REGIONAL

FROM THE

EDITOR

Happy New Year readers, as the winter chill starts to retreat and spring is carried in by a gentle warm breeze, we enter the season of new beginnings! There is something magical about this season of the year, as once empty branches begin to sprout bright green buds, which later will emerge into lush leaves, gifting us the much-needed shade during the summer months. As I write this, we are sitting on our back porch and there is still just enough chill in the air that I had to pause my writing to run inside for a lap blanket. The air is filled with the sound of spring peepers as the daylight lingers over the pond in the distance. It is a magical sound we only get for so long, just like anything in a life of seasons. Everything has its time to come alive, be present, and fade off till the next year. Spring is a magical and trying season. It teaches us the lesson of finding contentment in the moments of change, which tend to be the most uncomfortable. Years ago, I struggled with the word contentment. Contentment in my 20’s and early 30’s, for some odd reason, sounded similar to settling. I have always felt a desire to want more, I wanted to find something beyond where I was, but this isn’t always the right approach. This past year and all that it surprised us with, I have learned that contentment is a gift. I have found that when we find comfort and happiness in what we have, where we live, we find calm and presence in our life. Just maybe, more isn’t more? Sitting here on the first “warm” evening of spring, I am reminded once again of how contentment is the goal, a gift. My family has found deep contentment in embracing our life here in Southern Georgia. Falling in love with the communities, culture, food, and people of this region for the last decade has brought us peace and a type of comfort one can not find anywhere else. It is for this reason, this spring we have declared a new beginning, transitioning from Camden Lifestyle to Southern Georgia magazine. The communities and culture we are captivated by, cannot be contained in just one county. Its history is deeply woven, just like its winding rivers through the entire region! Thank you for continuing on this journey with us as we make this exciting change. In the pages of this first issue, we celebrate the artists, makers, and musicians of this magical place we call home... Southern Georgia.

Faythe Hall

Executive Editor in Chief

RE GIO NAL

www.southerngeorgiamagazine.com 2021

HALF OF YOUR LIFE IS SPENT

TRYING TO GET OUT OF A SMALL TOWN AND THE OTHER

HALF IS TRYING TO GET BACK TO ONE.

GEORGIA SOUTHERN

Every city has a story to tell, and as we explored the uncovered, untold sto ries of South Georgia’s deep roots and rich history, we discovered a past that intricately weaves all the small cit ies and secluded islands of Southern Georgia together in a colorful tapestry. These findings shined a spotlight on the need for rural South Georgia cities to have a stronger voice in the digi tal realm by taking the opportunity to unite through Southern Georgia’s first region-wide publication. This platform will continue to share the legacies through storytelling for both current and future generations to enjoy. With the expansion to all of Southern Geor gia, this publication celebrates and encourages a lifestyle that is more en gaged with our communities, not just the one we live in but also the commu nities within neighboring cities.

CU LT UR E

There’s no place like Southern Geor gia - and together we bring the cities of the South to life through outdoor adventures, lush lands to gardens, historical architecture to new devel opments, the pursuit of adventur ous travel, food and drink to visual splendor. Southern Georgia cele brates how to live a life that is more engaged with our cities, with the land, the literature, the music, the arts, the traditions, our businesses, and the food of the South. Elegant and relevant. Authentic and fun. We believe in appreciating the richness of the culture and lifestyle we share in Southern Georgia.

CO MM UM IT Y

STORY TELLING G

History is a continuous documentation of our past, including great triumphs and grave mis takes. It’s a timeline rife with victories and tragedies, with one thing always leading the dance to the next. By sharing the line of events, and how one small occurrence can spark count less, invaluable incidents or one devastatingly large one, we begin to understand the nature of change in Southern Georgia. Telling a story— while being witnessed with loving attention by others—may be the most powerful medicine on earth. Each of us is a constantly unfolding nar rative, a hero in a novel no one else can write.

HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF, AS THE SAYING GOES.

History grounds each and every one of us in our roots. By sharing the history of our hometowns and related region, it can manifest a deeper, more mean ingful glimpse into our ancestral pasts, and how we got to where we are today in this special part of Georgia. One of the best parts about embrac ing our identity is sharing the qualities, traditions, and philosophies of Southern Georgia culture with others and celebrating the overlaps and differences.

Sharing history is important in helping us understand the patterns that arise in our shared timeline. History repeats itself, as the saying goes. Being aware of the human nature behind historical events can help us draw parallels between what happened then, and what is happening now, and what we can possibly do to prevent negative outcomes in the future. Gandhi said, “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” We can only do that by sharing our Southern Georgia history, that of the past and that which is presently being written.

There is bound to be something meaningful in history for everyone, whether that be a source of identity, a feeling of hope or inspiration, or even an idea for your next book or movie! The possibilities are end less when it comes to history.

One of the best parts about embracing our identity is sharing the qualities, traditions, and philosophies of Southern Georgia culture with others and celebrating the overlaps and differences.

GUIDE TO SOUTHERN GEORGIA EVENTS March

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 2 3 4 5 6

National Pig Day

National Old Stuff Day National Anthem Day Kingsland Job Fair

At the Camden County PSA

Women’s Weapons Carry License Course Walkabout Music Festival

Live music, food trucks, beer tent, and so much more! All proceeds go to our local food bank.

Family Friendly Bicycle Poker Ride at Crooked River State Park

8 9 10 11 12 13

Broken Spur Pleasure Show

Equestrian fun at the Broken Spur Saddle Club

15

National Funeral Director and Mortician Recognition Day

National Pack Your Lunch Day Folkston’s First Farmers Market

On the 2nd & 4th Saturday’s enjoy a selection of fresh vegetables and produce, crafters, vendors, and more!

16 17 18 19 20

National Potato Chip Day National Nap Day

22

International Day of Forests Food Preservation: Canning Basics St. Patrick’s Day

World Social Work Day The Collective and Company’s Business and Strings

Business Afterhours at KD’s Cafe with the Waycross-Ware County Chamber of Commerce.

Fan Appreciation Weekend at the Neutral Zone Studio

Join Vic Mignogna from the original Star Trek once a month to lead your walkthrough of their full-scalestarship, and will be available for autograph signings.

Downtown St. Mary’s Community Market

Every Saturday lined along the streets, you can find local arts & crafts, jewelry, homemade baked goods, wild honey, and more.

23 24 25 26 27

National Agriculture Day American Red Cross Giving Day Social Media Bootcamp

Presented ny The Collective and Company and hosted by the Waycross-Ware County Chamber of Commerce.

Momentum Athletics Spring Bash / Parents Night Out

Drop your little ones off for a night of fun, pizza, drinks, bouncy houses, and a glow party!

Wayne County Annual Dogwood Festival

Celebrate Spring through arts and craft vendors such as quilts, paintings, dolls, woodworking, clothing, and leather goods. Indulge in the delicious food and live music.

Hog & Hominy; Life on the Okefenokee Frontier

Visit Okefenokee Swamp Park in Waycross on Sat & Sun to take a step back in time and see the daily lives of pioneers who settled in this area during the 1850s. Smell the woodsmoke, walk around Pioneer Island, view historic structures, and enjoy an interactive historical experience like no other.

29 30 31

National Vietnam War Veterans Day National Take a Walk in The Park Day Manatee Appreciation Day

This past year, the worldwide coronavirus pandemic affected every aspect of our daily lives and the lives of those who are in our community. During the coronavirus pandemic, local health system team members on the front lines have made many sacrifices, oftentimes prioritizing their patients above their own health and safety. Our editors wanted to honor these frontline heroes in a dedicated monthly web spotlight titled “Behind the Mask”. Each healthcare team member of the month is selected by their group peers, recognized for their dedication and outstanding commitment to their patients. They are the ones who take care of our loved ones in their greatest moments of need and we could not be more thankful to have these heroes apart of our community here at Southeast Georgia Health System.

About Southeast Georgia Health System Southeast Georgia Health System is a not-for-profit health system comprised of two acute care hospitals, two long term care facilities, two comprehensive Cancer Care Centers, and multiple specialty care centers, including orthopedic and spine care, joint replacement, breast care, maternity, outpatient rehabilitation, sleep management and wound care. The Brunswick Campus Cancer Care Center is accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer and offers the only CyberKnife®️ M6 with MLC technology in Georgia. Additionally, the Southeast Georgia Physician Associates medical group includes more than 140 providers working in 20 different medical specialties at more than 50 locations. The Health System is part of Coastal Community Health, a regional affiliation between Baptist Health and Southeast Georgia Health System forming a highly integrated hospital network focused on significant initiatives designed to enhance the quality and value of care provided to our contiguous communities. For more information, visit sghs.org AUGUST Mylekia Ambers, CNA

It can be difficult to see the silver lining in a storm, especially when that storm doesn’t have a foreseeable end. But when faced with the uncertainty and adversity of a global pandemic, it’s having health care professionals like Amber on our side and looking after our health that makes a world of difference. Mylekia Ambers, CNA, sees patients on the medical-surgical floor of the Camden Campus. A Health System team member for eight years, Ambers serves as the nurses’ “right hand,” taking patient vitals and tracking activities of daily living, such as bathing, toileting, transferring, walking, and eating. She knew from an early age that she wanted to join the health care profession. A Woodbine native, Ambers decided to work toward becoming a CNA in high school, eventually dedicating her time and talents to her local hospital.