Tattnall County Living - 2020 by With You In Mind Publications

Hometown Living at its Best 2020 I S S U E

C O U N T Y

TATTNALL COUNTY LIVING

TAKING THE BIG PLUNGE

Kian Morris spends his time skydiving, buthis weekdays are spent in the operating room.

A THOUGHTFUL BIRTHDAY

Alex Winkler turned his birthday present into a gift for those in need.

“family” business Tattnall Insurance is a family business based on LOVE AND TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE’S NEEDS

Your livelihood has been built through hard work and integrity. Trust Trust your your insurance insurance to to a a company company built built on on these these same same values. values.

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We start with marbled fresh meats flavored with just the right amount of smoke to enrich the juices and flavor. Our biggest ingredient is TIME! Making the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favorite BBQ must be done SLOWLY to bring out all of the flavors. Add one of our sauces for the perfect combination! Our investment in time means you will be enriched with flavor! Come enjoy today!

In Glennville call: (912) 654-4744 | Locations in: In Glennville & Rincon. Hometown Living At Its Best

Hometown Living at its Best

C O U N T Y CONTENTS / 2020

Taking The BIG Plunge Kian Morris spends his time skydiving, but his weekdays are spent in the operating room.

Mother to Many Debbie Parker realized that she wanted to help more children and be a support to them by becoming a counselor.

Devoted to Christ Author Greg Woolard has recently organized a series of his devotionals into a book, My God, My Stories.

CEO and Neighbor Lou Ann Phillips has worked her way up the Canoochee ladder, eventually serving as the Chief Financial Officer for 10 years before becoming CEO in 2015.

Nothing Better Than Family Tattnall Insurance is a “family” business based on love and taking care of people’s needs. ON T H E C O V E R Jane Joyner, April Pirkle & Alexis Greene >> PHOTO TAKEN BY: HEATHER HORTON PHOTOGRAPHY 4 2020 / TATTNALL COUNTY LIVING

city of

Reidsville A Great Place To Live!

City of Reidsville | 130 South Main Street | Reidsville, GA 30453 | PH: (912) 557-4786 | cityofreidsvillega.com/home

Hometown Living at its Best

C O U N T Y

C O NT E NTS 130

102

A Thoughtful Birthday Alex Winkler turned his birthday present into a gift for those in need.

The Master Craftsman Michael Thompson feels a deep

The Love of a Small Town When Shellie Smith moved from

appreciation for the memories that

North Georgia to Glennville, she dove

come with what he builds.

headfirst into the community and

hasn’t looked back since.

Sandy Davis loves everyone from the

A Man for All Seasons

first moment she meets you and will

Dylan Mulligan has a passion for

do anything she can for you. She’s

sandcastle building, engendered by a

just “precious.”

love of the coast held since birth.

One Precious Lady

6 2020 / TATTNALL COUNTY LIVING

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130

Call on someone you can trust, who is here for you when it matters most.

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125 W. BARNARD STREET | GLENNVILLE, GA | 912-654-2128 phone | 912-654-1847 fax | www.tattnallinsurance.com

From the Publisher

Tattnall County

P u b l i s h e r With You In Mind Publications Jay and Patti Martin

e d i to r Renee Corwine C reat i v e | D e s i g n

Caffeine Generated Graphics Stacey Nichols Photo by Leslie Hand

Robin T. Poole o f f i ce M a n ager Nikki Burkhalter

As we enter the “New Normal”, it is impossible to project what is

ahead for our world, country, state, county, city and family. I have heard it said that “history repeats itself”. I’m not sure that “history” has ever seen anything quite like the last few months BUT, what

history has shown us is that the world has previously faced wars, unrest and pestilence. Although devastating, we have come out on the other side – sometimes quickly and sometimes slowly – sometimes painlessly and sometimes painfully. Our goal is to highlight some of the people in each of our issues that represent the solutions to the “new normal”. The people in this issue are part of the history and legacy of Tattnall County. Their stories provide all of us with confidence that, together, we will

from our sponsors which are listed on page 152. We hope that

M a n ager June Dixon

P h otograp h er s Barbie Brazel Photography Heather Horton Photography HRH Photography Melanie McCullough Photography Robin T. Poole Rose Colored Lens LLC Stacy Stanfield Photography The Journal Sentinel

persevere and thrive! As always, we could not do this without the continued support

A s s i s ta n t

C ov er P h oto Jane Joyner, April Pirkle and

Alexis Greene, taken by Heather Horton Photography

you will join us in thanking them. Be sure to drop in at any of those locations listed and grab your free copy that they make possible!

Sale s Dottie Hicks

Shop with them, visit with them and just keep on showing the love

Randy Montague

you so freely give.

John 10:10 KJV The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. Blessings,

Jay and Patti Martin Sales: (912) 654-3045 Email: jay@wyimpublications.com withyouinmindpublications.com 8

tattnall county living

Contributing Wri te r s David Pena

Gail Dixon Lisa Walenceus Marsha Cunningham Bradley Pam Waters

Tattnall County Magazine© is published annually by With You in Mind Publications. withyouinmindpublications.com P.O. Box 55 • Glennville, GA 30427 (912) 654-3045 All rights reserved. Copies or reproduction of this publication in whole or in part is strictly prohibited without expressed written authorization from the publisher. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein. Advertising is subject to omission, errors, and other changes without notice.

Psychology • Criminal Justice • Biology • Business • Christian Studies • Communications • Middle Grades & Early Childhood Education • English • General Studies • History • Ministry • Worship Studies • Music

Hometown Living At Its Best

TATTNALL COUNTY LIVING

Story by Marsha Cunningham Bradley Photos by Melanie McCullough, Rose Colored Lens and Provided by the Parkers

Mother to Many

Debbie Parker realized that she wanted to help more children and be a support to them by becoming a counselor.

Debbie Parker began her career life as a fabric designer and merchandise manager for LaFrance Industries in Anderson, South Carolina. Debbieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s path has taken her some distance from her original plans and fortunately for many people, her path led her to Tattnall County. When Debbie and her husband, Greg, had their first child, Kate, they decided to move closer to Gregâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home in Long County and landed in Tattnall County. Greg opened an insurance office and Debbie stayed at home with Kate and attended Georgia Southern College to get art education certification. Debbie began teaching art at Glennville Elementary

Hometown Living At Its Best

School and also had their second child, Jim, while learning the ropes of being a first year teacher. She moved to Reidsville Elementary School after seven years and has been there for 22 years. Although she enjoyed teaching art, Debbie realized that she wanted to help more children and be a support to them. She returned to school to get her master’s degree in counseling and began in her counseling position in 2006. If you see the Parker home and their cabin you will know that Debbie’s art background has not been lost. Her natural artistic talents have created a lovely, inviting home for the family on the outskirts of Reidsville. Her creative sense of style and ability to “step outside the box” has created a fascinating cabin at the Jim Parker Hunting Camp (named for Greg’s grandfather) that family and friends frequent often.

Jim says that while his mom has two biological children, she really has many more. When Debbie was the youth leader at church she had a group of young people who bonded with her and saw her as a second mother. There are many children at school that see her in a maternal role and she is a mother figure to others in the community. Jim said, “I’m still shocked that after her mission trips I haven’t ended up with a new adopted brother or sister.”

TATTNALL COUNTY LIVING

Greg has expanded his insurance agency over the years and also become a successful realtor. He is very active in community organizations and projects. Kate has followed in her mother’s path and entered the field of education. She is a speech and language pathologist for the Toombs County School System and has been the cheerleading coach. Jim has built on his family’s love of outdoors, nature and forests and become a procurement forester for Pierce Timber Company. Debbie’s role of school counselor suits her compassionate heart well. Tina Debevec, Debbie’s principal for many years, says, “Debbie is one of the most selfless people I know. She has a genuine interest in helping others and does so on

a daily basis. Children are her passion, and she connects beautifully with them. She is a blessing to so many and makes a difference in their lives.” Serving as a school counselor provides Debbie a vehicle for her passion for children and for helping others. Her goals to make the lives of others better are filled through her small group and individual counseling sessions. She says that no day is the same. Every day brings new challenges and new joys. She serves as the “Attendance Hero” and encourages the students to always attend school. She helped start the “Backpack Buddies” program in the schools. This year it provided 47 children per

Hometown Living At Its Best 13

Debbie stepped well out of her comfort zone when she agreed to be a part of a mission team. She never saw herself as a person who would travel to other countries for this purpose. But after Reverend Marc Foster and Roxanne Durrence went to Uganda, they returned on fire for the project and convinced Debbie that she needed to be a part of this.

week with nutritious snacks for the weekend. Through counseling Debbie is able to help children cope with issues they face. The faces of the children light up in the morning when she calls them by name to greet them for a positive day at school. Debbie takes her beliefs about healthy habits and good nutrition beyond the school. She has been a part of an exercise group at Meadows Wellness Center in Vidalia for over seven years and has currently found a new passion

TATTNALL COUNTY LIVING

Debbie takes her beliefs about healthy habits and good nutrition beyond the school. She has been a part of an exercise group at Meadows Wellness Center in Vidalia for over seven years and has currently found a new passion in a program called Dance Fitness. She also participates in 4-5 other activities there and is seen as an encourager for those who want to become healthier.

in a program called Dance Fitness. She also participates in 4-5 other activities there and is seen as an encourager for those who want to become healthier. Both of her children clearly see the compassion that Debbie displays, not just for the family, but for all those around her. Kate describes Debbie as an encourager. She says, “She is our encourager to love deeper, give more, and work harder. She teaches these things through her words and actions.” Jim uses the word “dedicated” to describe his mom. “She is dedicated to the good Lord, dedicated to her children (her own and the ones that she claims as hers),dedicated to her church and mission work, dedicated to her job, and the list goes on and on....” Jim also says that his mom has taught him how to be a true friend by

Hometown Living At Its Best

setting an example to follow. She is always there for her friends and treats them like family. Greg says that the thing he most admires about his wife is her desire to serve others. He describes her as an honest, hard working, busy and loving person who is constantly trying to make other people’s lives better. He says with great emotion, “Debbie is a great wife and friend that makes me a better person. I look forward to what our lives will be in the future.” Debbie stepped well out of her comfort zone when she agreed to be a part of a mission team. She never saw herself as a person who would travel to other countries for this purpose. But after Reverend Marc Foster and Roxanne Durrence went to Uganda, they returned on fire for the project and convinced Debbie that she needed to be a part

TATTNALL COUNTY LIVING

of this. So, in 2016, Debbie went with a team to Jinja, Uganda. The trip expanded her world and she realized that this was another way for her to make a difference. On her first trip the team met with the children under a tree. The team began to help with a well for the families and then worked on starting a church building. Debbie’s home church, Reidsville United Methodist Church, has helped raise money through many fund raisers. She has gotten church members to purchase a goat, chicken, or Bible for the families and is now selling buckets of dirt so that more land can be purchased. The building of the church enabled them to start a school, which is housed in the same building. The school began with 40 students and now has 68 children attending. Debbie works closely with Isaac Kyambadde, the

Greg says that the thing he most admires about his wife is her desire to serve others. He describes her as an honest, hard working, busy and loving person who is constantly trying to make other people’s lives better. He says with great emotion, “Debbie is a great wife and friend that makes me a better person. I look forward to what our lives will be in the future.”

district superintendent and Methodist preacher in Uganda. Jim says that while his mom has two biological children, she really has many more. When Debbie was the youth leader at church she had a group of young people who bonded with her and saw her as a second mother. There are many children at school that see her in a maternal role and she is a mother figure to others in the community. Jim said, “I’m still shocked that after her mission trips I haven’t ended up with a new adopted brother or sister.” The common theme that you hear as you listen to people describe Debbie is her ability to open her heart to so many others and try to make a difference. When Debbie was asked what she wanted to count as her greatest accomplishment, she said her family and friends would always be a great part of her life, but that she hoped that she would “make a difference “ in the lives of many others. I think we can all agree that she does make a difference in this world. Tattnall County is a better place to live because Debbie has been a part of it and touched the lives of so many. And as she goes further and further into the world, she has many more lives to touch.  TCL

Hometown Living At Its Best

impacting families

in meaningful ways

DR. ABRAHAM LIN BELIEVES WHAT YOU PUT INTO YOUR FAMILY IS WHAT THE FUTURE WILL BECOME

For Dr. Abraham Lin, family is the most important thing in the world. And at a time when the world seems to be turning upside down, he knows full well that his job can impact families in meaningful ways.

“COVID-19 has been horrible for all humanity, but the flip side is that now we are more aware of the important stuff, especially of our loved ones,” says Dr. Lin, an Interventional Cardiologist at Statesboro Cardiology. “You can work all day, but you have to devote time to family. Having a strong wife, she’s provided me a balance. She helps me see the bigger picture, and how important it is to have a relationship with your kids.” Born and raised in Raleigh, N.C., Dr. Lin met his wife, Farrah, while in residency in Gainesville, Fla. After dating for a few years, they were married in 2009. As his family grew to include two sons, Corbin Abraham Lin and Caiden Isaac Lin, the family looked for a place to put down roots. A colleague asked Dr. Lin to consider Statesboro, where there was a need for advanced cardiac and vascular therapies, and so he joined Statesboro Cardiology in 2013. “Growing up, my parents were always working. When I came to Statesboro, my goal was to come to a community where I can work, but still spend time with family,” he says. Soon thereafter, son Carter Weeks Lin joined the family – along with three dogs, a cat, a bunny and some chickens. “Farrah is a huge animal fanatic and enjoys fostering animals and doing rescue work with our local group Fixing the Boro,” says Dr. Lin, who enjoys running and grilling out with the family. “Our families are our future. What you put into your family is what the future will become, and I want to do everything I can to make sure they succeed in life,” he says. “I feel that way about my patients as well. You take care of your patients like they’re your family and you will always make the right decisions.” Someone who practices what he preaches, Dr. Lin believes that if he isn’t actively exercising, eating healthy and encouraging his children to do the same, that translates to his patients.

“Preventative care is the key to our profession, but habits are hard to change. It almost has to be a generational change, and that starts at the family level,” he says. Dr. Lin readily admits that even for him, eating healthy is hard, expensive and time consuming, but says it’s the best form of preventative care. And when he gets off track or is tempted by an extra helping of bacon, he relies on Farrah. “My wife is a strong Southern woman, and is extremely supportive of me,” he says. “I’m very fortunate to have someone like her.” There’s no doubt that cardiac patients in Statesboro feel very fortunate to have someone like Dr. Lin.

5 Grady Johnson Rd, Statesboro, GA 30458 | (912) 489-6246 | statesborocardiologyga.com

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Devoted to

Christ

TATTNALL COUNTY LIVING

Story by David Pena P h o t o s p r o v i d e d b y W o o l a r d F a m i ly and HRH Photography

Author Greg Woolard has recently organized a series of his devotionals into a book, My God, My Stories.

54-year-old Greg Woolard is what one might call a “reluctant author.” Having recently published a book entitled My God, My Stories in August 2018 through WestBow Press, he says he never envisioned becoming a professional writer, much less sharing personal stories via the printed word with the general public. Born in Folkston, Georgia, Greg has lived in Glennville most of his life, where he went into the family business after graduating from college. “In 1969, my dad started a chain of convenience stores in Southeast Georgia called Clyde’s Market,” he says. “I joined the family business after graduating from the University of Georgia in 1988 and working for my brother’s company for a brief time. At that point, I owned 10% of the stock in the company with my other siblings having the same amount.” However, in December 2017, the Woolard family sold the chain of stores, leaving Greg in a precarious position. “At that point, I was basically out of work after 28 years in the family business. I had some time on my hands and I had thought about publishing a book since family and friends had been encouraging me to do so for some time.”

Now a published author, as well as owner of the Baldino’s franchise, Greg is pleased to share a collection of devotionals that have helped him get one step closer to the mindset of Christ. “I wrote this book because it was something God wanted me to do.”

Hometown Living At Its Best

One of those who strongly encouraged Greg was his wife of 25 years, Angie. “Greg has always been the spiritual leader of our house and a great example of a Godly man, so it was natural that he should write the book. He didn’t write it to make any money; we actually bought a good many copies of the book to give away.” The initial impetus for Greg’s book came from a religious retreat that he had attended years earlier. “I attended a Christian retreat around 2011 called The Walk to Emmaus; one of the groups I was in had a guy who wrote devotionals or stories about events in one’s life that can be tied to scripture,” explains Greg. The retreat usually begins with a three-day short course in Christianity; it is also seen as an opportunity to meet Christ in a new way as God’s grace and love is revealed through other 24

TATTNALL COUNTY LIVING

Hometown Living At Its Best 25

believers. The objective of the experience is to inspire attendees to become more active within their faith. “After The Walk to Emmaus was over, our group leader would continue to email me his weekly devotions and I would really look forward to reading them,” says Greg. It was around this time that Greg was inspired to start sharing some of his own devotionals through a group called Southern Christian Sportsmen’s Devotional, an organization whose mission is to provide southern sports enthusiasts, as well as those worldwide, with three devotional, inspirational emails. These devotionals are written by local southern sportsmen, like Greg, who have a love for the Lord and the great outdoors. It is through these short stories and anecdotes that these men share their personal relationships with God. “They would send out multiple devotionals to folks all over the country, and they needed new writers, so I became a regular contributor for them,” recalls Greg. Greg says his ideas came from everyday life, interactions with family and friends, and events that were notable enough to be

TATTNALL COUNTY LIVING

related to scripture in some way. “I just told stories that had some meaning in my life and helped to capture some sort of Biblical idea. A lot of them are about hunting or fishing, but the messages are based around Christian beliefs and what I feel God wants us to do with our lives,” he says. Angie says, “Greg was soon tapping into more personal areas. He expanded his stories to include our marriage and our son, sports and coaching, and life’s little unexpected events, all with the teachings of Christ in mind.” Greg started to send his devotionals out to his employees via emails. “I had about 400 people working for me at the time. Towards the end, some of my employees even started printing them and giving them to our customers,” he says. Pretty soon, friends and coworkers started encouraging Greg to put his devotionals into a

In his devotionals, Greg relates his everyday life to the Word of God. My God, My Stories gives readers an enjoyable way to see how God works in all of our lives. In one devotional entitled “She Got the Finger,” Greg’s familiar topic, Angie learns about humility and patience.

Hometown Living At Its Best

book. He took note of this and contacted a friend who would get the whole process started. “I got in touch with an evangelist friend in Toombs County who had published his own book, and he advised me on how to get started.” Thus, Greg began the task of culling a collection of divinely inspired devotionals that he had previously shared with friends and coworkers. He had already amassed around 150 devotionals by that time, and chose the title My God, My Stories, thus showing the correlation between his earthly life and many Biblical teachings. In the book, Greg takes the reader from the mountains of Colorado to the coastal marshes of Georgia, involving daily activities like jogging in his neighborhood to coaching a championship baseball team of 10-year-olds. Many of the devotionals center around his wife and/or their 21-year-old son, Jake. “Both my son and wife are in quite a bit of the stories since they are written about the important people and events in my life. I’ve coached my son in

TATTNALL COUNTY LIVING

baseball most of his life, and he’s at Sewanee University now as a player,” he says. “All in all, it took me about nine months to get the devotionals together and have the first copy on my desk. Angie was a big help, she was my grammar and spell checker, because that’s not really my strength,” he laughs. Ironically, it was quite a shock to Jake when the book came out. “I didn’t even tell him I was writing a book until I gave him a copy. Needless to say, he was floored.” In his devotionals, Greg relates his everyday life to the Word of God. My God, My Stories gives readers an enjoyable way to see how God works in all of our lives. In one devotional entitled “She Got the Finger,” Greg’s familiar topic, Angie learns about humility and patience. “That devotional is about our son, who is kind of a miracle child in many ways. When we took Jake to college and dropped him off, he had to complete an orientation for three days. In the meantime, Greg and I went to Nashville and when we returned to Jake’s school, I was dying to see him. When I went to give him a hug, he gives me the ‘hold on, I’m busy’ finger,” she says with a laugh. “Many of these stories actually poke fun at me, but I’m fine with it. Greg has a good time teasing Jake and me in a loving way, but he always ties it to scripture.” Now a published author, as well as owner of the Baldino’s franchise, Greg is pleased to share a collection of devotionals that have helped him get one step closer to the mindset of Christ. “I wrote this book because it was something God wanted me to do. I’ve probably given away more copies than I’ve sold, but that’s fine by me,” he says. “God leads us where He needs us to be, so this is something I was called to do.”  TCL

Many of the devotionals center around his wife and/or their 21-year-old son, Jake. “Both my son and wife are in quite a bit of the stories since they are written about the important people and events in my life. I’ve coached my son in baseball most of his life, and he’s at Sewanee University now as a player,” he says. “All in all, it took me about nine months to get the devotionals together and have the first copy on my desk.”

Hometown Living At Its Best

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Monday-Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Monday-Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Established patients may be seen at our sister clinic Vidalia Pediatrics after hours Established patients may be seen at our sister clinic Vidalia Pediatrics after hours Monday-Thursday: 5 PM -6:30 PM Monday-Thursday: 5 PM -6:30 PM Saturday: 9 AM – 12 PM Saturday: 9 AM – 12 PM

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Hometown Living At Its Best

Story by LISA WALENCEUS | Photos by Rose Colored Lens and Provided

CEO and

Neighbor

L Lou Ann Phillips has worked her way up the Canoochee ladder, eventually serving as the Chief Financial Officer for 10 years before becoming CEO in 2015.

TATTNALL COUNTY LIVING

Lou Ann Phillips, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Canoochee Electric Membership Cooperative (EMC), speaks proudly when she says, “I am part of the sixth generation of Smiths to live in Tattnall County. My great-grandfather Tietgen, on my father’s side, came here from Germany entering the U.S. through New York to Appling County in 1870,” she continues. “He worked in the timber industry floating logs to Darien, and later in the 1800s purchased and cleaned up land that is still our family farm.” Lou Ann now lives on family farmland in the Elza community outside Reidsville, but growing up she was a “city girl.” “While I, as a child, always had a connection to farming through my parents and grandparents, I actually grew up in Reidsville, in a house that’s just one mile from the Canoochee office,” she laughs. “My neighbors worked for Canoochee — my neighbors included Canoochee’s former CEO, J. Walter McCart, Canoochee’s Member Services Manager, and the co-op’s accountant.” ”My childhood really was ideal,” Lou Ann says. “My neighborhood was a perfect world where I felt safe and protected. People looked out for you and they looked after you.”

Hometown Living At Its Best

Lou Ann’s parents, William Louis Smith, Sr., and Joann (Miller) Smith built the house for their family of five in 1965. Her father served as the postmaster in Reidsville many years and her mother was a bank officer at the Tattnall Bank in Reidsville. “Daddy helped run the farm with his father. Eventually, when Daddy retired, he had a pure bred cattle farm and began growing Vidalia onions,” Lou Ann says. “I spent a lot of time driving a tractor, baseball cap on, hair in a ponytail. I guess I grew up kind of a tomboy,” she chuckles. “My older brothers, Louie, Jr. and Michael, let me tag along with them everywhere… when they went hunting or fishing, I went too. When they shot birds, my job was to retrieve them,” she continues. “I suppose you could say that was them using me as their ‘bird dog,’ but I think being so close to them helped me not to feel intimidated by things.”

“Like any family,” she continues, “We have our ups and downs, but you can always count on the employees here to pull together when it’s needed most. Things like our recent hurricanes have been a challenge, but our employees handle everything that comes their way with an exceptional dedication that makes me so proud.”

TATTNALL COUNTY LIVING

“My daddy always said that the only way you could really fail at something is not to try,” Lou Ann says. “My parents and my brothers always supported me.” “We just sold my parents house recently,” she continues. “We purposefully looked for a family to have it. I hope the new owners will have as good a life there as we did.” While Lou Ann’s neighborhood filled her childhood with happy memories, it also influenced her career, setting her on a path that eventually led to her becoming a CEO in a field where few women have that role. “Mr. Walter McCart, who was the Canoochee CEO at the time, lived behind us,” she says. “Ms. Mary, his wife, was my piano teacher. She was very important in my life for a lot of reasons,” Lou Ann continues. “But I’m pretty sure that when I got my first job while on college breaks, at Canoochee, it was because of her.”

Lou Ann’s passion for serving rural communities drives her work, but she also enjoys the connectedness of the Canoochee “family.” “I am grateful every day for the exceptional job that Canoochee’s employees do,” she says. “I don’t know what I would do without the support and dedication of our employees.” “After 39 years, I’ve come to know that if people here tease you or play tricks on you,” she laughs, “It’s because they like you.”

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“With only four women serving as EMC CEOs in the state of Georgia, you could say that this world is male dominated,” she explains. “And it’s not typical for someone who doesn’t have an engineering background to fill the job, too.” She continues, “But what I bring to the position is a true love and passion for what EMCs mean to rural communities.”

After Lou Ann graduated as a political science major from Mercer University in 1980, she took a full-time position with Canoochee. “I graduated on Sunday and I started at Canoochee the very next day,” she explains. “My first job was as a part-time cashier because I didn’t have any business experience. It was Mr. Walter who advised me to go back to school to take business courses,” she explained. “Because of his advice, I focused on accounting and the financial side of business.” Graduating with a Masters of Arts degree from Central Michigan University in 1984, and completing Accounting classes at Georgia Southern, Lou Ann continued to work her way up the Canoochee ladder, eventually serving as the Chief Financial Officer for 10 years before becoming CEO in 2015. “With only four women serving as EMC CEOs in the state of Georgia, you could say that this world is male dominated,” she explains. “And it’s not typical for someone who doesn’t have an engineering background to fill the job, too.” She continues, “But what I bring to the position is a true love and passion for what EMCs mean to rural communities,” “Being raised in town while spending so much time on my family’s farm, I know why it’s important that people living in the country have access to everything that people living in cities have,” she explains. “It’s my goal to make sure people in our rural areas have the same opportunities that anyone else has.”

Hometown Living At Its Best

While Lou Ann’s neighborhood filled her childhood with happy memories, it also influenced her career, setting her on a path that eventually led to her becoming a CEO in a field where few women have that role. “Mr. Walter McCart, who was the Canoochee CEO at the time, lived behind us,” she says. “Ms. Mary, his wife, was my piano teacher. She was very important in my life for a lot of reasons,” Lou Ann continues. “But I’m pretty sure that when I got my first job while on college breaks, at Canoochee, it was because of her.”

“Cell phones and the Internet…our kids should be as educated as anyone in the world, and they need those tools,” Lou Ann says. “We should have the best health care in the world, too. I hope EMCs can be a part of that solution.” Lou Ann’s passion for serving rural communities drives her work, but she also enjoys the connectedness of the Canoochee “family.” “I am grateful every day for the exceptional job that Canoochee’s employees do,” she says. “I don’t know what I would do without the support and dedication of our employees.” “After 39 years, I’ve come to know that if people here tease you or play tricks on you,” she laughs, “It’s because they like you.” “Like any family,” she continues, “We have our ups and downs, but you can always count on the employees here to pull together when it’s needed most. Things like our recent hurricanes have been a challenge, but our employees handle everything that comes their way with an exceptional dedication that makes me so proud.”  TCL

TATTNALL COUNTY LIVING

CityGlennville Of Glennville www.cityofglennville.com

MAYOR Bernie Weaver MAYOR PRO TEM Tammy D. Waters, Ward 4 COUNCILMEMBER Micah King, Ward 1 COUNCILMEMBER Dennis Strickland, Ward 2 COUNCILMEMBER Justin McLeod, Ward 3 CITY MANAGER Amy W. Murray CITY CLERK Emily Mixon CITY ATTORNEY Hugh J. McCullough MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE B. Daniel Dubberly III POLICE CHIEF Mickey Anderson FIRE CHIEF David Baxter PUBLIC WORKS Director Stan Dansby

City of Glennville | 134 S. Veterans Boulevard | Glennville, GA 30427 | (912) 654-2461 | Fax: (912) 654-2488

Hometown Living At Its Best

BIG Taking The

Plunge

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Story by David Pena | Photos provided by kian morris

Kian Morris spends his time skydiving and instructing new jumpers, but his weekdays are spent in the operating room at Optim Orthopedics in Reidsville.

Leonardo da Vinci once famously said, “Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.” If you ask most people what’s on their “Bucket List”, skydiving is probably one of the activities they’d like to do at least once. Luckily, for folks who live in Savannah, Charleston, Statesboro and all surrounding areas, Jump Georgia Skydiving is the place to fulfill that dream. The facility is open weekends and, weather permitting, operates all year long. “People drive from all over just to come jump with us,” says Kian Morris, who also is an instructor at the facility along with his wife and 2 partners Pascoal Rodrigues and Tim Jones. “Once they get that initial rush from jumping, most return to do it again and bring their family members and friends to try it too.” On the weekends, Kian spends his time skydiving and instructing new jumpers, but his weekdays are spent in the

Hometown Living At Its Best

While Kian appears to be living two distinct lives, he says that there is definitely a correlation between what he does in the operating room and skydiving. “There’s consistency, attention to detail, and being able to correct a situation that is seemingly out of your control. You can describe some of what we do in the air as ‘surgical’. I think everyone should try it at least once.”

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operating room at Optim Orthopedics in Reidsville. Since 2013, Kian has been a Physician’s Assistant, performing complex orthopedic spine surgery alongside his attending surgeon Dr. John McCormick. “I love the mechanics of spine surgery and using different surgical techniques” he explains. “I also really enjoy working with Dr. McCormick.” Born just outside of Chicago thirty-seven years ago, Kian moved around a lot as a kid. “We lived everywhere, from Texas to Florida to Illinois, I’ve pretty much seen this country,” he says. He says he joined the army because of 9/11 at the age of 19. “I just felt that I had to serve after what happened,” he explains. When Kian was honorably discharged

after serving four years, he received a degree in Biology at Armstrong Atlantic University. He then went on to earn his graduate degree from Nova Southeastern University in Jacksonville. So how did a physician’s assistant find himself jumping out of airplanes at fifteen thousand feet? “After I began performing surgeries, I needed some sort of outlet,” Kian explains. So, in 2014 he began taking skydiving classes as an outlet. Kian quickly became so taken with his new hobby that he opened up his own skydiving center in Sylvania in 2016. “I also wanted to maintain a large airplane (in Screven County). Plus, I really wanted to have a say in what is safe and what is Hometown Living At Its Best 49

not. Without going into specifics, I wasn’t completely happy with the way I was taught (to skydive) with regards to safety.” The irony is that Kian, who has over 3500 jumps under his belt, is not a huge fan of heights. “I’m still terrified of heights, so you can imagine what my first jump was like. The only reason I went is because my wife went first, and I wasn’t going to let her show me up,” he laughs. “I could not do this without her and the support of my surgeon, Dr. John McCormick.” Jennifer, Kian’s wife of fifteen years, is co-owner and does the bookkeeping for the family business when she’s not working as a pharmacist. While she is now fully entrenched in the business as a coach, she admits to having a little trepidation when he first came up with the idea for it. “I was afraid for sure because I didn’t know if it would succeed. I only had around 100 jumps when we opened, while Kian had about 1200. I was nervous, but willing to put in the hard

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Kian usually has anywhere from three to five instructors assisting him on the weekends at any given time. He says that safety is the number one factor in every lesson and every jump.

Hometown Living At Its Best

work it takes to start a business. Now we’re happy with how the business has taken off, and Kian and I get to jump together, which is nice.” While the rush of jumping out of an airplane certainly appeals to adrenaline junkies, Kian is quick to note that fun is always secondary to the safety of his clients. “Keeping everyone safe is our number one priority,” says Kian. “We have state-of-the-art equipment, combined with experienced instructors and knowledgeable staff. We also operate under guidelines mandated by the United States Parachute Association (USPA), which regulates strict safety protocols for its member drop zones,” he explains. Kian says that his plane is also one of the most reliable turbine aircraft ever produced, with an excellent history of safety. “It also has a spacious interior and holds up to 17 people so jumpers can bring all of their friends on the same skydive,” he adds. Kian usually has anywhere from three to five instructors assisting him on the weekends at any given time. He says that safety is the number one factor in every lesson and every jump. “We have 2 options for new jumpers. You can do a tandem jump with our instructor or learn to

TATTNALL COUNTY LIVING

While the rush of jumping out of an airplane certainly appeals to adrenaline junkies, Kian is quick to note that fun is always secondary to the safety of his clients. “Keeping everyone safe is our number one priority,” says Kian. “

“Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.” - Leonardo da Vinci

skydive. There is a seven-jump course for those who want to jump by themselves, which involves two tandem jumps where you jump attached to an instructor and we teach you how to free fall and pay attention to your altitude. Next, the student has 5 goal-oriented jumps with a single instructor jumping with them and talking them down to the ground via radio.” Kian’s instructors are all independent contractors and, in his opinion, some of the best in the business. “Most of them are former military guys, so it’s cool that I get to hang around soldiers again while doing something that I love.”

Jennifer, Kian’s wife of fifteen years, is co-owner and does the bookkeeping for the family business when she’s not working as a pharmacist. While she is now fully entrenched in the business as a coach, she admits to having a little trepidation when he first came up with the idea for it. “I was afraid for sure because I didn’t know if it would succeed. I only had around 100 jumps when we opened, while Kian had about 1200.”

Hometown Living At Its Best

The irony is that Kian, who has over 3500 jumps under his belt, is not a huge fan of heights. “I’m still terrified of heights, so you can imagine what my first jump was like. The only reason I went is because my wife went first, and I wasn’t going to let her show me up,” he laughs. “I could not do this without her and the support of my surgeon, Dr. John McCormick.”

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Kian’s mother Beth recently joined the business and answers the phone as well as organizes the jumps. Ironically, she’s not a fan of skydiving. “I’ve only jumped one time and that was enough for me,” she laughs. “Now I’m okay with it, but I’ve had a knee replacement, so I’m kind of restricted. But I love being part (of a business) that makes people happy.” She says that her son has always been a bit of a thrill seeker. “You would think that working at Optim would be thrilling enough, but this is his physical thrill, and I’m happy to see him doing what he loves.” While Kian appears to be living two distinct lives, he says that there is definitely a correlation between

what he does in the operating room and skydiving. “There’s consistency, attention to detail, and being able to correct a situation that is seemingly out of your control. You can describe some of what we do in the air as ‘surgical’. I think everyone should try it at least once.” Beth agrees with her son, adding, “Everyone is understandably terrified during their first jump. They all get caught up in the rush of the jump and the noise of the wind, but once you’re under your canopy, it’s so quiet and calm. If there is a heaven, that’s the kind of heaven I want to go to.” For more information about Jump Georgia or to schedule your skydive, call them at (888) 313-5867 or visit www.jumpgeorgia.com  TCL

Hometown Living At Its Best

Honors Past Winners Greater Tattnall Chamber of Commerce

1. Lifetime Achievement Award - Dr. J. Troy Rahn, DDS 2. Lifetime Achievement Award, Rotary Corporation 3. Tattnall County Citizens of the Year - Dan and Lindsay Bennett (also honored as Reidsville Citizens of the Year) 4. Tattnall Citizens of the Year - Deborah Carter and Wanda Mosley 5. Lifetime Achievement Award - Billy Strickland of Strickland’s Pharmacy. 6. Tattnall County Citizen of the Year of the Year - Mark Thompson 7. Tattnall Citizens of the Year - Lew and Joy Graham 8. Lifetime Achievement Award - James and Linda Curl 9. Lifetime Achievement Award — Joyce and Randy James of Smith’s Restaurant.

Honors Past Winners

The Greater Tattnall Chamber of Commerce is proud to honor those from our past banquets.

Unfortunately, our yearly banquet was cancelled for 2020 because of the onslaught of Covid-19. However, we plan to return in 2021 bigger and better than ever before.

We would like to congratulate all of our members who have succeeded through these very difficult times. Doe Zantamata said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is only in our darkest hours that we may discover the true strength of the brilliant light within ourselves that can never, ever, be dimmed.â&#x20AC;? This will certainly hold true for the businesses of Tattnall County. The Chamber continues to encourage you to shop locally to support our local government!

Greater Tattnall Chamber | 111 North Main Street Reidsville, GA 30453 | 912-557-4335

Greater Tattnall Chamber of Commerce

904 Mt. Vernon Road Vidalia, GA 30474 Lic. #138135H

COMPASSION DIGNITY CARE

Community Hospice Reaching Out To Families ...Since 1999 At Community Hospice your loved one will receive the best possible care by the area’s leading hospice provider. Our staff is professionally trained to provide not only physical and emotional comfort, but spiritual and social care, too, for the patient, family and significant others. Quality of life is our goal and we offer the finest, full-family care program available in Vidalia and 14 surrounding counties.

Locally Owned & Operated Vickie & Royce Ryles Founders

Jason Colbert, CHPCA Jason Colbert, CHPCA, CEO

Chief Executive Officer

912.537.0063 | 800.477.4758 www.vidaliahospice.com

• • • • • • • •

Home Hospice Services The Area’s Only Hospice House Grief Support & Bereavement Services Medical & Social Workers Home Health Aides & Skilled Nursing Services Advocates Dietary Counseling Financial Aid Available Through Community Hospice Non-Profit Foundation

Hometown Living At Its Best

tattnall county living

For all your Trucking needs Commit to the Lord whatever you do and He will establish your plans - P r o v e r b s 1 6 : 3

• • • • • • •

Trucking logistics Biomass Grinding and debris removal Wood yard services Biomass boiler fuel and mulch production Fuel Chipping and Timber harvesting Land clearing Site preparation and Reforestation

95 Mark Collins Road | Cobbtown, GA 30420 | 912.684.2635 | mwcollinsinc.com

Story by Gail Dixon | Photos by Heather Horton Photography

NOTHING BETTER THAN FAMILY

Tattnall Insurance is a “family” business based on love and taking care of people’s needs.

In today’s world, there is nothing better than family. Webster’s defines family as the basic unit in society traditionally consisting of two parents rearing their children. Tattnall Insurance is a “family” business based on love and taking care of people’s needs, but don’t be surprised if you walk in and see an adult in the floor playing with a child, someone fixing lunch, or someone trying to put a child down for a nap; their family consists of more than two “parents”.

Jane King Joyner began working at Tattnall Insurance in May 1985 through the VOT (Vocational Office Training) program at Glennville High School. Jane laughed and said, “I never intended for this to be my career. This job was a way for me to make a little money and get out of school early every day.” After high school, Jane attended Georgia Southern College, commuting, and still working at the insurance business. Jane recalls, “Royce and Faye were

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“I have my biological family and then my Tattnall Insurance family. Jane and April were here while I was reared in the office with my mom and dad. Jane’s and April’s children stayed here as well when they were infants and toddlers, and today we are very good friends. Also, we are well-equipped with the back part of our office as a full-fledged nursery, so my children can be with me while I work,” said Alexis. Tattnall Insurance has reared five children and has now started on the second generation.

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wonderful and let me work around my college schedule. I graduated in the summer of 1990 having a BBA in Finance with an emphasis on Risk Management. (I was in the first graduating class after changing the name to Georgia Southern University.) I then went to work full-time at Tattnall Insurance; I wasn’t offered a job, it was just understood that I would work there.” Faye kept the books at the business and was there all the time. Royce scaled back on his working hours because Jane knew what to do. Jane explains, “No matter what I did, I knew Royce and Faye would back me up, but he always had the final say.” Royce was Jane’s mentor…he taught her everything she knows about insurance and running a business. Jane went back to school to get her Agent’s Licenses in Property Casualty Insurance and Life and Health Insurance and has had both since 1989. When Jane found out she was pregnant with Luke, she talked to Royce about keeping Luke at work with her until she could find a suitable day care. Royce agreed that Luke could stay for a little while. It wasn’t long after that conversation that Royce and Faye found out they were pregnant with Alexis. Royce looked at Jane and said, “Call your husband and tell him that we need a nursery built here in the office.” It wasn’t long before Tyron, Jane’s husband, had a nursery built. Jane says, “Royce and Faye always felt like family. It is fun to work here and we were fortunate to be able to bring our children to work with us from birth on. We were able to see our children’s first steps, first tooth, hear their first words, etc. We have celebrated birthdays and holidays together. When our children started to school, we set up a place in the front corner so they could work on homework. Mama, Charlotte

Both Jane and April agreed that they have always been a family at Tattnall Insurance and would never have been able to rear their children at another job. Job responsibilities changed after the death of Faye and Royce, but because of good notes and previous assignments, the ladies were able to overcome each hurdle that crossed their paths. Each of them could have gone somewhere else to work and make more money, but Jane says, “It was never about money, it’s about love, family, and a fun environment.”

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King, would come several afternoons a week to help the children with homework. If something came up and we needed help, Daddy, Ken King, would walk down and get the children and take them to play on the sidewalk until the crisis was over.” Jane is married to Tyron Joyner, who retired from Ft. Stewart in 2016. They have two children: Luke, who is married to Taylor and they have one daughter, Charlotte Grace, who turned four in July, and Jessica, who is married to Ryne Huggins, and they have one daughter, Kallen Jane who was born in February. In June 1991, April Burkhalter Pirkle began working at Tattnall Insurance. She attended Southeastern Technical College for two years and decided to stay with the business. April says, “The family atmosphere is wonderful. I didn’t have to miss out on anything my children participated in because I was allowed to go to all activities and that meant a lot to me. Life is too short and we didn’t miss out on anything with our children.” (As I sit talking with April, I look over in the chair beside April’s desk and there sleeps Abbie, April’s miniature dachshund.) When April’s daddy, Bubba Burkhalter, got sick, April was stressed because she had to miss so much work. She explains,

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Tattnall Insurance has been involved in civic activities such as the Glennville Merchants Association and Professional Association (GMPA), the Chamber of Commerce, and the Glennville Onion Festival. They always try to be a part of the downtown activities too. Because of this involvement, they were able to teach their children the importance of helping others and responsibility.

“It was a blessing for Alexis to come to work here because I had to travel so much with Daddy. But God worked it out for all of us.” Once again, the Tattnall Insurance Family did what needed to be done. April is married to Keith Pirkle, co-owner of Pirkle Surveying. They have two children, Delaney and Macy. Both Jane and April agreed that they have always been a family at Tattnall Insurance and would never have been able to rear their children at another job. Job responsibilities changed after the death of Faye and Royce, but because of good notes and previous assignments, the ladies were able to overcome each hurdle that crossed their paths. Each of them could have gone somewhere else to work and make more money, but Jane says, “It was never about money, it’s about love, family, and a fun environment.” Tattnall Insurance has been involved in civic activities such as the Glennville Merchants Association and Professional Association (GMPA), the Chamber

of Commerce, and the Glennville Onion Festival. They always try to be a part of the downtown activities too. Because of this involvement, they were able to teach their children the importance of helping others and responsibility. Alexis is the daughter of the late Faye and Royce Anderson and grew up in the business. Faye died from cancer when Alexis was 10 years old, and Royce died in a car accident four years later. “I lost both of my parents at a young age and I have a lot of good memories from my childhood,” explains Alexis. “I want to pass this down to my children even though my parents are no longer here. I’m thankful for the family environment they created because, when I lost my parents, my real family and my Tattnall Insurance Family stepped up to encourage and support me. God placed people in my life at the right time.” Alexis was an 8th grade math teacher at Reidsville Middle School, but now works as a

Hometown Living At Its Best

agent at Tattnall Insurance. Alexis’ two boys stay with her at the office most days, while Jane and April help keep up with them. She says, “I loved teaching, but I wanted my children to have what I had when I was little.” “I have my biological family and then my Tattnall Insurance family. Jane and April were here while I was reared in the office with my mom and dad. Jane’s and April’s children stayed here as well when they were infants and toddlers, and today we are very good friends. Also, we are well-equipped with the back part of our office as a full-fledged nursery, so my children can be with me while I work,” said Alexis. Tattnall Insurance has reared five children and has now started on the second generation. Alexis and her husband, Jarrett Greene, were high school sweethearts. Jarrett teaches Health and Physical Education at Tattnall County High School. Along with teaching, he is part of the coaching staff for

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football and baseball. In addition, he and Alexis own four chicken houses. They have two children, Case Anderson, who turned three in August and Bennett Royce, who turned one this past May. “We are so thankful for our village that supports us daily to take care of our family and who have helped us to get to this point in life. God has truly blessed us with amazing family and friends,” says Alexis. Ron Anderson, Alexis’s brother and part owner of Tattnall Insurance, lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, and recently retired from the Air Force as a Colonel. His current job is as a consultant with Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. He has three children: Avery (26), Zach (21), and Lindsay (14). Tattnall Insurance is a full-service company that offers home, auto, and life insurance. These ladies are also equipped to handle other needs that an individual or business may need.  TCL

801 W. Barnard Street Glennville, GA 30427 912.654.3433 www.rotarycorp.com

799 W. Barnard Street Glennville, GA 30427 912.654.3436 www.duramatic.com

Hometown Living At Its Best

ServiceS For HoSpice include: Skilled Nursing CNA and Light Housekeeping Physical Therapy Occupational Therapy Speech Therapy Aroma Therapy Pet Therapy Massage Therapy Dietary Social Worker Volunteers Bereavement Services Hospice Medical Director Chaplain

Providing the care we would expect for our own families. Solace Hospice Does NotDiscriminate Against Any Person, Based On Race, Color, National Origin, Disability, or Age in Admission, Treatment, or Participation in Programs, Services, and Activited or in Employment. GA License# 138-0448-H, Fax# 912-454-8168

101 McIntosh Street 30474-3106 | PO Box 180 | Vidalia, GA 30475

www.SOLACE-HOSPICE.com | 912-454-8166 /Georgia Palliative Care

Armstrong’s Cricket Farm is more than a business.

It’s our family’s legacy. The Original Cricket est. 1947

3 0 6 G O R D O N S T. G L E N N V I L L E , G A 3 0 4 2 7 | ( 8 0 0 ) 6 5 8 - 3 4 0 8 | A R M S T R O N G C R I C K E T. C O M Hometown Living At Its Best

Celebrating the life of STATE SENATOR

Jack Hill On April 6, 2020, Senator Jack Hill left this world for his eternal home. He leaves behind him a legacy anyone would envy- three wonderful children, a wife of 48 years, seven grandchildren, two sisters, and two sisters-in-law. Each week for the past 831 consecutive weeks, Jack published a column to keep those in the 4th Senate District “in the know” on state happenings. The truth is, Jack’s column became more than a weekly herald to those he humbly represented; his powerful position as our Senate’s Appropriation Chairman and the broker of countless deals to serve all Georgians made his column a “must read” to all in Georgia politics. Jack used this column to inform, share facts, and give a glimpse on the path ahead. He was a trusted source and a tried-and-true friend. In 16 years, Jack never missed a column. Over the course of his Senate career, he published over 1,500 of these columns to our area and our state.

- NOTES FROM THE SENATE BY SENATOR JACK HILL Consecutive Edition 832- completed by his colleagues | April 10, 2020 Jack was not only my Senator for three decades, he was a dear friend. He had a true servant’s heart. He wasn’t interested in who got the credit, he was only interested in getting it done. You have only to look around his district, and indeed the entire state, to see his fingerprints on so many positive things. Jack was a great man and a good friend. He will be missed by many. My sincerest condolences go out to his family. -Rep. Butch Parrish, Swainsboro

tattnall county living

I was proud to work with Jack as a state department head in two agencies, as a constituent, and as a legislator. But most importantly for me is having had such an honest, hard-working servant leader as a personal friend. I’ve always believed that when you live in the hearts of those you leave behind, you never really die. Jack Hill will live in my heart forever. -Rep. Bill Hitchens, Rincon

I knew Jack before either of us entered politics. Though he climbed to the highest offices of the Capitol, he never changed. I never saw him as a politician. He continued to be a smart businessman eventually overseeing a State budget over $20 billion. Not only did he refuse to take the credit he deserved, he always gave praise to those around him for the work he had actually done. The State’s firm foundation can be attributed to his wisdom and work ethic. He will be sorely missed. -Rep. Bill Werkheiser, Glennville

Hometown Living At Its Best

Story by LISA WALENCEUS | Photos by Rose Colored Lens

The Master

Craftsman

Michael Thompson talks about the custom cabinets and furniture that he handcrafts and the woods used to make them like they are old friends. In his high-ceilinged shop, next to his home, he shows off the locally harvested red cypress he’s using to build custom cabinetry for a walk-in closet. “For this project, I’m using live edge wood, meaning that the wood keeps the natural edge of the tree after the bark is cut,” Michael explains. “If you look at it closely, you can tell the age by the number of

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Michael Thompson feels a deep appreciation for the memories that come with what he builds.

Hometown Living At Its Best

“It’s been wonderful having my own business for the last 12 years,” Michael says. “It’s great because I have the flexibility to be here for my family, when they need me, while I do the work I love, in a way that I hope is honest and honors God.” “I’m lucky to have worked with my father and my uncle,” he continues. “They gave me the family integrity and work ethic. They taught me that ‘idle hands are the devil’s workshop.’”

rings you see — this tree was about 300 years old. Cypress looks like a hardwood, with a straight grain and a beautiful light color,” he continues, “but it’s really softwood. I wouldn’t use it in a high ‘wear and tear’ area like a kitchen, but it’s perfect for something like a closet.” For a kitchen project, Michael prefers something like mahogany. “Mahogany is a really fine wood for cabinets and furniture,” he says. “Honduras mahogany is classic, but all three types have interlocking grains that make them both durable and easy to cut and carve. The wood ages to a coppery red tone and it stains beautifully.” Turning to the far end of his shop, Michael continues, “Walnut is a special wood, too, because it gives a deep, dark tone with nothing more than a clear coat. I built that vanity over there with a tree that I milled after it was cut right here in Tattnall County. Finding walnut in this climate is rare because those trees usually prefer to grow in cooler places.” Michael’s love of wood and woodworking started early in his childhood when his father took him to work sites during the summer. “My father was a tiler, but I was never really

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interested in that sort of work,” Michael laughs. “While he worked on a job, I would poke around for wood scraps and make things with them.” When he turned 15, his uncle, Pete Powell, gave him a part-time job as a carpenter, allowing Michael not only to hone his skills, but also to realize that he loved the work. After earning a degree from Georgia Southern University in building construction and contracting in 1992, Michael worked for his uncle’s company in Statesboro for 15 years. The work often took him far from Glennville. “It’s been wonderful having my own business for the last 12 years,” Michael says.

Walking across a field and past a large pond to the one-room cabin Michael built as a family hang-out, Jeanie says, “My parents’ gave us some land on their farm when we married. Michael and I started in a trailer — our families helped us clear the land, and we built our home. Raising our children in the country and close to family has been a blessing.”

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“It’s great because I have the flexibility to be here for my family, when they need me, while I do the work I love, in a way that I hope is honest and honors God.” “I’m lucky to have worked with my father and my uncle,” he continues. “They gave me the family integrity and work ethic. They taught me that ‘idle hands are the devil’s workshop.’” Moving to the “paint room” in his shop, Michael looks over the facing frames that his son is sanding between coats. He smiles as he says, “Ford is working with me this summer on a big kitchen project. I hope he and all my children will carry on our family’s pride in hard work.”

TATTNALL COUNTY LIVING

Michael married his wife, Jeanie (Dasher), 27 years ago, at the same time that he began his carpentry career. They have five children: the oldest three, Maddy (23), John Michael (21), and Ford (19), are their biological children; their two youngest, ten and nine, were adopted six years ago. The couple teaches a class together at their church, Glennville First Baptist, called “Two Becoming One,” about how to strengthen marriages. Walking across a field and past a large pond to the one-room cabin Michael built as

a family hang-out, Jeanie says, “My parents’ gave us some land on their farm when we married. Michael and I started in a trailer — our families helped us clear the land, and we built our home. Raising our children in the country and close to family has been a blessing.” Inside, the cabin’s wood paneled walls and ceiling surround large comfy chairs facing a big screen TV and tables that are covered with games and art projects. Pointing to the elegantly carved and polished trusses in the ceiling, Michael says, “The wood

Inside, the cabin’s wood paneled walls and ceiling surround large comfy chairs facing a big screen TV and tables that are covered with games and art projects. Pointing to the elegantly carved and polished trusses in the ceiling, Michael says, “The wood for those came from a poplar tree on this property — that tree was so big, the sawmill couldn’t handle it. I had to get a portable sawmill and cut it right here.”

Hometown Living At Its Best

for those came from a poplar tree on this property — that tree was so big, the sawmill couldn’t handle it. I had to get a portable sawmill and cut it right here.” “Nothing can ever be simple for Michael Thompson,” Jeanie laughs. “His work is never ‘middle of the road.’ That’s his gift and something I love about him.” Michael does bring high expectations for quality and effort to every endeavor. When their oldest son, John Michael, told his parents that he wanted a fishing boat for high school graduation, Michael says, “I told him that he could have one if he built it. I got a plan from a guy in Florida, and John Michael, Ford, and I worked all summer on an 18-foot flat skiff.” Michael chuckles, “We enjoyed working together on that project so

TATTNALL COUNTY LIVING

much that we built another for Ford’s graduation.” Whether he’s working on a 17-foot kitchen island for a beach house on St. Simons, a 24-foot conference table for Great Dane, or fishing boats for family adventures, Michael feels a deep appreciation for the memories that come with what he builds. “I’ve had the chance to work on so many wonderful things,” he smiles. “One project I’ll never forget is building the display cabinets for Erk Russell’s National Championship trophies and memorabilia. When I finished them, Georgia Southern had a big ceremony and Coach Russell was there. He passed away the very next day.”

“I’ve also built two six-foot crosses — that was very humbling to me,” Michael continues. “One is in a church in Belize and one is in the Bethesda Retirement Home chapel in Statesboro. While I was working, I remember thinking that over 2000 years ago, someone else had the task of building Jesus’s cross, which resulted in mercy and grace in our lives.” In carpentry, a master craftsman is someone who has superior talent, artistic skill, and depth of knowledge. Michael Thompson certainly has those qualities. To them, he adds a love and reverence for God, family, and a craft that makes his work much more than a job. For Michael and his family, it’s a way of life.  TCL

Hometown Living At Its Best

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tattnall county living

Memory In Loving

Celebrating the life of Mr. Joe 1945-2020

We all feel a great sense of sadness at the loss of such a valued partner colleague and friend. You are missed!

DUBBERLY & MCGOVERN ATTORNEYS AT LAW

D O M E S T I C • R E A L E S TAT E • P E R S O N A L I N J U R Y • W R O N G F U L D E AT H • D I S A B I L I T Y • S O C I A L S E C U R I T Y P. O . B O X 4 5 8 , G L E N N V I L L E , G A • 9 1 2 . 6 5 4 . 3 9 5 2 Hometown Living At Its Best

Technology for your well-being COVID-19 has caused us all to rethink the way we manage our personal, business, and medical relationships. Because good health is imperative to fight any coronavirus, continuing your healthcare regimen is vital. At Meadows Health, we have been committed to your care and safety for over 56 years. With that commitment in mind, we’ve implemented several new forms of technology that will ensure you can continue your normal well-being routines and lab visits without compromising your safety. Discover all the ways Meadows Health is putting you first. VIRTUAL WAITING ROOM The next time you visit us, you will have a chance to experience our virtual waiting room. This allows us to safely see patients with technology that supports social distancing. It works through text messaging to enable a conversational style registration and remote check-in.

It also allows typical intake forms to be digitized and contactless. MEADOWS HEALTH DRIVE-UP LAB Medical screenings save lives. Those who have been putting off getting lab work due to the coronavirus pandemic now have a safer option at Meadows Health with curbside lab service. Patients can check-in from their phones, and the phlebotomist comes right out to the car to perform blood draws. The process is quick, safe and convenient. Keeping you safe has always been our top priority. Your health is too important to delay. The trusted care you deserve is right here at home. To find out more about our safety updates and virtual waiting room visit www. meadowshealth.com or follow us on Facebook @MeadowsHealth

HO W IT W ORKS Outpatient Appointments

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3 4 5

Patients scheduled for an appointment at Meadows Regional Medical Center will receive a text message reminder 1-hour prior to their appointment. Upon arrival in the parking area, the patient should respond to the reminder notice by typing the letter “A” in the message line. The patient will receive a text message acknowledging arrival for the scheduled appointment and asking him/her to remain in the vehicle until hospital staff lets him/her know when to come in. After checking in, the patient will also receive a text with an eForms link with instructions to complete the registration forms electronically on their phone before entering the building. If the patient chooses not to complete the forms electronically, they will receive a text telling them to come into the hospital and which registration room to go to. Once the Registrar is ready for the patient, he/she will receive a text message with instructions on where to go. After the procedure is completed, the patient will receive a survey text message.

tattnall county living

Outpatient Labs

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Upon entering each parking lot look for signage that instructs patients to go to meadowshealth.com on their cell phone. Once the webpage loads, patients will press the “Get in Line” banner. If patients do not use text messaging on their cell phones, there is a phone number listed on the signage to check-in. After the patient selects the “Get In Line” option, a registration window will appear on their cell phone. Patients will complete the short form and scroll down to select the blue “Get In Line” button at the bottom of the screen. The patient will need to click the box to “Send me text message notifications” and to accept the Terms of Service.

A text message will appear confirming the patient’s check-in. An additional message will notify the patient when the phlebotomist is on the way to the vehicle.

One Meadows Parkway Vidalia, GA | 912.535.5555 www.meadowshealth.com

PROTECTING YOUR INVESTMENT SINCE 1978

Thank you Tattnall County for your continued confidence in us! We measure success by the many relationships built with our customers during the past 40 years!

VIEW YOUR VEHICLE DURING REPAIRS ONLINE!

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Hometown Living At Its Best

Story by Gail Dixon | Photos by Sandy Waters, Barbie Brazel, Jodi Graham (RES), & Allison Cobb

One

Precious

Lady

Sandy Davis loves everyone from the first moment she meets you and will do anything she can for you. She’s just “precious.” 88

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Hometown Living At Its Best

Sandy Davis was born in Albany, Georgia. Her daddy was in the military and worked on airplanes at the base in Albany. After the military, he moved his family to Vidalia, where he worked with Tri-County Gas Company. Sandy went to Robert Toombs Christian Academy and then met and married Joe Waters, and moved to Tattnall County. Sandy did her student teaching in Lyons and wanted to teach there, but it didn’t happen that way. Her first year of teaching was at Reidsville Elementary School in 1987-1988, where she continued to teach for 33 years. Sandy says, “The Lord knew where I needed to be. The RES teachers and staff were friends that became my family. I never left because it felt like home. These people have been a blessing to me!”

TATTNALL COUNTY LIVING

Now, if you know Sandy, you know what a great Christian woman she is, definitely one of God’s Warriors! So, I found it interesting that she and Joe got married on Halloween. “I wanted to get married in October. The only day my friend could be there was a Sunday and that Sunday just happened to be Halloween,” Sandy explained. We both had a good laugh and continued with the interview.

Hometown Living At Its Best 91

“God probably knew I needed to get out of teaching because I don’t like change,” says Sandy. But, after retiring in 2019, Sandy went to work for Babies Can’t Wait (BCW) as a Special Instructor. The BCW Program is Georgia’s statewide early intervention system for infants and toddlers with special needs, age birth to three, and their families.

TATTNALL COUNTY LIVING

Tommy Patrick recalls, “Sandy and I entered Brewton Parker College campus at the same time. Finding ourselves in many classes together, of course, we began to talk. I am certain that the conversation was my fault. It became clear that we were studying for our tests, as we always made a onepoint score away from each other.” “Those that know me will be the first to say that I do not impress people; however, Sandy Waters makes a positive impression on everyone that she encounters. This positive impression continued as we became first year teachers at Reidsville Elementary School. Her sweetness and concern for our students and faculty grew ever stronger each year. Today, Sandy remains one of my dearest friends. She is indeed a true southern lady of grace and respect,” explains Tommy. Sandy’s first three years of teaching were in 3rd grade. She loved her 3rd graders, but told R.L. Akins, Principal at the time, that she wanted to teach younger students. At the end of her third year of teaching, a 1st grade position opened up and she took it. “I thought I was in hog heaven! I knew this was where I wanted to be and I felt like this was where the Lord wanted me to be,” Sandy tells me. After teaching

1st grade, the last five years of her teaching career were spent in EIP for reading. Sandy’s job was to pull children out of the classroom and work on phonics and reading skills, another job that she enjoyed so much. When asked about her memories at RES, the first one she thought about was when she had her first parent conference. The conference was with Gregg Maybin, Principal at Reidsville High School, and his wife, Joyce, who taught at RES. Sandy says, “I was so scared. We had started a new math curriculum and they wanted to know all about it. I had to explain to them that I was trying to figure out the math just like the children. We took it day by day.” During her 33 years of teaching, Sandy helped out in any way that she could. She helped Denna Oliver coach cheerleaders for a couple of years and several other times too. One thing Sandy did that she really loved was being the Beta Sponsor for 4th and 5th grades. “We were always doing something for people in the community. Some of our many

Hometown Living At Its Best

Along with helping out anywhere that she could, Sandy was RES Teacher of the Year twice. She was also on the Sunshine Committee, doing the kinds of things she loves to do. “We would do things for the people at school and for the school in general. I was excited to be on this committee because I got to do the things I love to do,” she explains.

projects included Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes, honoring law enforcement with goodie bags, a sock drive, a coat drive, and Pennies for Patients. We would also visit the nursing homes to give out bags of goodies and sing Christmas carols. On Earth Day we would clean up the school campus. One other thing, which I borrowed from Wanda Mosley, was letting the Beta students be teacher helpers, where they would go to a classroom and help a teacher for 30 minutes at the time,” Sandy recalls. Along with helping out anywhere that she could, Sandy was RES Teacher of the Year twice. She was also on the Sunshine Committee, doing the kinds of things she loves to do. “We would do things for the people at school and for the school in general. I was excited to be on this committee because I got to do the things I love to do,” she explains. Not only was Sandy involved at RES, but she was and is involved at Reidsville Baptist Church. She has been at RBC for 33 years and says, “It has been a blessing to be there.” She taught GAs (Girls in Action), Mission Friends, and told me, “I have taught Vacation Bible School all my life.” Now she teaches 1st-5th grade in Sunday School with Gloria Sapp. “God probably knew I needed to get out of teaching because I don’t like change,” says Sandy. But, after retiring in 2019, Sandy went to work for Babies Can’t Wait (BCW) as a Special Instructor. The BCW Program 94

TATTNALL COUNTY LIVING

is Georgia’s statewide early intervention system for infants and toddlers with special needs, age birth to three, and their families. The purpose of BCW is to provide early identification and screening of children with developmental delays and chronic health conditions, improve the developmental potential of infants and toddlers birth to age three with developmental or chronic health conditions, and support family members and caregivers to enhance children’s learning and development through everyday learning opportunities. “I love working with BCW. I get to go in homes or day cares and work with these small children. Since COVID, I’m doing Telehealth and get to ‘see’ my babies and their mamas and help them in any way that I can. I started out with five and ended up with 17, but am back down to 10-12 babies now. I work with them one hour a week per child. I love my babies and my mamas and I call to make sure they are all okay,” she explains. Now, if you know Sandy, you know what a great Christian woman she is, definitely one of God’s Warriors! So, I found it interesting that she and Joe got married on Halloween. “I wanted to get married in October. The only day my friend could be there was a Sunday and that Sunday just happened to be Halloween,” Sandy explained. We both had a good laugh and continued with the interview. Sandy and Joe live in Reidsville and have three children: Branden (37), Tanner (27), and EmilyAnn (21).

They also have three grandchildren: Olivia (16), Jesslyn Kate (5), and Braylee Ann, who will be two in October. “I have known Sandy since I was a little girl. She taught me at VBS at Reidsville Baptist Church. I also had the pleasure of teaching alongside her for 11 years in first grade. She was a wonderful mentor, friend, and teacher. At school she was known by everyone as ‘Aunt Sandy.’ You could always count on her to cook, decorate, or just be an encourager. When things got tough or hard, she always had just the right words to say to make it all better. You could not be around her and NOT smile,” says Haley Davis. “We always joked that she says ‘precious’ at least 100 times per day. You could hear her ‘a mile away’ being an encourager to someone or laughing with coworkers. She kept everyone at RES happy and well-fed.” Brayla, 8 years old, told me what “Aunt Sandy” means to her. “She’s sweet. She gives lots of hugs and kisses. She helps people. I love her!” As we ended our interview, Sandy told me, “I taught for 33 years. I am God’s child and I love my school kids. I pray for them all the time.” I could go on and on with the positive accolades about Sandy Waters. If you know her, you love her and you appreciate her for what she is because she is not a fake. What you see is what you get…a kind, sweet, loving woman who loves everyone from the first moment she meets you and will do anything she can for you. She’s just “precious.”  TCL

Hometown Living At Its Best

Madonna H. Paradice, Pc CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT

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IN TATTNALL COUNTY The Claxton Bank has been serving Tattnall County, Georgia, for over 80 years and many of our team members are proud to call it home.

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TERRELL BROTHERS, INC HEATING & AIR • ELECTRICAL

Licensed HVAC & Electrical Contractors | (912) 654-4425 | 5300 Highway 144 West • Glennville, GA 30427 Conditioned Air License #CN005610 | Electrical License #EN007903

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Left: Jake and Luke Shuman sons of John and Lana Shuman. Right: Mason & Chap Shuman sons of Mark and Victoria Shuman.

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Watermelon Creek

BAPTIST CHURCH Pastor, Steve Miller

Sunday Services: Sunday School - 9:30 am Morning Worship - 10:30 am Adult Bible Study - 5:00 pm Kid’s Club - 5:00 pm

Wednesday Services: Wednesday Recharge - 6:30 pm Radical Teens - 6:30 pm

912.654.1271 | watermeloncreek.org | 8806 HWY 144 • Glennville, GA 30427

JOIN US @ THE CREEK Hometown Living At Its Best

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A Thoughtful

Birthday

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Story by Gail Dixon | Photos by Jessi Winkler

Sean and Jessi Winkler live in Reidsville and have two sons, Alex and Jackson. Both boys are just as rambunctious as can be; just your everyday typical boys. The Winklers have been rearing their sons with lessons on being kind, showing compassion, and helping others. This, I might add has been going on for years, even before COVID-19 came along. Birthdays have always been pretty special occasions in the Beecher family. Jessi’s mom, Cindy, always said that certain birthdays (ages 10, 13, 16, and 18) get bigger presents than normal because they’re “big” birthdays. Jessi says, “Mom always bought bigger presents for us on those years, so my sister and I have followed suit with our children.”

Alex Winkler turned his birthday present into a gift for those in need.

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When asked about being interviewed for this article, Jessi said, “At first he turned bright red and said ‘no’ because he didn’t want any more attention, but he came back half an hour later and said, ‘Okay. They can write the article. Maybe someone will read it and want to do the same thing.’”

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“In early April, we asked Alex what he wanted for his ‘big birthday gift’ and he said he had to think about it,” explains Jessi. “A few days later, he told us that he had been thinking and was having a hard time coming up with a gift because he basically had everything he wanted.” Alex did tell her one or two things they could buy, but that he would prefer to do something really nice for someone instead. They “kicked” ideas around for a day or two, and Alex said, “I really want to do something for people who have cancer.” “This is when the idea of chemo support bags for cancer patients came up; he absolutely lit up and latched onto that one!” recalls Jessi. Now that Alex had an idea of what he wanted to do, the research began. The first thing he had to do was look up the items that people suggested patients take with them for their chemo treatments. Once he found this, Alex made himself a list of items that were on more than one list when researching. Then, he asked his mom to put a post on Facebook asking people what they suggested, and from there he made another list of everything that matched his previous list. Jessi says, “He was very analytical about it…lol! I helped him make an Amazon wish list so we could get an idea of how much each bag would cost and how many we could make.” Jessi adds, “I had seen several people ask for birthday cards for their kids

during quarantine, so instead of birthday cards, I made a Facebook post and asked people to consider donating $1.00 instead of buying a card and stamp for Alex’s birthday. I shared his wish list so people could see what he wanted to spend the money on.” Of course, family and friends on Facebook and the Tattnall community stepped up just like they have in the past. “The community absolutely amazed all of us! We had so many donations, from $5.00 to one big enough that I am not supposed to disclose the donator’s name. We had a person we had never even met buy 50 of the drawstring bags off of Alex’s list and send them to us. Teachers who hadn’t taught Alex donated to the cause. It was extremely moving, and definitely affirmed what is so special about our small community,” explains Jessi. Alex was able to put together 60 bags. Each drawstring bag had a blanket, a water bottle with flavoring packets, a crossword puzzle book, a journal and pen, some nausea candies (Queasy

Hometown Living At Its Best 105

How does Alex feel about himself for doing something for someone else for his birthday? “It was the very best birthday I have ever had,” Alex said smiling.

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Drops and Gin Gins), Chapstick, and unscented lotion. These bags were put together for anyone receiving chemo that wanted one. Jessi reached out to Samantha Walker, RN, BSN OCN, Director of The Tommy and Shirley Strickland Cancer Center at Meadows Regional in Vidalia, to see how Alex could help. “On July 21, my cancer care team and I unloaded 60 bags stuffed with comforting goodies for our patients,” says Samantha. Alex told Samantha that he wrote a note to go in each and every bag that stated, “Hey! I hope that you are going to get better soon! I am praying! ~ Alex Winkler.” Samantha and her team are very grateful to Alex and his mom for their donation of the goody bags. “My heart was refilled with encouragement and hope, all from Alex. This is the true display of the little hands and feet of Jesus and service,” Samantha says.

Alex did this project in memory of his grandpa, Tom Winkler, who passed away from liver cancer in 2013 and his papa, Robert Beecher, who passed away from cholangiocarcinoma in 2017. He says, “Both of my grandparents had cancer and got chemotherapy, and chemotherapy seems hard.” What better way to remember them than doing something nice for cancer patients going through chemo! How does Alex feel about himself for doing something for someone else for his birthday? “It was the very best birthday I have ever had,” Alex said smiling. I’m sure everyone is wondering whether or not he got any presents for his birthday. He did, much to his displeasure. He got a TV from his parents and brother, and a basketball goal from his grandma. What a great birthday…thinking of others instead of himself! Sean works for Claxton Cold Storage as a Shift Supervisor/Junior Manager. Jessi is a housewife and mama! I’m sure you probably read about her being a surrogate mother in the Tattnall Journal Sentinel. Jessi helped a family by delivering a little girl in 2016 and boy/girl twins in 2019. At some point in her life, she would like to take her licensing exam to add social worker to her list. Right now, Sean and Jessi are happy taking care of their boys! They are doing a great job teaching them the lessons of life and how to encourage and care about other people.

Alex was able to put together 60 bags. Each drawstring bag had a blanket, a water bottle with flavoring packets, a crossword puzzle book, a journal and pen, some nausea candies (Queasy Drops and Gin Gins), Chapstick, and unscented lotion. These bags were put together for anyone receiving chemo that wanted one.

Hometown Living At Its Best

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Alex, 10, is in the 5th grade and Jackson, 8, is in 3rd grade, both at Reidsville Elementary School. Alex likes soccer, tumbling, and running; Jackson prefers soccer and baseball. Both boys like camping, but Alex likes bow hunting and has a gym membership, which he enjoys four times a week. Alex’s favorite foods are baked potatoes and any kind of homemade soup, but Jackson loves pizza and steak. They both like building things, going out on the boat, riding bicycles, and playing basketball. Alex also likes reading and writing a lot, winning Young Authors last year in the 4th grade. When asked about being interviewed for this article, Jessi said, “At first he turned bright red and said ‘no’ because he didn’t want any more attention, but he came back half an hour later and said, ‘Okay. They can write the article. Maybe someone will read it and want to do the same thing.’” Thank you, Alex, for being a blessing to people in need! Your thoughtfulness and hard work was very much appreciated by the cancer patients, their families, The Tommy and Shirley Strickland Cancer Center, and your community!  TCL

Reidsville

Veterinary Clinic

7061 US-280, Reidsville, GA 30453 | (912) 557-4993 | After Hours at 557-4401 | reidsvillevetclinic.com

Sunday Schedule: Morning Worship: 9 AM & 11 AM Sunday School: 10 AM

9 1 2 ) 6 5 4 - 2 5 8 7 | o f f i c e @ g l e n n v i l l e u m c . c o m | 1 1 6 S . C a s w e l l S t. , G l e n n v i l l e , G A 3 0 4 2 7 | w w w. g l e n n v i l l e u m c . c o m Hometown Living At Its Best

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114 E BRAZELL ST, REIDSVILLE, GA 30453 |

WWW.SHOPJINCYS.COM

(912) 557-3038 @SHOPJINCYS

DUBBERLY & MCGOVERN ATTORNEYS AT LAW

D O M E S T I C • R E A L E S TAT E • P E R S O N A L I N J U R Y • W R O N G F U L D E AT H • D I S A B I L I T Y • S O C I A L S E C U R I T Y P. O . B O X 4 5 8 , G L E N N V I L L E , G A • 9 1 2 . 6 5 4 . 3 9 5 2

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Caughey Hearn, Agent 7573 US HWY 280 | Claxton, GA 30417 | 912-739-4545

Canoochee EMC Is Working For You

Canoochee EMC

342 East Brazell Street Reidsville, GA 30453 | (800) 342-0134 | canoocheeemc.com Hometown Living At Its Best

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Better Living for a Better Life!

Watermelon Creek BAPTIST CHURCH

Sunday Services: Better Living provides

physical Sunday School hands-on - 9:30 am therapy. Our goal for Morning Worship - 10:30 am every patient is to Adult Bible Study - 5:00 improve theirpm quality of life. Our specialty is Kid’s Club - 5:00 pm

individualized orthopedic care for injuries of the muscles or joints, post-operative care, Wednesday Recharge - 6:30 pm total joint replacements, Radical Teens -acute 6:30 and pm chronic injuries and pain.

Wednesday Services:

Physical Therapy for the Active Patient

PENNY MOORE, PT 912.654.1271 8 North Williams St., Metter, GA 30439

watermeloncreek.org | 8806 HWY 144 • Glennville, GA| 3042 betterliving@pineland.net 912.685.4331 - Pastor, Steve Miller -

JOIN US @ THE CREEK

GLENNVILLE AUTO PARTS

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the

love

of a small town

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TATTNALL COUNTY LIVING

When Shellie Smith moved from North Georgia to Glennville, she dove headfirst into the community and hasn’t looked back since.

Newcomers to Glennville often immerse themselves in the community and relish each and every opportunity to serve others. One such family is Shellie and Jason Smith, who moved to Glennville from North Georgia in the summer of 2017. “We love it here, the ideal Small Town USA that we wanted for our family. We have found the people here friendly and welcoming,” said Shellie, who shared that they had visited several small towns in the area, but just felt Glennville was to be their new home after driving through it a second time. “We have been so blessed since moving to Glennville. Our neighbor, Darla Kicklighter, has been so welcoming, and the children have enjoyed her pool. Other good

Story by Pam Waters | Photos provided by Shellie Smith Hometown Living At Its Best

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neighbors are T.C. and Sue Rogers, who welcomed us with a pot of chili and cornbread. “Basically, Jason and I follow the Lord, and He has never steered us wrong. We feel as if He led us to Glennville and provided our jobs for us. He is always good, even in the most trying times; there is usually a silver lining in every cloud,” said Shellie. Jason had been employed by Blue Ridge EMC for 18 years, but the job offer from Coastal Electric in Richmond Hill was an opportunity he could not refuse. He began employment at Coastal in January of 2017, while the family waited to move when school was released for the school year. He serves as Energy Advisor and the resident Beekeeper. “Coastal EMC has planted pollination gardens around the solar fields in a project to create a revival of the honeybee population, which has been on the decrease,” explained Jason.

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“Basically, Jason and I follow the Lord, and He has never steered us wrong. We feel as if He led us to Glennville and provided our jobs for us. He is always good, even in the most trying times; there is usually a silver lining in every cloud,” said Shellie.

Jason and Shellie and their four children had spent their lives in the small North Georgia city of Young Harris, which is home to Young Harris College. When they moved to Glennville, Shellie, too, left her job of six years at Drake Software in Hayesville, North Carolina, which is just three miles from Young Harris. Her bubbly personality was a perfect fit for her job as Senior Customer Service Representative. “It was a great company to work for. The owner, Phil Drake, was amazing. He helped develop an E-filing system for the IRS, and Drake supplies tax software for approximately 80,000 tax offices in the U.S.,” said Shellie, who worked previously for H&R Block for five years as office manager. “We feel that God led us to the ideal place for our family, and we all enjoy being involved in the Glennville and Tattnall community,” said Shellie, who has been a ‘mover and shaker’ in the Glennville Chamber of Commerce, Glennville Lions Club, and President-Elect of the Glennville Rotary Club since their two years in Glennville. When Shellie interviewed for the Executive Director position of the Glennville Chamber of Commerce, the directors knew immediately that her personality would be a plus for the job. “She had already expressed in the interview how much her family loved Glennville and its people, so we knew she could ‘sell’ our community with whomever she interacted,” said Annette Thigpen, Treasurer/Director of the Glennville Chamber of Commerce. “She has been so successful in all our projects. Her energy, enthusiasm, zeal, and efficiency have impressed us,” said Amy Goodell, Vice President of the Chamber. “I witness first-hand how positive she is in her conversations and exchanges with visitors, local townspeople, and business owners and managers,” said Chamber volunteer Lynda Goodell. One of the biggest projects that entails months of planning is the annual Glennville Sweet Onion Festival. This event was

challenging, but Shellie was elated that her first festival in 2018 was such a success. She recruited new vendors, both food and crafts, and seemed to please everyone with their placements. “She has an unusual knack to be able to smooth over any situation that arises, and this ability allows the parties involved to be satisfied,” said Chamber Vice President Amy Goodell. “The Onion Festival involves extensive planning, beginning in January, but it is such a fun, family-oriented event that brings the community and families together. The smiles, laughter, and opportunity to showcase our local talent make it a superb time for everyone,” said Shellie, adding that the event is enhanced with those who accept chairperson responsibilities, such as Dr. Paul Thompson for the one-mile and 5K runs; Jay Hales and

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other South Georgia Bank staff for the parade; Anita Dasher, who directs and produces the Miss Georgia Sweet Onion Pageant; and numerous other groups who take responsibility for various facets of the festival. Shellie was also eager to join the Glennville Rotary Club as soon as she became Chamber Executive Director. “Shellie is a go-getter. Plenty of energy and commitment to the Rotary’s ideal of ‘service above self’ have made her a vital member,” said Glennville Rotary Club Past President and current Secretary Donald Fountain. Only in her second year of membership, Shellie has completed three undergraduate Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) courses and is waiting for the dates to be announced to begin her RLI graduate courses. She was presented with the Super Hero Award at the club’s annual awards banquet this past June 26, 2019. Shellie was also made a Paul Harris Fellow, an elite accomplishment in just her second year of membership. She has readily attended the last two years’ Rotary District Conferences at Jekyll Island and the District Assemblies in Dublin. On July 27, 2019, Shellie accepted a Rotary 6920 district leadership position in the tracking of club projects in the 10 Million Meal Challenge, an endeavor to feed the hungry, locally and abroad.

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Shellie was invited to join the local Lions Club and has been a motivating force for fellow Glennville Lions. She is President of the Glennville Lions Club and serves also as Zone Chair for Zone 10 this year and was recently recognized at the June 27, 2019 banquet as Lion of the Year and was also presented with the Leo Club Advisor Outstanding Service Award. The Leo Club is a junior Lions Club, usually for middle and high school students. The month preceding, Shellie was presented with the Lions International President’s Award, the highest honor possible among the Lions organization. At the same time, Shellie and Jason’s daughter, Emma, was honored as the Georgia Leo of the Year. Shellie was chiefly instrumental in assisting Emma in forming the first Tattnall Leo organization. Emma served as its first president, and this group of middle and high school students had a wonderful year of service projects, which included the makeover of the Glennville Head Start Center, clean-up of the Children’s Camp for the Blind at Waycross, and many other civic projects. Through Emma’s leadership, the Leos raised funds to send two children to the camp for the blind. Emma will also serve as First Vice President this year for District 18N for the Leos. “The Leo Club Advisor Outstanding Service Award for Shellie acknowledges her dedicated service in fulfilling the roles of educator, motivator, counselor, liaison, and humanitarian as Leo Club Advisor,”

For hobbies, Shellie confesses that her life revolves around her children and community and wouldn’t have it any other way. “I enjoy painting, scrapbooking, crafts with the girls, reading (especially contemporary Christian writers), and ‘upcycling’, which is visiting Goodwill and other thrift stores and converting a ‘find’ into something else,” said Shellie.

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Jason and Shellie’s children, Caden, Ashley, Emma Grace, and Rylee are all artistically and musically inclined. Caden, 24, has been in Glennville with his parents the past year, but enjoys visits to his grandparents, Grover Jr. and Janice Smith, in Young Harris. He is on the Worship Team at AnchorPointe Church in Glennville and loves music and writing songs.

said Terry Quick, who was Glennville Lions Club President during the 2018-19 year. When the Glennville Lions Club was challenged to unite with the Glennville Rotary Club in their ‘canning hunger locally’ drive, Shellie immediately energized her fellow Lions and the Leos to get involved and to meet or beat the Glennville Rotary Club. The friendly competition was a tremendous success, with over $2500 being raised between the two clubs in cans and dollars. “Wow, that was so much fun, and look what we did with combining the efforts of the two clubs. We are doing this again this fall and hope to top last year’s totals,” said Shellie, with the canned food items distributed by the Glennville Area Ministerial Association (GAMA) throughout the year. Community service is a family affair. Jason worked right alongside Shellie at the Onion Festival and also at the annual downtown Glennville Celebration of the Season, another signature event of the Glennville Chamber. “He is a helpmate in every way and is a loving husband and father, and he believes in lending a helping hand in whatever situation arises,” said Shellie. Jason and Shellie’s children, Caden, Ashley, Emma Grace and Rylee are all artistically and musically inclined. Caden, 24, has been in Glennville with his parents the past year, but enjoys visits to his grandparents, Grover Jr. and Janice Smith, in Young Harris. He is on the Worship Team at AnchorPointe Church in Glennville and loves music and writing songs;

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he plays bass and drums for the worship team. Caden is mechanically oriented, too, and is a fixerupper. For pastimes, he likes to draw, fish, and hunt. “He is definitely my outdoorsy child, and he plays several instruments by ear,” said Shellie. Ashley, 20, is a senior at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee. She is majoring in Media Communications and aspires to be a White House reporter. “She spent eight weeks this summer at WinShape Camps on the Young Harris College Campus. This camp is sponsored by Chick-Fil-A. This past summer, she was the senior camp counselor over the other counselors. This is a completely unplugged experience for the counselors and campers, no phone or Internet during the Christian-based camp,” said Shellie. Ashley hopes to be considered next year for WinShape Camps International that will entail a summer in Brazil. “At Lee University, Ashley is a Resident Assistant (RA) in the dorm and has been named Editor-inChief of the Clarion, the university newspaper, an elite honor. She also loves to paint: watercolor, acrylic, and oil. A favorite annual excursion for Ashley and Jason is picturesque Len Foote Hike Inn in Dawsonville, Georgia, near Amicalola Falls, not accessible by vehicle. Llamas are used to transport

items up and down the trail to the lodge. “To reach Len Foote Hike Inn, the hike is several miles, but this completely unplugged adventure for them is a cherished time spent relishing nature,” said Shellie. Emma, 18, and a recent 2020 graduate of Tattnall County High School, was a varsity cheerleader, President of the Tattnall Leo Club, and State Vice President of the Leo Club. Like her mother, Emma has a heart for community service and was active in the Leo Club in Towns County before moving to Glennville. “Emma has thoroughly enjoyed starting the Leos in Tattnall and the many positive differences they have made in the lives of others through their projects. When they worked in the clean-up of the camp for the blind in Waycross, they literally moved trees, re-landscaped the entrance with rocks and new plants, laying plastic weed

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barriers, too. Their hard work earned the Tattnall Leos 11 of 17 awards presented. Emma earned the Leadership Award, and Rylee (our youngest daughter) won the talent show singing and playing the piano,” said proud mama Shellie. Emma is currently a double major at Ogeechee Technical College majoring in both business management and vet tech. She plans to transfer to UGA to complete her Veterinarian program. Rylee, age 15, is a sophomore at TCHS and pleased to be at the high school with her sister Emma. With examples of volunteerism in abundance, Rylee is eager to continue her service as the 2020 President of the Leo Club. She is Chair of the Leo directors and was involved in the Leos in Towns County, too. In fact, Rylee is excited about the Leos’ upcoming projects, a book fair in the fall for ages up to fifth grades and the ongoing LEGO Drive. “I’m chairing the gathering of small LEGO kits so that we can give them to young patients at the Children’s Hospital in Savannah. We were told that playing with LEGOS often distracts the children while they are confined in the hospital. It is also something they can take back home with them. Some of these children stay in the hospital for weeks and even months, and we wanted to help make their stay more bearable for

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them,” said Rylee, who is also on TCHS’s first volleyball team this fall. She helped Coaches Billy Lane and Matt Brown gather sponsors to help fund the new sport at TCHS. Rylee is also a TCHS varsity cheerleader. Both Emma and Rylee are members of Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and FCCLA (Family, Career, Community Leaders of America). Both are looking forward to being a part of the TCHS Interact Club, which is a junior Rotary Club for high school students. Of course, the Smith family wouldn’t be complete without their pets: Blue, a three-year-old Blue tick Coonhound, is mainly Caden’s dog; Dixie, a Plott Hound, is fairly new to the family; PB (short for Peanut Butter) is a male Chihuahua; and J-Lo, a female orange tabby. All are affectionate pets. For hobbies, Shellie confesses that her life revolves around her children and community and wouldn’t have it any other way. “I enjoy painting, scrapbooking, crafts with the girls, reading (especially contemporary Christian writers), and ‘upcycling’, which is visiting

Goodwill and other thrift stores and converting a ‘find’ into something else,” said Shellie. The Smith family attends AnchorPointe Church where Jason serves as the Men’s Ministry Leader, Shellie serves as the Guest Experience Leader. Emma, Rylee, and Caden serve on the Worship Team. Both girls enjoy leading songs during worship while Caden plays base guitar or drums. “Being a parent is an awesome privilege and responsibility. I spent age 11 to 18 in foster homes, until my sister turned 21 and became our foster parent. I missed so much that I want our children to have the things that I didn’t. I love every minute of being a wife and mother. Every day is a new and inviting experience. Yes, I thrive, too, on community service, and I want my children to know that community involvement is what makes small towns spectacular, like ours, and our country great. Despite my years in foster care, God has richly blessed me, and perhaps my experiences as a child led me to be the person I am today,” said Shellie.  TCL

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Seasons A Man For All

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Story by Pam Waters | Photos Provided by Dylan Mulligan

A large crowd assembled in the courtroom of the Tattnall County Judicial Annex for the swearing-in of Dylan Mulligan as Tattnall’s newest attorney on November 2, 2018.

Dylan Mulligan has a passion for sandcastle building, engendered by a love of the coast held since birth. Opposite Page: Replica of the Saint Simons Island Lighthouse, built on June 15, 2019, on Little Blackbeard Island.

At age 28, Dylan Edward Mulligan is a wise man beyond his years. He also has a strong sense and respect for family, heritage, and local history. Of course, all these admirable assets belie his passion for sandcastle building, engendered by a love of the coast held since birth. Dylan has shown a remarkable aptitude since childhood, however. Always a stellar student, he excelled academically at Pinewood Christian Academy, graduating as Valedictorian of the Class of 2011. He next earned a degree from Georgia Southern University, graduating with honors, with a major in history and a minor in political science. He followed that with a move to Athens to attend the University of Georgia School of Law, once again graduating with honors in 2018. “But I couldn’t wait to get back to my roots in Glennville and Tattnall County. When I would tell my fellow law students of my eagerness to return to my hometown of two traffic lights, they found it hard to believe that was my goal. They just didn’t realize the quality of life in a small town since most of them were from the metro areas of the state―above the gnat line,” said Dylan. “My classmates had me pegged as the typical rustic backwoods southern lawyer, and I really didn’t object too strenuously to that description,” said Dylan with laughter. “In fact, I embraced it.” Hometown Living At Its Best 131

“I intend to remain here and practice law in Tattnall County for the rest of my life,” said Dylan, who will assuredly continue to pursue his passion of sandcastle ingenuity and civic involvement. “As I pause and reflect on my life thus far, I know that I could not be more blessed. I thank the good Lord that I had the privilege of growing up in this wonderful community, and I am thankful that He allowed me to return here to settle down.”

Replica of the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist, built September 21, 2019, at the mouth of Tybee Creek.

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They were enthralled by his sharing of his accounts of life in Glennville and on the Georgia coast. One such story, which his classmates found particularly fascinating, involved his encounter with a Geechee “root doctor” a few summers ago at Shellman Bluff. “Kendall Rogers; Simmie Driggers; my sister, Faith; and I were riding the golf cart about 10 p.m. down a secluded dirt road when we came to a sudden clearing in the woods. A very startled man and woman were standing by a roaring fire (in July, mind you), and, as Kendall advised Simmie to floor it, the woman lunged at the golf cart. As she did so, she began mumbling an incantation at Faith and me—who were seated on the back of the golf cart facing toward her––and simultaneously stomped her feet and clapped her hands in our direction. I was all too familiar with the Geechee culture and their belief in ‘root’ (or Voodoo, as it is known in other parts of the country), and I knew then and there that we had been ‘worked,’ which is the Geechee term for putting a curse on someone. Although I have never put much stock in all the mumbojumbo of root, I have, nonetheless, always had a healthy respect for it. That respect was strengthened when Faith and I both became ill within twenty-four hours of that incident,” said Dylan. After completing law school and passing the Bar exam, Dylan took his oath of office as an attorney on November 2, 2018. He was sworn in by the Honorable A. Rahn III, Senior Judge of Superior Courts, with over a hundred family members, friends and well-wishers from the community in attendance. Dylan was presented to the Court by Tattnall County State Court Judge Hugh J. McCullough, in whose law office Dylan had interned and now practices as an attorney. “I have really enjoyed working for Judge McCullough. He has taught me everything I know, and I could not ask for a better boss. What is more, he is a great friend, who shares my love of our local heritage,” said Dylan. In addition to his employment as an attorney, Dylan’s civic commitments are many and dear to his heart. While in high school, Dylan was a member and President of the Greater Tattnall Chamber of Commerce Junior Board of Directors, and he expressed his appreciation to David Avery, Murray Benefield, Kay-Lyn Tatum, Kim Tatum, Tommy Coleman, and others for the

Replica of the historic Tattnall County Courthouse (circa 1902), built on Little Blackbeard Island on July 28, 2018.

Pictured, from left to right, are (seated) Jack Hales and Landynn Brown; (standing) Dylan Mulligan, Jena Hales, Peighton White, Faith Mulligan, Cortney Driggers, Kendall Rogers, Brinson White, Coleman Purcell, and Simmie Driggers III, with Dylanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s replica of the Glennville Bank, built on May 25, 2019, on Little Blackbeard Island.

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Dylan Mulligan poses with his replica of Glennville United Methodist Church, built on July 19, 2019, on Contentment Sandbar on the Julianton River, Shellman Bluff.

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knowledge shared with these students and the tours of area businesses that were provided. Dylan had an opportunity to “give back” to the Junior Board when he was asked to speak to the group in 2019. He encouraged the students to explore their options after graduation and to keep an open mind about their futures, including considering coming back home to Tattnall after their post-secondary education. In his talk, Dylan compared life to a field and reminded the junior board that it is up to them to farm it. “Tattnall is a place unlike any other. It was here that the son of an auto parts dealer risked everything he had on a new venture that his family said would never fly. Lawnmower blades were certainly useful, but who could build a successful business out of that, here, of all places? Mr. Bill Nelson did, and using the field that God had given him―namely this county―he transformed a small local business into an international concern and this county’s largest industry. In so doing, he and

his family have provided innumerable jobs and have generously given back to their community. That happened right here in Tattnall County,” said Dylan, referring to Rotary Corporation and its world headquarters in Glennville, Georgia. He also pointed out the success of the farmers in the county who took the initial risk of planting and marketing an unusual variety of onions. Today, the Vidalia sweet onion is known worldwide. Dylan’s grandfather, the late Gerald Dasher, started with a small farm of a few acres of sweet onions, and that small farm grew to thousands of acres and is today known as G&R Farms, which is now managed by Gerald’s widow, Pam; Gerald’s brother, Robert Dasher (who has also been a partner in the business for over 50 years); and Gerald’s son, Walt Dasher. “You reap what you sow, and your success in life is all a matter of how efficiently you use the field God has given you. If you’re willing to put forth

Dylan Mulligan at his swearing-in as an attorney.

Above: Mike, Faith, and Dylan Mulligan depart the beach on September 5, 1998, after a day of building castles on Blackbeard Island. It was on this very beach that Mike Mulligan taught his son to build his first sandcastles using buckets and molds and where he would build most of his creations for years to come.

Right: Judge A. Rahn III offers advice to Dylan before swearing him in as an attorney, as Dylan’s mother, Paige, holds the family Bible. Observing are Judge Hugh McCullough (right) and the late Judge Joe McGovern (seated, left).

“I guess you could say sandcastle building has become a real passion, with a touch of obsession. I guess it also responds to my fascination with architecture and history,” said Dylan. No matter what he is creating, Dylan is always bound by the confines of time and nature.

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Dylan and his great uncle and aunt, Jackie and Barbara Dasher, at his swearing-in as an attorney. Dylan’s Facebook page, “The Georgia Sandman,” has gained over 5,000 followers since 2018, which has led to an increased interest in the reprint of his book, which will help raise funds for the Glennwanis restoration. The book is a great Christmas gift and makes a perfect book for a home coffee table or a coast or beach home.

From left to right are attorneys B. Daniel Dubberly, Jr., Benjamin P. Brinson, Dylan Mulligan, B. Daniel Dubberly III, Hugh J. McCullough, and Joseph D. McGovern.

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the effort and farm, then the crop will be yours for the harvest,” was Dylan’s sage advice to the students, and Dylan’s life to date has been exemplary of that advice. Family is a vital part of Dylan’s life, and he is quite close to his parents, Mike and Paige Mulligan, and his sister, Faith. He is also close to his grandmother, Pam Dasher, who he refers to as “Pom.” Pam Dasher built G&R Farms alongside her husband and continues to play an active role in the company. Dylan also has very fond memories of his late grandparents, Ed and Edna Belle Rogers Mulligan (Papa and Granny), and he recently moved into their former home on Rogers Road near Glennville. Ed Mulligan was the first livestock feed sales representative for the MoorMan Manufacturing Company in the southeastern United States, beginning in the 1950s, and eventually covering a sales region encompassing Tattnall and Evans counties. When Ed retired, Mike followed in his father’s footsteps and took over the region. Mike also operated a large hog farm until 1998, when the hog operations in this area became consolidated in North Carolina, putting most Tattnall hog farmers out of business. Mike then began investing in rental property in Long County and now keeps busy managing those properties. He also continues to be a sheep farmer, one of only a few in the state, and his farm has been observed and studied by a variety of professors and other farmers through

From left to right are Pam Durrence Dasher, Faith Mulligan, Judge A. Rahn III, Dylan Mulligan, Mike A. Mulligan, and Paige Dasher Mulligan.

the years. He has also served on the Board of Directors of the Glennville Bank for over 20 years and previously served on the board of the Tattnall County Farm Bureau. Dylan’s mother, Paige, is the daughter of Pam Durrence Dasher and the late Gerald Walter Dasher of Glennville. Paige was recently elected as Tattnall County’s next Clerk of Courts, in which office she has worked for a number of years. Dylan, who worked tirelessly as Paige’s campaign manager, describes his mother as a dedicated public servant. “She takes her job very seriously and is professional and efficient, as an elected official should be. I have no doubt that she will serve the citizens of this county well,” said Dylan. Faith, Dylan’s 24-year-old sister, like her brother, graduated as Valedictorian of her class at Pinewood Christian Academy. After earning her degree from Georgia Southern University, she worked for a time at the Glennville Bank, which she enjoyed very much. She

has most recently begun teaching fifth and sixth grade science at Pinewood, fulfilling her lifelong goal of becoming an educator. Dylan has carried a lifelong love for history, and especially the history of Tattnall County. From 2010 to 2013, he served on the Tattnall County Heritage Book Committee, and, in 2016, he co-authored the pictorial history, Glennville, on behalf of the Glennville-Tattnall Museum, an organization to which he is devoted as a board member. Since the inception of the Friends of the Glennwanis Hotel, Dylan has proudly been a member of the group and has worked diligently in making the hotel restoration a part of his life. He is also a member of the Tattnall Invincibles Camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, and the Georgia Salzburger Society. Currently, the Glennville-Tattnall Museum

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Often, when constructing replicas of historical structures, he does so largely from memory, since he does not always have access to pictures of the buildings while on the beach. One example of this was his replica of the Tattnall County Courthouse, which he built entirely from memory, down to the fine details.

High tide surrounds this replica of the historic Glennwanis Hotel built on September 2, 2018, on Little Blackbeard Island.

items and the beautiful mural painted by Juliet Tarver and Socorro DeLoach are in storage in a room of the Tattnall County Technology Building behind the Glennville City Auditorium. The Tattnall County Commissioners and Onshore Outsourcing have graciously allowed the museum’s inventory to be stored there until another facility becomes available. The building is owned by the Tattnall County Development Authority. “We are currently working to restore a section of the Glennwanis, and an architect has given us an estimate of $250,000 to restore one wing of the first floor to house the museum and allow it to reopen to the public. The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation recently named the Glennwanis as one of ten ‘Places in Peril,’ which has helped us raise awareness for the hotel’s preservation, but there is still much to be done,” said Dylan. Presently, the Friends 138

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need an additional $100,000 to complete the first phase and reopen the museum. “In 2019, I established a nonprofit corporation for our Friends group and received our tax-exempt status from the IRS, which will greatly help with fundraising and securing donations and grants. I also encourage the public to get involved in our efforts to restore the Glennwanis,” said Dylan. “Mrs. Juliet Tarver and the late Mr. Daine Bazemore, along with several others, are to be commended for their diligence and energy devoted to the formation of the GlennvilleTattnall Museum and their work preserving our county’s history,” said Dylan. “This museum is such a valuable local resource, as it covers the entire county’s history and contains artifacts from Cobbtown to the Altamaha River. I promised Mr. Daine and Mrs. Juliet that I would keep the museum alive, and, with the help of our great museum board, the Friends of Glennwanis, and our generous community, I aim to keep that promise.” Referring to the Friends of Glennwanis, Dylan noted the crucial role played by Friends Chairperson Paulette Weaver and her husband, Glennville Mayor Bernie Weaver. “Thanks to their enthusiasm and diligence, we have raised over $150,000, some of which we have spent to restore the front entrance and for other immediate needs to secure the building. Mr. Bernie and Mrs. Paulette inspired my dream of seeing the Glennwanis Hotel restored and used by the public once again,” said Dylan. Historical structures have long been a fascination for Dylan, and he acquired and plans to restore the historic, two-story Rogers house on Rogers Road, which was the home of his greatgrandparents, Byron and Julia Smiley Rogers, and is located on the same farm as his present home.

“This farm has been in the Rogers family for five generations now, having been acquired by my greatgreat-grandfather, J. Lawton Rogers, in 1900. His son, my great-grandfather Byron Green Rogers, Sr., built the landmark Rogers house here in 1911. It was the first house outside of the city limits of Glennville to have electricity, years before rural electrification, and it is also believed to be the last plantation plain house built in Tattnall County,” said Dylan. “My grandmother Edna Belle was born in the Rogers house in 1931, and she and Papa Ed were married there in 1954, later building their own home, where I presently reside, next door. The house needs a lot of work, but I’m looking at it as a long-term project and will gradually restore it as I have funds available. The Rogers house is a part of our family heritage, and the day will come when I will have it fully restored,” said Dylan. Although Dylan claims not to be an artist, his paintings of family farms, and, of course, his renowned sandcastles tell otherwise. Several paintings that show his artistic talent are of notable structures in Tattnall,

such as the Tattnall County Courthouse pre1961 (hanging on a wall in the Courthouse), the Glennwanis Hotel, and the old Glennville High School (formerly home to the Glennville-Tattnall Museum and now home to Onshore Outsourcing). Yet, Dylan, despite all these lofty achievements in the community and his personal life, is most renowned far and wide for his sandcastle building. Dylan’s sandcastle building began at about four years of age, but his parents tell him he was already fascinated with sandcastle building long before that, even though his structures then were those of a toddler. In his book, The Georgia Sandman: The Sandcastles of Dylan Edward Mulligan, one of the photos (on page 10) shows Phyllis Durrence Smith, while on a seining trip with members of the Mulligan family, on Blackbeard Island, teaching four-year-old Dylan how to build his first drip castle out of mud, using what she termed the “Mulligan method.” Phyllis had been taught the techniques in earlier years by Ed and Edna Belle

On July 22, 2016, at Ponce Inlet, Florida, Dylan set a personal record, spending a total of 11 hours and hauling nearly 150 gallons of water up the beach to construct his largest, tallest, and most detailed castle at the time. Most castles built higher on the beach require water to be carried up from the ocean to the building site in five-gallon buckets. This castle—which at its tallest was just over seven feet in height—was featured in the Daytona Beach News-Journal and remains one of Dylan’s most iconic and most popular castles of all time.

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Although Dylan’s sandcastles appear precise and measured, he denies having any mathematical or engineering skills. “I’m a lawyer for a reason: I don’t do math. I usually just eyeball most of it. If I do measure anything, I usually just use hand-widths or the length of one of my tools to make sure that two or more towers or walls are the same height and distance apart,” said Dylan.

“Sand cathedral” built on July 26, 2016, at Ponce Inlet, Florida.

Mulligan (Dylan’s grandparents) and their children: Lindy, Laura, Susan, and Mike. “I have always loved the Georgia coast, and I credit my Mulligan grandparents for instilling in me a love of Shellman Bluff and the coastal region. They also taught me the importance of family and left me with relationships that would stand the test of time,” said Dylan. Of course, over the years of building, the sandcastles have evolved from simple drip castles to include handstacked towers and walls. His creations have been many, numbering in the hundreds, and have appeared on Blackbeard Island, Contentment Sandbar on the Julianton River near Shellman Bluff, St. Simons Island, Sapelo Island, St. Catherine’s Island―all of these in Georgia― and then Ponce Inlet near Daytona Beach, Florida. “Although one of my favorite locations for sandcastle building has always been on Contentment Sandbar, just upriver from Shellman Bluff, the river sand is very coarse and generally not as suitable for building as beach sand. Yet, it remains home to many of my creations,” said Dylan. Most of Dylan’s creations today are built on Little Blackbeard Island, which is a new, smaller island formed

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in 2017 when Hurricane Irma divided Blackbeard Island in two. Dylan and his family and friends affectionately refer to the new island as “Mulligan Island.” The fine and packed sand on the beach at Ponce Inlet is especially conducive to sandcastle construction, and Dylan’s family spent many annual summer vacations there. Residents of the Towers Condominiums, where the family always vacationed, did not know Dylan’s name and began referring to him as the “Sandman” among themselves. The nickname became commonly used at Ponce Inlet and eventually became popular with Dylan’s family and friends in Georgia. These castles at Ponce Inlet always drew a crowd, and many would stand guard over them in the evening to keep people from destroying these magnificent structures that entailed hours of detailed and steady craftsmanship. “People have made their engagement photos and family Christmas photos behind the sandcastles and have photographed them at all angles,” said Dylan, who is pleased that his passion gives others joy as well. As one would expect, Dylan’s style and techniques in castle construction have changed greatly over time. Yet, nearly every castle from 1996 until the present day continues to incorporate his signature hand-dripped spire. Around the year 2005, Dylan’s castles began to take on a new appearance and increased in size and detail. Construction typically began by digging a hole until reaching the water table. This hole gradually expands in size as the sides cave in, forming a sort of mud well. Castles are often built in a circle around the hole, for easy access to mud at all times. As time progressed, however, Dylan began building higher on the beach to prevent damage by the incoming tide. As a result, it is necessary to haul buckets of water to the building site. “The process is literally back-breaking and labor intensive. Gallons of water have to be carried up in buckets from the river or ocean, and a sandcastle usually takes anywhere from 100 to 150 gallons of water. “The castle that probably is still my all-time favorite was one I built at Ponce Inlet, which took over 11 hours to build and 150 gallons of water. So many tourists enjoyed it,” said Dylan. This particular castle is featured on the front cover of his book on sandcastles. Dylan’s book, The Georgia Sandman, was printed as a fundraiser for the Glennwanis Hotel restoration, with all profits going to that purpose. The first printing of 200 books in 2018 sold out almost immediately, leading to a second printing in 2019. The book sells for $60 (including tax) and is

Replica of Highclere Castle, known to the world as “Downton Abbey,” built on July 28, 2020, on St. Simons Island.

a coffee table picture book, measuring 14 inches wide by 8-1/2 inches in height, and featuring 150 color pages of Dylan’s sandcastles. Once again, the profits of this second printing will go toward the Glennwanis Hotel restoration. “I’ve completed sand replicas of all five of the Georgia lighthouses. My replica of the Tybee lighthouse was over seven feet tall and was featured on several broadcasts on WTOC News. Soon after I began constructing it, I immediately noticed that it was the ‘leaning lighthouse of Tybee,’ and, after completing it, I was only able to snap a few pictures before it completely collapsed,” said Dylan. Other fan favorites have been Highclere Castle, the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist, UGA’s Sanford Stadium, the UGA School of Law, the Tattnall County Courthouse, Glennwanis Hotel, Glennville Bank, and Glennville United Methodist Church. Dylan is a member of Glennville United Methodist Church (GUMC), where the Mulligan family has been active since the 1930s. Dylan’s parents met through the GUMC Youth, having been set up by then Youth Worker Margie Sutton. Dylan’s grandparents, Ed and Edna Belle, were devoted to the youth ministry for many

As the powerful tides of the Julianton River rise and cover Contentment Sandbar, even the largest creations, such as this castle built on July 3, 2016, are quickly washed away. Dylan’s sandcastles are typically the last visible ground when the remainder of the sandbar is under water.

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The rising tide begins to fill the moat and surround one of Dylan’s most beautiful castles, built on August 1, 2017, and which would stand for several days. Ponce Inlet’s multitude of ghost crabs took up residence and began tunneling throughout the castle’s walls and foundation.

years, and Dylan remains actively involved in working with the youth. He is thankful for the many adults in his church family who played such an active role in his life during his time in the youth. He has also served as church historian for a number of years. Although Dylan’s sandcastles appear precise and measured, he denies having any mathematical or engineering skills. “I’m a lawyer for a reason: I don’t do math. I usually just eyeball most of it. If I do measure anything, I usually just use hand-widths or the length of one of my tools to make sure that two or more towers or walls are the same height and distance 142

TATTNALL COUNTY LIVING

apart,” said Dylan. Often, when constructing replicas of historical structures, he does so largely from memory, since he does not always have access to pictures of the buildings while on the beach. One example of this was his replica of the Tattnall County Courthouse, which he built entirely from memory, down to the fine details. Several years ago, his Aunt Susan Mulligan Walker gave him a set of specially designed sand carving tools, and these have helped in his design. He also began using open-ended buckets and PVC pipes as

Replica of Georgia Southern University’s Marvin Pittman Building, built on July 3, 2020, on Contentment Sandbar near Shellman Bluff.

“The castle that probably is still my all-time favorite was one I built at Ponce Inlet, which took over 11 hours to build and 150 gallons of water. So many tourists enjoyed it,” said Dylan. This particular castle is featured on the front cover of his book on sandcastles.

molds for larger towers, which enables him to continue to make larger and more elaborate castles. “Thanks to City of Glennville Director of Public Works Stan Dansby, I was able to retrieve a scrap piece of 14-inch PVC pipe, which is difficult to find, from a work site. Previously, I had been limited to using an 8-inch piece,” said Dylan. This larger pipe now allows him to build much larger, taller towers. Also, several years ago, Brenda Smith gave Dylan a book, Sandcastles Made Simple, which contained a plethora of tips and techniques used by professionals. Stories and pictures of Dylan’s sandcastle creations have been featured in the Journal Sentinel, the Savannah Morning News, the Athens Banner-Herald, the Claxton Enterprise, the Long County Press, Hometown News Volusia, the Georgia Times-Union, the Daytona Beach News-Journal, the Darien News, and McIntosh Life magazine, along with broadcasts of WTOC News Savannah and Jacksonville’s News 4. One of those stories referred to Dylan’s transformation of the beach into an “outdoor art studio.” Naturally, with his love of the coast, many weekends find Dylan at Shellman Bluff, where five generations of the Mulligan family have maintained a second home since the 1920s. And, if he is near sand and water, he just cannot resist sculpting a sandcastle. “I guess you could say sandcastle building has become a real passion, with a touch of obsession. I guess it also responds to my fascination with architecture and history,” said Dylan. No matter what he is creating, Dylan is always bound by the confines of time and nature. Dylan’s Facebook page, “The Georgia Sandman,” has gained over 5,000 followers

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Replica of the Tybee Island Lighthouse, built on July 14, 2019, on Contentment Sandbar near Shellman Bluff.

since 2018, which has led to an increased interest in the reprint of his book, which will help raise funds for the Glennwanis restoration. The book is a great Christmas gift and makes a perfect book for a home coffee table or a coast or beach home. “I intend to remain here and practice law in Tattnall County for the rest of my life,” said Dylan, who will assuredly continue to pursue his passion of sandcastle ingenuity and civic involvement. “As I pause and reflect on my life thus far, I know that I could not be more blessed. I thank the good Lord that I had the privilege of growing up in this wonderful community, and I am thankful that He allowed me to return here to settle down. “It is my hope that others will realize that we have something very special in this county―an

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amazingly satisfying and unparalleled quality of life. When I think of my wonderful hometown, I am reminded of a particularly moving line from the closing scene of my favorite Jimmy Stewart film, It’s a Wonderful Life: ‘Remember, no man is a failure who has friends.’ God has certainly blessed me with the best friends I could ask for in this land that we call Tattnall County.” A man for all seasons―Dylan Mulligan. To order a copy of Dylan Mulligan’s sandcastle picture book, The Georgia Sandman, please contact Dylan by telephone at (912) 654-2454, by email at thegeorgiasandman@gmail.com, or by mail at The Georgia Sandman, P.O. Box 283, Glennville, GA 30427. Follow the Georgia Sandman on Instagram @ thegeorgiasandman and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thegeorgiasandman. TCL

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Index of Advertisers Ace Hardware ………..........................................................……… 149 Alejandro’s Authentic Mexican Restaurant ………..……............… 129 Anytime Fitness …...........................................……...............……… 44 Armstrong’s Cricket Farm ….........................................……..……… 71 Baxters Body Shop ……….....................................................……… 87 Better Living Therapy & Fitness ……..............................…..……… 112 Brannen-Kennedy Funeral Home ……….............................……… 148 Brewton-Parker College ………...............................................……… 9 Brian Threlkeld & Assoc. .........................................………..…...…… 1 Bulloch Pediatrics Group ……….........................................……… 150 Bumper to Bumper ………..................................................……… 112 Canoochee EMC ………......................................................……… 111 Central Pharmacy ………....................................................……… 149 Chantilly’s Floral Décor & More ………..…................................…… 99 City of Cobbtown ………..…....................................................…… 149 City of Collins ………...........................................................……… 151 City of Glennville ……….........................................................……… 41 City of Reidsville …….........................................................…..……… 5 Claxton Oil Company ………..….............................................…… 124 Collins Mobile Homes ………..…...............................................… 113 Community Hospice …...........................................……..……… 58-59 Dairy Queen …...........................................……..……….................. 43 Dubberly & McGovern Attorneys at Law ……….............……… 85, 110 Duramatic Products ……....................................…..….............…… 69 Durrence Layne ………..……................................… Inside Back Cover Evans Memorial Hospital ………..…............….............................… 98 Georgia Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center ………............……… 147 Georgia Eye Institute …..............................................……..……… 126 Gilbert Jones & Associates ……....................................…..……… 150 Glennville Auto Parts ………..…..............................................…… 112 Glennville Bank ………..............................................……............… 45 Glennville Chamber of Commerce ……....…..……..................… 32-33 Glennville Sweet Onion Festival ………...............................…… 20-21 Glennville United Methodist Church ………........................……… 109 Graham’s Floor Covering ………..........................................……… 151 Greater Tattnall Chamber of Commerce ………...............……… 56-57 Jincy’s ………......................................................................……… 110 Kennedy Funeral Homes ………..........................................……… 145 Kennedy Network Services, Inc. ………...............................……… 147 Kicklighter Realty, Inc. ………..............................................……… 149 King’s Pump & Technical Service, Inc. ……….....................……… 148 Lasseter Tractor Company ……….......................................……… 126 Lone Pine Charolais ……….................................................……… 124

Madonna H. Paradice, PC ………..........................................……… 87 Marco’s Pizza …...........................................…................…..……… 42 McCurdy’s on Main ……….................................................……… 125 Meadows Advanced Wound Care Center ……....................……… 128 Meadows Health ………........................................................……… 86 Metter Ford ………..............................................................……… 146 Mobley’s Well & Pump Service, Inc. ………...............................… 129 MW Collins Inc. ………..........................................................……… 61 Ohoopee Land & Timber ………..…........................................…… 151 Pinewood Christian Academy ………..................................……… 146 Reidsville Family Dentistry ……….......................................……….. 99 Reidsville Pharmacy ………................................................……… 150 Reidsville Veterinary Clinic ………..........................................…… 109 Renasant Bank ………..........................................................……… 73 Ringer Veterinary Hospital ………..….....................................…… 145 Robin’s Art ………...............................................................……… 148 Rotary Corporation ………....................................................……… 69 Rusty Pig BBQ ………..…........................................................…… 2-3 Senator Jack Hill ………........................................................……… 72 Serenity Inn ………...............................................................……… 83 Shuman Farms Inc ….................................................……..……… 101 Solace Hospice ………..........................................................……… 70 South Georgia Bank ………................................................……… 127 Southern Flair Catering ……..................................…..........……… 151 Southern Medical Group …….................................…..…......…… 100 Spa on First ………...............................................................……… 84 State Farm - Caughey Hearn, Agent ……….........................……… 111 Statesboro Cardiology ………..…....................…… 18-19, Back Cover Strickland’s Pharmacy ……….............................................……… 113 Tattnall County Board of Commissioners …........… Inside Front Cover Tattnall Insurance ………........................................................……… 7 Terrell Brothers, Inc ………..................................................……… 100 The Claxton Bank …….....................................................…..……… 97 The Drug Store ………..….........................................................…… 60 The Farmhouse Restaurant ………...................……...................… 127 The Gathering Place of Lyons LLC ………............................……… 150 The Supply Company ………...............................................……… 125 Tots to Teens Medical Center ……….....................................……… 30 Triangle-J Trucking & Transport ………..................................……… 82 Vidalia Golf Carts ………..…...................................................…… 128 Vidalia Pediatric Clinic ………...................…............................…… 31 Watermelon Creek Baptist Church …….........................…..……… 101 Wreaths Across America ………..........................................……… 148

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Hometown Living at its Best 2020 I S S U E

C O U N T Y

TATTNALL COUNTY LIVING

TAKING THE BIG PLUNGE

Kian Morris spends his time skydiving, buthis weekdays are spent in the operating room.

A THOUGHTFUL BIRTHDAY

Alex Winkler turned his birthday present into a gift for those in need.

“family” business Tattnall Insurance is a family business based on LOVE AND TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE’S NEEDS