Social Coastal | October 2023

SOCIAL COASTAL

Designers and Product Specialists, at Your Service.

“Over the last 5 years, Stephanie Hale and her team have helped Limitless Homes provide beautiful finishes for dozens of homes each year. As a custom home homebuilder, we strive to provide a personal, tailored experience for each of our clients, and Coastal Stone & Cabinetry partners with us to help achieve just that. Stephanie Minter and Kaileigh Jones provide their expertise to guide our customers in making their dream home visions come true.”

-Gina Cox, Limitless Homes

PATE

REALTOR/ SALES ASSOCIATE

Brett/Robinson Real Estate (AL) Re/Max Gulf Properties (FL)

Whether you’re looking for a second home or multiple investment properties, Justin has the knowledge of the area and the relationships with the people in it to help you achieve your goals. Growing up in Orange Beach on Ono Island affords him a wealth of knowledge about coastal Alabama.

What makes you different from other realtors?

Working for the largest developer of gulf front condominiums on the gulf coast, I am an expert in preconstruction, and I am well versed in its advantages. I also specialize in waterfront luxury property, and I have assisted with hundreds of 1031 exchanges, saving my clients countless dollars in taxes.

What drove you to a career in real estate?

The ability to create a business that serves others. I work with clients by determining their goals, and whether that is finding a primary or second home or wealth management and diversification, my goal is to match them with the perfect property to meet their needs.

Who influenced you early in your professional career?

My father influenced my work ethic, and at a young age, I was fortunate to be in the proximity of men that were successful in business, whose habits I observed and adopted.

Photo credit: Andrew Crumpton

From the Editor

As the fall season approaches, and our focus turns from water activities to pumpkin patches and the rivalries of college football, we invite you to enjoy our October Edition of Social Coastal Magazine. This month is packed with a variety of events and activities.

In this edition, we feature Tallon and Donnie - a couple whose love story will warm your heart. We shine a spotlight on Pat Simpson - a resolute individual who has made significant contributions as a community leader. Meet Andy Haynes who tirelessly puts together our annual songwriter’s event here along the gulf coast, and lastly, we cannot overlook the incredible work of The Christian Service Center. They remind us of the importance of compassion and service towards others.

Thank you for being part of our Social Coastal Magazine community. We hope this edition brings joy, inspiration, and unforgettable moments as we embrace all that autumn has to offer. Happy reading!

Eva Keesee Editor in Chief

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“Working with SOCIAL magazine has been so much fun for not only me but for my team, as well! I appreciate how they’ve been able to understand my brand and vision. Even more I love the energy and enthusiasm I’ve been met with on each project! I’m grateful for our partnership and am excited to bring more ideas to life with this incredibly creative group of people.”

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Publisher

David Renfro

Editor-in-Chief

Eva Keesee

Contributing Editor

Melinda McGhee

Copy Editor

Lana Cagle

Staff Writer

Liesel Schmidt

Graphic Design

Lead Designer Brad Growden

Kim Mesman & Chris Shenk

Social Media & Web Design

Jen Meadows

Photography

Ruili Cai

Andrew Crumpton

Shelley Patterson, C-Shelz Photography

Peyton Powell Brown Photography

Brittney Bell Photography

Wedding Photos

Kayla Baptista Photography

Home Photos

Summer Davis Photography

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Eva Keesee l 251.979.4278

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Social Coastal Magazine www.socialcoastalmagazine.com

VOLUME 1 · ISSUE 4

The views and comments expressed by the authors are not always that of our editors or publishers. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in the publication, Social Coastal accepts no responsibility or liability for any errors, omissions or resultant consequences, including any loss or damage arising from the reliance on information in this publication. All images contained in Social Coastal magazine are subject to the copyright of Social Coastal, but not limited thereto. Reproduction of any part of this magazine without prior written permission is prohibited.

FLIP. CLICK. TAP.

THE BEST OF THE COAST AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

SOCIALSOCIALSOCIAL

P.O.P.

more focused attention, less distraction

stimulates emotions and desires

Pat Simpson’s life is nothing if not interesting. In fact, before he became the host of various television shows and co-owner of Simpson Properties Group, the Lake Martin, Alabama native had unique adventures and jobs that most people can only imagine.

“I used to water ski for a living—competing and skiing at Cypress Gardens and The Tommy Bartlett Show at the World's Fair in Okinawa, Japan,” he says, prefacing his story with the disclaimer that his resume is “a joke”—though most would simply listen with jaws slack. “My wife, Claudia, whom I married in 1980, and I traveled with stunt car drivers performing at fairgrounds and coliseums across the country. Then, we toured the country with the Lipizzaner Stallions from Vienna, Austria. And back before I went on all these ‘gypsy’ adventures, my father, brother and I were building docks, homes and boathouses at the lake.” >>

The needle on the record hits a scratch at the last reference—but things have come full circle from all that construction experience in his younger years.

In 1989, Simpson co-hosted a television show called The Weekend Gardner on TNN (The Nashville Network). Then in 1994, the newly launched HGTV came calling. Simpson hosted three shows for the network over the next 12 years.

“My role has always been the same—I’m just Pat, showing viewers how to do projects and remodels,” Simpson says.

Outside of his roles on the small screen, Simpson wears the hats of property manager, vacation rental owners, and real estate broker—all facets of his professional life that seem to complement his skills and his personality. Back in the early 2000s, he and Claudia had a couple of beachfront investment properties on Perdido Key that were either destroyed or significantly damaged in Hurricane Ivan. They were spending so much time on Perdido Key and in Orange Beach that they decided to sell their home in Georgia, where they lived at the time, and move to Orange Beach. They bought a house on Ono Island, remodeled it, sold it, and moved to Terry Cove Harbor. At the time, they were managing rentals in their own investment properties as well as those of friends. And so, Simpson Properties Group was officially launched in 2009—first with log home construction and rentals in Pigeon Forge and Wears Valley, Tennessee, and then with coastal vacation rentals in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores.

“In real estate and property management, we find the right property for new buyers and do our best to make them happy,” he observes. “It’s very gratifying to help people and see them happy. The same is true for vacationing families that plan their

vacations through Simpson Properties Group. From the moment they contact SPG, we're all about creating a memorable stay for them along our Gulf Coast.”

Simpson has served on the Orange Beach Planning Commission since November 2017 and is one of nine commissioners who review a variety of building, zoning, and development projects before making recommendations to the City Council regarding what is in the best interest of Orange Beach. “We, as the Planning Commission, also review the Orange Beach Comprehensive Plan and make recommendations to the City Council for revisions or amendments.”

Looking back on the blessed life he has led, Simpson credits much of it to his wife: “I could never have accomplished what I have without Claudia,” he says. “Her running our household and raising our kids while I was traveling all over the country shooting tv shows and building homes, and now, being equal owner and the detail person in our company, is the reason we are where we are today.”

Where he is today is one of his greatest motivations for giving back and serving his community. He and Claudia participate in at least three annual fund raisers: Youth Reach, Art for Heart and Toys 4 Kids. “God has blessed my family and me beyond measure,” he says. “There are those that have had misfortunes in life through no fault of their own, and those who need a second chance. We've seen young adults make bad choices, young children that deserve more and seemingly healthy people get sick. How can it not be important to give back?”

ONE MISSION IN MIND... TO PROTECT

Our executive defense team consists of retired Military and Law enforcement agents, as well as trade-craft specialist. Security to fit any situation.

This 15th Annual, adrenaline fueled, fundraising event had it all -- great food, great music, and the chance to win a lot of cash! The Mystics’ Draw Down event donates a portion of the proceeds to the Hayden Farmer Fund.

Rachel Williams and Kenny Nichols

Tammy and Marc Adcock

Michelle Harper, Sammantha Davis, and Crystal Beatty

Cynthia and Dr. Matt Youngblood

Alexa Toler, Stefanie Toler, and Amy Janke

Karen Lee, Dacri Overstreet, Danielle Sherman, and Alyssa Lee

Will and Heather Hill

Terry Truelove and Murray Mayo

Peter and Amy Bach

Jolene Odom, Barbie Clements, and Rosemary Steele

Photos by Ruili Cai

Cari Reynolds and Ben Griffin

Donna Crabtree, Tracy Womack, and Ameina Tressler  Michael and Vikki Murphy

Ashley Peters, Sydney Valentine, Missy Posey, and Jessica Morrison

Skyla Tanner, Ginger Harrelson, Joyelle Adolph, Rachel Reddell, and Bailey Stitt

Jeannette and Gordon Smart  Stormy and Brannon Holloway Chris and Melissa Chisolm

Trey Lambeth, Katelyn Lambeth, Heather Mehan, and Landon Mehan

Alan Lewis, Judy Lewis, Judy Hartley, and Doug Hartley

Cori and Gage Sanders

Barry and Debby Boyd

Regina Morgan, Jolene Odom, and Vanessa Feely

Courtney Morgan and Adam Einck

Doug and Tiffanie Fortson

Sean Womack, David Tressler, and Milo Crabtree

BULLS ON THE BEACH

The Flora-Bama hosted the 10th annual “Bulls on the Beach”, with local celebrities Cody Harris and Chris “Booger” Brown guiding this patriotic event. This event, known for its family-friendly atmosphere, attracts professional bull riders from around the world who compete for prize money in this sanctioned event. The event aims to raise funds for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, a leading institution in pediatric catastrophic disease research and treatment.

Photos by Shelley Patterson

COMING

IN SERVICE OF CHRIST

By Liesel Schmidt

THE CHRISTIAN SERVICE CENTER’S MISSION OF AID

We see it in the rise in housing prices, the increasing cost of food, and other necessities and the spikes in gas prices: life is getting more and more expensive. As costly as basic needs have become, it can be almost impossible for low-income workers to provide for themselves, much less their families.

Without help, those needs often go unmet—as we see in the escalating numbers of homelessness and food insecurity.

Needs like this are why organizations like the Christian Service Center exist—to be a lifeline and the difference between starvation and health,

homelessness and shelter. Founded in 1991 by the Pleasure Island Ministerial Association, the CSC was created to be a central location where individuals could go for help, rather than going from church to church to find the food or shelter they needed. As such, the CSC provides food and emergency financial assistance to low-income families in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan.

“CSC is a lifeline to low-income workers experiencing a financial crisis,” says Janice Moss, Board VP at CSC. “There are so many minimum wage workers in the community, and numerous families experiencing

food insecurity. Most of the people we see work—many of them, two jobs. They manage to make ends meet until the unexpected happens, such as a car repair or a sick child. They do not have a savings cushion, so they are short on rent or utilities. Many others are on a fixed income such as social security, disability, or a small retirement income, so they experience that same shortage in an emergency.

“Every case is different, but we have seen increases in cases where medical problems put people in a bind—cancer or other illnesses that come with high costs in treatment or care,” Moss goes on. “We can do some medical help, but we can help more with rent while they pay for co-pays. We also offer referrals for mental health; counseling; shelters in Foley, Mobile, or Pensacola as well as to Baldwin County’s Family Promise and AA programs or addiction programs at churches such as the Home of Grace. We work with many agencies.”

When CSC was created in 1991, it served 420 individuals. By 2022, that number had risen

to 2,522 client visits representing 7,248 individuals—2,560 of whom were children.

Clearly, there is a need.

In addition to their food pantry, CSC offers other programs and services such as emergency aid to help with rent, utilities, medical, and other expenses to low-income individuals who have financial emergencies; access to Ozanam Charitable Pharmacy for clients needing financial help with prescription drugs; medical equipment; use of durable medical equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, shower chairs and crutches; Meals on Wheels five days a week for homebound persons unable to prepare their own meals and referrals to Repair Baldwin for clients who own their own homes and need repairs they cannot afford. CSC also offers Christmas Cheer, which provides toys for the children of clients as well as food boxes for the family; Christmas Spirit visits from a volunteer bringing a gift or a bag of goodies to the elderly, shut-ins and others in the community; membership to the Children’s Birthday Club, which provides parents with toys, cake mix, frosting and candles for their children’s birthdays; weeklong summer camp at Camp Happy Sands in Johnson’s Beach, provided by Holy Spirit Episcopal Church for the children of CSC parents and the Children’s Summer Food Program, which provides easy-to-prepare breakfast and lunch items plus two snacks a day

for five days a week while school is out for the summer.

To meet those needs, there is a resulting need for funding and support, as the CSC is an all-volunteer organization, with no salaries. Outside of necessary operating expenses, all donations go directly to offering a hand-up to those less fortunate in the local communities.

“We are proud to be able to make a difference in the lives of people in need,” says Moss. “Sometimes it is with food, sometimes with financial help and other times with just a caring, listening heart. In being a blessing to others, we receive the greater blessing. We get to serve as the hands and feet of Christ—who could want more?”

For more information, visit cscgs.com.

Tiny Miss

Young Miss

MISS SHRIMP FESTIVAL

PAGEANT

Petite Miss

Little Miss

Junior Miss

Teen Miss

Photos by Peyton Powell Brown Photography

The 7th Annual Miss Shrimp Festival Pageant was held at the Erie Meyer Center to crown the 2023 queens and their court. The competition consisted of an introduction and a stage walk where judges scored the ladies on their appearance, poise and personality. All contestants collected canned goods to stock local Blessing Boxes in the community.

Charity: Harper Nolan, Court: Sofia Chiribao, Court: Saylor Ann Cooper, Queen: Finley Claire DeLeon, 1st Alternate: Harper Frances McKinney, Court: Amelia Sawyer

Charity: Catherine McAlear, Court: Emerson Pearl Fournier, 1st Alternate: Jillian Fitzgerald, Queen: Isabella Furry, Court: Makenna Sprinkle, Court: Emma-Wyn Hang

Court: Millie Lee Holliman, 1st Alternate: Eleanor Karter Black, Queen: Sadie Louise Scoville, Court: Welyn Lee Rowell, Court: Ellis James Farrell

Court: Marlee Simms, 1st Alternate: Ashtyn Dee, Queen: TayLee Grace Byrd, Court: Tinsley Vail, Court: Audrey O’Connor

Court: Ali Gibson, 1st Alternate: Sofia Lynn Vidal, Queen: Mailey Paige Hixon, Court: Fallow Paige Howard, Court: Sadie Jordan

Court: Adalyn Lyles, 1st Alternate: Brieanna Grace Hopson, Queen: Kemariona Henton, Court: Mary Allice Cannizzo, Court: Railey Black

Miss Shrimp Festival

Charity: Kaleigh Davis, Court: Carleigh Jurkiewicz, 1st Alternate: Kennedy Marie Blanchard, Queen: Audrey Grace Foster, Court: Briege Noonan, Court: Anna Kate O’Connor

The community gathered for a ribbon cutting and to celebrate the Grand Opening of The Little Sign Shop. The Little Sign Shop’s mission is to create visually stunning and impactful signs that help businesses thrive.

Shelly Beech, Marie Miller, and Stephanie Crosslin

Ryleigh Bramlette and Bill Partridge

Kim Guntow and Ellen Marinaccio

Larry Green and Whilton Randy

Kina and Jerry Markham

Aubrey Kirk, Connor Cody, Chris Sims, and Jorge Lopez

Bart and Allison Pryor

Austin Partridge and Dee DiChiara

Candis Partridge, Terri Thrasher, and Sue Carpenter

Photos by Andrew Crumpton

CHAMBER LUNCH BUNCH | ORANGE BEACH

The Chamber Lunch Bunch presented by Gulf Coast Rental Co. was hosted by Mile Marker 158 Dockside in Orange Beach. These luncheons are a great way for businesses to meet fellow members of the business community and gives them an opportunity to collaborate and support one another.

Steve Meyer, Kimberly Ray, and Candice Martinez

Photos by Andrew Crumpton

Harper Hollis and Whitney Brickner Molly Cooley, Mike Conroy, and Marie Miller

Courtney du Plessis and Ryleigh Bramlette

Jason Foreman and Jared Herrell

Brook Jones and Courtney Dombroski

Natasha Piper and Ivey Mclean

Steve Reynolds and Jim Beran

Christy Childress and Celina Renee Calvert

Savannah Sharkey and Dawn Brown

SHORES | PLEASURE ISLAND JUNIOR WOMAN’S CLUB SUMMER SOCIAL

by

What a fun night at the Summer Social held at the Waterville Lagoon Bar on behalf of the Pleasure Island Junior Women’s Club. Attendees were in good company with door prizes and opportunities to learn more about the organization. The PIJWC is a civic club serving the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach communities to foster civic, social, and educational betterment of the community.

Jessi Grice, Crystal Merron, Amanda Manjone, Brooke Johnson, and Autumn Marks

Photos

Andrew Crumpton

Britt Dorsett, Paige Desmond, and Miranda Demond

Lauren Powell and Casey Shell

Niki Becton and Mallorie Nighthart

Adrienne Sea and Missy Paris

Ashley Morrow and Elizabeth Jones

Lindsey Meyer and Erika Hill

Kayla Green and Hannah Barnett

Lauren McCaghren, Stephanie Beech, Kelsey King, and Sarah Harris

Neeli Faulkner and Meagan Hoven

THE MELODY MAKER

Being the director of the oldest songwriters’ festival in the nation isn’t just about keeping this event a popular item in the playlist of songwriters across the globe—it’s about maintaining the festival’s impact on the present and future of music, both now and in the years to come.

Appointed to directorship of the Frank Brown International Songwriters’ Festival in 2016, Andy Haynes’s day-to-day involves all matters

ANDY HAYNES

By Liesel Schmidt

associated with the activities of FBISF as well as the 501c3 nonprofit that produces the festival, the Frank Brown International Foundation for Music. “This includes the planning and production of the festival, which has historically seen the event taking place in several dozen area venues and hosting over 200 Grammy award-winning and upand-coming songwriters,” Haynes observes.

“There is no ‘for-profit’ motive with the festival. Each year is a challenge regarding >>

photo courtesy: SHELLEY PATTERSON

generating sufficient funding to stage the festival and to have enough left over to accomplish our community objectives.”

With 2023 marking its 39th year, the FBISF is indeed a legendary event. “There was a time when it was described as the largest gathering of songwriters at one time, anywhere in the world,” Haynes notes.

Haynes’s passion for the FBISF is one that has deep roots, dating back to the first festival he

attended more than 20 years ago. He’d first visited the Perdido Key area and, consequently, the Flora-Bama Lounge, in 1968 and became a frequent patron to the “Bama” on subsequent trips. “I always enjoyed the music,” he explains. “During one visit around 1990, I walked up to the door and was advised that FBISF was taking place. The main bar was a ‘listening room’ during the festival, and songwriters were afforded the respect they deserved. I ended up sitting there with my jaw on my chest, thinking, ‘Oh my goodness, he wrote that!’”

Haynes continued to come back to FBISF in the following years and had the opportunity to move to the area in 1999. By that time, Haynes had become friendly with Flora-Bama co-owner Joe Gilchrist and, after moving to the area, called him to ask about becoming involved with FBISF. Over the next 17 years, Haynes and his wife, Patti, were volunteers for the festival before he was appointed to director in 2016.

With a background in sales and marketing for companies including Timberland, Nautica, and Tommy Bahama, the FBISF may be quite a departure for Haynes. But his love for the festival and long-standing ties, combined with his head for business, make him an ideal director.

“Making a positive impact on young people in our area is important to me,” he says, going on to explain that Frank Brown Foundation for Music offers scholarships to students with an interest in music and also donates instruments to school music programs in addition to sending songwriters into schools to teach the art of songwriting. “I also love meeting and working with all the interesting people this brings me into contact with. Obviously, the songwriters are an interesting bunch and I love the creativity associated with their work. Then there is our large contingent of loyal, dedicated

photos courtesy: SHELLEY PATTERSON

volunteers to whom I am deeply grateful and enjoy working with. They are all wonderful folks, and the festival couldn’t take place without them. It’s fun meeting the attendees and seeing the smiles the music puts on their faces.

Additionally, there is the opportunity to work with the awesome team at the Flora-Bama, a number of whom are members of the Frank Brown Foundation Board,” Haynes continues. “The Flora-Bama is the birthplace and headquarters for the festival, and FBISF has survived and thrived in no small way due to Flora-Bama support. Working with these people who are dedicated to paying respect to songwriters and music is rewarding.”

Haynes’s passion for music is also an important facet of his work. “Music has played a significant role in my life, and while I don’t possess any particular musical talent, I greatly admire the dedication and creativity of the people, particularly the songwriter, whose inventiveness brings so much joy to so many people,” he says. “Music means so much to so many people and does so much good. Just think about the outpouring of love and admiration displayed with the recent passing of Gulf coast native, Jimmy Buffett. While he never officially performed at FBISF, he was often a drop-in player at the Flora-Bama. I believe that Jimmy was the epitome of a songwriter. Through the course of his career, his lyrics and music touched on every aspect of our lives. He took so many of us to places in our minds we would have never gone were it not for him!”

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Hair Removal

Incontinence Kegel Chair

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photos courtesy: SHELLEY PATTERSON

The Maidens in Pink Stillettos Annual Golf Tournament was held at the Glen Lakes Golf and Country Club. Together they raised $6,000 for the Christian Service Center. This Krewe is a society for like-minded ladies of Pleasure Island and the surrounding areas who enjoy networking while giving back to the community.

Photos by Ruili Cai

Devona Knower and Cari Reynolds

Hal Ulcer and Jimmy Mckay

Ben Hoover and William Gibson

Russ Wissman, Mike Graham, Jesse James, and Tom Mccolloch Ashley Dobbs, Laura Langston, Michelle Peterson, Marsha McCarron, and Jade Blanchard

Chris Edwards, Sam Osborne, Chris Peacock, and Eric Boyington

Curtis Brown and Pat Smith

Beth and Jarrett York

Katie and Leonard Thornton

UNLEASHED HIDDEN TALENTS

@MALBIS ART GALLERY

DEANNA MALBIS ART

Deanna Malbis stumbled upon her artistic talent just two years ago. What started as a simple painting of a tropical fish turned into a profound realization that she had an innate gift. Since that fateful day, Deanna has dedicated every spare moment to her newfound passion. She has fallen in love with using acrylic paints and has discovered that adding epoxy resin allows her to unleash even more creativity. For Deanna, art is not just a hobby; it's therapy. Deanna and her husband John support each other's creative endeavors and find inspiration in the beauty that surrounds them. Step into Deanna's world and witness the magic she creates on canvas. Each piece tells a unique story and captures the essence of her artistic journey.

Hooked on a Cure, an offshore fishing tournament benefitting Children’s of Alabama, kicked off with a Captain’s Party at OSO at Bear Point Harbor. Attendees enjoyed great food and drinks, live music and a live auction.

Robyn Erwin, Jen McKee, and Bobbie Ann Thames

Lisa Arnold, Jimmy Barter, and Leah Barter

Lee and Kellie Thornton

Paula and Mike Morgan

Candace and Steven Hinote Leslie Taylor, Reid Whitworth, Virginia Whitworth, Katherine Whitworth, and Vicki Buster

Clay and Leigh Carrington

Regina Bemis and Kerith Bailey

Kathryn and Rob Ward

Tyler Kean and Tara Nichols

Photos by Ruili Cai

SOCIAL

ON THE COAST

ALL THINGS BOATS

Paula Taylor and Curtis Bush

Blaine Stewart and Brody Lineberry

Tyler Kean and Tara Nichols

KERI BENSON AND MINDY WALD

Jennifer and Nick Bruno

Sarah, Collins, and Nathan Shanks

Paige Duke and Mike Morgan

Jamie and Kim Willman

Katie and Tom Watts

JC Bush and Will Thames

Erica and Noah Rand

Richard, Reid, Virginia, and Katherine Whitworth

Sarah, Collins, and Nathan Shanks

COMMUNITY BANK GRAND OPENING

Community Bank, founded over 115 years ago in the small East-Central Mississippi timber community of Forest, opened their new location in Gulf Shores with a grand opening party that allowed guests to see first-hand the unique architectural features & upscale art pieces that accent the Bank’s beautiful interior.

Photos by Cindy McCrory of Blue Room Photography

At Home in Sweetbay

When Prentiss and Beverly Smith look at their home, they don’t see what others do.

The coastal home boasts an architectural style that sits right at home on the water, complementing the landscape with its use of brick and clapboard siding, its color palette and its wood accents.

But for the couple, this 5,000 square-foot house is the keeper of memories that make its name— Sweetbay—all the more apt. “We have spent so many happy times here with friends and family,” says Beverly, who raised three children with her husband, a retired radiologist.

Story: Liesel Schmidt // Photos: Summer Davis Photography

The Smiths moved to Fairhope from Mississippi and built Sweetbay, looking toward the future. “We built this home to grow older in,” Beverly notes. “For that reason, it has a number of features that are handicap accessible. But more than that, this home is the fulfillment of a promise. Our life here at Sweetbay, in Fairhope, is so special because Prentiss always told me that we would retire on the water. I had no idea just how wonderful it would be. He’d told me when we found this property that he would buy it if I would stop buying shoes for a year.”

It would seem that Beverly’s shoe collection would tell the tale of how that bargain went…

Nevertheless, Prentiss bought the land, and planning began for the house that later became Sweetbay. Enlisting the services of Clay Adams as architect, Tom Bierster as builder, and Elizabeth Hays and Cathy Pigott as interior decorators, the home came to life and was completed in 2009. The stunning landscape architecture surrounding it was designed by Prentiss and Lissa Faulkner of Faulkner Landscaping. “If we moved away from Sweetbay, we would definitely miss our beautiful yard,” Beverly says. “We’ve spent so much time on our porches, looking out over our yard at the spectacular sunsets. We have so many favorite places in the house, but the front porch has to be one of our most loved spots. It has views of Mobile Bay, and looking out at that water is what we have dreamed of for so long. How can you possibly replace memories like that?”

The four bedroom, four and a half bath home sits on three levels. On the main floor, the open plan makes the living spaces seem even more spacious, flowing from one room to the next, with high, pitched ceilings lined with planking, and stained wood accent beams that mirror the color and finish of the old heart pine hardwood flooring. “What inspires us the most about this house is how livable it is and how it flows,” Beverly observes.“There are no bottlenecks, and there are no areas that feel stuffy.”

“This is our dream home. We feel so blessed to live here and look forward to spending the rest of our lives living here and making more memories.”

Visit Historic Ocean Springs

Being the consummate hosts and avid cooks that they are, the Smiths can frequently be found in their kitchen—which, consequently, also affords magnificent views of Mobile Bay. “The kitchen is so important to us, because our whole family loves to cook,” says Beverly, including in that reference the couple’s three children, five grandchildren, and three sets of in-laws.

A run of custom cabinetry whose color hovers somewhere between gray and blue sits against the back wall of the kitchen, broken at midpoint by a large window. Honed black granite tops the lower run of cabinetry as well as the massive center island, which offers additional seating and prep space. Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances complete the space and provide a high-grade cooking experience for the family.

Aside from the views, one of the most noticeable features of Sweetbay are its eclectic interior, which boasts a number of decorative pieces that are, in fact, antique architectural pieces that the Smiths have collected over the years. Fittingly, the color palette leans toward the coastal hues of greens and blues, used artfully in a way that avoids being thematic. The home also gives a gallery feel with their ever-growing art collection—most of which are from regional and local artists.

With their location on the water, it is only natural that the master suite boasts a fabulous view of the Mobile Bay. Making the space even more relaxing, the large master bath features Alabama marble, granite flooring, a travertine walk-in shower, massive free-standing tub, and spacious closets.

“This is our dream home,” says Beverly. “We feel so blessed to live here and look forward to spending the rest of our lives living here and making more memories.”

The Miss Tiffany Coronation luncheon was held at Villaggio’s in Orange Beach where participants received their customized Aurora Crown, sash, bracelet, and jacket. This program is a Forever Big Sister Program sanctioned under the Mystical Order of Auroras, with a mission designed to celebrate and uplift designated young ladies.

Photos by Ruili Cai

Annadelle Faulkner

Donna Stump and Terri Long

Mary Jernigan and Eva Trader

Ashley Orrell and Kelly LaMont

Sarah DeLazzer and Martha Tidwell

Kim Sloan and Julie Penton

Jane Sims and Tatyana Hall

Grayce Hovan, Annadelle Faulkner, and Nora Hovan Grayce, Nora, and Meagan Hoven

Come Have a Ball at the Beach!

VACATION RENTAL MANAGEMENT & FULL SERVICE REAL ESTATE

Melinda Hughes and Linda Blohm

Neeli and Annadelle Faulkner

Carmen Watkins and Sarah Harris

Marlene Lowe and Tatyana Hall

Sirens of the Sea, a local women’s Mardi Gras Krewe, held their Masquerade Party & Drawdown at the Orange Beach Event Center at The Wharf. The Groovinators kept people dancing all night and the silent auction was full of friendly competition. A portion of the proceeds support local charities such as High Hopes for Autism, Coastal Arts Center Children’s Studio, and the Gulf Coast Zoo. The Annual Sirens Scholarship Fund is awarded to a local high school senior for college tuition.

Linda McClain, Jennie Shannon, Taylor McClain, and Christine Gregson

Stephanie Knight and Daphne Goodman

Beverly Morris and Peggy Harrington

Annie Godfrey and Joe Quackenbush

Brenda Seymour and Cynthia Youngblood

Lisa Dale and Ray Terry

Baleigh Neu and Houston Bryant

Sharlene and Larry Geiffin

Dr. Harlan and Stephanie Knight

Cynthia and Matt Youngblood

FAMILY

OWNED & OPERATED

As the premier choice for beachfront getaways, we take pride in providing exceptional service and creating an experience that goes beyond your expectations.

When you rent with Sugar Sands Realty, you become part of our family

Marianne Quevedo, Jennifer Fell, and Dawn Gentry

Marianne Quevedo, Jennifer Fell, and Dawn Gentry

Ellen Lee, Connie Conlon, and Cindy Latiolais

Bevelyn and Jack Wallace

Linda Alston, Terri Long, and Annette Mitchell

SUPER MOM

BY LIESEL SCHMIDT

The road of motherhood has not been smoothly paved for Carrie Streets, but there is nothing she would trade for the love of her tribe.

StreetsCarrie

After her oldest shows signs of developmental and speech delays, her youngest was later given a high-functioning Autism spectrum diagnosis after being evaluated in an eye tracking study since he was only a month old. “My family has been my career since then, and continues to be, as now we currently have two foster children—ages two and three years old. Because of what we faced and learned with our ‘bigs’ we were able to identify similar delays with our now three-year-old.”

While Streets doesn’t have a formally defined “profession,” motherhood is both a fulfillment of her time and her heart.

“I have loved countless other children like my own for decades,” she says. “Fostering has been a blessing and challenge in ways I could have never imagined. Our two ‘bonus loves,’ as we call them,have been in our home—and together—longer than anywhere else, and I could not be happier than to be ‘Mommy’ to them. I like to tell them that ‘I don’t know where they have always been, or where they always will be. But I know for sure right now was meant for you, me, and the sea.’ If only there was a way to bottle the sweet smell and deep breaths as a little falls asleep on your chest.”

The call to motherhood is deep in Streets’s genetic code, written in her soul. And the way she loves her children is fierce and deep. “I want them to always, always remember that I tried my best to make the right choices for them and that nothing will ever change my love, but I won’t always get it right,” she

says. “As they get out of the car each morning at school, they are always told the same thing: ‘Do good things, make good choices, be a good person, have a great day, I’m very proud of you and I love you very much.’

Each patient is different. We’ll work to find the specific course of treatment that’s best for you. We want our patients to feel confident treating their varicose veins.

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This month’s First Friday Forum event was sponsored by Frank Brown International Songwriters’ Festival at LuLu’s with Andy Haynes as the guest speaker. First Friday Forum is a monthly networking and breakfast meeting open to members of the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber.

Photos by Andrew Crumpton

Kelly Reeds, Teresa Bradley, and Rick Bradley Scott Fuller, Shawnda Rebain, and Marisa Montgomery

Rosemary Reichstetter and Shelly Beech

Peggy Galbaugh and Tamara Rose

Orlando Irizarry and Ryleigh Bramlette

Ellen Marinaccio, Joe Marinaccio, Penny Hughey, and Kim Guntow

Rick Conway, Jimmy Conyers, and Luke Chapman

Steve Henry and Barbara Campbell

Vicky and Bob Pitts

Megan Fazekas and Lindsey Holmes

Vicki Knotts, Christina Buckner, Cathy Snow, and Pat Dupre Kim Kennedy, Brooke Hotchkiss, Jenny Summerville, and Brooklyn Michael Joey Hipp, Noel Hand, and Andy Entrekin

Ginny and Rob Barnas

Leandro Maranto and Randy Davis Jason Foreman and David Skipper

Any and Calvin Elliott

The Mobile Big Game Fishing Club Ladies Day weekend is fun filled. The 46th annual Friday Night Captain’s Meeting included a team themed costume contest, won by team Miss Ma’am, cocktails by Fishers, and a catered dinner and pass around hors d’oevres by Roaming Oyster. The perennial sponsor, Park and Rebowe Clinic for Plastic Surgery and PR Medspa, awards the “Sea Cup” to the top boat which was Yellow Steel.

Photos by Andrew Crumpton

Jackie Morales, Nancy Standard, and Jill Marriott Katie Osburne, Monica Nash, Lauren Goode, and Marlo Webb

Christina and Shawn Park

Chase Johnson and Sidney Little

Lori and Claire Freeman

Aurora Patente, Samantha Patente, Eden Allen, Karen Miller, Alexis Pilkington, and David Miller

Jason and Tiffany Buck

Thad Lake and Carla Chromik

Wanda Leclerc and April DePaola

Katie, Pip, and Atlas Al-Jazra

Fran Riddell, Tammy Johnson, Margaret Yancey, and Lynne Klinger

Matthew Sayers, Jill Cox, and Maria Natal

Angela Chancellor, Amy McDonald, Ashley Holmes, and Kelly Calderone

Madalyn McLeod, Keaton Covan, Tara Hogoboom, Faith Davis, MacKenzie Moll, and Lisa Davis

COMING SOON MASTERS OF THECeremony

Social Coastal highlights bridal vendors throughout the region that offer our community the best of the best for planning the perfect wedding!

Be the first in the area to take part in this exclusive offer to showcase your business.

TallonDonnie +

It was at a country music concert, in fact, that the two first met, through mutual friends who had been trying to set them up—though that first meeting didn’t quite seal the deal. Sparks flew, phone numbers were exchanged and daily texts ensued, but still Tallon didn’t quite feel ready to date. It wasn’t until a few months later, when they ran into each other at a restaurant, that Tallon realized she was finally ready to let Donnie into her life.

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Story by Liesel Schmidt

Photos by Kayla Baptista Photography

Tallon Connor and Donnie Elmore’s story is a little bit country…and a whole lotta love.

Just over three years later, it was clear that they were not just in each other’s lives—but in one another’s hearts—forever. “We were at Oso early one morning having brunch with our friends, and my stepdad texted me that he’d just caught the biggest fish off the dock and to come look at it after we were done eating,” Tallon recalls. “The two of us have a little competition for who will catch the biggest fish, so we rushed to my parents’ house. I'm high tailing it down to the dock, and Donnie can barely keep up with me. My stepdad, mom and all of our friends were there, and when went to open the cooler, and heard Donnie say, ‘I don't want to call you Tallon Connor anymore.’ I turned around, and he was on one knee with tears in his eyes. My knees gave out on me, and I just fell down and said, ‘Yes! Yes!’ I remember countless nights that I cried on that dock over past relationships, and it was the one place that I would go to just sit and reflect. All the bad and hard things that this place use to be my escape from is now a place of forever gratefulness and genuine love.”

After ten months of planning, Donnie got his wish when Tallon walked down the aisle at Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens in Charleston, South Carolina, on August 19, 2023, wearing what she calls a “true life fairytale dress” to meet him at the altar and take his name. Vows exchanged, the couple was pronounced married and joined their 200 guests for an on-site reception at the venue that held deep meaning for Tallon. “My family is from Charleston, and my dad and mom used

to go out to Boone Hall Plantation for events when they were married,” she explains. “When I was child, my mom had Boone Hall Plantation pictures throughout our whole house. She always said that, one day when I was young, I looked up at these pictures so mesmerized by the beauty and said to her, ‘Mommy, when I get married I want to get married there.’ She first told me that years ago, when Donnie and I had just started dating, and it just kind of stuck with me. I've always loved Boone Hall, and it was so special that my younger self got the wedding of her dreams!”

Having had their fill of Lowcountry favorites, the couple cut into a five-tier white vanilla cake adorned with flowers and tiny replicas of their dogs with their noses in the cake. “It was so cute!” Tallon says.

The party would have been incomplete without music and dancing—and Tallon learned something about her new husband: “I found out that Donnie can cut a rug out on the dance floor!” she laughs. “I didn't know he had all these dance moves!”

After being sent off to spend their first night as a married couple, the newlyweds spent two days in Folly Beach, with plans for a honeymoon in the near future. “We have such busy work schedules that we haven’t had a chance to go yet!” explains Tallon, a Keller Williams Alabama Gulf Coast real estate agent, while Donnie is regional vice president for Caliber Collision Center. “Donnie is a licensed pilot and has a Cessna 182 plane that we plan to take from Orange Beach to Ft. Lauderdale before we head to the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, then to St. Barths on a two-week trip. I can't wait to spend that time with him, away from our busy life and work schedule!”

In addition to their family, Tallon and Donnie's friends Steve and Melissa May joined them for their wedding week in Charleston, helping with wedding prep and enjoying time together. "We >>

really were just grateful for them," says Tallon. "The day turned out great because of their help."

Now back home in Orange Beach, the couple is looking forward to their honeymoon—and a life filled with a little bit of country music and a whole lotta love.

WEDDING AND RECEPTION VENUE: Boone Hall Plantation, Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina

FLORAL DESIGN AND WEDDING PLANNING: Festoon Charleston and Hanna Crosby Events

PHOTOGRAPHER: Kayla Baptista Photography

WEDDING GOWN: Martina Liana Luxe

RINGS: Frank & Co Fine Jewelry

BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES: Show Me Your MuMu

MAKEUP: Silhouette on Site / Anna Marie Dufreche

HAIR: Silhouette on Site / Amy A Loope

CATERING: Hamby Catering

INVITATIONS: Dodeline Design

CAKE: Vanilla and The Bean

BAR SERVICES: Hamby Catering

RENTALS: Synder Events

2023 Winner - Best of Baldwin New Home Construction

2023 Winner - NAPPIES Best Homebuilder

Cuny

Cuny Owner Design & Decorating

Cuny Owner Builder

Bob McDowell, Tammy Turner, Ben Turner and Tim Lower

Photos by Andrew Crumpton

The community showed support for the grand opening and ribbon cutting for Sunset Golf Carts. There was no shortage of golf carts, refreshments, and giveaways!

Molly Cooley and Chelsey Roeck

Erin Maulden, Kyle Raulerson, and Dusty King

Greg Alexander and Bob McDowell

David Hancox and Jack Rich

Penny and Joey Hipp

Terry and Brandi Fincher

Russ and Pat Morrison

Vicki Knotts and Morgan Gillette

Brook Jones and Doug Hillis

The Lower Alabama Young Professionals hosted its fourth iteration of Barks, Bags, & Bushwackers at the Flora-Bama Yacht Club. This event included a cornhole tournament and raised money for animalrelated charity, Service Dogs Alabama, which provides medical and psychiatric service dogs to children, adults, and veterans with disabilities.

Janine Skipper, Macy Sorrell, and Christina Buckner  Ty Miller, Travis Valentine, and Cory Skipper

Brittany Davis and Matt Hamric

Jeff and Kat Hubbard

Mary Ann Hale and Staci Olden

Shelley Piraino and Amanda Vogel

Desiree and Andy Entrekin

Bryce Baragary, Amy Sullivan, and Lindsay Sullivan

Cameron Oz and Jennifer Breeding

Photos by Andrew Crumpton

Rick Villafranco and Sylvia Skultety

Jocelyn Kuklo and Rachel Cosby

Influencer

Hello, I’m Jordan Capers, Gulf coast native, owner of Cloud Nine Design Agency as well as a singer-songwriter with a current single on Spotify, and author of a children’s book. The idea for Cloud Nine Design Agency was born after my boyfriend and I bought our first home together. Renovating our space intertwined with planning and designing showers, parties, and networking events, it’s a neverending celebration at Cloud Nine Design! We focus on bringing our clients’ dreams to reality by making their home or event magical. While I love event planning and interior design, my biggest strength was always helping others. I am the founder of Gulf Coast Junior Women’s Club and a founding member of Women Supporting Women, Gulf Coast.

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Photos: Brittney Bell Photography

ZEKE'S CHARTER BOAT BILLFISH TOURNAMENT

Photos by Jaylee Photography

What an incredible day for the 1st Annual Charter Boat Billfish Tournament! With breathtaking views, electrifying music, a successful tournament, and lots of support from the community and sponsors, memories were made to last a lifetime.