Brooks County Living 2017

BROOKS

$3.50

COUNTY Living Dance I CAN

-JUST ASK ME!

Nocturne

The Henry Gray Turner Home

Showcasing Brooks County’s Personality Showcasing Your Community's Personality

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Brooks County Living Magazine

Brooks County Farm Bureau Protecting Your Family, Supporting Agriculture

Membership is a Great Value

We use the size and strength of our membership numbers to negotiate with potential business partners to bring services, benefits and discounts to our members.

The leadership and staff of Brooks County Farm Bureau are committed to researching, selecting and offering the best quality and best valued services available as part of our pledge to members.

Farm Bureau

BROOKS COUNTY 2453 Dunn Road Quitman, GA 31643 229-263-4164 gfb.org

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ABOUT THE COVER:

Camryn Holmes, Aniyah McCloud, and Anna Perry,assistants at SweetE's Dance Studio, grace the cover. Pictured here (L-R) are: Quincey Hart (front); Camryn Holmes & Tallon Exum (2nd row); Aniyah McCloud, Anna Perry, Jaleyah Little (3rd row); MacKenna Fountain (back). All are students at SweetE's Dance Studio owned by Lindsay Herring Rados in Downtown Quitman.

Photography by Jordan Voight.

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I CAN DANCE – JUST ASK ME!

SweetE’s Dance Studio is more than a dance studio – it’s a family. Lindsay Herring-Rados,

the studio’s owner, makes sure there is a place

for everyone from beginner to advanced,

from acro to hip-hop, from toddlers to teenagers.

37 TO PEACH OR NOT TO

PEACH…THERE IS NO QUESTION!

TABLE OF

CONTENTS FEATURES 8

NOCTURNE HOUSE

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MAURICE FREEMAN – CHARACTER ON AND OFF THE FIELD

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DR. ROY C. WICKER’S FIRST LOVE – TO FLY

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At the end of a quarter-mile drive off Old Madison Road amid a grove of hundred year old live oaks, hickory, and magnolia trees sits “Nocturne”, a majestic home built by Henry Gray Turner in 1892.

The head football coach at Brooks County High School sets an example for others to follow on and off the field.

Throughout his storied life as a Navy Lieutenant and WWII blimp pilot, a dentist, family man, and one of the nation’s most recognized aircraft restorers, Dr. Roy Wicker never lost sight of his love of life, laughter, and people. And, of course, his “first love” – flying.

Brooks County Living

Tucked away in the northeastern corner of Brooks County, in and around the cities of Morven and Barney, peach sheds attract both locals and visitors.

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A DREAM COME TRUE

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A HISTORY MYSTERY – WEST END CEMETERY

Alison Strickland Wider may have started her business “on a whim” but she knew since sixthgrade she wanted to own a shop. Now, her dream has come true in Downtown Quitman.

The tale of West End Cemetery and the people who are working to bring its history back to life.

55 BROOKS COUNTY KIDS

DO MORE THAN HORSE AROUND

These kids are passionate about their horses and the awards they have won show their determination and commitment to competing in rodeos.

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KENDALL BLANKUMSEE – FOLLOWING HIS PASSION TO HELP OTHERS

This Quitman native has had his share of ob

stacles and setbacks, but, through it all he

prevailed and followed his passion of helping others.

R.L. CUNNINGHAM & SONS, INC.

Quality Seed Since 1942

R.L. Cunningham & Sons, Inc. P.O. Box 68 Quitman, GA 31643 www.cunninghampeanuts.com

229-263-4791 Showcasing Your Community's Personality

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PROFILES

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SKILLET FESTIVAL

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BUDDY HOLWELL

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BOYS & GIRLS CLUB

There is more than throwing skillets at this festival that attracts people to Downtown Quitman.

Buddy Holwell genuinely cares about bringing jobs and

investments to Brooks County and making it a thriving community.

A new Boys & Girls Club facility is planned for Brooks County.

70 LITTLE LIBRARIES INSPIRE BIG DREAMS

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Beth Lee’s dream of providing books for students and families has become a reality through Little Libraries.

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DR. VICKIE REED

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SUCCESS IS NO ACCIDENT

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KELLY HANKS

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Brooks County's new School Superintendent is enjoying the weather and the people, but, the new challenge of working to strengthen the academic experience for students is what she enjoys most.

A successful life in South Georgia was Dr. Susan Harding’s goal, but how she planned to attain it changed the minute she fell in love with Quitman.

The new Quitman-Brooks County Chamber Director is not new to the community.

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Brooks County Living

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FROM THE PUBLISHER

BROOKS

COUNTY Living Editor-In-Chief Connie K. Riddle Publishers: John F. & Connie K. Riddle Showcase Publications, Inc.

Hux, Bowen, Connie, John, and Ki Riddle.

WE LOVE QUITMAN! We have the best job in the world. We get to meet the most interesting people and publish stories that focus on some of the best places in South Georgia - like Quitman.

While our business has grown over the past year, we have a sentimental place in our hearts for Quitman and Brooks County. Brooks County Living was one of the first magazines we started. And, we continue to learn more and more about this amazing community, its history, its culture, and it’s people.

This issue of Brooks County Living highlights some of Brooks County’s best and brightest. From young dancers learning to follow their dreams to the amazing accomplishments of a WWII pilot, this issue has some great stories about the people, places, and events that make Quitman and Brooks County so unique.

We're proud that this community supports our efforts to produce such a high-quality publication that attempts to capture the spirit and culture that both residents and visitors can enjoy. The Chamber of Commerce and Industrial Development Authority are great partners in this effort encouraging the community's support and utilizing the magazine as a strategic marketing tool.

A special thanks to the local businesses who advertise in Brooks County Living. Without them, this would not be possible. We encourage you to visit them and to BUY LOCAL whenever possible (see a full list of advertisers in the Index of Advertisers).

We hope you enjoy reading Brooks County Living as much as we enjoy publishing it. We wish you and your family great joy and your business great success in the coming year!

John & Connie Riddle

info@showcasepublicationsga.com

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Brooks County Living

Creative Director: Stacey Nichols

Designers: Robert Self Russ Hutto

Contributing Photographers: L. S. Smith Photography Nicole Leigh Photography Lindsay Herring Rados Jordan Voight Nancy O’Brien, Sunlight Photos Sandra Boxx McDonald Cover Photo: Jordan Voight

Contributing Writers: John F. Riddle Lindsay Herring Rados Stephanie Smith Sandra Boxx McDonald Britney Buckmaster Smith John Dupont

Brooks County Living is published annually by Showcase Publications, Inc. For information on advertising or submitting articles: (912)-424-8772 – P.O. Box 391 Jesup, GA 31598 info@showcasepublicationsga.com showcasepublicationsga.com All rights reserved. Copies or reproduction of this publication in whole or in part is strictly prohibited without expressed written authorization from the publisher. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein. Advertising is subject to omission, errors and other changes without notice. The opinions expressed by the writers are not necessarily those of the publisher.

The Brooks County School System congratulates the 2016 nominees:

Teacher of the Year

Learners Today...World Leaders Tomorrow Home of the Trojans (L-R) Charlotte Donald, Brooks County High School;Â Lorrie Sears, North Brooks Elementary School; Kristie Calhoun, Brooks County Middle School; Regina Gerleman, Quitman Elementary School.

Congratulations to the System-wide Teacher of the Year—Lorrie Sears, North Brooks Elementary (with School Superintendent Dr. Vickie Reed)

Ms. Sears teaches fourth grade at North Brooks Elementary.

We are proud of all of the great teachers and staff members in Brooks County Schools!

For more information, please call the Central Office at 229-263-7531 7 Showcasing Your Community's Personality

Nocturne

The Henry Gray Turner Home COMPILED BY JOHN RIDDLE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY NANCY O'BRIEN, SUNLIGHT PHOTOS

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Brooks County Living

At the end of a quarter-mile drive off Old Madison Road amid a grove of hundred year old live oaks, hickory, and magnolia trees sits a majestic home which its builder, Henry Gray Turner, called “Nocturne�. Built in 1892, the house and grounds, which originally consisted of 150 acres, were placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, for their significance in historic architecture, landscape design, and political and judicial history.

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Brooks County Living Magazine would like to thank the owners of Nocturne, Brett Copeland and Douglas Johnson, for opening their beautiful home and sharing the story of Nocturne with us. We also would like to thank Chuck Ramsey for coordinating this effort and providing the photography from Nancy O’Brien, Sunlight Photography.

Some unique exterior elements are the paired cigar columns on pedestals surrounding the porch and supporting the large pediment over the main entrance, the metal scrollwork, swags and garlands in the porch pediment and balcony entablature, and the grouped modillion blocks over the windows.

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Brooks County Living

“Nocturne� is approximately 6,000 square feet and most all of the original details remain with only minor changes to the original floor plan. The woodwork has never been painted.

The interior has 13 foot ceilings on the first floor and twelve foot ceilings on the second floor, crown and picture moldings, five sets of double pocket doors, eight corner fireplaces with original mantles, fireplaces in the entrance hall and kitchen, a built-in curly pine mirrored sideboard in the dining room, two full height walk-out windows, and full transoms over all hinged doors. There are working speaking tubes from several areas of the house to the kitchen, and an original bathroom on the second floor contains all of its original fixtures including the toilet, sink and zinc covered copper bathtub.

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The grounds now consist of twenty-five acres planted with live oaks, hickory, magnolias, and palms. When Turner built his home, he removed all of the native pine trees and replaced them with live oak, hickory, and magnolia, which was an unusual landscape for this part of the country. His idea was to transplant the surroundings of his youth in NC to his new home in South Georgia. Other structures on the property include the original smokehouse, a later carriage house, a large party house, a barn, and a two bedroom guest house created from two original servants’ houses 12

Brooks County Living

Regarding Henry Gray Turner’s later years at Nocturne, an editorial in the Atlanta Journal stated: Here is a man passing a tranquil existence with his family and his library. Every morning he looks with satisfaction upon his beautiful trees. A visit to Mr. Turner in his home is a privilege and recalls the lines of Goldsmith: “How blest it is to end in shades like these a life of labor with an age of ease.”

Henry Gray Turner was born in 1839 in North Carolina, attended the University of Virginia and moved to Quitman in 1857 to be Headmaster of Piscola Academy, a private boys' school in Brooks County, Georgia. He remained Headmaster until 1861 when he left to fight in the Civil War with the Savannah Volunteer Guards. He eventually became captain of a company of North Carolinians and led his men at Mechanicsville, Chancelorsville and Gettysburg. At Gettysburg he was wounded, left for dead, and eventually captured. He was imprisoned for 18 months and in 1864 was discharged and sent to Richmond as a disabled soldier unfit for military service. He slowly made his way back to Quitman where he married. He was admitted to the Georgia Bar in 1865, served in the Georgia State House of Representatives from 1874-1878, and was a member of the US House of Representatives from 18801896. At the time, he was named one of the six greatest men in Congress and served as Chairman of the Committee on Elections and on the Ways and Means Committee. In 1903 Turner was appointed to the Georgia Supreme Court. He died soon after on June 9, 1904. When his widow died in1911, their bachelor son S. Morton Turner inherited the house and lived there until his death in 1960.

He is buried at West End Cemetery in Quitman.

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Downtown Quitman Is Home To A Unique Blend Of Quaint Cafes, Restaurants, Shops And Businesses.

VISITORS CAN STROLL the tree-lined sidewalks, browse the many downtown shops or relax while savoring a taste of the true south.

Visit downtown Quitman today!!

For more information on Quitman and Brooks County, visit:

Quitman - Brooks County Chamber of Commerce

CITY OF QUITMAN

100 West Screven Street PO Box 208 • Quitman, GA 31643 (229) 263-4166 14

Brooks County Living

Freeman with his wife, Christine, and their youngest daughter, Halle.

MAURICE FREEMAN CHARACTER ON AND OFF THE FIELD STORY BY JOHN DUPONT | PHOTOGRAPHY SUPPLIED BY MAURICE FREEMAN

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"I will probably never be satisfied because I want to save every young man that comes through here." – Maurice Freeman

M

onday mornings in November often find Maurice Freeman in his team’s locker room talking football. But this Monday is unlike most during Freeman’s 23-year head coaching career. Freeman, the head football coach at Brooks County High School, is barely 48 hours removed from a season-ending playoff loss to Callaway and his mind is still in game-prep mode. For Freeman and the Trojans, it has been their ninth straight winning campaign.

"Injury-prone is what this season was," says Freeman. "We lost six or seven kids for the year and we had nine kids out when we played Thomasville. It took a lot of coaching just to keep it between the ditches. We played a pretty doggone good Pierce County team in week three and after that, we were like a MASH unit. I'm not happy with our season, but I am very happy with the progress of our guys and the way they listened, followed instructions, and did everything they could to get us to win."

Character on and off the field means everything to Freeman,

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Brooks County Living

himself a former all-state player under Coach Max Milligan and a 1983 BCHS graduate. After taking his talents to the collegiate level, his knowledge of the game brought him back home – twice. But it almost never happened the first time.

"Jeff Caldwell left Brooks County for Camden County after the 1993 season," recalled Freeman. "Marvin Mitchell, the athletic director at Brooks County, got together with the booster club president and team chaplain and they called me. I was the defensive coordinator at Northeast Macon. In 1991, we had come down to play Valdosta in the second round and they'd gotten the chance to see me coach. So they called me and said they had an opening. I told them it looked like I had a chance to be the head coach at Northeast and I wanted to stay there.

Then they called my mom and she got onto me."

Arm-twisting negotiations stopped there. Carrie Freeman’s influence on her son should not be understated. Talk to the man for more than five minutes and the conversation usually circles back to her. Though she passed away in 1999, she is still very much a big part of her son’s life.

Kenny Spy, Simmie Jackson, Troy Gay, Brandon Evans, Marcaaus Christain, Tommy Jackson, Kneeling is Maurice Freeman, Clifford Fedd, Lamar Thomas, Marvin Mitchell, James Brown and Martrez Reynolds

"Coming from a single-parent home, whatever she liked is what I was interested in. My mother played basketball, so that was the reason I played basketball. My mother taught me how to hunt and taught me how to fish. She owned a camera that I still have and that's why photography is my hobby." – Maurice Freeman "Coming from a single-parent home, whatever she liked is what I was interested in," Freeman says. "My mother played basketball, so that was the reason I played basketball. My mother taught me how to hunt and taught me how to fish. She owned a camera that I still have and that's why photography is my hobby."

Freeman and his son, Maurice, who is now twenty-five years old.

Freeman’s mother lived to see him reach the pinnacle of coaching – winning a state title in his first season as a head coach in 1994. More success followed as the Trojans went 37-14 under Freeman, with playoff bids all four seasons, including a semi-final appearance in 1997. But Freeman soon found a new challenge waiting back in Macon, this time at Southwest High.

"Southwest offered me head coach, athletic director, and a $15,000 raise," he says. "That opened my eyes, plus my son Maurice was there and I wanted to get back. I figured I would find out what kind of head coach I was. It turns out I learned how to build a program and to balance athletics and academics and how to make a playoff run."

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"I like taking pictures of people, especially older people because they have so much life in them, and of children because they show so much emotion." – Maurice Freeman

During Freeman’s four seasons, the Patriots went 17-24, making the playoffs in 2000 and ’01, something they’d missed since 1989. Freeman’s next stop was Brunswick High, where he spent six seasons. There, his teams posted winning marks with playoff berths each of the last five seasons en route to a 37-28 ledger.

“I don’t think I was a good fit in Brunswick,” admits Freeman.

“I was a hardnosed military kind of coach and they were laid back. We had lots of success; it’s just that I never could get them to work as hard as I wanted them to work. I figured I couldn’t get any better.”

Meanwhile, Brooks County was coming off an uncharacteristic 3-7 campaign in 2007. In the ten seasons since Freeman's departure, the program had enjoyed just four winning campaigns under two different head coaches. The call from Quitman came and he was back home by the following February and it didn't 18

Brooks County Living

take long for Freeman and the Trojans to fall into their old routine. They went back to the semi-finals that fall. In the ensuing eight years, each season has produced a winning mark and a trip to the playoffs, resulting in a cumulative 89-28 mark during his second tour of duty.

Trials and tribulations have not been absent, however. In 2013, Freeman dealt with the tragic loss of players Jicarre Watkins, Shawn Waters, and Johnnie Parker, who perished in a car crash.

He says it’s a heartache that hasn’t abated.

“No book, no coach, no minister, nobody can tell you how to deal with that,” Freeman says. “My chaplain took me to the school, and we prayed on the way. And I think God just gave me the strength to get through it at the time. But I will probably never get over that tragedy. I think about those guys every day.”

Freeman and his wife Christine, the CTAE director at BCHS,

Coach's Stats • Freeman graduated from Florida A&M with a degree in Physical Education and Driver & Safety Education.

• Freeman is the only player in Florida A&M history to finish a season perfect in extra points (40-for-40 in 1983).

• Freeman led Florida A&M in scoring in 1985.

Head coaching record • 1994-97: Brooks Co. (4 seasons) 37-14 • 1998-01: SW Macon (4 seasons) 17-24 • 2002-07: Brunswick (6 seasons) 37-28 • 2008-16: Brooks Co. (9 seasons) 89-28

Brooks County Trojans Head Coach, Maurice Freeman, holding the Trojan’s signature sledge hammer.

• Freeman’s overall record at Brooks County: 126-42 in 13 total seasons Showcasing Your Community's Personality

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still have one child at home – daughter Halle. Older children BreAnna, Loren, and Brandy, have all left the nest. Son Maurice still resides in Macon.

He lives with autism, having survived Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and he is one of his father's favorite topics of conversation.

“Going through something like that is painful,” admits the elder Freeman.

“For years, I was angry at God. I stopped going to church, stopped functioning and I was a very angry man. I had wanted my son to be a great football player, fisherman, and photographer; all of the things I enjoyed doing. But I dropped my ego and learned how to talk to my son. He is 25 now and is a young man who appreciates the simple things in life.”

These days the Freemans attend New Hope Baptist Church in Valdosta but continue to be pillars of the community in Brooks County. His is a role Freeman would like to continue, with personal and professional goals that still lay ahead. Freeman's teams have already notched 180 wins with a state title and four region crowns through the years. He has coached over 35 all-state selections. Three players (Marcus Stroud, Justin Coleman, and Darius Slay) made it to the NFL. "I will probably never be satisfied because I want to save every young man that comes through here," Freeman says. "We want to continue to work hard. I want all of the facilities moved to Brooks County High School. Before I leave, I want to win another title. And I want these young men to be great in life. We need them to come back and become footholds in this county. We've had some great coaches, great kids, and great fans. I am just elated to be the coach here.

It's been an honor."

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Brooks County Living

In 2013, the Trojans dealt with the tragic loss of players Jicarre Watkins, Shawn Waters, and Johnnie Parker, who perished in a car crash. Freeman carries their jerseys to every game. “No book, no coach, no minister, nobody can tell you how to deal with that. I think about those guys every day.” – Maurice Freeman

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229.263.7511 Showcasing Your Community's Personality

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Brooks County Living

DR. ROY C. WICKER'S First Love To Fly STORY BY JOHN F. RIDDLE | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY DR. ROY C. WICKER AND L.S. SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY

An exact replica of the plane Charles Nungesser flew in WWI which Dr. Wicker built. The machine guns are original. (above) Dr. Roy C. Wicker flying this plane.

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Roy Wicker was inducted into the Vintage Aircraft Association Hall of Fame in 2001 for his outstanding efforts to preserve aviation’s early days.

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n the heart of Quitman, there lives a man who is 96 years old. In the heart of that man there lives a young boy whose dream was to fly. A dream he – despite many odds – spent his life pursuing and fulfilling.

Roy C. Wicker was born in 1920 in Warrenton, Georgia, near Augusta. In the 1920’s, young boys didn’t have as many options on how to spend their time as they do today. No television, no video games, no I-Watches. It was common for boys to spend more time reading, exploring their thoughts, and contemplating who they wanted to become.

Even today, Roy Wicker remembers his childhood vividly, and he always knew what he wanted to do. "I grew up building model airplanes as a pastime. I wanted to be an aviator." Little did he know then that he would "earn his stripes" and become one of a chosen few to pilot blimps in World War II. Or, go on to build and fly eight different airplanes. And, eventually, be inducted into the Vintage Aircraft Association Hall of Fame.

Wicker's path to fulfilling his dream began after high school with acceptance at The Citadel. However, when his father died 24

Brooks County Living

after that first year, he had to drop out. He got a job in Atlanta and enrolled in evening classes. He even spent some time living at the YMCA. Though those times were difficult, they were memorable too. Like when he was riding the streetcar home one night down Peachtree Street and came on the opening night of "Gone With the Wind” where he saw Clark Gable and Carol Lombard. But, he stayed focused on his goals. “It was two or three years later before I ever saw the movie,” he recalled.

He finally earned enough college credits to join the Navy as a Seaman Second Class. "It was about as far down the totem pole as you can go," he remembers. However, it was enough to earn him the right to train at the U.S. Naval Air Station in Atlanta at, what is now, Peachtree DeKalb Airport. They would often fly over to train at Candler Field where there was less air traffic. Candler Field is now the site of Hartsfield-Jackson Airport.

In 1941, World War II was raging across Europe, but, in Atlanta, Roy Wicker was happy. He was fulfilling his dream. He was flying. However, America was preparing for war.

That preparation was an opportunity for Roy. The Navy wanted pilots to undergo specialized aviation training. He was among the 800 who applied and one of only 40 chosen. The mission – to learn to fly blimps.

Roy was off to Lakehurst, New Jersey, the site where the Hindenburg crashed and burned. He was at the top of the class and was one of five of the forty chosen as an instructor. He instructed for nine months.

Roy Wicker, 96, always wanted to fly. “I grew up building model airplanes as a pastime.”

Photography

by L.S. Smith Photography

“When I was instructing out of Lakehurst, you could fly out and see a field of masts from ships sticking up from the water after having been torpedoed,” he recalled. One of their missions was to spot German submarines. “We would go out and radio back to black out parts of New Jersey so the German submarines couldn’t see the ships.”

Later, he was assigned to Elizabeth City, North Carolina, near Norfolk, where he piloted a blimp and led a squadron escorting Navy ships out of port into the Atlantic Ocean. The blimp's mission was mostly reconnaissance. But, they had plenty of offensive firepower including four 250 pound depth charges that could sink a submarine. He recalled a Navy Action Report documenting an attack his squadron made on a German submarine in 1943.

“I was patrolling off Norfolk. We got an urgent call that said, ‘proceed at best speed to Hatteras.'

A German sub had been spotted on the surface about twenty miles east of Hatteras. I got there in about two hours. The peddle was hitting the bottom. We were going about 80 miles an hour.

When we arrived, we picked up clear signals with MAG (magnetic airborne detectors) that could get us within 600 feet of a sub. We dropped four depth charges. Not sure if I sank it or not but we got close," Wicker recalled with detailed clarity though the incident happened over 70 years ago.

His service took him as far away as Rio, in South America, which is as far South as the allies went.

It is there where he had one of his longest flights he recalls. "I flew 20.7 hours out of Rio on a convoy," he remembered. But, he doesn't have to rely on his memory alone. He still has his log book where he thumbed to the exact date that documented his mission.

While it may sound exciting to fly a blimp during

Roy Wicker, as a young Lieutenant Jr. Grade, joined the Navy as a Seaman 2nd Class and trained at, what is now, PeachtreeDeKalb Airport in Atlanta. He was one of only 40 pilots chosen out of 800 applicants for special training to fly blimps in WWII. Showcasing Your Community's Personality

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WWII scouting for enemy subs off the coast of South America, it could be lonely too. “You talk about a lonely place, flying 300 miles from Rio towards Africa on a real black night, that’s a lonely place,” he deadpanned.

Before the war was over, he was flying an F6F Hellcat. In fact, he was stationed in San Diego, California where his squadron was ready for combat. "We were ready to go. We were preparing to be sent to Japan if Truman hadn't dropped the bomb," he remembered.

After the war, Wicker stayed in the reserves for eight years.

He eventually decided to go to dental school. Again, Wicker faced considerable competition from hundreds of applicants for the few spots at Emory University. Again, he prevailed. He worked Summer jobs paying just .80 cents per hour. Eventually, he started his practice in 1950 in Atlanta on Peachtree Street across from what is now the High Museum of Art. It was during the early days of his dental practice that he met his wife, Dollie Walker. She was working in the same building.

"My boss said I needed to go meet the young, single dentist next door. So I got enough nerve to make an appointment and that's how we met". They were married in (YEAR?). They have three children: Roy Wicker, III, Cornelia Wicker Buckley; and Dan Wicker.

He practiced until 1975 in Atlanta. In 1977, they decided to move to Quitman, Dollie's hometown. Her grandfather built Roy Wicker (middle-standing) with his flight crew which consisted of three officers and seven enlisted men.

There were three crews assigned to one blimp. Crews would fly every third day and flights lasted an average of ten – fifteen hours.

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Brooks County Living

a home there in 1906 in which only Walkers have lived. After extensive renovations, they settled in for the quieter life they desired which included walking just across the street to First Baptist Church. Dr. Roy Wicker practiced dentistry in Quitman for another fifteen years.

Regardless of where he lived or what else he was doing in life, he always pursued his love of flying. “I always loved airplanes.

At night, I would build airplanes in our basement on Howell Mill Road in Atlanta,” he explained.

Wicker remembers Charles Lindburg’s famous flight across the Atlantic in 1927. He also remembers that there was a French pilot who attempted the same feat from Paris to Roosevelt Field who didn’t make it. That pilot flew a Nieuport 24-Bis. “The plane I enjoyed restoring and flying the most was a Nieuport 24-Bis. When I was a boy I liked the lines of the Nieuport," he recalled from his boyhood days of building model airplanes. "I always wanted to fly one, but I couldn't get my hands on one, so I built one."

He got the plans for the plane from the Smithsonian. He also wrote the British government asking for a photo of the French pilot's plane. In the photo, he saw the factory number, which was 1895. He asked for and received the FAA for that number for his plane.

“Roy Wicker is a master craftsman. Whether in dentistry or building airplanes, he absolutely put everything into what he

“The K-ship was a delightful flying machine.” – Roy Wicker

Dr. Wicker, at age 73, graced the cover of Sport Aviation magazine in July, 1993, flying the Davis D1W he restored after it had been crashed. “I flew everything I built,” he said.

One of Dr. Wicker’s fellow members of the Experimental Aviation Association drew the plans for this plane. “I like the lines of this design. I bought the plans and built it in a hangar at the Quitman airport. I jazzed it up with Navy colors,” Wicker explained.

did. It had to be right,” stated Doyle Weltzbarker, a longtime friend. He and Dr. Wicker are members of “The Breakfast Club” that has met for breakfast every morning for the last thirty years or so in Quitman.

Dr. Roy Wicker is an amazing man who has seen and done some amazing things. What is amazing about him now is his ability to recall detail and memories with such clarity and passion and his ever-present sense of humor.

Roy Wicker keeps his log book from WWII near at all times and enjoys looking back at the details of blimp flights over the Atlantic escorting navy ships and keeping a watch for German submarines. Photography by L.S. Smith Photography

“Wick is a truly a unique person. He has a wonderful sense of humor. In the nearly thirty years I’ve known him, I’ve never seen him when he wasn’t looking for a good reason to laugh,” explains Myrna Ballard who has flown with Dr. Wicker in one of the planes he built at the Brooks County Airport.

He spends much of his time now at his home surrounded by his wife, friends, and family. But, the log book he used as a blimp pilot is always within arm’s reach. He grabs it, flips it open to a random date, and he fades back in time. It's as if he is piloting that blimp again as he recalls the details of each mission citing the precise data points and notes he recorded in the 1940's.

The K-class blimp was built by Goodyear for the U.S. Navy. Before and after WWII, 134 K-class blimps were built, configured for patrol and anti-submarine warfare operations and were extensively used in the Navy’s anti-submarine efforts in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Throughout his storied life as a Navy Lieutenant and WWII Veteran, a dentist, a family man, and one of the nation’s most recognized aircraft restorers, he never lost sight of his love of life, laughter, and people. And, of course, his “first love” – his love of flying.

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QUITMAN-BROOKS COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE QUITMAN-BROOKS COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The The Annual Annual Hot Hot Summer Summer Nights Nights Auction Auction was enjoyed by many. was enjoyed by many.

Trojan Trojan Touchdown Touchdown Parties, Parties, held held under under the the oaks oaks outside outside the the stadium stadium before before each each home home game, game, are are fun fun for for all all ages. ages.

In In its its inaugural inaugural year, year, the the Four Four Seasons Seasons 44 Miler Miler Race Series Series provided provided aa Race year of of competition competition and and year fun for Brooks County and fun for Brooks County and surrounding areas. surrounding areas.

“Pink Ladies” Ladies” at at the the Grease-themed Grease-themed Hot Hot “Pink Summer Nights Auction.

Summer Nights Auction.

Themed after the movie “Grease”, attendees Themed after the movie “Grease”, attendees of the Hot Summer Nights Auction voted on of the HotKing Summer Auction voted a “Prom and Nights Queen”.

Pictured areon our anominees “Prom King and Queen”. Pictured are our for King. nominees for King.

Beautiful pumpkins at the Pumpkin Patch, providedpumpkins each yearatbythe thePumpkin Brooks County Beautiful Patch, Museum Center. provided each year byand theCultural Brooks County Museum and Cultural Center.

28 Brooks County Living

Annual Brooks County Festivals and Events Camellia Show - 1st Saturday in February Pavo Peacock Day - 2nd Saturday in May Morven Peach Festival - 3rd Saturday in May Brooks County Skillet Festival - 3rd Saturday in October Home for the Holidays: A Camellia City Christmas - 3rd Saturday in December

Annual Quitman-Brooks County Chamber of Commerce Events Awards Banquet - Late January/Early February April - Working Women’s Luncheon May-August - Summer Slim Down Challenge Trojan Touchdown Parties October - Peanut Pickin’ Yard Sale October - Brooks County Skillet Festival November - Small Business Saturday December - Home for the Holidays: A Camellia City Christmas

Fun was had by all during the Golf Cart and Ride-On Parade at the Skillet Festival.

One of the features of the Skillet Festival was a demonstration tent where festival-goers could learn about various topics, the demo pictured was on jewelry making.

As the Camellia City, Quitman is proud of our history with these stunning blooms. Here, camellias stole the show when featured at the Annual Brooks County Skillet Festival.

The Quitman-Brooks County Chamber of Commerce is committed to helping its members, and our county flourish. 2016 has been one of our best years yet, and Executive Director Kelly Hanks with the Chamber Board of Directors are looking to the future to build on the strong foundation that has been laid. This is an exciting time in Brooks County… Our 2017 Calendar of Events is shaping up to offer some great opportunities for our residents, our downtown businesses are active and growing, and our fields are always full of beautiful crops. This year, and every year, we encourage you to continue to support Brooks County businesses and show pride in our community. Brooks County is not just where we’re from, it’s who we are.

Please stay up to date on our Chamber of Commerce events and happenings on our website at www.qbcchamber.com or our Facebook page by searching Quitman-Brooks County Chamber of Commerce. We would love to hear from you at:

229.263.4841

or qbccdirector@gmail.com.

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Dance I CAN

-JUST ASK ME!

STORY BY JOHN RIDDLE PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY SWEETE'S STUDIO AND JORDAN VOIGHT

L

indsay Herring-Rados is a smart young woman. She studied theatre at Valdosta State University and holds a Master's degree in Public Administration. She even had high hopes at one time to work for the National Endowment for the Arts.

However, one of the smartest things she ever did is taking her Mother's advice to teach dance in downtown Quitman. A decision she has not regretted because she is helping shape the confidence and broaden the horizons of the many young girls learning about themselves and life through dance.

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Brooks County Living

Emmy Rados, Emmy Voigt, and Layla Mitchell practicing their technique at the barre.

SweetE’s offers classes for dancers as young as two years old through adulthood with the very popular Adult Tap class. Studio namesake Emmy Rados recently commented, “I have been dancing a really long time with all my best friends. I wish I could be on stage every day!” Photo by Jordan Voigt

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The lead mice with the chorus of baby mice ready to help rescue Cinderella. Back Row L-R: Dakenzee Sol, Jasmine Arnold, Samariah Cason, Quincey Hart (Gwen Mouse), MaKayla McCloud (Jacqueline Mouse), Erin Barnes (Mary Mouse), Autumn Smith, Cambria Dasher, Megan DeSantiago; Front Row L-R: Trinity Wright, Zoey White, Addyson Holmes, Kennedy Clarke, Addalyn Williams, Molly Bartlette, Alivia Wheeler, Kyriauanna Wright

Lindsay first moved to Quitman in 1994 when her father became Police Chief. After college, she wanted a change and moved to Tampa, Florida, where she taught theatre, music, and dance at St. Paul's Episcopal School. She met her husband, Chad Rados, and became pregnant with their first child, Emmy. Lindsay longed for home to be near her parents and many of her childhood friends who had moved back home and also had young children.

They made a move back to Quitman and Lindsay thought of reviving her dream of advancing the arts. "I wanted to use my Master's Degree to advance the arts. I thought about talking with State Representative Amy Carter about how to emphasize the arts and bring more arts to South Georgia. That's when my Mother said, ‘the only way to bring arts to South Georgia is to bring arts to Quitman'," Lindsay said. "She said, ‘you have a theater background, and you danced for years, why don't you open a dance studio?'"

Her childhood friends were ready to help. Some of them launched social media campaigns to gauge interest. “The response was overwhelming,” Lindsay recalled.

In June 2013, she opened her first studio with 24 students. She named the studio after her daughter – SweetE’s Dance Studio.

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Brooks County Living

“We had tremendous growth in that first year. We had our first recital in December. A lot of community members attended who didn’t even have children or grandchildren in the program. Everyone was very complimentary,” she said. After enrollment had increased by 150 percent, she moved to current location.

SweetE’s teaches all types of dance including ballet, tap, point, jazz, modern, acro, hip-hop – all of which are performed at the December recitals. They also perform at community events, such as Relay for Life, the Skillet, Festival, the Christmas Parade, and performances at the Presbyterian Home.

“For recitals, we practice for hours, it's a way to show our parents what we've learned and helps me be more confident in life,” said Camryn Holmes, a 10-year old dancer.

“I've watched my teenage daughter's self-confidence soar through taking dance and finding her passion. Through the studio, she has become involved in community service and giving back to others. Our family being a part of Sweet E's has allowed me to become friends with people I may not have met otherwise. We've all become family,” explained Laura Weaver, whose daughter is a student at SweetE’s.

"The biggest thing we're known for is taking our students to

Camryn Holmes, Aniyah McCloud, and Anna Perry are assistants who help the younger students each week and are integral to the success of the studio. “I enjoy teaching the little kids; it helps me grow as a dancer and has shown me the importance of being a good role model both in the studio and outside in the world.” – Aniyah McCloud. Photo by Jordan Voigt.

Lindsay Herring-Rados is the owner of SweetE’s dance and teaches all of the studio’s 27 classes each week. Photo by Jordan Voigt.

The beautiful ballet 2 class performing their role of the “River” in SweetE’s production of Amazon Adventure. Each December the studio creates a show centered around a new and exciting theme. This year the dancers will debut “Masterpieces in Motion,” a 15 dance collection based on famous works of art.

“SweetE's is so much more than a dance studio--it's a family. Lindsay works with our children one-on-one, and her dance instruction rivals that of larger studios in bigger cities. Since starting dance, my three girls have had the opportunities to dance at Disney World, take Broadway classes in New York City, compete in regional competitions, and participate in so many community events. We know our children are growing in dance skills and talents, but more importantly, they are growing in friendship, responsibility, and life experiences. From beginner to advanced, from acro to hip-hop, from toddlers to teenagers, there is a special place for everyone!”

- Ashlee Gruno, Dance Mom Showcasing Your Community's Personality

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dance at Disney every year," Lindsay explained. "The dancers participate in ‘Dance The World’ for five days which includes a full stage show at Epcot, and two parades, one of which is the Electrical Light Parade that travels through the Magic Kingdom.”

“Disney was fun because we got to dance in the parade; I loved being an actual Disney Cast Member for a day. It was a dream come true!” stated Quincey Hart, a 10-year old dancer at SweetE’s.

However, the trip is very expensive costing approximately $38,000 to take the thirty-one dancers every year. Parents, grandparents, friends, and the entire community help raise the money to pay for all the participants including costumes dictated

by Disney, which is very expensive.

anchors," Lindsay said. "The girls were featured for several minutes on national television; they met the anchors. It was a ‘once-in-a-lifetime' moment."

“New York was fabulous because we got to experience new things in our dance career. My favorite part of the trip was training with working Broadway dancers and choreographers,” said 12-year old Anna Perry.

Other successes of the program include four dancers who have received national scholarships totaling $3,800 for future dance endeavors. One of our oldest students, MacKenna Fountain, has organized and been recognized statewide for ‘Ballarenas for Books,’ a collection and donation campaign to collect books to help stock the free libraries throughout out community.

“One of the things I’m passionate about is providing opportunities to a diverse group of young people through dance.

Currently, we have six students on scholarship. I don’t charge for their lessons, and we have businesses sponsors that pay for their costumes and other essentials. All six are going to Disney to dance,” she explained with pride.

“SweetE's has changed my daughter’s life! From dancing at Hollywood Studios to taking Broadway workshops taught by working New York City professional dancers – her participation has given her the desire to continue her dance education and pursue dance as a career option. We trust Mrs. Lindsay's dance instruction and truly appreciate her working with Anna to make her dreams a reality,” Bucky Perry, the father of a dance student.

This year they also took fifteen dancers to New York where they trained with two Broadway choreographers, saw Broadway shows, and even took part in National Selfie Day on the Today Show. "They took us into the studio to take selfies with the main

Lindsay Herring Rados may not have pursued her dream of working at the National Endowment for the Arts, but, she is fulfilling her passion of bringing art to South Georgia and changing lives through art – one dancer at a time.

The SweetE’s girls dance their way down Main Street at the Walt Disney World Resort’s Magic Kingdom in June of 2015. In 2017, 18 parade performers and 9 additional stage performers will travel to Disney; April Hart is one mother doubly excited to see both her daughters perform this summer: “I'm so thankful for Lindsay and SweetE's Dance for being open to the idea of including Isabelle, my daughter with hydrocephalus, in the Dance the World trip we are taking in June 2017. The entire SweetE's family has welcomed Isabelle with open arms and hearts, and the dance girls include her and love when she visits the studio. I'm so excited to see her in the parade and the show performance when we visit Disney.”

SweetE’s Competition Dances “Heads Will Roll” and “Long Time Traveler” took top honors in their categories during the 2016 competition season. Anna Perry and Camryn Holmes’ performance of “Long Time Traveler” would be the highest scoring Duo of the day and received a platinum score and 1st place over all.

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Brooks County Living

“SweetE's has been and is a GREAT place for my niece to explore and enhance her creative ideas while bringing them into reality through dance. While at SweetE's, she has done things that some girls her age only dream of like: dancing in the Magic Kingdom Electrical Light Parade at Walt Disney World and flying to New York City, and attending workshops with Broadway dancers. Thanks to Lindsay, the owner and instructor of SweetE's, who has introduced our girls into a whole new world.” - Latesha Little, Dance Aunt

Payden Graham, Karlie Arrendale, Addison Holmes, Carsyn Hines, and Adleigh Green may be some of the tiniest members of the 2017 SweetE’s Competition Team, but they are ready to sass their way across the stage with their rendition of the Spice Girls. Photo by Jordan Voigt.

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Quitman Country Club Located in Quitman, Georgia on 213 acres with 3 lakes and 2 ponds. Come take your pick of playing the front 9, back 9 or all 18. Quitman Country Club is a family-owned and operated course. Members can also take advantage of fishing or just a daily routine of exercise on the walking path.

The country club also features a large clubhouse that can be rented for parties, weddings, receptions and reunions.

For renting information and rates please contact Jodi Johnson (229)-263-1940. Come out today and experience the beauties of the Quitman Country Club!!

Also don’t forget to check us out on FaceBook.

8305 Empress Rd Quitman, GA 31643

•

229-305-5121

•

Q u i t m a n c o u n t r y c l u b. c o m

1106 W. Screven St. • Quitman, GA 31643

(229) 263-9903

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Brooks County Living

Peach trees only have one chance to set fruit, unlike row crops, which often can be replanted if something goes wrong.

To Peach, or not to

Peach...

there is no question!

STORY BY L. STEPHANIE SMITH | PHOTOGRAPHY BY L. S. SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY

T

ucked away in the northeastern corner of Brooks County, in and around the cities of Morven and Barney, Brooks County’s “peach sheds” attract both locals and out-of-towners alike.

Many are long-time customers, attracted to the sheds not only for the luscious peaches and other fresh produce, but for the pleasure of the down-home friendliness that these familyowned businesses offer.

Elisha Abbott, of Burton Brooks Orchards, loves working in the family business. “Every day is different. I’m outside and I meet people from everywhere.” Southern hospitality is as much a part of the peach shed experience as the peaches are. Even visitors from other states succumb to the charm and relaxed atmosphere of the sheds, and “fall to talkin” with the locals.

I. C. Williams brought commercial-scale peach growing to Brooks County in the 1950s and, over the subsequent decades, peach farming became big business in South Georgia. At its height, South

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Peach ice cream and conversation are a way of life enjoyed by locals and out of state visitors alike.

When most people think of the month of May, they think of Mothers’ Day, the Kentucky Derby and Memorial Day Weekend. Ask someone from South Georgia, however, and they’ll add that May means the beginning of Peach Season!

Georgia’s peach industry had eight to ten growers. Now, Brooks Burton Orchards, Lawson’s Peaches, and Luck & Moody Peaches are carrying on the peach farming tradition. In addition to providing peaches to retail markets, the farmers sell their peaches and peach-inspired products at their own sheds from May 1st through the fall. They also work with local produce and nut growers to offer a wide variety of fresh fruits, nuts, and vegetables. It’s a win-win situation for everyone, from the farmers to the consumers. Barbara Lawson, of Lawson’s Peaches, puts it this way, “We appreciate our entire community and we extend all that we have to help it thrive.”

Peach farmers, like other farmers, are at the mercy of both the weather and the market. Decades of experience have taught them which varieties of peaches will grow best, which ones to plant to extend the season, and which peach products keep people coming back year after year. They love what they do, but it isn’t easy. Lynn Abbott, who operates Burton Brooks Orchards along with her husband, Mike, is pragmatic about the business of running a farm. “You grow what will pay your bills. With the changes in weather and agriculture, it’s tough, no matter what you grow.”

South Georgia’s weather, while a blessing compared to other parts of the country, doesn’t always cooperate in terms of the

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Brooks County Living

“chill hours” necessary for peaches. “Chill hours are the number of hours between 32° and 45° Farenheit. Winter hours above 60° are subtracted from the totals.”1 As Lou Jean Luck, of Luck and Moody Peaches explains, “We need 250-300 chill hours for the early varieties (of peaches) and 850 hours for the late varieties.

And then, we have to hope that we don’t get a hard frost that will kill off the blossoms.”

These challenges have led to innovations and diversification.

The University of Georgia has developed peach cultivars that require fewer and fewer chill hours, which help our farmers to compete with the Middle Georgia growers. The farmers have developed relationships, not only at the local level, but at the state and national levels, too. All three growers are recognized as Georgia Certified Farm Markets, for the excellence of the produce that they grow and sell. In response to customer demand, they’ve introduced peach ice cream, peach pound cake, and peach lemonade.

“So, which one should I visit?” you ask.

All three families run wonderful peach sheds, and each one offers something unique. Make a point to visit them all!

1

Raintree Nursery, raintreenursery.com

PEACH SHED RECIPE FAVORITES Peach Enchiladas 2 (8-oz) Cans Crescent Rolls 4 Firm Peaches, peeled and quartered 2 Sticks Butter 1 ½ Cups Sugar 1 Teaspoon Cinnamon 1 (8-oz) Mountain Dew Melt the butter. Add the sugar and cinnamon. Unroll the crescent rolls and place each peach quarter in a crescent roll. Roll from large end to small. Place in a 12”x10” pan. Pour the butter mixture over the rolls.

Then, pour the Mountain Dew on top. Bake at 350° for 45 minutes. Yields 16 servings. ~ submitted by Barbara Lawson Easy Peach Cobbler 4 Cups ripe peaches 2 Cups sugar, divided equally 1 Stick butter 1 Cup milk 1 Cup self-rising flour Pour one cup of sugar over the peaches and toss to coat. Melt the butter in a baking dish. Pour the peach and sugar mixture on top of the melted butter. Mix together the remaining sugar, milk, and self-rising flour. Pour the mixture over the peaches; do NOT stir them together. Bake at 375°, until it’s brown. ~ submitted by Lynn Abbott Sweet Pickled Peaches 7 lbs Peaches 3 lbs Sugar

The annual Peach Festival takes place on the 3rd Saturday of May.

2 Cups Vinegar 2 Cups Water 3 Small Sticks Cinnamon Boil the sugar, vinegar, water and cinnamon together to make syrup. Add the peaches to the syrup and cook until the peaches are tender. Jar and seal. ~ submitted by Stephanie Luck

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BURTON BROOKS ORCHARDS: Nestled on the corner of Adel Highway (GA 76) and GA 122, Burton Brooks Orchards features the all-important peach and locally grown produce.

Their homemade, churned ice cream, which is made daily on the premises, is out of this world! Eugene McKinney, a longtime customer, said that “he drives 45 miles to get this ice cream.”

They offer “U-Pick” peaches (you get to pick your own peaches off the trees) starting in the middle of June.

Hours of Operation: 7 AM to 8 PM daily, May through July; The ice cream shed remains open from 1 PM to 6 PM, Saturdays and Sundays, through the third week of November.

Phone: 229-775-2828

LAWSON’S PEACH SHED:

LUCK AND MOODY PEACHES: Across the railroad tracks at the intersection of Adel Highway (GA 76) and GA 122, Luck and Moody is operated by the founder’s daughter, Lou Jean, and granddaughter, Stephanie.

Not only do they provide an amazing array of fresh produce, peach products, and ice cream that has been voted “Best in the South” for over fifteen years, they pride themselves on educating their customers about the wide variety of peaches that they grow.

Their dedication to peach education extends to working with schools and youth groups, inviting them to tour the orchards and to learn about this part of Brooks County’s agricultural industry.

Located on Valdosta Highway (GA 133), Lawson’s has extended their ice cream parlor to include porches and rocking chairs to accommodate their customers, who come for fresh peaches, produce, ice cream, and peach lemonade.

The peach lemonade that Barbara Lawson developed in 2012, with her mother, Margie, and their friend, Carolyn Dees, has attracted the attention of federal law enforcement for all the right reasons!

Lawson’s is now under contract to provide their lemonade for law enforcement events in Charleston, S.C., and to sell their lemonade at the Homeland Security facility in Brunswick, GA. Hours of Operation: 8 AM to 8 PM daily, May through Labor Day. Phone: 229-775-2581

Hours of Operation: 7:30 AM to 7:30 PM daily, May through July.

Phone: 229-775-3300

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Brooks County Living

Brooks County, Georgia Downtown to Down Home

Brooks County is a place steeped in history with an unhurried lifestyle-

and we’d love for you to come share the experience!

Destination Brooks

The Quitman-Brooks County Tourism Project

220 East Screven Street Quitman, Georgia 229.263.4841 destinationbrooks@gmail.com

For more information about what makes Brooks County so unique, visit Showcasing Your Community's Personality

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Established in 1935, Lee & Pickels has been ssving the Quitman ea yee aftt yee to prride clients with the ssvice they dessve!

LEE & PICKELS DRUGS

302 E. Screven Sc Street Quitman, GA 31643

229-263-4061

Call us today ff all of yyr hhe health cce needs!

WHEN YOU INVEST IN AN INSURANCE PLAN

to protect your home, family and business, do it with an agency you can rely on. As one of the leading insurance provides in the area, we can provide a range of coverage servi services to safeguard your home, vehicle, and family health. We can also offer you a FREE quote. With an experienced team of agents who are dedicated to finding a plan that's right for you and our range of coverage options, it's easy to see why we've been around for as long as we have.

If you're interested in making an appointment to speak to one of our agents, please don't hesitate to contact us. We're always happy to assist you!

Holwell-Fletcher Insurance 603 E. Screven Street Quitman, GA 31643 229-263-4136 42

Brooks County Living

Prriding inssance ssutiis since 1914.

Once again, her talent was noticed by others and floral services became a part of Out On A Whim by 2013.

aDream Take a bowl of talent and add two scoops of hard work. Mix in equal parts of patience, creativity and humor.

This is Alison Strickland Wider’s recipe for success.

Come True

STORY BY L. STEPHANIE SMITH | PHOTOGRAPHY BY L. S. SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY

I

t’s rare to find Alison sitting still. She’s just moved into a new retail space down the street from her old one. Between setting up displays, serving lunch in her café, and managing catering and floral orders, she’s constantly on the move. Owning her own business has been “a rollercoaster ride, but it’s fulfill-

ing in so many ways. It challenges me. It’s my passion,” Alison admits with a broad smile.

Blessed with an artistic flair and an obsession for arranging things, Alison knew by the 6th grade that she wanted to have Showcasing Your Community's Personality

43

her own business. “I dreamed of owning a shop like other girls dreamed about their weddings,” she says. Her business, Out On A Whim, is the culmination of those dreams.

Born and raised in Quitman by her parents Harvey and Maryline Strickland, Alison grew up expressing her creativity through painting. While painting was her vehicle on the road to entrepreneurship, it was her parents who instilled the drive.

“I learned about the benefits of owning your own business; to do something that you love; and the satisfaction of being your own boss.”

As she raised a family of her own, she continued painting, eventually selling her work in small, local festivals. News of her talent spread quickly, and pretty soon she was painting non-stop. In 2001, she participated in her first large Arts and Crafts festival and discovered her passion for retail. “I sold out of everything on the first day. I spent that night painting more things to sell for the second day!”

Three years later, she became one of the “anchor” vendors at Twisted Sisters, selling her art through the store. Demand increased again, so she branched out into other stores. Then, in 2011, she decided it was time to take the plunge, and Out On A Whim went from a dream to a reality.

The name might have been a flight of fancy, but choosing to set up shop in Quitman was a deliberate decision. “I grew up here and raised my family here. We’re a community where most people know who you are, and even if they don’t, they still treat you like a friend. Quitman is my home and I want it to thrive.”

Alison strives to keep her menu fresh and original, with a wide selection of salads and sandwiches that are guaranteed to please the palate.

That sense of community, along with her pride in owning her own business, inform the kinds of merchandise featured in her store. While she does carry items that can be found in stores around the country, she loves to stock products created by small, southern, family-operated businesses. OOAW also offers “personalization” services via machine embroidering for soft goods and vinyl monogramming for hard items.

When it came to the café, Alison let her love of cooking (a skill that she learned from her mother) and her quirky sense of humor inspire OOAW’s menu. The result is an inventive take on typical café fare. Who can resist sandwiches called “Soon-To-Be- World-Famous” and “The Sandwich That Has NO NAME”?

In fact, it was her customers’ enthusiastic response to Alison’s café that led to adding catering to her business in 2013. “We do everything from boxed lunches to weddings and other large events!” she proclaims proudly. It’s not unusual to see Alison and her crew prepping office lunches or wedding spreads during the café’s off-hours.

The addition of floral services stemmed from the passing of her mother in 2012. To honor her mother, Alison channeled her creative energy into designing and making a flower blanket

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Brooks County Living

“I picked the name because I decided to start the business on a whim,� Alison says, smiling at the memory.

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From T-shirts celebrating farmers and extolling the virtues of country life to candles with scents like “Pipe Tobacco” and “Vintage Leather”, Out On A Whim carries a wide variety of items suitable for all occasions.

to cover the casket. Once again, her talent was noticed by others, and the requests for floral arrangements of all kinds started rolling in. Alison put down her paintbrush and picked up floral wire and tape. By 2013, floral services had become a part of Out On A Whim.

the vitality of a community depends upon a healthy, vibrant downtown. “When I was a little girl, there were shops and restaurants up and down the street,” she says, waving towards Screven Street.

“I learned from my parents that if you treat people fairly, as you would want to be treated, you will be blessed with more business,” she says, reflecting upon the fact that her business has expanded so rapidly in only five years. Then she adds with a wry grin, “I also learned that you don’t get what you want by sitting on your butt!”

“If you needed something, you could buy it locally. Now, many people have this idea that a product or service is better if they get it somewhere else. I want them to understand that we [the Brooks County community] don’t always have to outsource things,” she continues. “Supporting local businesses matters. I want to see things stay in our community. I want something to be here for the next generation.”

Moving into a much larger retail space this past April was the next step in her plans for Out On A Whim. “I’ve been able to expand the café’s seating and kitchen areas so that we can host small events, here, in the store, as well as handling bigger catering jobs. I also have a dedicated space to meet clients to discuss their catering and floral needs,” Alison adds. “I want to get back into painting, too, so I’m hoping to offer “make and take” art classes, at some point in the future.”

To that end, Alison is active in both the Downtown Business Association and the Brooks County Chamber of Commerce, helping to bring more focus to the importance of local businesses. She participates in as many local events as she can, to keep local business a “top-of-mind-awareness” issue in the community. She also encourages her staff to develop their talents, so that they have the option to follow their own dreams and to own their own businesses someday.

While the future of her own business is important to Alison, so, too, is the future of Quitman. She firmly believes that

Alison and Out On A Whim are proof that dreams really can come true.

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Brooks County Living

The care you need.

The compassion you deserve.

Brooks County Hospital archbold.org/brooks

Quitman-Brooks County Historical Museum and Cultural Center BRINGING THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF BROOKS COUNTY TO THE PUBLIC Preserve the past, provide cultural experiences and serve as a center for education and research.

Come in and enjoy our ever evolving and growing Museum Displays Join us to celebrate the uniqueness of Quitman and Brooks County.

Hours Tuesday-Friday 1:00 - 4:30 p.m. • 121 N. Culpepper St. • Quitman, GA 31643 229-263-6000 • mcc@brookscountymuseum.com • brookscountymuseum.com Showcasing Your Community's Personality

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The leading provider of quality vision care products and personalized optometric services in Quitman and Moultrie.

Rowe EyeCare 104 N Madison Street Quitman, GA 31643 Phone: (229) 263-8851 115 5th Street SE Moultrie, GA 31768 Phone (229) 890-8016

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Brooks County Living

A HISTORY

M ys tery STORY BY L. STEPHANIE SMITH | PHOTOGRAPHY BY L. S. SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY

M

any a good mystery starts with a missing person, and this story is no exception. Except that it has dozens of missing persons.

And they’re all dead.

This is the tale of the West End Cemetery and the people who are working to bring its history back to life.

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J

ean Logan, Carol Taylor, and John Romine are members of the West End Cemetery Restoration Committee, a group representing four organizations: The Brooks County Historical Museum, The Quitman Garden Club, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the United Daughters of the Confederacy. Formed in 2014, the committee has worked tirelessly to solve many of the mysteries surrounding this overlooked piece of local history.

As we sat around a table in the Historical Museum, the modern-day sleuths began to tell a tale of history lost, found and celebrated. “Most people probably pass the cemetery once or twice a day and don’t give any thought to it,” said Jean.

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Brooks County Living

“When we started this, the common belief was that this was a Confederate graveyard. It’s easy to see why everyone thought that, considering that the only activity that takes place there regularly is the annual memorial service to honor the seventeen unknown Confederate soldiers buried in the cemetery. That service has taken place every year, for 147 years.”

“The unknown soldiers were the first documented burials, in what was then called The Quitman Cemetery,” added John.

“But there are 463 recorded graves. Who were the rest of these people? What do their lives tell us about our past? We wanted to know and, more importantly, we needed to preserve Brooks County’s history for future generations.”

The formation of the committee created new mysteries that needed to be solved before it could tackle the questions from the past. The members knew why they needed to restore the cemetery, but they had no idea how they were going to accomplish it. What specific tasks needed to be undertaken?

How long would it take? How were they going to fund it?

Carol picked up the story. “Our seed money for the restoration came from the Museum, the Garden Club, and the D.A.R., for a total of $6500. Since then, we’ve been funded entirely by small grants and donations.” The committee is very proud of the fact that no local, state, or federal funds have been used on this project.

“We’ve had to balance the list of needed repairs with what we could afford to do. Thankfully, we’ve had some great local contacts who could guide us through the maze of appropriate preservation and repairs. And, once the community learned of our needs, donations came in and people volunteered to help save this part of our heritage.”

Creating a list of repairs and prioritizing them was no easy task. Before they could evaluate the condition of the property, they had to remove the debris that had accumulated from years of neglect. Fallen branches, weeds, and a carpet of leaves and trash had to be cleaned up first. Then, it became apparent that they had a monumental task ahead of them.

“The main gate and the stile (a set of metal stairs that allow entry for people while blocking access to animals) were in terrible shape,” said Jean. “Many grave markers were disintegrating into the ground. If we didn’t repair them, we’d lose everything that they could tell us about who was buried beneath them,” added John. “So, we prioritized the repairs according to what was threatened the most.”

The list of physical repairs was daunting enough, but discovering that over 100 graves were undocumented was mind-boggling. John and several other members became “history detectives”. They poured over old legal records and newspapers. They verified oral accounts against written accounts, and made site visits in their quest to identify their missing persons.

Little by little, they made progress…of a sort. “We managed to find a good number of the graves on our original list, but along the way, we discovered more people who were supposedly buried here, but there’s no evidence of it,” said John. “It’s an ongoing mystery that I’m determined to solve.”

“WE MAY NEVER KNOW WHO THEY WERE, BUT THEY DESERVE TO BE FOUND AND RECOGNIZED BECAUSE THEY’RE PART OF OUR COUNTY'S HISTORY." ~ CAROL TAYLOR Showcasing Your Community's Personality

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Jean Logan, Carol Taylor and John Romine of the West End Cemetery Restoration Committee are working to solve the many mysteries surrounding this overlooked piece of local history.

“THE UNKNOWN SOLDIERS WERE THE FIRST DOCUMENTED BURIALS, BUT THERE ARE 463 RECORDED GRAVES. WHO ARE THE REST OF THESE PEOPLE? WE WANTED TO KNOW.” ~ JOHN ROMINE For more information about the West End Cemetery, the Restoration Committee, or to make a donation, please contact The Brooks County Museum, 121 North Culpepper Street, Quitman, GA 31643

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Brooks County Living

As John and his cohorts searched for Quitman’s missing citizens, repairs to the graveyard began. “We thought it would take a lot longer than it did to tick the top items off of our list,” said Carol.

Those repairs were completed by early 2016, and included the only four marked graves on the land directly behind West End Cemetery. As Jean recounted the completed repairs, she added, “Oral tradition tells us that many black citizens were buried on that land, but the details seem to be lost. The graves that we could find were falling apart, so we repaired them, too.”

Reenactors were stationed throughout the cemetery for the tour that highlighted citizens whose lives were significant to Brooks County and our nation.

While the local chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy and local black community members erected a memorial monument on the site in 1982, the Restoration Committee would like to try to identify and mark the graves that lie on that land. “We put it on our list. You can see depressions in the ground, where it’s clear that someone was buried in a specific location long ago, but we’re certain that there are more graves there,” said Carol.

“We may never know who they were, but they deserve to be found and recognized because they’re part of our county’s history. We’re investigating using ground penetrating radar to locate the boundaries of the graves.”

To celebrate the committee’s achievements thus far, and to show the community the history that had been unearthed, the committee held walking tours of the cemetery this past May. Committee members and historical reenactorss assumed the roles of people who were significant in the history of Quitman, Brooks County, and our nation. The event attracted an estimated 300 to 400 visitors---far more than the committee had dared to hope for.

“There were two ladies from Athens, GA, who came specifically for the history tour!” exclaimed John. “It was extremely popular, and all of our reenactors said that they’d do it again in a heartbeat.”

Flush with the success of the Walking Tour, the committee has turned its attention back to its tasks.

“Our next big repair project is restoring and painting the fence around the cemetery. It’s going to be time consuming and expensive,” said Jean. “And,” added John, “we have more graves to identify!”

Will the Restoration Committee be able to solve all of West End Cemetery’s mysteries? If its dedication to that effort over the past eighteen months is any indicator, it will leave no stone unturned.

Metaphorically speaking, of course!

Showcasing Your Community's Personality

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Brooks County Living

BROOKS COUNTY KIDS DO MORE THAN ‘HORSE AROUND’ STORY BY SANDRA B. MCDONALD | PHOTOGRAPHY SUPPLIED BY CHERYL OWENS

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ost kids love horses. Some dream of horses or pretend they are horses. Most kids love pony rides or are ecstatic to ride a carousel. Every kid has a toy that they believe is their best friend, and some imagine it being real.

For a group of Brooks County youth, their toy is very real and is much more than a toy. Their horses are their best friends, and they count on their horse just as much as their horse counts on them, whether in a competition or just out for a ride. This group – consisting of Ashten Owens, Nalea Hockenberry, Hailee Thatcher, Kolton Thatcher, Erica Odom and Aubri Johnson – has been riding horses since they were very young, some riding as infants with a parent. They are all passionate about competing in many different areas, and the awards they have won show their determination and commitment.

They realize how fortunate they are to live their dream by doing what they love with supportive parents and family members that help them live their dream year-round. Some of them ride sideby-side with their families. They all have a strong determination to succeed. To compete, they must maintain a 2.0-grade point average and report cards must be given to each association to compete in a rodeo.

Horse-riding is not an easy sport, and most face many obstacles, but it is a sport that is very family-oriented and rewarding for both the rider and horse. While it may be called a ‘sport,' in reality it is much more than that – it is a way of life. Caring for a horse requires more time than just riding and practice. After the competition, the horse must be fed, groomed, taken to the vet, and more. And some have more than one horse.

One thing they have in common is a commitment to their horses.

Their horse is more than just an animal to them; they’re a friend.

They have a bond with their horse like no other. There is a sense of trust between their horse and themselves that is unbreakable.

It takes that strong bond and confidence in their horse to do what these young people do.

They make it look easy when in fact it is not. It can also be dangerous. Riding an animal that weighs more than 1000 pounds and has the strength to do with you what it pleases never crosses the minds of these young people. They know their "friend" will take care of them. John Wayne once said, “Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.”

All of these young people have the courage that it takes to do just that.

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ASH TEN OWENS:

Age: 13 - 8th grade | Daughter of Ernie and Cheryl Owens "It is a passion, and I love the thrill and excitement! I hope to be turning and burning when I'm eighty years old."

• Youth World Qualifier – NBHA 4 Spots Finishing 8th Place in 1-D • Champion - SJRA Jr. Girls All-Around (2015-16) • Champion - SJRA Jr. Girls Reserve Barrel Racing (2014-15) • Champion - SJRA Jr. Girls Pole Bending (2014-15) • Champion – SJRA Reserve Goat Tying (2014-15) • Champion – SJRA Sr. Girls Barrel Racing (2015-16) • Champion – SE Little Britches Assoc. Jr. Girls All-Around (2015-16) • Three-year Southeast Junior Rodeo Assoc. Finals Qualifier

Ashten Owens has been riding since she can remember. She began competing in local rodeo events when she was seven. An older girl, Savannah Wilkes, started working with Ashten teaching her how to barrel race. Ashten's dream was to compete in rodeos with Savannah, but that dream would not become a reality. Savannah was killed in a car accident in 2012. She was very heartbroken but states, "I now ride for both of them on Savannah's horse, Stormy." Ashten loves horses and competing more than anything else.

"It is a passion and I love the thrill and excitement."

Ashten has a natural talent for competing. Her father says she has been compared to competitors much older than her. Her favorite competition is “breakaway calf roping.” Earlier this year, Ashten received a Certificate of Merit from the State of Georgia Department

of Agriculture and Commodity Commission for Equine at a luncheon in Atlanta.

While competing is fun it also requires a lot of responsibility to practice and take care of a horse.

In Ashten's case, she has several horses because she competes in many different areas. “My favorite thing about my horses is that they love me and trust me, and it shows when we compete. They give me all that they have each time. Each horse has their own personality and little habits that make them special.” She also has goats and calves to practice with that also require care.

She is thankful that she has supportive parents who make sure she has what she needs to compete.

Ashten travels all over Georgia and N. Florida to various competitions.

Since 2014 Ashten has won three champion saddles and nine buckles.

NALEA HOCKENBURY: Age: 13 - 8th grade | Daughter of Scott and Becky Hockenberry

"The horses take care of me while I am riding as long as I am good to them."

Nalea Hockenberry has been riding horses since she was six or seven. She was inspired by watching her friend Ashten ride and compete. That is what motivated her to get involved. Nalea enjoys riding and competing because it is fun and builds confidence. While she has only been competing for a very short time, she has placed in many competitions. Her favorite competition is both barrel racing and poles. Nalea would also like to continue to ride and compete into adulthood. “Horses take care of me while I am riding them as long as I am good to them,” she said.

• SJRA 11th Place Goat Tying (2014-15) • SJRA 17th Place Jr. Girls All Around (2014-15) • SJRA 14th Place Sr. Girls All Around (2015-16) • SJRA 8th Place Sr. Girls Pole Bending (2015-16 • SJRA 6th Place Sr. Girls Goat Tying (2015-16) • 13th Place Sr. Girls Barrel Racing (2015-16) • Second Year Southeast Junior Rodeo Assoc. Finalist 56

Brooks County Living

HAILEE THATCHER & KOLTON THATCHER: Daughter and son of Kenny and Laura Thatcher There may be just a little bit of sibling rivalry in the Thatcher household. Hailee and Kolten began riding horses as toddlers.

Hailee started trail riding on her first pony at age two. She started competing at age five while Kolton started at age ten.

This brother and sister are also a force to be reckoned with in the rodeo arena. Both have won many awards.

Hailee and Kolton agree that one of the best things about competing is the people you meet. They both have met many friends at competitions. In June, Hailee competed in a Benefit Barrel Race for Jacee Thomas who is a young rodeo competitor from Brantley County whose car was struck by a train earlier this year. This shows the “family” bond that these young riders have. When one is hurt or injured, everyone

comes together to help out.

“Horses are awesome therapy, and most have a good personality,” she added. “My horse trusts me no matter what I ask her to do; she does it." While Hailee loves barrel racing, she said that the most difficult for her is poles because you have to be one with your horse. “If your horse is off, it’s all over,” she said.

Kolten competes in various competitions including steer wrestling, team roping, and tie-down roping which is his favorite. The biggest obstacle he faces in his competitions is to strive to be better. “My favorite thing about horses is that they love their job and they do it well,” he said.

HAILEE THATCHER: Age: 13 – 8th grade

“There is nothing like running down the alley at full speed making it around all three barrels and leaving the arena knowing you made a clean run.

Sometimes you win and sometimes you don’t but to me it’s the experience that comes with it.”

• Youth World Qualifier – National Barrel Horse Assoc. (2016) • 3-Year Finalist – Southern Junior Rodeo Assoc.

• Champion – Barrel Racer – Martha Josey Clinic – Texas

KOLTON THATCHER: Age: 16 – 11th grade

"My horse loves his job and does it well.”

• Champion – Steer Wrestling – Little Britches Assoc. (2015-16) • Champion – Steer Wrestling – SJRA (2015-16) • 3-Year Finalist – Southern Jr. Rodeo Assoc.

• National Qualifier – SJRA - Oklahoma • All-Around Roper – Martha Josey Clinic – Texas • 3rd Place – Tie-Down Roping – SELBRA (2-15-16)

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ERICA ODOM: Age: 13 – 8th grade Daughter of Charlie and Rita Odum

“Someone once told me that rodeo competition is not like other sports where you can throw your cleats in the closet over the summer or during holidays.

A horse still needs to eat, and the stall still needs to be cleaned. You can never stop taking care of your horse."

“Horses have an awesome personality, they are very sensitive to your feelings so if you’re having a bad day you can just go hang out with your horse and everything seems better,” said Erica Odom. Erica has been riding since she was 11 months old. She was given her first horse at age three.

• Champion – Jr. Chute Doggin’ (2014-15) • Champion – SJRA All-Around (2014-15) • Top 5 – SJRA Goat Tying (2014-15 & 2015-16) • Five-year SJRA Finalist • 4-Year NBHA Youth World Qualifier • 1st Year SELBRA Rodeo Qualifier

She started competing at age six. She joined the Southern Junior Rodeo Association and the National Barrel Horse Association at age eight. Erica agrees that one of the best aspects of competing is meeting new people and developing new friendships. Her Mom was the person who got her interested in riding horses and competing.

"Owning horses and competing is very expensive, not only paying entry

fees and the expenses of traveling but keeping your horse healthy as well. Having a good backup horse is important too in case your main horse gets hurt or sick," stated Erica.

Other expenses can include a drop in standings if you miss a rodeo.

Competing is a lot of work and takes a strong determination.

Erica competes in many areas including barrel racing, pole bending, goat tying, breakaway rope and team roping. This is her first year competing in the Southeast Little Britches Association. Recently, she traveled to Oklahoma to compete in the National Little Britches Rodeo Finals and to Perry at the National Barrel Horse Association World Championship.

AUBRI JOHNSON: Age: 13 – 8th Grade Daughter of Buck and Brandi Johnson

"I have watched my family ride all of my life and just kind of fell into it. It was and still is a part of everyday life for my family and me."

• Reserve Champion – SJRA Chute Doggin’ (2014-15) • 4th Place – SJRA Jr. Girl’s Breakaway (2015-16) • 4th Place – SJRA Jr. Girls All-Around (2015-16) 58

Brooks County Living

Aubri Johnson is no stranger to horses. She grew up with them and was riding with her Daddy as soon as she could hold up her head. Her Dad, Uncle Barry, Aunt Tiffany, and Granddaddy were avid riders, and her Dad was an All-Around Champion with the Professional Cowboy Association. She started competing about five years ago. "I like that its part of her heritage and family's lifestyle. It also helps build physical and mental strength."

Aubri plans to attend college with

a rodeo team and continue to ride throughout her life, just like the rest of her family. She competes in chute doggin’ at her family’s arena, the J2 Quarter Horse Arena, with the Georgia-Florida Youth Rodeo.

She loves knowing that she has the strength to do something that most other girls don't have the courage to do. She is also the 2015-16 Southern Junior Rodeo Association Queen.

The favorite thing about her horse is that "I can depend on him as a friend and athlete," she said.

Chip Carroll Market President NMLS #740768 Mike Miller Asst. Vice-President NMLS #946068 Elaine Jones Branch Manager 602 East Screven Street • Quitman, GA 31643 229-263-7538 • www.colonybank.com

Showcasing Your Community's Personality

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Brooks County Living

Kendall

Blankumsee Following His Passion to Help Others STORY BY SANDRA B. MCDONALD PHOTOGRAPHY BY SANDRA MCDONALD AND KENDALL BLANKUMSEE

Kendall returned to Quitman in 2009 to start his funeral services business. Kendall and Rey worked together to choose a location and begin plans for renovations on the selected building. On April 13, 2010, BTW Funeral Services opened its doors for business.

W

hat better way could there be to start a new year than with a new baby? That’s exactly what Juanita Sipplen and Alfred Blankumsee did on January 1, 1980. Like all parents, Kendall's parents were happy and felt blessed to have their baby boy.

Unknown to them, life would change for everyone in just a few months. At 12 months of age, doctors diagnosed Kendall with Glaucoma, a congenital eye disorder. Kendall underwent surgery to try and correct the problem, but he also began wearing glasses. Kendall faced bullying and ridicule from other children due to his disability, but he decided early on that he would never let that get in the way of pursuing his dreams and goals.

Kendall was raised in Quitman and attended public school in the Brooks County school system. He began playing the drums in the middle school band. Before graduating from Brooks County High school in 1998, Kendall was a member of the "Marching

“I shared my life story with them in hopes that they would realize that everyone makes mistakes, everyone has obstacles to face, but those mistakes and obstacles do not define who you are or what you can become.”

Trojan" band, serving as drum major during his junior year and band president during his senior year. He was a good student and was involved in many organizations. Kendall participated in the BETA Club, DECA, and Student Council. Little did he know that those groups would help him as an adult. Kendall faced another challenge during his junior year of high school when he became a teenage father. Having a child of his own helped push Kendall to want to be successful and taught him that life is not always easy.

After graduating from high school, Kendall attended Georgia Southern University in Statesboro with his childhood friend.

One summer, while out looking for a summer job in Statesboro, Kendall, and his friend were discussing what they were going to do after graduation. On this job-hunting excursion, they stumbled across a mortuary school in Statesboro. They went inside and spoke with someone about the mortuary program.

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Kendall is a licensed Funeral Director/Mortician at Blankumsee, Thomas & Wright. He also serves as a licensed Funeral Director/Mortician at James R. Barnes Mortuary in Statesboro.

Kendall faced another challenge during his junior year of high school when he became a teenage father. Having a child of his own helped push Kendall to want to be successful and taught him that life is not always easy.

Kendall decided that he would enroll in mortuary school while also attending Georgia Southern. The program consisted of two years of academics followed by a two-year apprenticeship and passing a national board exam after graduation. In 2004, Kendall graduated from Ogeechee Technical College with an associate’s degree in Funeral Services and began the apprenticeship phase of the mortuary program. He continued pursuing his degree from Georgia Southern as well and graduated in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management.

Kendall started his apprenticeship at James R. Barnes Mortuary in Statesboro. It was there he met a young girl named Rey Barnes. She was not only the daughter of Kendall's boss, Mr. James Barnes, but was also the daughter of Kendall's mortuary professor, Mrs. Jarvis Barnes. Rey worked in her parents’ mortuary helping out with many different duties. One day Mr. Barnes sent Kendall and Rey to Savannah to pick up flowers for a service. It was on that short trip that Kendall knew Rey was the one for him. They dated while Kendall completed his 62

Brooks County Living

apprenticeship at Barnes Mortuary. After Rey graduated from high school and left to attend Alabama State in Montgomery, the two kept in touch and saw each other every chance they got.

After his graduation from Georgia Southern, Kendall left Statesboro to work in Atlanta for Mr. Willie A. Watkins, a prominent funeral service director who handled the services of Coretta Scott King. Kendall felt he could gain valuable experience working under the direction of Mr. Watkins. Kendall remained in Atlanta for three years, until he felt he was ready to step out on his own. Meanwhile, Rey graduated from college as a registered nurse.

Kendall returned to Quitman in 2009 to start his funeral services business with Mr. Jones Thomas and Mr. Gerald Wright.

Kendall and Rey worked together to choose a location and begin plans for renovations on the selected building.

On April 13, 2010, BTW Funeral Services opened its doors

for business. Just a few days later, on April 18, Kendall and Rey were married and began their new life in Quitman with a new business. Rey worked as a registered nurse while Kendall ran the daily operations of the funeral service.

“I didn’t realize that being from a small town was such a blessing until I left to attend college and spoke with others from larger cities,” said Kendall. “I realized there is a lot of pride in a small community, and that larger cities cannot provide some of the services that I can, such as detailed personal attention. And I am proud to offer horse and carriage for funeral services to this community."

In 2013 Kendall made the decision to run for City Councilman in Quitman. He was elected and sworn into office in March 2014. Kendall served on the city council for two years. He was the youngest person ever to serve on the council.

During his tenure, he worked with other council members and helped to make sound decisions for the city and its citizens. He was even selected to attend the prestigious Robert E. Knox Jr. Leadership Institute.

This past school year Kendall has worked with the 21st Century Community Learning CenterECHOES after-school program. He taught the boys’ character education program at Brooks County Middle School. Kendall worked two afternoons a week helping to shape the lives of the young men through example. He taught the boys character traits such as respect, responsibility, and dependability. He talked with them about their academics and how to stay in school by setting goals. Several of the boys lived in single-family homes and were being raised by a mom or grandmother, without a male influence in their lives. “I shared my life story with them in hopes that they would realize that everyone makes mistakes, everyone has obstacles to face, but those mistakes and obstacles do not define who you are or what you can become,” Kendall said.

“A funeral is something that is unique and special for each family in terms of being able to help them during a tremendous loss. We help the family heal and begin their new life after the funeral,” Kendall explained. “I have a passion for helping people in their time of sorrow.”

“Service From the Heart, From our Family to Yours," is not just a statement but something that Kendall sincerely believes. He is true to his commitment that family is most important. “It is a joy to be part of the community I grew up in offering services to the people in and around Brooks County,” he said.

Kendall and Rey have two children, Kensley (age 4) and Korbin (age 2).

“I have a passion for helping people in their time of sorrow.”

This year, Kendall volunteered with the Boys Character Education Program at Brooks County Middle School, teaching the young men things that most take for granted: how to tie a necktie, table manners, how to set the table, and how to respect a lady. "I have a passion for making sure the boys know that staying in school and getting a good education are the keys to their success later in life."

Even though he became a father at a young age, Kendall has always been a part of the life of his oldest son, Zaquez, who graduated from Brooks County High in 2015 and is attending Georgia Southern University in Statesboro where he is following in his father’s footsteps.

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Skillet Festival

BROOKS COUNTY

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Brooks County Living

C E L E B R AT I O N S

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T

he Brooks County Skillet Festival is hosted each year on the third Saturday in October. The Festival is organized and planned by Destination Brooks, a group of dedicated volunteers that love supporting the Brooks County community. The Skillet Festival is also backed by the local Chamber of Commerce, the City of Quitman, Brooks County, and the State of Georgia making it a truly involved community event. The event started in 2011 as a community event to draw visitors into Quitman not only to spend a Saturday morning checking out local vendors and cuisine, but to encourage folks to stop and shop the local downtown stores. Over the years, the event has grown and added different events, including the Cast Iron 5k, hosted by the Boys and Girls Club, the Quilt Show, and most recently, war re-enactments and exhibits.

-Photography by L.S. Smith Photography Showcasing Your Community's Personality

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Brooks County Living

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter 2017

CIVIC LEADERSHIP

Buddy Holwell

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Chairman – Brooks County Development Authority

V

STORY BY LINDSAY HERRING-RADOS

ery few communities can claim as much diversity as Brooks County. Prominent in the economic make-up of this community are service organizations, such as the Brooks County Hospital and Presbyterian Home. Agricultural giants, such as BCT Gin and DeWitt Produce, which accounted for $273 in agriculture-related economic contribution in 2015 alone. And industry leaders such as Crown Health Care Laundry and Rayonier, which have located in Brooks County due, in large part, to the Brooks County Development Authority.

The Brooks County Development Authority is under the direction of Executive Director, Tiffany Holmes and the Development Authority Board. The Board consists of seven members including Walter "Buddy" Holwell (Chairman), Van Murphy (Vice Chairman), Andy Swann (Secretary), Pete Moody (Treasurer), Henry Burton, Tim Crosby and Delphanie McGhee. Also, the Authority Engineer is Ben DeVane of DeVane PlanENG and the Authority Attorney is Vann Parrott of the Parrott-Mitchell Law Firm.

The Board, under the direction of Chairman Buddy Holwell, has a strong desire for quality growth and is focused on bringing positive change while maintaining the unhurried, comfortable lifestyle everyone in this South Georgia county enjoys.

location within 25 miles or less of two major interstates, two US highways, and has direct access to GA Hwy 333 with on-site rail. In addition to the 250 original acres, there are 180 acres for park expansion as needed.

The work of the Brooks County Development Authority has been enhanced by their community partners, especially through the cooperation of our past and current government officials.

The BCDA has been fortunate as economic development has been the number one goal for many of the city and county’s elected officials There are obstacles to overcome however when you have so many moving parts as well has multi-million dollar investments to be protected. Holwell states, “I wish I could share all of the times Brooks County made it into a company’s top 3 sites for relocation but lost to another community. We can’t discuss these in order to respect the confidentiality those businesses need. While heartbreaking, it goes to show that Brooks County is very competitive in our location, workforce, and opportunities."

“Our goal here is to bring jobs, bring investments, and most of all bring opportunities inside these county lines.” – Buddy Holwell

“Our goal here is to bring jobs, bring investments, and most of all bring opportunities inside these county lines. We have done some of that, through the large scale industries like Crown and Rayonier that have been flourishing here in Brooks County, but we want to and certainly can do more,” stated Holwell, a life-long resident of Brooks County Recently appointed Executive Director Tiffany Holmes said, "Buddy has a tremendous amount of experience as Chairman of the BCDA Board. As the owner of one of Brooks County's oldest businesses, Holwell and Fletcher Insurance Agency, he is familiar with what it takes to make a business thrive. He has worked tirelessly for all Brooks County, to bring investment and jobs to our community.”

When it comes to making Brooks County a viable option for industry location, Holwell was instrumental in the construction of the Brooks County Industrial Park located one mile south of US Hwy 84 in Quitman. The 250-acre park boasts a convenient

For residents of Brooks County who have never met Holwell, they have undoubtedly been positively affected by his selfless work for our community. "Buddy is a friend of economic development, a friend of Brooks County, and most importantly a friend to each of us," said Tina Herring, former Executive Director. "He genuinely cares about bringing jobs and investments to Brooks County to make us a thriving community."

Buddy's work and dedication are seen throughout the county, and with the Brooks County Development Authority's Board of Directors and their committed professional staff, they are charting a path for continued growth in this region.

Brooks County Development Authority Members Walter “Buddy” Holwell, Chairman Van Murphy, Vice Chairman Andy Swann, Secretary Pete Moody, Treasurer Henry Burton Tim Crosby Delphanie McGhee

Tiffany Holmes, Executive Director tholmes@brookscoda.com 229-263-9085 220 East Screven St. Quitman, GA 31643

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Bright The Future Looks

for the Children

of Brooks County

Photo by Nicole Leigh Photography

Photo by Nicole Leigh Photography STORY BY BRITNEY BUCKMASTER SMITH

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hanks to the valiant efforts of local officials as well as the Valdosta chapter of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and director David DeSantiago of the Brooks County chapter of Boys & Girls Club, the children of Brooks County have a bright future ahead of them academically and in the world of sports!

It all began earlier this year when the Brooks County Board of Commissioners, City of Quitman officials, and the Brooks County Board of Education approached The Boys & Girls Club

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Brooks County Living

of Valdosta with plans for a new youth development facility in Brooks County. Excited to partner with Brooks County officials in this vital community project, the Community Capital Campaign was born and plans for a state of the art facility were underway. Spearheading this fundraising campaign that kicked off in May 2016, the Valdosta chapter has already helped to raise $2.1 million towards their $3 million dollar goal to fund the permanent home and new facilities for the children of Brooks County. So far the staggering amount raised has been generously donated by The Brooks County Board of Com

CO M M U N I T Y

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missioners, City of Quitman officials, Brooks County Board of Education, as well as other local businesses and citizens of Brooks County; along with several grants and non-profit groups making several contributions as well.

This new facility will include a teen center, K-5 education center, aquatic center, and gymnasium.

In short, the remarkable new facilities will include everything needed to fuel an outstanding new afterschool program as well as sports training opportunities not available to the children of Brooks County until now. While this campaign and those working diligently to see this project through are well on their way to securing the $3 million dollars needed for completion of this incredible opportunity for Brooks County's youth, more members of the community are still needed and encouraged to assist in the completion of this project.

Although the Valdosta chapter is contracted as the umbrella to the Brooks County club and is taking the lead on this fundraising project and campaign, the longterm goal is to assist in helping the Brooks County chapter stand on its own to be an independent club under the Boys & Girls Club of America. This shift will occur when the Brooks County Club is in a position to operate and be successful on its own for years to come. For the families of Brooks County, the successful completion of this project will mean a place for their children to have a safe and healthy environment to grow and learn after school and during the summer. For the children of Brooks County, this means no dream is unobtainable.

If you are interested in donating or offering your assistance to this remarkable opportunity for Brooks County'syouth, please contact Cathy Parker of the Valdosta Boys and Girls Club at cparker@bgcvaldosta.org or 229-242-0676.

If you are interested in the programs currently being offered for the youth of Brooks County contact David DeSantiago at ddesantiago@bgcbrooks.org.

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A LOV E O F R E A D I N G

Little Libraries

Inspire

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Big Dreams STORY AND PHOTOS BY LINDSAY HERRING-RADOS

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eth Lee is many things: a Brooks County Middle School Language Arts teacher, a Brooks County and Valdosta State University Graduate, a friend, wife, mother of three, BETA Advisor, and now she adds “Literacy Advocate” to her list. Beth’s vision for the future of our community and our students is bright and focused on early literacy, where books are readily available to all children. To that end she has been constructing, stocking, maintaining, and sharing “Brooks County Little Libraries” throughout our community.

“I have taught all three grade levels at the Middle School, and reading has always been a struggle; thus I began to look for ways to help before the middle school transition, and found the key to be early literacy," Beth stated. After months of research, Beth discovered the first step on the road to early literacy begins with easy accessibility to books. On a trip to Atlanta with her

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husband, Reggie, she spotted a neighborhood little library. “A light bulb went off for me, I was so excited and began to talk about it with my friends, once word got out people started sending me pictures of libraries they saw; everyone was just as excited.”

The concept for the little libraries is simple; the libraries function on an honor system. Patrons visit the neighborhood libraries, exchange their personal book for one provided by the Brooks County Middle School Beta Club/community donations, or borrow a book for their reading pleasure.

Beth’s first step was funding the project. In 2015, she received the Robert Warde Chambers Brooks County Public Education Fund Grant, through the Community Foundation of South Georgia, Inc. The grant was to increase literacy for students and families in Brooks County, especially in areas with young children

who may not have access to the public library. Beth’s husband and fellow teacher, Reggie, built the original three libraries allowing the grant money to go towards purchasing books.

As the Brooks County Little Libraries began popping up, community support grew. Local businesses Shabby Chic, and SweetE’s Dance served as book donation locations. A book drive at SweetE’s inspired a student dancer, and one of Lee’s former students, MacKenna Fountain, to become more involved.

MacKenna began accepting book donations for the Brooks County Little Libraries Project through her group Ballerinas-for-Books. This project was a huge success and community members and dancers at SweetE’s Dance continue to make donations. With the help of her mother, Laura Weaver, MacKenna was able to add three little libraries constructed and donated by the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Recently, Beth and MacKenna attended the Back-to-School Bash and provided families with free books and signed-up families for the Brooks County Little Libraries on the road project which was launched in September. This initiative reaches families who do not live near our five locations yet want to have access to books and learning materials for their families.

It was formed through a partnership with Jewels-for-Julie, a nonprofit organization that encourages positive growth in young ladies throughout our community! Each Brooks County Little Library has an information box provided by the Brooks County Family Connections, one of the biggest sources of support and assistance for the program, which is filled with information on community activities and healthcare information.

Initially started for early readers, the inventory of the Little Libraries has expanded to include a variety of books for all ages.

Now, with locations at Northridge Crossing, Deer Creek (Troupeville), Veteran’s Park, Citizen’s National Bank, and Morven City Hall, visibility and excitement for the program has grown. Beth regularly has people reaching out to help us increase inventory by hosting online book parties where the hostess donates all books/prizes to the BC Little Libraries project. “Through these events, we’ve accumulated a collection of Usborne books that are a wonderful asset to the little libraries project,” Beth explained. Initially started for early readers, the inventory has expanded to include a variety of books for all ages.

and Kappa Eta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. One will be at the Quitman Church of God. The second location is yet to be determined. Another plan of the program is to build three bookshelves to place in local businesses as an extension of the BC Little Libraries project.

While the project has had challenges, especially vandalism, Lee is determined to ensure that each child has easy access to books. Beth is working to enhance the book exchange and return aspect. “I want to make a constant flow of books in and out of each library and to add more literacy activities to each library, specifically focusing on early literacy,” she explained.

Beth continues to be amazed at the community support the libraries have received and is inspired by the big impact these little libraries have had. “My main hope is for families to read more and I want the Little Libraries to facilitate that; ultimately I just want the libraries to be used and that all families realize they are there for them, I want to help create lovers of literacy.”

“My main hope is for families to read more and I want the Little Libraries to facilitate that; ultimately I just want the libraries to be used and that all families realize they are there for them, I want to help create lovers of literacy.” – Beth Lee

To learn more about the Brooks County Little Libraries Program or the initiative to bring books to families in and around Brooks County, visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BrooksCountyLitLib.

In 2017, two new libraries will be added through donations from Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. - Valdosta Alumnae Chapter Showcasing Your Community's Personality

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E D U C AT I O N

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Dr. Vickie Reed

New Brooks County School Superintendent STORY BY JANIE JONES

| PHOTOGRAPHY BY L.S. SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY

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hospitality.” She is grateful for the warm welcome she received from so many since her move from North Georgia.

Besides the warmer weather and proximity to the beaches, what prompted Dr. Reed to apply for Superintendent of Brooks County Schools? “I was looking for a new challenge in my life, and really wanted to work in a smaller system,” she says. “I am a believer in things that were meant to be, and I think it was meant for me to come here.” Her husband, Dale, and family were in support of the new adventure 100 percent. “That meant so much to me,” she adds. Dale is a self-employed contractor, and they have raised three outstanding children. Their son, Nick, is an orthopedic surgeon in Dalton, Georgia, and is married with three children (and one on the way.) Daughter Miranda Cleaver is an anesthesiologist and currently lives with her husband in Missouri, but will be moving to Cumming, Georgia soon. Their daughter Victoria Ashe and her husband, Travis, live in Murray County, where Victoria is a pharmacist.

She sees much of the same potential here. Her focus as Superintendent is improving the academic experience for all children. “I want them to be totally prepared to graduate and feel confident as they enter the field that they want to pursue,” she says. “Our job as educators in the public schools is to make sure that our students are secure with the academic background with which they have been provided.” Dr. Reed also wants to enhance students’ access to learning skilled trades by becoming industry certified in each of the vocational areas.

ntil last summer, Dr. Vickie Reed had called Murray County, Georgia her home for many years. Murray County is about as far north as you can go in our state and still be in it; it borders Tennessee and is in the western Blue Ridge mountain range. A change was coming, though…. in late June, she packed up and headed south to Brooks County, and now her home county borders another state line. The new location is much closer to the beaches, and that is a definite advantage. “I like warm weather, I like being near the ocean,” she says. The ice and snow in North Georgia present significant challenges for school officials there, but if recent history holds true, there won’t be much of that here.

Since moving to Brooks County, Dr. Reed has fallen in love with the community. “I am really enjoying the food here, and the quaintness of the town. And I have experienced true southern 72

Brooks County Living

Dr. Reed's journey in education began as a fourth-grade teacher in Murray County. She then served as Assistant Principal at the middle school, before landing at the Central Office, where she coordinated Curriculum for Pre-K—12th grades, the Gifted Program, Migrant Program, and ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages) Program. Dr. Reed then worked as Assistant Superintendent before serving for 12 years as Murray County School Superintendent. “I felt good about my years there; our graduation rate had improved, we were meeting our academic goals, and the finances were in good shape.” Dr. Reed attributes much of the success in Murray County to those she worked with. “We had a really great team in place,” she adds.

Perhaps most importantly, Dr. Reed wants to build relationships between the groups that will serve to strengthen the educational experience in Brooks County Schools. “I want everyone— parents, educators, students, the community—to be on the same bus, going in the same direction,” she says. “That is what will make the difference to the students we are preparing for life.”

Proud to Represent

QUITMAN & BROOKS COUNTY

PILATES • BOOT CAMP YOGA • ZUMBA inspire to move

Ellis Black

• S T A T E

(229) 263-2359 103 S. Culpepper Street

S E N A T O R •

Quitman, GA 31643

4 Years of Service in Our Community.

Thank You.

4 Years of Service in Our Community.

Thank You. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve you Thank for giving me the you andyou your family foropportunity the pastto4serve years.

I look forward to

and your family for the past 4 years. I look forward to working together with you toward your rtunity to serve you working together with you toward your financial goals in financial goals in the future. the future. s. I look forward to Brewer P Bentley your financial goals in

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219 EFinancial Screven St Advisor Quitman, GA 31643 .

229-263-4128

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219 E Screven St Quitman, GA 31643 229-263-4128

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Proudly representing Brooks, Thomas, and Lowndes Counties in the state House of Representatives

Open Daily Since 1913 Serving Breakfast

Monday thru Saturday 5:00-10:00am

Serving Lunch

Sunday thru Saturday 11:00am-2:00pm

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Classroom Teacher, Small Business Owner, and Mom

304 East Screven Street Quitman, Georgia 31643 229-305-6036

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that continually 306 East Screven St. Quitman, GA 31643 229.232.9106 facebook.com/sweetes 74

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(229) 263-8888 606 W. Screven Street • Quitman, GA 31643 Mon - Thurs 8 am - 4:30 pm • Fri 8 am - 12 noon

Success

MEDICINE

P

Is No Accident STORY BY L. STEPHANIE SMITH | PHOTOGRAPHY BY L. S. SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY

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here’s an old maxim that says, “Goals should be set in stone; plans should be set in sand.” Surely, no one epitomizes this saying better than Dr. Susan Harding. A successful life in the South was her goal, but how she planned to attain it changed the minute she fell in love with Quitman, Ga.

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Dr. Harding, known far and wide simply as “Doc”, knew at a very young age that she was called to practice in the medical field. She didn’t know how she was going to reach her goal, but she was determined that she would. She put herself through college and medical school. She endured residency and looked for a permanent position somewhere in the South, the land of her childhood.

She set her sights on a medical teaching job in Charleston, South Carolina, and figured that it would be a good idea to practice interviewing for the position. That’s when Quitman changed her plans.

“I came here to practice my interviewing skills. This,” she said, waving her hand to encompass her medical offices on Quitman’s historic North Court Street, “was all by accident. I meant to go to Charleston, but I took one look at this town, and knew it was the right place for me. The people were friendly, there was plenty of space, and I felt that Quitman was a gold mine, if you had a pickaxe and didn’t mind working hard.” That was over twenty-eight years ago, and she hasn’t looked back since.

She attributes her success to her willingness and ability to work hard; being available on evenings and weekends; to continuing to learn (and to learn from everybody); and to truly liking people and being able to relate to them. “Being able to relate to people is critical. This is a one-on-one business, despite the government referring to it as a ‘population business’. When a patient comes in, he’s not a ‘population’; he’s a person, and I treat him that way.”

Over the years, what started out as a typical medical practice has adapted to incorporate a non-traditional option for patients who don’t have insurance. “Too many people in this area can’t afford to go to most doctors’ offices. CashClinix was my solution to their need for medical care. With the insurance companies removed from the equation, I was able to lower my overhead expenses for that side of my business. For $40 cash on the barrel head, they can be seen and treated for most common health issues.”

When asked to describe what she thinks are the most common threats to good health, her answer is typically pithy: Gluttony and Sloth. “Everyone knows that real food is 76

Brooks County Living

good for you and that fake food is bad for you. Once you accept the real food idea, the only remaining question is ‘how much?’

If we eat real food in moderation and exercise in moderation, we’re generally better off.”

For now, she has a modest herd of beef cattle and dairy cows.

She enjoys being able to produce food, knowing how it was raised and fed. She believes that people should “eat closer to the earth”, and raising her own food is part of that philosophy.

How does she define moderation? “Eat one polite portion, not three. Aim to walk for 30 minutes on most days.” And, yes, she follows her own dictates by watching how much she eats, and by walking nearly every morning before heading to her office.

It’s part of why she also owns a flock of Katahdins, a breed of sheep that is known for its hardiness, resistance to parasites, and ease of keeping. One day, when she was horrified at the cost of lamb in the store and equally horrified at its flavor, she decided that enough was enough. It was time to raise her own lamb!

Most people are content with running one business, but not Doc. In addition to her medical practice, she has three others, and, according to her, they were accidents, too.

TSU grew out of her love for cows and her desire to raise highquality lamb. “I never do things the right way,” she laments. “I was doing charts, and the hospital administrator at the time was reading the classifieds to me. I ended up buying two calves, and I was hooked.” Fortunately for her, she learned (and continues to learn) everything she needed to know from the local farmers who were “happy to share their knowledge and expertise.”

She found another local farmer who was willing to help her select and raise the sheep, and yet another business was born by--yes, you guessed it---by accident. Doc intends to raise enough lamb to be able to sell it to local restaurants and grocery stores.

That part, at least, will be intentional.

In addition to raising her own food animals (“I grow eggs, too, but that’s not a business….yet…”), Doc has been a life-long gardener. When the opportunity to buy the local feed and garden center came up, she leapt at it.

When a patient comes in, he’s not a ‘population’; he’s a person, and I treat him that way.

While not technically an accident, it wasn’t planned for, either.

“It’s a polite little business that can provide a tidy income. The previous owner talked about closing it down. I couldn’t stand the idea of our town losing more jobs, and the Brooks County Feed and Garden Center provides things that the locals would otherwise have to get from outside the county.”

She wants to expand the inventory to include things for canning, small-scale gardening, and for making a healthier lifestyle possible. “It’s another way of helping people to live and eat closer to the earth. Older folks know where food comes from because they grew up growing their groceries. Kids today have no idea that mashed potatoes come from something other than flakes in a box.”

Her solution: container gardening. She’s developed a kit that includes a 12 square foot container, weed blocking fabric, and soil mix for growing your own fruits and vegetables. She sells them at the feed store.

Doc describes her horse business, Blue Heron Thoroughbreds, as “a major accident”. Her “childhood love of horses and a spare paycheck” led her to start a Thoroughbred horse racing business. It’s a soup-to-nuts kind of business, meaning that she breeds, raises, trains, and races the horses that she owns. “It’s a fascinating business because there’s so much to learn. The horses are so different from other breeds. It’s challenging, and you meet a wide cross-section of society in the horse racing industry.” So far, several of her horses have become winners, and more are in training.

The Scottish poet, Robert Burns, wrote that the best laid schemes of mice and men often go awry. Looking back on nearly thirty years of living in Brooks County, Doc waxes philosophical. “God puts you where you’re meant to be. I was supposed to be here. After all, where else could I live and go from my office to my farm in ten minutes?”

Nowhere but here, Doc. Showcasing Your Community's Personality

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GIVING BACK

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Kelly Hanks, Quitman-Brooks County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director

Photo by L.S. Smith Photography

Brooks County Is Not Just Where I’m From, It’s Who I Am. W

STORY BY LINDSAY HERRING-RADOS

inston Churchill once said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give,” and never has a quote so clearly defined a person’s character as this does for our newly appointed Quitman-Brooks County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Kelly Hanks.

Kelly is the daughter of Johnny and Janie Jones; Johnny is a life-long farmer and owner of Jones Southern Land Company, and Janie has been employed with the education system for the major part of her working career. Kelly is the wife of Bryan Hanks, a sales consultant with Cass Burch Chevrolet and they have two children Carson, age 9, and Brooklyn, age 7, both students at North Brooks Elementary School. A 2002 graduate

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of Westbrook School, Kelly later attended Georgia Southern University where she graduated with a major in Therapeutic Recreation in 2007, after which she began working with Special Olympics Georgia. After three very rewarding years with the Special Olympics, where she played an active part in planning five state competitions, assisting and managing local volunteers, and was instrumental in marketing, specifically in recruiting and guiding new local programs, Kelly obtained her Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist Certification and began working for Turning Point Care Center in Moultrie, Georgia. Following several years with Turning Point Care Center, Kelly wanted to be more involved in her own community and returned home by accepting the Activities Director position for the Presbyte

rian Homes of Georgia, Quitman campus. There she managed activities for more than 180 residents of varying stages of aging, by planning programs ranging from group activities to 1 to 1 sensory stimulation to improve their quality of life.

hancing relationships with seasoned members and creating new affiliations; growing existing programs and events while still sowing seeds for new ventures; and promoting Brooks County’s diverse offerings statewide.

Kelly's involvement with her community and specifically the Chamber are long-standing, beginning at a young age when she served on the inaugural Chamber’s Junior Board of Directors.

Following in the footsteps of her parents, Kelly quickly realized the value of community service and has since served on the Board of Directors for two years. For the past year, Kelly has served as Chairman-Elect for the Quitman-Brooks County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors where she has overseen and helped to organize the Annual Awards Banquet, 4 Season 4 Miler Race Series, Working Women’s Luncheon, Hot Summer Nights Auction, and the Annual Skillet Festival. Her countless number of volunteer hours have more than prepared her for the avenue ahead and as of November 1st, past Executive Director, Tiffany Holmes, officially handed the reins to her.

Kelly’s excitement for the direction of the Chamber is contagious as she quotes, “Being born and raised in Brooks County has given me a deep seeded love of our community, and I am excited to work for and with you for many years to come. I warmly welcome all of Brooks County to join our ever growing Chamber family as an individual or business representative.”

Thanks to Tiffany and Executive Assistant Deborah O’Neal’s extensive groundwork, Kelly looks to the future of the Chamber with excitement and vigor. She will conclude 2016 by organizing the Nationally Recognized Small Business Saturday; a program sponsored by American Express which focuses on shopping locally the Saturday following Black Friday. Kelly hopes that Brooks County’s support of the program will keep valuable tax dollars local and will encourage cohesiveness throughout the community in support of small businesses. Kelly’s main goal in heavily promoting and encouraging participation for Small Business Saturday is to further engage the community to look towards local retail opportunities before venturing outside of Brooks County.

A very exciting 2017 is in store thanks to the past works of Tiffany Holmes and Deborah O'Neal and the enthusiasm of our new Director, Kelly Hanks; and as the new Chamber motto; "Brooks County is not just where we're from, it's who we are;" suggests it is a wonderful time to be more active in our community. To keep up with all of the sensational activities the Quitman-Brooks County Chamber of Commerce has prepared for 2017, please visit the Chamber's website: www.qbcchamber. com, or by following their Facebook and Instagram pages.

Kelly, an entrepreneur herself, is passionate in her desire to promote our community, stating: "Supporting local business is vital to the continued growth of our community as a whole. Our Brooks County small and large businesses do so much to support our citizens, local school programs, and individuals and are the cornerstone of our community. When we invest our dollars locally, we are making a direct investment in our future.”

Kelly’s hope is that 2017 will be another banner year for the Quitman-Brooks County Chamber of Commerce. Her goals for the year include: widening the reach of the Chamber through en-

Photo by Candi Clarke

Kelly Banks and Tiffany Holmes, Director of the Brooks County Development Authority, share office space and work closely together to move Brooks County forward and support business and industry.

am most excited to help cultivate the feeling of "home" citizens and visitors feel the moment they cross our " Icounty lines. From shopping and dining in our beautiful downtown districts to appreciating the hard work and

tenacity of our local farmers and agricultural businesses, to the amazing reach and impact our industries have nationwide; I am honored to be a part of all the richness Brooks County has to offer.

"

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BROOKS

COUNTY Living

Photography by L.S. Smith Photography

Index of Advertisers 60 73 7 28, 29 BC 1 47 54 14 59 IBC 3 41 21 42 21 42, 66 IFC 60 66

Ameris Bank Brewer Bentley-Edward Jones Brooks County Board of Education Brooks County Chamber of Commerce Brooks County Development Authority Brooks County Farm Bureau Brooks County Hospital BTW Funeral Home City of Quitman Colony Bank Crown Laundry Cunningham's & Sons Destination Brooks First Baptist Quitman Holwell & Fletcher Leanna Pledger State Farm Lee & Pickels L.S. Smith Photography McDonald Realty Mystic Pools

59 54 73 5 36 47 48 74 73 48 66 73 74 36 74 22 74 41

Nicole Leigh Photography Out on a Whim Owens Propane Presbyterian Home Quitman Country Club Quitman-Brooks County Museum Quitman Eyecare Royal CafĂŠ Senator Ellis Black Shabby Chic Showcase Publications, Inc. Southern Sky Fitness State Representative Amy Carter Stone's Home Centers Sweet E's Dance Studio The Citizens National Bank The Nightingale Clinic Wiregrass Technical College

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Brooks County Living Magazine