Small Town Famous – Meet Dr. Mike Maffett

by Tracy McCoy

Our small town famous article sometimes uncovers facts about people that make them famous beyond our part of the world. It also recognizes people for things that you didn’t even know was part of their story. This issue landed me on Lake Burton at the home of Dr. Mike and Beaty Maffett, a lovely home in a majestic setting alongside the lake. It was a cool spring morning but their screened porch was so delightfully welcoming, Mike, I and the their two pets settled there for a chat. Beaty stayed busy with gardening, which her husband tells me is one of her favorite ways to spend a day.

I am a talker and Mike is as well (his words, not mine). We spent at least a couple hours talking about history especially around Lake Burton. You see, Dr. Maffett is somewhat of a Burton historian. I’d be remiss to mention that he is enthralled with US history, Georgia history and our local history. Let me stop here and offer some insight on him and how he landed on the shores of Lake Burton.

Born in Atlanta, Georgia to Phillip and Mary (Betty) Maffett. Mike was the oldest of four children. Phil Maffett was a hardworking man who gave much of himself to his family and community. He traveled the world extensively and had a devout love of life, nature and history that he instilled in his children. He loved the outdoors, bird hunting and fishing. When the opportunity to go in with a friend, Jim Hardy, on a cabin in the north Georgia mountains on remote Lake Burton, he jumped at the offer. His half was a hefty $1,000 and in 1958 that wasn’t pocket change, but Phil saw it as an opportunity to get back to nature with his children and share his love of the outdoors with them. The cabin was rustic, the exterior was reverse board and batten, it had no insulation and was heated by a small pot-bellied wood stove. Perfect for what Phil had in mind.

Betty, Mike’s mother didn’t enjoy coming to the cabin on the lake because she felt that her time was spent cooking and cleaning so she left the cabin lifestyle to the “boys”. Those trips with his father were adventurous and memories were made that have lasted a lifetime. Hiking has been a lifelong passion for Mike and he has walked trails throughout northern Georgia and Western North Carolina. He has hiked parts of the Appalachian Trail and in Yosemite National Park as a member of the Sierra Club. On a trip to Europe he climbed the Matterhorn. He enjoys bird hunting and fishing as well. Beaty is also very active, enjoying golf and not too long ago she tackled a Triathlon. The Maffetts have two sons, one daughter, and four grandchildren and are an active family.

Mike is a U.S. Army Veteran serving in Germany from 1973-1975. After returning home he attended Georgia Tech and then Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, Louisiana. He completed residencies in Internal Medicine and Anesthesiology at Emory University in Atlanta. Dr. Maffett worked for twenty-five years at Northside Hospital managing patients pain, before, during and after surgery. His wife, Beaty Smith, worked as a nurse anesthetist at Northside Anesthesia. Both are now retired and enjoying more time at the lake.

His affection for the lake and community began when his father brought him to the Lake Burton and continues today. In 1991, Mike and Beaty bought a modest cabin on Cole’s Cove and went on to build the family home in 2012. The home is beautiful, comfortable and welcoming, the grounds a testament to Beaty’s gardening abilities. The Maffett home reflects Mike’s love for Lake Burton history, which is to be expected. I was honestly amazed by his knowledge of history, which leads me to what makes Dr. Mike Maffett small town famous!

In 2018 Mike began gathering information, photos, conducted countless interviews and complied all of this over the course of two years writing a book to commemorate the Centennial anniversary of Lake Burton. Our Southern Eden is an absolute treasure for Rabun natives and lake residents. Two years of intense study to give this gift to the lake community and Rabun County. Dr. Maffett has seen no profits from the linen wrapped hardback, 242 page masterpiece. The book, that is filled with incredible photography and a collection of historical images from 50+ local and regional sources, retails for $80. Every dollar goes to the LBCA scholarship program which is given to Rabun County High School seniors. Thank you Dr. Maffett and LBCA for all that you do to further the education of our exceptional students.

The book is available at Timpson Creek Gallery, Butler’s Galleries and through the LBCA website (www.lbcafoundation.org). I purchased the book and have poured over it in the past couple weeks. I am astounded by the work that Mike did on the book. It was not his first book, he also wrote a book titled Neptune’s Account and wrote for Georgia Backroads Magazine. He also created a GPB documentary on Lake Burton titled The Power Play. After my visit I am not surprised by the quality of the writing or the rich historical resources that Mike has created. He is honestly like a living encyclopedia. Famous for his philanthropy, kindness and generosity, it was my pleasure to meet Dr. Mike and Beaty Maffett.