Okefenokee Living - Summer 2023

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are Ste any and Cam Wheeler with their daughters, Cooper and Connor, on the porch of Cotton Blue Cottage, their home in Alma. Photos by Joy Sumner Photography (See story on page 49).

SUMMER/FALL 2023

HOME & GARDEN

49 COTTON BLUE COTTAGE

Ste any and Cam Wheeler’s Famous Farmhouse-Style Cottage in Alma

58 A FRESHER LOOK ON TRADITIONAL STYLE

Design Tips from Lott’s Furniture Interior Designer Lindsey Bacon

Profiles

65 JIM BENNETT’S JOURNEY TO THE FRIENDLY SKIES United Airlines Captain is an Avid Aviator and Devoted Family Man

69 FIELD OF DREAMS

New Facility Gives Miracle League Players a Home of Their Own

70 CHAMPS AT LAST Ware County Gators Achieve Perfect Season, First State Title

73 DON BERRYHILL

A Passion for the Okefenokee

76 A BANK WHERE EVERYBODY KNOWS YOUR NAME Waycross Bank & Trust Celebrates 35 Years

78 HOSPICE SATILLA JUNIOR BOARD Making a Di erence in Other’s Lives

80 2 FRIENDS, 4 WHEELS, BOUNDLESS FAITH

Two Friends set for Cross-Country Bike Trip to Benefit Childhood Cancer

85 WELDING EDUCATION ON THE MOVE

CPTC’s Mobile Welding Lab Takes Training to You

86 CHANGE AGENT

Jason Rubenbauer – An Enthusiastic Champion for Business and Industry

Two Artists Inspire Through Their Mural

Left to right: J. Matthew Valosen, MD, Kyle Deuter, PA-C, Thomas P. Loumeau, MD, Brian T. Grisez, MD, J. Lex Kenerly, III, MD, G. Heath Denmark, PA-C, W. Scott Rowell, PA, T. Jordan Polander, MD

FROM THE PUBLISHERS

Nomatter how many issues we publish, we are still amazed with the unique stories about the most intriguing people and interesting subjects we get to tell.

In this issue we’re introducing Brandon Chonko as our newest contributor. His writing has been featured in Garden & Gun and he shares with our readers an essay about a father reflecting on making memories with his sons – something all fathers can relate to. Another regional journalist and sports enthusiast, John DuPont, shares “A Bulldog Fan’s L.A. Story,” about his trip to the national championship game.

The Okefenokee region is bustling with activity and growth. Downtown Homerville has undergone a strategic planning process for the revitalization of its downtown area. Homerville Main Street is working with local entrepreneurs and other agencies to implement tremendous changes. Read

about two entrepreneurs and longtime friends who are at the heart of the changes.

In Home & Garden we feature Ste any and Cam Wheeler’s Cotton Blue Cottage in Alma, which has been featured on the cover of a national magazine and built for a family with deep roots in Bacon County. Of course, our long-time partner and advertiser, Lott’s Furniture, provides an article with tips on a fresh look on traditional style.

You’ll also enjoy scenes from a beautiful hometown wedding, enlightening profiles, the art and culture section, and look to see if you’ve been SEEN in our social pages.

We want to recognize the dedicated work of Allen Allnoch, managing editor. This is our second issue with him leading the way, and the changes and nuances he’s implementing are making OL Magazine even better. And kudos to Allen for being presented the GEM (Going the Extra Mile) Award by the Waycross-Ware County Chamber. We agree that he is very deserving!

There are many people who make every issue possible. Our writers, designers, contributors, and supporters provide us with great story ideas. None of it would be possible though without the advertisers (see Index of Advertisers on the last page). Please support these great local and regional businesses and SHOP LOCAL!

Happy reading and have a fun, safe summer!

John & Connie Riddle

@okefenokeelivingmagazine

Summer/Fall 2023

PUBLISHERS : John F. & Connie K. Riddle Showcase Publications, Inc.

MANAGING EDITOR: Allen Allnoch

CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Robin Harrison

COVER PHOTO: Joy Sumner Photography

DESIGNERS: Robin Harrison Russ Hutto

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHERS: Allen Allnoch / AHA! Photography Joy Sumner Photography

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS:

Rick Head

Wayne Morgan

Scott Behan – Shutterly Perfect

Madison Carter Photography

US Fish & Wildlife Service

Gene Bednarek

Marilyn Bennett

Brittany Jury

Graham Gillem

Blue Creek Photography

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:

Cyle Augusta Lewis

John Riddle

Allen Allnoch

Katie Stewart

Sherri L. McLendon

John DuPont

Wayne Morgan

Lindsey Bacon

Brandon Chonko

Megan Piper White

Patrick Simmons

OLOkefenokee Living is published semi-annually by Showcase Publications, Inc. (912) 559-2045 – P.O. Box 391 Jesup, GA 31598 www.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 e ort 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.

Okefenokee Living is published bi-annually. To advertise contact Connie Riddle (912-424-8772) or criddle@showcasepublicationsga.com. To ensure you get a copy, purchase a subscription on-line at showcasepublicationsga.com or use the subscription form in the magazine.

Connnie & John Riddle

Allen Allnoch, Managing Editor, OL Magazine

A BULLDOG FAN’S

IT BEGAN WITH A SIMPLE TEXT in the waning moments of the Peach Bowl: “If the Dawgs win, I’ll be cashing in air miles to get to L.A. Then I’ll be like Rudy, trying to bribe a stadium guard with $20 to get into the game.”

My best friend, Tony Waller, was on the receiving end. We grew up playing rec football and rooting for the Georgia Bulldogs together. We both graduated from UGA and once broadcast high school football games together. Tony still lives in the Classic City, working as an assistant dean at the UGA School of Law. He rarely misses a game, home or away, and he was at the Dawgs’ national title games following the 2017 and 2021 seasons. There was no question Tony had something in the works. He was smart enough to know, too, that I was sni ng in earnest.

“I’ve got a ticket for you if you can make it,” came the surprising response.

Kristin, Tony’s wife and another longtime dear friend, had a work conflict on the day of the national championship game. Having attended

L.A.

yStreturn to PCHS came the debut of one who would go on to stardom: Stetson Bennett IV. I taught Stet in senior English and called his first varsity touchdown pass, followed by 94 more.

UGA’S SECOND CONSECUTIVE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP WAS EXTRA SPECIAL FOR PATTERSON’S JOHN DUPONT. HERE’S HIS ACCOUNT OF THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME.

UGA’S SECOND CONSECUTIVE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP WAS EXTRA SPECIAL FOR BLACKSHEAR’S JOHN DUPONT. HERE’S HIS ACCOUNT OF A TRIP OF A LIFETIME.

the Dawgs’ title game the previous season in her home state of Indiana, she was quite enthusiastic about me pinch hitting.

My chances to see the Dawgs play in person have been few since the every-Saturday run I had while working the Athens radio scene from 2001-05. In 2012 the road for yours truly circled back to my alma mater of Pierce County High School, where I teach and carry out football play-byplay broadcast duties. A year after my

Throughout Stet’s college run, though, I had seen him play only once in person: a 56-7 victory over UAB in 2021. It was the first college football game for my son, Daniel, to attend, and one in which Stet threw a UGA-record five scoring tosses in the first half. From that point on, he was the guy. Now, old No. 13 was suiting up for the Dawgs one last time, and I didn’t want to miss it.

As fans scrambled for flights, I redeemed airline miles my wife and I had accrued through educational travel. Going to the game meant me taking personal leave for the first two days of spring semester. In fact, several teachers from Pierce County were going to support Stet, including Kelly Veal. I’ve known Kelly and her husband, Todd, for years, and it was a pleasure sharing flights with them from Jacksonville to Newark and on to L.A. While other Georgia fans talked

John DuPont and lifelong friend Tony Waller celebrate UGA’s national championship at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium.

excitedly, the Veals and I shared firsthand memories of Stet.

Arriving Sunday afternoon, Tony picked me up at LAX in a rented car. He had spent the week on law school business in San Diego, where he joined two other friends from UGA, Wayne Williams and Ti any Williams (no relation). That saved me the chore of getting an Uber.

Another key part of the group’s prudent planning was the choice of lodging: an Airbnb rental, which was a virtual steal at $500 for two nights. This particular dwelling was less than a mile from SoFi Stadium, site of the Georgia-TCU match-up. Fine dining is another angle my hosts tend to avoid, opting instead to shop at local markets and cook. One exception was made, though: At my request, we stopped at California-famous In-N-Out Burger.

With a no-tailgating mandate in e ect and cold, rainy conditions, our pre-game activities included watching ESPN at the Airbnb and calling my old radio station in Athens, 960 The Ref. The 4:30 p.m. local kicko was right in the wheelhouse of SEC fans, who were accustomed to building their gameday regimen around the coveted 3:30 regular-season slot. The walk to the stadium was brisk and we readily made friends with other barking redand-black faithful.

Before kicko , we met up with Mack Williams, a fellow PCHS graduate now

living in New York. Then we settled in for the game. The Dawgs quickly built up a 38-7 halftime lead and victory seemed familiarly imminent when I got a text from another former student working the game for the UGA football video crew.

C.J. Barrett and Ethan Lowman had both earned state championship rings as film crewmen for PCHS football in 2020, and they followed that up with national championship rings for UGA in 2021. C.J. didn’t make the trip to Indianapolis the previous year, so the L.A. trip marked his first time flying. He made his way to our seats and we visited for the better part of halftime, an unexpected perk that made the trip that much more special.

The second half started and it wasn’t a matter of if, but when, Coach Kirby Smart would give Stet a curtain call. When Kirby finally called timeout, I teared up knowing this would be the last time Stet would walk o a college playing field.

Once the Dawgs put the wraps on a 65-7 victory, Tony and I hung out at the stadium for the post-game festivities before hoofing it back to the Airbnb in the rain. A hot sandwich, hot shower, and a change of clothes awaited me before catching an Uber for an 11 p.m. redeye, but not before talking on Tony’s podcast, “Waiting Since Last Saturday.”

“Surreal” is how Tony described the

experience. “Georgia fans waited so long near – but not on – the top of the sport,” he said. “As fun it was as seeing Georgia win in Indy, being in L.A. for such a dominant win was beautiful.”

Hundreds of fans – mostly for UGA – swelled LAX that night, and I fist-bumped many of them, including Je rey Sloan and Stuart Stipe. Stuart is a fellow Pierce County teacher who coached Stet in high school. Like me, he had largely eschewed the tourist angle with no regrets.

“Everything we did rotated around the game,” he said. “I crossed paths with UGA fans, many from South Georgia and Blackshear, and seeing familiar faces before, during, and after the game was a strong case of smalltown pride. I was excited for Stetson, his brother Luke, and Ware County standout Henry Bates, and it made my trip a lifelong memory.”

Indeed, it was the trip of a lifetime. Even if Georgia finds its way back to another title game and I gather the resources to go again, I likely won’t have the vested interest I had on this trip. My sons are still young, though, and if they take a shine to the game, we’ll keep all options on the table.

According to Ti any Williams, it never gets old. “Traveling with people who are like family for the shared experience of football,” she said, “is what this is all about.” OL

John and Todd Veal (with Todd’s wife, Kelly) sported “Mailman” hats in honor of UGA quarterback Stetson Bennett while traveling together. The Blackshear trio flew from Jacksonville to Newark, then on to LA.

PHOTO BY JOHN DUPONT

Tony Waller watches highlights of Stetson Bennett in the Airbnb rental he and John shared near SoFi Stadium.

PHOTO BY JOHN DUPONT

John reconnects with a former student, 2021 Pierce County High graduate C.J. Barrett, who was working the championship game for the UGA video crew.

PHOTO BY TONY WALLER

These Are the Good Old Days

A Father Reflects on Making Memories with His Sons

Iloaded up my oldest boy and some bikes in the ol’ yacht and headed to Cumberland. It was a windy late winter day. The type of day where it’s too warm for a jacket on land and absolutely frigid on the water. I could tell by his blank stare into the horizon that he was really having a ball. No sir, he’s not a boy anymore. No longer is it easy.

Thirteen. You remember that age. I sure do. The first mile marker of what can only be described as a truly rough stretch of life. Hair starts sprouting. You might or might not get body odor. And don’t get me started on your newfound attraction to girls. Nothing makes sense and you have no clue why or how you feel the rainbow of emotions you feel over any given five minutes of time.

The motor died in the middle of the Intracoastal, which woke us both up. Good waves, pushing and pulling on Ben Gardner’s Boat like hands tugging from the ocean herself. That’s what I call my johnboat – Ben Gardner’s Boat. It’s a nod to the moment in “Jaws” when Chief Brody realizes he’s got a large shark on his hands, and – cue the dramatic music – it’s just made a meal out of Ben Gardner and his boat.

Written By BRANDON CHONKO

Illustration by ROBIN HARRISON

But waves be damned, we made it. We wandered a bit. Made small talk. I was reminded of going to the Grand Canyon with my family at his age. I spent the entire time walking up and down that marvel of creation, arguing with my old man about why I couldn’t have long hair. I briefly brought this memory up. I told him how I now regret it, but at the time it made sense.

Indeed, every 13-year-old needs an

adversary, and for a lot of us, Dad fits the bill. Furthermore, I explained I have broad shoulders and don’t get my feelings hurt easily, so it’s totally cool to act like you don’t like me. Comes with the territory. We had some laughs and made it back without any major issues.

As we approached the ramp in St. Marys, I told him, “Just be glad I didn’t use this as an opportunity to tell you everything you never wanted to know about sex.” He looked uncomfortable, which I found a great deal of solace in. See, an adversary isn’t stagnant. No sir. An adversary has but one job: to keep you on your toes. So as my long hair blew, I thought of my old man, and my son, and the eternal mystery of the teen years, and if I never was before, I sure was glad to be well past those years. I’ll be back to ride again. I’m sure he will too.

school seemed to last an eternity, yet the first 10 or 11 years of fatherhood go by in a lightning-quick haze.

I’m a farmer. A full-time farmer. I love my job and I love the land, but I’d be lying if I told you it wasn’t completely consuming. It’s a marriage. A love a air with dirt. I try to involve my kids as much as I can. It’s not easy and it’s certainly not always pretty. Just ask them how they heard some of the choicest swear words the first time. And the second. And the hundredth. We raise cows and hogs and seasonal produce. Few mammals can pull the poetic prose of the four-letter words out of a man quite like a hog.

Sometimes I’m lucky and get to spend time on Cumberland. Other times I’m bound to agrarian duties, and I’ll wrangle time by coercing some help. Agriculture is great, but it definitely takes a ton of withdrawals out of my life. When it comes to planting corn and life experiences, I consider this a deposit. We get the dirt tilled and ready. Then it’s time to plant the seed. I drop ’em, he pushes ’em in –silver queen corn spaced perfectly, then pushed to just the right depth by dirty 11-year-old fingers.

father and son, planting silver queen corn in early April.

The seeds are tucked in tight and, with a little luck, will be consumed eagerly in June. The arrival of the yellow flies will signal the harvest and under those long days of early summer we will reap a king’s ransom of sweet corn where there is now just a field of buried seeds marked only by our footprints. Growing food is indeed magical.

Sowing More Than Seed

Time is precious, but I didn’t fully grasp that until my oldest boy was well over 10 years old. When they’re babies it seems like it’ll last forever. Welcome to the rest of your life. You’ll be like Hansel and Gretel, finding your way out of the forest of sleepless nights by following the trail of soiled diapers. Before you know anything, a decade has passed in a complete whirlwind. It ba es me how the four years of high

My middle child is an expert seeder. He’ll ask a couple times why I don’t buy a planter. I’ll respond a couple times that he’s better than any machine or implement. And besides, we are making memories, and one day when I’m old and my back hurts, you’ll remember me as a supreme corn dropper, tan and strong, my blood pumping nicotine and testosterone, and I will remember you as a boy, young and curious and kind, with black feet and a good arm, and I’ll speak of your corn pushing prowess. I’ll tell your kids about you and you’ll tell them about me, and in that way they’ll be able to know us both not as we are in that future moment, but as we are now,

He’s getting pretty close to the age when he’s gonna start bucking me, throwing the heavy yoke of his old man o and charging towards independence. It’s bittersweet. You long for the boy to find himself as a man, but damn how you’ll miss the boy. Those days of changing diapers went by so quick, and with the gift of hindsight, I now understand why people tell you to enjoy it while it lasts. OL

His writing has been published in Garden & Gun and he is co-host of the “Streak of Lean” podcast. Follow him on Instagram @GrassrootsFarmsGA and Twitter @GApasturedbirds.

“Every 13-year-old needs an adversary, and for a lot of us, Dad fits the bill. Furthermore, I explained I have broad shoulders and don’t get my feelings hurt easily, so it’s totally cool to act like you don’t like me. Comes with the territory.”

Brandon Chonko is owner of Grassroots Farms in Waverly.

“I’ll tell your kids about you and you’ll tell them about me, and in that way they’ll be able to know us both not as we are in that future moment, but as we are now, father and son, planting silver queen corn in early April.”

We're Here When You Need Us.

When important health decisions have to be made, Memorial Satilla Health can help. We understand that healthcare is more than just medicine. It’s a loving touch, an encouraging word, an attentive ear. Because our wish is to keep patients and families at the center of all we do.

Connect with one of our physicians at MemorialSatillaHealth.com.

Feel Better Bot Helps Patients Do Just That –Feel Better

Robotic-assisted surgery is the latest advancement in the field of minimally invasive or laparoscopic surgery at Memorial Satilla Health

At Memorial Satilla Health, we’re committed to helping patients get well quickly. With the help of our newest minimally-invasive surgery technologies, patients are experiencing shorter hospital stays, faster recovery times, and less pain.

The ‘Feel Better Bot,’ deployed in the operating room earlier this year, was named by Elsie Middleton, a third grader at Nahunta Primary School.

“As part of HCA Healthcare, we have access to more resources, better technologies, and more possibilities for everyone who walks through our doors – like our new robotic surgical system. The addition of this technology will be a great asset to the communities we serve,” said CEO Dale Neely.

Robotic-assisted surgery is the latest advancement in the field of minimally invasive or laparoscopic surgery. Compared with open surgery, minimally invasive surgery enables the surgeon to operate through small incisions using a camera to view the surgical site on a video monitor and using laparoscopic instruments.

"The progression of surgery over the last 30 years has been towards treating surgical disease in the least invasive manner possible.” says Dr. David Wykstra, general surgeon.

One of the things people ask about robotassisted surgery is – who is in control? The answer is that your surgeon is always 100 percent in control of the surgical tools and process. In other words, there are no literal "robots" involved, just surgeon-controlled robotic equipment.

“Robotic surgery helps minimize trauma to the patient while still treating the disease process appropriately. I am excited that we are able to o er this amazing advancement in surgical technology here in Waycross,” Wykstra adds.

During robotic-assisted procedures, surgeons do not move laparoscopic instruments directly, rather they sit at a console near the operating table. At the console, they view a magnified, high resolution 3-D image of the surgical site while operating the controls.

“For the community Memorial Satilla serves,

it means another great tool in the hands of physicians you already know and trust, and potentially even more options for specialty care,” says Dr. Sigismund Lee, general surgeon with Memorial Satilla Specialists – Advanced Surgery.

Robotic surgical systems allow your surgeon to have greater accuracy and control during your surgery. They enable surgeons to work more carefully and closely in delicate, complex areas of your body, such as your blood vessels and internal organs.

“With this improved technology, we can now o er a larger variety of procedures and cut down on the potential recovery time for more complex cases,” Lee continues.

Memorial Satilla’s Surgical Services Director DeVonya Franzen has observed many advancements in surgical technology over the last 30 years.

“When I first started here, laparoscopic procedures were on the rise. It now accounts for the majority of our volume. I think this newest technology is the future of our operating room. We’ll get better and better at utilizing this minimally-invasive technology, and one day the majority of our procedures will be done this way,” Franzen says.

Feel Better Bot is the second of its kind to be deployed at Memorial Satilla in recent months. Currently, it is utilized primarily for general surgery procedures; another system assists with orthopedic procedures such as hip and knee replacements. The system will also be utilized for colon resections and gynecological procedures in the near future.

That system is guided by a CT scan of each patient and knows exactly what cuts to make so the replacement joint best fits the patient, essentially creating a one-of-a-kind

joint perfectly tailored for each patient. With its increased precision, this minimally invasive technology improves recovery outcomes for hip and knee replacements.

With all its advantages, robotic-assisted surgery may not be the best method for every patient. Ask your doctor what options are best for you.

To learn more about surgical services at Memorial Satilla Health, visit memorialsatillahealth.com.

What It Means for the Patient

In addition to less pain and quicker recovery times, benefits of minimally invasive robotic surgery can also include:

• Reduced trauma to the body

• Reduced blood loss and need for transfusion

• Lower risk of infection

• Less post-operation medication

• Fewer scars

• Three-dimensional high-definition magnified images allow surgeons to see in greater detail

• Greater range of motion than traditional laparoscopic surgery.

ABOVE Memorial Satilla Health CEO Dale Neely, and Chevy, Jennifer, Jeb and Elsie Middleton are pictured with a framed photo of Elsie’s coloring page and winning name ‘Feel Better Bot’ for the hospital’s newest surgical robotic system. Photos by Allen Allnoch, AHA! Photography

ABOVE Elsie Middleton sits at the controls of a surgical robotic system, during a demonstration event held at Memorial Satilla Health.

Story by SHERRI L. MCLENDON | Photo by ALLEN ALLNOCH / AHA! Photography

Michael-Angelo James

BRIDGE-BUILDING MAYOR

Ware County Native Leads by Listening, Serving and Valuing Everyone He Meets

HEAVEN ON EARTH FOR MICHAEL-ANGELO JAMES may be as simple as a comfortable, lamp-lit reading chair within arm’s reach of an endless shelf of good books. For the rest of us, it may be di cult to imagine how the self-described “thought curator” finds the time to read.

“Readers are leaders,” says James. “Leaders are readers. So you’ve got to read. It’s necessary.”

By anyone’s standard, the Waycross Mayor is an accomplished, respected leader with a calm, thoughtful presence that stands him in good stead as a public moderator. Now in his fourth year of o ce, he’s known for the attentiveness with which he listens to his constituents, an increasingly rare trait among those who hold public o ce.

“One of the ways to approach active leadership is through active listening,” James says. “Growing people by hearing their hearts, listening to their voices, and seeing where they are.”

James uses active listening the way other people use search engines – or in another century, card catalogs. He allows others to show him things he didn’t know before. That wide-lens exposure has the ability to change his

– and others’ – ways of thinking about public service.

“Service is time you give of yourself because you care for the community you live in,” James says. “When I have the opportunity to listen to people and share with them, I can do more for them.”

Sowing seeds of opportunity for people and communities makes a brighter future possible. Most times, he believes, whatever we give to others comes back to us later. These days, even a smile or thanks or acknowledgement is enough to make a di erence in the lives of others, he says.

The Path to Active Listening

James’ father, Sylvester “Red” James, 84, of Waycross, recalls vividly the day when baby Michael-Angelo came into the world, weighing only 2 pounds,

8 ounces. Those first weeks, spent in an incubator, were touch and go. Five months later, Red and his wife, Juanita, finally were able to bring the infant home.

A quiet, introverted child who struggled with a stutter, James preferred to spend more time alone with his books and his thoughts than with others. As a boy, Red would see his son “with his Bible or with his dog,” but always o by himself.

“I’d take him fishing, and he’d go on the other side of the pond; he’d go somewhere else,” Red recalls. That choice, however, paid o . “He caught the biggest bass, going o a long ways.”

When Mayor James reflects on his childhood, he feels deep gratitude for the parents who insisted that he feel included and valued.

“My family didn’t want me to feel left out. They would ask me questions,

ABOVE AND RIGHT Mayor James actively listens to residents and community leaders. Here he chats with restaurant owner Marla Howell while Jessica Cobb and Dorothy Riggs wait to say hello Photo by Nygel Simms; and shares a laugh with Coastal Pines Technical College President Lonnie Roberts and Waycross-Ware County Chamber of Commerce President Hannah Grant. Photo by Allen Allnoch

get me to think about things,” he says.

When he was 6, his parents enrolled him at Saint Joseph’s Academy. Father Michael O’Keefe, a parish priest and teacher, made it a point to listen to Michael-Angelo and engage him in conversation on a regular basis. O’Keefe also helped the young student accept his speech impediment.

“The ability to be very patient with people when having di culty saying things, to take the time and listen … you have an easier time doing it when you’ve experienced it for yourself,” James says.

Michael-Angelo shared a bedroom

with his younger brother, Mark Anthony James, 55, also of Waycross, who remembers another significant turning point in his brother’s life.

“I was 10 years old, and he was 11 about to turn 12,” Mark Anthony recalls. “My mother and father had us get down on our knees to do our prayers on the side of the bed, like most children do.”

When his brother got up on that particular night, he was in tears.

“I asked what it was,” Mark

says. “So he says, ‘I’ve been called to the ministry.’

I said, ‘You probably need to go in

Anthony

ABOVE Sylvester “Red” James, the late Juanita James, and their children Mark Anthony and Michael-Angelo.

Photo courtesy of Michael-Angelo James

“He doesn’t tell people how it’s going to be; he asks how they would like it to be.” – Dr. William Clark

ABOVE The Mayor’s Youth Council enables local high school students to participate in local government and community a airs. First row: Dallas Benefield, Leo Gardner, BranDasja Smith, Jontasia  White, and Jaylen McGuale. Second row: City Commissioners Katrena Felder and Sheinita Bennett; local youth advocate King Goree; Mayor James; and Commissioners Henry Strickland and Norman Davis. Photo by Patrick Simmons

and talk to Mama about it.’ I was a smart little fella myself, and I knew that was unusual.”

He was right. His mother knew exactly what to do next.

“Mama said, ‘Alright take him to the pastor and have him talk with him about it.”

Mentored by Missionary Baptist Pastor Eugene James Menefee, Michael-Angelo entered the ministry at age 12, then faced his trial sermon and was licensed at 14. He was ordained in the ministry at 17, gaining an extraordinary opportunity to minister to people at an early age. In 1980, he became one of the youngest preachers in the Southeast, traveling to churches where he was invited to minister – and speak.

Soon, the stutter would no longer be an issue. His family “wouldn’t allow me to be less-than and wanted me to do more,” he says. “The impediment turned into a great helper.”

The Path of Public Service

When James qualified to run for mayor, he was surprised when no one else qualified. He immediately was recognized as the mayor-elect.

“I don’t know whether to o er congratulations or condolences,” one friend said. But in his heart, James knew that serving as the 66th Mayor of

Waycross would be a good thing.

“Every person is valuable in our city, no matter who they are or where they are located,” he says.

Mayor James finds that citizens who attend meetings often provide new knowledge or insight that was previously lacking.

“Every person brings light to the room because of their value,” he says. “Without that, there is darkness. If we blend all our lights together, we light up our town.”

After any given Waycross City Commission meeting, he’ll take time to shake hands and talk to people, building camaraderie and consensus one person at a time.

These days, Waycross is becoming ever-more vibrant, thanks to interagency cooperation and the influx of new businesses into downtown. James remains convinced that the team approach is the way forward.

“As a team, I want us to reach out to bring in the resources that are

available to our city,” he says. “We need to help people thrive and survive together.”

James is banking on the great things about Waycross: the hospitality, the kindness, the experience of living, growing, working and playing there. Crime rates and unemployment are down, entrepreneurialism is up.

“If there’s something to do, it’s just a matter of doing it,” says James, who is running for re-election in the 2023 mayoral race. “The ability to do it is here. In time, the Waycross I see will be a greater Waycross, and a greater place than today.”

City meetings with the mayor and City Commission are known to “get you in a good mood,” says James. “People who leave our meetings speak well of us. We have robust meetings that bring out a lot of passionate energy.”

To ensure its citizens’ voices are heard, Waycross relies on the Decorum, or Article 2, Section 2-66, of

ABOVE Mayor James has made countless appearances as a public speaker since overcoming a stutter and becoming a minister as a teenager.

Photo by Marquis Carloso, Berrari Films

RIGHT Mayor James has built relationships with leaders at all levels of government, including U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter.

Photo courtesy of the O ce of Buddy Carter

the Municipal Code. Essentially, the Decorum informs meeting attendees on how to interact e ectively with the mayor and commission. In return, they will be heard with consideration, civility, and respect.

Mayor James includes the Decorum on most meeting agendas. He also dresses and conducts himself professionally, because “I represent a city that I want to see do well, and that’s why I do what I do.”

The Path that Bridges the Future

William Clark, Ph.D., a past member of the University of Georgia Board of Regents and the current chairman of the Okefenokee Swamp Park Board of Directors, says he admires Mayor James’ e ective leadership style and ability to keep an open mind when new alternatives are being presented.

“He doesn’t tell people how it’s going to be; he asks how they would like it to be,” Clark says.

Recently, the Waycross-Ware County Development Authority – whose board Clark also serves on –considered making incentives to bring a solar project to the area. Clark recalls the proposal as complex and potentially problematic.

“Mayor James was very concerned that we write into the proposal what would happen after the panels were used up, so that they would not just be deserted,” he says. “He did not want to pollute the environment with heavy

A Man of Many Interests

When not leading the City of Waycross, Mayor James cherishes time spent with his father; his son, retired Army Captain Marshall James, of Ludowici; and his seven grandchildren.

On any given day, he may also be found teaching sociology and job acquisition skills at Coastal Pines Technical College, ministering as a Bishop to several regional churches, and writing about faith and leadership. He also was the inspiration behind the creation of a book by City of Waycross sta members that details biographical information on the Mayors of Waycross.

An avid reader, James lists the following (in addition to the Bible) as favorite books:

“The Making of a Leader” – Frank Damazio

“The McDonaldization of Society” – George Ritzer

“Winning with People” – John C. Maxwell

“The Energy Bus” – Jon Gordon

“The 7 Habits of Highly E ective People” – Stephen R. Covey

“Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun” – Wess Roberts

James also is a talented saxophonist, a pursuit that dates to his grade school days, including four years in the renowned “Pride of Waycross” Marching Band at Waycross High. He’s pictured here performing at the Annual JFly Music Festival in Waycross’ Phoenix Park.

metals, or see the community end up with short-term gains and a long-term disadvantage.”

Deliberation and consideration are hallmarks of James’ representation of the interests of the diverse inhabitants of the City of Waycross. At the last census, the city housed slightly fewer than 14,000 persons. Of those, about 56 percent are African American, while 36 percent are white.

Regardless of ethnicity, James

notes that Waycross is made up of people who value one another, getting together and getting along. The city’s activities are integrated, not divided. Conversations are often about ways to make things better for the community through finding common ground.

“I’m a bridge builder who brings people together, not tears them apart,” he says. “When I meet someone, I see them as worthy of conversation and presence.” OL

“Every person brings light to the room because of their value. Without that, there is darkness. If we blend all our lights together, we light up our town.”

Photo by Untamed Royalty

Since 1986, Hospice Satilla has provided the highest quality of compassionate care to our friends and neighbors in Ware, Pierce, Atkinson, Bacon, Brantley, Charlton, Clinch and Coffee counties.

Hospice Satilla, Inc. is a non-profit community-based organization that cares for people who are battling a disease that will not benefit from further aggressive treatment. We are one of the only hospice agencies in Southeast Georgia to provide all four levels of hospice as defined by Medicare. This is important because pa-

Quality

tients experiencing acute symptoms can be cared for in our general inpatient unit, the Donald Waters Center for Caring (a.k.a. Hospice House), instead of being admitted to the hospital.

We want you to know that receiving hospice care does not mean giving up hope, or that death is imminent. Our mission is to help our patients live well and provide grief support and education to families prior to and after the loss of a loved one. Thanks to the generosity of the James Carl Jones, Jr. family, we opened a counseling center on our campus to host

these important grief support events and educational workshops.

Our care team is comprised of physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains, home health aides, and volunteers. They are your friends and neighbors, but they are also nationally recognized experts when it comes to providing compassionate care to you and your loved ones. The overall success of Hospice Satilla comes from the way we treat those who have been entrusted to our care and by always putting the needs of our patients and their family first.

CARING legacy of A

– Larry Batten, Batten's Prescription Shoppe

Chad McDonald, Larry Batten, Leah Batten McDonald outside Batten’s Prescription Shoppe on Alice Street in Waycross.

Story by CYLE AUGUSTA LEWIS

Photography by ALLEN ALLNOCH, AHA!

Photography

Larry Batten founded Batten's Prescription Shoppe out of a genuine desire to do whatever it takes to serve the people. The common thread running through his story began long before the pharmacy opened and is one of gratitude for the providential hand of God in his life. Larry declared, "God has spared me many times." The Batten family legacy is simple; it's simply about caring for people. Larry cut his teeth in the pharmacy world, landing his first job in a Blackshear pharmacy at the mere age of 10: “I learned how to ride a bicycle so I could get to and from work. I had a love for pharmacy as a kid. I loved the people and what I did for them; I used that bike to deliver packages and became known for my hand-mixing abilities at the soda fountain.”

would directly request Larry to make their sodas and milkshakes because,

Patrons

RIGHT: Larry was drafted into the military after graduating from pharmacy school in 1966. The Pentagon assigned him to a medical unit upon learning he was a pharmacist.

in his own words, “It was the extra care I put into every order – it made them taste better.” After graduating high school, he continued his job there and considered it a possible lifelong career. He added, “I had no idea how di cult it would be, considering I didn't need to study much in high school. I came to find out it was the most challenging major on campus, but even then, I never thought twice about it. I knew it was right for me.”

Graduating from the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy in 1966, Larry was almost immediately drafted into the U.S. Army. Another moment of fortuity: he would have gone to the front line in Vietnam, but his brother volunteered for Shore Duty to keep Larry out, enacting what is often referred to as the "Private Ryan Act" (Directive 1315.15 "Special Separation Policies for Survivorship"). When his profession as a pharmacist became known at the Pentagon, he was sent to work as a pharmacist in a medical unit in Seoul, Korea. Larry's daughter, Leah, recalled, "My dad told me how he would compound many of the medicines they dispensed at the army base pharmacies.” He served until 1969; then, while spending four years in the reserve, Larry returned home, serving in Waycross at Memorial Hospital Pharmacy. That led to three years of relief work in drugstores in Southeast Georgia.

“In 1981, I bought Pioneer Prescription Shoppe and later renamed it Batten's Prescription Shoppe.” He filled fewer than 10 prescriptions on the first day. “If someone had walked in and o ered me my money back for the store, I would have gladly taken it. I couldn't pay myself for months until the prescription volume increased.”

Larry's reputation grew, and his prescription volume increased, eventually

purchasing other pharmacies to broaden his impact locally. He said, “My business blossomed, and soon word-of-mouth recommendations meant I was filling prescriptions all day long, every day.” The pharmacy has grown exponentially and underwent an expansion in 2010 to a larger building.

After selling Batten's Prescription Shoppe to his daughter and son-in-law, Leah and Chad, Larry retired in 2020. Leah explained, “I would ride to work with my daddy in summer when I was out of school and help the cashier or fill in when someone was on vacation, from middle school through college.”

Leah began a career in education,

teaching high school until 2004, when she shifted to work for her father. Chad was a minor league baseball umpire, but a knee injury forced him into early retirement. He decided to go to pharmacy school when he was 30. He became a pharmacist at Batten's when he graduated from pharmacy school in 2014.

“I was two years old when my dad started the pharmacy; I cannot remember a time without it," Leah explained. “A legacy began in 1981. Dad worked hard seven days a week from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. In the first few years, he built trust and a reputation with his patients and the community. Dad grew up in housing projects with little

ABOVE: Chad was a minor league baseball umpire until a knee injury forced him into early retirement. He went to pharmacy school at the age of 30, then became a pharmacist at Batten's in 2014.

“I LEARNED HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE SO I COULD GET TO AND FROM WORK. I HAD A LOVE FOR PHARMACY AS A KID. I LOVED THE PEOPLE AND WHAT I DID FOR THEM.”

– Larry Batten

money and has always sympathized with customers who struggle to pay. My dad has truly embodied the verse in Luke: 'From everyone who has been given much, much will be required.'" Recognizing God's blessings on her father, Leah added, "My goal is to continue and extend that legacy. My husband and I strive to meet all our customers' needs and stay aware of the needs of our community."

Ever with an eye to God's goodness and providence, Larry su ered a potentially dangerous bicycling accident in August 2022, which led

to an unexpected blessing. “I actually bumped a curb and went down. I was sore but only had a busted helmet.” After a few weeks of rest, when he resumed biking, he discovered he could not use his right arm. Imaging showed a subdural hematoma resulting from the bike crash and a separate, unrelated aneurysm. “The doctor told me if another month had passed, the aneurysm would have ruptured and killed me. When I awoke from surgery, the doctors declared, ‘You are a lucky man.’” Larry explained, “I knew it was God taking care of me.”

Leah operates Batten's aware of that same blessing: “Every prescription we fill is a relationship we hope becomes a friendship. My dad stressed the importance of establishing customer relationships. Our customers are family; we keep up with their lives, grieve, rejoice, and do life with them.” Walking in Larry's footsteps, Batten's Prescription Shoppe will surely be “doing life” with this community for many years to come. OL

ABOVE: Larry and Leah in a familiar spot – behind the counter. Leah was 3 years old when Larry bought the pharmacy. She worked with him from middle school through college. She became a teacher until 2004, when she rejoined the family business.

“EVERY PRESCRIPTION WE FILL IS A RELATIONSHIP WE HOPE BECOMES A FRIENDSHIP. OUR CUSTOMERS ARE FAMILY.”

– Leah McDonald

Larry holding his grandchild, Hudson, Leah and Chad’s oldest child, who just might be the next generation of Battens to fill prescriptions and continue the legacy of caring.

Photo provided by Leah McDonald

Vitality Health and Wellness

In a world of corporate medicine, it’s easy to feel like just another number – not a person who is heard and who matters to their provider. Vitality Health and Wellness, on the other hand, approaches medicine in a much di erent, and more personal, way.

“I like to call it boutique medicine,” says Mandy McCook Smith, PA-C, who opened the practice in Waycross in August 2022. “It’s catered to the patient, because these are the people we grew up with. These are our family. We like to build relationships with our patients, so it’s not just transactional. We don’t want to be clinical. We want to be warm and welcoming.”

Mandy and her team focus not only on treatment, but on prevention of chronic illness and conditions through personalized healthcare plans that combine all aspects of traditional, modern and holistic medicine. Patients pay a monthly or annual membership fee, similar to a gym membership, and a variety of plans and benefits are available.

“We take care of their general health issues all throughout the year,” Mandy says. “Every time somebody gets a cold or gets a little cut or an ear infection or whatever it may be, we take care of it. And it’s set up so that you don’t necessarily have to come in. Say you wake up in the morning and you’re not feeling well, if you’re already an established patient, you might want to just call, and we can say, ‘OK, we know your history, we’ll send in this prescription for you.’ We’ll save you a trip to the doctor if we can.”

“If we do need you to come in,” she continues, “we try our absolute best to make sure it’s a minimal wait time, so we get you back and get you taken care of and you’re out of here. Nobody who feels bad wants to go sit in the doctor’s o ce for hours.”

In addition to custom healthcare plans, Vitality also o ers the following services:

• IV Infusion Therapy

• Functional Wellness

• Aesthetic Services

• Medical Weight Loss

• Hydrafacials

• Sexual Wellness

• Nutritional Counseling

• Peptide Therapy

Vitality’s weight loss treatments are another service that take a di erent approach than some

A Personalized,

Holistic Approach

to

Medicine

Treats Mind, Body and Spirit at This

Innovative

Waycross Practice

practices. Mandy emphasizes that a weight loss plan is prescribed with much thought and purpose, and it’s carried out with plenty of support along the way.

“We do it in a healthy way,” she says. “The fact that people get to look good and feel good just happens to be a great benefit of it. We make sure they don’t lose weight too fast and end up causing thyroid or vitamin deficiencies, or loose skin because their body couldn’t keep up with it. We’re walking through it with them, checking in every week to make sure they’re succeeding, because when they succeed, we succeed.”

To learn more about Vitality Health and Wellness, visit www.vitalityhealthwell.com.

Kristina Lara, LPN

Maci Thornton, MA

Michelle Denison-Eason, LPN, Practice Manager

Mandy McCook Smith, PAC

Okefenokee Country Club

Golf and Social Hub Celebrates a Century of Excellence in 2023

Okefenokee Country Club (OCC) began as a vision, and it now stands as a jewel in the world of Southeast Georgia golf, as well as a social hub of the Ware and Pierce County communities. A ectionately known as “Okee,” the club has served as home to one of the region’s premiere amateur events, the Okefenokee Invitational, since 1951. From 1989-2001 OCC also hosted the Paul Azinger Pro-Am. Additionally, it was the home course for an area PGA Tour pro, the late Taylor Smith. Celebrating its 100th anniversary this year – and its 45th at its current

location – Okee clearly has stood the test of time.

“Established in 1923 as the Waycross Golf Club, it was originally located near Waring Street and Riverside Avenue in Waycross,” says former

OCC general manager Mike Ranew. “In 1935 the name changed to Okefenokee Country Club and it quickly became one of Ware County’s most colorful institutions.”

Club history credits E. Kontz Bennett, Sr., a World War I combat veteran, with the idea for starting the club. Having witnessed war first-hand, Bennett longed for activities designed for happiness and pleasure. He joined forces with Jock Wyatt, a Waycross hardware entrepreneur, and plans were drawn up to raise money for a nine-hole course costing approximately $3,500.

Story by JOHN DUPONT | Photo by ALLEN ALLNOCH / AHA! PHOTOGRAPHY

“It wasn’t easy finding folks at that time who could ante up $250 each to start a golf club,” says Ranew. “But they found 10 men who could. Forty more people contributed $100 each. The Lions Club, Kiwanis Club, and Rotary Club also raised money.”

Four sites, each approximately 100 acres, were considered for the new club. The list included a tract in what is now the Cherokee Heights neighborhood, a pair of plots adjacent to the Satilla River, and the site ultimately chosen: a tract along Riverside Avenue, just outside the city limits. Club archives facetiously noted, “With this location golf club members could

say, ‘We are out of town’ when slipping o to play.”

Local farmer A.J. Moran harrowed fairways with a mule, sowed the grass, and built sand greens, and members played the course for approximately two years without a clubhouse. J.W. Oakford, president of the Hebard Cypress Company, suggested his business could build a clubhouse. Oakford’s plan called for using “well-cured cypress lumber” and the company’s labor force to complete the job. The golf club subsequently issued bonds for $3,500 and sold them to members. Materials such as bricks and nails were purchased from Waycross merchants. Once finished, the rustic clubhouse made from Okefenokee cypress served as a point of civic pride for decades.

“A pool was added during World War II, when Waycross had an air base on what is now the industrial park,” says Ranew. “The base commander built the pool on the condition that pilots could use the pool and facilities without charge. Dances were held for the pilots each Saturday night.”

A Rich Golf Heritage

In 1951, the club hosted the inaugural Okefenokee Invitational golf tournament. It soon became a rite of passage, played for many years over Father’s Day weekend. Arnold Blum of Macon bested a field of 244 hopefuls to claim victory that first year. Two years later, Valdosta’s Dynamite Goodloe won the local event and eventually played in the Masters.

Subsequent tournament winners also used OCC as a proving ground for later success. Dave Ragan (1956), Steve Melnyk (1963, 1966), Bunky Henry (1964), Lyn Lott (1967, 1970), and Allen Doyle (1978) were among early winners who went on to play professionally.

Boog Layton was a Waycross favorite and two-time Okefenokee Invitational champion (1969, 1974) who played at the University of

Waycross’s Sam Scott provided his business jet to transport PGA Tour players to their next tournament after the inaugural Paul Azinger Pro-Am.

J.C. Snead, Tim Simpson, unidentified, Jim Gallagher, Jr., Mike Hulbert and Gene Sauers.

Photo courtesy of Okefenokee Country Club.

A tract along Riverside Avenue, just outside the city limits, was chosen for the original site. Club archives facetiously noted, “With this location golf club members could say, ‘We are out of town’ when slipping o to play.”

Okefenokee Country Club

Georgia. Layton brought marquee stock to the tournament after battling Ohio State’s Jack Nicklaus at the 1961 NCAA Golf Championships. As a sophomore, Layton fell to Nicklaus, a senior, 4 and 3 in match play.

J.L. “Johnny” Smith, who moved to Waycross as a youth in the 1950s, later married Cheryl Layton, sister of Boog and Mitt Layton, the 1968 Okefenokee Invitational winner. Smith recalls his father, John R. Smith, manager of the Waycross JCPenney location, closing his store early on Wednesdays and playing afternoon rounds of golf with other businessmen at Okee. Smith won the Okefenokee Invitational in 1972, ’73, and ’75, and that first one brings poignant memories.

“The first time I won, my dad was sick and my mom would drive him around the course,” Smith says. “He died the following Friday, so it was a great pleasure knowing that my dad saw me achieve that.”

Barry Jacobson, who took up golf at age 5 and excelled as a teenager at Southwood School, won his first Okefenokee Invitational in 1977 when he was 20, beating John Skeadis of Savannah by five strokes. The victory hardware included a silver punch bowl. “I gave the bowl to my mother, Esther,” he says. “She was battling cancer at that time. I won in June and she passed away in August.”

Okee Moves to Pierce County

That 1977 tournament saw the Okefenokee Invitational shift from 72 holes to a 54-hole event. It also marked the last time the Invitational was played at the Riverside course. The property had been succumbing to urban sprawl for several years and club o cials set their sights on the future.

“The clubhouse had burned down a few years earlier and they used a double-wide trailer for a while,” recounts longtime club member Ellis McNeal. “We had some holes on either side of Riverside Drive, and across Blackshear

Avenue, which had been a dirt road but was starting to be paved. It finally got to where the cart tra c wouldn’t be able to cross there.”

A potential site on Central Avenue was considered, but the club ultimately chose to move to a tract on the Pierce County side of the Satilla River, close to one of the original plots considered in the 1920s. The new course at 1204 South River Oaks Drive was designed by Joe Lee, a renowned architect of more than 200 championship golf courses across the U.S. It opened on March 5, 1978.

OCC emerged as a premiere championship venue in the 1980s. It also served as home course for a young star on the rise, J.L. Smith’s son Taylor. By 1985 Taylor Smith was on the cusp of a pro career when he locked horns with Jacobson at that year’s Okefenokee Invitational.

“We both shot 68 on the first day,” recalls Jacobson. “The second day I shot 67 and Taylor shot 76. Then on Sunday, Taylor was making birdies and I was making bogeys. He got back to within three shots going into the homestretch, but I ended up winning.”

Jacobson’s 1985 victory made him the only golfer in tournament history to win at both OCC locations. Taylor Smith, meanwhile, played golf for a year at Augusta State before announcing his desire to turn pro. But he honored his father’s wishes to remain in college another year. After winning the Okefenokee Invitational in 1987, Smith played the tournament again the following year, then turned pro the night the event ended.

“Okee was always nice to my boys,” says J.L. Smith, whose other sons –John, Robert, and Hank – are all avid golfers. “For Taylor and his brothers, it was always home. On the pro tour,

“Okee was always nice to my boys. For Taylor and his brothers, it was always home. Taylor, like the rest of the young people out there, just felt like Okee was his backyard.” – J.L. Smith

LEFT Barry Jacobson is the only player to win the Okefenokee Invitational at both the original (1977) and current (1985) club locations. Photo courtesy of Okefenokee Country Club.

ABOVE The late Taylor Smith grew up playing at OCC and went on to a successful PGA Tour career in the 1990s.

Photo courtesy of Okefenokee Country Club.

Taylor would be gone for a couple of months at a time, but when he came home, he’d play here with Bill ‘Dawg’ Hereford and Dennis Rollins. Taylor, like the rest of the young people out there, just felt like Okee was his backyard.”

Scott Ferrell, another Southwood alum, grew up around OCC when it was in Waycross and was 14 when the River Oaks course opened. His brother, Tommy, had formerly caddied for Jacobson. Scott, though, never considered himself a star. The Waycross Journal-Herald dubbed him “the best golfer never to have won the Okefenokee” upon his victory in 1995.

Ferrell won the Okefenokee Invitational again in 1999. In 2017, he won a

third title at age 53. He celebrated victory that day with both of his parents on hand. “The Okefenokee is just a lifetime of memories,” he says.

Ben Bennett is another local player who established a connection to Okee at an early age. Many were the days he played the River Oaks course with his father, the late Wes Bennett, a fourtime Okefenokee Invitational Senior champion. Ben also recalls a marathon day there as a teen alongside Hank Smith.

“Hank and I decided to set the record for the number of holes played walking at Okee,” says Bennett. “We had walked 54 holes during the middle of June and were dog-tired. Hank said, ‘You know what? Someone might walk

54 holes, but I bet they won’t walk 55.’ So we grabbed our 7-irons, trudged over to 14, and played our 55th hole that day.”

Bennett won the Okefenokee Invitational’s 50th anniversary tournament in 2000. He also became the first tourney chairman to win in the same year.

Paul Azinger: A Star Is Born

One name particularly stands out among the list of Okefenokee Invitational champions: Paul Azinger, winner of 17 worldwide events, including 12 on the PGA Tour and the 1993 PGA Championship. Azinger was a standout at Florida State, where he met the former Toni Houston of Blackshear. In a pure stroke of serendipity, the couple visited Pierce County on a particular week in 1981 and several locals convinced Azinger to enter that year’s Okefenokee Invitational.

“Before Toni and I got married, I entered the Okefenokee Invitational, which was really one of the biggest events, not just in southeast Georgia, but in all the Southeast at the time,” Azinger says. “I was still an amateur and winning it had a big impact on my confidence. I got on the PGA Tour shortly after that.

“I loved it at Okee,” adds Azinger, who now works as a broadcaster for NBC Sports. “I practiced hard there. David Wall and Taylor Smith were

“Winning [the Okefenokee Invitational] had a big impact on my confidence. I loved it at Okee. That course produced some good players, and I count myself among them.” – Paul

Azinger

Paul Azinger (back row, fifth from right) hosted a popular charity Pro-Am at OCC from 1989-2001, leveraging his connections to bring in a host of big names from the PGA Tour.

Photo courtesy of Okefenokee Country Club.

Okefenokee Country Club

pros who played there. That course produced some good players, and I count myself among them.”

Azinger would go on to host the Paul Azinger Pro-Am at OCC from 1989-2001. He leveraged his Tour connections to bring in names such as Craig Stadler, Larry Mize, Mark Calcavecchia, Lee Janzen, Tom Lehman, and Davis Love III – all major championship winners – as well as other notables including J.C. Snead, Brandel Chamblee, Gene Sauers, and Brad Fabel.

Event organizers picked up participating pros in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, after completion of the Players Championship. Upon playing the Azinger Pro-Am the following Monday, players would then fly to their next PGA tour stop. OCC member Sam Scott provided air transport the first year, with Tom Cline piloting in the ensuing years. Proceeds from the Azinger Pro-Am went to the Georgia Lions Camp for the Blind, a cause near and dear to Toni Azinger, whose cousin had benefited from Lions Club programs.

“Paul’s main job was to ask his friends to come play, and a lot of them did so,” says Toni Azinger. “It meant a lot to Paul, and he enjoyed the course so much. Growing up in Blackshear, my parents were members at Okee and we had our family reunions there. Paul and I also had our wedding rehearsal dinner there. Even though we don’t make it back to Blackshear often these days, we feel sentimental about Okee and still think of it to this day.”

The benefits were mutual, according to J.L. Smith. “In those days, to have touring pros come to play your course was a big deal for us and a great opportunity for all avid golfers,” Smith says. “It gave the club credibility in the state. That, combined with the fact that we had so many junior golfers who were really into it, was great for the golfing culture.”

A Home for All

Another prestigious event hosted by OCC is its annual Junior Invitational, which honors R.L. Miller, a 60-year Waycross resident who won the U.S. Public Links Championship in 1932. Since 2008, the Okefenokee Invitational has also crowned a seniors champion, and OCC is home to an active women’s group, Okefenokee Ladies Golf Association (OLGA), which plays on Tuesdays and Thursdays. One influential member, the late Ethel Dubose, was an area trailblazer for women’s golf and won the OLGA title a record 13 times. Seasonal OCC events include a spring 4-Ball tournament named in memory of Taylor Smith, who passed away in 2007.

“My buddies and I spent our summers here practicing golf, playing holes, and ending most days in the pool,” says local resident Stuart Stipe, who grew up around OCC and has competed several times in the Okefenokee Invitational. “Those were good times and great memories. Now my kids have friends nearby and there’s always something to do. Walking the holes there always reminds me what a blessing it was, then and now.”

Okefenokee Ladies Golf Association

members Ellen Dye, Joy Rudd, Carolyn Akins, Liz Williams, Chris Shimkus, Brenda Sapp, Claire Smith, Ann Eldridge, Nina Kelley, Sharon McCall, Connie Barefield, Laurie Littlefield.

Based on the highlights, testimonials, and golf tales from the first century of Okefenokee Country Club’s existence, there are reasons aplenty to believe generations hence will be singing the same praises in years to come.

“I remember every hole, every shot,” Azinger says. “They’ve created a great environment to live and play golf there. I’ve been all over when it comes to golf and I think Okefenokee is one of my favorite atmospheres. It’s just awesome.” OL

Join the Club

OCC o ers several membership levels. In addition to the 6,784-yard golf course, club amenities include a swimming pool; tennis, pickleball, and basketball courts; and a clubhouse with a fully stocked pro shop and a 300-seat dining room/banquet room suitable for weddings, civic meetings, private parties, and other events. Learn more at okefenokeecountryclub.com.

Photo by John DuPont

Photo by John DuPont

Wayne County FFA President Kayle Arnold with Representative Steven Meeks

at the State Capitol

Coming Together – The Beginning

In the beginning there was a coming together of two old friends, Homerville natives Layne Lee Varnadoe and Lisa Morgan Conner. Their passion for people, community, and enhancing the livability of their hometown drew them together to make Homerville the “place it used to be when we grew up here” – a place that o ered teens somewhere to hang out, adults a restaurant to have dinner, and tourists a reason to stop. Their vision ignited a belief and confidence in others that – if they worked together – they could make a di erence and reclaim the vitality of their small town.

Homerville’s Renaissance

How Two Friends and Entrepreneurs Ignited a Passion to Revitalize Downtown Homerville

Story by John Riddle

Layne Varnadoe’s family has a legacy of entrepreneurship. Both of her grandfathers were business owners and her father started Lee Container, an industry leader in industrial packaging products. Her dad remembered standing on a milk crate to run the cash register at six years old. She, along with her sister and mother, were teachers in Clinch County. “My parents loved and served the community, and I feel the need to do the same,” she explained. Layne is married to Robert Varnadoe, who has been a leader in Lee Containers over the years. They also own Avriett House and two related boutiques downtown.

Lisa Conner grew up watching her family work hard and help others. Her father had a business that made fence posts. One grandmother had shops in Homerville. She saw them both give back to others, even to their own detriment. She believes, as her family did, that “God gives it back to you.” Also a retired Clinch County

“Coming together is a beginning. Staying together is progress. Working together is success.” – HENRY FORD

Designed with input from community leaders, this postcard mural was one of the first improvements to be implemented. Photo by John Riddle

Layne Lee Varnadoe and Lisa Morgan Conner

Photo by Joy Sumner Photography

Coming Together

The buildings on the main street were in desperate need of renovation. Layne Varnedoe bought and renovated two of the buildings which now house Little Avriett and Merry Avriett. Both the front and rear façades of The Little Avriett have been updated. One of the next steps is to further clean up the rear façades of the adjacent buildings and paint a new lily pad mural on the sidewalk connecting them.

Big Daddy’s

Daylight Doughnuts was an existing business that quickly transformed into a full-service restaurant and is now Big Daddy’s on 84.

Photo by Joy Sumner Photography

AFTER

Photo by Joy Sumner Photography

Homerville’s Renaissance

teacher, she has great empathy for helping young people succeed. Lisa and her husband, Steve Conner, own Conner Holdings and Homerville Jewelers.

The two friends have always shared a strong bond which includes their entrepreneurial spirit and love of their hometown. Now, they are working together to lead an e ort to revitalize downtown Homerville before “we lose what we have left of our downtown.”

The Varnedoes organized an initial meeting in January 2021, with a presentation by Bill Burch. Burch, from Centerville, Iowa, where one of Lee Container’s plants is located, is a serial entrepreneur. He led e orts in Centerville to execute a vision to “lift his home community up by saving historically significant properties and build businesses in them that strengthen the local community” – the very thing the Varnedoes wanted to do in Homerville.

That meeting was the catalyst for the renaissance that is transforming Homerville.

Lisa shared the Varnedoes’ passion. She desperately wanted Homerville to become a place, once again, where “people went downtown to a restaurant and to a movie.”

Layne and Lisa linked arms and began searching their hearts. “Layne and I prayed about it for direction. We decided to do as much as we could to get our town back like it was in the '70s and '80s with many thriving businesses,” Lisa explained. Layne was thrilled that Lisa was willing to roll up her sleeves and get started. She said of Lisa, “Having someone like Lisa Conner involved is huge. It’s hard not to come together and get excited when she is involved.”

It was a beginning. Of what exactly, they were unsure.

Staying Together – Progress

Laura Nipper lived in Homerville for 21 years before becoming the Homerville Main Street director in July 2020. After working with the local newspaper, she knew firsthand the importance of thriving local businesses and the power of community support. She didn’t waste time capitalizing on what she thought could usher in much needed changes in the town she now called home.

In February 2021, a Grow Clinch Collaborative meeting was organized, and the passion began spreading. “The buy-in was incredible,” Laura said.

She enlisted the help of Jenny Robbins, Community Development Manager with Georgia Electric Membership Corporation. Together they visited other communities and began exploring how establishing rural zone tax credits, which provides property owners certain tax credits for acquisition and rehabilitation of property, could be a “game changer” by incentivizing property owners to make improvements. The vision was beginning to take shape.

By Spring, they applied for a private foundation grant to provide downtown façade improvement grants and to fund a strategic planning process. That process would include garnering input and ideas, fostering community support, and developing a road map for the dream of revitalizing Homerville’s city center.

In June they began conversations with the Carl Vinson Institute of Government about their Georgia Downtown Renaissance (GDR) Partnership, a community-driven collaborative planning and design partnership that helps provide the tools for communities to realize their vision and maximize their potential.

Strategic planning is a powerful albeit slow process, and the people of Homerville were too eager to wait for a laundry list of things to do. So, they organized themselves to get started on what they already could see needed to happen.

In September 2021, even before the first strategic planning steering committee met, the first “Hands on Homerville Community Clean-Up Day” was organized with 150 volunteers. Their first project was cleaning up around downtown and a city park.

The first steering committee meeting was held in October and the rural zone tax credits were approved shortly afterward. In early 2022, a flurry of activity began with community surveys and focus groups for citizens to provide feedback on improvements they wanted downtown. That Spring a concert was held to encourage the community to come downtown and to show that it was a “new day” in Homerville.

By Summer the city’s Classic Main Street status had been reinstated and a second grant had been received from the Georgia Council for the Arts’ Vibrant Communities Grant program that paid for the painting of two murals in downtown. A Public Arts Committee was formed. In the Fall the second

Above Left: Laura Nipper, Main Street director (second from left), with a group of volunteers during one of the clean-up days.

Above Right: Jenny Robbins, with Georgia EMC (kneeling – front right), got in on the action too.

“Hands On Homerville” was organized to help clean up around the city. In its second year over 300 volunteers took part.

Staying Together

Lisa Conner bought the old Carswell building and is completing the transformation as the master plan called for. Two new businesses have been added and space for more is being constructed. Upstairs will be residences and/or event space.

Panther Alley

An existing alley between two buildings that Lisa Conner bought is being repurposed into a courtyard Panther Alley with access to a café and green space.

AFTER Photo by Joy Sumner Photography

BEFORE Photo by Joy Sumner Photography

“Hands On Homerville Clean-Up Day” was organized with double the number of volunteers from the first event a year earlier.

The passion was spreading. They were making progress.

Working Together – Success

In January 2023, a meeting was held to present the “Renaissance Strategic Vision and Plan” – the culmination of residents’ thoughts and ideas had been shaped into a working plan. Now, they were ready to work together to make their dreams for a renaissance in downtown Homerville a reality.

In fact, prior to that presentation the community had already begun working together implementing several of the items from the master plan.

“It was the first time that the sta of the Carl Vinson Institute has seen a community implementing projects before the master plan was completed,” Laura explained. “Layne and Lisa were the driving force behind the entire e ort. They started the ball rolling and everybody got behind it. They were working behind the scenes before the master plan was finalized. That sparked a lot of interest from business owners and other entrepreneurs to help fill some vacant properties.”

One existing business saw an opportunity that surfaced from the focus groups for a full-service restaurant. “We presented the findings to them in April 2022; they opened in July. That is where we realized that we had real buy-in from our local businesses and we could begin implementing real change,” Laura said.

Other businesses were making improvements too. And the local government o cials were actively supporting the process of clearing hurdles and working together to make

Working Together

implementing the plans easier.

“Having everyone on board from the city council and the county commissioners is a giant plus,” said Layne. “Laura Nipper is the perfect person to lead this development. She is eager to explore what other successful downtowns have done and is helping us blaze new trails with some of her ideas.”

Layne and Lisa are still leading the way through their actions and investment in the downtown area.

Layne has renovated two buildings and opened two upscale businesses that are attracting shoppers from the region. She would eventually like to acquire a few more buildings that might house a candy store or old-fashioned soda fountain. “I would also like to build a theater like the one we used to have downtown,” she added.

Lisa has purchased a full city block and is actively renovating several buildings. The Carswell building has been renovated to suit the needs of two new businesses, a thrift store and a health-food smoothie shop, and a photography studio has been remodeled and expanded. The top floor is being developed for lodging. The plans include an area between two buildings that will be called “Panther Alley,” after the community’s sports mascot. There also are plans for a new Mexican restaurant and other shops.

The passion of two friends has sparked Homerville’s residents to come together, stay together, and work together to restore their city into the thriving business district it once was – one that will be more attractive and have more to do for residents and tourists alike in this gateway community to the Okefenokee Swamp. A community that their own children will be excited to return to someday and realize: there's no place like Homerville. OL

The old Strickland building will be transformed with an outdoor café space, hand painted signage and string lighting. The upstairs will be lodging.

NEUROTOXINS

BOTOX, Dysport, Xeomin, Jeuveau. Relaxes the facial muscles to improve the look of fine lines and wrinkles.

DERMAL FILLER

Juvederm and Restylane. Lifts, plumps, smooths and softens creases, as well as enhances facial contour.

BIOSTIMULATORS

Sculptra and Radiesse injections help to gradually replace lost collagen and elastin, renewing skin structure.

CHEMICAL PEELS

PCA, The Perfect Derma. Increases cell turnover to improve skin texture, dark spots and breakouts.

MICRONEEDLI NG

Skin Pen treatments create millions of controlled micro channels in the skin to elicit the body's natural wound healing response boosting collagen and elastin.

PRP

Vampire Facial, Vampire Facelift, Hair Restoration, 0-Shot, P-Shot. Platelet Rich Plasma treatments use blood cells to accelerate renewal and cellular growth.

Medical & Aesthetic Dermatology

EXOSOMES

Dermal fibroblast exosomes are stem cells that are responsible for connective tissue repair and renewal decreasing post-treatment systems

IV THERAPY

IV Hydration. Add a boost for energy, beauty, immunity, detox, muscle recovery, or PMS relief.

VITAMIN INJECTIONS

B12, Lipo, Biotin, Glutathione. Injections for energy, weight loss, beauty, antioxidants, and detox.

SEMAGLUTIDE

Medically supervised weight loss injections to improve glycemic control and reduce overall body fat.

NAD+

A naturally occurring coenzyme essential for cellular functions, cardiovascular and neurologic function.

SOFWAVE

A non-invasive ultrasound technology for treatment of skin laxity and lift.

Lindsey Ammons, RN; Chasity Geiger, Owner & MPAS, PA-C; Pamela Bell, Patient Care Coordinator & Practice Manager

Chasity Geiger, MPAS, PA-C & Owner

A joyful face is always a beautiful face.

MadeEachForOther

THE STEWARTS

For Mary Catherine and Sam Stewart, Waycross has always been home, and it’s a wonderful representation of who they are as a couple. When it came to planning their wedding location, they didn’t even consider anywhere else.

Story by MEGAN PIPER WHITE / Photography by MADISON CARTER PHOTOGRAPHY

Mary Catherine shares, “Waycross is where Sam and I both grew up. It’s where we met and started dating, and it is where we will start our life and family together. The culture of our entire wedding planning season and wedding weekend was defined by our ties here and to our many family and friends that we love so much. Before Sam and I started dating, I had planned to return to this area to practice medicine. Sam had already returned home after graduating to join the fourth generation of Stewarts to work with their 100-plus-year-old family business, Stewart Distribution.”

Family roots run deep for both Mary Catherine and Sam, and their connection started when they were young as their families have been friends since they were both small children. They attended di erent high schools and colleges, but they reconnected in 2019. Mary Catherine describes it well: “Sam had graduated from the University of Georgia, moved home to Blackshear, and had been working for his family’s company for a couple of years. I had just graduated from Mercer University and moved home to Waycross before starting medical school that next Fall. The Thursday before Memorial Day, Sam’s parents hosted a crawfish boil at their home. Shortly after, he invited me over and cooked an amazing meal. I learned quickly that he is an

“EVRYTHING WAS CHOSEN WITH THE INTENTION OF CELEBRATING WHO WE ARE AND THE HOMETOWN AND PEOPLE WHO RAISED US.”

amazing cook, and the rest is history!”

Their connection continued beautifully, and Sam planned an engagement to remember. Mary Catherine had spent the entire summer studying for her eight-hour-long medical school board exam, and they wanted to celebrate her completing the exam with all their family and friends. The day after the test, both families joined them to spend the weekend at Sam’s family’s house at Dover Blu on the Georgia coast. On Saturday afternoon, Sam invited Mary Catherine to go fishing. He took her to one of the most beautiful spots on the marsh. She shares, “Sam handed me a fishing pole to start fishing. A couple of minutes later, he asked me to turn around to look at something and there he was, down on one knee. I was so surprised that I almost threw his fishing pole into the water! When we got back to the dock, he had invited all our friends and family to celebrate the engagement with a low country boil. It was such a special weekend that was absolutely perfect.”

From the engagement to the wedding day, they were blessed with a joyful planning process and a wonderful wedding experience. Everything came together flawlessly, with many local vendors involved to create the wedding of their dreams. They knew from the very beginning of wedding planning that they wanted to have a big wedding. Overall, they shared that the favorite part of their wedding day was being able to celebrate with all their friends and family. Throughout our entire engagement and especially during the wedding weekend, they were constantly showered with love and support through those special moments, for which they are very thankful.

For their something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue, their families provided priceless memories for them. Something old

THE STEWARTS

was from her mother, a hand engraved sterling locket that belonged to Mary Catherine’s late grandmother, Gayle Carter. The locket still held a baby picture of her that her grandmother had placed inside. Lisa at Blackshear Florist was able to beautifully incorporate the locket into the wedding bouquet. Mary Catherine’s mom also gifted her a custom designed pearl bracelet made from my her very first strand of pearls that she bought for herself while in college. She worked with Kim Blount at Crawford’s Jewelry, who hand-restrung the pearls and created a beautiful bracelet that is now a family heirloom. Their something new was a pair of diamond and pearl earrings gifted by Mary Catherine’s grandmother, Janice Barnes. They were able to design the earrings together at Crawford's Jewelers, and the experience will be a lifelong memory. For something borrowed and blue, Mary Catherine wore her mother’s sapphire ring. “The ring was given to her by my dad for

Details

Date: March 4, 2023

Ceremony Venue: First Baptist Church of Waycross

Reception Venue: Okefenokee Country Club

Photographer: Madison Carter Photography

Florist:

All reception and ceremony flowers were by the mother of the bride, Jenny Barnes

Bridal bouquet, wedding party bouquets, and boutonnières were by Blackshear Flower & Gift Shop

Jewelry: Crawford Jewelers

Wedding Planner: Rachel Scott Weddings

Cake: Bliss Cakery

Wedding Party Attire:

Tuxedos from Jake & Ed’s Dresses from Bella Bridesmaid

Makeup & Hair: Emma Collins Beauty

Stationary & Crest: Madison Gardner Creative Company

THE STEWARTS

their 30th wedding anniversary. I think wearing it on my wedding day was a token of good luck for a long and happy marriage, just like theirs.”

When asked to share advice for future brides, Mary Catherine encouraged couples to be true to who they are when planning their special day. They used details specific to their relationship to plan an event that reflected them. From creating invitations that featured items that they love, to working with her mother and friends to do the flowers for the wedding, to being married in the church that she grew up in, to choosing a band that played at a wedding they attended when they were dating and had a blast dancing to all night, it was an event that felt special for them as a couple. They ended the wedding with fireworks, because Mary Catherine’s family always celebrated July 4th in the backyard of the Stewart house on Ava Street, watching the fireworks in Memorial Stadium. Looking back on it all, she says, “These things are what made our wedding day absolutely perfect – because everything was picked with the intention of celebrating who we are and the hometown and people who raised us.” OL

C Blue COTTAGE

Steffany & Cam Wheeler’s Famous Farmhouse Style Cottage in Alma

Cotton Blue Cottage is Ste any and Cameron “Cam” Wheeler’s dream home, built by Ste any’s family on Cam’s family’s land. To them that was all that mattered. When Ste any decided to share design and decorating tips from their new home on social media, they never imagined Cotton Blue Cottage would become popular with people around the world and eventually be featured on the cover of a national magazine.

Story by JOHN RIDDLE | Photography by JOY SUMNER PHOTOGRAPHY

The pergola, built by Cam, doubles as an outdoor dining space and potting area for plants and flowers. The visually interesting DIY chandelier was created out of rattan lanterns using varying shapes and sizes.

When Ste any and Cam Wheeler decided to build their new home, they knew that Ste any’s step-father, the late Leland Poppell from Odum, Georgia, would design and build it and it would sit on land in Alma where Cam’s family had lived for generations. But they knew they would have to wait for their dream to become a reality.

Ste any’s stepfather, a widely popular contractor and builder in the region, was very busy and contracted out for nearly two years. But in a fortuitous stroke of luck, Poppell had a cancellation and a 3- to 5-month window of time opened up in the middle of 2018, so they hurried up the process, made quick decisions, and used that time to build the home. It was one of the last Poppell would ever build – he died in 2019.

The cottage is situated on land that has been in Cam’s family for four generations. His great grandparents raised their family of 12 children across the road from where the cottage now sits. Cam’s parents, Johnny and Wanda Wheeler, still live next door in a home where they raised their two sons, Cam and Derrin. Derrin lives just down the road with his family. They are also surrounded by an extended family of aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Though the cottage is distinctly di erent than the surrounding homes, its wraparound porch and farmhouse style give one the

Drawing inspiration from historic homes in Charleston, South Carolina, that use porches on the side of the house to create cool ventilation for the home, this cozy corner includes a vintage sofa that makes a perfect year-round accent.

e c age is situated on land that has been in Cam’s family for four generations. His great grandparents raised their family of 12 children across the road from where the cottage now sits.

LEFT:

ABOVE: Cam and Ste any, with their daughters, Cooper and Connor, under the pergola, one of their favorite spots for game nights and family dinners.

Connor, age 8, has her room painted in Elephant Pink, by Benjamin Moore. The ensuite bathroom is detailed in board and batten and Lilly Pulitzer, Elephant Bazaar for Lee Jofa wallpaper. Floating shelves keep books handy for bedtime stories. The day bed is Jenny Lind.

impression that it has been a part of the rich history of the families that have lived on Shenandoah Road for years.

That is no coincidence. The design process was pain staking to ensure the cottage had a timeless look and a homey feel that would blend in with the area and fit the Wheelers’ lifestyle. Ste any looked online and at the homes Poppell had built along the Georgia coast for ideas and inspiration.

“We took ideas for roof lines, dormers, and other elements from homes I love in Charleston and the low country. I knew we wanted a wrap-around porch,” Ste any explained of the modern farmhouse-style cottage with neutral colors and clean lines.

She also looked on social media for design and style ideas. That is where she got the idea to start her own Instagram account for their new home, named Cotton Blue Cottage. She had no idea how popular it would become with people all over the world.

“It went viral. People began following us and reaching out from all over the world requesting the house plans and wanting me to share ideas,” she explained. Currently, the Instagram page has over 32,000 followers.

After a few years of growing in popularity, the social media buzz caught the attention of the editor for Modern Farmhouse Style magazine, published by Dotdash Meredith,

BELOW: The girls enjoy listening to new as well as vintage records including the Fred Hand Band, a local band that Cam’s dad, Johnny Wheeler (seated/middle), was a member of back in the day.

TOP RIGHT: Cooper, age 14, chose a fun wallpaper, Connected Tide by Lilly Pulitzer for Lee Jofa, and a funky mirror for her bathroom.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Modern coastal bedroom with pops of bright colors is perfect for any teen girl. Bedding by Pom Pom Home and Laura Park Design.

TOP LEFT & RIGHT: Old literally meets new in the kitchen with shiplap walls that evolve into open shelving with gold accents. “We knew the back wall would become a focal point as soon as you entered our home, so it had to be interesting.” The walls are painted in Swiss Co ee by Benjamin Moore

LEFT: “We needed comfortable pieces that were easy to move, allowing access to the French doors. We kept the windows bare, to keep things airy and light.”

American’s largest digital and print publisher, with titles including magazines such as Better Home & Gardens and Southern Living.

“Someone called saying they were the editor of Modern Farmhouse Style and asked if I would be interested in having the house profiled in a national magazine,” Ste any recalled. “I thought it was a hoax at first, but she identified herself and invited me to look her up online to verify who she was.” Ste any did just that and was flattered that a national magazine would be interested in their family cottage on Shenandoah Road in Bacon County.

Some time passed before she heard anything else. Then, a few months later, Ste any was notified that if she was still interested, Modern Farmhouse Style would like to feature her home in the Fall 2022 issue.

ABOVE: “I love mixing old and new pieces. A curated home is a balance of thoughtful design and personal style.” The blue cabinet was found at a thrift store and Ste any refinished it in Down Pour Blue by Benjamin Moore. The photo gallery features loved ones and hangs from a picture rail with gold chains.

ABOVE: Hand-dyed shibori fabric in di ering shades of blue are framed and hung in the stairwell.

ABOVE: The Fall 2022 issue of the Modern Farmhouse Syle magazine featured Cam and Ste any's porch swing on the cover.

The dining area that extends from the open kitchen is surrounded by windows. This space is kept bright and o ers prime views of the southern setting just outside. The banquet is upholstered in Gray Cabana stripe by Sunbrella for Serena & Lily, Cam built the dining table, and the canned barrell chairs were upcycled from a local antique store.

The photo shoot was arranged with a photographer from Iowa who also does work for Joanna Gaines and Magnolia magazine, another Dotdash Meredith title.

“The photo shoot took three days to get the proper lighting in di erent areas of the home. It took an entire day just for the photo of the porch that appeared on the cover,” Ste any said. “All of the produce, pumpkins and other props – including the dog – were sourced locally.” The dog belongs to their neighbor.

Every detail was given great attention. “The photographer and stylist were in communication with Dotdash Meredith’s corporate o ce in New York in real time. They were giving instructions to move a pumpkin or a pillow because there was dead space in a particular shot. It was amazing the amount of detail that went into capturing every photo,” Ste any explained.

All of the photos are now the property of Dotdash Meredith and are in their library of photos that could be used for other magazines in the future. “I never know when I might be in the grocery store check-out line and see our home featured in another magazine,” Ste any said.

Cotton Blue Cottage may be famous and garner attention from

ABOVE: A serene design for the master bedroom was inspired by the cottage-style windows positioned above the four-poster bed. The windows allow ample lighting and give a stunning view of the morning sky. Ste any completed the cozy space by layering the vintage bed with cream and white bedding and quilts, accented by a Queen of Spain lumbar pillow by Schumacher.

TOP RIGHT: The Spindle Chair, by Ballard Design, in the master bedroom sitting area is a wonderful space for morning co ee. A blue and white garden stool completes the space.

around the world, but to the Wheelers it’s their family connection that makes it important to them – built by family and surrounded by family. As Cam’s mother, Wanda Wheeler says, “Family is the key to the Wheelers’ happiness. Doors are always open with love just inside.” OL

Ste any has created an interior design and decorating business, also known as Cotton Blue Cottage. She combines traditional design with low country influence for a look that is casual and coastal. Her relaxed yet refined style blends heirloom pieces with modern lines and neutral colors that create spaces that feel put together, yet livable.

Ste any is always making changes and posting new decorating ideas. Visit cottonbluecottage.com for more information and follow Cotton Blue Cottage on Instagram @cottonbluecottage.

ABOVE: The master bathroom features a free-standing pedestal tub perched atop brilliant Italian marble flooring, creating a timeless space one could get lost in for hours.

A Fresher Look on Traditional Style

STORY BY LINDSEY BACON, INTERIOR DESIGNER, LOTT’S FURNITURE PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALLEN ALLNOCH / AHA! PHOTOGRAPHY

From coastal to farmhouse, eclectic to contemporary, midcentury to shabby chic, the interior design world is ever-changing. One interior style, however, never seems to go away: traditional style. This timeless style goes back to the 18th and 19th centuries with furnishings of an “old world” aesthetic, and I believe it will always be around. If you love the timelessness of traditionalism, consider these three tips on how to bring that style into the 21st century.

Fabrics

There are so many wonderful fabrics to choose from for upholstery, and so many gorgeous colors and textures. Normally, the traditional style uses damask, florals, plaids, velvets, and striped fabrics. If those fabrics are too “out-of-date” for you, you can incorporate contemporary patterns and solid colors. Changing the fabrics will not change the style; it will enhance your space and give it more character, while keeping that overall timeless aesthetic.

Wallpaper

Often when people think of wallpaper, they think, “It’s so old-fashioned.” Let me enlighten you. Wallpaper has so many gorgeous designs. You can use them to brighten up a powder room, set the mood for a dining room, and even make a statement in an entryway. Solids and contemporary patterns are what I would recommend using to create that updated traditional look. Plus, they are more popular now than the traditional styled motifs and florals one would expect in a 20th-century home.

Artwork

Modern and contemporary art with clean, simple frames can create statements in any room of your home. So much color can be added with a simple contemporary design. These two types of art will certainly tie the whole space together, creating a cohesive and finished look for your “updated” traditional-style home.

Bottom line: It doesn’t take much to update a space, no matter the style. Remember, solids and contemporary patterns are the main keys to updating a traditional-styled home. Find some fabric or artwork that you simply love and incorporate it into your space. It is that simple! I hope these tips are helpful to you. Happy updating!  OL

WE WANT THE

TO KNOW! WORLD

CAMPAIGN TO SEEK WORLD HERITAGE SITE STATUS LAUNCHED FOR THE OKEFENOKEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Those of us in the Okefenokee region agree with Francis Harper that “there is no other place in the world like the Okefenokee.” Now, there is an organized campaign to seek World Heritage Site status so that finally, the world will know too.

“There’s no other place in the world like the Okefenokee”

~ FRANCIS HARPER

PHOTO BY BILL RHODES

Bid

“The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is one of the crown jewels of the National Wildlife Refuge system. Unique ecologically and visited by people from all over the world, recognition as a World Heritage site is well justified and long overdue.”

- GEOFFREY L. HASKETT, PRESIDENT, NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE ASSOCIATION

The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge (Okefenokee NWR), the largest National Wildlife Refuge in the Eastern United States, spans over 400,000 acres across the Georgia and Florida state lines and is known globally for its pristine wetlands and vast diversity of flora and fauna. Designated a National Natural Landmark and one of the Seven Wonders of Georgia, it boasts a wetland footprint in size and function very similar to what it would have been before European contact. The modern name Okefenokee was derived from a much older Muscogee (Creek) Nation word, Owaquaphenoga. Although this word probably means "shaking water in a low place" in the Muscogee language, it has come down to us today to mean "The Land of the Trembling Earth." In 1937, recognizing its valuable scientific, educational and recreational importance, President Franklin Roosevelt established the Okefenokee Refuge. Later, in 1974, ensuring the continued protection of this unique ecosystem, the refuge’s interior lands were designated a National Wilderness Area and in 1986, the Okefenokee Refuge was designated a Wetland of International Importance.

In June 2022, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in conjunction with Okefenokee Swamp Park, Inc. (OSP), launched a public/private partnership to provide project management and financial resources to support Okefenokee’s bid for World Heritage Site status. The Okefenokee NWR was identified as a potential World Heritage Site in 1982 and, then in 2007, was

placed on the United States Tentative List where it has remained. Only one site may be nominated by the U.S. each year and it is the highest honor in the world for sites of cultural and ecological importance. Obtaining this status would not alter the ownership or management of the Okefenokee NWR in any way, nor would it impose any new rules or regulations.

“If inscribed, Okefenokee NWR would be the first site entirely managed by the National Wildlife Refuge System and the first natural site of its kind to be recognized as a World Heritage Site.”

A World Heritage Site designation from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and

- OKEFENOKEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE MANAGER, MICHAEL LUSK, OF THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

PHOTOS COURTESY OF USFWS

Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is defined as a natural or man-made site recognized as being of “outstanding universal value” and if successful, this listing would enhance e orts to conserve the Okefenokee NWR and its vast ecological resources for years to come.

The process for being named to the World Heritage List, managed by UNESCO, is widely acknowledged to result in:

• Increased global visibility

• Growth in sustainable tourism and ensuing economic benefits for the region

• Increased capacity to protect and enhance wildlife and its habitat

• Ensured integrity of the ecological system

“The Okefenokee is more than ready for its chance at World Heritage status – it’s like no place else on Earth.”

– ELISE BENNETT, FLORIDA DIRECTOR AND ATTORNEY FOR THE CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

In September 2022, 33 national, state, and local organizations signed a letter asking the Secretary of the Interior to formally authorize the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge’s bid for World Heritage Site listing. Approval from the Interior Department would kick o a yearslong nomination process that would include documenting Okefenokee’s “outstanding universal value”.

Being nominated and eventually chosen as a World Heritage Site would solidify recognition of Okefenokee’s global significance and bring immense economic and conservation benefits to the Southeast. However, the process involves a three-to-four-year timeline with an estimated

cost of $500,000. The majority of the expenses will be used to produce materials for review by the UNESCO committee that determines World Heritage awards.

“This is an opportunity to unite the communities of the Okefenokee and involve people in a meaningful way by supporting this collective e ort to bring universal recognition to one of the world’s great natural wonders, the Okefenokee.”

- KIM BEDNAREK, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, OKEFENOKEE SWAMP PARK

The Okefenokee Swamp Park and the National Wildlife Refuge are partnering to raise the $500,000 needed. To date, almost $100,000 has been raised through generous gifts from individuals, businesses, and partner organizations. We invite you to join the Okefenokee World Heritage Journey with a financial gift and/or consider o ering “in-kind” support by volunteering your time and e ort in various ways. Contributions may be made through our website: okefenokeeworldheritage.org. Your generosity will help us tell the world that there really is “no other place on earth like the Okefenokee.”

Okefenokeeworldheritage.org

Help us tell the world that there is “no other place on earth like the Okefenokee”

For more information and to contribute to the Okefenokee World Heritage Journey

Visit: Okefenokeewordheritage.org/GetInvolved or contact Kim Bednarek at kim.bednarek@okeswamp.org

PHOTO BY GENE BEDNAREK

PHOTO BY BILL RHODES

Tim Sloan, Owner

PROFILES

YOUR GUIDE TO PEOPLE, PLACES, AND BUSINESSES IN THE REGION

Story By JOHN DUPONT

Jim Bennett’s Journey to the

FriendlySkies

Mershon, Georgia to Washington, D.C. is a 952-mile journey. While many south Georgians have likely never made that trip, it’s a work commute that Jim Bennett makes regularly. As a commercial pilot for United Airlines, Bennett lives a truly jet-set life.

“Never in a million years would I have imagined in high school that I would be doing this,” says Bennett, a 2002 graduate of Pierce County High. “If it had not been for a relative, I probably wouldn’t have even known about it.”

Richard Van Iderstyne, a cousin to Bennett’s father, spent 39 years with Delta Airlines, flying a Boeing 777 to far-flung destinations such as Sydney, Australia. The Jekyll Islandbased pilot also regularly visited relatives in the Pierce County hamlet of Mershon.

ABOVE: Jim Bennett at work in an Embraer 145. PHOTO BY MARILYN BENNETT

UNITED CAPTAIN IS AN AVID AVIATOR AND DEVOTED FAMILY MAN

“Every year for Thanksgiving, Richard landed his Cessna 172 here,” Bennett recalls. “He flew o a public road and gave all the kids airplane rides. We kids just loved it.”

Bennett attended Georgia Southwestern State University, where he earned a business degree. By then, the thrill of flying had captivated him. When it came to picking a career, his sense of adventure won out over dreams of fortune.

“I knew I didn’t want to sit in an o ce,” Bennett says. “I also didn’t want to be out in the Georgia heat in July. I wanted something in between. Richard and I talked at Thanksgiving one year and I asked, ‘When are you going to teach me to fly?’ I began

[taking lessons] in January 2007, and I took my checkride in May.”

“Checkride” is pilot lingo for the skills test a candidate must pass to earn private pilot certification. Bennett took his exam at the Brunswick Golden Isles Airport, where he answered a series of rapid-fire questions and demonstrated takeo s, landings, and other maneuvers under the watchful eye of an examiner. He did so in the same Cessna he had ridden in as a boy.

Encouraged by Van Iderstyne to continue his pilot training, Bennett enrolled in Delta Flight Academy (now L3 Harris) in Sanford, Florida. There, he earned instrument, commercial, and flight instructor ratings.

At that point, Bennett says, “I had my ratings, but not enough flight time to be an attractive candidate for an airline. So I was a flight instructor for two years at L3 Harris. I then became what’s called a check airman.”

Paying his dues, Bennett instructed students of all ages while progressing to supervisor and management positions. During this time, he and Marilyn Parker wed. She had graduated from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 2008, and they married in March 2009. While Jim was training pilots, Marilyn worked as a prosecuting attorney in central Florida.

“One thing about Jim is when he is passionate about something, he is all in, whether that is hunting, sports, our kids, or aviation,” says Marilyn, now the District Attorney for the Waycross Judicial Circuit. “When he started flying, I knew there was something di erent about aviation from his other interests. I saw him excited to study, go to class, listen to air tra c control recordings, and wake up before daylight to teach others to

In January 2011 Jim landed his first gig as a commercial pilot, with Atlanta-based ExpressJet Airlines.

“With Richard as my mentor,

fly.”

Jim, Marilyn, Landri and Chandler attended a United ceremony to be recognized for his promotion to Captain in November 2022.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARILYN BENNETT

Aviation lends itself to adorable family photos. Marilyn captured one of Landri as a Father’s Day gift in 2015, Chandler dressed up for her daycare's Homecoming Spirit Week in 2018, and Parker was photographed as a newborn in 2020.

PHOTOS OF DAUGHTERS COURTESY OF MARILYN BENNETT / PHOTO OF NEWBORN BY BRITTANY JURY PHOTOGRAPHY

Whether he’s flying a United 737 or his personal Beechcraft Bonanza, Jim always finds time to stay grounded with Marilyn and their children.

BONANZA PHOTO COURTESY OF MARILYN BENNETT / FAMILY PHOTO BY BRITTANY JURY PHOTOGRAPHY

everyone thought I would go with Delta,” he says. “At that stage, though, you go to whoever o ers a job first. The pay is identical, no matter what company you go with.”

Although the assignment required flying out of Houston, the Bennetts moved back to Mershon. Three times a month Jim drove from Mershon to Jacksonville, then flew to Houston. ExpressJet handled regional flying for United Airlines, covering Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. He served as a first o cer on an Embraer 145, a 50-passenger jet, for six years. In 2017, Bennett was promoted to captain.

“In any airline, there are two pilots in a plane’s cockpit,” he explains. “The captain sits in the left seat, and the first o cer in the right seat. Both are responsible for the safe outcome of the flight. They alternate piloting each leg. Whoever is not flying handles communication to the ground, the crew, and the passengers.”

Bennett flew for two years as an ExpressJet captain, then joined United Airlines in March 2019. The move meant transitioning back to first o cer. Captain slots are based on seniority, and Bennett needed a minimum of a year plus 1,000 hours of flight time with United to become eligible for captain status again.

Newark, New Jersey became his new home base, with routes taking him throughout North, Central, and South America, as well as Europe on Boeing 767s. For a year he flew to London, Munich, Lisbon, Dublin, and Buenos Aires. Then a global pandemic struck.

“When Covid started, I stayed home for a year,” he says. “TSA went from 2.5 million passenger screenings per day to 87,000. United began flying domestically on the 737 and internationally on the 787. When I came back, I purposefully bid on the 737 because flying was going to come back to that airplane more quickly. I served as first o cer for two years, then was upgraded to captain in December 2022.”

Flight School 4-1-1

Jim Bennett loves introducing young people to aviation. “I had Richard [Van Iderstyne] to shepherd me through, and I’ve done that for people. I know there has to be more out there who would enjoy it, and I want to be a resource. I feel like in our area, kids graduate never really knowing that flying is an option.”

For young men and women interested in becoming a professional pilot, Bennett’s top recommendation is Middle Georgia State University. The school’s aviation program is among the Top 20 in the nation and is designed for students coming straight out of high school. It’s based at the school’s Eastman campus, less than two hours from Blackshear. To learn more, Bennett invites prospective pilots to email him at jimbennett34@gmail.com

Still flying the 737, Bennett now covers North and Central America, parts of South America, and the Caribbean. He bids new schedules monthly, and each leg begins with a drive to Savannah, where he boards a United flight to Washington, D.C. Bennett meets his first o cer an hour before each flight, which is often their firstever meeting.

Most fascinating among Bennett’s travel experiences is Germany’s Oktoberfest. “It’s actually celebrated in September,” he notes. “My favorite layover is Porto, Portugal. It’s the home of port wine, but one really neat thing is that Porto doesn’t have any asphalt, just stone streets.”

Charter clientele has included the

Boston Red Sox, the Baltimore Orioles, and college basketball teams from Penn State, Rutgers, and Illinois. Celebrity passengers have included Robert DeNiro and Matthew McConaughey. “There’s someone famous on nearly every flight,” Bennett says.

Away from work, Bennett stays “grounded” with Marilyn, daughters Landri (8) and Chandler (6), and son Parker (2). Their home is within walking distance of Bennett’s parents, Eddie and Diane, as well as his sister and brother-in-law, Dr. Leslie and David Dowling.

“Aviation is a great profession to get into if you are passionate for flying and want to live in a small town,” says Marilyn. “Jim may be gone from home a few days a week, but when he puts the plane in park and heads home, he is home. His family has his full attention. The way he chooses to spend his free time has made all the sacrifices up to this point worthwhile.”

Bennett does still find his way into the air when he’s o the clock, however – he enjoys flying his personal craft, a Beechcraft Bonanza, with his dad, whom he taught to fly. With a passion for aviation that is palpable, Bennett strives to pay forward its rewards.

“Probably the most fulfilling thing we have at United is an understood policy where if there’s a kid under 10, we ask if they want to see the cockpit,” he says. “We let the kids get in the seat, put a hat on them, give them wings, and get the families in there for pictures. They just light up.

“And I love flying the little plane around Blackshear,” he adds.

Mandatory retirement for commercial pilots comes at 65, and while an encore career as an instructor may be in the o ng, Bennett, at 38, is still in the early stages of his commercial career.

“Find a job you love and you will never work a day in your life,” he says. “I know that gets thrown around a lot, but flying is literally something I love to do every day. It’s not just another job.” OL

Jim with a young aviation enthusiast, Chael Gilleon. PHOTO BY GRAHAM GILLEON

MIRACLE LEAGUE OF THE OKEFENOKEE

Miracle League

Field of dreams

New Facility Gives Players a Home of Their Own

Alongtime need became reality on March 25, 2023 when the Miracle League of the Okefenokee o cially opened its “Field of Dreams,” an artificial-turf baseball venue reserved exclusively for area Miracle League players.

Located at Trembling Earth Recreational Complex in Waycross, the $425,000 facility was built with private donations and public funds, including $155,000 from the Ware County government. The field was installed by Sports Turf Company of Whitesburg, GA, and signage was made by Georgia SBJ of Waycross.

“It took the community of South Georgia to make this happen,” said Berry Tanner, president of Miracle League of the Okefenokee, at the field’s ribbon cutting ceremony on January 27. “Ware County has allowed us to come in here and use their field and make it playable, accessible, and safe for our players, for now and for the future. We’re just on cloud nine.”

Miracle League provides teens and adults with physical and mental disabilities the opportunity to experience baseball with the assistance of assigned “buddies.” The local Miracle League a liate has played in Ware County for 19 years (see story in Okefenokee Living, Spring-Summer 2017 issue). The new rubberized field accommodates wheelchairs and other assistive devices, and reduces the potential for rainouts, thanks to its ability to drain quickly.

The March 25 grand opening included a “Champions Walk” through cheering throngs of firefighters, police o cers, parents, and other supporters. Three games were played, with each preceded by a ceremonial first pitch from Clay Thomas (Crossway Realty), Stacey Perritt (Dancing with the Southern Stars), and Je rey Joyce (Monroe Foundation), respectively. Leadership Waycross Class of 2022 provided planning and operational support.

“South Georgia is God’s country,” Tanner said at the grand opening, noting that private donations came from residents throughout Ware, Pierce, Clinch, Charlton, Brantley, and Bacon Counties. “Thank you Miracle League board of directors – they’re all volunteers. Our coaches out there on the field … our pitchers and catchers … our Homer mascot … our buddies –they’re all volunteers. Together you make baseball with a smile a reality for our players and cheerleaders.” OL

Top Right Clay Thomas throws out the ceremonial first pitch prior to Game 1 of the Miracle League Field of Dreams grand opening.

Bottom Right Conner Crosby bats while his father, Kenny, and Berry Tanner, Miracle League of the Okefenokee president, look on.

Story by ALLEN ALLNOCH

Photography By RICK HEAD

Champions At Last

WARE COUNTY GATORS ACHIEVE PERFECT SEASON, FIRST STATE TITLE

Prior to the 2022 season, the Ware County High football team had played three times for a state championship – in 1961, 2007, and 2012 – and fallen short each year. In the fourth attempt, however, the Gators left no doubt.

The 2022 Ware County squad rolled through the regular-season schedule and four playo games undefeated, setting up a Class 5A championship matchup against two-time defending champion Warner Robins. Playing at Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta on December 10, the Gators jumped ahead of the Demons early in the game and never let up. When the clock hit zero, the final score read 38-13 and the Gators had their 14th win of the season and that long-awaited championship trophy.

Above Ware County players, coaches and cheerleaders celebrate their 14-0 season and state championship win at Atlanta’s Center Parc Stadium.

Right Coach Jason Strickland hoists Ware County’s first state championship trophy.

Top

Middle Running back

“We came into this thing with a lot of questions, really not knowing who we were. But we knew this: We had an incredible group of seniors that had one heck of a chip on their shoulder,” Head Coach Jason Strickland told Georgia Public Broadcasting after the game.

Strickland, who came to Ware County in 2019 after two seasons at Pierce County, also thanked the sizeable group of fans who made the trip from Waycross.

“What an incredible group of young men and an incredible community that got behind us four years ago [and] an incredible administration,” Strickland said. “They supported us through thick and thin. They believed in what we wanted to do … and we’re coming home with a championship trophy. … There’s going to be a party in the Swamp!” OL

WARE COUNTY HIGH FOOTBALL

Above A large contingent of Ware County fans made the trip to Atlanta.

Right and

Dae’jeaun Dennis and quarterback Niko Smith were a powerful duo for the Gator o ense.

Above The Ware County defense stifled Warner Robins, just as it had previous opponents –the Gators allowed an average of less than 8 points per game throughout the season.

“We came into this thing with a lot of questions, really not knowing who we were. But we knew this: We had an incredible group of seniors that had one heck of a chip on their shoulder.”

Head Coach Jason Strickland

Annah Copeland, Gracianna Gaskins, Caitlin Martin, Summer Dixon, Sheila Lee

Story and Photography By WAYNE MORGAN

A Passion FOR THE Okefenokee

A Visit to the Swamp Was Always Made Richer by the Presence of Don Berryhill

Don Berryhill was born and raised in Concord, North Carolina. Anything to do with nature has always been his passion, from his childhood all the way up until his health deteriorated in recent years. Don graduated in 1959 from Appalachian State Teachers College with a B.S. degree, and from the University of

Georgia in 1964 with a Masters degree. He also earned a sixth-year degree from Georgia Southern University in 1977. In 1966, he moved to Waycross for an opportunity to work in the Okefenokee Swamp with teachers and children.

It was in the Okefenokee where his world and the world of so many

others changed. In 1968, a 1,000-foot boardwalk was designed and built to study nature and science about a mile into the Okefenokee. For nearly 40 years, students from southern Georgia and elsewhere – from around the world, really – were treated to a true wilderness adventure and learning experience they would not soon forget.

“Okefenokee Swamp: Wild & Natural” showcases Don Berryhill’s extensive knowledge of the area and is beautifully illustrated with photos by Wayne Morgan.

Tens of thousands of students have made boat rides into the swamp and recorded data using the scientific methods shown to them by Don. He retired from Okefenokee RESA in 1996, but continued teaching about the swamp in his “Okefenokeeology” classes, and any opportunity he had to talk about it revealed his true passion. He especially enjoyed seeing a kid’s face when he would share something about the swamp they had never seen before.

I had the pleasure of working with Don one summer in the early 1980s at RESA, and in 2013, we worked together on a co ee table book about the Okefenokee Swamp. His health was so much better then and we made countless trips into the Okefenokee gathering material. I would take pictures and enjoy listening to him tell me the names of plants, wildlife, and other aspects of the Land of the Trembling Earth.

I remember one story he told me about taking a solo trip into the swamp at Fargo. He saw an alligator out of the corner of his eye as it was attempting to get back into the water. They met at the same point as the alligator dove for the water and he drove his boat “under” it. The tail of the gator hit his boat and almost flipped it over as it went across. There are an estimated 12,000 alligators in the swamp, and he had seen them countless times, but this was one of the few occasions that he recalled being scared and shaking!

Every trip into the swamp with Don was so much of a learning experience. I would take the pictures by his home after our trips and he would write down the information on a yellow note pad. (He didn’t much care for typing it.) I would then take the info and type up what he had written for our book.

Done still lives in Waycross with Sandra, his wife of 53 years. On February 12 of this year, he turned 90 years

“Every trip into the swamp with Don was a learning experience,” Wayne remembers. “It was a pleasure listening to him tell me the names of plants, wildlife, and other aspects of the Land of the Trembling Earth.”

old. He doesn’t get out much anymore because of health issues that have resulted from a stroke and dementia. With all his knowledge about the Okefenokee and the fight that is going on now to stop a proposed mining operation in the swamp, I really wish Don was able to express his feelings

Above

Don delighted in educating children and adults alike, and he especially enjoyed seeing a kid’s face when he would share something about the swamp they had never seen before.

on what damage will be done if this is allowed. I am sure he would have plenty to say, and he’d have the knowledge to back it up.

I truly cherish the time I’ve had working with Don and getting the chance to see up-close the love that he dedicated most of his life to teaching about. OL

Top: Don and the late Johnny Hickox, a longtime Okefenokee Swamp Park guide.

and Left:

For nearly 40 years, Don treated students “to a true wilderness adventure and learning experience they would not soon forget.”

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BANK & TRUST

A Bank Where Everybody Knows Your Name

WAYCROSS BANK & TRUST HAS MADE CUSTOMERS FEEL RIGHT AT HOME FOR

35 Years

out-of-town corporations acquired smaller community banks, changing their names and buildings to represent the overarching corporation. Inevitably, leadership and decision-making power shifted outside of town and diminished the concept of banking with people you know and trust.

WB&T’s founders shared a collective desire to o er the community a trustworthy banking option with localized ownership and a voice of influence within its community. In response to this need, WB&T was founded with a three-fold culture of service in the financial industry:

• A commitment to customers

• Use of the latest technological upgrades/features

• Investment in the local community

Since 1988, Waycross Bank & Trust (WB&T) has served customers with small-town hospitality and big-town advances. Being a leader in banking technology doesn’t preclude a personal touch: At WB&T, they know you by name, greet you at the door, and still answer phones the old-fashioned way – with a real human being.

“We are like a family here, working to help one another and our customers,” says Customer Service Representative Linda James, who has been with WB&T since the day it opened. “I am starting to see a third generation

of families who bank with us, which is rewarding. I’d previously worked for a bank that was purchased by a corporate bank, and the customer service was never the same. We aren’t like that; we’re a hometown bank that gives hometown service, and if you need our help, we are here. We know our customers by name.”

Founded 35 years ago, WB&T was born out of a concern that locally owned banks were being turned into local branches of national banks. Throughout the 1980s, large

“Our customers have come to expect honesty,” explains Russell L. Bates, President & CEO of WB&T. “They trust that their money is safe and secure, and that WB&T will make recommendations with their best interest as the first priority, because we know them and this community.”

Coranna Young, Assistant Vice President of Deposit Operations at WB&T Bankshares, WB&T’s parent company, adds: “The culture and expectation for quality customer service remains the same today as it did the day we opened our doors in 1988.”

Doing business for 35 years –including periods of economic turmoil – displays strength and longevity.

“WB&T is strong in part because the community we serve is strong,

ABOVE WB&T groundbreaking ceremony in August 1987. Photo courtesy of WB&T.

our depositors are resilient, and our relationships have deep roots,” Bates said. “But it is also strong because of how it is run and managed. When turbulent economic times come, we settle into the foundation of our organization and leverage the strength that comes from being a part of a strong parent organization with sister banks across the state.”

With the same guiding principles as the flagship bank, one bank has grown to three, and service to one community has multiplied to six across South Georgia today. Guardian Bank, which opened in Valdosta in 1997, now has five branches of its own in three cities: Valdosta, Pearson, and Pelham. South Coast Bank extends the holding company footprint to Brunswick and St. Simons Island.

WB&T and its sister banks’ successful growth and longevity largely can be attributed to visionaries who have kept the original mandate alive. By establishing WB&T Bankshares in 1989 – a unique endeavor for local community banking – 100 percent ownership of the bank was guaranteed. Ansel P. Clark served as CEO of WB&T for 24 years and is currently chairman of the board for WB&T Bankshares.

Bates has been President and CEO of Waycross Bank & Trust since 2014.

On the topic of WB&T’s longevity, Bates says the bank has “stayed true to our values. The founding directors were clear that we were to be stewards of the money entrusted to us, and we would never sacrifice the safety of those assets chasing a profit. Our litmus test was, and still is, asking if a decision benefits our shareholders, customers, community, and team.”

WB&T also is known for its commitment to providing emerging technologies. A prime example is its unique interactive teller experience, which debuted in 2016 and and is available from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

“An ITM resembles a traditional ATM but o ers personalized service,” Bates says. “When you tap the screen, you are connected via live video to a team member. At an ITM, you can do any transaction you would do in a bank, but with extended hours.”

Many customers of WB&T and its sister banks are initially drawn in by the organization’s investment and involvement in the community.

WB&T is active in a long list of corporate and personal outreach

initiatives, including schools, civic clubs, athletic teams, and other community e orts. One of its most unique outreaches is the WB&T Junior Board, which is made up of high school seniors selected by leaders in the community. The program enables high schoolers to attend meetings and learn about banking laws, loans, the role of banks in our community, and more. They even take a trip to visit the Federal Reserve bank branch in Jacksonville.

“It’s a great way to expose rising leaders to how our community works,” says WB&T Lender Trey Shields, who serves as the Junior Board Coordinator and was a member of the 2015-2016 Class of Junior Board of Directors. “They learn about banking, small businesses, entrepreneurship, and their vital contributions to the local economy. It’s exciting to watch them learn and grow in their understanding, knowing that these are the leaders of tomorrow.”

It’s apparent that WB&T has established a legacy of trust with its community and will be here for years to come. Bates summarizes it well: “Our community knows their money is safe with us.” OL

LEFT WB&T Customer Service Representative Julie Tomlinson welcomed Ware County Extension Agent Tom Boland as he opened the bank’s first deposit account in June 1988.

Photo courtesy of WB&T.

LEFT An interactive teller machine (ITM) combines the technology of a traditional ATM with the personalized service of a face-to-face bank transaction.

Photo courtesy of WB&T.

Russell Bates, Coranna Young, and Linda James are part of a culture that’s known for building strong relationships with its customers.

Photo by Allen Allnoch / AHA! Photography

HOSPICE SATILLA JUNIOR BOARD

Story by ALLEN ALLNOCH

HOSPICE SATILLA JUNIOR BOARD Making a Difference in Other’s Lives

Twenty-six juniors from Ware County High School, Pierce County High School, and Southside Christian School completed the 2022-23 school year as the first members of Hospice Satilla’s Junior Board of Directors. The Junior Board’s mission is to help raise awareness for Hospice Satilla and help raise funds to support children and their families in their communities. Junior Board members serve a one-year term with the option of continuing their senior year as a Hospice Satilla Ambassador. Students at Brantley County High will be included on the Board beginning

with the 2023-24 school year.

“While being on the Hospice Satilla Junior Board of Directors, I’ve learned that kindness and volunteering go hand in hand and really make an impact on helping others,” said Pierce County student Liset Nolasco. Raleigh Tuten, a board member from Ware County agrees, “I have learned how Hospice Satilla can help those who need it the most, especially grieving family members.”

Hospice care is often misunderstood, with many assuming it is used only during the very last days

of life. Hospice Satilla is working to change that perception by investing in this group of young leaders and teaching them what the nonprofit organization is about. Junior Board members can, in turn, better educate our local communities about hospice care and what services are available.

Pierce County student Lily Spivey found that approach to be e ective, calling her year as a Board member “a very rewarding experience for me. My favorite thing about being on the Board was learning about all the di erent

services Hospice Satilla provides to our community.”

The fundraising part of the Board’s mission was carried out through the Second Annual Cowboys for Kids event, held May 27 at the Ware County Saddle Club.

Proceeds from the event will support Camp Hope, a grief camp for children ages 5 to 18 who have experienced a significant loss through the death of someone close to them. Set for October 14 at the Lions Camp for the Blind, Camp Hope will include small group sessions led by certified counselors and therapeutic activities such as arts and crafts, horseback riding, games, rock climbing, fishing and more.

“I enjoyed the Cowboys for Kids event – seeing all the little kids and adults having a big smile on their face,” said Maura Kate Waters, a rising

senior from Pierce County. “I love how every single person involved with hospice is so selfless and how they truly dedicate their lives to those who need their love the most.”

Emma Wallace, a Southside Christian School student summed up how it seems most of the junior board members feel about their experience, “The Junior Board was an amazing experience for me. The ability to directly impact lives was the main reason I joined. I love the ministry Hospice Satilla has in this community and I was honored to be a part of it.” OL

HOSPICE SATILLA JUNIOR BOARD:

Ware Group

J’Niyah Brown

Fredriana Carson

Calleigh Crews

Raygan Dixon

Connor Fraley

Eric Gaspar

Shonda Moseley

Lindy Penland

Harry Smith

McKensie Taylor

Milla Tuten

Raleigh Tuten

Emma Wallace

Pierce Group

Rylee Carden

Grace Christopher

Britton Larson

Reagan Mau ray

Mollie McQuaig

Sarah Jane Moore

Ava Murray

Liset Nolasco

Mackenzie Quick

Sophie Scruggs

Leah Smith

Lily Spivey

Maura Kate Waters

“I LOVE THE MINISTRY Hospice Satilla HAS IN THIS community AND I WAS HONORED TO BE a part of it.”

PROFILES

MOI MONROE AND JASON ROGERS

Story By CYLE AUGUSTA LEWIS

BOUNDLESS 2 FRIENDS 4 WHEELS

faith

Moi Monroe, Jason Rogers Set for Cross-Country Bike Trip Benefitting Fight against Childhood Cancer

Fueled by the words of Matthew 19:26 – “With God all things are possible” – and a vision to end childhood cancer, Waycross residents Moi Monroe and Jason Rogers will bike across the United States, traveling “Cross Country for a Cure,” from Anchorage, Alaska to Jacksonville, Florida, beginning July 22, 2023.

The longtime friends’ goal is twofold: Raise awareness for childhood cancer patients, their families, and the organizations dedicated to finding a cure; and raise funds to help end childhood cancer.

“At the end of the ride, neither of us wants to be in the limelight,” Moi says. “We are doing this to glorify God and bring hope and awareness to childhood cancer.”

While the prospect of a cross-country ride for charity has been on the table for years, serious discussion began only two years ago.

“I started cycling in 2010,” Jason explains. “When training for my first triathlon, a friend introduced me to Moi, thinking we’d get along. We immediately started riding together. Since then, I’ve completed three rides for charitable causes, and Moi was my biggest supporter during these rides. It only made sense we would do one together.”

The cross-country bike ride idea shaped up to be a two-pronged fundraising e ort for a local Waycross organization called Mattie’s Mission. It was founded in memory of Mattie Goble, who passed away from inoperable cancer at age 6 in February 2013. Moi and Jason also choose to partner with Jacksonville’s Wolfson Children’s Hospital, which is recognized as one

LEFT Moi and Jason at Jacksonville’s Wolfson Children’s Hospital, their final destination. Photo by Joanna Licherdell

of the world’s best childhood cancer centers. Fittingly, their ride will end in Jacksonville in early September, which is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

“We will cover 5,000 miles to raise $200,000, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the two beneficiaries,” Jason says Adds Moi, “We’ve been training all year. The trip starts on July 22, and we expect to complete the distance in 42 days. Our motorhome and trailer will be transported along with an assistant to help us stay on track, service the bikes, and o er support. We aim to cover one hundred miles daily.”

The ride, which will cover four Canadian provinces and 11 U.S. states, is deeply personal to Moi. “In addition to remembering Mattie as we ride,” he explains, “we’re also honoring Christian Brant, who was diagnosed with leukemia before age 2, and my grandson, Mason Grantham, who was born with a birth defect in his airway and

received a complicated reconstructive surgery at Wolfson.”

The pair will designate each riding day to honor a child who has received help from Mattie’s Mission or Wolfson Children’s Hospital. The two friends and Wolfie, the Wolfson Children’s Mascot, will stop at children’s hospitals along the way.

“I’VE COMPLETED THREE RIDES FOR CHARITABLE CAUSES, AND MOI WAS MY BIGGEST SUPPORTER DURING THESE RIDES. IT ONLY MADE SENSE WE WOULD DO ONE TOGETHER.”

– Jason Rogers

The cyclists’ route will cover some 5,000 miles between Anchorage and Jacksonville.

“Our two-fold goal each day is to spread hope that one day childhood cancer will be defeated,” Moi says.

The riders have divided responsibilities, with Moi focusing on fundraising for Mattie’s Mission and Wolfson, and Jason tasked with trip expenses, including RV rental, gas, food, campsites, and sponsors.

“We are so fortunate to live in such a giving community,” Jason says. “The fundraising is significant. Sponsors have been secured in Ware, Pierce, Lowndes, Brunswick, Nassau County and Fernandina, and Jacksonville.”

Jason and Moi will face many challenges, including safety concerns; varied terrain and altitude; eating, fueling, resting and recharging; weather conditions; and the general

toll of the daily mileage.

“We’ll be carefully pacing, measuring nutrition intake and hydration,” Moi says.

The pair boldly credit their faith as the foundation of their Cross Country for a Cure endeavor.

“We give glory to God for our ability to complete this ride,” Moi says. “We pray for the strength and endurance only He can give.”

Adds Jason, “I believe God puts a call in our hearts [and] He gives us a choice to answer it. This trip started with my Lord placing the idea in my head. I chose obedience, and I know God will be with us. He’s gifted us with abilities, so we can first glorify His name, and second, help others.” OL

Follow the Ride

Anyone can follow and support Moi and Jason on their Cross Country for a Cure ride. To make a donation, go to mattiesmission.org, click on Events, then click Cross Country Ride for a Cure, where Donate buttons are available for PayPal and Venmo. Follow the ride via their Cross Country for a Cure Facebook event, accessible from mattiesmission. org and facebook.com/mattiesmission.

“If you’re interested in following along, we will send content along the way, and latitude and longitude coordinates so you can see exactly where we are,” Moi says.

About Mattie’s Mission

Childhood cancer is the number one disease killer of America’s children. The goal of Mattie’s Mission, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization formed in memory of Mattie Goble, is to financially, spiritually, and emotionally assist families a ected by childhood cancer. The Goble family and their supporters are committed to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ and engaging in the fight against childhood cancer through prayer and research.

About Wolfson Children’s Hospital

Jacksonville’s Wolfson Children’s Hospital is part of Baptist Health, Northeast Florida’s most comprehensive health system, serving every stage of life. Wolfson is the only children’s hospital in Northeast Florida and serves as the pediatric referral center for North Florida, South Georgia, and beyond. It employs nationally recognized pediatric specialists representing nearly every medical and surgical specialty.

MOI MONROE AND JASON ROGERS

Moi and Jason will depend on strong legs and divine power as they ride: “We pray for the strength and endurance only [God] can give,” Moi says.

Photo by Katie Stewart

Coastal Pines Technical College has recently purchased a 52-foot mobile welding lab. This self-contained trailer is outfitted with state-of-the-art welding tool sets and equipment to make up 8 working welding booths. The trailer also has its own ventilation and air conditioning systems to allow for a safe working environment. The equipment is set up to train 16 welding operations (1G, 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, and 6G Welding positions and Gas Metal Arc, Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GMAW/MIG), Shielded Metal Arc Welding (TIG), and Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW).

The design of the mobile welding lab will allow Coastal Pines the flexibility to travel and provide short-term, non-credit training to industry partners throughout the 13-county service area. Training is available for companies to upskill their current workforce, to prepare new employees for entry-level work in

an industry setting, or to simply allow users to brush up on their current skillset while employed with a company.

“This mobile welding lab is an awesome and exciting tool that will allow us to extend education outside the traditional classroom walls,” said President Lonnie Roberts. “It will open the doors of hands-on learning for students in locations where a typical lab is not available. By taking welding education on the move, we can empower and prepare more students for today’s

workforce.  It’s a great way for us to demonstrate the value of education by using the power of mobility.”

In addition to using the trailer for workforce development and customized training, the welding lab is a tool that can be used to educate and introduce the welding field to students within the K-12 system who may not know about the career opportunities available to future welders. The mobile unit can also be delivered to provide training for o enders within the prison system to prepare them for reentry into the workforce. The possibilities of the mobile welding lab are endless.

The addition of the mobile welding lab speaks to the true mission of the Technical College System of Georgia and Coastal Pines, which is to support the local workforce development and learning needs of local communities, businesses and industries.

CPTC - HIGH TECH, HIGH QUALITY TRAINING. DELIVERED TO YOU.

“It will open the doors of hands-on learning for students in locations where a typical lab is not available. By taking welding education on the move, we can empower and prepare more students for today’s workforce.” – Lonnie Roberts, President

Story By ALLEN ALLNOCH

PROFILES

JASON RUBENBAUER

Change Agent

Jason Rubenbauer Is an Enthusiastic Champion for Local Business and Industrial Development

Jason Rubenbauer began work on November 1, 2022 as the new President and Chief Executive O cer for the Waycross-Ware County Development Authority. A Ware County resident since 2003, Jason has enjoyed a long career in public service, including positions with Okefenokee Technical College (now Coastal Pines Technical College) in the economic development arena and, most recently, Pierce County, where he had worked as County Manager since April 2017.

The WWDA position had been vacant for much of 2022, and Jason says he “hit the ground running,” meeting and networking with local, regional and state leaders, and honing the Waycross-Ware County “story” as a desirable location to live and work. He recently took time from his busy schedule to discuss that story, upcoming developments, and more.

Photo By AHA! PHOTOGRAPHY

OL: What attracted you to the WWDA job, and how has it been going so far?

JR: I knew the position had been open for quite some time, and economic development is something I’ve always been passionate about. Having an industrial background, I’ve always enjoyed helping existing businesses and industry get the resources they need, plus recruiting new industry to an area.

What I’ve found is we haven’t done a really good job of telling our story. We take for granted what we have in our front yard – a lot of people are not aware of the opportunities we have. When people don’t really understand what that consists of as far as available properties and workforce, we’ve got to make sure we tell our story.

OL: Site Selection Magazine recently ranked Waycross in a tie for 22nd among more than 140 U.S. micropolitans (i.e., cities and surrounding communities with 10,000 to 50,000 residents). How important is a recognition like this?

JR: It’s extremely important, because a publication like Site Selection is looking across the United States. That ranking speaks volumes about what we have. It’s an opportunity that, again, helps us tell our story. When you get somebody outside telling your story, you know you’ve done something right.

OL: ADMARES, a company that specializes in the mass production of buildings and homes, recently announced plans to construct a 2.5-million-square-foot facility along Highway 23 in Waycross. That’s exciting news, and it sounds like there are some more impactful industrial development projects in the works for the area.

JR: There are, and they really span across a lot of di erent industries. Without going into any specifics, I think we’re going to see some growth that Waycross-Ware County has not seen in a very long time, if ever. My vision for the community is trying to get some of the newer technology and higher-paying jobs here. I think we’re poised for that.

Solar is big in the Southeast, and I think that’s going to continue with the growth of the green movement. I think we’re also seeing an industrial revolution taking place again, reshoring a lot of companies that are overseas and are wanting to position themselves in the United States to get away from China. I think because of our close proximity to the Georgia ports of Brunswick, Savannah, and Jacksonville, we’re well-positioned to have those conversations. And we also have a lot of retail outreach that’s taking place.

OL: You mentioned doing a better job of telling our story. What is that story – what do you tell business and industry leaders?

JR: True Southern hospitality is one of the first things I saw 20 years ago when I moved here. I knew nothing about the South except for what I saw in movies. When you see it firsthand, you’re like, ‘Wow, it’s true.’ That’s what a lot of people I’ve brought into the community have seen too, and that’s probably the biggest driving force of somebody wanting to locate here.

So if we can get them down here, they can see how unique we are. The community sells itself. Whether I’m talking to site selectors in Atlanta for the Georgia Department of Economic Development or project managers for various companies, I tell them to come see it for themselves, like I did. We’re a huge logistical hub. Our school system is strong. There’s close proximity of our K through 12 schools, our technical college, and our university system, all within a few miles of each other. That’s a huge selling point.

OL: Speaking of schools, how important is it to retain young talent and develop future leaders?

JR: We have to do a better job of letting our youth realize what we have here. It’s okay for them to go grow and spread their wings and see what’s out there, but we can’t let them forget what we have here, why they can be extremely successful here because of those very things. When you get into big cities, it’s harder, because competition is extremely high. Here, you can write your own destiny.

OL: Of course, as industry grows, both locally and throughout the Southeast, so does rail traffic. What’s your take on the subject everyone loves to hate – trains in Waycross?

JR: I’m a ected by that too, because of where I live in in the community, and it is a challenge to get home sometimes. But every time I see a train, I look at how much money is spent on that rail. I always want to know, ‘Where is that product going?’ It’s amazing the impact that the CSX Rice Yard has. That little bit of inconvenience is changing somebody’s life for the good, whether it’s an individual, a corporation, even a thirdworld country. We take it for granted, but a lot of product is passing right through here before it gets to its final destination. Being in government as long as I have, I see people who have very strong opinions on things. But if you sit down and have a conversation with them to find out what the root cause is, it’s very possible that the person maybe just doesn’t have all the information. When I see negativity

board members Daniel Morris, Candice Moody Rice, and Dan Good.

on social media, I try to reach out to those who are being negative and say, ‘Hey, why do you have this impression? What’s going on?’ and maybe inform them a little bit and say, ‘If you want to change it, here’s what you can do to make it better.’

Again, I think we have to make sure we realize how good we’ve got it. It’s important that as leaders and citizens in our community, we keep that in view, because other people certainly see it. We need involvement in our community activities and community projects, because that community feel when people come into town helps us attract what we want. OL

ABOVE Rubenbauer has strong relationships at the local and state levels. Here he poses with local leaders during a trip to the State Capitol in Atlanta: First row, Waycross Mayor Michael-Angelo James and City Commissioners Sheinita Bennett, Henry Strickland, and Katrena Felder; second row, WDDA

Photo courtesy of WWDA.

The Waycross-Ware County Industrial Park – home to 22 manufacturing operations, with plenty of space to accommodate more – is an important part of the area’s story as a logistical hub. Photo by Allen Allnoch / AHA! Photography

ARTSv CULTURE

TWO LOCAL ARTISTS SEEK TO EDUCATE, INSPIRE AND UNITE THROUGH THEIR MURAL WORK

Angela Carstens spent two months creating the new deck-to-roof mural that greets visitors at Southern Forest World.

Some of Waycross’s iconic public spaces – and some lesser-known ones, too – have taken on a newfound vibrancy lately, thanks to a pair of innovative local mural artists.

Angela Carstens and Jorah Mitchell have brought their respective visions to life on a grand scale with recent projects that celebrate the culture, heritage and natural surroundings of the Okefenokee region.

“Murals can be incredibly valuable to a community,” says Mitchell, who teaches art lessons and specializes in pet and wildlife art through her Sienna Fox Studio. “Not only can murals bring life to a building, they can help create or reinforce a town’s identity. They create important conversations and expand thought while encouraging you to slow down and admire your surroundings.”

Carstens, whose Art by Angie studio hosts art instruction including paint parties, workshops and more, also champions the unifying power of murals. “My goal as a muralist is to bring our community together and use the arts to expose young people to our local culture,” Carstens says. “If we lose our culture, then we lose a part of our heritage, we lose a part of our story.”

The Waycross Convention and Visitors Bureau funded the new works and ultimately will create what Executive Director Patrick Simmons calls a “murals, markers and monuments brochure.” The piece will guide visitors on a “scavenger hunt” to area businesses, and cultural, historical and natural attractions. Simmons’ vision is for the mural landscape to continue growing and provide a diversity of artists whose work will be part of the brochure and scavenger hunt.

Angela Carstens

[ ART BY ANGIE ]

Before Angela Carstens began work on the Southern Forest World Mural in March 2023, she already had earned a reputation for painting colorful scenes on storefronts around Waycross.

The Southern Forest World Mural, however, was something else altogether. The 16-foot-high collage encompasses multiple scenes from the natural world, including a rendering of “Stuckie,” the mummified dog that wows museum visitors; and a nod to the Ware County Gators, Pierce County Bears and other area high school mascots.

As Carstens created the piece, the vision for it evolved with the help of Southern Forest World Director Bertha Sue Dixon.

“It was a big privilege and an honor to work with Bertha and create something that we hope will draw the community in,” Carstens says. “To see it come together was awesome. We had an idea of what we wanted it to look like, but as I was working on it, it started to take on a character of its own. When I started doing Stuckie, it hit me: That is the heart of Southern Forest World, and that really formed the whole story for the mural.”

There’s also, of all things, an astronaut, which Dixon says intentionally adds intrigue to the piece. As she explains: “Some people might say, ‘What does Southern Forest World have to do

with an astronaut?’ Well if you don’t know, you need to come in and take the tour and see all these things that are on there.”

The mural includes a late addition that honors Southern Forest World’s founding organizer. After Sue Clark passed away on May 2 at age 98, Carstens and Dixon decided to add a cardinal as a symbol of her lasting presence.

“It’s turned towards the door,” Dixon says, “so every day when I come in, I can think of her looking over me.”

Learn More: Visit artistangiecarstens.com and facebook.com/artistangelacarstens to follow Angela Carstens. Go to southernforestworld.com for museum information and hours of operation.

ABOVE Carstens exudes joy as she creates. Here, she fashions a pine tree that makes up part of the Southern Forest World Mural.

TOP RIGHT Bertha Sue Dixon and Angela Carstens with a front-door rendering of the iconic Stuckie.

ABOVE In addition to o ering paint parties, workshops, art camps and art classes, Carstens works with area businesses to create window art such as this mural at Magnolia House.

Photo by Angela Carstens.

ARTSv CULTURE

Jorah Mitche

[ SIENNA FOX STUDIO ]

Jorah Mitchell’s latest works are part of the Waycross Mural Project, which includes a still-in-progress mural on a wall lining Knight Avenue just west of Waycross Memorial Stadium, and a large “photo op” mural at the Okefenokee Swamp Park.

The project also features works created through an art apprenticeship program in which young local artists work and learn alongside Mitchell. Funded by the Waycross CVB and the Ware Children’s Initiative, the program selected five emerging artists – Tatum Ricketson, Cecily Grigson, Jasmine Mitchell, Meredith Youngblood and Taylor Ann Laumann – from a native species-themed juried art competition.

“For young artists, an opportunity can mean everything,” Mitchell says. “There has been a large loss of education in the arts for the general population, and the art world can be very intimidating, so a project like this that welcomes young people with open arms can mean the world to their artistic journey. I want to use this as a chance to help build a foundation and experience so they can take the gained knowledge and confidence and run with it.”

Grigson worked with Mitchell on the first mural, a flora- and fruit-themed piece they created on the front of the DC Downtown Food Bank. Next was a series of dragonflies by Youngblood and Mitchell inside KD’s Café. The remaining murals are expected to be completed in summer 2023 at three more downtown Waycross locations.

Mitchell then plans to return to the Knight Avenue Mural, where she’ll add a vintage postcard look promoting the Okefenokee Swamp Park, Obediah’s Okefenok’ and Southern Forest World.

“The power in art isn’t only about what’s there, but about how it makes you think and feel,” Mitchell says. “Observing art improves creativity because it broadens your perspective and invites you to explore new ideas. It also not only proves who we are, it educates us about our past and where we are today.” OL

Learn More: Follow Jorah Mitchell at facebook.com/SiennaFoxStudio and visit her website at jorahblaiseart.life.

LEFT Cecily Grigson and Jorah Mitchell show o their completed mural at the DC Downtown Food Bank.

BELOW An alligator fittingly is the focal point of Mitchell’s mural just west of Waycross Memorial Stadium, home to the Ware County High Gators.

ABOVE Mitchell recently completed this stunning mural on the side of the annex building at the Okefenokee Swamp Park.

The Baptist Village Waycross Community also has a Skilled Nursing Facility and an Independent Living Community. The Healthcare Center provides services for individuals who need skilled nursing care. The Villas at Waycross offer independent living with a lifestyle where upkeep and repairs are the responsibility of someone else, giving you time to enjoy life. www.baptistvillage.com

DRS.

FITNESS FORMULA: COMMITMENT + CONSISTENCY = RESULTS

Article by PATRICK SIMMONS, NASM-CERTIFIED PERSONAL TRAINER

Becoming fit is all about the journey, not the destination. Most people simply lack the courage or motivation to start. My goal here is to share a few pointers to help anyone who wants to start their fitness journey. I am a NASM-certified personal trainer at Waycross’ Sweat Fitness, where I work with a variety of people with di erent fitness levels and goals. The one desire they all share is to become healthier, stronger, and fit.

The most important step is to start today! Whether you are walking in your neighborhood, working out with a fitness video in your living room, hiring a personal trainer, or joining a local gym, commit to your goals. You should commit to exercising three times a week for about 30 minutes each session. As your strength and endurance increases, you can increase the time.

High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is a great training style for newbies and professionals. HIIT uses a specific amount of time for intense work, followed by a specific amount of time for rest or low intensity work. A good example is a 15-minute HIIT walk and run. You would walk for 45 seconds, run for 15 seconds, and repeat 15 times. This can be done in your neighborhood, on a treadmill at home, or at the gym.

Brisk activity has been shown to deliver several benefits from reducing lower back pain to decreasing high blood pressure, and even fostering a better mindset in the short term. If you want to know the best or easiest exercise for beginners to lose weight at home or in the gym, that’s a di erent story. Weight loss comes down to a few factors: proper nutrition, adequate sleep, su cient movement, and good stress management. If you can master these factors, you’ll be set for success.

Kick o your exercise journey with a plan. The plan can be a HIIT routine, strength training, or something easier, such as walking. If you need a guide, consider joining a gym and hiring a personal trainer. Following a plan makes it much easier to stay on course, especially on days when you don’t feel motivated.

Consistency and dedication are EVERYTHING. Start by committing to exercise for 10 minutes every day. It’s about making the most of those 10 minutes and working up to the medical weekly exercise recommendation of at least 150 minutes of moderateintensity activity a week or 75 minutes of vigorousintensity activity a week.

If you are lacking motivation, work out with a friend or family member, or get a certified personal trainer. I encourage you to start working on the best version of yourself today!

Learn more about Patrick Simmons at psapatricksimmonsathletics.com and follow him on Instagram @patrick_simmons_athletics

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NIGHT TO SHINE

Waycross hosted its first-ever Night to Shine on February 10, 2023 at the C.C. McCray City Auditorium. Sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation and presented by churches and other ministries around the U.S. and abroad, Night to Shine is a prom night experience for people with special needs ages 14 and older. The Waycross event welcomed more than 100 guests and was made possible by a volunteer force of more than 200 individuals from local churches.

1. Nelson Hernandez

2. Nicholas Crews, Johnny Mitcham

3. Crowning Ceremony –Female Guests

4. Shaune Bullard

5. Leonard Wingate, Karen Renn

6. Johnny Mitcham, Harley Davis, Lori Bell

7. Jada Lewis, JaNea Lewis

8. Crowning Ceremony –Male Guests

Photography by Allen Allnoch / AHA! Photography

Jon Whipple, Jack Williams Community Service Award

Dan Johnson, Jr., McGregor Mayor Agricultural Award; Scout Carter

Heather Fluker, A.A. Karle Award

Shelby Ewen, Ambassador of the Year

Kimberly Denton, Randy Sharpe Health Hero Award

Michelle Girtman, Magnolia House, Business of the Year Award

Albert Flynn and Ashley Young, on behalf of Lovett Young, Helping Hands Award Shanterryal Carter; Jayesh Patel, Holiday Inn Express, Ralph & PO Herrin Business & Industry Award; Jessica Sullivan

WAYCROSS-WARE COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AWARDS BANQUET

The 88th Annual Waycross-Ware County Chamber of Commerce

Banquet was held on February 9 at the C.C. McCray City Auditorium. The event, which included a silent auction and a catered lunch by KD’s Café, recognized outstanding businesses and individuals for their efforts in the preceding year.

Photography by Allen Allnoch / AHA! Photography

Daniel Morris; James Willis and Dr. William Clark, Waycross-Ware County Development Authority Service Award; Kalissa Corbitt; Candice Moody Rice; Jason Rubenbauer

Donna Solomon, Katherine Foss Education Award

Barry Parrish, Outgoing Chamber of Commerce President

Emily Hadaway, Entrepreneur of the Year Patrick Tang; Reba Smith, Paul Tang Heart of the Community Award; Heidi Tang

Allen Allnoch, GEM (Going the Extra Mile) Award

Kinslee Wilkes, Little Miss Swampfest

Darryl Strickland, Matt Lee

Summer Dixon, Caitlin Martin

Ginger Barnett, Melissa King

Melissa Cason, Tanner Worley

State Court Judge Tommy Hatfield and Big Sound of the Okefenoke’

Blayr Hill, Miss Swampfest

SWAMPFEST 2023

The biggest Swampfest in event history was held in downtown Waycross on March 31 and April 1. More than 120 vendors were on hand, a new Kansas City Barbeque Society Competition drew 28 teams from five states, and the Tams and the Swingin’ Medallions delivered stirring performances on Friday and Saturday nights, respectively.

Photography by Allen Allnoch / AHA! Photography

Attendees filled Phoenix Park to enjoy the Mighty Tams in concert.

Tina Goble

Chad Radford; Brant Gay, Car Show Champion; Paige Taylor; Tony Thomas

Ally Strickland, Junior Teen Miss Swampfest

Ashley Ramey, Cheyenne Yawn, Karen Wade, Holly Delk, Seanesta Robinson

London Joyner, Tiny Miss Swampfest

Isis Fedrow, Pam Jordan

BIRDIES FOR BUCKS GOLF CLASSIC

Eighty-eight players comprising 22 teams participated in the James M. Dye Foundation’s Birdies for Bucks Golf Classic on April 21 at Okefenokee Country Club. With more than $16,000 raised for the Foundation’s Gap Fund Program, the event has a direct impact on South Georgia State College students seeking to earn a college degree.

Photography

Photography by Allen Allnoch / AHA!

Stacey Hill, Tammie Meeks, Nancy Taft

Patrick Arrington, Michael Carter, John Riley Strickland, Troy Taylor

Howard Meadows, Randy Buck

Schley Eldridge, Ellis McNeal Trace Carter, Parker Peagler

Becky Gri n, Natalee Gri n, Jahala Fields, Sarah Gove, Wendy Bullock, Rosa Flores, David White

Don James, Sparky Sharpton, Phil Suess, Bryant Wiggins

Alvin Henderson, Gene Sapp, Sam Stovall, David Enfinger

Malayna Wetherington –S. Dow Nimmer Jr. Award

John Ratli – Huel P. Walker Educator of the Year

Christi Pitts – Leona Dixon Bright Spot Award

Orin and Phillip Bennett – Farmer of the Year

Jimmy Stewart, Mary Stewart Bishop, Amy Stewart Fletcher of Stewart Candy Company – Business Leaders of the Year

Paige King – Dr. Hendry Community Health Award

Pat Park – Citizen of the Year Awards presented by Cassie Davis, Chamber Exec. Director

PIERCE COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AWARDS

The Chamber’s 68th Annual Gala & Awards, “Pierce the Night Under Havana Lights,” was held Thursday, April 13, at the Blackshear Train Depot. Memorial Satilla Health was the Presenting Sponsor. The event recognized community leaders and volunteers.

Photos by Sco Beahan – Shu erly Perfect Portraiture

Index OF ADVERTISERS

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coastalpines.edu

crawfordjewelers.com

dairyqueen.com

dentistwaycrossga.com

diversifiedresources.net

gaderm.com

georgiasown.org

gooeyspizza.com

homervillejewelers.com

hospicesatilla.com

integrityhealthga.com

joysumnerphotography.com

lottsfurniture.com

MarshMMA.com

memorialsatillahealth.com

mistimartin.exprealty.com

Okefenoke REMC

Okefenokee Country Club

Okefenokee Swamp Park

Prime South Bank

ReJoyce Wellnes

ReMax Cobblestone

Representative Steven Meeks

Satilla Bluffs Senior Care

Skin Clique

Southeast Georgia Health System

Text My Gov

The Avriett House

The Clark Eye Clinic

Tim’s Home Medical

Vitality Health & Wellness

Walker Jones Automotive

Waycross Bank & Trust

Waycross Convention & Visitors Bureau

White Star Supply

oremc.com

okefenokeecountryclub.com

okeswamp.org

primesouth.com

rejoycewellness.com

remax.com

georgialivingseniorcare.com/satilla-bluffs

theskinclique.com

sghs.com

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timshomemedical.com

vitalityhealthwell.com

walkerjones.com

wbt.com

waycrosstourism.com

whitestarsupply.com

Cotton Blue Cottage, Alma, Georgia

Photo by JOY SUMNER PHOTOGRAPHY