45 minute read
Real Estate News
MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR OUTDOOR SPACE
Written by TOM CALL
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As we approach Fall, we all want to spend as much time as we can outside during these months. There’s nothing quite like a relaxing summer or fall day in the backyard with friends, hosting a barbeque or enjoying an evening under the stars around the fi repit. The season is made for chilling and breathing in the fresh air and just unwinding after a long day. So this month, ramp up your outdoor space and bring your indoor style right to your backyard.
Bonus Living Spaces
More and more, people are treating their backyard spaces as an extension of their living space. From outdoor pergolas to string lights, trendy rugs and comfy, weatherproof sectionals and lounge chairs, homeowners are creating stunning open-air outdoor living space. You don’t even have to have a huge space, you can add smaller pieces to your deck or patio to create a relaxing, cozy sanctuary. Whatever your indoor style is, you’re sure to fi nd similar outdoor pieces.
Inspirational Botanicals
The right plants, fl owers and planters can make all the di erence when it comes to creating a warm, inviting and colorful outdoor space. With so many stylish planters available, you can easily fi nd ones that match your style and fi ll them with a variety of herbs, fl owering annuals, cactuses, plants and shrubs. If you live close to a farmers’ market, be sure to check them out as they typically have a huge variety of cost-e ective fl owers, plants and herbs to fi ll your yard, patio or balcony.
Small Space Solutions
There are tons of creative ways to transform a small space and make a big impact. Start with some lively décor, potted plants, outdoor pillows, candles and small scale furniture. Consider a vertical garden where you can plant your favorite herbs and vegetables. Adding string and solar lights can also help make a space feel extra cozy. And when it comes to furniture, think about a bistro set for casual dining, foldable and stackable chairs or a small loveseat and ottoman. There are tons of creative ways to make a big impact in a smaller space.
If you’re limited on outdoor space, don’t let that stop you from creating the perfect outdoor oasis. Infusing your personality and style to your backyard, balcony or back porch is the perfect way to gain more living space and enjoy a place where you can enjoy more fun in the sun all summer long.
These upgrades and attention to detail all lend themselves to making your home more usable and enjoyable, as well as more desirable. That’s right, if and when you decide to sell your home, these features will make your home stand out and likely bring a higher price than a home without. When you are ready for a free home valuation, please give us a call at Coldwell Banker Premier Real Estate! | VM
Tom Call, Broker Premier Real Estate VALDOSTA, GA
P
PROFILES
YOUR GUIDE TO VALDOSTA’S PEOPLE, PLACES AND BUSINESSES
AN AMAZING LIFE
AN AMAZING WOMAN Centenarian Jeanette Coody
Jeanette Coody will celebrate 100 years of life on September 19. Well known in the community for her faith, community service, and through her work with Levi Strauss, she has been instrumental in making many things of great consequence happen in Valdosta over the years. For her, it’s more important how you live your life than what you accomplish. “Life is not a spectator sport but a game of participation,” Jeanette says. “I live every day to the fullest, regardless of what I am doing. I know the
Bible is true when it says God has a plan for our life.”
The Roaring Twenties was a period of dramatic social, economic, and political change. The Jazz Age roared loud and strong. And on September 19, 1922, in Madison County Florida, Jeanette Coody roared into the world as well.
People born between 1901 - 1924 experienced the Great Depression and World War II in their adulthood, all leading to strong models of teamwork to overcome and progress. Jeanette was no exception, except her life had other challenges that helped her forge an even stronger determination to experience life to the fullest.
“I lost my mother when I was 18 months old. I lived with my brother after the funeral until I was fi ve. When my father remarried, I went back home,” she explained. She lived there with two sisters and two brothers (there were eight children in all) before graduating high school in 1940. She married her high school sweetheart two weeks later. Unfortunately, the marriage met a fateful end just twenty-two years later. “My husband died in 1962 when I was 39 years old. He was murdered and they never found who did it,” she said.
Jeanette then moved to Valdosta because, “…God told me to.” She attended the Perry Business College, graduating in 1963. Afterward, she joined Levi Strauss and Company in Human Resources, where she worked for 36 years until they closed in 1999 when she was 77.
Levi wanted her out in the community coordinating goodwill. Jeanette was responsible for determining how the company’s community investment funds would be spent. "They wanted me to give back so I did.”
In total, over the years, Jeannette was responsible for investing six million dollars for the betterment of the community. One of those charitable gifts was the seed money to start The Haven, which has led to a deep commitment to the organization and its mission.
“In 1986, Levi Strauss designated $40,000 for domestic violence and told me I had two weeks to spend it. I met with
JEANETTE COODY / PROFILES
P “ God has been so g d to me; I have to do g d for o e .”
OPPOSITE PAGE TOP: Jeanette Coody was presented with the fi rst Lifetime Achievement Award for her work in founding The Haven and supporting the organization over the years, including a recent $25,000 donation on August 18, 2022. She made the black dress she is wearing. (Photo by John Ridddle)
OPPOSITE BOTTOM LEFT AND RIGHT: Jeanette was inducted into the Boys & Girls Club Hall of Fame after 47 years of service in which she never missed a board meeting. She still volunteers and teaches a safety course on the importance of seat belt safety.
THIS PAGE TOP
LEFT: Social media post from April 9, 2022, by the City of Valdosta: “Say hello to Jeanette Coody, our 99-year-old volunteer!”
OTHER PHOTOS THIS PAGE:
Jeanette's commitment to her church and her faith has been evident in her membership at First Baptist Church, where she has been a member for decades. She has been on 26 mission trips, including many church building trips and foreign mission trips to China, Israel, and Venezuela. She was also a member of Clowns Without Borders.
the mayor and the victims’ assistance o ce and asked, ‘How can I start a domestic violence shelter in two weeks?’” She got to work, fi nding a vacant building to set up the shelter, and recruiting a board of directors. But she didn't walk away. She continued to serve The Haven with her donations of time, energy, and funds. Most recently, she made a $25,000 donation to The Haven on the occasion of her 100th birthday.
Jeanette has touched the community in multiple ways, serving in various organizations in multiple capacities. But, as passionate as Jeanette is about her community, her greatest passion is her faith, which has been her bedrock all these years. She has been a member of First Baptist Church of Valdosta for over 50 years, and through her mission work, her acts of Christian service stretch far and wide.
PJEANETTE COODY / PROFILES
She is fulfi lled by “doing the Lord’s work,” she says. “God has been so good to me; I must do good for others. The Lord leads my path to give, and I follow it.”
Reverend Mac Weaver, associate pastor for missions at First Baptist Church of Valdosta, says, “I have known Jeanette for over 51 years. She has participated in many mission trips with us. She is gifted in so many ways. I have watched her use her gifts to serve God faithfully by teaching Sunday School, serving on our ‘We Care’ committee, singing in the adult choir, sharing the gospel, and in so many other ways.”
Jeanette does have a lighter side. Over the years her hobbies have included modeling, judo, clown face painting, singing, and even line dancing. She still gardens daily, during the hottest part of the day for 50 minutes. Still, her favorite pastime is, “giving back to my community,” she explains.
Jeanette is not slowing down as she approaches her centennial year. She was recognized with two highly distinguished accomplishments in August of this year. The Haven presented Jeanette with the fi rst “Lifetime Achievement Award” at the Unite Dinner on August 18 at Valdosta Country Club. And the Georgia Boys & Girls Clubs Hall of Fame inducted her on August 25, in Augusta, Georgia.
The calendar insists that Jeanette Coody will turn 100 on September 19. But, to engage with her is to experience a woman who acts much younger. At The Haven dinner recently, she held court at the head table elegantly dressed in a long black dress that she made herself. She welcomed close friends, such as Vivian Miller-Cody, Mayor Pro-Tem of the City of Valdosta, who described Jeanette as her “mentor.” And, when her photo was taken with the plaque presentation she turned around, grabbed her iPad, fl ipped it open, and in a matter of a few clicks had her own camera ready and asked for a full-length photo of herself showing the dress she made. There was no fumbling with technology, no” let’s see which button it is” type of hesitancy that many, if not most, adults her age might experience. Her mind is sharp. Her thoughts are quick. Her balance is sure.
For all of the study of centenarians trying to fi gure out how and why they enjoy such long life, at the end of the day, it is Jeanette herself who provides the truest glimpse into her power source — the passion for life she enjoys.
“My father taught me a simple truth as a young child which I have never forgotten. ‘Always do what’s right.’ I have lived by that motto these many years,” she explains simply yet passionately. Couple that with her steadfast commitment to the service of Christ and you need look no further to understand Jeanette Coody. Of course, there is undoubtedly a good dose of healthy genetics in there somewhere too.
Perhaps, of all the accolades and awards bestowed upon her, Reverend Weaver summed it up best when he said simply, “She has proven her faithfulness to God. She has also served the community of Valdosta. We love Jeanette and celebrate her life of almost 100 years! What an amazing life and an amazing woman.” | VM
Amen and Amen. AWARDS / ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
• Valdosta’s Woman of the Year (1985) • Grand Marshall, Valdosta Christmas
Parade • International Koshland Award Winner (1996) Levi Strauss Company • Valdosta Boys and Girls Club, Woman of the Year (twice), Board Member for 40 years • Jenny Award, General Federation of
Women’s Clubs (2012), highest honor given by GFWC • Azalea City Women’s Club – 47 years as member, 25 years as President • Women of the Year, Daughters of the
American Revolution (2017) • Founder of The Haven, Recipient of the fi rst-ever
Lifetime Achievement Award • Louie Peeples White Award for Outstanding Community
Service by Valdosta Civic Roundtable (2019) • Georgia Resident for National Boys & Girls Club Hall of
Fame (2022) • Georgia fl ag bearer at International Special
Olympics, Salt Lake City • 83 years, perfect attendance in Sunday School • Taught Sunday school class at First Baptist
Church Valdosta for 25 years • Sang in church choir for 50 years • Participant on 26 missions trips
Valdosta/Lowndes Co. Young
Campers and leaders at Carolina Point (back row) JT Brice, Caden Edwards, Bowen Patrick, Nathaniel Young, Wright Wilson, Charlie Wilson, Carson Deloach, Reed Salter (front row) Olivia Parsons, Anna Ratican, Saralynn Espositio, Kendall Haden, Hillary Hutchinson, Gretchen Stubbs
Life
MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF YOUTH
Story by John Riddle / Photos Provided by Young Life
oday, young people’s hearts and minds are pulled in many di erent directions. Access to ideas and opinions from nefarious sources about how they should feel, what they should do, how they should look, and what they should believe is endless. So, in this age, it is good to know that there is a group working to support our youth and help guide them during the most impressionable time in their lives.
Young Life has, since 1941, “put caring adults in the lives of kids,” to positively infl uence their lives as mentors and friends while introducing them to Jesus Christ and helping them grow in their faith. Young Life is a ministry that reaches out to middle school, high school, and college students in all fi fty states and more than one hundred countries around the world, including a group right here in Valdosta.
At the heart of the program is people. Adult volunteers who “go where kids are and build personal
Trelationships with them.” Yes, there are organized activities and fun, adventurous experiences to learn and grow from, but, more than anything, it’s about building relationships. Relationships with each other, with Young Life leaders, and a relationship with Christ. While Young Life is not new to Valdosta, Reed Salter, Young Life Area Director, is. And, with the help and guidance of the Young Life Committee of volunteers, the program is growing again. Reed, who is from Statesboro, Georgia, was involved in Young Life as a high school student and decided to follow Christ at a Young Life Camp in 2011 while in high school. He stayed involved through college at Georgia Southern University as a volunteer going into a local high school and witnessing to un-churched young people. An accounting major, he had no intention of ever joining Young Life sta , but that changed as he approached his senior year.
YOUNG LIFE P
Left: Reed and Emily Salter were married during the pandemic, a year before answering the call to come to Valdosta for Reed to serve as Young Life Area Director.
"I started feeling a calling to full-time ministry during my senior year. When that was a rmed I thought what better place to serve than with Young Life because of the impact it had on me," he said. He moved to Dunwoody, Georgia, as a sta associate. Soon the Area Director position in Valdosta became vacant and, in July 2021, he and his new wife, Emily, moved to Valdosta for Reed to be the new Young Life Area Director.
“It’s been abundantly clear to me that Valdosta is a community that cares about their young people and rallies around their youth,” Reed explained. “Teens are held in high regard and that is something I really appreciate.”
The group of volunteers who make up the Young Life Committee is the backbone of the program. "Young Life doesn’t exist without the YL Committee," Reed explains. They meet regularly to provide guidance and support to Reed and the volunteer Young Life leaders. The committee was formed in 2007 because a group of local adults wanted the Young Life ministry for the youth in Valdosta. "They are kind and compassionate individuals, and they care about teens here knowing and following Christ," he added.
Through their good work, and that of dedicated sta , the Young Life program has a presence in three high schools. Though the program diminished during the pandemic, with Reed’s direction, and the dedicated volunteers, the program is growing again with more and more young people getting involved.
Young Life is not a school club per se. It meets on Monday nights for a “party with a purpose,” planned informality in a safe, casual environment where teens can have fun and learn about Jesus. They sing, play games, perform skits, and hear a message about Jesus in terms they can understand. Currently, they are meeting in an o ce building in a space that is, “more neutral where more youth might feel more comfortable attending,” Reed explained.
There are also opportunities for youth to participate in camps and programs with other Young Life participants that have made a profound impact on local teens.
“I enjoyed camp so much because of how much it taught me about not only the Lord but about friendship and community. Before camp I was not very active in Young Life, but going to camp gave me a new mindset. I made new friends and learned more than I ever would have thought,” explained Kendall, a senior at Valdosta High School.
With all of the peer pressure, the constant barrage of social media, and the endless dead-end opportunities around every corner, it is comforting to know that Valdosta teens have a place to belong that welcomes them with open arms, meets them where they are, and encourages a relationship with Christ. It’s good to know that Valdosta area youth have an opportunity to be
Above: The Young Life Committee supports the YL ministry by increasing community awareness, encouraging sta and volunteers, and raising funds. They coordinate a fundraising banquet each Fall and are planning a skeet shoot next Spring. (Reed Salter, Butch Wiggins, Kelly Kuhn, Je Summers, Susan Wiggins, Kelly Wilson, Marie Holland, Ashley Brannen, Lynn Fletcher, Stephanie Summers. Not pictured: Todd Wilson)
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PAT COLSON P
Everyone should know the indefatigable PatColson Colson
Businesswoman, educator, lobbyist, dancer, world traveler — Pat Colson lives life to the fullest
Story by MATTIA GODDARD
Photo by WES SEWELL PHOTOGRAPHY
VVALDOSTA LUCKED
OUT AND GOT ONE OF
BLACKSHEAR’S BEST.
Pat Colson was born and raised in Pierce County, Georgia to a World War II veteran. Her father, a paratrooper and MP, met his future wife, Pat’s mother, when he went to register with the draft board. Her parents’ military involvement would stay with Pat her whole life and is a large part of what makes her so patriotic to this day.
Most people in Valdosta know Pat and her late husband, Larry, of Colson Business Systems, Inc., a local family business that has been a part of the fabric of this community for 38 years. Pat and her son Hunter now run the copier business together, carrying on the business and legacy that Larry Colson started. Pat had to learn the business in what she says felt like overnight when she lost her husband suddenly. Previously, she had been a longtime educator and education lobbyist, work that she cherished.
Pat left Blackshear as an honor graduate and headed to Valdosta State College on a full academic scholarship to
PatColson
Above: Pat (right) with State Representative Robert Patten in her lobbying role for the Georgia Association of Educators (GAE). Above: Pat loved her years of teaching. “My goal was to raise the students' scores. I loved the challenge.”
study education. She received her Degree in Education with a Masters in Remedial Reading. She loved her years of teaching, the joy of breaking through to a child who struggled to grasp the concepts of reading.
“I started at West Gordon here in Valdosta, teaching grammar, reading, and spelling under the Chapter 1 remediation program. My goal was to raise the students’ scores. I loved the challenge.”
In the 1970s, she met Larry, and they married six months later. “We had a wonderful marriage. Our time together was exciting and fun. We both had our work. I taught school and was a lobbyist and he was never threatened or bothered by my work.”
In her early days of teaching, her fi rst principal sent her to Atlanta to advocate for healthcare for teachers. Then, teachers did not have that benefi t and Pat’s youngest child su ered from asthma, so every spare dollar was spent on specialist appointments in Jacksonville.
Representing the Georgia Association of Educators (GAE) as an activist from the classroom became a passion for Pat. The union trained her, taught her the pros and cons of every issue, so she could come to her legislators with the full backing of thousands of teachers. “Going to Atlanta, and to Washington D.C., meeting with our elected o cials, Robert Patten, Tim Golden, James Beck, Loyce Turner, Charles Hatcher, Max Cleland, these men needed to hear from their constituents. They were giants. They listened, they did their job, they worked hard. It was a battle. They were not yes men.” Pat passed this love of supporting teachers onto her eldest, Rachel, who is still an advocate for teachers today through her work with GAE.
When Pat refl ects on the state of public education today, she is disappointed by what she sees and hears. “I am devastated today by the criticism public education gets because it doesn’t deserve this. Those teachers work so hard to make a di erence in their students' lives. They are not doing it for the money.”
Pat also enjoyed a season of pageantry with her daughter Allison through the Miss America Organization. Not surprisingly, the longtime educator had success in training contestants on the interview section of competition. She trained the former Miss Valdosta and Miss Georgia, Amanda Kozak, and is proud that Amanda is an educator today. Pat likes to think those pageant days taught her daughter to think
Above: Pat traveled to Japan with Minolta, one of Colson Business Systems' partners.
PAT COLSON P
on her feet, a skill that serves her well as an Executive Vice- President at Edelman, the largest public relations fi rm in the world and a previous producer at CNN.
Pat has a deep and abiding love for her country and for those ancestors who have fought to protect it. She has a friend who enjoys tracing ancestry who helped her trace her heritage. She found out she is an Aspinwall, a lineage that passes through her grandmother. “I am so proud her blood runs through my veins. In my grandmother’s lineage, President James Monroe’s wife, Elizabeth Aspinwall and President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s grandmother were ancestors. Because of my lineage I was able to join The First Families of Georgia, War of 1812, and Daughters of the American Revolution. I had six relatives in the American Revolution, my grandfather fought in World War I and my father fought in World War II.”
“I have a heart for veterans. I am prone to hire veterans. We must honor them. They spilled their blood. They lost their limbs, their lives for us. They sacrifi ced and we benefi ted.”
Colson Business Systems, Inc. continues to be a leading copier dealer in the south. Because of this success, Larry and Pat won multiple incentive trips to travel the world together. “These trips educated us about our world. We went to Japan, China, Austria, England, Ireland, Portugal, and parts of Africa. We saw so much of the world.” Pat has advice for young people today, especially while the pandemic ebbs and fl ows. “Take your kids and travel this country. Seeing it will teach them to love it. Then show them the world. You will make memories and widen their horizons.”
“My regret at my age is I think travel is over for me. With Covid always looming, I just fear I can’t take the risk.” Since her traveling time has passed and her children are now grown, she has the joy of fi ve grandchildren. She spends as much time as she can with them, and lives vicariously through her grandchildren and their travels. Her grandson Colson (9 years old) just got back from two weeks in Italy, spending time in Rome and the Amalfi Coast.
Dancing is Pat’s absolute favorite pastime and her ideal form of exercise. She tries to hit the dance fl oor multiple times a week. She’s the founder of “The Classics,” a group of similar aged friends, who get together to go dance. “All of us were raised during the greatest generation of bands and their music. We danced as soon as we walked.” They just keep moving and enjoying each other’s company.
Like her husband, Larry, Pat is also an active member of the community. She’s the fi rst to jump in and raise money when the community is in crisis. Whether it’s donating food or donating her time, Pat is a force in this community. She is a past president of VSU’s Symphony Guild and serves on VSU’s new Opera Guild. She has been an Elk for nine years and stays involved in their scholarship committee for the three surrounding school systems. Recently, she’s been involved in raising money for The Haven. Pat o ers her time and support to di erent organizations as she feels moved.
For now, Pat thinks she’ll keep working, keep dancing, keep volunteering. All the varying activity is what she enjoys. “I’d like to not work as much, but it goes with the territory. It keeps me young, working with young people. I am still learning. I am thirsty for knowledge. I don’t limit myself because that’s how you grow. Limiting yourself is how you stop growing.” | VM
h tory in the (RE)MAKING
Historic Lowndes County Courthouse Begins $9 Million Revitalization Project
Compiled by Allen Allnoch Photography by Wes Sewell Photography
When the Lowndes County Courthouse opened in 1905, the Valdosta Times described the new facility as a “most admirable building” with a “mighty dome and four minarets” and an interior with “every comfort of the county business … amply provided.”
One-hundred seventeen years later, the building is undergoing a $9 million restoration, thanks to a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax Referendum (SPLOST) approved by Lowndes County voters.
County o cials have been making plans for the downtown project since 2018, but it didn’t get underway until last spring, and the work o cially launched with a “wall breaking” ceremony attended by local leaders and other community members on June 10.
“We are extremely excited that again this is going to be a facility that we can give back to the community and that will get us through the next 100 years,” County Manager Paige Dukes told Albany’s Fox 31 News.
Gladwin Vaughn Architecture and the joint venture of Allstate Construction and Cauthan Construction are partners on the project, which is expected to take approximately a year to complete. When it re-opens, the facility will be available to the public for events such as weddings and conferences, and as a welcome center for visitors.
“We will have a hub of creativity on the fi rst fl oor with our Public Information O cer, Community Development Director, tourism and the Valdosta Main Street o ce,” Dukes said. LOWNDES COUNTY COURTHOUSE P
Honorable Richard M. Cowart, Southern Judicial Circuit, Superior Courts of Georgia, Bill Slaughter, Chairman, Lowndes County Board of Commissioners, Scottie Orenstein, Commissioner, District 2, Joyce Evans, Commissioner, District 1, Senator Russ Goodman, Paige Dukes, County Manager and Chad McLeod, Director of Engineering Services, Lowndes County Board of Commissioners
Dukes also spoke with Albany’s WALB, telling the station that the building will include redesigned restroom facilities and “some lounge facilities, so that whenever we have downtown events, we can open up the bottom of the building for those types of occasions.”
That 1905 Valdosta Times article described the brand-new courthouse’s complementary materials – gray granite and pressed brick, clay tile roof, and metal domes – as having “an e ect altogether pleasing.” No doubt that description will be just as fi tting when the long-awaited revitalization project is completed next year. | VM
Ar s & CULTURE
Story by NARCI DROSSOS / Photography By JAVON LONGIELIERE PHOTOGRAPHY
Brenda Anderson
PAINTING STILL LIFE AND REAL LIFE
n
WINTER PARK, FLORIDA, where Brenda Anderson grew up and graduated high school, her art teacher recommended she pursue art in college and as a career. When she came to Valdosta State University in fall of 1964, she declared art as a major. Then there were only three art instructors: Lee Bennett, Joe Pember, and Ellen Anderson. Two years later, she married Tom Anderson, and Ellen became her mother-in-law. As he began medical school, they moved to Augusta, where she enrolled in Augusta College. Because there was no art major available, she switched to elementary education. Their fi rst two children were born there in Augusta.
BRENDA ANDERSON
ABOVE: Brenda captured her two youngest grandchildren on a sunlit afternoon sitting on a stool in her living room.
Ar s & CULTURE
In 1968, they moved to New York City for Tom’s pediatric internship and residency at Columbia University. She focused on raising the children, but once they were older she found a business partner with a fabric store, which soon became The Fabric Café, a combination business selling sewing materials and lunches. There she pursued her love of cooking, quilting, sewing, and crafting. One day, while in the kitchen at the café, a gentleman walked in, and as she was about to tell him he needed to return to the dining area, he informed her that he was [now well-known food writer] John Mariani of The New York Times. He reviewed their café favorably, headlining the article, “Simple, Small, and Scrumptious.” Anderson smiles as she points out the part of the article where he especially noted their delicious pecan pie had freshly sourced nuts from Georgia.
After over a decade in New York and expecting twins, they moved to Mobile, Alabama. There their family grew to fi ve children, and Anderson participated in a craft co-op, A work in progress from focusing on smocking and French hand sewing. It was 1983 her and Tom’s when they returned to Valdosta and Tom opened his pediat- New York years when Tom was ric practice. With her younger children at St. John Catholic a young intern School, she began teaching art there as a volunteer. At that holding their time, the school had no budget for art in the curriculum, so two oldest children in his she stayed and taught for 12 years. Soon after leaving there, lap. she opened Two Friends Café in Summit Pointe with a business partner, becoming the sole owner and operator after three years. A decade after Two Friends opened, she sold to Randy DeCoudres, and the business remains, now Friends Grille and Bar. Upon retirement, Anderson began taking classes at the Turner Center with Faye Bridges Hyatt. She observes, “Hyatt was an excellent and inspiring teacher; she really got my creative juices fl owing again.” Her artist’s education continues, as she has taken numerous classes at the center, and in nearby locations like St. Simons Island, where they have a home. A most memorable workshop was a week in Provence with Julian Merrow-Smith. There she honed landscape techniques, producing ten small framed works that hang in her home near VSU, a house originally designed by renowned architect Lloyd Greer for his own family in the early 20th century. Working at her Turner Center studio, Anderson fi nds that she most enjoys painting fl owers and food. There you can see lemons, apples, radishes, kumquats, camellias, and cucumbers that look freshly picked. She mostly works in oils, but has recently participated in a watercolor workshop and is enjoying that endeavor. A beautifully rendered marsh
scene from the Golden Isles is stacked with other watercolors in her studio.
In her favorite medium of oils, she has painted all 14 of her grandchildren. Recently completed and framed is a sunlit scene of her two youngest granddaughters sharing a stool in her living room. A work in progress is a 1970s memory from her and Tom’s New York years, featuring him as a young intern with their oldest two children in his lap. She laughs, recalling that he wore his hair longer then, and she had hers cut shorter at Vidal Sassoon’s salon. The portrait is warm and expressive. She enjoys photography as well, providing her own photos from their travels to use as inspiration. A trip to Norway becomes a painting featuring its lush hillsides and quaint red cottages, framed simply and elegantly.
Many beautiful works by Brenda Anderson hang in her home, the studio, and in her children’s homes. She does not accept commissions, and does not show her work to sell, unless it’s for a Turner Center benefi t such as Artoberfest. Though her paintings have accolades of note, that’s not her motivation. She paints for family well-loved and life well-lived. | VM
VSOAnnouncing the VSO’S 33RD SEASON & CULTURE Arts
Valdosta's orchestra is back, providing the incredible experience of live music!
VIVID
September 24, 2022 • 7:30 pm Dvořák Carnival Overture Ravel Mother Goose Suite Mussorgsky/Ravel Pictures at an Exhibition
MAJESTY
October 22, 2022 • 7:30 pm Mozart Sinfonia Concertante in E-Flat Major Kristin Pfeifer Yu, violin Laurel Yu, viola Mozart Symphony No. 41 “Jupiter”
TO ORDER TICKETS valdostasymphony.org 229-333-2150 Individual Tickets & Patron Packages Available
February 25, 2023 • 7:30 pm Montgomery Rounds Awadagin Pratt, piano Schubert Symphony No. 8 “Unfi nished”
CONTEMPLATION
March 25, 2023 • 7:30 pm Brahms A German Requiem Tamara Hardesty, soprano Brian Kontes, bass
HEROIC
April 29, 2023 • 7:30 pm Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto Geneva Lewis, violin Mahler Symphony No. 1
Valdosta Symphony Orchestra' s
33RD SEASON | 2022-2023
valdostasymphony.org (229) 333-2150
/valdostasymphony @valdostasymphonyorchestra
SEASON TICKETS
A VSO Season Ticket includes a single admission to each of the 4 subscription concerts and to the February Special Concert. Other benefi ts include priority renewal each year, invitations to preconcert buffets, and other VSO events.
TO ORDER TICKETS
Individual Tickets - $28.00 Patron Packages Available Beginning at $135 (1 ticket) $270 (2 tickets)
Ar s & CULTURE
SHORT STORY COLLECTIONS
YOU HAVE A FRIEND IN 10A
by Maggie Shipstead (2022)
Shipstead’s collection of short stories is challenging to describe without detailing each story. Her subjects here, as with her novels, do not have a type. She crafted them over a 10-year period, while she received an MFA from the Iowa Writers Workshop, served as a Stegner Fellow at Stanford, and wrote three acclaimed novels along with numerous essays and articles.
This volume features a wide variety of anti-heroic characters. In the title story, an actress escaping a Scientology-like cult shares an airplane with a (dead) soldier escaping war as he returns home in a co n. There’s a western story – “The Cowboy Tango” – with a ranch as remote and insular as you can imagine. The care of horses more than humans lures the reader, although all the characters inspire curiosity. You’re hooked in each story without the long-term commitment of a novel.
LEARNING TO TALK
by Hilary Mantel (UK 2003, USA 2022)
Dame Hilary Mantel, well-known author of the Cromwell trilogy beginning with Wolf Hall and two-time winner of the Booker Prize, previously published this collection of “close to the bone” stories in the United Kingdom, but it has just been released here. Based on Mantel’s midcentury childhood in rural England, these stories give the feeling of a child’s world, evoking a child’s point of view. She combines fi ction and truth to confront the trauma of her unhappy youth, which Mantel acknowledges, is “a treasure for a writer.” She says she attempts to extract the good from those bad experiences.
These subtle accounts of adventures in primary school, a salvage yard, the Catholic church, and other places, feel both intimate and epic. The audio version’s three readers beautifully render these transportive stories in three hours and thirty-seven minutes that you will want to last longer.
BOOK EVIEWSR
BUZZ BOOK
– September 6 release –THE MARSH QUEEN
by Virginia Hartman
In her debut novel, Hartman contrasts the pervasive bureaucracy in Washington, D.C. with the primitive wetlands of northwest Florida. Loni is an ornithological artist at the Smithsonian, sketching and coloring birds from their archived, well-preserved skins, but she is soon called home. In the marshes below Tallahassee, she struggles to learn the truth about her beloved father’s death: was it suicide, accident, or murder? As Loni watches the blue heron fl ying with its great bi-colored wings over the beautiful and dangerous marshes, she ponders the many complications of her past.
Along with unanswered questions, this novel has romance and southern gothic noir. One reviewer calls it “… a gripping mystery, devastating family drama, … and a tribute to the natural world.” Hartman herself is an avid bird watcher. While this is her fi rst novel, her writing has won the
Pushcart and the Tennessee Williams prizes. She holds a MFA from American
University, teaches creative writing at George Washington University, and her work has been supported by the Sewanee Writers Conference.
Sometimes when life is at its busiest, it is di cult to “get into” a book; that’s the time to try short stories. Of course, there are the anthologies you remember from school days, but there are also new collections from well-established, award-winning authors.
ASHTON HALL
by Lauren Belfer (2022)
Lauren Belfer holds an MFA from Columbia University. Prior to her graduate work, she majored in medieval studies at Swarthmore. In Ashton Hall, her fourth novel, an American mother, Hannah, brings her behaviorally challenging son, Nicky, to the historic manor house near Cambridge, England, to nurse a dying relative. There are gothic feels and Poe vibes, as Nicky discovers a female skeleton in an ancient bricked-up room. Despite the gruesomeness of this discovery, Hannah enjoys delving into the secrets in the medieval manor’s library archives in her attempt to learn the identity of the corpse.
Her investigation into the mystery o ers an escape from the husband who, she has recently learned, is guilty of a long-term betrayal. Hannah seeks to learn whether the stories of the women who lived and died in the manse in centuries past can o er any lessons for her own future.
Belfer is a master at literary historical fi ction. Her previous novels include City of Light, A Fierce Radiance, and And After the Fire.
NOVELS
TRUST
by Hernan Diaz (2022)
Not your Fitzgerald or Hemingway novel of the 1920s!! Hernan Diaz has previously been awarded a Guggenheim as well as a New York Public Library Cullman Center fellowship. Trust has been longlisted for the 2022 Booker Prize. Set in 1920s-30s NYC, there’s an introverted stock genius married to an impoverished but pedigreed eccentric. Of course, they live in a Beauxarts mansion on Fifth Avenue, but as NPR’s Maureen Corrigan quips, “You can’t ‘trust’ this novel.” As she indicates, this is a book that “pulls a fast one on the reader.”
Really, it’s four books. Ostensibly, it’s about the money in the stock market, particularly during its devastating crash in 1929. There’s a rumor that one man contrived this grand failure, but that’s impossible; or, is it? As one Italian anarchist character notes, “Stocks, shares, bonds…that’s what all these criminals trade in, fi ctions.” Skip those spoiler reviews and read to see the possibilities for yourself.
THE SECOND HUSBAND
by Kate White (2022)
Already in its second printing, here’s a fast-paced little thriller to sink your teeth into! Kate White, the former editor in chief of Cosmopolitan magazine, has written more than a dozen novels, including several psychological thrillers that have made The New York Times bestseller list.
In this one, Emma is a prominent trend forecaster who seems expert at predicting business pivots, yet she never saw what was coming when the fi rst husband was murdered, and she remains somewhat clueless about what the second one is up to behind her back. Is he who he says? Both husbands have [or had in the case of the second] money, power, and secrets, as well as ruthlessness when it comes to acquiring their desires.
Emma thought that when she left New York City for suburban Connecticut she would live the life of her dreams, but detectives are aggressively pursuing the murder case of husband #1. Are there connections between that crime and husband #2? Read to see. | VM
Narci Drossos describes herself as a compulsive reader, saved in her youth by a summer bookmobile librarian who ignored the bi-weekly limit of fi ve books; thus, allowing her in one summer, to go from Harriet the Spy and Nancy Drew to David Copperfi eld and Jane Eyre. She holds three degrees from Valdosta State University and has been teaching English at Valdosta High School for over 30 years. Follow Narci on Instagram (@novels_with_narci) and feel free to share your thoughts with Valdosta Magazine: Email criddle@ showcasepublicationsga.com or on Instagram (@ valdostamagazine) using #VMbookreview.
Health
Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a stroke and in 2020, 1 in 6 deaths from cardiovascular disease was due to stroke.
KNOW THE SIGNS
South Georgia Medical Center Neurologist and Chief Medical O cer Dr. Brian Dawson shares that it's important for the community to understand the signs and symptoms of stroke and to seek immediate medical attention when experiencing them. "Time is critical when identifying and treating a stroke. Calling 911 allows our Emergency Medical Services teams to activate early interventions to quicken care. An easy way to learn the signs of stroke is by using the acrostic B.E.F.A.S.T."
B- Balance: Sudden loss of balance? E- Eyes: Loss of vision in one or both eyes? F- Face: Face looks uneven? A- Arm: Arm or leg weak/hanging down? S- Speech: Speech slurred, trouble speaking, or confusion? T- Time: Call 911!
PREVENTION
Many strokes could be prevented through healthy lifestyle changes and working with your health care team to control health conditions that raise your risk for stroke.
• Choose healthy foods and drinks • Keep a healthy weight • Get regular physical activity • Don’t smoke • Limit alcohol • Control your medical conditions • Check cholesterol • Control blood pressure • Control diabetes • Treat heart disease • Take your medicine • Work with your healthcare team
TREATMENT
South Georgia Medical Center has received the American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines award for excellence in stroke treatment for the ninth consecutive year. SGMC has the area's only certifi ed stroke center and received the Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Honor Roll Elite Plus recognition.
To achieve and/or maintain this level of achievement, SGMC must demonstrate commitment to following up-to-date, researchbased guidelines for the treatment of stroke which leads to more lives saved, shorter recovery times and fewer readmissions to the hospital.
To learn more, visit sgmc.org.
Brian Dawson, MD
Neurology Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Offi cer, SGMC
Dr. Dawson joined the military at a young age and served in the fi rst Operation Desert Storm. His pursuit of a medical career stems from those military days and helping the wounded on the battlefi eld. When his tour of duty was over, he went to nursing school. He then became a nurse practitioner and ultimately a physician.
There is always a reason to Go Downtown in Valdosta! Unique shops, restaurants, theaters, and galleries provide an eclectic atmosphere where there is something for everyone. This dynamic city is bursting with activity from art events to bustling loft apartments.Come and see what it's all about.
MEET THE MERCHANT: DANIEL BAYMAN
Owner of Critical Network Solutions, GŪD Coffee, and The McKey Chairman of the Central Valdosta Development Authority
Everybody has to have a reason to get out of bed and something that ignites their passion and drives their goals. For Daniel Bayman, that is his love for small business and the continued development of Downtown Valdosta.
“I love small business, it is a thriving part of our community, and Downtown Valdosta plays an integral role in providing opportunities for small business owners,” Bayman explained. “Also, I thrive in a challenging environment, and I know that currently our downtown poses many challenges to small businesses, so it helps me get up in the morning, knowing I am facing that challenge and making a difference.”
It's not that he doesn’t have enough to say grace over with his own business endeavors. Bayman is an owner and Vice President at Business Development of Critical Network Solutions, which provides managed technology services to small and medium-sized businesses. He also owns GŪD Coffee, where on any given morning he can be found ringing up purchases of bagels, sandwiches, and of course, coffee. His newest venture is the current development of The McKey, a new boutique hotel in the historic building that houses GŪD Coffee.
Bayman has been self-employed since graduating from the University of Georgia. He started his first business downtown, The Firm, in 2018. By 2020, Daniel opened GŪD Coffee and he, Dean Gunsolus, and Richard Baker started Critical Network Solutions. The new McKey Hotel will open in January 2023.
In addition to running his own businesses, he serves as the Chairman of the Central Valdosta Development Authority, which oversees the continued development of Downtown Valdosta.
“Downtown Valdosta is on a great track right now. We have new businesses opening each year. Thanks to the support of our City Council and County Commissioners, two of the largest public downtown projects in two decades, the courthouse renovation and the new amphitheater, are happening right now,” Bayman explained. “These are soon to be paired with large private investments that will help create a great entertainment/ food district for our community to enjoy.
I am excited about what the future holds. Of course, some things need to be worked on. Still, we have an impressive team of business owners and leaders who are willing to sacrifice their time and money to bring a better downtown experience to Valdosta and surrounding communities.” | VM
BUSINESS CONTINUITY CLOUD COMPUTING MANAGED IT SERVICES
At Critical, we build technology solutions that help save time, increase revenue, and enable rapid growth. We help ensure your technology and people are on the same wavelength. Technology should be working for you, not against you.
229.999.0640
Downtown Valdosta's merchants invite you to explore the shops, restaurants, live music, and more on the first Friday of every month.
FRIDAY OCTOBER 7 DOWNTOWN VALDOSTA WINNERSVILLE night
Before the Big Game
VSU FAMILY weekend FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 9 DOWNTOWN VALDOSTA Discounts for VSU Students & Parents from Downtown Merchants
MAKERS market
Second Saturday - September 10
Historic Courthouse Square FRIDAY AFTER FIVE Downtown Valdosta 10am - 2pm Friday October 7 Downtown Valdosta Before the Big Game
Looking for vintage finds and true treasures? Look no further than Chez What French Market. Boasting new and used home décor, vendor booths include painted furniture, antiques, quality homemade goods, and new items from interior designers.
CHEZ WHAT Katie Watson, Owner 204 S. Ashley Street • (229) 412-2784
CURATE Visual Arts recently opened on Patterson Street and is a collective of artists and vintage curators offering art, décor, furniture, clothing and more.
The eclectic setting is visually stunning and the handpicked array of vintage pieces are equally pleasing. For that special find or to add to your original art collection visit CURATE.
CURATE Jessica Ganus, Owner 134 N. Patterson Street • (229) 251-7486 www.curatecollective.com
Whew…all that shopping makes you thirsty. To wind down and review all of your purchases, stop by one of these spots to refresh your body and mind.
Just what Downtown Valdosta needed…a sophiscated wine bar! That’s what you’ll find at The Southern Cellar on Patterson Street (located in the old GŪD Coffee spot). Pop in and try a wine flight for an afternoon meeting, date night, or for dinner. They are always adding new wines and hosting events like Wine Dinners! THE SOUTHERN CELLAR Kasandra Hasenauer, Sommelier & Owner 120 N. Patterson Street • (229) 231-0414 www.thesoutherncellar.com A staple of downtown for years, GŪD Coffee has an expanded location on the corner of Central Ave. and Patterson St. Also serving breakfast and lunch, GŪD Coffee offers something for everyone including refreshing iced coffees and handshaken lemonades. Need a place to meet a client, work on a proposal, or to meet friends, there is plenty of room and cozy spaces. GŪD COFFEE COMPANY Daniel Baymen, Owner 133 N. Patterson Street • (229) 231-0414 www.gudcoffeeco.com
Flower Gallery Flower Gallery THE
VOTED BEST FLORIST
127 N Ashley St • 242-1001
