You know Reggie. If you’ve spent any amount of time downtown, you’ve seen him on the bench in front of the Garden Theatre, enjoying the day, chatting with folks who stop, and greeting other folks with a smile as they pass. “I meet and greet people every day with ‘good morning’ and ‘have a good day.’ I let the people know that I have a heart for people.”
Reggie Haskell is the type of man who finds the beauty in every person, and the joy in every situation. “I’m not Jesus Christ, but when Jesus Christ walked the face of the earth, he loved the blind, the crippled, and the crazy,” he says. “That’s me—I have a heart for all people.”
In the few minutes we spent with him, at least a dozen passersby stopped to talk with him, or honked their horns as they drove through town. “The way I was taught, by my parents, is to love people, whether they hate you or whatever. Just love them.”
And if you ask him, that love and gratitude are part of what has kept him healthy for so long. “I am 72 years old, with no high blood pressure, no nothing,” he says. “Got all the energy in the world.”
Reggie Haskell
Photo by Fred Lopez
More than exchanging pleasantries and casual conversation, though, Haskell has a deeper connection to the Winter Garden community, having spent his childhood here. “I was a nice kid coming up. Had a nice family. The name of my high school back in the day was Charles R. Drew High School—he was the Black guy that invented the blood plasma [transfusions],” he says. Drew High first opened in 1923 as one of several segregated grade schools in West Orange. Even though school segregation was federally outlawed in 1954, the school remained predominantly Black until its closure in 1969. “I played football and basketball in that high school—and I was good.”
In his 72 years, Haskell has been just about everywhere, and knows a little bit about everything. “I know about the history of Groveland, Ocoee, Atlanta, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York City, Chicago,” he says. “My stomping grounds used to be Rochester, New York; Newark, New Jersey; and New York City. I’ve been there and done that.”
As for what ultimately brought him back to Winter Garden after his travels across the east coast, Haskell feels that his calling is here. “All this came about through praying,” he says. “I came back here to let people know what I went through—not to prove nothing to nobody, but just to share history, and to try and bring history back in the schools.”
He takes pride in his reputation as a “History Man” in town. “None too many people know a lot of history, but it came to me. I read books. I been there, done that,” he says. “I just want people to know that I know a little bit of something. I ain’t trying to have all the sense, but I’ve got a little bit.”
If you find yourself with a few minutes to spare, stop by and ask Haskell a little something about where he’s been. “I’m grateful to be a History Man, and to show my people that I am somebody.”
Many Thanks from the Community
Jessica V.
I’m grateful for change. There is a lot of turbulence in the world right now, but it forces us out of our comfort zone. It stimulates creativity. It empowers us in ways that may feel foreign. It challenges our mental stagnation and stimulates our passions. Change, while difficult and painful at times, contributes to growth and new experiences that are building blocks to moving forward!
—Jessica V.
My industry was considered essential and things weren’t easy. But I was grateful to be employed and to be there for those who really appreciated the assistance. I am also grateful that my loved ones and I did not get sick.
—Gayle T.
Jeremiah B.
I’m grateful for family—not just my immediate family, but close friends whom I consider family, my work family, and my community. Family is the glue that bonds us together in the good times and the bad. This year my family has been more important than ever. Thank you all!
—Jeremiah B.
I’m finally in a place and position in which I’m 100% happy with where I’m living and what I’m doing career-wise. It’s full of ups and downs, but I’m learning from every decision. I am grateful for this new opportunity and for learning experiences.
—Anna H.
Elle P.
I’m grateful for the friends and family who support small business owners like me. The connections I’ve made within our own Winter Garden community have turned into wonderful friendships. I love getting together with friends for dinner or going out and participating in fun activities that involve all ages. Nothing better than seeing parents and children interact!
—Elle P.
Andrea W.
I’m grateful my whole family survived COVID. I was the first to have it and had to isolate myself from my husband and my 4- and 6-year-old children. Then, they also tested positive. My husband had to be rushed to the hospital, and we didn’t see him for a week. The unknown was so hard. But our community went above and beyond with daily deliveries of groceries, medicine, and homemade food. I am thankful for my beautiful family and my community.
—Andrea W.
This year I am most grateful for my family’s ability to handle anything that gets thrown our way. The last 18 months have been anything but normal. In this time, I realized who my true family is. During these tough times, we need to band together in order to push forward. The quote to remember is, ‘If you wanna go fast, go alone. If you wanna go far, go together.’
—Mike H.
Emily T.
My husband and I are so grateful that our kids get to grow up knowing both sets of their grandparents and seeing them regularly. My dad has had some health issues, and knowing that my sister and I can be here for him makes things so much easier. I’m grateful we all live close together and don’t have to travel to see each other.
—Emily T.
I’m grateful for Winter Garden’s love for local artists and vendors. As a local artist, I am pretty outgoing, but it is still hard to be vulnerable enough to show my work. I am grateful that the community response to my art has been great.
—Daniel L.
Joe W.
I’m grateful that I have finally been able to open my own business, and for the clients we have. This is what I’ve been working toward for eight years, between saving money, gaining experience, writing business plans, and taking advice from other small business owners.
—Joe W.
I am grateful that our community cares about each other so deeply. If you’re ever down or need a friend, there’s always someone there. Our community steps up and is there when you need them.
—Rachel S.
I’m grateful for the friendships I’ve built. I had a hard time moving to Jacksonville from New York City and starting a new life away from friends and family. When we had the opportunity to move here, we jumped on it. This community greeted us with open arms, and I finally had a sense of “home.” My sons and I have made some of the most amazing friends, and we wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. Although life is certainly a rollercoaster at times, I am so grateful that it always has a way of working out just the way it should.
