West Georgia Woman Magazine November 2017

Woman

Complimentary

November 2017

West Georgia

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It's Our Anniversary!

Ruth Bentley Wilvert A Soldier's Heart

Celebrating Two Years in West Georgia

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The Woman Who Fought for Thanksgiving

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Thank You, West Georgia, for Two Wonderful Years!

What’s inside...

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A Celebration of a Beautiful Life A Soldier's Heart Holiday Grief and New Traditions

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The Woman Who Fought for Thanksgiving

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She's Got Game

In Every Issue:

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34

Daily Fare

54

Local Happenings

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Womentality

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Kidz Korner

The holidays are upon us, and Santa is coming to town!

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Fashion-comfort from Born® shoes, casual shoes and boots for men and women. Look good, feel great.

Carhartt casual lifestyle clothing, outerwear and accessories for men and women looking for fashion that lasts!

Clyde Cook, close-to-home pure “LOCAL” honey produced in Ephesus, Ga., it’s just the best, and it’s just plain good for you, too!

Thymes Frasier Fir Green Glass Candles mountain fresh and glowing, this festive holiday candle is like the warm smell of Christmas.

Southern Home & Ranch, Georgia grown, raw “SHELLED PEANUTS,” with tried and true “peanut brittle” recipe ideas. New harvest, while supplies last!

Olivia Marie’s “SWEETS AND TREATS” locally produced in Roopville, Ga. Jellies, jams, veggies, salsa and more, it’s ALL good! Gift packages available.

If you like cheese, you will LOVE our genuine, old-fashioned “Wisconsin Waxed Hoop Cheddar Cheese,” 3-lb. rounds in a box, perfect for entertaining or gift giving.

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Trapp "Holiday" Candle Collection 8 – seasonal fragrances, perfect for your home, holiday entertaining or special gift giving.

Georgia Olive Farms. Chef’s Blend “extra virgin” olive oil, produced in Georgia. It has a green, fresh, buttery taste with a mild fruity finish, just wonderful in so many healthy ways.

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worries. Replicates the random flicker and ambient glow of a real candle with timer function. Holiday colors available in 8” and 10” tapers, and 5”, 7” and 9” size candles. Perfect for your holiday table, windows or decorative setting. The safe alternative to a real flame.

Mascot “Fresh Shelled” Pecans. Can’t you just taste them now? The perfect healthy treat for cooking, baking, snacking or gift giving. 12oz., 16oz. bags and specialty gift ideas. New harvest, never frozen.

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Tristan Alexander Brooks May 15, 1993 – September 17, 2015

A Celebration of a Beautiful Life

By Angela Dailey, Publisher Tristan, age 17, during his senior photo shoot, Nov. 14, 2010

M

y nephew, Tristan, really loved spending time with his family. During any family gathering we had, he was always there, no matter what. One of the things I miss the most about Tristan was his outgoing personality. He always had something funny or witty to say, and usually kept the entire family laughing – or, he would have the older people in the family scolding him for saying something totally shocking and inappropriate!

When he would get together with his brother, Nathan, my son, Zach, and my daughter, Sydney, a good time was sure to be had by all in attendance. The four of them kept us older folks laughing at their silly antics, with each of them always trying to "one-up" the other to see who could make us laugh the hardest.

Tristan loved all of the traditional Thanksgiving foods, but he especially loved all of his Nana's homemade pies: cherry, pecan and pumpkin. He would try to stuff as much pie in his mouth as he possibly could, and we thought that was so adorable and hilarious.

Although we've already spent two Thanksgivings without our beautiful boy, there is still such a deep void in the family without him.

Last year was the first Thanksgiving we spent separately from the big family gatherings that were common before Tristan passed.

My parents went to Texas to spend Thanksgiving with my brother and his family, while I gratefully attended a loving, inclusive and welcoming Thanksgiving lunch with my dear

friends – more like family members to me – Drs. Fred and Anne Richards. Later in the evening, after coming home from their dad's family gathering, the kids and I enjoyed a traditional Puerto Rican Thanksgiving dinner with our wonderful friends, Rick and Rosa Reyes. Thank goodness for caring and supportive friends during times like these.

The truth is, when you lose someone who is such an important part of your life, that feeling that something is just not "right" never goes away, no matter what you do. The empty chair that should be filled by the person you love is forever present in your mind and in your heart – especially during the holidays.

But without the deepest love there would be no pain, and I'm thankful that I was able to watch Tristan grow and love him for 22 years.

My life is so much better because I knew him, but the pain of being without him can still be unbearable at times.

If you are experiencing the loss of a loved one this Thanksgiving, please know that you are not alone – although you may feel like you are. If you have no one to talk to, call me – my number is on page nine. I'll listen, and I'll probably cry right along with you. Just remember, this day will pass – usually very quickly – and try your best to be present with those you love who are still here with you.

Hopefully you will all be able to smile a little while you share some beautiful memories of that special person together as a family. WGW

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It's Our Anniversary!

Wow, I can't believe it's been two years since we published our first issue of West Georgia Woman magazine. We are so grateful, and honored, that you have welcomed us into your homes and your hearts, and I cannot express my gratitude enough. If not for the support from wonderful readers like you – and our valuable advertising partners – West Georgia Woman magazine wouldn't be here! The last two years have certainly been an amazing learning experience for me. When I first created West Georgia Woman, I wasn't sure if anyone would even read the magazine, much less love it, but the response we have received from the community has been overwhelming. Thank you, West Georgia, for allowing us to be a part of your lives. We look forward to celebrating you, and the women of West Georgia for many years to come!

In This Issue Our cover feature this month is Ms. Ruth Wilvert. She is such a wonderful, kind and caring woman. Ruth is a World War II veteran, a well-educated author, world traveler, mother and dedicated friend to many. And, she is the oldest woman who has been on our cover so far! She will turn 97 years old on April 30. I know you will enjoy reading about Ruth on page 10.

We also have Bremen High School outstanding student athlete, Shelby Daniel. Not only does Shelby excel on the softball field and in extreme mud races, but she also excels in academics. Shelby lives with an extremely dangerous and life-threatening condition – type 1 diabetes – but she refuses to allow her diabetes to stop her from doing what she loves. Read how Shelby is conquering the curve ball of her life with courage, strength and dignity on page 38.

Dr. Anne C. Richards, Professor Emerita, University of West Georgia, is a pillar of the West Georgia community. She has served the university and our community in many capacities for over 40 years. Anne was recently honored with a service award in October from the Department of Psychology at UWG, recognizing her for her continued service to the department. Anne is an intelligent, beautiful, kind and compassionate woman, and she is an inspiration to many. She is so loved! I am honored to call her my friend. Please read about Anne and her service to the UWG Department of Psychology on page 58.

Did you know Thanksgiving may not have been a national holiday if not for one very progressive 19th century woman? Read about Sarah Josepha Hale, the woman who fought for Thanksgiving, on page 28.

What do you have planned for the upcoming Thanksgiving holidays? Whatever you're doing, whether your traveling to visit out-of-town family, volunteering your time and talents, hosting your family in your own home or spending time with loving friends, I wish you the happiest Thanksgiving day ever.

You're probably ready to begin shopping for the upcoming holiday season. Please remember to shop locally as much as you can this year, so your money will go directly back into the community in which you live!

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Publisher

Finding our voice. Knowing our value. Making a difference.

TM

West Georgia Woman is a voice for and about the women who live and work in West Georgia.

Our mission is to engage, inspire, and cultivate a cohesive community for all women in West Georgia by sharing our hopes, our dreams and our lives.

This magazine would not be possible without the inclusion of our advertisers. Please be sure to show your support by doing business with these VIP’s (very important partners) so we will be able to continue to share with you our stories about amazing West Georgia women!

Please be sure to tell them we sent you!

Inspiring women wanted.

Do you know an interesting woman who should be on the cover of West Georgia Woman? Is there a special project or organization you would like us to feature in our magazine?

Let us know!

Email your suggestions to: features@westgeorgiawoman.com Share your special events.

Send your upcoming events to: calendar@westgeorgiawoman.com Send us your photos!

We welcome your local event and wedding photos.

We welcome your comments and suggestions.

Woman

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Volume 3 • Issue 1 November 2017

Contact us: Angela@westgeorgiawoman.com (404) 502-0251 Online: www.westgeorgiawoman.com Follow us!

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Get yours at Kroger, Publix, Southern Home and Ranch, Food Depot (Maple Street) and A+ Consignment in Carrollton. Publix at Mirror Lake, Piggly Wiggly and CVS in Bowdon and Piggly Wiggly in Tallapoosa as well as over 700 other retail locations and medical offices in West Georgia!

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West Georgia Woman is a monthly publicaegies expressed by the contributing tion of Angel Media, LLC. All contents of this authors are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, issue are copyright 2017. West Georgia Wompositions or strategies of Angel Media, an magazine, its logo and “Finding our voice.

LLC., West Georgia Woman magazine Knowing our value. Making a difference.” are or any employee thereof. Angel Media, trademarks of Angel Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is LLC. makes no representations as to strictly prohibited.

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accuracy, completeness, correctness, suitability, or validity of any information in this publication and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use.

West Georgia

Mail correspondence to: West Georgia Woman P.O. Box 2782 Carrollton, GA 30112

Publisher/Editor

Angela Dailey angela@westgeorgiawoman.com

Copy Editor Editorial Contributor

Shala Hainer shala@westgeorgiawoman.com

Photographer for cover Keith May

Editorial Contributors

Charlene Brooks, Julie Culpepper and Cheryl A. Francis, L.P.C.

Advertising Sales

Zachary@westgeorgiawoman.com Angela Brooks Dailey, owner and publisher of West Georgia Woman magazine, has lived in West Georgia most of her life and has a deep love and appreciation for the area. She received her B.B.A in management from The University of West Georgia in Carrollton, Ga., and is a Civil and Domestic Relations mediator and arbitrator registered with the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution. She lives in Carrollton, and has two wonderful children, Zachary and Sydney Dailey.

Angela enjoys reading, spending time with her children and extended family and loves to watch Sydney play soccer.

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A Soldier's

Ruth Wilvert sits in front of the monument etched with her image at the Veterans Memorial and Medal 10of Honor Park in Tallapoosa, Ga. Photos by Keith May.

Heart

By Angela Dailey

20th Century Hero, Ruth Wilvert, Helped Pave the Way for Others 11

R

uth Bentley Wilvert was always a bit different from other kids her age. "My mother would say to me, not condescendingly, but questioningly: 'Why are you so different from the other children?'" she laughs. "I never was a trouble maker, but I was sort of mischievous. I was always doing things that were not what I should do, but I never was really bad. But, I’m the only one my mother ever touched with a switch. My father, he’d whip the boys, and I’m the only girl he ever touched."

Photo courtesy of Tallapoosa Memories Facebook Page

The Early Years 96-year-old Ruth grew up in simpler, but harder times. Born in 1921 in Fruithurst, Ala., to parents, Bud and Bessie Mae Robertson Bentley, Ruth was the fifth of six children. "We six kids were close," she shares. "We never argued and we loved each other. If you needed $25,000, one of them gave it to you. If you needed $50,000, one of them would give it to you. We were very, very close. We had keys to each other’s houses. We did whatever each other wanted."

Each of the six children were delivered in the Bentley family home by Dr. E.L. Gilmore from

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The Lithia Springs Hotel during its heyday. People would visit from all over the country to receive the healing properties of the water in the bromine-lithium mineral springs.

Tallapoosa. Dr. Gilmore also owned the Lithia Springs Hotel; a grand and popular hotel built from 1881 to 1882, that was the largest wooden structure East of the Mississippi River at the time.

Dr. Gilmore was very close to Ruth's mother, and when Ruth was born, he is the one who named her.

"He named me," she says. "He wanted to name me Maude after his wife. They had no children. My mother told him, 'I don’t want to name my baby Maude,' so he named me Ruth Alice instead."

As a young girl, Ruth spent much of her time with the Gilmores. She says if her mother had let the doctor name her after his wife, Maude, then Ruth would have inherited the Lithia Springs Hotel.

The hotel was located on Boulevard in Tallapoosa, and had 175 rooms. The cost to build the hotel was $200,000, and the furnishings were $75,000. There was a huge ballroom, elevators, a banquet hall and a pool and billiards room. Outside the hotel were riding trails, tennis courts and 12 landscaped acres.

People from all over the country would visit because of the healing waters of the bromine-lithium mineral springs that were located on the grounds of the hotel. Bromine-lithium was once considered the most valuable alkaline known to the medical profession, and was only found in the southeast from south Pennsylvania to Georgia. A round-trip ticket from New York to Tallapoosa was 32 hours and cost $38.65, according to the Tallapoosa Historical Society.

The Hotel was dismantled from 1942 to 1943,

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years after Ruth was born – a baby girl named Mildred – the family called her Midge. Dr. Gilmore delivered her, too, but Ruth was the only child he named himself. "She was my baby sister for 80 years. Not many people can say that," she shares.

"My sister lived to be 80. She died a year before my husband did. I was 12 when she was born, I put her in first grade and I went away to Young Harris College that same month. Midge would often say, 'I grew up virtually as an only child, spoiled by my brothers and sisters, and I loved it.'"

Challenging Times

and many of the homes in Tallapoosa were built with the lumber and materials from the hotel. The remainder of the building and the copper roof were sold to the U.S. Navy. The only thing left is the bell that was once on top of the hotel. That is now located behind the Tallapoosa Historical Society building.

"Go down Head Avenue, make a right on Boulevard, and it was right there," Ruth says.

"They tore the hotel down during World War II for the lumber. It just broke my heart. It was the most gorgeous thing you ever saw in your life. I said to my mother, 'Mother, I could have changed my name,'" she laughs. "'I wouldn’t have minded being named Maude!'”

At age 48, Ruth's mother had her last child 12

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Ruth and her family moved to Tallapoosa when she was 2 1/2 years old, where they lived happily for several years. Then, on Oct. 24, 1929, the stock market crashed and the country fell into a Great Depression. Ruth was 8 years old.

“We never went hungry because we had an acreage with fruit trees, and we had animals," she relates. "My father had been reared on a farm and my mother knew how to dry foods and to can. But people went hungry. We didn’t have anything else.

There wasn’t a nickel for anything."

Times had changed drastically for most Americans and Ruth's family was no exception. "I always could memorize things really well," she says. "I would memorize these poems of the WCTU (Woman's Christian Temperance Union), and I’d go to the churches and I would tell these poems to the congregations. I remember the last pretty dress I had was reciting one of those poems when I was 8 years old. After that, we had our clothes made out of flour sacks. It was a bad time."

Ruth's father, Bud, never went to college, but she says he taught her more about discipline than any professor she ever had. "I never had to send my kids to the principal," she says. "What he taught us was two fold: Be consistent and be fair. And if you do that, you don’t have any trouble with discipline.

But he was strict. Everyone in Tallapoosa was afraid of my father. Out of six kids, we never had an argument. We knew better."

Ruth attended Tallapoosa High School, and graduated from the second class in 1938 when she was 17 years old. "It never occurred to me that I wasn’t going to college, and it was in ’38 when times were bad, bad, bad," she relates. "I got a card in the mail one day from a woman at our church, Ms. Jessamine Orgain, asking me to come see her. She lived two streets over. I came over during the time she specified, and she said, 'I know your father can’t

afford to send you to college, and I want to.' I said, 'Why me?' because I’d seen people try to borrow money from her before and she wouldn’t do it. She said, 'I have watched you grow up, and as long as you don’t disappoint God, you won’t disappoint me.' She paid for the two years I spent in junior college at Young Harris and the next two years when I went to Birmingham-Southern.

"I never abused the privilege. She made it quite clear – whatever I needed or wanted – all I had to do was tell her, but I never, ever took advantage of her."

Ruth later paid Ms. Jessamine back with no interest.

"She didn’t want the money, but I just couldn’t feel obligated,” she says.

With Ms. Jessamine's help, Ruth left Tallapoosa in 1938 at the age of 17 to attend Young Harris College. “I was a good Methodist,” she says. “And I loved it there. Everybody was poor. There were a few well-to-do kids, but most of them went there because it was low tuition and ministerial students didn’t have to pay any tuition. It was the happiest two years of my life.”

While attending Young Harris College, Ruth became president of the Phi Delta Sorority – the oldest sorority at Young Harris, a part of the Young Harris College campus since 1891 – and she was on the debate team.

"We didn’t even have laundry facilities at that little college, and this lady would come get our clothes for washing," she relates. "I remember one cold day she had her legs wrapped in newspapers. My mother had made me a coat out of a blanket that looked like cashmere. I know the Bible says don’t let your left hand know what your right is doing, but I gave that woman my only coat.

"So I was able to go to Duke University to debate, but I didn’t have a coat to wear. I asked one of the girls who was rather affluent if I could borrow a garment, and she lent me a coat sweater. That’s how I got to go to Duke, that’s how bad it was. We debated about beef being dumped into the ocean. I love to debate. I call it arguing," she laughs.

During the time Ruth attended college, Young Harris was a boarding school for high schoolers and a two-year college. After completing her two years at Young Harris, Ruth attended BirminghamSouthern College – another Methodist school – where she received her first bachelor’s degree in English and religious education.

"I never applied for a job, but I worked all the time," she says. "Schools needed teachers, and wherever I went there was a need for teachers."

After graduating from Birmingham-Southern, Ruth

taught school for one year in South Alabama. Then, she returned home with a surprising announcement.

Anchors Away "I came home from teaching, and I announced to my father that I was going into the service," she shares. "I had two sisters who were registered nurses, I had a brother-in-law who was a surgeon, two brothers who were electrical engineers and nobody in the service. My father didn’t object – I was old enough – but I had a brother who voiced his objection. But I went in and I enlisted on my own immediately."

Ruth enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve women's reserve, or WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service). This branch was established on July 21, 1942, by the U.S. Congress and was signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on July 30, 1942. This authorized the U.S. Navy to accept women into the Naval Reserve at the enlisted level and as commissioned officers. This law would be in effect for the duration of the war and an additional six months. The purpose of the law was to have women replace the officers and men currently working at in shore establishments, so the men and officers could be released for sea duty.

After enlisting, Ruth was transferred to midshipmen’s school at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, where she received her Ensign's rating. An Ensign is the entry-level commissioned officer's rank in the U.S. Navy, and is equivalent to the rank of Second Lieutenant in the other armed services. Smith College was where the majority of the WAVES officer candidates received their instruction during the war. The WAVES served at 900 different shore locations in the United States, and Hawaii was the only overseas station that was staffed with WAVES. Numerous female officers entered fields previously held A photo of Ruth in uniform that she gave by men, such as engineers to her mother. The inscription on the bottom left says: Love to Mother. Ruth and doctors,

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and the enlisted women served from clerical and administrative positions, to parachute riggers. The WAVES had 86,291 members during its peak. After ceasing military operations, Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz, the Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal and Fleet Admiral Ernest King commended the WAVES for their contributions to the war effort.

After taking the entrance test for the Navy, Ruth received a phone call from the Lieutenant in charge.

He told her she had made the highest score in her class in verbal and the lowest in mechanics. "He said he didn't know what to do with me," she laughs. "So I became a recruiter, which was a prized position. I had a car, an apartment and I made speeches with the War Production Board on saving tin cans and grease. Every service person – male and female – were on the stage and it was wonderful. We had such a good time.

"I really enjoyed the service. I met and married my husband while I was in the service, and that’s the reason I got out. He was back from overseas.

He’d had his 50 missions as a bomber pilot – he was a wonderful B-25 pilot. When he came back they put him on leave with a staff car. I was assigned to the DNOP (Director of Naval Officer Procurement), and that’s where I met Will. They sent me over to the post office in Atlanta for two weeks, and that’s when I met him. I met him in January 1944 and I married him in December. I was only in the Navy from the summer when I joined, until the war ended in 1945 – two and a half years. I would have stayed in if you could have had children because I thought

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I was supposed to have children. And now, when I see people in uniform and pregnant I think, 'That could have been me.' I could have probably been an admiral,” she laughs.

"I had several proposals because it was war time and everyone wanted to get married, and I didn't want to get married," she relates. "But I stayed friends with all of them. I said to my husband, 'Now I married you, they asked me to marry them and we’re going to stay friends.' He never voiced an objection and he took me to this one’s funeral, he took me to see this one in the hospital, he took me to North Carolina to see the one that they named the library after.

"They were all prominent people, and I always told him 'you couldn’t hold a candle to any of them,'" she laughs. "He would say, 'I don’t think this is in the line of duty that I have to do this,' but he always took me.”

Will and Ruth were married for 70 years. He passed away on Nov. 3, 2014, at the age of 93. She says they never had an argument. "We would clear the air but we never, ever had a fuss," she shares. "He should have shot me several times during that 70 years. He was no pushover. When it came to golf, when it came to cars and when it came to flying, I didn’t have any say so, but if things didn’t matter, he let me have my way and I did a lot of foolish things. He would say, 'You got us in this mess, you get us out,' and I would. That was just the way he was. For anybody to have had a mate as he was, it's an enviable situation. Ours was the best marriage I could have ever asked for. I wish other people could experience that."

Military Life 16

Photos of Ruth during her time in the service.

If you're in the military, you usually don't

back to the deplorable situations. I wasn’t in favor of that, but they didn’t ask me.”

Will flew four years in Germany, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, by both the American and German governments, at Temple Air Force Base.

Photos of Ruth with her husband, Major Willard Ellsworth Wilvert.

Will was a B25 bomber pilot during World War II.

An Unexpected Career

stay in one place for very long. After they were Anna was going into the first grade, and Wesley married, Will was transferred to Omaha Neb., then hadn't started school yet, when the night before O’hare Field in Chicago, then to Washington D.C. Anna was to start her first day at a German school, and then to Ohio. she refused to go.

By this time, Ruth had given birth to three "Our daughter was the perfect child," she relates. children: Anna was the oldest, then Wesley and "She told me twice in her life she wasn’t going to do their third child, another little boy Ruth was going something – only twice. We had signed her up to go to name Lee Scott, was hydrocephalic and, sadly, to a German school, and the night before she was to passed away during childbirth. He is buried in a go she said, 'Mommy, I’m not going to the German military cemetery in Ohio. school.' I didn’t ask her any questions – she didn’t Soon, Will was sent overseas to Germany. He was go to the German school. She went to the American there six months before Ruth and the two children Dependent School instead. could join him. Will was in Germany Ruth stands in front of the monument etched with her image at the Veteran's for four years. Ruth and the children Memorial and Medal of Honor Park in Tallapoosa, Ga. lived there for three and a half years.

"We had a wonderful time in Europe," she shares. "It was 1953, not too long after the war and Germany was still in desolation." While he was stationed in Germany, Will flew the Berlin Kinderlift. In July 1953, the U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) began Operation Kinderlift.

The command would fly children from Berlin to West Germany for a summer vacation in American and German homes. Operation Kinderlift continued each summer through 1958.

"We had a little boy one summer named Verner who sang opera. He was the same age as my son. My son would be singing 'She’ll be coming around the mountain,' and Verner would be singing opera," she laughs.

“But ... it was tragic. To have them live a summer with us and then go

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Ruth's daughter, Anna

"One day, her teacher had strep throat – that was when strep was new and everybody was terrified of it – and the principal was supervising the class. He said, 'Boys and girls, don’t any of you have a mother who is a teacher?' Well, Anna, who was very reticent (reserved), held her little hand up, and that’s when I got back into teaching!”

Ruth was quickly sworn into civil service and later became head of the audio visual aids for all of the schools in Europe. Will and Ruth were also expecting their fourth child, but sadly, their little boy was born prematurely. Ruth says she probably would have named the little boy Todd.

Tragedy Close To Home After leaving Europe, the Wilverts moved to South Carolina. Shortly after the move, Will had to go on a six month tour in Alaska. After his tour, Will decided to reenlist so he could get his master's degree at AFIT (Air Force Institute of Technology), in Dayton, Ohio. Once again, their family moved back to Ohio.

"We went to Ohio, and at the University of Dayton I got a second elementary degree and special education degree so I could teach," she shares.

"Then I went to get my master’s in psychology in Oxford, Ohio."

On March 18, 1959, tragedy struck their idyllic family. Anna went on a Girl Scout field trip with seven other girls and two Scout leaders to work on a merit badge at the Xenia, Ohio library. They were on their way back, crossing the railroad tracks that intersected Factory Road, when their car was hit by a freight train in Ohio's worst traffic accident to

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date. All eight girls and the two adults died from the collision. The girls were in the 6th grade, and they were all 12 years old, except for Anna. She passed away five days before her 12th birthday.

Sadly, the accident could have been prevented had the railroad crossing had flashing lights. The school board had repeatedly asked for flashing lights to be installed at the train crossing, but they were denied. After the accident, flashing lights were installed.

"Anna survived the accident and was transported to the hospital," she shares. "She was only in the hospital for two hours. One of the men, our neighbor, was a volunteer fireman. He went to the scene to help, and he found his own daughter in the wreckage. He never worked as a volunteer again.

Anna's birthday invitations were found at the scene of the accident. She was having her first boy/girl dinner – six boys and six girls because she was 12.

"My father taught me not to cry," she relates.

"When Anna was killed I didn’t cry. When my husband died I didn’t cry. I don’t know how to cry.

Isn’t that strange? My husband could cry, he didn’t think that was not manly, but he could cry and I couldn’t. I’ve always been a strong person. I learned to take care of myself at an early age because I had to."

Anna and the other girls: Sharon White, Paulnetta Randall, Ann North, Patricia Lipinski, Cynthia Moorman, Linda Ward and Connie LaPrise, and the leaders Mrs. Jeanette Randall and Mrs. Lucille White are remembered today at Angel's Pass, a memorial park on Factory Road, in Xenia. At Angel's Pass there is a memorial stone placed next to a flag pole in the center of the park. Eight benches circle the stone, one for each girl in the troop. The memorial was made by the senior class of 1965 in remembrance of the eight girls. 1965 would have been the year they graduated.

Although she dearly misses Will and the three children she lost, Ruth tries to keep a positive attitude. "I had 70 years of a wonderful marriage, I miss him terribly, but I’m not one to grieve. I had Photo courtesy of Beaverfour children and lost three creek High School class of 1965 website. of them. My mother used

to say, 'It’s not about what happens to you in life, it’s about how you deal with it.'"

Settling Down Will retired from the military after 23 years of service, and he and Ruth moved from Ohio to Santa Barbara, Calif., where he taught aviation, science and math at a local high school. They lived in Santa Barbara 23 years.

"I was working on my doctorate at the University of Southern California when I became a diabetic.

The doctor said 'If you don’t need this ego trip, I suggest you quit,' she says. "I was one year into my doctorate. I had to give it up, and that’s the only thing I’ve ever started that I didn’t finish. I was going to write my thesis on sex education, which back then was unheard of or to even talk about it, but now kids are having sex at 12. We didn’t talk about sex in our family. I never saw my parents in their underclothes and my dad never came to the table in his undershirt. In those days, that wasn’t something you talked about.

"This was in the early 60’s – I would go to classes with another female and two males. When I dropped out, she dropped out, too, but the males received their doctorates. Every time I would see them for a while I’d be mad," she laughs.

An Unusual Gift

had suffered from a stroke. He was found in his room exactly the way Ruth had described him in her dream.

A Published Author From a young age, Ruth enjoyed writing; her first published work was a poem she submitted to the Atlanta Journal Constitution when she was 12 years old, and she would later write several articles for the Birmingham News.

Ruth was interested in the paranormal because of her own experiences, and when a friend of her sister's told her about a psychic he had met in Georgia, she was intrigued. "I had a friend my sister liked, and he came to live with us in California," she relates. "He had met a woman named Ellen Evans from Buford, Ga., and told me about her, so I called her. When I called her she said, 'Isn’t that interesting? I was told that a woman named Ruth was going to write a story about me.'

We talked a lot on the phone. And I wrote a whole book about her before I ever met her. She was very interesting. She was different," she laughs. Ruth's book, "Georgia Psychic Ellen Evans," was published in 1979.

Southern Roots

Ruth has always had a gift for seeing things that others can't. She often has premonitions, has a Ruth and Will left Santa Barbara after her son, talent for finding things that have been lost and has Wesley, and his first wife, Jane, divorced. "That’s the had visions of family members and first time in my life I wasn’t able to do friends who were in trouble. something," she shares. "I just couldn’t "I came down for breakfast and I stay in Santa Barbara anymore. Jane was told Will and Wes I dreamed about just like my daughter."

Dad Wilvert (Will's father) last night," When Ruth was 95 years old, she gave she shares. "I told them exactly where up housekeeping in Georgia, and moved he was and what he was doing. He to Colorado to live with her son Wesley, lived in a senior citizen’s hotel and a retired chiropractor, and her daughterWill’s mother was in the nursing home. in-law, Kathryn. Although she'd much "I believe in out of body rather live in Georgia, she says Wes and experiences, and I believe he sent for Kathryn take good care of her. "They are me because I was that close to him. very good to me," she relates. "Every I saw the way he was. I don’t believe night, Wesley and Kathryn come in my in coincidence and I don’t believe bedroom separately. They tuck me in, things happen accidentally. I’m able kiss me goodnight and make sure I’m to foresee things, and I’m good at all right. They take too good of care of Tributes to Ruth and her serfinding things. I see things. I always me," she laughs. "I never was stationary. vice at the Veteran's Memorial knew things, without knowing I knew I like Georgia. I was reared here. I’m a and Medal of Honor Park in them. I don’t know why." Will's father her hometown of Tallapoosa. southerner," she says emphatically.

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"I’ve lived in all the big cities: New York, Chicago, Omaha, Charleston, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Birmingham. But I like the country.

But we don’t get to do what we want to do, and when you get to be almost 100 you sure don’t get to do what you want to do!” she laughs.

Because Ruth travels so much – she spends much of her time visiting friends and family all over the country – she has only been in Colorado less than a year. She has a home in Panama City, and one in Carrollton and she enjoys coming back home to Georgia whenever she is able.

Ruth has never settled for mediocrity her entire life. A World War II veteran, world traveler and

published author with two bachelor's degrees and a master's degree, she has always had a thirst for knowledge and a passion for trying new things that most women of her generation would have never dreamed of doing.

"When I think back," she says. "I was never bored in my life, and I was never lonely. If you think your own thoughts and if you read, you never get lonely. I miss my husband, but I never was lonely. I always was a little premature with my teaching and everything, and I don’t know why. I was a little early for everything and I know that now. I’ve had such an interesting life.

It wasn’t dull, I’ll tell you that!"

Ruth may not know why she accomplished so many of the things she did before her time, but we are thankful for her, and other progressive women just like her, who followed their dreams and didn't allow traditional gender roles to stand in their way.

With their passion and drive to show the world that they were powerful and significant, while carrying inside them the unwavering belief that their contributions would make a difference, these 20th century women blazed the trail for all women. Those remarkable role models and Ruth Wilvert did all of these things early to pave the way for the rest of us – to show us that we could. WGW

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Holiday Grief and New Traditions

By Cheryl Francis 23

T

here is no blueprint to manage grief, and therefore, grief and loss has no timeline. As a result, we all grieve differently. During the grief process, we may think we need closure to move on, but in actuality, closure is difficult to achieve. When we experience grief or a loss, we cycle through several stages, and not necessarily in any order. This is the main reason we grieve differently and may or may not achieve closure.

Many times, the grief and loss process begins with denial. “I don’t believe this has happened,” or “This is unreal.” After denial, we may become angry.

Angry at the person or situation we have lost. Angry at just being angry. We may even place blame or fall into a deep depression.

While grieving, life may become unbearable. We may think certain things should be done a particular way so we can fully function or survive these feelings of grief. While we are experiencing grief, we feel the essence of the person or situation we've lost, but in reality, there is a real absence. Until we begin to accept the reality of what happened, grief becomes laborious; but there is hope.

The holidays are where we create traditions.

Holidays are the times when families pause for a moment and loved ones come together. We have

created traditions to knit our families together, and build memories.

Cultural tradition sets the stage that holidays are when we should be around friends and family, and these special occasions are centered around doing specific things together because it gives us a sense of oneness and of unity. It is a time when individuals talk about going home and home-cooked meals.

We choose to create memories and bring back memories of times gone by.

Holidays are times when grief and loss experiences are magnified. Accepting your feelings is a way of honoring your grief and loss, and to heal.

Traditions may sometimes help with this healing.

If engaging in a specific holiday tradition is too much – or too painful – it is O.K. to create new ones while working through your grief and loss. Using the holidays to establish a framework to break or keep certain traditions may help to aid in managing grief.

Honoring The Loss And Creating New Traditions • Create a tribute or share fond memories of the person you are grieving with those

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in your circle. This does not need to be elaborate, but it will help you focus on the time you had with your loved one.

Begin a holiday tradition by lighting a special candle, or placing a special token in a special place in your home in memory of who or what you have lost. You may choose to make this a small ceremony, or make it a simple conscious and intentional act.

Create a tradition of deciding to be intentionally gentle to yourself during the holidays. Live in the moment and be good to yourself. Allow your feelings to show and flow, and allow others to offer you help and comfort. Know that you are changing during this process. Things will never be the same as they were before the loss, but you do not have to change the essence of who you are.

Create new traditions by preparing the loved one’s favorite dish during the holiday.

This helps with cherishing and honoring the person's memory.

Talk about who and what you have lost.

There is healing in this grand old tradition.

Focus on the laughter, the good times, and yes, even the mischievous ways of your loved one.

Remember there are always things to be thankful for. Sometimes people who are grieving may think the loss takes away all of their reasons to be thankful, and the loss offers no reason to celebrate. Try to think of reasons to be thankful – the moments you and your loved one had, the smiles you shared and the memories. Just the fact that you played a small part in the individual’s life, and they in

yours, is a reason to be thankful.

• Don’t go through the motions of celebrating for others, or because you think this is what the person would want. If you don't feel like celebrating, don't force it. Choose another healthy activity to get you through the holiday season, and let others know your reason for not celebrating.

• Decide to take control of your life. Laugh, have fun and smile through the pain while choosing to live meaningfully. It is through addressing the pain we experience, that we are able to truly live. We are able to understand who we are, and how strong we can be through adversity. Grief and loss forces us to change, and look at our world and those around us through a different lens.

• Recognize at the beginning of your grieving process you will have a lot of support. As the years go by after your loss, the support will lessen as people will go back to tending

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Invite others into your life and your heart.

to their own lives. It is in this moment, you will recognize those who are really here for you.

Then you may begin to start a new tradition of letting go of those who are no longer a part of your life, and begin again. The beauty of letting go means new relationships will be created. • Invite others into your life and your heart.

Opening your home and your heart – literally and figuratively – during the holidays is a helpful way of unburdening yourself of the grief. Just because your loved one is no longer present doesn't mean your capacity to love has stopped, and it doesn't mean you have nothing left to give. Your life was enriched because of your loved one, and you can now share what you gained from the experience of knowing and loving them with others.

Experiencing grief and a loss can be a very lonely and painful time, and there is no right or wrong way to grieve during the holidays. Do what you makes you comfortable and forget about everything else.

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Whether you continue the traditions that you and your loved one cherished together, or choose to create new ones, always remember to be kind to yourself and ask for loving support from family and friends when you need it during this difficult time in your life. WGW Cheryl A. Francis, Licensed Professional Counselor, is the owner of The Heart Matters Wellness Services LLC, a full-service counseling agency. She is certified as a Mental Health First Aid Adult trainer and regularly provides seminars and trainings to the community on various mental health issues. She has partnered with the Georgia Center for Child Advocacy to train individuals in the prevention of childhood sexual abuse. Visit heartmatterswellness. com for more information about Cheryl and her work.

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The Woman Who Fought for

Thanksgiving 28

W

hen Americans think of Thanksgiving, images of Indians and Pilgrims, football and feasts often come to mind. But few Americans know that because of one progressive and diligent woman, Thanksgiving came to be a national holiday celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November every year.

Sarah Josepha Buell was born in Newport, N.H., on October 24, 1788. As a young female growing up in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the only education she received was private tutoring from her brothers. When she was 18 years old, she became a teacher at a school in her hometown.

At age 24, she married her husband, a lawyer named David Hale, and they had five children.

Tragically, her husband died of a stroke in 1822, and Sarah began to work in the millinery trade making and selling women's hats.

After a short while, Sarah began a career as an editor and writer to support her family of five children. She wrote the 1823 book "The Genius of Oblivion and Other Original Poems," penned anonymously and wrote the novel "Northwood: A Tale of New England," in 1827.

Around 1830 Sarah took the position of editor for "Ladies' Magazine," later named "American Ladies' Magazine." During this time, Sarah penned the popular children's poem, "Mary's Lamb,"

widely known now as "Mary Had a Little Lamb," that was included in a book called "Poems for Our Children." Seven years later, a man named Louis Godey purchased "American Ladies Magazine," and renamed it "Godey's Lady's Book."

Sarah continued to work for the magazine for the next 40 years. She did the majority of the writing for the publication, but also relied on other contributors for content, which focused primarily on feminine etiquette. Under her guidance, the magazine eventually had a circulation of 150,000 and published the work of prominent authors such as Edgar Allen Poe, Harriet Beecher Stowe and Nathanial Hawthorne.

She was a dedicated advocate of educating girls and women, encouraging women's entrance into professions like medicine and teaching. Because of experiencing the difficulties as a widow raising her family, she pushed for improvements to women’s wages and property rights for married women. In 1861, she helped finance Vassar College – a liberal arts college for women – and pushed for women to join the faculty. She was also instrumental in helping establish Troy Female Seminary in 1821. At the time the seminary was founded, women were not allowed to go to college. Troy was the first educational institution in the country to provide young women with an education that was comparable to the

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education given to young men.

Although educational institutions for girls did exist during this time, the educational curriculum for women was limited to what was considered the "female arts," such as embroidery and conversational French.

In spite of her progressive views toward the education of women, property rights and women's wages, Hale didn't support women's suffrage (the right to vote), feminist's desires for equal access to what was considered "men's work" and did not embrace the abolitionist cause with other women revolutionaries – although she did take an antislavery position in her book, "Northwood; a Tale of New England." This was one of the first two books she wrote that would begin her life long preoccupation with making Thanksgiving a national holiday.

Published in 1827, "Northwood," included the first in-depth description of the celebration of Thanksgiving: The table, covered with a damask cloth, vieing in whiteness, and nearly equaling in texture, the finest imported, though spun, woven and bleached by Mrs. Romilly's own hand, was now intended for the whole household, every child having a seat on this occasion; and the more the

30

Sarah Josepha Hale is considered the "Mother of Thanksgiving."

better, it being considered an honor for a man to sit down to his Thanksgiving dinner surrounded by a large family. The provision is always sufficient for a multitude, every farmer in the country being, at this season of the year, plentifully supplied, and every one proud of displaying his abundance and prosperity.

The roasted turkey took precedence on this occasion, being placed at the head of the table; and well did it become its lordly station, sending forth the rich odor of its savory stuffing, and finely covered with the froth of the basting. At the foot of the board, a sirloin of beef, flanked on either side by a leg of pork and loin of mutton, seemed placed as a bastion to defend innumerable bowls of gravy and plates of vegetables disposed in that quarter.

A goose and pair of ducklings occupied side stations on the table; the middle being graced, as it always is on such occasions, by that rich burgomaster of the provisions, called a chicken pie. This pie, which is wholly formed of the choicest parts of fowls, enriched and seasoned with a profusion of butter and pepper, and covered with an excellent puff paste, is, like the celebrated pumpkin pie, an indispensable part of a good and true Yankee Thanksgiving; the size of the pie usually denoting the gratitude of the party who prepares the feast. The one now displayed could never have had many peers …

Plates of pickles, preserves and butter, and all the necessaries for increasing the seasoning of the viands to the demand of each palate, filled the interstices on the table, leaving hardly sufficient room for the plates of the company, a wine glass and two tumblers for each, with a slice of wheat bread lying on one of the inverted tumblers. A side table

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was literally loaded with the preparations for the second course, placed there to obviate the necessity of leaving the apartment during the repast …

There was a huge plum pudding, custards and pies of every name and description ever known in Yankee land; yet the pumpkin pie occupied the most distinguished niche. There were also several kinds of rich cake, and a variety of sweetmeats and fruits.

On the sideboard was ranged a goodly number of decanters and bottles; the former filled with currant wine, and the latter with excellent cider and ginger beer – a beverage Mrs. Romilly prided herself on preparing in perfection.

Sarah published a book of short stories in 1835, titled "Traits of American Life." One of her stories in the books was titled “The Thanksgiving of the Heart.” Sarah wrote: Our good ancestors were wise, even in their mirth. We have a standing proof of this in the season they chose for the celebration of our annual festival, the Thanksgiving. The funeralfaced month of November is thus made to wear a garland of joy …

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There is a deep moral influence in these periodical seasons of rejoicing, in which a whole community participate. They bring out, and together, as it were, the best sympathies of our nature. The rich contemplate the enjoyments of the poor with complacency, and the poor regard the entertainments of the rich without envy, because all are privileged to be happy in their own way.

Sarah often wrote articles about Thanksgiving in the magazine she edited, and she lobbied federal and state officials to pass legislation to set a fixed, national day of thanks on the last Thursday of November. Because of the growing tensions between the north and the south, she felt this would bring the country together. Because of her efforts, more than 30 U.S. territories and states had recognized a Thanksgiving celebration by 1854. But her dream of Thanksgiving being recognized as a national holiday was yet to be fulfilled.

The eruption of the Civil War in April 1861 did not sway her efforts to create the national holiday. She continued to write articles on recognizing a day of thanks, while encouraging Americans to rally around the cause, regardless of their political views.

The holiday still continued, in spite of the war, in the Confederacy and the Union. In 1861 and 1862,

Jefferson Davis, the Confederate president, issued Thanksgiving Day proclamations after victories in the south. Abraham Lincoln also proclaimed a day of thanks in April 1862, after Union victories at Shiloh, Fort Donelson and Fort Henry, and then again after the Battle of Gettysburg in the summer of 1863.

Sarah wrote to President Lincoln and William Seward, Secretary of State, in Sept. 1863, asking them again to declare a national Thanksgiving. She wrote that only the president had the power to create a permanent Thanksgiving holiday that would be recognized and celebrated by all Americans in perpetuity.

Within a week of receiving Sarah's letter, Seward had drafted Lincoln’s official proclamation for a national observation of Thanksgiving on the final Thursday in November. After 30 years of fighting for Thanksgiving, Sarah, and the United States of America, finally had an official national holiday of Thanksgiving.

There might not be a nationally recognized Thanksgiving if not for the efforts of Sarah Josepha Hale. So this year, as you celebrate with friends and family, take a few moments to remember the woman who fought so diligently for Thanksgiving. She would most certainly be thankful for that. WGW

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Ditch the Takeout and Love Those Leftovers These egg rolls are a great way to do something a little different with your leftover Thanksgiving meal that is very tasty.

The only recipe I’m leaving with you this month is a special stuffing recipe from one of my customers that is a delicious, yet easy, family recipe that’s worth trying for the egg rolls, otherwise, just use your favorite ingredients desired for your egg rolls and enjoy!

These winter vegetable turnovers are made from a recipe I adapted from the Food and Wine website.

These turnovers make a wonderful side dish, and can be made a day ahead if needed. You could also use some of your leftover sweet potatoes for this recipe.

Thanksgiving Leftovers Egg Rolls with a Cranberry Dipping Sauce Ingredients For the egg rolls 1 package egg roll wrappers found in the freezer or refrigerated sections of most stores (you will use about 10 for this recipe) 1 cup shredded turkey

Salt and pepper to taste

1 cup leftover stuffing or dressing (see 35

stuffing recipe)

10 slices Gouda cheese or your favorite cheese 1 cup cranberry dipping sauce

For the cranberry dipping sauce 1 cup leftover cranberry sauce 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard 2 tablespoons honey

Salt and pepper to taste.

For Rosemary’s Family Recipe for Stuffing 4 cups diced crusty bread (I used Panera Bread Country Loaf Cubes) 2 large celery stalks diced in small pieces

1 small onion, diced in small pieces

2/3 cup finely chopped toasted pecans 1 cup finely chopped portabella mushrooms (or any variety) Salt and pepper to taste

1 tablespoon poultry seasoning

3 tablespoons bacon grease or butter About 2 to 3 cups chicken stock (may be necessary to add water)

Preparation For the egg rolls Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place a slice or section of a slice 36

of cheese onto an egg roll wrapper.

Leave room around the edges so that it won’t leak out.

Place about 1 tablespoon each of turkey and stuffing into the middle and spread it evenly over the cheese.

Brush a little water with your fingers around the edges of the wrapper.

Tuck in the sides, and then roll up tightly like a burrito. Seal the egg roll with a little more water around the outside seam of the wrapper.

Place egg rolls a few inches apart on the parchment paper and bake for about 12 to 15 minutes until golden brown.

Serve with the cranberry dipping sauce.

For the cranberry dipping sauce Combine all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. Refrigerate until ready for use. Can be served cold or warm.

For the stuffing In a large pan over medium heat, sauté the celery, onion and mushrooms in the bacon grease until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the pecans and stir another few minutes. Season with salt, pepper and the poultry seasoning.

Add the bread cubes and stir until well combined. Place into a greased 9-inch-by-13-inch baking dish. Add stock and enough water to come to the top of the bread cubes.

Bake at 375 degrees around 45 minutes until the cubes have soaked up most of the liquid but are still moist and slightly browned.

Makes about one dozen egg rolls.

Preparation

Winter Vegetable Turnovers

Ingredients

1 small butternut squash (2 to 3 pounds), peeled, seeded and diced 1 medium sweet onion, diced in small pieces 2 cups shredded Havarti cheese 1 teaspoon fresh chopped thyme Salt and pepper to taste, about ½ teaspoon each All-purpose flour for rolling out the pastry 1 box store-bought pastry dough, chilled (I make my dough from scratch) Egg wash (2 large eggs and 2 tablespoons milk – well combined and smooth)

Steam the butternut squash until fork tender.

Next, sautĂŠ the onion in a little butter until tender.

Place the vegetables into a food processor along with the seasonings, and blend until smooth. Allow to cool.

Place the chilled pastry dough onto a lightly floured surface and cut out large circles with a biscuit cutter or glass rim (I use a plastic turnover mold that fills and seals the turnover together.)

Place enough vegetable filling on the dough to fill half of the turnover, but do not over stuff. The sides will not seal properly and the filling will leak out while cooking.

Top with some shredded cheese.

Brush the inside edge of the dough circle with egg wash. Turn the dough over the filling to form a half circle.

Seal the turnover by gently pressing the tines of a fork around the edges to seal the dough together.

Place onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush the outside of the turnovers with egg wash.

Bake at 400 degrees for about 25 minutes until golden brown.

Cool slightly before serving.

Makes about a dozen turnovers, depending on the size you desire. WGW 37

SHE'S GOT GAME

Bremen High School Softball Player Shelby Daniel Conquers A Life-Altering

Curve Ball 38Photos by Keith May

ith a level of maturity not often found in a teenager, 15-year-old Shelby Daniel – an outstanding sophomore star softball player and student at Bremen High School – learned at the age of 12 just how fragile life can be when she was diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition.

Shelby is a type 1 diabetic, but this fiercely competitive and extremely talented young woman is determined to not let her medical condition define who she is – or prevent her from living her life the way she chooses – on her own terms.

The American Diabetes Association says hypoglycemia (dangerously low blood glucose levels), or hyperglycemia (dangerously high blood glucose levels), is an everyday concern for a person with diabetes, and can be extremely dangerous.

If a person experiencing hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia does not receive glucose, they can have seizures and become unconscious resulting in a diabetic coma, which often requires some type of emergency medical response.

Shelby is considered a "Brittle Diabetic." This means in spite of doing everything possible to maintain her blood sugar balance, she often experiences extremely large and fast shifts in her blood sugar. These extreme episodes can happen suddenly, and with little warning. Even worse, Shelby has become somewhat hypo and hyper unaware of these changes.

Brittle Diabetes – also known as volatile or labile diabetes – is one of the most dangerous forms of an already extremely dangerous disease. Because blood sugar levels remain unregulated, manageable diabetic symptoms can quickly spin out of control.

The continuous glucose monitor that Shelby uses – a Dexcom monitor – does not catch the changes quickly enough in her situation, and it isn't always

W

accurate.

Although Shelby is a very independent and selfsufficient young woman, she is not able to enjoy many of the perks of maturity and growing older that most teenagers her age take for granted.

Because of her rare form of diabetes, Shelby cannot sleep, run, workout or do much of anything by herself without another person by her side, and she won't be able to drive by herself when she turns 16 in December. She has to have constant companionship to watch out for potential seizures or a loss of consciousness.

Shelby dreams of one day having a Diabetic Alert Dog. A Diabetic Alert Dog is trained to detect changes in blood sugar before they become life threatening, and dogs can sense these changes more quickly through their sense of smell, than a continuous glucose monitor.

These dogs are trained to alert the patient and caregivers during a hypoglycemic event, and they work with the patient constantly.

The dog would travel with Shelby everywhere she goes, would sleep with her at night and eventually go to college with her (see page 50 for more information on Diabetic Alert Dogs and how you can help Shelby get her lifesaving companion).

In spite of her lifethreatening health condition, Shelby is determined to conquer the biggest curve ball of her life with strength, courage and dignity.

"Shelby is quite possibly the grittiest player I have ever coached, says her softball coach, Amy Pointer.

"She hates to fail, and she finds a way to win in every single thing she does. She's even like that in the classroom! You can't teach or coach grit. It's a rare and awesome attribute to possess, especially when you're a small, scrappy female who lives each day with type 1 hanging over your head. Shelby adamantly refuses to let it beat her, and she applies that mindset to every arena of her life.

"She doesn't make excuses, she never complains

39

– unless you deduct points from an answer she thinks she should receive full credit for – and she has the most determined mindset of any player I've ever coached.

"Her drive is inspiring for her teammates and myself. It pushes us all to be our best because Shelby is right there in the trenches with us giving her team all she has. That kid is a hero to me."

Born and raised in Haralson County, Shelby lives on a farm with her parents, Chris and Stephanie, and her three sisters, Mary, Darian and Gracie. She enjoys playing softball, running and reading.

Shelby plans on giving lacrosse a try this year, and possibly joining the swim team in addition to competing in softball, cross country and track and field events.

In her limited spare time she enjoys watching Netflix to relax, and loves to spend time with her immediate family and her grandparents, who she says are the most important people in her life.

West Georgia Woman: Tell me what you love about softball.

Shelby Daniel: I love everything about softball.

I love the competitiveness, the grittiness, I love the game and I love the dirt. I love the way it feels to get a great hit, or make a great play. I love that it is a sport where you can compete individually, and as a team.

WGW: What did it take to get to this point in your life as a softball player?

SD: Ever since I was 6, I have played softball.

But before I started playing, I was watching my older sisters play. When I was 8 and 9 years old they played on an under-14 travel team and I started playing 2nd base with them during tournaments. I was really small back then and people would sort of write me off, but I was able to hold my own and playing up so many age groups made me better.

For me to have gotten where I am today, I have practiced for countless hours, I played on my older sisters' team and I play nearly year-round. But most of all, I still love the game and competing and want to be better at every at bat, every play and every game.

WGW: Who has invested in you as a player?

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SD: My entire family has invested in me as a player. My dad has coached me for as long as I can remember, my mom and my little sister have been to every one of my games cheering me on and my older sisters have pushed me by playing alongside me.

I can barely remember a weekend without a softball tournament. My school softball coaches have also invested in me, and let me prove myself on the ball field. My teammates have invested in me as well. On my travel team and in school ball, I have some of the best teammates. They are my friends who I love, and they love me back. They are always supporting me.

Shelby, right, with her friend and teammate, Kristen Green. Kristen acts as WGW: What keeps you motivated?

a "dugout mom" for Shelby. She keeps a watchful eye on her friend's behavior and reminds her to test her blood sugar or eat a snack if something seems out of the ordinary. Per Kristen's request, she has also received training on administering a glucagon shot to Shelby if necessary.

SD: My competitiveness. I really hate losing more than anything. If I make an error on the field, I try to make a double play to make up for it.

I know I can prevent getting beaten by practicing over and over and over again. The difference between success in anything is working a little bit harder than anyone else and believing it is possible.

I like to play cards with my grandparents and little sister, but I am not going to let them win. If you are going to play a game, you might as well try and win.

That motivation carries over into everything, even school. If I am going to take a test, I might as well get an A. WGW: What is your training regimen?

SD: During school softball season, we practice nearly every day so there is not a ton of time for workouts outside of school. I have weight training class at school, and then I run a couple of miles after practice several times a week. After school ball season, I continue to do weight training, and run, as well as workout with my sister on a daily basis. Having a medical condition really makes you appreciate staying in good health.

WGW: How do you prepare the day of a game mentally and physically?

SD: Mentally, I just stay strong and tell myself I can do whatever it takes. I don't "psych myself out," and I stay positive. I tend to compete and perform harder under pressure, so that really doesn’t bother me. In fact, I actually like being driven by pressure.

Physically, I just try to drink lots of water and eat

lots of fruit and protein to try and steady my blood sugars, which can sometimes be challenging for me.

WGW: What do you like most about playing softball?

SD: The atmosphere is always competitive and fun.

It always pushes me to be my best. I like that every person can make a difference and there is always room to be better and improve. And I also really like the dirt.

WGW: What do you like least about playing softball?

SD: Team drama. On almost every team, there is some ridiculous drama. I hate the drama. It gets in the way of just being able to play ball. It’s pointless.

There are so many real things to worry about in life, it’s hard for me to understand why people choose to invite drama into their lives – or on the ball field.

There is just better things to do with that time. Bleh.

WGW: Who has had the most influence in your life in middle school/high school?

SD: My coaches, Coach A and Coach Robinson.

Five days after I was diagnosed in 7th grade, I played for Coach Robinson at Bremen Middle School. I was really worried that somehow type 1 diabetes would slow me down, but she was familiar with type 1. She helped empower me and made me feel comfortable and capable. Coach A has never treated me like I was any different, and she doesn’t make a big deal about

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greatest influence in my life. My sisters and I are best friends and we do everything together. I drive my mom crazy with all of the things I want to do, but she and my dad always support me in every way possible.

I have amazing grandparents as well. That kind of love has been a great influence. They always push and challenge me to be my best, and I have a lot of people looking out for me and cheering for me. And God, because I believe that He and He alone makes everything possible. The reason I am not afraid is because of God. WGW: Tell me what goes through your mind when you're out there competing. What do you think about? How does playing make you feel physically and mentally?

Shelby stands beside her softball coach, Amy Pointer. Amy says Shelby is a hero to her.

me being a diabetic, which I really like. I don’t want to be that "poor kid wearing the insulin pump." She expects a lot from me, and pushes me to be my best and dig deep. They have both always made me play to my full potential.

WGW: Who has had the most influence in your personal life?

SD: God and my family. My family has had the

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SD: Honestly, I don’t really think about anything. I try to do all of my thinking before I get on the field, and once I step on the field I clear my head, because then it’s time to perform, not think. Thinking too much slows down my reaction and I have to stay focused. I have faith that the hours of practice I've completed have prepared me for the game.

Playing makes me feel great. I love the feeling of competing.

WGW: Tell me about your success stories academically, and in sports.

SD: I have always been a straight-A student, making Principal's Roll and Beta Club in advanced classes. I won an honorable mention for my Laws of Life Paper, made the math team, and plan on taking AP and college classes next semester and for the remainder of high school. Last year, in varsity softball I was awarded the Competitors Heart award, the Hustle Award and the Coaches Award for the varsity softball team, and was an honorable mention for the All Region Team. Last year, I was nominated by my classmates to be a class representative. And I was chosen to be on the First Team All Region in softball for the 2017 season.

WGW: What is your GPA? SD: 4.0 – But I'm hoping to graduate with higher than a 4.0.

WGW: What career will you pursue after graduation?

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Shelby, with her mom, Stephanie. Stephanie sleeps with Shelby and sets multiple alarms throughout the night to check Shelby's level of consciousness and blood sugar to prevent life-threatening seizures. A Diabetic Alert Dog would give Shelby the freedom to sleep alone, and give both Shelby and Stefanie peace of mind and the much needed rest they haven't experienced in three years.

SD: I am not exactly sure what I want to be, but I know I want to be in the medical field and most likely work with kids.

WGW: What do you do to help other girls on the team who are younger than you?

SD: I am just their friend. We are all in this together and the happier everyone on the team is, the more fun school ball is and the better we will all play. Pretty simple. We are all in this together and are equals no matter what grade we are in.

WGW: How old were you when you started playing softball? What was that first game experience like for you?

SD: I was 6 years old. I really don’t remember my first game, except that we wore shorts and I pulled my socks up to my thighs. I also went almost the entire season not washing my socks because we were undefeated, so I hid them from my mom. I do know I was immediately hooked (she laughs).

44

WGW: How do you balance softball and your

other activities along with your schoolwork?

SD: I just use my time wisely. With softball practice and games we often get home really late, so I make sure to use my free time wisely. I don’t wait until the last minute to do my school work and I get a lot done during the long bus rides to and from games. If I have free time during school and something needs to get done, I just do it. It’s not that difficult really. Just about setting priorities, and plus being behind would stress me out.

WGW: Who is your biggest fan?

SD: Probably my dad. He yells and cheers the loudest of anyone at any field ever. Ever since I was little he has called me 'Shelby Do Right' when I make a good play, or 'Shelby Do Wrong' when I do something wrong on the field.

WGW: Who inspires you?

SD: Jesus.

WGW: Tell me about your support network at

home. What do they do, or what have they done for you to help you succeed?

SD: My mom is my biggest helper. She has always stayed home to take care of my family, and she is always there for us for whatever my sisters or I need.

She is also my sidekick when it comes to my diabetic care.

WGW: If you could give a freshman just beginning to play softball advice, what would you tell her?

SD: Be yourself. Work really hard, like, really hard.

Get better at something every day and don’t be fake.

WGW: What do you do to help your community?

SD: My little sister plays softball with the county recreation department, and, when I am available I go to practices and games to help teach them how to play. I am hoping next year to be able to spend volunteer hours with children just being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes because all the needles are pretty scary and because I love little kids.

WGW: Do you see yourself playing softball the rest of your life?

SD: Yes. I think I will always be active in something for the rest of my life. I think I would like to explore coaching as well.

WGW: Tell us about the extreme mud races you participate in, including the Savage Race. What typically happens during a race like this and what challenges or obstacles are involved?

SD: I did the Savage Race on a whim the first time. I think I thought my mom wouldn’t let me do it, but then she said "yes." I did it with friends and my dad the first time, and then they all started going really slow, so I left them. These races are so much fun. The obstacles are amazing, it is muddy, wet and cold and physically and mentally hard.

There are all sorts of monkey bars, climbing walls and obstacles that test strength and endurance, as well as tons of hilly and muddy running trails.

Anytime you fall from an obstacle, you fall into a pool of muddy water. There is ice water, mud crawls under barbed wire and jumps from walls as high as 15 feet. It’s just super cool. The first race I did was in 2015, then I did one in 2016 and another in 2017.

I won first place in 2015 and 2016 in the 18U (ages 18 and under) women's open division and 2nd place this past spring.

WGW: How do you prepare for races like this?

SD: It’s hard to mimic some of the obstacles, so basically it comes down to endurance training.

WGW: Do you compete against both boys and girls in the Savage Race or mud races?

Shelby, competing in the Savage Race.

SD: Just women. But I beat a lot of boys, too.

WGW: How did you feel when you won 1st place

45

in that first Savage Race?

SD: Proud. And like there was nothing I couldn’t do.

WGW: How did you feel when you were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes? What symptoms did you have prior to the diagnosis?

SD: Type 1 diagnosis happens both slowly and quickly. Looking back, the symptoms started back in March of 2012, but I wasn't diagnosed until August. I had excessive thirst, I was craving things like orange juice and iced coffee, waking up in the middle of the night to drink water and I had to urinate like, all the time. I was also losing a lot of weight and was extremely tired all the time, but I was also getting

taller so it was hard to tell if that's why I looked skinnier. But then, I would get up off the couch and go and run a few miles so it seemed like everything was OK. I also played tournament softball that entire summer. When we went to the doctor, they pricked my finger and had me urinate in a cup, and I was sent to the hospital immediately – they knew right away. My blood sugar was over 950 and I had large ketones, so there was zero question what was going on. (Publisher's note: Ketones are poisonous acidic chemicals produced by the body when fat instead of glucose is burned for energy. A breakdown of fat occurs when not enough insulin is present to channel glucose into body cells, according to medicaldictionary.com.)

I didn’t really know how to feel. I only cried once and that was because I was worried about

how does an insulin pump work?

46

Insulin pumps deliver short- or rapid-acting insulin 24 hours a day through a catheter placed under the skin. A pump replaces the need for multiple daily insulin shots.

Infusion sets are made of steel or Teflon and attach to the skin with an adhesive patch. Underneath the infusion set is a short thin tube called a cannula. This is inserted into the skin with a small needle that is housed inside the cannula to deliver insulin into a layer of fatty tissue. The needle is needed to puncture the skin and insert the set.

After insertion, the needle is removed and the cannula stays underneath the skin. The set is usually implanted around the stomach area, but can be placed on the upper arms, hips, buttocks or thigh.

Insulin doses are separated into supplemental or correction doses, basal rates and bolus doses to cover carbohydrates in meals.

When a diabetic eats, there are buttons on the insulin pump to give additional insulin – this is called a bolus.

Diabetics take a bolus to cover the carbohydrates in each snack or meal. If someone eats more than they plan to, they can easily program a larger bolus to cover the additional food.

If someone with diabetes has a high blood glucose level before eating, they will give a correctional or supplemental bolus of insulin to bring the glucose back into the optimal range.

Basal insulin is delivered continuously for 24 hours, and helps keep blood glucose levels in range throughout the night and between meals. Different amounts of insulin are programmed into the pump at different times of day and night.

sugar. Unconscious patients usually return to consciousness within five to 20 minutes of receiving a glucagon injection, according to lillyglucagon.com.) I also have extra site changes (infusion set changes, see "How Does an Insulin Pump Work?" on page 46) and insulin cartridges for my insulin pump in case there is a malfunction.

I also keep chargers for those with me, just in case. And my purse and bag are also full of candy and snacks like crackers, Skittles, Sour Patch Kids, cotton candy and sometimes icing in case I have lows. I am not a fan of glucose gel or tablets so I just use those snacks instead. I also pack my own lunch so that I can have a good balance of protein and healthy foods for lunch every day.

WGW: Explain what you have to do on a typical day to manage your diabetes.

SD: I wake up and the first thing I do is check my blood sugar. Then, I eat breakfast and add up and count my carbohydrates for my breakfast and Shelby has to test her blood glucose levels five to 12 times a day, inenter my blood sugar and the carbs into my insulin cluding before, and sometimes during, any physical activity. Her blood pump and take a bolus of insulin. This happens glucose levels may fluctuate from 38 to 450 on any given day. Her goal is every time I eat throughout the day whether it's a to stay around 150. meal or a snack. The insulin pump is set up with ratios set by my doctor so that I get the right missing middle school softball tryouts. Once you amount of insulin. Every one to three days, I have to are diagnosed everything happens so, so fast, and inject a new site or port into my body, change my within just a few days you are thrown into a whole pump cartridge and tubing and fill my pump with new way of life that feels confusing and scary. Lots insulin. I use about 100 units of insulin per day. If I and lots of needles. Lots of blood. Lots of things feel like I am low or high during the day, I check my to learn. It feels overwhelming when it happens. blood sugar again by pricking my finger and then Everything you did before is now different. And make insulin adjustments with the pump to try and then they send you home, and you’re pretty much get it in range. I also have to check my blood sugar like "what the heck is happening?" and you have and make insulin adjustments before doing any so much to learn. The first three months were the physical activity, and sometimes during the activity, hardest because we had to learn so much. Type depending on how I feel. I check my blood sugar 1 diabetes is not an easy thing to fix. There is not again before bedtime, and I usually have to eat a one prescription that works for everyone, and your snack to make sure I am not too low before going medical condition changes daily. to sleep. Every week or so, we will look at my blood sugars and try to see patterns and make adjustments WGW: You have a diabetic supply pack that you on my pump to try and get my numbers right. The take with you every day. What's in there? goal is for me to stay at around 150, but my blood sugars jump anywhere from 38 to 450 in one day.

SD: I have a big old lunch box and purse that are slap-full of all my stuff. Of course, I have my glucose WGW: How does it make you meter and test strips with me feel knowing that you could at all times, and I keep a have a life-altering seizure at glucagon gun. (Publisher's any time? note: A glucagon gun is an emergency injection SD: Wow. I have had five device used during seizures seizures and I don’t remember or unconsciousness any of them. My family does, caused by low blood

47

and they are left feeling that fear. I am 15 – and smart – and my doctors have been very frank with me about what could and can happen during these seizures. But I cannot think about all of that. I mean, I do sometimes. But not every day, because if I did I wouldn’t be very much fun to be around and I would be scared all the time and that is just not how I want to choose to be. I am more afraid of clowns. So I do my very best to stay on top of my blood sugars – and take care of the things I can control – even knowing that when I am doing everything right, my

blood sugar still doesn’t behave like it should. This is very frustrating, and even though sometimes I get very tired of dealing with this every single day, it’s just part of my life now. But worry is not a badge of honor and it won’t help me. I am saved, and I have things right with God, and I feel like I can beat this.

And if I can’t beat this then I am going to compete like crazy with it because this is my life.

WGW: Why is having a Diabetic Alert Dog important to you?

"Keep on living your life doing exactly what you want to do. And by all means, eat the CAKE, and just take insulin for it.

Seriously.

Eat the cake."

48

SD: Having a Diabetic Alert Dog would give me peace of mind and freedom. The dog would be my silent partner in this. I get tired of people always asking me out loud what my ‘number’ (blood sugar level) is.

WGW: How would having a Diabetic Alert Dog give you more freedom? What would you be able to do as a result of having one that you can’t do now?

SD: I could sleep in my own bed by myself! (she laughs). I know it's totally not cool, but I sleep with my mom right now and she has all the alarms set throughout the night. I also would love, love, love to be able to sleep in a little. Right now, I can’t sleep late in the morning – even on weekends – because I always have to wake up to check my blood sugar.

And my seizures have all happened during the early morning hours. I am looking forward to being able to drive by myself, to go for a run without a human chaperone and to stay at home by myself. I am looking forward to not having people constantly asking me what my blood sugar is. I love that a dog won’t talk to me out loud about my blood sugar, and that it would be our private little conversation.

And I'm really looking forward to not having to prick my fingers all the time, because the dog would let me know when it’s necessary. My finger tips look disgusting.

WGW: What is it like having to

wake up all through the night every single night?

How do you function during the day on such interrupted sleep? Will having a Diabetic Alert Dog help you – and your mom – sleep better?

SD: It’s harder on my mom than me. She’s the one that wakes up and checks so I can get some rest. And when she is not checking, my dad is checking, so it’s annoying

to say the least having people constantly bug you while you sleep. We are three years in now, so I guess we have just gotten used to it. My mom says it's like having a newborn. And yes, once we trust the dog to alert us at night, I think everyone in my house will sleep much better.

WGW: Are you excited about getting a Diabetic Alert Dog? Why? SD: Yes, I am very excited! It will make life easier.

It will give me a sense of security. Not always feeling safe in your own body is not a great feeling, so knowing I will have an animal that can help me notice changes, even before I do, will give me peace of mind and comfort.

WGW: What advice would you give other young people who are type 1 diabetics?

SD: Keep on living your life doing exactly what you want to do. And by all means eat the CAKE, and just take insulin for it. Seriously. Eat the cake. But mostly, remember that while we do not have a cure yet, we do have insulin – and that makes us pretty darn blessed.

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how you can help S

helby has had five seizures to date, and all of the five seizures have occurred while she was sleeping. Many young people have died or sustained life-altering brain injuries due to hypoglycemic events and seizures. In each instance of a seizure, a glucagon (pancreatic hormone) shot must be administered to her.

A Diabetic Alert Dog is trained to detect changes in blood sugar before they become life threatening, and dogs can sense these changes more quickly than a continuous glucose monitor.

These dogs are trained to alert the patient and the caregivers during a hypoglycemic event, and they 50

work with the patient constantly.

To have a Diabetic Alert Dog would mean freedom for Shelby. This dog would be her running partner, and a silent, but reliable, partner in her fight against type 1 diabetes. It would open up doors for her to enjoy some of the freedoms that are typical for kids her age, but are limitations for her now. Like sleeping in her own bed by herself, being able to sleep in some mornings or driving on her own when she turns 16.

The dog would travel with her everywhere Shelby goes, would sleep with her at night and eventually go to college with her.

Diabetic Alert Dogs are trained specifically using samples of their new owner's blood. Once the dogs have been trained, the Americans With Disabilities Act considers them full service dogs and they are entitled to go anywhere in public with their owners.

These lifesaving companions come with a big price tag of $15,000. Once the dog is matched and trained, the dog and trainer are flown here to Georgia to work with Shelby and to teach her family how to use this new tool in their fight against type 1 diabetes. To date, Shelby's family and friends have raised $7,200. They need $7,500 to begin the training process. Once the training is complete, the remaining balance of $7,500 is due.

If you would like to help Shelby with the purchase of her life-saving companion, you can donate online through her GoFundMe page at https://www.youcaring.com/ shelbydaniel-913740, or you may mail a personal check payable to Diabetic Alert Dogs of America to the following address: Shelby Daniel, P.O. Box 682, Bremen, Ga. 30110.

This is a non-profit organization, so any donations that are made payable to Diabetic Alert Dogs of America directly are tax deductible. No donation is too small, and a Diabetic Alert Dog may help save Shelby's life one day. WGW

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“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.”

– Mother Theresa

“In our attempt to 'have it all,' never forget that if we don't have love, joy, peace, tranquility and an ability to be truly present in our lives that we don't have it all anyway. We really don't have anything.”

– Carolyn Anderson, M.D.

“The Second World War created the need for a new generation of female heroes. Where could these women look for role models? The women of the previous war had by this time been largely forgotten. Although efforts had been made during the 1920s to memorialize the war's heroes, both men and women, with monuments, books, and films, most Europeans, impatient to forget the war, also forgot its heroes. But now the memory of their courage was needed and eagerly recalled ...”

– Kathryn J. Atwood, author of Women Heroes of World War I: 16 Remarkable Resisters, Soldiers, Spies, and Medics 53

Local Happenings

Healers and Helpers Wellness Group

Need It Most Mommy’s Day Out

This group meets the last Saturday of every month in Douglasville or Austell. For more information, contact Cheryl at theheartmatters@gmail.com or 678.754.5840.

Each Mommy’s Day Out event is from 6 to 7 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month. Locations vary.

Contact Jwyanda at 678.739.1740 or Jwyanda@icloud.com for more information.

Learn more at www.heartmatterswellness.com.

These are free events for new mothers, mothers with children 0 to 12 months and mothers suffering from postpartum depression.

Hope For The Journey This group meets the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the board room at the Tracy Stallings Community Center at 118 South White St. in Carrollton.

These events are free to breast cancer survivors or those currently battling breast cancer.

No one should have to face breast cancer alone.

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www.needitmost.wordpress.com

Rare Pearls Mentoring and Leadership Program This group meets the fourth Saturday of each month at WellStar - Douglas Hospital from 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.

This program is open to all girls from ages 10 to 17.

Advancing Health WITH HEART CARE BEYOND MEASURE.

Who has your heart? Your spouse? Your grandkids? Tanner specializes in your heart, with preventive services to keep you healthy and the region’s largest network of primary care providers to quickly catch cardiovascular problems when they begin. Advanced diagnostic care ensures that your heart is working properly, and innovative treatments like angioplasty and cardiac electrophysiology are available should problems occur, including heart attacks or irregular heartbeats. So your heart can be there for the ones who hold it, strong and safe, with medicine beyond measure.

To find a heart specialist, call 770.214.CARE or learn more at TannerHeartCare.org.

MEDICINE BEYOND MEASURE

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These events are free to breast cancer survivors or those currently battling breast cancer.

No one should have to face breast cancer alone.

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Rare Pearls mission is to enrich and empower the lives of young girls and women.

For more information call 770.947.8210, email rarepearls2015@gmail.com or visit the website at www.rarepearlsmentoringandleadership.org

Nursing From The Heart Breastfeeding Support Group This group meets the third Monday of each month from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at 500 Old Bremen Road in Carrollton. Please contact Anne Lussier at 470.270.9520 or IBCLC@nursingfromtheheart.com for more information.

These events are free to pregnant women and moms looking for breastfeeding support. Free weight checks will be available. Come and share your breastfeeding journey with us. Please check our website for meeting and event updates.

Fashion Ferst from left: Carolyn Driver, Rosie Holley, Lindsey Faircloth, Commissioner Michelle Morgan, West Georgia Woman magazine publisher Angela Dailey, Charlene Brooks, Robin Smith, Cissy Price, Kristy McAdams, and Carolyn Henderson.

Richards College of Business 50th Anniversary Celebration

The Village at Across Free Seminar Series The Village at Across invites all small business owners to join them Friday, Nov. 17 at noon for the kickoff of their free seminar series: “Thriving as a Small Business.�

Photos by Xiaojuan Christian

The event begins with a complimentary networking lunch, followed by a short session presented by Madden Consulting.

This event is free and open anyone currently in business, or who is thinking of starting a small business.

For more information or to RSVP email elizabeth@ acrosshealthcare.com

Roy Richards Jr., chairman of the board of Southwire Company LLC, addresses attendees during the Richards College of Business 50th Anniversary Celebration. During his speech, Richards said UWG is a "beacon of light, hope and opportunity."

Fashion Ferst A fall/winter fashion show was presented on Oct.11 at Sunset Hills Country Club to benefit the Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy of Carroll County.

Fashion scenes included: Coffee shop casual, Queen of cool and dressed up nights. Susan Fleck, co-chair of Fashion Ferst, gave opening remarks. Closing remarks were given by Melanie McClellan, member of the board of directors.

Cole Fannin with the UGA Small Business Development Center at the University of West Georgia, from left, speaks with Michael and Andrea Stone at the Richards College of Business's 50th Anniversary Celebration on Oct. 17.

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Drs. Anne and Fred Richards Photo by George Stoddard

Dr. Anne C. Richards, Professor Emerita, University of West Georgia, Presented With Award at the Department of Psychology's 50th Anniversary Recognition Dinner October 06, 2017

D

r. Anne C. Richards, retired Professor of Psychology, received an award from the University of West Georgia Department of Psychology, recognizing her for her continued service to the department. The internationally known department celebrated in October the 50th year anniversary of its program in Humanistic Psychology.

Anne was with the Department of Psychology at the University of West Georgia from 1975 to 2001, when she retired. Before UWG, she taught educational psychology at Northeast Louisiana University (Monroe) and at the University of Northern Colorado (Greeley). She and her husband of 47 years, Fred, moved to West Georgia College in 1975 to take a temporary job in which they shared the responsibilities of one full-time member of the faculty. “I left a position in Colorado, where I had received tenure and been promoted, to take a potentially short-term job because of the department's commitment to Humanistic Psychology and my own work in this field,” she says. Her position became full-time in 1977.

One of the primary courses she taught, Personal Relationships, was particularly meaningful for her.

It was designed to offer students an experiential exploration of the subject matter through personal interactions and to encourage the development of sensitivity to feelings, attitudes and beliefs of self and others.

Anne structured the class to provide tools that could help her students throughout their lives, regardless of what professions they entered.

“As I taught it, the course focused on types of communication students might frequently witness at home or on TV that were detrimental to the development of meaningful relationships; the value of becoming more open in disclosing one's thoughts and feelings in interpersonal relationships; ways in which personal relationships could be sustained and enhanced through more effective means of communication; and more productive ways of resolving interpersonal conflicts.”

She discovered that although her job was to instruct her students, the classes became more transformative – for her and her students – when the learning went both ways. She has an unending curiosity and love of learning, and designing her classes so that students shared information in addition to her instruction ensured both sides found the classes fulfilling. “I redesigned my classes in such a way that my students and I could teach each other about psychological issues and dynamics we could all benefit from understanding more fully,” she explains. “This turned out to be far more rewarding and meaningful for all concerned.”

As part of making sure the classes were impactful, Anne added an assignment to her Personal Relationships class where students shared with the group something that, for them, was an ongoing problem in a relationship – such as with a family member, friend, employer, co-worker, boss or romantic partner – that they wanted advice from the class to resolve. Or, instead of sharing a problem, students could share some way they had developed wisdom or insight on their own about a problem in interpersonal relationships they had experienced in the past.

“Primarily as a result of this assignment, I learned far more from my students than I ever dreamed they could teach me – about what it's like to live with HIV, physical or emotional abuse, deep insecurities or anxieties, learning disabilities, or as part of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender community,” she says. “I also learned what people experienced when confronted with prejudice and discrimination, found themselves struggling with addiction to alcohol or drugs, or were seeking ways to pick up the pieces of their lives and move forward after a devastating loss, tragedy or a personal or medical crisis.”

These deeply personal stories gave real-world examples to the students of how to apply what they learned in class, and they helped Anne develop a stronger understanding of the psychology involved in the process. WGW

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Kidz Korner

By Charlene Brooks

Delicious Candy Cornucopias

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hese delicious and colorful candy cornucopias are a super easy and quick treat for kids to make for school parties or for dressing up their Thanksgiving table.

Instructions Fill the ice cream cone with the assorted autumn candies. Decorate as desired using the gummy leaves, acorns or raffia.

Ingredients Waffle ice cream cone Assorted candy corn and autumn mix candy Raffia Gummy leaves Gummy acorns

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Really Easy Thanksgiving Candle Holder

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his colorful and decorative Thanksgiving candle holder makes for a quick and easy decoration for your Thanksgiving table. Even the tiniest of your children will be able to participate in creating this.

Materials Mason jar Assorted candy corn and autumn mix candy Tea light candle Raffia

Instructions Tie a raffia bow around the mouth of the mason jar. Fill with candy corn and place a tea light candle on top of the candy. Always remember to supervise children around open flames. WGW

Moving

Pictures Professional daredevil, fabricator and #realdeal Jessi Combs shot with her custom Bonneville in Austin, Texas by Keith May.

• REAL-WORLD PORTRAITS • HI-REZ FILES • UNLIMITED USAGE • PHOTOBOOTH AVAILABLE

mayphotoanddesign.com / keithterrillmay@gmail.com / (714) 403-3581 / #mayphotoDEsign / Insta: americanabykeithmay

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Happy Veteran's Day Word Search Word Bank

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Soldier America Air Force Salute Navy World War II Vietnam War Army Korean War National Guard Country Duty Honor USA American Flag World War I Coast Guard Persian Gulf War Marines

Word search created at puzzle-maker.com

Family and Cosmetic Dentistry

Creating Beautiful Smiles For Over 14 years!

M. Dawn Harvey, DMD, PC Family Dentistry and Complete Facial Esthetics 105 Dallas Rd, Villa Rica, GA 30180 • 770-459-5778

www.drharveysmiles.com

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WALKER CADILLAC 1492 N Park St (Hwy 27) Carrollton GA 30117 770.832.9602 www.walkergmauto.com 64