lee

Hunter Joseph McCord

Wyatt John Oswald

Jayson Avery Padilla

Agni Papaconstantinou

Lyle Daniel Paquette

Khairi Jaleel Joh-Henry Phillips

Elijah Maxwell Posman

Alexandria Patrick Proto

Aaliyah Renee Rawls

Sara Shi-Nicole Rivera

William Thomas Selders

Meredith Joyce Sneed

Skylar Elizabeth Spivey

Emerie Claire Sullivan

Ian Edward Swan

Edward Drake Waters

Joshua Nelson Zielenbach

THEATRE

Caroline Ansley

Marshall Harkins Benton

Bri Bishop

Alexandra Scott Bowen

Ashelyn Helena Carden

Seresa Cohen

Dawson McKayla Cooper

Kendall Addison Cripe

Alaina Maria Emfinger

Ella Marie Foose

Sadie Aviva Forman

Ava Marie Hayward

Carina Rae Hoelscher

Kristen Leah Horan

Elyse Laurentina Jackson

Velma Ann Johnson

Mary Alice Justice

Katherine Paige Kelly

Madison Ivey Kennedy

Kate Lee

Makenzie Olivia Lewis

Antonio Lopez

Madeline Eugenia Mattson

Lily Ramona Merlin

Kelsi Lynn Nicholson

Magnolia Elise Poeling

Caroline Emily Reeves

Taylor Mackenzie Rigsbee

Sarah Kate Shuman

Mackenzie Grace Smith

Amelie Josephine Steffen

Amelia-Cate Stone Parker

Jessica Danielle Turberville

Olivia Claire Ulrich

Noah Elliott Velodota

Courtney LaShon Ward

BAND

Sam Aram Allahverdi

Sage Elizabeth Batchelor

Trenton Brockington

Erin Elizabeth Caughran

Damien Michael DiDonato

Peter Matthias Gress

Thomas White Gress

Lily Thomson Harris

John Edward Arch Keyes

Jayden Theodore Lacossiere

Morelia Nataly Lopez-Marquez

Keegan Sean McFadden

Ethan James Neall

Erik Thomas Oliser

Samuel Donald Povie

Elisa America Primatic

Nadia Faith Redman

Charles Saxon Ryans

Eden Grace Kathryn Sills

Maksim Aleksandrovich Sokolov

Richard Dean Tindol

Thai Son Vo

Ella Santamaria Wallace

Hudson Andrew Weber

Andrew Zhang

VALEDICTORIAN Margaret Wade 2023 SALUTATORIAN Richard Yang

Islands High School

HONOR GRADUATES

Paul Stewart Abbott*

Jordan Allison Able*

Angelica Annalisa Agosto*

Luke Savvas Andreou*

James Lionel Bodenrader*

Katiana Lynn Boland*

Kya Renee Bonds*

Kate Olivia Bossler*

Nathan Moore Bristol*

Sydney Claire Brown*

Christopher Michael Cesaroni II*

Bailey Kathryn Chambless***

Trajan Alexandre Chapman*

Cameron Taylor Chauhan*

Darci Lynn Davis*

Deanna Raye Davis*

Marcelles Lamar Davis*

Ahmad Majid Diab*

Thomas Samuel Dolan*

Tiffany Angel-Renee’ Donaway*

John Henry Emery V*

Michael Keygan Abney

Nadeem Sarmad Al-Khazraji

Amelia Grace Anderson

Rowayne Rajon Answer

John-Philip Xavier Audette

Charlee-Grace Fitzpatrick Bailey

Samantha Anne Bennett

Mariano Alejandro Bibolotti

ShaKari Keiron Blige

Brandon Jeremiah Bonds

Aaron Michael Borowski

Annabel Frances Brattina

Kemoni Gavary Bright

Jackson Morris Briscoe

Slayten David Generalli Brock

Alec Pascoal Brown

Joshua Brandon Brown

Miah Christine Brown

Nadia Janell Brown

John Thanh Bryan

Paul Cong Bryan

TaSharra’ Sierra’ Sara Bryant

Akasha Jade Burdine

Michael Anthony Burse Jr.

Lucas Morrison Byrd

Ayden William Cameron

Cameron Allen Carter

Madyson Mei Chalmers

Michael Dimitrios Cherry Jr.

Jordan Elise Cintron

Haley Elizabeth Clayboss

Dominic Clemente Concepcion

Justin Malachi Cox

Jaime Gabriel Cruz

Christian Reese Daniels

Sandlar Cage Danis

Mikala Cristen Davidson

Savanna Betty JoAnne Davis

Nikolos Cato DeBerry

Michael Anthony Duck Jr.

Aliya Maria Dumas

Roland Daron Ferguson

Rachel Marie Fernandez

Evan David Flick

Carson Lane Floyd

James Matthew Fobes

Chase Benjamin Evans*

Emma Denise Finch*

Allison Lorraine Fritts*

Anne Marie Gleason*

Analysia Marie Gonzalez*

Dakota James Hargett*

Jarrett Cole Hornick*

Tamarious Devon Jackson*

Emma Grace Keeton*

Alyssa Marie Kiley*

Reagan Charlotte Kimmel*

Isabella Andrea Knight*

Angel Chanel Lexley*

Dylen Thomas Liverman*

Thawn Mang*

Hudson James Martin-Bazemore*

Amelia Joanne Mauldin*

Abigail Rae Mastison*

Laurel Ruth McCraw*

Madison Sherri McCurry*

Libby Madison Naugher*

Parker Austin Fobes

Lola Riley Futrell

Delaney Joy Gordon

Cody Landon Grooms

Ava Matthews Hansel

Samuel Rogge Harelson

Lane Mayes Hobby

Nicolas Brandon Hough

Keirstin McCall Hudson

Hanna Elaine Humphreys

Jordan Elizabeth Huszty

Dante Mazzeo Iannuzzi

John Ibanez-Morales

Diamond Delores-Marie Jones

Nathan Allen Jones

Madelyn Elizabeth Kiger

Alex Kyler King-Castro

Chad Seon Kinder

Gavin Joseph Kirsch

Savannah May Kline

Jake Alexander Knight

Aislinn Grace Lanigan

Heba Yousef Lara

Michael Konner Lewis

Devin Brooke Long

Aniya Brianna Mackey

Wesley Blake Marable

Angelica Flora Martinez

Kevin Shane Matthews Jr.

Riley Chance Maxey

Katie Olivia Taylor McGahagan

Sha’Ron Ray’quan McGert

Curlanda Maxine McKinney

Ryder Troy McKinnon

Chloe Louise Meinert

Victoria Mae Middagh

RaeKayla Destinee Middleton

RaeKia Desiree Middleton

Abigail Grace Miles

Adrianna Leigh Miller

Makale Jalen Milson

Francis Thomas Munley III

Caroline Dawson O’Brien

Sumaya Marie O’Gwin

Naomi Lorraine Oropesa

Jhamil Eduardo Perez Andrade

Nathan Zachary O’Dell*

Miles Charles Parkhurst****

Joshua Scott Restel*

Kai Alexander Rikkinen*

Margaret Jane Rodnicki*

William Thomas Schumacher*

Daisy Elizabeth Shaw*

Swati Shrestha*

Veronica Louisa Sierzant*

Riley Sutton Small*

Caleb Warren Smith*

Isabella Grace Solaro*

Nicholas Cartwright Stanley*

Kristian Michael Stiles Jr.*

Caleb Chandler Swenson*

Natalie Grace Tisinger*

Marin Margaret Valbuena*

Abigail Grace Van Brimmer*

Michael William Wood*

Jake Kameron Poland

Anastasia Paige Price

Joshua Shane Radach

Ethan Chase Ramsey

Benjamin Corwin Reese

Gabrielle Anaiah Riley

Jack James Rock

Jennifer Roman

Eli Gregory Ross

Shaina Rose Rotker

Ja’Mari Hishan Sanders

Jackson Mather Schoeffler

Miles Reid Schoeffler

Ayjah Monique Schultz

Caiden Blain Selph

Sarah Delaine Shearouse

Talan Amel Simon

Charlie Rodes Sindahl

Jameel Rasheen Small

Caden Patrick Smith

Darrell Kareem Smith Jr.

Jordan Mikell Strobert

Gianluca Giuseppe Stucchi

Pierce Vincent Suarez

Emma Elaine Sullivan

Leah Marie Susie

Jadon Christopher Saqqarae Taylor

Jelani Yassin Thornhill

Anthony Espan Thrasher

William Cochran Turbiville

Rudolph Omaree’ Varner IV

Isabelle Rain Veillette

Stone Zachary Waligora

Amari James Walker

Treon Jahari Walker

Lily Rose Warmkessel

Kelvin James Warren

Dawson Tinsley Waters

Domonique James Watson-Davis

Joseph Morris Webster III

Hanna Lynn Weimer*

Aaliyah Ivory Williams

Cassandra Sa’More Wilson

Stella Abigail Wood

Darren Zheng*

Valedictorian Salutatorian Superintendent’s Award Honor Graduate

Robert W. Groves High School

HONOR GRADUATES

Kamila Alvarez Marrero*

Wilmer Yadiel Alvarez Marrero*

Stephanie Andrade-Guerrero*

Ariana Elizabeth Bostick***

Ty’Karia Lanejah Chisholm*

Serenity Rain Coleman*

Talia Breisha Daniels*

Ian Antonio Escuen-Sparks*

Victoria Figueroa Trinidad*

Somari Aquia Fripp*

Nikki Nicole Grizzard*

S’Niyah Selina Hunter*

Jayce Arman Lawrence*

Kieu Trinh Thi Le*

Truc Ngoc Le*

Xavier Rasheem Lewis****

Andrey Oliveira*

Paulson Isaac Pate*

Lucas Daine Prater*

Donals Woods III*

De’Jahn Na’Khil Adoboli

Esmeralda Alarcon-Hernandez

Syncere Christopher-Shamohjae Andrews

Leslie Bahena-Diaz

Pablo Adolfo Baroudi Osorio

Zamir Mekhi Lucious Baxter

Taylor Christiana Beard

Malik Allen Bennett

Phillip Reid Bing Jr.

Peace Sarah Ladawn Blair

Benjimin Westfield Blalock

Tyrique Lamont Blount

Kaleigh Lynn Boykin

Javon Laquise Bost

Covardis Renae Broadie

Azvier Brown

Daniel Everton Brown

Matthew Maki Brown

Zarabia Terionna Brown

Rhyonna Kelila Bryant

Brian La’Roi Burke

Marqus Wayne Bythewood

Cameron Tysean Cade

Mia Mikayla Campbell

Amy Ariana Cardona

Jesse Carrera-Hernandez

Karla Carrillo Guerrero

Jaleel O’neal Carter

Corey Deon Carver Jr.

Miguel Jonathan Castro

Irving Castro Flores

Eyvi Anahi Castro Lemus

Carlos Catalan-Gonzalez

Kevin Alexander Centeno Batiz IV

Dionna Ashanti Chow-Yuk

Kiara Lorraine Christie

Carly Ann Conlen

David Emmanuel Cruz Crespo

Alliesha Nicole Davis

Nelson Diaz

Edson De Jesus Diaz Franco

Kayleb Recardo Dorsey

Lashaud Laquitess Doyle

Jeremy Edgardo Dubon Cruz

Tyree Dunmore

Marco Antonio Felipe Ordonez

Celina Niya Felton

Kalil Jamarrio Forrest

Sa’miaya Shana’e Rose Forrest

Ni’Yah Dyneria Foster

Megan Danielle Francis

Michael Alejandro Garcia

Hugo Garcia Lopez

Yuriela Garcia Mendez

Adrian Garcia-Zavaleta

Kelsey Shaniyah George

Raphel Rashard Gilmore III

Ishan Lamont Green

Carshik Vaccardo Hall

Daniel Owen Hall

Stephen Jemel Hamilton

Nia Jana’e Hankerson

Bryce Xavier Malachi Harris

Keith Lamar Hendrix

Derrick Henry Herrington Jr

DyQuan Ahmad Hobbs

Na’Shawn Omarion Hopson

Jamyra Debriona Horton

Robert Lewis Jerome Houston Brown III

Talavia Shontasia Hutchinson

Christopher Lee Jackson II

Eric Andretti Jackson Jr.

Jahmeik Anthony Jackson

Ja’Qwan Lavant James

Kysaun Tyrik Jenkins

Darrin Conte’ Johnson

J’Quavious Issiah Johnson

J’Tavious Xavier Johnson

Tymerria Kaliyah Johnson

Javon Jonqua Jones

Joshua Alvin James Jones

Malia Amaya Jones

Thi Thuy An Khuu

LeVar Jamir Curtis Loadholt

Esmeralda Lopez Garcia

Charlissa Renae Love

Khari Jamal Manning

Tyrhon Stephen Iquan Manor-Mendez Jr.

Verenice Maradiaga

Kelly Angely Marrero Oquendo

Jae’von Marshall

Alberto Marcelo Martinez Medrano

Javon Tyrell Mathis

Cormel Ttorial McCray

Nacaire Medina Marin

Garien Makayla Mells

Dennison Yoel Meza Escobar

Laila Paris Miller

Ashara Paige Mitchell

Ashawna Simone Morris

Karla Munoz

Sairy Juneysi Nunez-Gamez

Addison Kelli O’Neil

Aidan Kristopher O’Neil

Jamari Arkeem Odums

Michael Owen Ordonez

Japheth Charlie Orr

Gavin Kendrell Owens

Dominick Ajai Parrish

Braedan Pence

Deane Zarco Perez

VerNesha Latrell Perkins

Ja’Breya Danai Powell

Kimorah Lanajah Pullin

Deric Omarion Quarterman Jr.

Miguel Angel Ramirez Felipe

Andre Deon Rawls Jr.

Jada Shomari Reed

JaDarius Malik Reid

Sheron Ja’Meria Robbins

Ny’Tanaisia Sommer Elizabeth Roberts

William Alexander Roberts

De’Asia Daisy Robins

Ra’Niya Tatyana Robinson

Keshawna Latrelle Rogers

Clifton Arnold Rollins Jr

Genia Sada Ruth

Ja’Nea Theodosia Sanders

Taniya Keviona Sanders

Kameron Marquise Saussy

Jamarri Savion Scott

Diana Silvan Callejas

Xavier Yerik Simone

JaQuawn Jamarious Singleton

Antonio Ivan Smith-Daniels

Ziheem Amar Speaks

Ebony Briona Stephens

Da’Shawn Omarion Strobert

Kobe O’Mony Tanksley

Christian Emanuel Taylor

Trenton Antiney Taylor

Zalma Daniela Tejeda Garcia

Zah’Niya Marie Thomas

Tyrone Anthony Thompson Jr.

Sa’Mari Kristina Ja’Tonga Torrance

David Alexander Trujillo

Jasiel Trujillo Zavaleta

Bakari Shameer Tukes

Trevon Ronald Turner

Jada Upchurch

Joseph Antony Vazquez Pinto

Myia Nicole Venson

Malachi Isaiah Walker

Jaysean Christopher Warren

Bryan D’Andre Wells

Kendria Marie Wesley

Xander Ambrose James Wigley

Ananda Reece Williams

DaNasia Lashay Williams

Jayla Michelle Williams

Sierra Roschelle Williams

Simaya Alexis Williams

Tommie Lewis Williams

Za’Darrion Devon Williams

Jemarion Ahmad Wright

LeQuan Edward Wright

Ja’Mari Kabrelle Young

2023 VALEDICTORIAN Xavier Rasheem Lewis

2023 SALUTATORIAN Ariana Elizabeth Bostick

Sol C. Johnson High School

HONOR GRADUATES

Teric Tonell Blackshear*

Azaria Sharday Brown*

Candice Nicole Collins*

Savoya Janay Greene*

Ky’mani Se’coya Lovewine*

Sydney Kayla McClary*

Keyonna De’Aja Miller*

Karisma Shaniece Milton*

David Malon Petty*

Trinity Vernae’ Roberts*

Chloe’ Chante’ Sams*

Jenniya Latrece Sams*

Jaleah Omani Sanders*

Manav Yogesh Scroggin****

Fantasi Breanna Taylor*

Paige Montgomery Teasley***

Emmanuel Philip Waples*

Carlos Dominic Williams*

Antonio Quinn Baker

Jamari Ni’Keem Barnes

M’Daesia Symere Battey

Kamya Y’nae Biggins

Aaliyah Marshayla Blocker

Ateila Rosemae Ranetha Bolton

Kenyon Rahzae Bond

Jaden Tayshawn Boone

Kirah Elise Bowen

JaNiya Shirleese Bowers

Nicholas Antonio Gerald Branch

Katlin Ashley Brown

Ra’Kese Alfonso Brown

Shadrea Taylor Brown

Tory Antwan Bryant

La’Toi Shirrell Buckner

Latoya Shantell Buckner

Isyss Bri’elle Emoni Burnett

Jeremiah Juan Busby

Khalil Raymond-Admad Bush

Cristian Estuardo Carlos Chavez

Bella Angelena Carter

Shy’Ron Yasameen Childs

Andrew Lee Chiver, III

Wylan Malik Colclough

Tia Jaylen Coleman

Kristin Nicole Connor

Anthony Lamar Cooper

Kendal Nicole Cross

Tyre Ja’Quan Curry

Dietre Renee Cuyler

La’Marria Ashlee Zarriah Demery

Samari Keyshawn Dowdy

Alayzja Branai Duncan

Austin Eric Duncan

Jordan Niccalos Dunham

Antonio Shaimar Edwards

Trinity Naomi Edwards

Michael Leo Ellison

Mylea I’yonna Ellison

Zipporah Christine Ane Emerick

Zekiah Nareed Rakem Floyd

Ni’Quasia TaNiya Futch

Ayana Aaliyah Gaffney

Kummariyah Maurice Garner

Danielle Arie’Anah Givens

Keviyonna Kiara Sharmaine Grant

Chance Aulston Green

Desyre Ty’keria Monia Green

Omari Eugene Greene

E’Bine Ty’jay Griffin

Jabari Devon Habersham

Irwin Alexander Haladner

Allanah Juanita Hall

Sharon Senay Hall

Veronica Ayanna Hall

Ze’Kira De’Asia Hall

Diamond Niasha Hamilton

Angel Jamaria Harmon

Kalea Briana Harvey

Makaila Charve’ Hazzard

Melanie Malaysia Hazzard

JaKiyah Imani Hodges

JaZaun Nakel Holmes

Nijha Azaria Hooper

Semira Delorise Hudson

Quincy Tayshawn Hunter

Alston McKinnley Johnson

Keliya Sanaa Johnson

Ma’carie Raheem Johnson

Zykehiem Isiah Johnson

DaQwan Lee Jones

Dorian L’Soloman Jones

Jayden Elijah Jones

Vernon Denard Jones

T’ya Alise Jordan

Ameerah Monique’ Kearse

Shania Renee Kelly

Julia Jenelle Knight

Destinee Aaliyah Lonon

Raina C. Luke

Grace Anna’ Marie Luten

Jessica Suzanne Lynch

Sheyla Carolina Martinez

Anaiyah Francisa Mena

Charquazah Latrell Miller

Tyler James Miller

Cameron Antonio Montgomery

Stanley Jameel Mosely

Carreon Anazi Makel Moyd

Rahnya Janea Myers

Lanasia La’Niyah Perry

Nicholas Antonio Peterson

Jayla Nicole Pierce

Marcus Joseph Pierre Louis

Keontay Thomas Price

Robert Eligah Price

Kahmari Cordai Pusha’

Shaniyah Monique Ramsey

Jamera Unique Rhett

Francis Zy’Heem Richards, III

Devan O-Sha Richardson

Tristen Ky’ere Roberson

Docquize Zyon Robertson

Donayjah Symone Robinson

Malachi Jamarie Robinson

Milah Janasiah Robinson

Tamaurian Lavaurus Robinson

D’Mari Mikell Sampson

Amarion Michael Scott

Darrell Simmons

Jamari Steven Simmons

Ja’maaria Beverlyann Sloman

Chandler Noel Smalls

Makhia LaTrice Smalls

Jamare Treyveon Smith

Jaylen Terell Smith

Nisaiah Willie Destiny Smith

Ronald Romerus Smith

Sha’Davia Ala’jia Smith

ViNijah TreNae Smith

Mi’Karee Jakhai Stafford

Michael Denol Stewart

Jah’Keme Rhichard Tanksley

Jamori’ Raheem Taylor

Davin Miquel Cardavia Thomas

Ke’Shauna Jamonnie Thorpe

Jacob Reed Tindle

Johnathan Ramon Tolbert

Kailyn Elise Toney

Matthias Anthony Nick Turner

Davianel Vera Cruz

Layla Genise Walker

Princess Crystal Walker

Tirque Hasan White

Vinesha Tanease White

Tyra A’bree Whiting

Antwaynnette LaShae Williams

Cameriah Shaniya-Michelle Williams

Jada A’Ravion Diamonique Williams

Jasha Akuris Williams

Ma’Kell Zion Williams

Maya Ty’Queria Williams

Stephanie Demetria Williams

Yaronasia Janisa Williams

Harrison Jalyn Willis-Hall

Eunique’ Daniel Amare’ Wilson

Quron Thomas Young

2023 VALEDICTORIAN Manav Yogesh Scroggin

2023 SALUTATORIAN Paige Montgomery Teasley

Valedictorian Salutatorian Superintendent’s Award

2023 VALEDICTORIAN

A.E. Beach High School

HONOR GRADUATES

Elizer Neria-Pena****

Shanell Janae Wilkerson***

La’ Sharia Butler*

Michelle Aryana Choate*

E’Ryonna Amaia Davis*

Ty’Kell Elijah Gardner*

Tianna Michelle Howard*

Laila Alysia Manker*

Rocio Martinez-Gonzalez*

Michelle Moraa Ndubi*

Czauriana Shurvon Kahmetria Sims*

Jamon Dominique Adkins

Kendall Simone Alexander

Eriana Jaliyah Anderson

Emily Nicole Banda

Kennedi Tiera Barnwell

Tyrese Lorenzo Bellamy

Tanasia early grad Benson

Tyon Stanley Berry

Kamaya Kimora Best

Kayla Danielle Bivins

Michelle Christina Blake

DeAndrew Imari Boggan

Michael Lynn Bolton

Eric Malik Brinson

Aaliyah Shadoreeah Brown

Emoni JaLeah Brown

Eric Khalil Brown

Kamrin Emonni Brown

Reginald Demarcus Brown

Shawntavis A Brown

M’Leah Martina Bryant

Trinady Kimora Burns

Paris Taylor Bush

Ny’Keria Simara Butler

Mauria Antonet Campbell

Larashaad Anthony Clark

Quartus Craig Clark

Davante Lorenzo Conyers

Termaja Cothran

Alyssa Abigail Crosswell

Na’Jai Nehemiah Davis

Omari Ma’Kel Davis

Lindsey Mailyn Diaz

Kennedy Zaniyah Diggs-Wilson

Hamara Majorie Adrine Downs

Alicia Shania Doyle

Tyler Leander Drummond

Jashane Amari Eady

Ja’Naisha Sha’Nya Evans

Denisha Aniah Fennell

Jemell Larose Ferguson

Dwan Sentel Flagler

Carltia Antonise Frazier

Kennedy Nicole Frazier-Brown

Bernard Gadson

Maalik Charon Gibbons

Jacquelyn Shirrell Gibbs

Ja’Shawn Jerell Giles

Tory DeQuan Giles

Austanial Jy’Quaie Godley

2023 SALUTATORIAN

Jaquaysha Goldwire

Carnelle Antuon-Caleb Green

Sanaa Marie Green

Sha’nyla Alaijah Green

Frenchae Monet Greene

Ka’Liyha Sy’Mone Gregory

Nay’Quan Tyrek Haqq

Anthanasia Pamula Harris

Eugene Harris

Elijah James Hawkins

Michael D Headrick

Logan Yvonne Hines

Izac Ramellow Hollis

Honor Lyric Holloway

Breanna Nicole Holmes

Horace Hughes

Shamarrie Antione Hugie

Terreon Theon Jackson

Marcus Isaih Jarrett

Marvin Bernard Jarrett

Je’Rell Donavan Ruben Jefferson

Joseph William Jiles

Kiara Simone Johnson

Rashawd Maurice Johnson

Zakhyra Nichole-Ashalynn Johnson

Khristina Denise Jones

Rondaisha Ciara Jones

Tamiariah Ny-Shay Jones

Carlos Jones

Aliyah Annette Joseph

Tyshon Jamarion Keyhea

Malik Arif Lawson

James Tremaine Leach

Emily Margarita Leon

Jasmine Alexia Lewis

Mia Carima Lipsey

Aniyah Semaria Louder

Ryan Jamaal Lovett

Jarrell Amir Lowe

Aspen Curtiss McFadden

Alandria Loriauna McMiller

Cameryn KaMar Metoyer

Ranasia Lanai Miles

Amerah Natrice Mitchell

Daisy Maricruz Morales-Domingo

Oscar Raymundo Moreno

Malik Isac Murray

Zhane Teigh Murray

Eliezer Neria-Pena

Kiara Shanta Oliver

Kharyn G Ortiz

Deryl Bernard Osgood

Sarah Elizabeth Osgood

Branndon Omar Tremane Page

Jo’Niya Palmer

Joshua Ben Peterson

Taliyaha Lashay Polite

Timya Latoya Polite

Ryan Jamison Pollard

Marion Shavel Purvis

De’Andre Rachard Richardson

Jonathan Anthony Rivera

Lashanti Zaquila Rivers

Prince-Marcill Nehemiah Robinson

Kortnie Rountree

Isaac Scott III

Calvin Marion Seabrook

Jasmine MoNae Sherman

NiQuan Shields

Jamya Chanee Sibert

Chanyce Marquis Simmons

Shilyah Vondrea Singleton

Omarell Cierra Dotshyia Smalls

Jaequan Dezmine Smalls

AnnD’neshia Marie Smith

A’Clease Ashley Stephens

Nekiera Desirae Taylor

Amiya Sharee Thomas

Estiven Angel Vargas

Destiny Keyuna Walker

Makeyla Madison Washington

Marco Olando Washington

Marissa Iyanna Waters

Morris Lenord West

R’Neisha Early Grad White

Shanell Janae Wilkerson

Aaliyah Le’Trell Williams

Aniya Marie Williams

Ashari Williams

JaMya Brooke will pay Williams

Karre’ Nicole Williams

Kaylynn Marie Williams

Alaina Jennifer Wise

Bernard Wolfolk

Ke’Maun Le’Shon Woodson

Marlon Raphael Wright

Akeem Zaion Wright

Jalaysia Anterria Young

McKayla Kiarra Young

Karis Jaylen Zeigler

Elizer Neria-Pena

Shanell Janae Wilkerson

Woodville Tompkins Technical and Career High School

HONOR GRADUATES

Zion Celine Anderson*

Brittany Alondra Arcos-Andrade*

Yayranam Rose Attipoe*

Nevaeh Treasure Baker*

Jermonta Rasheed Bell*

Armani S. Bonaparte*

Armani S. Bonaparte*

Michenzi Selena Brown*

Olivia Brionna Brown*

Yorkis Yocelin Caro Pena*

Sanai Ayanna Chisholm*

Nile Samauri Clark*

Jayla Tinarah Coleman*

Daniel Travis Cooper*

Lyla Joi Dandridge*

Derrin Amir Davis*

Saniyah Adrion Delaney*

Aaron Sean Denion*

Janine Sangre Dicks*

Kaliyah Simone Eason*

Jarell Jakentz Florvil*

Saniyah Shyan Fullen*

Alayah De’Shay Grant*

Keniyah Lasha Gaines*

Alayah De’Shay Grant*

Ta’Nayia Natajah Treasure Green*

Jaden Giovanni Griffin*

Cierra Lynn Gunn*

Angelica Marissa Gunter*

Eriyonah Tynaesia Hamilton*

Janasia Lynette Harley*

Jordan Mehki Haskell****

Zion Yvonne Haynes*

Jose Hiram Hernandez*

Marianna Lynn Hernandez*

Michelle Hernandez*

Samuel Jason Huff*

Jaden Marcis Jackson*

Ivan Jarquin*

Jada Marie Jenkins*

Gavin James Johnson*

Kiersten Aquilla Kemp*

Olivia Charlotte Laken*

Nijma Ayed Lara*

Amya Maria Lawson*

Katerina Gabrielle Lee*

Drakiyyah Zamani Lewis*

Jakera Marie Lowman*

Michaela Brooke McCurdy*

Jordan Michele McGarity*

Joshua Dwayne Mellons*

Karla May Tabbu Miranda*

Annette Fernanda Molina-Rodriguez*

Valeria Najera-Lares*

Allen Abraham Nicolas*

Denelia Danielle Nisbeth***

Nevaeh Ronejah Northcutt*

Tanner Vashod’Tre Outen*

Skylar Lane Parchman*

Dawson Lee Pennington*

Shayla Marie Porter*

Natalie KeLianna Richardson*

Kennedy Dionne Riley*

Edward Allen Scott*

Anya Madison Smalls*

Taliyah Kiantaye Thomas*

Aaron Bradley Thornton*

Gabrielle Naomi Trappio*

Jayden Vincent*

Daniel Obediah Lee Wade*

JaNayshia Janice Walker*

Skye Sarae Walker*

Albany Sincere Washington*

Mekhi DeAngelo West*

O’Brien Wayne-Alexander White*

Jordan Lathan Williams*

Joshua Ethan Williams*

MaKayla Williams*

Talayeh Patrice Williams*

Sha’Kayla La’niece Wilson*

Sha’Keyra La’niya Wilson*

Justin Javion Anderson

Nathan Dayshawn Anderson

Ramalle Marquis Anderson

Maqai Qian Bell

Alexis Demetria Beverly

Omariah Sheree Biggins

Aaliyah Breanna Bowers

Terrence Fabian Bush

Mikell Xavier Capers

Andrea Marie Colin-Mena

Heaven Olivia Cummings

Janell Angel Latrise Daniels

Taylor Christine Dawsey

Ashley Pearl Brown Dixon

Joshua Craig-Ramey Ellington

Taylor Madison Fields

Kaleb Jonah Flavigny

Ma’Laysia Ty’Yona Garfield

Jackelin Gonzalez-Castellano

Marshayla Helen Gresham

Samyia Monique Hamilton

ShaRiyah Logan-Lanai Haynes

Janiyah Ashley Heyward

Sarrayah LaTori Howard

Lucas Owen Hunter

Kahlise Brianna Jackson

Craig Lamar Janhrette

Omari Jahiem Johnson

Jadyn Renai Kitchen

Kobe Devone Lacey

Siera March’e Lasseter

Sierra Nicole Lathan

Abby Mariam Lazo Rodriguez

Christopher Maysen Lowery

Kamryn Andrea Marshall

Kayleigh Alissa Martin

Flor Mena-Moreira

Jaaziel Noel Mercado

Hannah Leonah Middleton

Micah Z Minor

William Wayne Elliot Mitchell

Chasiti McKenna Mobley

Alison JoAnn Moultry

Robert Jeffery Natson

Kiara Elizabeth Nixon

Juan Francisco Pacheco-Luna

Ayasha Lee Pinkney

Jada Mikell Polite

Elijah Ernest Rogers

Alfonzo Wesley Ross

Jonathan David Sanchez

Kristian Breonna Sellars

Joshua Tyler Sheppard

Tyrell Malik Sills

Zahmir Elijah Simmons

JaKala Kenyonna Small

Aaliyah Racquel Stallings

Aniyah Marissa Taylor

Dyquria Aliayah Taylor

Kevin Grady Thomas

Michael Sebastian Bach Tuck

Alayna Olivia Wade

Wesley Maurice Walker

Mariah Amari Wall

Leroy Ronald Waring

Mason Bernard Warren

Braylon Joshua Webster

De’Anthony RaShaun Wheeler

Mahki Shamar Williams

Maliasha Tajah Wilson

Jordan Mehki Haskell

Valedictorian Salutatorian Superintendent’s Award Honor Graduate

2023 VALEDICTORIAN Nigeria Catherine Sherrill

Savannah Early College High School

HONOR GRADUATES

Jada Olexis Adger

Eman Mondher Belgacem*

Ariyana Nicole Braxton*

Shalyah Dallasia Bryant*

Cassandra Mae Cates***

Kennedy Aniya Duncan*

Kashlyn Zayda Ferrebee*

Kelissa Monique Gillison*

Jada Leilani Harris*

Jamiyah Ciara Harvey*

Ly’Naja Shavon Jenkins*

Malaysia Tatiyan London*

Kirasten Emmeria Perkins*

Chloe Renee Quarterman*

Yasmine Alyssa Richardson*

Channah Patrice Roberson*

Leslie Michelle Rojas*

Nigeria Catherine Sherrill****

Ahmad Maasai Shabazz*

Sharell Elise Slupski*

Karmelo Quincy Smith*

James Cleveland Thompson*

Aaliyah Nicole Zellars*

Naziah Keira Bacon

Adrienne Elizabeth Braxton

Darris Julius Dawson Jr.

Johnazia Regina Davis

Ethan Sincere Flournoy

Paris Denise Glover

Sha’mya Ahalilah Harmon

David Alexander Jackson

Jeremy Charles Johnson Thomas

Micah Jenae Quarterman

Neshon Miquel Scott

Sherlandy St Fort

Johnnie Williams Jr.

2023 SALUTATORIAN Cassandra Mae Cates

Savannah-Chatham E-Learning Academy

HONOR GRADUATES

Emily Grace Morales Martinez****

Zahara Adgerson***

Carter Ellis Baldinelli*

Ava Louise Blaxland*

Ryker Thad Brunton*

Mikel Christopher Glover*

Faith Victoria Jackson*

Zachary Carlile Webel*

Keyana Lee Alcantara

Elijah Alford

Isaiah Elisha Anderson

Jordan Malik Anderson

Talynn Olivia Baines

Christopher Michael Bonney

Madison Janae’ Brooks

Sierra Alexis Bynes

Marilyn Jane Carter

Kenna Rachelle Crawford

Kyndall Tiana Daniels

Ma’Kayylah Destiny Dennis

Ta’Naeja Ellis

Ryan Emilio Evans

Amari Jai’Akio Faison

Noah Butler Fisher

McKenzie Ahmad Flanagan

Adrian Oslen Grimes

Alondra Hernandez

David Gordon Hessel

Dakiyah Malaysia Heyward

Robyn Nicole Hicks

J’Kayla Nicole Holliman

Sincere Malika Hopkins

Zaryah Sharnell Howard

Kamari Mikel Humphries

Isaac Allan Hunsucker

Sha’ki Jadon Jackson

Da’Viona Shalia James

Garry Jai’Kwon Jefferson

Ni’Cole NyShae’ Johnson

Gavin Zane Little

Jaden Kyra Louder

Christian Leonel Martinez

Alexandria Dionna Renae McFadden

Amiyah Gabrielle Mike

Zacoria Ja’mayah Morris

Jovan Murphy

Ka’Mari Sentelle Newton

Cysanna Neshell Nunnally

Daisha Daylen Olguin

Victoria Jane Perron

Jamal Earl Read

Terell Dyshaun Roberts

Karinah Rodriguez

Cameron Matthew Ruiz

Jazmyne Deonna Salgado

Elijah Shokes

Shania Shon’travia Sifralien

Chelsea Laren Smalls

Dakarai Amar Smith

David Trappio

Aubrey Anna Vejar

Ashlynn Washington

Alvion Jah’Ney White

Jordan Aumon Williams

Jason Otis Young

Valedictorian Salutatorian Superintendent’s Award Honor Graduate

Windsor Forest High School

HONOR GRADUATES

Brooke LaBraya Bias

Makayla Brooke Culpepper****

Katelynn Arlys Christopher

Emily Margaret Clark

Shantel Monay Clark

Laci Mariah Coleman

Makayla Brooke

Tamara Monet’ Davis

Alphonso Faison III

Maria Celeste Aguilar

Qurahn Leonard Anderson

Mya LaRae Arkwright

Antonio Fabio Arrocha

Nyla Marie Atwater

Jean Carlos Balach Jr.

MaKayla Diamond Banks

Charity Cassia’ Barnes

Ryan Dakota Barton

Neriah Skye Baylor

Kenyher Bernal Crespo

Ramiera Courtney Berry

James Dalton Bignault

Lauren Kennedy Blakley

Genesis Ni’Jah Blount-Dinkins

Torence Demetrius Eumad Blue

Ny’Jai Zyaisha Bradley

Corey MeGill Brown

De’Nasia Ola Brown

Kentavius Jermaine Brown

Malachi Ty’Shawn Brown

Timothy DeAngelo-Enoch Butler

Raina Storm Cannon

Trumanye Jocquez Capers

Ronald Lee Cason Jr.

Jasmine Khloe Casto

Kennedy Kharee’ Cheatham

Mariah Tynese Cherry

Patrick Andrew Clarke Jr.

Ma’Kayla Sheyanne Clemmons

Charles Bailey Crouch

Araya Leal Cruz-Camacho

Christopher Alexis Cruz-Carrillo

Kylan Donavon Daniels

Sakierra Ashante Daniels

Kalia Dior Davis

Malachi Lascelles Davis

Jasmine Cheyenne Dawson

Anastasia Michelle Diaz

Donte’ JaQuan Dorman

Ta’Niyah La’Tae Duncan

Colton Wyatt Dunn

Jonathan Elijah Durant

Jontae Lamar Effa

Jason Alvaro Enriquez

Ja’Nae Keona Evans

Ashlee Monique Fields

Ta’Ron Lamar Fields

Kameron Gage Flores

Joshua Llyod Fobbs

Reginald Joshua Franklin

Jabari Jamal Fraser

Jah’Tavious Ra’Quez Lavonte Gaines

Mauricio Andres Garcia Samudio

Zy’Keriah Neavah Gardner

Stephanie Trenise Gary

LeLan Rodney-Blake Gerald

Lakecia Alicia Gibbs

Shaniya Shabazz Gibbs

Adrain Gonzalez

Deonecca LaSahe Washington***

Jermiya D’Wayne Grant

Evelyn Guitierrez-Rivera

Wiam Hajoui

Le’Andria Imoni Jackson

Ashley Rodriguez-Lopez

Philopatir Essam Sargeyous Fahmy Azer

Jonathan Suarez Romero

Z’anni Jisai Rumph

Qualayia Javonnia Gordon

Corterious Shamont Grant

Randell Jeremiah Martin Grant

Sami’ya Arianna Graves

Amarius Donell Gray-Hall

Shimya Lynette Green

Da’Quan Tarik Greene

Tydre Jaques Greene

Zakiyah Fatima Greene

Tanary Zi’rene Griffin

Hailey Ann Griffith

Marissa Leigh Grissett

Ahmad Rondreuz’ Larah Grovener

Denim LaShawn Habersham

Makailah Elizabeth Harper

Taliah A’Jai Harrell

Mikiya Tahleia Harris

Say’vion Tahquezz Haynes

Curtison Karim Hazel

Montserrat Hernandez-Gutierrez

Diana Laura Hernandez

Hamzah Mohamed Abdelmoniem Hilali

Donald Gabriel Hodges

Taniya Dashay Hopkins

Sykira Janise Hopper

Jada Christine Howard

Ja’Mari Bernard Hughes

Joshua Lee Hughes

Ky’leshia Jatonia Hunt

Abigail Marie Hurt

MaKenzie Taylor Ingram

April Michelle Jackson

Jaylen Ernesto Jackson

Ka’Nyiah Emoni Jackson

Teliyah Nevaeh Jackson

Brannon Dalon Jacobs

Khaia Ya’nice James

Chelsie Winter Jenkins

Joseph Andrew Johnson

Alasia McKinzie Jones

Destiny Honor Jones

Jamirro Andrea My’ shay Jones

Jordan Caleb Jones

James Henry Jordan

Ty’quan Iveion Jordan

Victoria Elisabeth Kicklighter

Deseray Maritza Kinslow

Christiana Mariah Knight

Raven Aliyah Knowles

Jamel Keshon Lawton

Peyton Aaron Lindquist

Nevaeh Malayzia Jysmy’ne Logue

Amayah Tanajiah Michelle Lowe

Jalen Nicholas Mack

Jorda’e La’Kae’ Massey

Eric James Jerrome Matos Jr.

Kindel Vaughn McClenney

Byron Ethan Jarrell McIver

Jaden Boone Mckine

Zayra Mejia Valenzuela

Hogai Sakhizada

Francine Malika Smith

Douglas Matthew Sojico

Gabryella On’Neyia Solomon

Kristin Kieu Trinh Tran

Nathan Avery Tran

China Shawntavis Tyson

Emily Grace Watson

Phanuel Wondimu

Jada Nicole Annette Metze

Ethan Morgan Mikolajczyk

Ja’Nisha Deashia Mitchell

Hailey Brianne Mixon

Jay’da Lynnea Mobley

Madeline Moguel-Larios

David Anthony Moore

Sierra Morris

Kimarly Kelis Osborne

DaJhia Danee’ Pendergrass

Alayia Lakia Perry

Jahmir Naheem Allen Pierce

Tracy Jane Pierre

Larry Pounds III

Lynn Pat Pounepe Komtchueng

Eliza Ramos-Morales

Apollo Barros Rasmussen

Aaliyah Ramonee Robinson

Da’Liyah Gabreil Rogers

Riley Brooke Rogers

Samuel Ronzell Rosendary

Terrence Anthony Ladon Russell

Hosai Sakhizada

Streagen Samuel

Jose Ivan Santiago Rosaly Jr.

Terrio Dominque Sherrod

Shannon Siomara Shorey

Za’mya Marie Thaire Shuman

Jonathan Singleton III

Dominic Mason Skinner

Antonio Lewis Smiley Jr.

Onrico Rasheen Solomon Jr.

Jayden JaQuez Speaks

Prestin Kaiser Spruill

Jerome David Sturgis III

Xavier Sincere Suarez

Semeiyah Thomas

Alexandra Valles

Tayla Demetris Vereen

Shanel Denia Waddell

Taji Jakobi Walton

Jayla Ni’Jay Washington

Madison Mary Washington

Janiyah Di’Jona Makayla Webber

Samuel Dion Whitley Jr.

Charday LaNae Williams

Eric Rodriguez Williams Jr.

Jakwan Akeem Williams

Jamal Ramiz Williams Jr.

James Williams III

Malik Sonta’ Williams

Sabria Chenay Williams

TaKyai Armani-Mone’t Williams

Jewel Aneia Wilson

Michaela Deandria Wilson

Shyla Nevaeh Wright

Aniyah Marie Yancey

Keisha’d Ja’Kwane Young

2023 VALEDICTORIAN Makayla Brook Culpepper

2023 SALUTATORIAN Deonecca LaShae Washington

defects, internal discrepancies, & aircraft nonconforming conditions to ensure structural integrity & to identify root cause. Responsibilities inc detailed static strength, fatigue, damage tolerance, & finite element analysis. Master's deg in Mechanical Engg, Aerospace Engg, or related field. 3 yrs of aircraft engg exp performing stress or structural analysis, incl some solid exp in: conducting static, fatigue & damage tolerance analysis of aircraft primary & secondary structures; Finite Element Analysis (FEA) using Pastran/Nastran; damage tolerance & crack growth analysis using AFGROW; Material Review Board (MRB) analysis; hand-calc analysis; writing stress analysis reports & formal compliance docs for certification; MMPDS; CATIA V5; SmarTeam; Solumina. Strong verbal & written communication skills. MUST follow these specific application instructions in order to be considered: Send CV & cvr ltr to kathryn@ctsinternational.com or Kathryn Lewis Bridgman, CTS Technical Services, Inc., 160 NW Gilman Blvd., Ste 250, Issaquah, WA 98027 w/in 30 days & ref. Job #S2022-489.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

by Matt Jones

17. Like some religious schools

19. “Jurassic Park” actor

Sam

20. Like trash that’s tampered with?

22. Sit around

23. Negative vote

24. Got confused about the meaning of “horsepower” when fixing a car?

30. Wear down

31. “None of it is true!”

32. National Coming ___ Day

35. Actor Elwes

36. Watch brand featured in the movie

“UHF”

38. “Render ___ Caesar

...”

39. ___-Therese, Quebec

40. DVR brand

41. Absurd

42. European capital in a bewildered state?

46. “The missing clue!”

47. Aunt Bee’s grandnephew

48. What happened at the coronation of

Charles III?

55. Put on a second time

56. Home to the Komodo dragon

58. ^ mark

59. “Lemonade” singer, to fans

60. Playful water dweller

61. Prepares for a boxing match

62. “Dynamite” K-pop group

63. Sports franchises

DOWN

1. Rapscallion

2. Reach the sky

3. 100 centesimi, once

4. Thatcher nickname

5. Box that gets shipped

6. Cactus features

7. Keep it under your hat

8. 30 minutes, in a handball match

9. Footwear for the beach

10. Retro fashion trend

11. Churn up

12. Glamour alternative

13. Feral

18. Atmospheric obscurer

21. Alphabetical listing

24. “Doritos & Fritos”

duo 100 ___

25. “I smell ___!”

26. “Our Town”

composer Ned

27. Give permission for

28. Conk out

29. Actor Logue who played himself on “What We Do in the Shadows”

33. ___ Reader (quarterly digest)

34. Open-___ shoes

36. Costa ___

37. Ab ___ (from inception)

38. Restore, in a way

40. Redbubble purchases

41. Emphatic denial

43. More woodytasting, like wine

44. One of the Big Three credit rating agencies

45. Beehive, for instance

48. “Lord of the Rings” monsters

49. Jump like a frog

50. Olympic swimmer Torres

51. Bee Gees surname

52. Tech news website

53. “Como ___ usted?”

54. “Carpe ___!”

57. ___ gratia artis (MGM motto)

“NOW IN 3-D”--I THINK IT’S SOLID REASONING.

©2023 | Matt Jones

CROSSWORD ANSWERS

Ashton Thompson - Best Piercer

BEST OF SAVANNAH

Cheers to a Night of Glitz and Glamour at the 'Best of Savannah' Party! We couldn't help but feel the excitement as we gathered at Kehoe Iron Works on May 18, to honor and celebrate the crème de la crème of Savannah. From the outstanding local businesses to the remarkable individuals who make this city shine, we eagerly await this annual tradition of recognizing the winners who truly define excellence.

PHOTO BY ERICA LANG

photographed by Adriana Iris Boatwright

HAPPY HOUR

GOLDEN HOUR 5-7PM

LATE NIGHT 10-11PM

HALF OFF ALL DRINKS, $1 WINGS & MORE

PM

SCAN QR CODE FOR LIVE MUSIC LINEUP

Photo

TYBEE ISLAND | 1115 US HWY 80 | Tybee Island, GA