Statesboro Magazine - September/October 2021 by Statesboro Magazine

September October 2021 Priceless

Jason Brannen WAS BORN TO FARM

Daniel E. Johnson’s

CANE SHED COUNTRY

Good News Travels Fast!

20 PLACES TO VISIT

ry niversa 25th An ection lS Specia

Joiner on A nders l r e Fun a Home & m toriu Crema

A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE WITH MARY EMMA GAINOUS

m a e T ! e u Bl

Welcome to

Blue Country!

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FOR YOUR UPGRADE UPGRADE YOUR SKILLS, YOUR SALARY, YOUR CAREER You’re already a professional, but you’re looking for more. More responsibility. More recognition. More zeros on your paycheck. At Georgia Southern, we’ve been helping adult learners level up since 1906. We offer more than 55 online programs at the bachelor’s and graduate level, and more than 80 graduate degrees and certificates. With so much flexibility, you won’t have to leave your job or change your life to get your education. And because our programs are nationally ranked for affordability, your education won’t break the bank, either. Our mission is to make sure you’re ready — with roll-up-your-sleeves preparation and hands-on experience. Because at Georgia Southern, ready is what we do. Visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu for more information.

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from the editor

ESTABLISHED MARCH 1, 2000

Jenny Starling Foss Editor

Joe McGlamery Publisher

hose crisp fall days we all crave are just around the corner, and with them comes fun outdoor activities like tailgating, and going to fairs & festivals. Find out how to master the Georgia Southern tailgate in our special section dedicated to the cocktail party before the football game, starting on page 43. Cooler weather also reminds us of the great outdoors. In our story on Mary Emma Gainous and her chosen field of Wildlife Management at OTC, inside we take a walk on the wild side finding out about her path from preschool to a career in fish biology. Living life on the farm is how Jason & Haley Hill Brannen enjoy the outdoors. Farming for 25 years with his brother and father has created a legacy Brannen hopes to pass down to his own son, Bayler Lehman. Read their story about a true Bulloch County farming tradition dating back to before Sherman’s March. Another country tradition started in a sugar cane shack on a dirt road in Bulloch County. It seems like every time a country boy comes to Georgia Southern, they end up with a record in Nashville. This time it’s Country song writing sensation Daniel E. Johnson, who’s releasing an album’s worth of original singles this year! Check him out at the Blue Room in November or on YouTube right now. Still need something to do during the most beautiful time of the year? Check out our 20 Places to Visit section for great day trip locations within a 1.5 hour drive. And please don’t miss the 25th Anniversary special section honoring Joiner Anderson Funeral Home & Crematorium! Congratulations for a long legacy of local families serving families. Best wishes for many more years of success. Hope you enjoy our tribute to Agriculture and Tourism in this issue, with a nod to football entertaining and a little Country music thrown in just for fun! Happy Fall Y’all!

Hunter McCumber Senior Creative Director

Mindy Boyette Advertising & Marketing Director

Frank Fortune Contributing Photographer Statesboro Magazine is proudly produced by:

FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION, PLEASE E-MAIL: mboyette@StatesboroMagazine.com FOR EDITORIAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE E-MAIL: editor@StatesboroMagazine.com MAILING ADDRESS: PHYSICAL ADDRESS: P. O. BOX 1084 One Herald Square, Statesboro, GA 30459 Statesboro, GA 30458 p: 912.489.2181 f: 912.489.8613

September October 2021 Priceless

Jason Brannen WAS BORN TO FARM

Daniel E. Johnson’s CANE SHED COUNTRY

Good News ! Travels Fast TO VISIT 20 PLACES

Jenny Foss, Editor

4 statesboromagazine.com

September/October 2021

ry iversa 25th Annl Section Specia r

Joine n rso Ande ral Fune & Home rium ato Crem

ABOUT THE COVER

Mary Emma Gainous hopes to join the world of Fish and Wildlife management when she graduates from Ogeechee Technical College. Measuring this alligator skull from A WA LK ON THE between the eyes to E SID LD WI GAINOUS WITH MARY EMMA the snout will tell her comparatively how long the animal was in feet. Just a wild fact she learned from her teacher, Georgia Technical College Instructor of the Year Casey Corbett. Gainous is captured with tape in hand by award winning photographer Frank Fortune.

contributors

Ric Mandes Ric Mandes, a popular essayist, retired after 27 years as Director of Public Relations and Development for Georgia Southern. His memories about growing up and living in South Georgia inspire his writings. He’s a published author and former newspaper columnist for the AJC.

Carolyn Altman Carolyn Altman is the Director of the Botanic Garden at Georgia Southern University. She holds degrees from Cornell University, Portland State University, and the University of Nebraska and has published, produced, and taught creative work of all forms, including dance, film, and writing. She spends as much time as possible outside, and has backpacked the Pacific Crest, telemark-skied the Northwest, white water paddled the Northeast, cycled Europe, and bike raced throughout the South. These adventures provide opportunities to learn local plants and how people live among them. Her son, Colby Parker, and daughter-in-law Jordan Miller, are USAF musicians who join Carolyn on wildflower expeditions in the Rockies and river trips through the Ogeechee cypress.

Adison Marsh Born and raised in Statesboro, Adison Marsh loves the town and the people here. The daughter of Elliott & Christy Marsh, who make it a point to be active members of their community, Adison also believes in being as involved as possible in the things she feels are important. As a junior at Statesboro High and a member of the 2021 class of Youth Leadership Bulloch, she hopes to offer a teenager’s point of view on the topics covered in Statesboro Magazine in her column, A Fresh Take.

WE LIVE HERE

Lazar Brown Oglesby Lazar Brown Oglesby is the owner of Honey Catering and Café and Dolan’s BBQ both located in Millen and Honey Too located in Statesboro. Lazar attended Ogeechee Technical College where she earned a Culinary Arts degree. In 2012 Lazar followed a lifelong dream and opened Honey Catering and Café. She enjoys cooking Southern food with an adventurous twist! Lazar is known for her famous cheesecakes of which she has over 100 flavors. Lazar recently started the Honey Blog to share her recipes and stories.

Doy Cave From Eagle Nation is a column brought to you by Georgia Southern University, where we cherish our place in the larger Statesboro community. In each issue, we hope to bring interesting and informative stories to the readers of Statesboro Magazine.Doy Cave is the Marketing Content Manager in the Office of Marketing and Communications at the University, and resides with his family in Statesboro.

Rev. Dr. H. William Perry Bill Perry grew up in Live Oak, Florida, a small town just south of Valdosta, GA. After graduating from Stetson University, he earned three degrees from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. In 2004, he retired as pastor of First Baptist Church of Statesboro after serving that congregation for 22 years. He and his wife, Margaret, registrar of Statesboro High School before her retirement in 2005, have two daughters, five grandsons, and one granddaughter. Bill has been very much involved in community life in Statesboro. He is an avid reader and has been a runner since 1973.

September/October 2021

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table of contents

THE CULTURE A Walk on the Wild Side With Mary Emma Gainous Written by Jenny Starling Foss Photography by Frank Fortune

Jason Brannen’s Legacy of Farming Written by Jenny Starling Foss Photography by Frank Fortune

Cane Shed Country Daniel E. Johnson Written by Jenny Starling Foss Photography by Frank Fortune

SPECIAL SECTIONS 20 Fall Road Trips One Day Adventures!

25th Anniversary Special Section Joiner Anderson Funeral Home & Crematorium

36 43

Tailgating! A Football Tradition

FEATURED COLUMNISTS

A Fresh Take Written by Adison Marsh

True Blue GS Written by Doy Cave

Buzz Worthy Bites Written by Lazar Brown Oglesby

Garden Variety Written by Carolyn Altman

The Spiritual Pathway Written by Rev. Dr. H. William Perry

The View from Here

58 60 62

Written by Ric Mandes

IN EVERY ISSUE From the Editor Contributors News & Notes Calendar of Events Transitions Look Around 6 statesboromagazine.com

September/October 2021

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the calendar

SEPTEMBER 10 F1RST FRIDAY EVENT – TASTE OF DOWNTOWN 5:30 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. 5:00 P.M. - TICKETS AVAILABLE ON THE COURTHOUSE LAWN FUN FAMILY EVENT! DOWNTOWN STATESBORO

Local restaurants and food vendors share treats and samples from booths set-up downtown. Live entertainment, games for the kids, with plenty of food and beverages for the adults. www. statesborodowntown.org.

SEPTEMBER 10

FRIDAYS - TUESDAYS AT MIDNIGHT STATESBORO MAIN STREET MARKET2GO

Order the season’s freshest local fruits, vegetables and homemade baked goods, preserves, jams, jellies, candies and relishes. You’ll also find locally sourced meat, seafood, spices, dairy and eggs. Home and garden items, honey and locally grown flower bouquets. Shop online Friday – Tuesday at midnight at statesboromarket2go.locallygrown.net. Pick-up on Thursday afternoons at the Statesboro Visitors Center, 222 South Main Street or in Sylvania at the Victory Garden General Store, 124 West Telephone Street.

PAINT-N-PARTY 6:00 P.M. – 8:30 P.M. $35/PERSON ROXIE REMLEY CENTER FOR FINE ARTS AVERITT CENTER FOR THE ARTS

No experience necessary! Just come and have fun with friends and your favorite beverage! (21+ years old to consume alcohol). Price includes a 16 x 20 canvas and art supplies that you will use to create your very own masterpiece. Don’t wait, sign up today! Our instructor Lori Ward will guide you through the steps to paint your version of the painting-of-the-month. Call us at 912-212-2787 to register. www.averittcenterforthearts.org.

EVERY SATURDAY STATESBORO MAIN STREET FARMERS MARKET 9:00 A.M. – 12:30 P.M. CHARLIE OLLIFF SQUARE DOWNTOWN STATESBORO

The perfect place to get the best locally grown and produced food. The Farmers Market features the freshest locally grown seasonal fruits and vegetables, along with fresh bakery goods, organically produced meats, eggs, dairy items, such as cheese, and other savory edibles. The Market provides the area’s best organic goods with a heaping side of fun, music, food demonstrations, arts and crafts, friendly neighbors, and so much more!

SEPTEMBER 9

BAREFOOT COMEDY 8:00 P.M. $20/PERSON - $18/MEMBERS/MILITARY/FIRST RESPONDERS/CITY & COUNTY EMPLOYEES $15/STUDENTS EMMA KELLY THEATER AVERITT CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Barefoot Comedy and the Averitt Center for the Arts have teamed up once again to bring a full season of established and up-and-coming comedians to the Jan Brown Anderson stage of the Emma Kelly Theater. Savannah native Collin Moulton, who is one of the most sought-after headliners in stand-up comedy today, is the creator and host of the six-show series. He is known for his fast-paced and highly engaging mix of clever stand-up and physical comedy. He and his guests will draw on life experiences, current events and personal observation to create a hilarious and memorable show. www.averittcenterforthearts.org.

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SEPTEMBER 11

PINK POWER RUN 5K 7:00 A.M. – REGISTRATION BEGINS 8:00 A.M. – RACE STARTS $30/PERSON EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION $35/PERSON – AFTER SEPTEMBER 3 $5/DISCOUNT – STUDENTS & MILITARY/TEAMS OF 10 OR MORE REGISTER ONLINE AT HTTPS://RUNSIGNUP.COM/RACE/GA/ STATESBORO/PINKPOWERRUN GEORGIA SOUTHERN RAC

The race is open to all fitness levels and women and men of all ages. Walkers, strollers and 4-legged friends are also welcome. Join the cause and celebration of life, hope, and awareness! There will be music, costume contest, free food, and awards. All 5K/Run proceeds will benefit Statesboro Bulloch County Breast Cancer Foundation’s goals and mission of providing financial support, education, and awareness to our local community and surrounding communities. For more information, contact the event organizer at 912-334-7112 or statesboropinkpower@gmail.com.

2021 September & October END OF THE LINE - ALLMAN BROTHERS TRIBUTE BAND 7:30 P.M. $30/PERSON - $28/MEMBERS/MILITARY/FIRST RESPONDERS/CITY & COUNTY EMPLOYEES EMMA KELLY THEATER AVERITT CENTER FOR THE ARTS

End of the Line is one of the best Allman Brothers tribute bands. Having carved up the Southeast with sold out shows in Georgia & Tennessee, End of the Line is making a name for itself with a sound as classic & heavy as the original Brothers themselves. From the authentic, raspy vocal approach of Justic Smith to the chuggling drum/percussion train of Chase Bader & Ryan McClanahan, the band pays homage while pushing the boundaries of the timeless & extensive catalog. Carrying the electric weight of Duane Allman is Conor Kelly & his counterpart Dicky is Adam Gorman, who is the band’s lone Maconite. Last, but certainly not least, the low end duties are covered by Casey Conway, who is a perfect bottom end sandwich of Berry, Allen, and Oteil. With endorsements from the official Allman Brothers Museum, the Big House, End of the Line carries on the legacy of the Allman Brothers with poise & power. Come experience the soul, the guitarmony, the jam, and the ramblin’ spirit that still lives on. www.averittcenterforthearts.org.

SEPTEMBER 24

ONE SERIES FEATURES WEMBERLY PONDER! 7:30 P.M. $20/PERSON - $18/MEMBERS/MILITARY/FIRST RESPONDERS/CITY & COUNTY EMPLOYEES $15/STUDENTS EMMA KELLY THEATER AVERITT CENTER FOR THE ARTS

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Ponder is a graduate of William James High School and Georgia Southern University. He began the study of piano at the age of 11 with Tharon Stevens, Choral Director of William James High School Choral Society, and a distinguished piano teacher in Statesboro. At the end of his 11th grade year, Ponder began the study of piano with Dr. Sterling Adams, Professor of Piano at Georgia Southern University. Ponder is the winner of the Fort Valley State College Annual Music Teachers Clinic Awards in Piano & Sight Singing; the winner of the Pro-Mozart Society Scholarship that enabled him to attend the Mozarteum Academy of Music in Salzburg, Austria, where he studied with pianist and pedagogue, Kurt Neumuller. He has participated in masterclasses under pianists: Rosalyn Tureck, Lili Krauss, and Maculzinski. He has been coached by pianists, Andre Watts, Ruth Slenczynka, and Eugene Haynes. Ponder studied conducting, musical composition, orchestration, and music theory with Rev. Don Northrip. He has performed Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue for Piano and Orchestra” with Georgia Southern Symphony and Bach’s “D Minor Concerto for Piano and Orchestra” with the Savannah Symphony. He has created an original musical tribute which includes sacred piano music by Andraé Crouch, romantic piano music by Chopin, popular classics such as Autumn Leaves. And an original score, Melody of the Southern Pines, a tribute piece written to honor Georgia Southern University; plus, Melody to the Stars, to honor the City of Statesboro.

SEPTEMBER 18

32ND ANNUAL BROOKLET PEANUT FESTIVAL 10:00 A.M. – PARADE 10:00 A.M. – FESTIVAL BEGINS 12 NOON – TRACTOR RACES BEGIN 6:00 P.M. – LIVE BAND 9:00 P.M. – FESTIVAL ENDS FREE FUN FAMILY EVENT!

Annual celebration of the area’s peanut crops. Enjoy carnival rides, arts & crafts vendors, live music throughout the day, entertainment, food booths and peanuts prepared every way imaginable. Most free entertainment begins immediately following the conclusion of the parade at the Festival Site. www. brookletpeanutfestival.com.

OCTOBER 1

F1RST FRIDAY EVENT – AG NIGHT OUT! 5:30 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. FREE FUN FAMILY EVENT! DOWNTOWN STATESBORO

An evening that celebrates agriculture and agribusiness in Bulloch County. We close off streets and enjoy tractors, food vendors, and more as we gather to celebrate the largest industry in Bulloch County.

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the calendar

OCTOBER 9

8TH ANNUAL GREENFEST: SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR LIFE 9:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M. FUN FREE FAMILY EVENT! DOWNTOWN STATESBORO

GreenFest is a fun-filled community sustainability celebration packed with green exhibits, vendors and workshops to educate visitors about green living. Enjoy live music, activities for the kids, and green products and sustainable solutions for the whole family. Free workshops on Main Street and in partnership with the Statesboro Main Street Farmers Market will help you save green while living green.

OCTOBER 2 40TH ANNUAL CATFACE TURPENTINE FESTIVAL 10:00 A.M. – 7:00 P.M. FREE ADMISSION/FUN FAMILY EVENT PORTAL, GEORGIA

The festival celebrates the history of turpentine at the historic E. C. Carter turpentine still. The old still is fired up once again and festival goers can enjoy the history of turpentine, a demonstration of how the old still works, and unique “rosin-baked” potatoes. The festival begins with a parade along U. S. Highway 80, which runs through downtown Portal. At the conclusion of the parade, visitors gather at the festival grounds nearby to browse through the various booths of arts and crafts, and to enjoy rides, games, delicious foods, and a variety of entertainment. Visitors come from near and far to see how turpentine is made and to learn about the role it played in the town’s history. www.portalheritagesociety.org.

OCTOBER 7

THE NEED TO READ PRESCHOOL CHILDREN’S READING EVENT 5:30 P.M. 7:00 P.M. BULLOCH SOLUTIONS 841 BUCKHEAD DRIVE

The Bulloch County Literacy Council invites families, especially those with preschool children, to their “The Need to Read” event. There will be information and activities to raise awareness of the need to read, especially to preschool children (birth to 5 years), and refreshments and door prizes. Sponsored by the Bulloch County Literacy Council, a collaborative group made up of educators, civic organizations, businesses, and volunteers who are focused on improving literacy in Bulloch County.

OCTOBER 8

PAINT-N-PARTY 6:00 P.M. – 8:30 P.M. $35/PERSON ROXIE REMLEY CENTER FOR FINE ARTS AVERITT CENTER FOR THE ARTS

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September/October 2021

WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’S 10:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M. MILL CREEK PARK

Organizers say while plans are being made to host the walk in person, the health and safety of participants, staff and volunteers remain the top priorities as decisions are made about event details. Options will be offered to participate online and in local neighborhoods. To register and receive the latest updates on this year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s, visit: https://act.alz.org/walk. BULLOCH COUNTY FIRST RESPONDERS & ANTI-BULLYING DAY 2021 10:00 A.M. – 12:30 P.M. FREE FUN FAMILY EVENT STATESBORO FAMILY YMCA

Come together for a common cause: to end bullying. There will be prizes, an obstacle course, a mechanical bull, a rock climbing wall, food, drinks, cotton candy, popcorn, music and much more! All proceeds go to the Statesboro Police Officers Foundation and the Statesboro YMCA. For more information call (912) 243-9200. BULLOCH COUNTY’S NIGHT OUT AGAINST CRIME 4:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M. FREE FUN FAMILY EVENT! HONEY BOWEN BUILDING

Statesboro/Bulloch County Parks & Recreation Department Come join in on the FREE food and fun for all ages! Hosted by the Bulloch County Sheriff ’s Department. For more information, call Julie Morrison at (912) 764-9846.

2021 September & October OCTOBER 16

THE AMORETTES DRAG SHOW A HUMANE SOCIETY OF STATESBORO BENEFIT 7:30 P.M. $15/PERSON/ADVANCE - $20/PERSON/DOOR EMMA KELLY THEATER AVERITT CENTER FOR THE ARTS

The Armorettes, The Infamous Camp Drag Queens of the South, have performed for over 42 years and counting. To date they have raised over $2.3 million in the battle against HIV/AIDS. The group will be performing live in Statesboro to raise money for the local Humane Society. www.averittcenterforthearts.org.

OCTOBER 21 – 24

THE SOUND OF MUSIC STATESBORO STARS 7:30 P.M. – OCTOBER 21 – 23 3:00 P.M. – OCTOBER 24 $25/PERSON - $23/MEMBERS/MILITARY/FIRST RESPONDERS/CITY & COUNTY EMPLOYEES $15/STUDENTS EMMA KELLY THEATER AVERITT CENTER FOR THE ARTS

OCTOBER 18 – 23

THE 59TH ANNUAL GREAT KIWANIS OGEECHEE FAIR MONDAY FAIR PARADE: 4:00 P.M. DOWNTOWN STATESBORO DAILY HOURS OF OPERATION: MONDAY: 6:00 P.M. – 12:00 A.M. TUESDAY: 4:00 P.M. – 12:00 A.M. WEDNESDAY: 4:00 P.M. – 12:00 A.M. THURSDAY: 4:00 P.M. – 12:00 A.M. FRIDAY: 4:00 P.M. – 1:00 A.M. SATURDAY: 12:00 P.M. – 12:00 A.M. *TICKET WINDOWS WILL CLOSE AT 10PM ADVANCE ADMISSION TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE: $8/PERSON. $10/PERSON AT THE GATE. UNDER 5 FREE.

The 59th Annual Great Kiwanis Ogeechee Fair brings carnival rides and games together with food vendors, local business booths, live entertainment, agricultural history and livestock shows to the midway of the Kiwanis Ogeechee Fairgrounds. The purpose of the fair is to bring a fun filled event to the seven-county area surrounding Bulloch County while raising money to give back to the communities that the fair serves. www.kiwanisogeecheeefair.org.

With music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, The Sound of Music is almost everyone’s favorite musical. It is based on the 1949 memoir of Maria Augusta von Trapp, The Story of the von Trapp Family Singers. Set in Austria on the eve of the Anschluss in 1938, the musical tells the story of Maria, who takes a job as governess to a seven motherless children while she decides whether or not to become a nun. She transforms the Von Trapp family home from a place of rules and regulations to one filled with joy, laughter and music. She falls in love with the children, and eventually their widowed father, Captain von Trapp. After their marriage, he is ordered to accept a commission in the German navy, but von Trapp opposes the Nazis. He and Maria decide on a plan to flee Austria with the children by climbing the Alps and escaping to Switzerland. Many songs from the musical have become standards, such as Edelweiss, My Favorite Things, Climb Every Mountain, Do-Re-Mi, and the title song, The Sound of Music. www.averittcenterforthearts.org.

OCTOBER 28

BAREFOOT COMEDY 8:00 P.M. $20/PERSON - $18/MEMBERS/MILITARY/FIRST RESPONDERS/CITY & COUNTY EMPLOYEES $15/STUDENTS EMMA KELLY THEATER AVERITT CENTER FOR THE ARTS

September/October 2021

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Caleb Mills Selected as Ogeechee Tech’s 2021 Outstanding Alumni Caleb Mills, a 2017 graduate of the Fish and Wildlife Management program at Ogeechee Technical College, was recently named OTC’s 2021 Outstanding Alumni winner. Mills currently works as a Wildlife Technician II at the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Evans County Public Fishing Area where he spends most of his time directly managing the operation of the campground and conference center as well as working toward a successful fisheries ecosystem. “Caleb is such an incredible advocate for Technical Education and for the Fish and Wildlife Management program at Ogeechee Technical College. He understands the importance of the hands-on training students receive in our programs,” said Casey Corbett, OTC’s Fish & Wildlife Management instructor. “I am so thankful he continues to include my students in many of the projects that he has going on at the Evans County Public Fishing Area. It is people like him that are vital to our program’s success.” When he’s not busy winning awards, he is spending his time giving back to the community. For the past three years Mills has helped organize volunteer projects for the community as well as projects for students to build fish attractors to enhance the aquatic habitats of the lakes at the Evans County PFA. Each year the Outstanding Alumni award is presented to an Ogeechee Tech alumni who graduated within the last ten years, is making outstanding contributions and excelling in their chosen fields, who is giving back to their community, and is dedicated to the advancement of the College. www.ogeecgeetech.edu 12 statesboromagazine.com

Cindy Hulsey Named President of Georgia Cemetery Association In June of this year, Cindy Hulsey, manager of Bulloch Memorial Gardens, which is owned by Joiner Anderson Funeral Home & Crematorium, was installed as President of the Georgia Cemetery Association (GCA) for the coming year. The announcement was made at the annual convention of the Southern Cemetery Cremation Funeral Association (SCCFA) on Hilton Head Island, S.C. The convention also includes the annual meetings and board appointments of member organizations, such as the GCA, located throughout Georgia, and North & South Carolina. Hulsey is a native and lifelong resident of Bulloch County, who grew up in Brooklet. She attended Southeast Bulloch High School, graduating in 1976, and earned an associate’s degree in Funeral Service from Ogeechee Technical College in 2009. She has completed courses at the ICCFA University in Memphis, Tennessee, pursuing Certification in Cemetery Land and Management and in Cremation services. Currently, she is a licensed Embalmer, Funeral Director and Pre-Need Sales Agent with the state of Georgia. Hulsey is a member, former secretary, and past president of the Brooklet Kiwanis Club, at the time being the only female president in the club’s 70-year history. She has also served on the Board of the Georgia Cemetery Association. Founded in 1955, the GCA serves both perpetual care cemeteries and consumers across the state of Georgia. Through educational programs, the annual convention and seminars, the GCA provides information that allows cemeteries statewide to operate and serve consumers in their communities with the most current services, products and practices, with the highest of ethical standards. The GCA, through its Legal and Legislative committees, continuously monitors legislation of interest to the cemetery profession and serves as a lobbying organization for the industry. www.gacemeteries.com.

3D Art Students Create Collaborative Public Project for College of Education Following more than a year of preparation for an interactive artwork display based on Georgia Southern University’s bald eagle mascot, “Birds of a Feather” is now on display in the College of Education’s (COE) classroom building on the Statesboro Campus. Collaborating with the Betty Foy Sanders Department of Art (BFSDoArt), the artwork came to life under the leadership and guidance of Kimberly Riner, adjunct professor of art. Lyndsey Frantz, Master of Fine Arts alumna (‘21), provided the sketch of the eagle after visiting the University’s Center for Wildlife Education to view the eagles and feathers in person. The individual feathers were crafted by students from two introductory ceramics courses while two advanced ceramics students on the Armstrong Campus, Jamel Richardson and Sabrina Harn, glazed and fired all of the pieces. Installed by BFSDoArt studio technician Jason McCoy, “Birds of a Feather” will be on display ongoing in the COE classroom building lobby. www.georgiasouthern.edu.

September/October 2021

Ogeechee Technical College Announces Board Appointments

Georgia Southern University’s Beverly Miller, Ph.D., assistant professor of elementary education, with students at the inaugural Ventaja Statesboro program in June.

Students in the Ventaja Statesboro program at the Georgia Southern Museum.

Georgia Southern Education Faculty Receives STEM Award Georgia Southern University assistant professor of elementary education Beverly Miller, Ph.D., received the 2021 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the largest and oldest diversity and inclusion publication in higher education. The Inspiring Programs in STEM Award honors members of colleges and universities that encourage and assist students from underrepresented groups to enter the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Miller was recognized for her efforts in coordinating STEM camps for underrepresented populations. The first camp, Ventaja Panamá, began in 2017, offering STEM and literacy to underserved students in the country of Panama. After running the camp successfully in Panama for years, Miller decided to expand the opportunity to rural students in Bulloch County, Georgia. The inaugural year of the camp was hosted in June of this year and included a field trip to the Georgia Southern Museum. “The Ventaja Statesboro program operated from the Georgia Southern Statesboro Campus to target first-generation college and underrepresented students,” she said. “During the week of the camp, we were able to expose them to a college campus environment through instruction with faculty, field trips that included the campus museum, interactions with athletic teams and eating at a university dining hall. At the end of the week, students made presentations on the Unsung Heroes of STEM to University faculty, staff and their supporters.” www.georgiasouthern.edu.

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Ogeechee Technical College announces the appointment of Stephen Pennington and Micheal Summers to its local board of directors, both of whom sat for their first board meeting on August 17, 2021. With experience in not-for-profit as well as for-profit healthcare systems, Stephen Pennington, CEO of East Georgia Regional Medical Center (EGRMC), has spent over 30 years working in the healthcare system. While serving as CEO at hospitals across the southeast, Pennington has focused on developing and leveraging his hospitals as leaders in clinical quality and seeking to provide expanded care by pursuing additional accreditations. Pennington has a long-standing history of maintaining a strong community presence through his involvement in local philanthropy. He currently sits as the Health Industry Committee co-chair with the Statesboro Chamber of Commerce and is an active member of the Rotary Club of Statesboro. Additionally, he also holds a masters of Hospital Administration from the University of Alabama-Birmingham and a bachelor of science in Industrial Engineering from the University of Tennessee. “We are incredibly fortunate to have Stephen and Micheal appointed to our local board. They both bring invaluable experience and insight from their professions and are highly respected members of our community,” said OTC president, Lori Durden. Summers is the CEO of his own business, Summertime Enterprises, Inc., a Real Estate and Logistics services company. Before becoming an entrepreneur, he worked for major corporations like the Pepsi Bottling Group and Gulfstream Aerospace, as well as within the Technical College System of Georgia. Having earned a Masters of Collaborative Educational Leadership from Fielding Graduate University, and a bachelor of science in Agribusiness from South Carolina State University, Summers has always been a big proponent of higher education. He currently sits as the Chairman of the OTC Logistics Management advisory board and has been heavily involved with other boards including the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Coastal Plains Division, Ash Tree Learning Academy in Savannah, Statesboro Family YMCA, and the Georgia Association of Physical Plant Administrators. www. ogeecheetech.edu September/October 2021

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Portal Alumni Establishes Scholarship Fund Marion C. Hulsey and his wife, Terri, have established a $52,500 legacy college scholarship trust fund for Portal Middle High School. It will annually provide a $2,500 competitive scholarship to a graduating senior who plans to pursue a post-secondary degree. The couple Pictured (L-R): Justin Chester, assistant principal and athletic hopes this scholarship will help young director; Terri Bell Hulsey; Chandler Sheffield; Joe Bettinger, guidance counselor; Marion Hulsey; and Julie Blackmar, principal. people on their education journeys. Portal’s Chandler Sheffield, a member of the Class of 2021, is the inaugural recipient of the Marion C. Hulsey & Terri Bell Hulsey Scholarship. Sheffield plans to attend Georgia Southern University and major in physical education. “Portal played such a big part in who I am today,” said Hulsey. “I hope that the scholarship will provide some assistance to a young man or woman along their journey. Portal has provided the background for many successful business owners and accomplished leaders in Bulloch County. I’m so happy to be able to give back to the community. I hope that it will encourage others to remember growing up in this little town of Portal and to reach out to these young people and help them further their education so they can make the Portal community proud.” Marion Hulsey is a 1968 graduate of Portal. He and his wife have strong ties to the Portal community, and they have supported the students and faculty at PMHS for many years, especially as members of the school’s athletic booster club.

Nandi Marshall Appointed Associate Dean for Academic Affairs December 6, 2021 – Janurary 11, 2022

DEBUT March/April 2022 Issue of Statesboro Magazine

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Nandi A. Marshall, DrPH, (’12) has been appointed as the new Associate Dean of Academic Affairs for Georgia Southern University’s Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health (JPHCOPH). Marshall is an associate professor in the Department of Health Policy and Community Health. She offers more than 17 years of community engagement experience, including fostering partnerships and relationships with grassroots organizations, state coalitions, nonprofits and nation-al associations, particularly around health inequities. These experiences, along with her completion of the Georgia Governor’s Teaching Fellows Program and the Health Equity Leadership Institute, have contributed to her commitment to address the social determinants of health through com-munity engagement, enhancing student leadership, and conveying the importance of achieving health equity. A leader in numerous public health organizations, Marshall is currently serving a four-year term on the executive board of the American Public Health Association. She also serves as the edu-cation and training co-lead for the Georgia Society for Public Health Education, is a member of the United States Breastfeeding CRASH Committee, which focuses on equity issues in breastfeeding, and is a board member for the Georgia Breastfeeding Coalition. Additionally, Marshall is a member of the City of Statesboro’s One Boro Commission, which promotes diversity, inclusion and equity among the citizens of Statesboro, and the Racial Equity and Leadership (REAL) Savannah Taskforce in Savannah. She is also a member of the Statesboro Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Marshall holds a bachelor’s from Spelman College, a Master of Public Health from East Stroudsburg University and a DrPH from Georgia Southern University. She is also a certified health education specialist. www.georgiasouthern.edu.

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THE CULTURE

a walk on the wild side

A Walk Wild Side on the

WRITTEN BY JENNY STARLING FOSS PHOTOGRAPHY BY FRANK FORTUNE & REBECCA WILLIAMS

hen Mary Emma Gainous was an infant, her parents, Matt and Broni Gainous, placed her in the Child Enrichment Center at their place of employment, Ogeechee Technical College (OTC), for daily childcare. As Mary Emma got older, she would ride to work with her dad, an English instructor, and before he dropped her off at elementary school, she would go to his office and make coffee for all the instructors in his building. She became the “Coffee Maker Specialist” complete with an “official” OTC name badge. One of the young barista’s customers was the late Dan Bickerton, an instructor in the Fish & Wildlife Management program. “I can remember how excited I would get when Dad told me that we were going to Mr. Dan’s classroom,” said Mary Emma. She was excited because Dan Bickerton’s classroom held many examples of his work with wildlife: skulls from various animals found in the woods, animal pelts, assorted feathers, a Bonsai tree, and a live pet snake named Princess; engaging items for her young inquisitive mind. “Mr. Dan taught me a lot about animals in general,” said Mary Emma. “He taught me about snakes and he let me feed Princess, who turned out to be a boy! It’s been a long time ago, but I can remember how much I loved his classroom and learning about all the wildlife.” Something that was reinforced by her father and her Papa, who often took her hunting and taught her about caring for the land, and animal conservation, putting out corn for deer. Those early adventures led Mary Emma to want to be a veterinarian when she grew up. “I have always known that I wanted to help animals and the environment,” said Mary Emma. “Ever since I was a little girl I wanted to be a veterinarian, but I knew I would not be able to tell a family that I wasn’t able to save their loving pet.” Something Mary Emma knows about having recently experienced the loss of her family’s 14-year-old black Lab, Hunter. Instead she has chosen the field which Dan Bickerton introduced to her long ago. Mary Emma is now enrolled at OTC in the Fish & Wildlife Management program, a venture she started while still in high school in Metter. “I was joint enrolled in the program my senior year at Metter High,” said Mary Emma. “I graduated in May of this year, so this fall I will be starting at OTC full time. I’ll be taking College

16 statesboromagazine.com

September/October 2021

Mary Emma Gainous/Wildlife

PHOTO BY REBECCA WILLIAMS

September/October 2021

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THE CULTURE

a walk on the wild side

1010, Dendrology (the study of trees), Forest Technology, and Mammology.” Fortunately for Mary Emma, her Wildlife courses will be taught by Casey Corbett, the Technical College System of Georgia’s 2021 Instructor of the Year! Corbett was chosen for the Rick Perkins Award for Excellence in Technical Instruction in May of this year after competing at the local, regional and state levels. She was chosen from nine finalists after a virtual interview in front of a panel of judges. Corbett, who has taught at OTC since 2017, has previously worked as the Tech Prep and School to Work Coordinator at Southeastern Technical College, science teacher at Tattnall County High School, small business owner, and the Education Coordinator at the Georgia Southern University Center for Wildlife Education. She is a certified Hunter Education Instructor for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and holds Georgia Master Naturalist certification from the UGA Cooperative Extension Service and the UGA Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources. Corbett is the perfect instructor to mentor Mary Emma’s interest in wildlife management and steer her toward a career goal that matches her current curiosity in fish biology. Aware of 18 statesboromagazine.com

September/October 2021

the many career options available to wildlife specialists, Corbett had this to say about her students after winning the Rick Perkins honor: “My students are the future stewards of wildlife and our natural resources,” she said. “They are the future conservationists that our state, nation, and world really need. I am teaching them, not just to prepare them for a successful career, but more importantly so they can teach others how to be better stewards of our planet.” It’s a wonderful coincidence that Casey Corbett has inherited Dan Bickerton’s classroom along with a few skulls, and a resident beaver and bobcat, both donated victims of taxidermy. Mary Emma will be attending classes in the same room where she fed Princess years ago. She will also get the benefit of an outdoor/hands on learning experience with ATVs and other equipment the College provides to assist students in preparing for jobs in real world Wildlife Management. There are trails and traps which are set to capture native animals for up-close observation by students. Such as the opossum Mary Emma can be seen releasing unharmed back into its native habitat. Being a good steward is something that Mary Emma believes in, too. “I have always loved finding all sorts of things when walking through the woods,” she said. “I also love hunting and fishing, so I want to learn how to keep all of the animals and the environment healthy. We need to be aware of our wildlife and our land, and know what we need to do to take care of it, otherwise future generations won’t be able to enjoy our beautiful world.” Teachers rarely see the seeds they plant in young students come to fruition. It’s a happy ending for all of us when we can see a student like Mary Emma grow into the kind of person instructors Dan Bickerton and Casey Corbett imagined her to be. S

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THE CULTURE

a farming legacy

A Farming Legacy WRITTEN BY JENNY STARLING FOSS PHOTOGRAPHY BY FRANK FORTUNE

Brannen Family’s Farming Legacy

Jason Brannen J

ason Brannen and his brother Josh were reared on a family farm near Register. Their father, Lehman Brannen (Sharon), was Bulloch County’s 2019 Farmer of the Year. As far back as Jason can remember, he wanted to be a farmer like his dad, and his dad before him. “My grandfather Mike Brannen had three brothers, Jack, Paul, and William, who all farmed together in the 1940s,” said Brannen. “Over time the land they farmed changed hands for various reasons; one brother bought 22 statesboromagazine.com

September/October 2021

acreage from another, or one traded some land with another one, or one died, until the land was spread among several descendants and the boundaries weren’t real clear.” Those family farming roots go way back. Jason remembers his granddaddy telling the story of when Sherman’s troops came through Bulloch County. “One of the legs of Sherman’s army came through near the old family home place near Hopeulikit,” said Brannen. “Granddaddy said they hid the boys and the valuables in the woods. The soldiers didn’t burn down the home because the womenfolk fed them. We still have a reunion on July 4th every year at what we call the ‘old home place.’ The log part of the house is still there.”

Brannen Family’s Farming Legacy

It took Jason some time to establish his own farming operation near Register. He started out working on his dad’s farm during a high school work study program, coming home at lunch to help. At age 20 he took out his first farm loan and began working for himself on land that his father, grandfather and brothers had farmed near Georgia Highway 46. He plants mostly cotton and peanuts, depending on which is bringing the most money any given year. Over time, Brannen has been able to acquire land adjoining his original acreage. Today he farms approximately 1,200 acres of a total 2,500 acres farmed by him, his dad and brother Josh. While purchasing those adjoining acres, Brannen remembers visiting the clerk of courts’ office for the title research.

“The clerk pulled down large land plat title books from the shelf and blew dust off of them like in the Harry Potter movies,” said Brannen. “When we opened the books and got to comparing the plats, it turns out, where my home is and most of the land I have under cultivation now was originally the land that granddaddy Mike and his brothers had.” A farming legacy that Brannen is proud to have inherited, on a farm that he was fortunate to have put back together. September/October 2021

statesboromagazine.com

THE CULTURE

a farming legacy

“It’s a family tradition that I’m continuing,” said Brannen. “Generations of the farming life handed down from granddaddy and my great uncles, and from theirs before them. My own daddy’s been farming for over 50 years. Some of them tough ones.” Brannen is proud of his farming family and enjoys what he calls the “freedom” that farming brings. “You’re outside all day. There’s no office to report to. You’re your own boss,” he said. “But, don’t get me wrong. You have to be disciplined. You have to have a game plan. You have to be a steward of the land. Sometimes there’s dry weather. Sometimes there’s a good rain year. Or a record crop year, like 2012. We’re always comparing our yield to 2012’s. That was a great year. In the end, if it’s a good year, the pay-off from all the work is worth it.” Brannen’s a little more reliant on nature than some farmers. He does little irrigation and shares some equipment with his dad and brother, although they each have separate farming operations. “We borrow equipment from each other,” said Brannen. “My sprayer might have given out, so my brother says, ‘I’ll get a new one this 24 statesboromagazine.com

September/October 2021

time, you bought that one.’ That way it’s more efficient for all of us and we’re helping each other.” Living life on the farm means he also plants a garden and tends it with wife of six years, Haley Hill Brannen. They can vegetables during the summer, for year round enjoyment. “We put-up creamed corn this summer. We planted tomatoes, okra, squash, green beans, jalapeno, bell, and banana peppers,” said Brannen. “We ate from it all summer. Of course, it takes time to get a sustainable farm done. We’ve planted eight grape vines, 8 – 10 blueberry bushes, and some blackberry vines, orange and lemon trees. We keep adding to it each year.” The new challenges to farming the old fashioned way are familiar. ”The costs are rising. The inputs are so high. It can be trying just to hold onto what you have and keep going,” Brannen said. “But, I’ve been blessed all my life to have what I’ve had. Mostly I’ve had farming success for me and my family.” In addition to wife, Haley, a nationally ranked Mary Kay senior sales director, who’s waiting on delivery of her 8th pink Cadillac, they have two children – Ily (pronounced eye-lee) James, a girl who’ll be two in March, and Bayler Lehman, who turned three in August. According to Hayley, “Bayler is obsessed with big equipment of any kind and his first word was ‘tractor.’ He looks and acts just like a little farmer following in his daddy’s footsteps.” Something that Brannen hopes will happen to keep the family tradition going. “I’ve been farming now for 25 years,” said Brannen. “Maybe in 20 years Bayler will be ready to step in. It’s my dream for Bayler to keep farming. It’s always what I wanted to do. I hope he will want to do it, too. We need farmers to keep us all clothed and fed. It’s a rewarding way of life, and I hope he’ll keep the legacy going. You sure have to love it to keep doing it.” S

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Day Trippin 20 PL ACES TO SEE THIS FALL

We’ve got the answer to cabin fever! Short day trips to mostly outdoor locations that will get you out of the doldrums super-fast! We’ve picked 20 destinations within a 1.5 hour drive that are fun, educational and interesting. You can choose from the exciting (Riverwalk in Beaufort) to the sublime (Driftwood Beach on Jekyll). You can immerse yourself in culture (Beach Institute) or travel back in time (Cumberland Island). There’s fun for the kiddies (Georgia Sea Turtle Center) or the grown-ups (Watermelon Creek Vineyard). Or just take the whole family! (The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge). The fun fact is, you get to choose and get away to our 20 great places to see and do!

September/October 2021

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WE LIVE HERE

day trippin ALTAMAHA RIVER

Kayak among bald eagles and wild turkeys in this ecologically and historically rich southeastern region, named by the Nature Conservancy as one of the 75 “Last Great Places” in the world. Indigenous people and early settlers used its currents for commerce, and at least 125 species of endangered plants and animals live on the Altamaha River. (You might even spot a manatee swimming lazily near the banks). Three Rivers Outdoors, Inc. offers everything necessary for your wild adventure, including interpretive naturalist services. www.3riversoutdoors.net BEACH INSTITUTE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER

The Beach Institute is Savannah’s first school built after Emancipation specifically for African Americans. As a cultural center, the Beach Institute collects, interprets, preserves and presents African American history and culture through exhibits and artistic and educational programs. The King-Tisdell Cottage is the birthplace of the movement to preserve African American history in Savannah. It serves as a museum interpreting black life in the region from slavery to freedom, through tours, exhibits and related materials. The King-Tisdell Cottage also tells the story of two working class families in the early decades of the 20th century and provides information on the life and work of Mr. W. W. Law, the civil rights leader who helped save and preserve the cottage and who founded the King-Tisdell Cottage Foundation. www.beachinstitute.org BEAUFORT, SOUTH CAROLINA

Beaufort is located on Port Royal Island, one of the largest Sea Islands along the southeast Atlantic coast. It is one of only a handful of U.S. towns that has had its entire downtown designated an historic district by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Special spring and fall events offer locals and visitors the opportunity to tour several private homes and gardens. This coastal town has wonderful Bed &Breakfasts and restaurants serving fresh local fare. Beaufort is also known for its outstanding golf courses, beaches, and outdoor adventures. www.beaufortsc.org CUMBERLAND ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE

The largest and southernmost barrier island in Georgia, Cumberland Island offers guests more than 17 miles of secluded white, sandy beaches to explore. One of 10 national seashores in the United States protected and preserved by the National Park Service, the island is one of the most isolated parks in the country. Once the island retreat for the Carnegies, the largely undeveloped island is only accessible by ferry from St. Mary’s. Plan a luxurious stay at the Greyfield Inn, a day-trip to explore the Dungeness Ruins or a Cumberland Island National Seashore Camping trip for the ultimate Georgia beach adventure.

Traveling Tip: A visit to Cumberland Island takes some preparation as visitors are limited, and there are no concessions on the island. Start planning and make reservations through the Cumberland Island National Seashore website. www.nps.gov/cuis/index.htm

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DAUFUSKIE ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA

Slip into a time long past and catch a glimpse of how the Lowcountry’s sea Islands looked and felt before bridges and causeways opened them up to development. Nestled between Savannah and Hilton Head and still only accessible by boat, Daufuskie Island is a remote retreat from modern life. Indeed, many of Daufuskie Island’s current residents make their living oystering and fishing to this day. This lovely Island also served as the setting for The Water Is Wide, Pat Conroy’s haunting and powerful tale of a place the world forgot. www.DaufuskieIsland.com

DRIFTWOOD BEACH ON JEKYLL ISLAND

Located on the north end of Jekyll Island, Driftwood beach will amaze you with the beautiful driftwood and trees that resemble a scene from another world. These gnarled and weathered trees are left behind from years of erosion. Driftwood beach offers a wonderful location for photographs and is a very popular site for weddings. Driftwood beach extends from the Clam Creek Picnic Area to the Villas by the Sea Resort and Conference Center and is only a short walk away from the Jekyll Island Campground. www.goldenisles.com FT. KING GEORGE, DARIEN

This is the oldest English fort remaining on Georgia’s coast. From 1721 until 1736, Fort King George was the southern outpost of the British Empire in North America. A cypress blockhouse, barracks and palisaded earthen fort were constructed in 1721 by scout men led by Colonel John “Tuscarora Jack” Barnwell. For the next seven years, His Majesty’s Independent Company garrisoned the fort. They endured incredible hardships from disease, threats of Spanish and Indian attacks, and the harsh, unfamiliar coastal environment. After the fort was abandoned, General James Oglethorpe brought Scottish Highlanders to the site in 1736. The settlement, called Darien, eventually became a foremost export center of lumber until 1925. Using old records and drawings, this 18th century frontier fortification on the Altamaha River has been reconstructed for public tours. Structures include a blockhouse, officers’ quarters, barracks, a guardhouse, moat and palisades. A museum and film cover the Guale Indians, the Santo Domingo de Talaje mission, Fort King George, the Scots of Darien and 19th century sawmilling when Darien became a major seaport. www.gastateparks.org/FortKingGeorge GEORGE L. SMITH STATE PARK

With natural beauty, lakeside camping and cozy cottages, this secluded park is the perfect South Georgia retreat. It is best known for the refurbished Parrish Mill and Pond, a combination gristmill, saw mill, covered bridge and dam built in 1880. A group shelter near the bridge is popular for family reunions and parties. Some campsites sit right on the water’s edge, while cottages with gas fireplaces and screened porches are nestled into the woods. The park’s mill pond beckons anglers and paddlers to explore thick stands of cypress and tupelo trees draped in Spanish moss. While on the water, nature enthusiasts can look for beaver dams, blue heron, white ibis and other wading birds. The park rents boats, and nearby outfitters offer guided paddle trips. Hikers can stretch their legs on seven miles of trails while searching for gopher tortoises, Georgia’s state reptile. www.gastateparks.org/GeorgeLSmith GEORGIA SEA TURTLE CENTER

Georgia’s only sea turtle education and rehabilitation facility. The Center offers the public a chance to learn about sea turtles and see rehabilitation in action with a host of interactive exhibits and experiences. Year-round indoor and outdoor programs are also available for guests of all ages. Visit the official Georgia Sea Turtle Center website to learn more about the programs, research, and other important work being done to save turtles and other coastal wildlife. www.gstc.jekyllisland.com September/October 2021

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WE LIVE HERE

day trippin HARRIS NECK NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

One of the seven refuges administered as part of the Savannah Coastal Refuges Complex, Harris Neck is located in McIntosh County, Georgia, 45 miles south of the port city of Savannah. The refuge encompasses six manmade freshwater ponds, as well as extensive salt marsh, open fields, forested wetlands, and mixed hardwood/pine forest. This diversity of habitat makes the refuge an important resource for migratory birds (342 species of birds have been seen on the refuge and 83 species breed here). Harris Neck serves as an important link in the chain of refuges along the eastern seaboard, and is the inland base for two neighboring barrier island refuges, Blackbeard Island and Wolf Island. www.fws.gov/refuge/Harris_Neck/ JESUP DRIVE-IN THEATER

Jesup Drive-In has been servicing guests on the Georgia coast since 1948. Don’t miss the 1950s-esque car hops – their uniforms will take you back to the good old days. These high-school students work for tips only, so please be kind. Thursday – Sunday, gate opens at 7:00 p.m. Movie starts at dusk. Tickets are $5. Concessions are available, and there is a $5 food-permit fee for those bringing their own picnics. www.jesupmovies.com

Fun Fact Mama gators are the only reptiles that care for both the eggs and the young; the orangeand-black striped babies can often be seen riding on mama’s back or head! Gators “bellow” in spring and summer, a deep growl that establishes territory or attracts a mate.

OKEFENOKEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Canoe the tea-colored swamps of the Suwanee River Basin near the Georgia-Florida state line, where cypress forests and water lilies house a spectacular array of animal wild life. It’s a gentle ride, but look out for alligators! The Okefenokee is like no other place on earth, where natural beauty and wilderness prevail. The vision for Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is to protect and enhance wildlife and its habitat, ensure integrity of the ecological system, and embrace the grandeur, mystery, and cultural heritage that lead to an enrichment of the human spirit. www.fws.gov/refuge/Okefenokee/ SAPELO ISLAND

Sapelo is a state-managed barrier island, the fourth largest in the chain of coastal Georgia islands between the Savannah and St. Mary’s rivers. Accessible only by passenger ferry, Sapelo provides a number of public access recreational, educational and lodging opportunities. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) operates the ferry service and serves as state liaison for the Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve, the University of Georgia Marine Institute, and the civilian Hog Hammock community, permanent home to about 70 full-time residents, many of whom are descended from the antebellum slaves of Sapelo’s plantations. The DNR also operates the R.J. Reynolds Mansion on Sapelo. Built by Thomas Spalding in 1810, and restored by automotive pioneer Howard Coffin in 1925, and tobacco heir Richard J. Reynolds in the 1940s, the Mansion provides overnight accommodations for groups. The mansion also operates a public beach campground at Cabretta. www.sapelonerr.org 30 statesboromagazine.com

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WATERMELON CREEK VINEYARD, GLENNVILLE

Watermelon Creek Vineyard is a destination venue and full-service Georgia farm winery with Tasting Room and Vineyard Store. The fifteen-acre site includes The Barn Yard, The Pond, The Mill House, The Vineyard, Watermelon Creek nature area, and the Winery Complex. Featuring Georgia Grown muscadine wines and edibles, local artisan crafts and creations, and events throughout the year. www.watermeloncreekvineyard.com WILD GEORGIA SAFARI PARK

Hop off Interstate 16 in Metter to visit this informal petting zoo. Its adorable residents — goats, sheep, llamas, pigs, and more — will give you plenty to smile about. www.wildggeorgiasafaripark.com

SLASH IN THE BORO

Enjoy 800 ft. of floating fun! Pick up an inner tube at any of the Lazy River entrances and float around Splash! The river encircles the play and leisure pools. The newest attraction to Splash in the Boro—The Wave Pool was added in June 2017 and features 340,000 gallons of water and its own small spray playground! Splash features the ONLY dual Flowrider in Georgia! Get your own unbroken wave to slide down, carve a turn, or ride up the wave surface, if you can hold on! At the Play Pool the Splash bucket fills and dumps 600 gallons of water onto the play area every minute! Children can also enjoy the Play Pool’s play structure with tunnels, slides and climbing/ playing area. Splash in the Boro Waterpark is open the third weekend in May until Labor Day in September. www.splashintheboro.com THE LAMAR Q. BALL RAPTOR CENTER & THE GEORGIA SOUTHERN CENTER FOR WILDLIFE EDUCATION

Education meets fun at the Center for Wildlife Education that supports Georgia Southern University’s environmental programs. The center is home to three eagles (Georgia Southern’s mascot is the eagle, Freedom), as well as hawks, falcons, and a 14-foot-long Burmese python. Learn about them, and many more critters, during the center’s wildlife programs. https://academics. georgiasouthern.edu/wildlife/

DAY TRIPPIN TIP

’t sleep already a third over - don is y da e th m, 0a 8:0 up before the Did you know by the sun or, even better, get th wi up et G ! ay aw p catch the your tri in the dark and you can e don is ng ivi dr y cit at y important in sun so that all th the way. This is especiall ng alo me eso aw e her ew som ight. sunrise eight or so hours of dayl get y onl y ma u yo en wh the winter

TYBEE ISLAND

Facing due east from Savannah, this Georgia barrier island has been a popular vacation spot since the late 1800s. Home to wide, clean beaches with warm and gentle waves, Tybee Island is the perfect escape for those who need a healthy dose of sand, sun and seaside bliss. www.visittybee.com VIDALIA ONION MUSEUM

The Vidalia onion is world-famous, but it only grows here. You can learn all about the sweet onion’s history at the 1,300-square-foot Vidalia Onion Museum in Vidalia, where it all began, filled with an array of educational exhibits that highlight the sweet onion’s economic, cultural and culinary significance. The museum is open Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Call (912) 538-8687 for more information. www.visitvidaliaga.com

THE MUSEUM ON MAIN, STATESBORO

Located within the Statesboro Regional Visitor Center, the museum strives to preserve the area’s heritage by offering tourists a glimpse into its rich cultural history. Current exhibits showcase what it’s like to cruise the Ogeechee River in a dugout canoe or a Racer Evans boat. The exhibit changes annually so there is always something new and unique to see when you Visit Statesboro! www.visitstatesboroga.org S September/October 2021

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THE CULTURE

daniel e. johnson

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Daniel E. Johnson

Cane Shed Country WRITTEN BY JENNY STARLING FOSS PHOTOGRAPHY BY FRANK FORTUNE

hen Daniel E. Johnson was a student at Georgia Southern, at what he referred to as “the tail end of college,” he lived with friends in a house out in the country on Alford Road, across from Josh Deal Road. He and the band spent nights and weekends “honky-tonking,” playing guitar, singing and entertaining friends every chance they got. Leaving their instruments set-up in the cane syrup making shed year-round made for convenient practicing and song writing time, allowing Johnson to patent his own authentic signature sound and leading him to an eventual career in Nashville. Growing up in Thomson, Georgia, Johnson spent his childhood listening to country stars from the 1990s. “I fell in love with Country in the 8th or 9th grade,” said Johnson. “Since I was old enough to drive, I’d do pick-up songs. My parents loved artists like Allen Jackson, Eric Church, and Zach Brown. I was always attracted to the lyrics of those guys. I loved how authentic each artist was with their own signature sound.” Johnson played drums in high school, graduating from Thomson High in 2007. At Georgia Southern as a freshman he switched to guitar. “My college roommate, Ben Dixon, from Thomson, had a brother who had an old guitar,” said Johnson. “I started picking as a hobby. Then I started writing songs. It was a natural progression. I spent plenty of time on acoustic guitar with my buddies around a fire working out the lyrics. Pretty soon we had a band and were playing local places like Buffalo’s.” Johnson now picks out songs on his Taylor GS Mini series guitar or his Gibson Hummingbird. Instead of the traditional cowboy hat, he wears a wide brimmed fedora, a look that has become immediately recognizable by fans. Like other artists he admires, fellow GSU graduates, Luke Bryan and Cole Swindell, Johnson hopes to build a career as a musician and a song writer, developing his own recognizable sound. He has a passion for crafting music about small town life, heart breaks, and young love. “The best song writers are natural observers,” said Johnson. “They have their own way of looking at life and expressing it.” September/October 2021

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THE CULTURE

daniel e. johnson

DANIEL E. JOHNSON DISCOGRAPHY Here We Go 2016 Lake Life 2016 Roads I Used to Run 2016 Where I Wanna Be 2016 Morning After You 2017 Thank God for Church 2017 All We Ever Knew 2018 Because We Could 2018 Cinderella 2018 Down 20 2018 Here And Now 2018 Grown 2019 Hunting in Heaven 2019 Single Thing to Lose 2019 White Picket Fence 2019 Drink Alone 2020 Island 2020 Til You Walked In 2020 Get A Man Wrong 2021 Good Old Days 2021 Wrote the Book 2021

In Nashville, Johnson “books a write” with co-writers and producers. He likes the home studio environment and feels that that gives him more creative control. “The track guys help you throw together a production with fellow writers and musicians,” he said. “There’s percussion, a computer that loops the melody, and I’m able to write the songs with acoustic guitar. The layers just build into something bigger.” For Johnson the music is always lyric driven. “To me the music is just an accompaniment. Sometimes we find a melody first and then the lyrics follow, but mostly it’s about the words. The music is there to help to convey the feelings of the words through the song,” he said. “At the big studios they listen to the songs then they spit it back out, replicating a sound that’s popular,” said Johnson. “That’s why a lot of songs from different artists can sound the same. I like the more intimate setting and authentic sound. I think it leads to a bigger voice 34 statesboromagazine.com

September/October 2021

in the end.” In 2012, Johnson and his band recorded six original songs in Atlanta on their debut album, Dry Country Nights. With a Southern Rock vibe, after its release, Johnson was recognized as the runner-up for the 2012 Male Vocalist of the Year for the Georgia Country Music Awards. In 2014, after touring for two years, Johnson released his second EP album, How About Tonight. Moving from Southern Rock to a more modern country sound, this LP opened new doors for Johnson, getting him noticed as a viable talent. He was soon opening for major record label artists such as Darius Rucker, Randy House, Cole Swindell, Craig Morgan, Chase Rice, David Nail, Colt Fort, and the Swon Brothers. In 2015, Johnson released Lake Life to critical acclaim. More songs followed. Johnson is releasing an album’s worth of music this year, dropping about song a month. Starting with a popular July 2020 release, Drink Alone, which on-line country music magazine Raised Rowdy said, “Could be the song to put Daniel E. Johnson on the map!” “Drink Alone, with its feel good lyrics and sing along chorus, is the perfect song to introduce listeners to Daniel’s down home persona. Written by Daniel and top songwriter Ray Fulcher, who also co-produced the track, Drink Alone brings a modern flair to a traditional honky-tonk song. The audience is sure to be swaying to this foot tapping melody and singing along with this perfect Friday night go to.” Johnson’s success had led to an opening spot in Heron, Illinois, in front

Simply Endless Possibilities

of 8,000 people with Scotty McCurry and Riley Green. “I’m most proud of my performance in March 2020 at the MGM in Las Vegas for a week,” said Johnson. He’s also proud of work he’s been doing in conjunction with ForcesUnited, to benefit the veteran’s community in his hometown of Thomson. “We did a concert in April of this year called ‘Join the Force,’” said Johnson. Where he performed a song he had written, Get A Man Wrong, about a veteran who is down on his luck and is seeking compassion from a stranger. For the past two years, the pandemic has given Johnson a chance to really concentrate on writing, while not being able to tour and perform in public. This year he is releasing an album’s worth of music, one song at a time. He’s returning to where it all started this fall. “I love coming back to Statesboro,” Johnson said. “In the early days I was busting my chops at Gnat’s, working on trade. Al Chapman was great to help me grow as an artist.” Instead of the cane grinding shed, this time he’ll be performing locally at the Blue Room on Saturday, November 8th. Check the venue’s Facebook page @blueroomboro for updates. “I’ve had amazing times at the Blue Room,” said Johnson. Who had sold-out shows in November 2019 and December 2020. To get ready for this concert, to hear his music and learn those lyrics, you can currently listen to his take on Country streaming on Pandora, YouTube, Apple and Spotify. Or visit his website at www.danieljohnsonmusic.com. S

One of the most unique outdoor wedding venues for Savannah, Statesboro and the surrounding areas! Possibilities for your event are endless at Chande Pines. Indoor/Outdoor Space Venues Available with plenty of room to social distance Call to schedule Your Appointment 912.617.2077 22365 GA Hwy 46, Pembroke 31321 www.chandepinesplantaton.com

September/October 2021

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Statesboro Sweets Cafe, affectionately referred to by some as “Statesboro’s Best Kept Secret,” is a quaint little bakery and Cafe where locals love to come. The Cafe is a charming place to stop in and try Grace’s fresh homemade burgers, sandwiches, she-crab soup and more. A popular attraction at this shop is Angelia’s special order wedding or celebration cakes. Customers enjoy an array of sweet treats on display daily with the option to add a cup of Earth Works Coffee. They can even purchase a whole cake to take and enjoy later!

Your local bakery & choice lunch spot

MONDAY -FRIDAY: BREAKFAST 7AM-11 AM • LUNCH AND DINNER 11AM-6PM. CURBSIDE PICK UP AND DOORDASH AVAILABLE

912.225.9944 • STATESBOROSWEETS.COM • 107 E PARRISH ST C • STATESBORO, GA

Joiner Anderson Funeral Home

SERVING THE COMMUNITY FOR OVER 25 YEARS! www.joineranderson.com 912.764.7725

The History Since December 1996, Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home & Crematory has served as a locally owned provider of a wide range of funeral services. From the beginning, the cornerstone of JoinerAnderson’s mission has remained steadfast: owners being onsite every day to, above all, serve others and provide the highest level of care for families who are experiencing grief and heartache. The genesis of this servant-leadership focus comes from the conviction of founder Tracy Joiner. Joiner began his apprenticeship at Smith-Tillman Mortuary, under the tutelage of funeral director Jake Smith, at age 18. From the start he understood clearly the sacred hallmark of the funeral business: to focus on families above all else. Having been reared in the small caring community of Leefield, Georgia, the importance of family, friends and building relationships, were values instilled at an early age. Joiner believed he could establish a true local community business built on face-to-face service, building relationships and establishing trust. He envisioned a business that would serve families in a very personal way. In December of 1995, Joiner, along with ten local investors, broke ground on a new type of funeral home, one that would provide local families serving local families in their time of need. One of the original investors in Joiner-Anderson was Mark Anderson, who served as the funeral home’s Pre-Need Insurance Manager. In 1999, Joiner and Anderson acquired the funeral home from the original group of investors. Anderson began work as an

Apprentice Funeral Director and was among the first students of Ogeechee Technical College’s Funeral Service Education Program. In 2004, Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home expanded services with the addition of an on-premise crematory and the purchase of a perpetual care cemetery in Statesboro, Bulloch Memorial Gardens. In December of 2008, Joiner-Anderson expanded again opening the Screven County Chapel in Sylvania, Georgia, along with Phil Graham, Managing Partner, and Ed Thompson. Bulloch County native Bland Mathews began as an apprentice, following the path that Anderson took to become a funeral director, and joined Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home & Crematory as an owner in November 2012. Mathews graduated from Bulloch Academy and attended Auburn University, earning a degree in Business Management in 2010. He then earned an Associates of Applied Technology in Funeral Services Education from Ogeechee Technical College in 2012. Today, Joiner-Anderson’s full line of funeral services are provided by over 30 dedicated full and part time employees with the highest level of professionalism, empathy and caring for families who are experiencing the loss of a loved one. Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home & Crematory was recognized and honored by the Statesboro-Bulloch County Chamber of Commerce as Small Business of the Year in 2009, for outstanding commitment to upholding the highest standards of business ethics and practice and for demonstrating a high level of commitment to customers, employees and service to the community.

Tracy Joiner Funeral Director, Embalmer & Owner

Mark Anderson Funeral Director, Embalmer & Owner

Bland Mathews Funeral Director, Embalmer & Owner

Barry Turner Funeral Director & Embalmer

Tessa NeSmith Martin Funeral Director & Embalmer

Cindy Culp Hulsey Funeral Director & Bulloch Memorial Gardens Manager

Phil Graham Funeral Director, Embalmer & Owner

Ed Thompson Funeral Director & Embalmer

Autrey Moore Office Manager

Ronnie Alderman Funeral Assistant

Sandy Blackburn Forehand Administrative Assistant

Sandra Rushing Stall Visitation Assistant

Ernie Edwards Funeral Assistant

Irend Groover Hodges Pianist

Laura Cowart Brown Funeral & Visitation Assistant

Donald Joiner

Bulloch Memorial Gardens Grounds Manager

Sherri Allen Akins Funeral & Visitation Assistant

Richard Pylant Funeral Assistant

Alex Smith Jose Quintanilla Bulloch Memorial Gardens Apprentice Funeral Director & Funeral Assistant Grounds Keeper

Not Pictured Ricky Allen Funeral Assistant Jody Bryant Funeral Assistant

Redo Brinson Funeral Assistant

Patricia Lacienski Funeral Assistant

Billie Ann Ruel Funeral Assistant

Mike Ruel Funeral Assistant

Lynn Sapp Funeral Assistant

Planning Ahead What is Pre-planning Pre-planning is simply the process of designing plans for a funeral before one is needed. The process involves gathering a variety of family information and making the decisions about the type of funeral service one would like, (i.e. location, type of service, who should participate, etc.). Working together with a funeral director, you may plan, organize and record all of your special requests for your final arrangements. Our staff can lead you through the process, providing advice and guidance along the way. We will insure that you have all of the information needed about our products and services, to allow you to make informed decisions. Why Choose Pre-Planning The greatest motivation can be the desire to protect your family by ensuring they won’t face the difficult task of making arrangements at the time of loss. You may choose to pay for the arrangements in advance, or your plans can simply be held on file at the funeral home to be carried out when needed. What About Pre-Payment Choosing to pre-fund your arrangements is another way in which you can protect your family from unnecessary anxiety. For many, funeral preplanning is an extension of the estate planning process. It is simply one more thing one can choose to take care of as one plans for retirement and the next stage of life. Should I Pre-Pay There are advantages to pre-planning to consider. Often accomplished during the years leading up to retirement, pre-planning can be accomplished during the highest earning years in which the most expendable income is available. For many this is the easiest time to take care of a potential future expense to the estate. Also, our pre-planning program offers a payment plan option that allows one to pay the cost of selected services and merchandise over a period of time. We recommend an insurance plan as the ideal way to take care of pre-plan arrangements. Insurance plans offer the flexibility and protection for the individual and the family. Coverage is available right away, even if one chooses to make payments over several months or years. Your funeral director will be able to tell you more about how these plans can work for you, and may be able to offer you additional choices and benefits depending upon the arrangements that you make.

Funeral Arrangements Whether you are planning for yourself or a loved one, the funeral service is one of the most important elements of a person’s final arrangements. With the opportunity for great personalization, the funeral service can truly reflect the uniqueness of the life it honors. Burial Plans One of the first decisions many make is whether they prefer traditional burial or cremation. This decision will influence other important considerations, such as elements of the funeral service and type of final resting place needed. Funeral Service Options A formal or informal ceremony or ritual prior to burial, a funeral service often provides a sense of closure for family and friends. Although your faith or culture may dictate some elements of the funeral service, the casket or urn is usually present, and you may choose for the casket to be open or closed. Visitation or Viewing Typically held the evening before, or immediately prior to the funeral service, the visitation – also known as the viewing – provides a way for friends and acquaintances to pay their respects and offer condolences to your family. The Funeral or Memorial Service When planning your own funeral service in advance, think about the way you would like to be remembered. You may prefer a traditional funeral aligned with certain religious or ethnic customs. Or, a celebration focusing on great memories made with family and friends. Maybe you would like a combination of both. You can have one service or several to honor your life. Regardless of the service or services you choose to include in your funeral plan, you can personalize them in almost any way imaginable. Graveside Service As its name implies, a graveside service may be held at the grave site just prior to burial of a casket or urn, and usually consists of final remarks, prayers or memories., A graveside service may occur before, after, or in place of a traditional service. Burial Most people are familiar with the concept of burial or interment, but may not be aware of the variety of options that are available. Many cemeteries offer: • Ground burial: burial of the casket below ground • Mausoleum: a large building that provides above-burial spaces, known as crypts, for entombment • Private Family Mausoleum: a small structure that provides above-ground entombment of on average two to twelve family members • Private Family Estate: a small section of a cemetery, usually bordered by gates, shrubbery or other dividers, that allow for ground burial of several members of the same family Cremation Many people overlook the importance of a cemetery property for those who choose cremation, but permanent placement of the ashes or “cremated remains” is an important part of the final

arrangements. Just consider: • A permanent site gives loved ones a physical place for visitation and reflection • The ceremony accompanying the placement of an urn in a cremation niche or a cremation garden provides family and friends with closure after their loss • When cremated remains of a loved one are kept with relatives, they can easily become misplaced or discarded through the years. A permanent placement provides future generations a location to visit Cemetery Placement Options for Cremated Remains Columbarium: located within a mausoleum or chapel constructed of numerous niches designed to hold urns. Bulloch County’s only crematory, located at the funeral home Cremation Garden: a dedicated section of a cemetery designed for the burial, scattering or other permanent placement of cremated remains. Memorial Benches: benches that either simply memorialize a loved one scattered or buried in a cremation garden, or actually contain the remains within. Headstones We offer many options for memorialization. In order to preserve the natural beauty of the landscape, Bulloch Memorial Gardens offers sections that feature markers which lie flat against the ground, called markers. Other sections of the cemetery feature upright markers or headstones, which provide more choices for memorialization.

Bulloch Memorial Gardens Owned & Operated by Joiner Anderson Funeral Home & Crematory

www.joineranderson.com

FOOTBALL GUIDE

2021

ON ANY GIVEN FOOTBALL GAME DAY, the only thing more important than the Eagle offense is the tasty tailgating spread. To many fans what happens in the parking lot before the game is just as important as what happens on the field. Successful tailgating starts with tasty food that travels well and plenty of beverages to fight the humidity and heat of those late summer, early fall afternoons in South Georgia. Chalk it up to Southern hospitality, the proper tailgate is meant to be shared! September/October 2021

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Once you have chosen the menu, you can add the flair! You get extra points for fancy items like linen monogrammed table cloths. A tent with strings of lights and streamers of pennants also scores. If you incorporate team colors in the plates and napkins, you’re a hard core fan who knows that presentation matters. Who cares if you have store-bought pimento cheese, as long as you serve it in a cute little football shaped bowl with crackers? The female fans usually take care of the fixings and trimmings, while the men stand around talking about the rankings. In a salute to primitive rivalry, the men stand around a grill (fire) and baste ribs or flip burgers while sipping bourbon or tossing back cold IPAs. The bigger the grill, the bigger the coolers needed to keep the brews and potato salad cold. Experienced tailgaters bring a camper the night before the big game and set-up operations in the parking lot well in advance.

They bring a tent, an outdoor rug, a large grill, and a good game of Cornhole (with matching board and bags), starting the celebration Friday night. They round out the set-up with tables and chairs dressed in team colors and dress themselves in appropriate fan fashion attire. Everybody should know who you’re rooting for at a glance. Never be afraid to go a little “over the top” in using team colors, logos, mascots, and/or rivalries. A good centerpiece, for example, can depict an Eagle attacking or devouring the opponents’ mascot with flowers that complement the décor. Flying a giant team flag

September/October 2021

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Home • Auto • Life • Bank

“Before we opened our doors to Eagle Nation four years ago we searched for a local bank that could service our business needs as well as our desire for a personal touch. We’re proud to say Renasant Bank has been with us every step of the way!” Southern Exchange Company, the official merchandiser for Georgia Southern, owned by William and Kristy Martin

Statesboro, GA 173 Northside Drive East | 912.489.9500 | 335 South Main Street | 912.764.8900 www.renasantbank.com 46 statesboromagazine.com

September/October 2021

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Football Kick-off over your tailgate shows team spirit and makes your spread easier for your friends to spot in the crowded field. While a cooler filled with ice-cold local beer is a must, being prepared to offer guests a cocktail will help take your tailgate to the next level. A favorite game day punch invented during the Eagle’s 1980s championship era is “Blue Caca-Raka.” Into a large cooler, pour a fifth of all the white liquors (vodka, gin, rum, & grain alcohol), add a big can of Country Time Lemonade mix, three cups of sugar, 1.5 gallons of water, and a fifth of Blue Caraçao liqueur. Stir until the mix and sugar are dissolved. Add cut-up lemons and limes to garnish. Pour into a decorative beverage dispenser and serve over ice. You’re custom blue cocktail will instantly make your tailgate the most popular in town! Water is essential on hot game days as well. Keep still and sparkling varieties on hand for those fans who may prefer not to imbibe. Another idea for creating the ultimate pre-football game party experience? More… football. Be sure to set up multiple flat screens to stream all the other conference games leading up to ours. Music is also an excellent way to add to the atmosphere. If you’re an alum, tunes from your college days will bring back all those wonderful memories and help you to create new ones each game day. S September/October 2021

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BUILDING ON YESTERDAY

CONNECTING TOMORROW

GEORGIA SOUTHERN 2021 SCHEDULE DATE:

TIME:

LOCATION

OPPONET

SEPTEMBER 4, 2021

6:00PM

HOME

GARDNER-WEB

SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

3:30PM

AWAY

FLORIDA ATLANTIC

SEPTEMBER 18, 2021

4:00PM

AWAY

ARKANSAS

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6:00PM

HOME

LOUISIANA

OCTOBER 2, 2021

TBA

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ARKANSAS STATE

OCTOBER 9, 2021

TBA

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OCTOBER 14, 2021

7:30PM

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SOUTHERN ALABAMA

OCTOBER 30, 2021

TBA

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GEORGIA STATE

NOVEMBER 6, 2021

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COASTAL CAROLINA

NOVEMBER 13, 2021

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NOVEMBER 20, 2021

TBA

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BRIGHAM YOUNG

NOVEMBER 27, 2021

2:30PM

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912.865.1100 BULLOCH.SOLUTIONS 841 BUCKHEAD DR, STATESBORO, GA 30458

They always do their best to help you in any way they can and truly treat you like family. Hopeulikit Farms LLC was recognized as Farm Family of the Year by the Statesboro-Bulloch Chamber of Commerce. Benji Ellis Owner, Hopeulikit Farms LLC Customer Since 2015

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a fresh take

Coffee Break WRITTEN BY ADISON MARSH

f you read this column in the May/June edition of Statesboro Magazine you may recall that I’ve got a bit of a coffee problem. What you don’t know, however, is that on top of that coffee problem I’ve also got a slight shopping problem. (Honestly though, is it really a problem if the only thing it hurts is my bank account?) Either way, those are hands down my two favorite activities. That being said, I’m pretty fortunate to live in a town where places to load up on clothes and trinkets I probably don’t need and caffeine I definitely don’t need are pretty plentiful, even just downtown. So, whether you’re just visiting Statesboro or are a long-time local, I’ve put together a short list of the seven places that I think you just have to visit if you happen to find yourself downtown. Three Tree Coffee Roasters. A long-time favorite of mine, Three Tree is located on South Main, just a bit outside of the immediate downtown square. During the school year my friends and I go there at least once a week, (usually closer to two or three times, but I digress). In my defense, it’s hard not to when the vibes either inside and out are absolutely perfect to buckle down and get work done, or not, while also enjoying some great coffee and a muffin (the chocolate chip espresso muffin is absolutely killer). If the thought of some good ambiance and a nice, warm muffin weren’t good enough to convince you to get in your car right now and go over, they also support some really great causes and have an incredible mission statement: “Empower our farmers. End human trafficking. Engage the community.” 50 statesboromagazine.com

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Cool Beanz Espresso Bar. If you’re a cold brew coffee fanatic like I am, I recommend that you try any one of the fabulous selections off of their menu, as they are some of the best I’ve ever had. If you’re not big on cold brew, it’s no biggie because they’ve got just about everything else and it’s all just as amazing. If you’re not sold yet, they’ve recently relocated from Vine to South Main and their new and improved storefront is positively to die for. I feel like the only way to accurately describe it would be to say that it gives off the same vibe you’d get from one of those super cool little coffee shops on TV, but this one is real life. The Daily Grind. If you haven’t picked up on it yet, I love a good vibe, which is part of the reason I can frequently be found in The Daily Grind on Savannah Avenue. The atmosphere is super warm and inviting, perfect for doing schoolwork or just hanging out with friends, and they’ve got a massive, and ever-evolving selection of different coffee blends and baked goods that assures you will never get bored with the options. Charlie’s Funky Junk Shop. A frequent stop on my leisurely Saturday afternoon shop-arounds, Charlie’s Funky Junk Shop is a can’t-miss when shopping downtown. While I’d say funky is a perfect descriptor of this shop, I don’t think anything there can be classified as junk. Records, furniture, glassware, jewelry, etc., you can find it all in one of the most eclectic settings I could even imagine. Heirloom. Right next to Cool Beanz on South Main you’ll find Heirloom, which is one of my favorite antique stores in town. You can find anything from beautiful vintage furniture to classic books or cool art and everything in between (there’s even an adorable shop cat that makes frequent appearances). Stella. With a refreshing mix of new, on-trend fashion and classic vintage items, Stella is a shopping experience unlike any other in Statesboro. Whether you’re shopping for yourself or a young person in your life, you can find whatever you’re looking for here. Jaxe and Grace. Owned and operated by a military family, and Statesboro Magazine’s 2021 Most Fabulous Boutique and Women’s Clothing store, Jaxe and Grace carries clothes that are absolutely perfect for shoppers of any age or body type, as well as an awesome selection of shoes and accessories for any occasion. S

Holiday Gift Guide 2

Check out the area’s hot gift ideas for everyone on your Christmas list in our November/December issue

MINDY BOYETTE | 1 Herald Square | Statesboro, Georgia 30458 209.419.6022 | mboyette@statesboromagazine.com | www.statesboromagazine.com

WE LIVE HERE

true blue gs

You’re Gonna Need A Bigger Boat WRITTEN BY DOY CAVE

few months ago, during an unscheduled visit to the emergency room here in Statesboro, I met a nice lady with a pronounced New England accent — an accent begging for an origin story. “Rhode Island,” she said. “People ask me all the time.” “What brought you here?” I asked. Another question I’m sure people ask her all the time. She said she initially moved to Statesboro to be closer to her family, who had moved down South. But even when her family moved away, the warmer weather, affordable cost of living and hometown vibe kept her here, and she and her husband fell in love with the place. Seems these Rhode Islanders — Rhode Islandites? Rhodies? — are not alone in their appreciation of Statesboro. A recent article from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Statesboro is the best place in Georgia to live on a fixed income. Stan Suboleski, Ph.D., a professor of practice in management at Georgia Southern, with more than 20 years of hotel and hospitality experience, came to Statesboro from Las Vegas almost 10 years ago. He said the transition from 24-hour restaurants and amenities to a more laid-back small town was jarring at first. “The first thing I learned in Statesboro is that if I don’t eat by 9:30, I ain’t eatin’,” he said. But in that time, he said he’s watched the community come together with an eye toward tourism, and believes Statesboro is beginning the work it has to do to become a true destination in Georgia — starting with the Blue Mile project. “There has to be a link between what we want to be, what we are, and a path to get to the two,” 52 statesboromagazine.com

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said Suboleski. “I believe the Blue Mile is that and has the potential to be that more so than anything else that I’ve seen in my almost 10 years here.” The Blue Mile project will make improvements to the mile-long stretch of South Main Street, beginning at the entrance of Georgia Southern University, all the way to the Bulloch County Courthouse downtown. The announcement of the project excited area business, and since that time, the city announced initial plans for The Creek on the Blue Mile project, which would transform the drainage canal that crosses South Main and Fair Road into a beautiful multi-level walkway, lined by commercial and residential properties. Private investors have also started construction in the West District, along South College Street, the Tormenta professional soccer team is building a stadium on Veterans Parkway, and Publix is also planning to build nearby. All told, the projects could expand the tax base by some $250 million and potentially create 750 jobs. Suboleski says each addition and investment lays the groundwork for more, and expands Statesboro’s capability to play host to larger and larger events for more and more people. “If you’re not ready for them, they won’t come back again next year,” he said. “So we have to want it, then we have to build the vessel that will hold it. And that’s a long process…. But I think as we start to put small gems and jewels into our crown, eventually, we’ll put one or two anchors in there — to use a retail term — that will eventually complete that crown and open the door to vastly more people.” Suboleski keeps a close eye on the hospitality industry in Statesboro, where he routinely sends his students for internships in its local hotels and businesses. He says it’s a great place to learn hospitality, because you discover “you don’t have to be the best in the world, you just have to be the best in this market.” And he believes local leaders are discovering this as well, and planning a bright future for Statesboro. “I really remain excited here,” he said. “And I’m just telling the new people that we hired, the best thing about this place is that I have no desire to leave. And I spent most of my life going somewhere every two years, either fixing it or saying it can’t be fixed and going somewhere else.” P.S. For the attentive readers who are still fixated on the fact that I was in the hospital, please know that your concern is appreciated and I’m fine.

STANDING THE TEST OF TIME

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912.764.9091 40 S. Main Street Statesboro, GA

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L O A N S F O R L A N D, FA R M S A N D H O M E S

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buzz worthy bites

Tailgatin’ WRITTEN BY LAZAR BROWN OGLESBY PHOTOGRAPHY BY DILLON & CAROLINE FIELDS

hen you mention tailgating it can indicate numerous scenarios all including refreshments of some sort, because that’s how we do it down South. We feed people. A tailgate could be as simple as a few ham sandwiches eaten on the bumper of an old Chevy in the back of a cotton field during harvest season. It’s often hard to hear the radio blaring, “First down, Eagles!” while cotton pickers hum their way across the field. Some prefer a more elaborate set up with campers, big screen TV, beer pong, and a catered meal in the parking lot behind Hanner Fieldhouse under the approving gaze of Erk’s statue. BBQ is go-to tailgate fare. Its super easy to swing by and pick up a few pounds from your favorite local spot. For others it is a game day ritual: waking in the wee hours to place your secret rub seasoned butt near warm coals, painstakingly perfecting and bottling an heirloom family sauce, and chopping up the meaty goodness into bitesize morsels with just the right bark to meat ratio. Hard work and lost sleep pay off as fans from five tents down show up to taste your BBQ and you are unofficially crowned Grill Master. Another unspoken rule of tailgating: anywhere a game is being broadcast/played, chicken wings are mandatory. I combined a staple game-day drink with your favorite fowl. Bloody Mary Wings are a winner! Trust me. No Tailgate is complete without dip. I included a dip that has been a proven crowd pleaser at Honey’s Catering events for years. You will have the most stubborn carnivores, avid vegetable haters, and turnip green loathers going ga-gah over this dip. The secret is the country ham. Salt cured ham gives this dish a nuance of salty undertones and rich pork flavor. Every good tailgate needs a little something sweet. Dessert bars are always easy to prepare and transport. These little gems can be pre-cut so friends and family can grab one or five while walking to the stadium for the big game. It’s not truly Southern hospitality unless you feed them pecans. Pronounced PEE-CAN. I went light on the story telling and heavy on the recipes this time. After all, we’re here for the food! Hope you receive cheers at your next tailgate with these fun recipes.

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TURNIP GREENS DIP INGREDIENTS:

1 c. Onion (chopped) 1 c. Salt Cured Country Ham (chopped) ½ c. Oil ½ c. Flour 1 qt. Half and Half 1 c. Pepper Jack Cheese (shredded) 1 c. Colby Jack Cheese (shredded) 16 oz. bag Frozen Chopped Turnip Greens 2 Tbsp. Hot Sauce Dash Pepper PREPARATION:

Use a seasoned cast iron skillet to prepare this dip. Sauté onion and ham in oil until onion is tender. Add flour and cook 2 minutes. Add half and half and stir until thickened. If mixture is too thick add a little water or milk until desired consistency. Remove from the heat and add cheese. Stir until cheese is melted. Add turnip greens, hot sauce, and pepper. Place skillet in the oven for 15 minutes at 350°. Serve warm with tortilla chips.

BBQ BOMBS INGREDIENTS:

12 pack Hawaiian Rolls 1 lb. BBQ 1 c. Pimento Cheese 1/2 c. BBQ Sauce 1/4 c. Butter 2 Green Onions (chopped) PREPARATION:

Preheat oven to 350°. Line a baking sheet with foil and spray with nonstick spray. Remove rolls from packaging and place on greased foil. Leave rolls connected. Use a melon baller or small spoon to scoop out the center of the top of each roll. Stuff hollow with BBQ and then pimento cheese. Melt butter and add BBQ sauce. Stir until combined spoon over rolls. Bake at 350° for 10-15 minutes until pimento cheese is melted. Top with green onion. Serve warm. These fit nicely in a casserole keeper and will stay warm until your event!

September/October 2021

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buzz worthy bites BLEU CHEESE DIPPING SAUCE INGREDIENTS:

1 c. Mayonnaise 1 c. Sour Cream 1/4 c. Bleu Cheese 2 Tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce 3 Green Onions Chopped Dash Hot Sauce PREPARATION:

Mix all ingredients together and chill until ready to serve.

BLOODY MARY CHICKEN WINGS INGREDIENTS:

20 Whole Chicken Wings Season Salt Pepper 2 c. Bloody Mary Mix 2 c. Frank’s Hot Sauce 1/2 c. Bear Hug Sriracha Honey 3 Tbsp. Butter PREPARATION:

Remove wing tips and cut wings at the joint to make two pieces per wing. Place wings in a bowl and season with season salt and pepper. Pour Bloody Mary mix and 1 cup of hot sauce over seasoned wings and toss to coat. Marinate at least 24 hours. Line a large baking sheet with foil and spray with nonstick spray. Remove wings from marinade and place on baking sheet. Save marinade. Wings should be barely touching. Bake for 30-45 minutes on 375° until wings are fully cooked and skin starts to brown. While wings are cooking place leftover marinade in a sauce pot. Add Honey and additional cup of hot sauce. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and swirl in butter. Toss wings in sauce and serve piping hot with Bleu Cheese Dipping Sauce.

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PECAN PIE BARS

CRUST INGREDIENTS:

2 c. Self-Rising Flour 2 sticks Butter ½ c. Sugar 1 c. Pecans (chopped) PREPARATION:

Preheat oven to 350°. Spray a 9” x 13” foil pan with nonstick spray. For the crust melt butter and stir in remaining ingredients and mix until dough forms. Place dough in the prepared pan and use your hands to spread dough to the edges. Bake for 10 minutes. FILLING INGREDIENTS:

2 c. Pecans (chopped) 5 Eggs ½ c. Sugar ½ c. Brown Sugar 1 c. Smucker’s Caramel Syrup 1 Tbsp. Vanilla PREPARATION:

Beat eggs and add remaining ingredients. Mix well. Pour into prepared crust. Bake at 350° for 3040 minutes. Cool completely and cut into bars.

September/October 2021

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garden variety

Jeepers Creepers WRITTEN BY CAROLYN ALTMAN

aybe you have a gaping spot in your garden you’re wanting to fill, or a wall you’re eager to cover. You shop your plant supplier for promising terms like “vigorous grower,” “rapid ground cover,” “quick screen.” It’s only human to want big results quickly. But speed can be dangerous in a plant. A robust species can take over a yard, a neighborhood, and then forest, creating years of headache for you and generations to follow. Everyone knows kudzu, introduced for erosion control and now out of control literally all over the South. Plants as invasive as kudzu are sold every day to hopeful, innocent gardeners.

Consider this a warning.

The wise gardener will not buy the following commonly sold plants, will not plant these plants, and will work hard to remove them from the garden. This is self-defense; you will avoid a lifetime of work trying to regain control 58 statesboromagazine.com

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if these plants take over. Avoiding them or removing them is also public service, saving entire ecosystems from destruction. They are identified here as the troublemakers they are, and also because they represent strategies plants use for success. You can apply lessons learned from them to assess other plants you may encounter. English Ivy (Hedera helix) is used as a ground or surface cover with roots that work their way into anything and everything. Aerial roots secrete chemicals that stick forever to stone or tree bark or fence boards. Ground runners bristling with roots sprout new rooty shoots from runners broken when one attempts to rip them out. Hedera climbs trees, where it flowers and forms berries, which are then eaten and dispersed by birds. The weight of the ivy can break tree limbs, catch wind and topple trees, in addition to smothering other vegetation. My backyard is full of Hedera, as is a 5,200 acre park in Oregon, my former home. I’ve tried to eliminate Herdera from both, unsuccessfully. As a park volunteer, I’ve used a chainsaw to remove vines tree-trunk thick. Even if you have a brigade of chainsaws, do not plant Hedera. Instead, try Green and Gold (Crysogonum virginianum) as ground cover or native climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala petiolaris), controllable on walls. Russian Olive (Elaeagnus augstifolia) and Privet (Ligustrum sinense) sure do make good hedges. In fact, they so love our growing conditions that they put out enough berries to take over the universe, which is happening. Birds eat the berries and spread them in fields and forests throughout the state. These invasives take root and smother our wetlands, woods, and gardens, crowding and shadowing out desirable plants, including natives. Native wildlife, including pollinators, depend on native plants for food and habitat, and suffer or even vanish once their native food sources are gone. Instead of destroying our forests, plant native viburnums, of which there are many species and cultivars. Some are evergreen, some have good flower and berry production for birds and wildlife, and many have showy fall color. It’s not our fault that our towns are filled with another problem, the Bradford Pear (Pyrus calleryana). The Bradford was thought to be perfect - flowery in spring, beautifully shaped, and flame red in fall - so it was planted extensively in residential and commercial landscaping. Then the trees began to split due to weak branching structure. Their Callery pear rootstock, used because it was fireblight-resistant, sends out suckers and shoots everywhere, forcing gardeners to play horticultural whack-a-mole. The shoots flower and fruit, and the seeds are spread by birds. White flowering trees in the woods early in spring are most likely invasive pears. Beautiful substitutes of Bradford size are crape myrtles, with a range of leaf and flower colors, or trident maples, which have gorgeous fall color and provide food for wildlife. Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) is gracefully evil. It is hard to hate the delicate purple flowers that cascade from the vines across our arbors, along our fences, up our trees, up our neighbor’s trees, up in every tree the eye can see and a vine can reach. Wisteria vines wrap around trunks and branches, girdling them and choking off vital nutrients. The leaves shade out tree leaves, depriving the tree of nutrients, and the weight of the growing wisteria will snap limbs. Those of us who love purple flowers trailing from an arbor are in luck. Evergreen Wisteria (Milletia reticulatum) has long-lived deep purple flowers, is controllable, and is evergreen. These are just a start. For more information, consult the National Invasive Species Information Center (invasivespeciesinfo. gov). And if you see a rapid growing non-native with prolific seed production at the store, please beware. S September/October 2021

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the spiritual pathway

For Jesus Took My Burden WRITTEN BY DR. H. WILLIAM PERRY

read an interesting statement recently. The writer said, “You don’t have to be strong all the time. Even Jesus fell down under the weight of the cross.” He was being made to carry His cross to Mount Calvary where He would be crucified. He had been beaten and had very little strength. He carried it as far as He could, then fell to the ground. All of us have fallen from time to time. When Jesus fell there was a man close by who picked up the cross and carried it for Him. What a relief that must have been. Through the years I’ve seen and heard of a lot of people who have struggled and fallen and then had someone to pick them up. When what President Nixon had done became public knowledge and he was forced to resign as president, he made his first public appearance at the funeral of Vice-President Hubert Humphrey. He stood over to the side by himself. Upon seeing him President Carter went over and embraced him. That seemed to be the beginning of Nixon’s recovery. A new student at a high school was really having a hard time adjusting. After he had been there for few days one of the popular boys invited him to go to a youth hangout for a Coke. He got to know a lot of other students there. Some months later the new student told his friend that on the day he went with him to the hangout he had planned to go home and kill 60 statesboromagazine.com

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himself. I had gone to the hospital to see a new mother and her baby. When I entered her room she was crying uncontrollably. She said some friends had just left her room after asking her what terrible sin she had committed that God would make her baby have a hair-lip. God guided me to the Bible passage where Jesus’ friends asked Him who sinned and caused the man to be born blind. Jesus answered and said the blindness was not because someone sinned. That incident brought a smile to the new mother’s face. I still have regrets over a time when I failed to be the one to pick another up. I was in Deland, Florida, attending a pastor’s conference, and one morning as I was driving from the hotel to the Stetson University campus I saw an elderly couple taking their garbage can down to the street. As I watched, the man stumbled and fell. I should have stopped and helped him up, but I didn’t. Every day for the rest of the week I would look as I passed that house, wanting to apologize, but I never saw them again. I asked God to forgive me, and I know He has. But I still live with that regret, and I keep asking God to use me to pick others up. Two decades ago, for several years, I felt that the time for me to retire as a full-time pastor was drawing near. But whenever I took out my pen and paper to have a close look at my finances there was never enough money to make it in retirement. A good friend, Jimmy, asked me to go to a special spiritual retreat called, The Walk to Emmaus. I agreed. What a blessing it was. At one of the prayer sessions we were asked to give something up to God, something we had been worrying about. As I prayed silently on my knees my mind went to retirement. God spoke to me and asked, “Bill, haven’t I always provided for you?” I said, “Yes Lord.” “And Bill, don’t you think I will always provide for you, even in retirement?” I answered, “Yes Lord.” That was the end of my anxiety about retirement. I’ve been retired now for 17 years and God has always provided. Thank you, Jesus. S

WE LIVE HERE

the view from here

Those Blank Pages Down Through the Ages WRITTEN BY RIC MANDES

t has been said “the written word never goes away.” The archives of this sentiment are borne out beginning with scrawling script on cave walls. Down through those elongated ages, the wall’s etchings were replaced by ink and quill. Abe on the short train ride to Gettysburg took a used envelop from his coat pocket and jotted some notes. He had been invited to share a few remarks for this occasion and was just now preparing what he would say to the small group gathered about. (It has been so noted, Abe did not offer stunning moments of passion, with raised voice but rather he spoke in a halting voice glancing to his notes). But it all started with a sheaf of white paper. Franklin D. Roosevelt sitting devastated with the horror of Pearl Harbor. He must make a statement to Congress describing this Day of Infamy. Show only positive emotion he thought. This sudden call to arms would change the course of American history. And he must be damning in his delivery for this sudden madness by the Japanese. Several sheets of white pages were coursed with abandon thoughts as he shaped them into sensible order. Now walking the hallways to the Congress chamber, he knew a stern final remark would be delivered. “And remember my fellow Americans, we have nothing to fear but fear itself!” It was a heartbreaking comment for Roosevelt, for he knew Americans, young men and women, would be called upon to defend their country. (Editor’s note: my dear friend Wayne Hutchinson and I flew to Bastogne and walked the grave sites of hundreds of white crosses of young men and women who lost life during the Battle of the Bulge. Life stopped at the ages of nineteen and twenty taking away dreams of falling in love. This took place on January 16, 1954, 62 statesboromagazine.com

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my twenty- first birthday.) Carl Sandburg up early, shuffling down a Chicago side street stopped at his favorite coffee shop. While scanning the Tribune, he suddenly put down the news and asked the friendly cashier if he had a couple of sheets of paper. And there midst the bustle of cafe chatter Sandberg with plain white paper created Fog. He was on the edge of fame as a poet and biographer. Michelangelo spent months siting amidst his vineyard with sheets of white paper sketching out the balance and formation for the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, and the same for his Statue of David, all started with empty sheets of white pages. Speaking of a man of patience, Vincent van Gogh was steady of hand as his signal Sunflowers stirred from his soul. Let it be noted he created nine hundred paintings in a decade. (Speaking of originality, a Sports Illustrated columnist recorded “Not many citizens would come to watch van Gogh paint Sunflowers but they would pack Yankee Stadium to see him cut off his left ear.) Another mighty force to employ plain white paper was Leonardo Da Vinci. I am certain white pages were used to set the parameters for his Mona Lisa. Contemporaries such as Dr. Ferrol Sams, a family doctor who lived in North Georgia, brought forth a number of books the first of which was Run with the Horseman, published in 1991. Pat Conroy giving us The Prince of Tides and many other classics including The Water is Wide. Grizzard’s columns and books. His most challenging storied account was My Daddy was a Pistol and I’m a Son of a Gun. Margaret Mitchell, speaking of white pages, wrote Gone with the Wind in longhand. Kathy Bradley’s lifting and placing words brilliantly. Jenny Foss’s impeccable quality of life stories for Statesboro Magazine. Del Presley’s historical manifests lighting our way to yesterdays. Tommy Palmer’s Life in a Village. Nick Henry’s texts on Political Science used in Universities throughout America. Jenny Lynn Anderson’s Room 939. Little did I know when I took Typing I and Typing II, taught by Mr. Brown in the ninth and tenth grade, how this medium would afford me three strong careers: The U.S. Army, GSU, and Southeastern Marketing Services. Yes, over fifty years I faced THOSE BLANK PAGES and did my best to tell a story. Thanks Mr. Brown. S

Holiday Gift Guide 2

Check out the area’s hot gift ideas for everyone on your Christmas list in our November/December issue

YOU’RE IN. YOU’RE OUT.

YOU’RE BETTER!

Statesboro Urgent Care offers in-person, walk-in clinic services with minimal wait times and efficient healthcare services. Offering competitive rates and fees, and accepting most insurance policies

OPEN WHEN YOU NEED US MOST!

Mindy Boyette 209.419.6022 | mboyette@statesboromagazine.com www.statesboromagazine.com

Mon-Fri: 8:00 am to 8:00 pm Sat: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm • Sun:12:00 pm to 6:00 pm 912.259.9474 • 1176 Brampton Ave., Market District (next to Baldinos) Statesboro, GA 30458 • borourgentcare.com

Fall in Love with New Furniture

Downtown Store 8 West Main St. 912-764-6576

L.A.WATERS FURNITURE & MATTRESS CENTER www.lawaters.com

Mall Location 300 Lovett Rd. 912-764-5431

September/October 2021

statesboromagazine.com

WE LIVE HERE

look around

Luetta Moore Park Dedication & Grand Re-Opening of New Swimming Pool, Splash Pad, Basketball Court & Playground 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Saturday, July 31, 2021

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September/October 2021

statesboromagazine.com

When You Need The Strength of A Family

Laura Moore Funeral Director

Jake Futch

912.764.5683 | WWW.DEALFUNERALDIRECTORS.COM Family Owned & Operated

Funeral Director

Rev. Julius Abraham, Jr. 07.15.21

Mrs. Sandra Tindol Franklin 06.18.21

Mrs. Peggy Jean Girardeau Smith Lynch 06.15.21

Mrs. Bonnie Parrish Porter 06.13.21

Mrs. Ruby D. Barnes Adams 07.23.21

Mr. Virgil Lee Frazier 05.28.21

Ms. Brittany Sneed Mack 07.04.21

Mr. Ronald Franklin Pratt 07.19.21

Mrs. Evelyn Kennedy Alderman 06.05.21

Deacon Bennie Hart Gordon, Sr. 06.28.21

Mrs. Glenda Everett Marr 05.06.21

Mr. Gil Riggs 07.07.21

Mr. Ray Lacount Allen 06.15.21

Mr. Claude Loren “Pete” Hackle 06.29.21

Mr. J. Christopher “Chris” Matheson 07.19.21

Ms. Linda Faye Roberts 06.06.21

Mr. Gerald Bennie Ausley 05.27.21

Mr. Willis Benjamin “Bennie” Hall, Jr. 07.21.21

Ms. Mae Manuel McClain 07.12.21

Mr. Mitchell Adam Austin 07.16.21

Mrs. Mary L. “Sista” Golden Hamilton 06.25.21

Mr. Ricky Allen McClain, Sr. 06.21.21

Mrs. Edwina Patricia “ Patsy” Robinson 05.13.21

Mr. William Slayton “Dock” Baker 07.11.21

Mrs. Lois N. Hammond 06.01.21

Mr. Lorenzo McMillan 05.02.21

Dr. Thomas “Parker” Bishop 06.19.21

Mr. Chester Alexander Hanberry 05.28.21

Lt. Ret. William Marvin Metzger 06.07.21

Mr. John Roger Bowen 04.26.21

Mrs. Violet Smokes Harden 05.12.21

Mr. Ed Thomas Mikell 05.30.21

Mrs. Riette Hirsch Boxer 06.09.21

Mrs. Eliza Paris Harrison 06.14.21

Mrs. Laura H. Mikell 07.21.21

Mr. Scott Jack Boyd 07.15.21

Mrs. Elizabeth J. “Betty” Akins Shuman Hart 07.05.21

Mr. David Anthony Miller 06.17.21

Mr. Charles Bradley 06.06.21 Mr. Charles Clifton 07.11.21 Mr. Rufus Calvin Cody 07.01.21 Mrs. Delilah Lanier Collins 06.23.21 Mr. Alston Dayton “Pete” Correll 05.25.21 Mr. Billy Richard Cowart 06.07.21 Mrs. Susan Marie Arnold Creasy 05.05.21 Pastor Jimmy Doyal Creel 06.24.21 Mrs. Emily Hope Smith Daniel 05.05.21 Ms. Carol Elaine Daughtry 07.19.21 Mrs. Annette Lee Deal 05.17.21 Mr. Frank Gerald Dickerson 05.30.21 Mr. Terry “Bartman” Eason 05.10.21 Mr. Jefferson Taylor Ennis 06.06.21 Mr. Harvey James Faglier 06.10.21 Mr. Alfred Allen “Buck” Ferguson, Jr. 05.12.21

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Mrs. Vernette Purvis Hatten 08.01.21 Mrs. Gail McGowan Helton 05.13.21 Mrs. Mary LaVerne Hartley Hendricks 06.25.21 Mrs. Mary Jo Hicks 05.15.21 Mrs. Tracy Pendergrass Houston 05.10.21 Mrs. Martha Williams James 07.02.21 Mrs. Janie Jonas 05.11.21 Mr. James M. Jones 07.22.21 Mr. James “Tap” Jones 06.26.21 Mrs. Reatha Mae Jones 05.13.21 Mrs. Henrietta Lee Lanier 06.27.21 Mr. Hoke S. Lee, Jr. 07.17.21 Ms. Catherine Elaine Lewis 07.31.21 Mrs. Margaret Erledene Neal Lord Graham 07.27.21 Ms. Cora Lorenzo 06.01.21

September/October 2021

Ms. Janice Elizabeth Miller 07.03.21 Mr. Jeffrey Miller 06.08.21 Mrs. Nancy Louise Edwards Miller 07.07.21 Mrs. Jean S. Millhorn 07.22.21 Mr. Darrell Leverne Mixon 07.30.21 Mr. Antonio Stacey Mobley 05.24.21 Mr. James Danny Moore 07.04.21 Mr. John Alson “J.A.” Moore 05.21.21 Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Thompson Motes 06.11.21 Mr. Junior Muckle 06.27.21 Mr. Elbert Dent Newton 06.04.21 Mrs. Gwendolyn Williams Olliff 08.01.21 Mr. Archie Owens, Jr. 05.18.21 Mr. Glenn Edward Parker 06.13.21 Mrs. Lucy Clayton Pascullis 07.01.21 Mr. William C. “Bill” Perkins 07.08.21

Mr. James Drone “J.D.” Rountree, Jr. 07.13.21 Mrs. Rose Martin Rushing 07.31.21 Mrs. Mary L. “Sista” Golden Sabb 06.08.21 Mr. Lester Edward Seyler 05.08.21 Mr. Kenneth Emanuel Smith 03.27.21 Mr. Robert Gordon “Bobby” Smith 05.09.21 Mr. Travis “Kebone” Sneed 07.04.21 Mr. Bobby Charles Staggs 05.27.21 Mrs. Margaretta “Retta” Townsend Stoddard 05.18.21 Dr. Samuel Phillip Tillman 05.19.21 Mrs. Marjorie Rosser Torrance 06.19.21 Mr. Zachary Shane “Zach” Touchton 06.13.21 Mr. Joseph Michael “Mike” Tucker 05.16.21 Mr. Harry Warren 05.13.21 Mr. Jack “Jimbo” Waters 06.09.21 Mrs. Donna Marie Colbert Waters 06.27.21 Mr. Mikell Corey Waters 05.26.21 Mr. Nathaniel Lamar “Skip” Williams 07.04.21 Mr. Donald Robert Woodcock 06.24.21

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425 Commerce Drive Statesboro, Georgia 30461 912.871.2971

Local insight. Financial strength. Serving Statesboro for 120 years. Statesboro is on the rise, and we’re proud to be part of it. Here’s where our enthusiasm for elevating our customers, valuable local insight, and strength of financial services uniquely position us to meet almost any personal or business banking need. We’re glad to have been your neighbor now for well over a century. If we don’t see you in one of our branches, we’re sure to see you around town. synovus.com/statesboro

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Statesboro Magazine - September/October 2021

Articles inside

Written by Doy Cave

Written by Adison Marsh