With Virginia Anne & Bill Waters Written by Jenny Starling Foss Photography by Frank Fortune

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

With Virginia Anne & Bill Waters

Many Statesboro friends know that a gathering at the home of Virginia Anne and Bill Waters is always a very special treat for the attendees. The Waters entertain in an elegant and charming Southern way that gives a nod to history and the arts, including the art of fine dining. The food always honors the special occasion. While the history lies in the length of time both Franklin’s and Waters’ families have been settled in Bulloch County. Virginia Anne is the daughter of Paul G. and Anne Youmans Franklin, Jr., and Bill’s parents were Ottis and Bertha Mae Waters from Excelsior, Georgia, which was once in Bulloch, but now is a part of Candler County.

“My grandparents, Paul and Annie Moore Franklin bought lot numbers 315 and 317 on Savannah Avenue in 1917,” shared Virginia Anne. “They built a guest house in 1922, behind where the main house was to be built on lot 317, but the stock market crashed in 1929, and they never built the main house.”

Both Virginia Anne’s grandfather Paul G. Franklin, and her father, Paul G. Franklin, Jr., were pharmacists, owners of Franklin Drug Company, once located on North Main Street. After retiring, her father built a little cabin on the „

property that was not visible from the Avenue. He named his retreat, the Hideaway. A name which Virginia Anne and Bill still use today.

The Hideaway includes an extension added onto the small cottage by Virginia Anne when she decided to make the home her primary residence. The addition has unique features such as no right angles and a two-story wall of glass windows in the living room that makes guests feel as if they’re sitting under the magnolia trees outside. The added space was designed with entertaining in mind, including an open floor plan between the kitchen, dining and living rooms. Bedrooms are located both downstairs and upstairs, with the ‘retreat’ part now serving as both a catering kitchen and family den.

“The first colored Christmas lights were on Granddaddy’s house at 317!” said Virginia Anne. “Of course, they came from the drug store, so decorating for Christmas is in my genes. I still loved colored lights and we put up over 30 strands outside and on the large camellia bushes.”

Entering into the home, guests experience a sensory overload when greeted by a well cultivated Santa collection in the foyer and stationed along the steps of the staircase leading upstairs. A collection that grows each year with new additions representing souvenirs from trips or special occasions.

Virginia Anne also inherited a love for holiday entertaining from her maternal side of the family.

“Totsie, my maternal grandmother, loved to decorate and entertain at Christmas. Her name was Ellene Adams Youmans. She and Big Daddy, K.S. Youmans, began buying sterling Christmas tree ornaments years ago,” said Virginia Anne. “My mother continued doing this. There are over 300 ornaments in the collection and most of them are crosses and angels. Mother started collecting the annually released Reed & Barton silver crosses in 1971, and we have all of them to date. I especially love having a tree that is dedicated to the true meaning of Christmas!”

Virginia Anne, very talented at needlework, design, and crafting, has added a dozen cross-stitched Victorian angels and the complete Holy family scene with donkeys, camels, cattle, shepherds, wise men, Mary, Joseph, and the Christ child. The skirt on the “silver” tree features a crèche in felt adorned with sequins and hand beading.

The Christmas china Virginia Anne uses on the main dining room table and the additional table in the catering kitchen, belonged to Totsie and was hand-painted by artists in the mountains of Georgia. The pattern is Blue Ridge.

“Big Daddy gave it away in his hardware stores in Metter, Reidsville, and Lyons,” said Virginia Anne. “If you spent so much money, you got so many plates. I love it because each plate is different depending on the lady who painted it. I love to entertain family and friends during the holidays. My two favorite parties are luncheons and afternoon seated dessert parties with tea and coffee.”

The napkin rings feature Old Saint Nick and were hand made by Virginia Anne during the COVID pandemic. Other touches include collections of special items she has acquired over the years.

“One of my favorite Christmas decorations are the German carousels. These carousels contain all the Manger scene and they turn by the heat produced when the candles are lit,” stated Virginia Anne. “My brother, Paul G. Franklin, III, studied at the University of Cologne and gave me my first carousel when he lived in Germany. I look forward to unpacking these every year. Paul was the Senior Buyer with Lockheed when he died in 1988. He spoke fluent French and German and negotiated huge contracts both here and in Europe. There are two skirts on the piano which I made during COVID using the old timey needlework called candle wicking. It is really just tons of French knots made with thread used for candle wicks!”

Adorning the grand piano skirts, located adjacent to the dining room, are hand crocheted angels and some made from antique lady’s handkerchiefs. The angels are crocheted and then lovingly starched.

“My first of this heirloom collection was given to me by Mary Sue Lovell Hodges,” said Virginia Anne. “I have found the others at antique stores.” Virginia Anne is also making new ones with vintage handkerchiefs that she has found on excursions.

Virginia Anne started a new tradition during the pandemic, meant to keep her hands busy. She made over forty Christmas stockings for family and dear friends, including one for herself, one for Bill, one for Spot (the cat), and an extra one for the unexpected visitor who might appear on Christmas Eve.

“Each stocking takes between 20 to 35 hours depending on the detail,” said „

Virginia Anne. “Most all involved beading, sewing, and intricate cutting. I have also done five Christmas tree skirts!”

The big Christmas tree at the head of the head table takes about three days to “put up” and just as many to take down and re-pack. Virginia Anne has collected tree ornaments since she was eight.

“Momma and Daddy have patiently stopped at many, many Christmas shops during the years and Bill still gets to do that today,” she said. “In fact, we bought about 15 ornaments on our recent Western adventure. The question I’m always asked is ‘How many ornaments are on the tree?’ And my answer is A LOT, a WHOLE Lot. I truly don’t know. I’ve tried counting several times but I always get side tracked on where the ornament came from or who gave it to me, etc. The tree is 15 feet tall and our friend, Raymond Cone and I put every ornament on it each year. Bill laughs and says it is incredible that I know the story behind each ornament, but can never remember where I put my glasses or my phone!” Another favorite tree is a small antique feather Christmas tree containing real candles in metal holders and ornaments made from clothes pins. “All of these ornaments were handmade and I’ve found them in antique stores and craft fairs here and abroad,” said Virginia Anne.

Another precious part of the Water’s holiday house is her collection of Annalee dolls.

“I have collected those dolls for the past 15 years or so. They are adorable and I just can’t resist them. Each little face is hand painted and their expressions are priceless! They started as a cottage industry in New Hampshire in the thirties. So they complement the overall vintage feel of our holiday décor.”

The Waters have friends over often for Sunday dinner, ladies luncheons, teas, and Historical Society meetings. Both are active in the Bulloch County Historical Society. Virginia Anne serves as Director, and Bill is in charge of membership and historical markers.

“It really keeps us in the holiday spirit when we are able to share our Christmas treasures with our friends and family,” said Virginia Anne. “There is no better feeling than enjoying the hospitality and fellowship! We get the greatest joy out of opening our home not only during the holidays, but throughout the year!” S