Albany Living Magazine Winter 2017 by With You In Mind Publications

winter 2017

albany also... Reaching Beyond the Storm Babs Hall not only represents recovery in her own life, but she stands for others and believes in them as well.

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Happening Giving back to the community is what Dr. Charity Wilson demonstrates throughout her life, not only in volunteering, but also in raising her kids and in her practice at The Veranda.

Chehaw offers numerous and varied activities for kids and adults alike.

Life with Mona The Cookie Shoppe is a true testament to the kinship and tenacity of Albany living.

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Albany Living m a g a z i n e

contents 16

Southern Tradition

Southern Tradition Kennels is a family-run, full-service dog training facility with over 15 years of combined experience, focusing on a dog’s natural instincts and training them to be the best dog they can be.

Heart and Soul

Named as one of Dougherty County’s 40 under 40 and 2015 Small Town America’s 100 Most Influential People, it is obvious Shelley Spires is on the track to saving the world, she is already saving southwest Georgia.

What’s Happening

From beekeeping to mountain biking and disc golfing to remote control racing, Chehaw offers numerous and varied activities for kids and adults alike.

About the Cover

The cover photo is of Dr. Charity Wilson at The Veranda in Albany. Read more about her dedication to life on page 100. Photo by David Parks Photography.

Reaching Beyond the Storm

Babs Hall not only represents recovery in her own life, but she stands for others, believes in the hope of their rehabilitation, and acts as an advocate in their journeys as well.

Albany Living magazine

Happy Holidays from Our Family to Yours!

Visit our website for helpful evaluation tools like this scorecard or call today for an appointment. www.albanyurologyclinic.com (229) 883-1503

DO YOU LEAK? OVERACTIVE BLADDER (OAB) As many as 46 million Americans 40 years of age or older reported symptoms of OAB, including an uncontrollable frequent and sudden urgency to urinate that sometimes leads to leakage and accidental wetting. Take this quiz to see if you are among the 1 in 3 adults living with OAB. I have sudden urges to urinate that make me rush to the bathroom. NEVER SOMETIMES OFTEN I have urges to urinate that end in urine leakage. NEVER SOMETIMES OFTEN

DR. CARL HANCOCK

DR. SCOTT WENDLAND

When I leave my house, I plan my activities around the nearest bathroom. NEVER SOMETIMES OFTEN If you answered “sometimes” or “often” to one or more of the questions, you may be experiencing symptoms of OAB. Having an ongoing and honest talk with one of our health care providers is one of the most important steps you can take. Call our office for an appointment.

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Loving People

Mrs. Juanita Nixon is a vessel for teaching Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s children not only through her words, but through her actions.

160

Customer Care and Selfless Service

132

In order to provide the best for customers, Warren Nichols has made it a priority to hire the best talent he can find, growing the business reputation and guaranteeing jobs for those working for him.

Race Against Yourself

Jamie Owens is leading people to a new approach on fitness through his personal focus and determination.

100

Dedicated to LIfe

Giving back to the community is what Dr. Charity Wilson demonstrates throughout her life, not only in volunteering, but also in raising her kids and in her practice at The Veranda.

118

Life with Mona

132

Portrait of an Artist

Albany native Jack Ledbetter had a driving passion that drew this awardwinning photographer to the Maine coast sharing the best of both worlds.

Albany Living Magazine

82 146

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From the Publisher

Albany Living m a g a z i n e

P u b l i s h e r With You In Mind Publications E x e c u t i v e E d i to r s Jay and Patti Martin Landon and Mandi Spivey C r e at i v e | D e s i g n Mandi Spivey Stacey Nichols O f f i c e m a n ag e r Julie Braly

While on an evening family hunt last week, I was standing at my pick-up spot on the road in the dark waiting for my husband to come. I had set down my stuff and was looking at a bright full moon admiring the glow that softly illuminated the sky. A few minutes later, I saw headlights rounding the curve and headed my way. As soon as the corner turn was made, I was amazed by what I saw. The headlights shown on three of the most intricately woven spider webs next to me that I had previously missed in the dark. It caught my attention because they were so huge and the details on them looked like an exquisite hand sewn lace pattern. All three looked different, yet each was so unique. I stood there amazed that in the dark, I had missed these incredible displays. Yet, as soon as the light was shed on them, they became a visible art show. Immediately the clear message of dark and light spoke to my heart. Sometimes in the darkness, we may feel we are alone and there is nothing around us, especially when basing our feelings on our senses. However, when God’s light shines through, He illuminates what was there all along in His provisions and His love surrounding us. There are no greater examples of this illustration than in some of the stories in this issue. Babs Hall and Mrs. Juanita Nixon are prime examples of lights in our community. Both of these ladies love with open arms and hearts. Giving back to people is what you will also read about in Dr. Charity Wilson’s story as she displays her gifts of service in helping her patients above and beyond. People helping people is what Albany does and we have seen that time and time again through every story we are so honored to share. The message is clear that none of us are alone as God uses His people to help shed the light in this amazing city. As always, we are so appreciative of the continued support of our advertisers who so graciously make this magazine available to you at no charge! Your complimentary copies are available at each of their businesses listed on page 176. Wishing you and your family a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

View our magazines FREE online at:

www.withyouinmindpublications.com Like us on Facebook!

From our family to yours,

With You In Mind Publications Sales: (912) 293-5900 Email: landonspivey.wyim@gmail.com 8

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A s s i s ta n t

Ma n ag e r s June Dixon

Nikki Burkhalter P h otog r ap h e r s Chuck Olm David Parks Photography

Eric S. Love with logic4design.com Jason Townsend Photography Kelly McDonald Photography Millie Mac Photography Shae Foy Photography Shannan Blanchard Photography C ov e r P h oto Dr. Charity Wilson, Photo by David Parks Photography Sa l e s Keisha Cory

Patti Martin Landon Spivey

Contributing

Wri te r s Elizabeth Sheffield

Gail Dixon Jesse Williams Jessica Fellows Kandice Brooks Kate Deloach Keisha Cory

Albany Living Magazine© is published semi-annually by With You in Mind Publications. www.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.

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WWW.THESTAFFINGPEOPLE.NET HIRING GREAT TALENT STARTS HERE! Albany Address/Phone: 1120 Stuart Ave/229-434-1182 | Americus Address/Phone: 400 West Lamar St/229-924-0476

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Hometown Living At Its Best

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“We encourage our clients to seek a true relationship with their dog in order to develop trust and an understanding of how to read and communicate with their dog.”

With over 12 years experience of South Georgia dog training, Caleb Horton has proven himself as an all-around expert dog trainer…bird hunting and dog training have been a huge part in Caleb's life as an outdoors sportsman. Caleb began his dog training career in 2005 at Easterlee Plantation, where he was introduced to dog training by champion dog handler, Ricky Furney. For several years, Caleb trained under the guidance of Mr. Furney, where he learned experience with bird dogs, horses, and land management.

Caleb Horton has a very positive attitude and loves the Lord, his family, and his dogs. He was born and raised in South Georgia. While attending Valdosta State University, Caleb was not very concerned about school, which was not a good thing since his daddy was a high school principal. One thing he was concerned about was his roommate’s Australian Sheppard. Caleb said, “She was super smart and I took a liking to her. I would throw a Frisbee and she would catch it and bring it back to me. I realized this was great and something I thought I would like to do.” At the end of the 2005 spring semester, Caleb was not really interested in going back to school.

Hometown Living At Its Best

With over 12 years experience of South Georgia dog training, Caleb Horton has proven himself as an allaround expert dog trainerâ&#x20AC;Śbird hunting and dog training have been a huge part in Caleb's life as an outdoors sportsman. Caleb began his dog training career in 2005 at Easterlee Plantation, where he was introduced to dog training by champion dog handler, Ricky Furney. For several years, Caleb trained under the guidance of Mr. Furney, where he learned experience with bird dogs, horses, and land management. In 2009, Caleb transferred to Wynfield Plantation, located just outside of Albany, GA, to pursue a career as an Orvis endorsed dog trainer and guide while completing his BS degree in History. Caleb worked full-time at the plantation for five years. This is also where he met his beautiful wife Ashleigh. Once graduating from Georgia Southwestern University with his degree, Caleb took a 20

albany living magazine

“Our dogs are trained for a passive alert response once detecting the odor. At Southern Tradition Kennels, we put all our dogs through real life scenarios so you can be assured that when your dog is finished training, he or she is ready to go to work. We also spend ample time with the new handler of the dog, teaching them to understand changes in behavior and teaching them how to properly handle the dog before going home.”

job offer with Southpoint Plantation, where he trained for three years and managed their hunting land and dog kennels. Caleb spoke highly of his mentor, Mike Osteen. He said that Mike led him spiritually and on a dog’s level. He showed Caleb how to fix problem dogs, build a relationship with them, and train them to love and respect their owners. Throughout these years, Caleb has broken more than 100 bird dogs (Pointers, Shorthairs, and Spaniels), and has over nine years of experience working with

Labradors, Retrievers, and many other breeds. During this time, Caleb has also been involved with K2 Solutions, a canine training center located in North Carolina, where he learned to train and imprint bomb detection dogs for use in Afghanistan. On April 1, 2016, Caleb decided it was time to begin his own business. Southern Tradition Kennels (STK) is located in Albany, Georgia. They are a family-run, full-service dog training facility with over 15 years of combined experience, focusing on a dog’s natural instincts and training them to be the best dog they can

Hometown Living At Its Best

albany living magazine

be. “We encourage our clients to seek a true relationship with their dog in order to develop trust and an understanding of how to read and communicate with their dog,” says Caleb. “We offer a wide variety of training services for all ages and all different breeds of dogs. Your dog is welcome to join us for any of these training opportunities!” Ashleigh was able to help Caleb with the business until she was eight months pregnant, at which time she told Caleb she just couldn’t do it anymore due to her pregnancy. At that time, Caleb talked

his brother, Noah, into coming out to see if he liked dogs. Noah did and he has been with STK ever since. Caleb trains any breed of dog in obedience, behavior modification, and imprinting processes. He also raises a few special dogs each year in his own home. These dogs are raised to Finished Dogs and will be sold once they are proficient in every skill. He laughs and says, “If it has four legs, I’ll train it!” They started out with six dogs and now maintain 25.

Hometown Living At Its Best

STK is the number one obedience trainer in South Georgia. They work with all different breeds of dogs, no matter what their age. They can help you crate train and potty train your pup and help teach you how to manage your dog so that it has a happy and obedient demeanor; the obedience training programs usually last 8-16 weeks. “We will treat your dog as our own and make sure that you are satisfied with the end results,” explains Caleb. STK also teaches behavior modification. “Dogs are creatures of habit just like you and I. All dogs can develop habits that can make life difficult, and can often times make our friends and family nervous 24

albany living magazine

to be around the dog. Sometimes these poor habits are caused by improper training or no training at all. Other times, we can see dogs become aggressive due to insecurity and fear,” says Caleb. No matter what is causing your dog to misbehave, STK will be happy to assess your dog and modify this behavior so that you can trust your dog in any situation. Another program STK has is a gun dog training which lasts approximately three months. During this program, they will bring out the best in your dog/ hunting partner…a good dog is what makes for a great hunt. The first month of this program is used as an evaluation period to test the drive and natural ability

of the dog. Dogs will be introduced to birds and gunfire, while beginning with on-leash training. After the first month of training, it is determined whether or not your dog has the qualities necessary to serve as a reliable gun dog. If the dog fails in that portion of training, you will still have the option of continuing with his or her obedience training. If they are accepted into the gun dog program, STK guarantees that by the end of the third month your dog will be hunt ready. Your dog will be fully off leash obedient and collar-conditioned for "here, heel, sit, stay, down, fetch and steady" and will deliver to hand. You will have a dog that is ready for the dove field or the duck blind.

One program that I found particularly interesting was the detection dogs. STK prides themselves with the finest all around detection dogs. From truffle dogs to bedbug detection dogs (YES, bedbug detection dogs!), they can find exactly what you are looking for. Caleb explains, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our dogs are trained for a passive alert response once detecting the odor. At Southern Tradition Kennels, we put all our dogs through real life scenarios so you can be assured that when your dog is finished training, he or she is ready to go to work. We also spend ample time with the new handler of the dog, teaching them to understand changes in behavior and teaching them how to properly handle the dog before going home.â&#x20AC;? Hometown Living At Its Best

STK offers boarding kennels and boarding services for any breed of dog. “We offer short-term and extended-stay boarding services. Your pet will receive top quality care at our 100 acre farm,” explains Caleb. When asked about breeding, Caleb says, “We do not maintain a stud dog or breed litters of puppies for sale year round. We will, on occasion have a litter of puppies available. In addition, each year we select one or two outstanding pups that live in-house with us. These dogs are given a special attention in their obedience, retrieving, and imprinting skills. At around eight months to one year in age, we will post these Finished Dogs for sale.” STK has been in the media too. Caleb had the honor of working with National Geographic Wild, the Reeves family, and their new dog Lucky. During this series, STK helped to educate the Reeves family on how to work with

albany living magazine

their new pup and how to encourage a positive response from the dog. They began training Lucky, who was also able to start positively interacting with the Reeves family and responding to some basic commands such as "here" and "sit". STK was featured in the Garden & Gun magazine. They spent the day with Eric Cohen and Jed Portman unearthing pecan truffles from a South Georgia pecan orchard. This was a great opportunity to show off one of STK’s personally raised dogs, Tater, and his ability to detect the highly sought-after truffles. Caleb and his wife, Ashleigh, have been married for five years. They have one son, Mason, who is 15 months old. Caleb thinks of his vocation as a vacation. He is doing something that he loves and said that the Lord has blessed them ever since STK began!  ALM

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Albany Living Magazine

Dr. Holland Wright was born in Lexington, Kentucky in 1975, and grew up in Ocala, Florida. As a child, Dr. Wright spent a great deal of time at his fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oncology/ hematology practice and often made hospital rounds with him. Years of observing his father take special care of cancer patients inspired Dr. Wright to seek a field where he could independently run his own practice and provide patients with the same type of specialized, caring attention. Dr. Wright completed his undergraduate education at Vanderbilt University and earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Wright then completed a specialized residency in Periodontics at the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry, where he received his Master of Science degree.

using the renowned Straumann dental implant system. He is a member of the International Team of Implantologists, a selective group of surgeons, dentists, lab technicians and research scientists who advise the development of the Straumann implant system. Good oral hygiene and long-term tooth retention or replacement is important in achieving a healthier lifestyle. Dr. Wright and his caring staff at Southwest Georgia Periodontics are committed to giving you a lifetime of healthy smiles. Dr. Wright truly values his patientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; involvement in their care and places a particular emphasis on communicating treatment options. From advanced technology to highly experienced staff, the foundation of a healthy smile begins at Southwest Georgia Periodontics.

Moving to Georgia, Dr. Wright opened a private practice, Southwest Georgia Periodontics, and has been here in Albany for 13 years. Dr. Wright is happily married to Margaret Laurie, and they are blessed with five sons: Morgan (13), Alden (10), James (7), Asher (5), and John Robert (10 months). Dr. Wright enjoys outdoor activities including hunting and fishing, traveling, college football, and spending time with his family in the mountains. In his practice, Dr. Wright specializes in periodontics and implantology. He performs both the surgical and nonsurgical phases of periodontal treatment to reestablish proper health and function of the bone and tissues, as well as procedures to rebuild eroded bone and tissues from previous dental disease. When teeth are lost or unrestorable, Dr. Wright works closely with his patients and their general dentists to plan the most ideal replacement options possible, including dental implants. He can surgically replace the root of the missing tooth or teeth with titanium and porcelain fixtures that will bond to the bone with a high degree of predictability. In some cases, crowns can even be temporarily placed on the implants the day of surgery. Dr. Wright partners with the general dentists to aid them in restoring the dental implants to mirror the original dentition as closely as possible. Dr. Wright is a Board-Certified Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontics, and a member of many leading dental organizations, including the American Dental Association, Georgia Dental Association, Southwest District Dental Association, American Academy of Periodontists, Southern Academy of Periodontists, and the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, among others. Since his training began, Dr. Wright has placed thousands of implants, primarily

Southwest Georgia Periodontics 1503 W 3rd Ave A, Albany, GA 31707 | (229) 883-1600

Hometown Living At Its Best

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Hometown Living At Its Best

Dr. Ken Sellers is Making

Children

Ken Sellers, DMD, and Ron Fields, DMD, bought Southland Children’s Dentistry in Albany two years ago and have set definitive goals. “Our goal is for children to have a good experience at the dentist office every single visit,” says Dr. Sellers. “If you want to have a good patient at 35, then don’t screw up when they’re five. There is always a way to accomplish it [keeping a small patient happy].” Dr. Sellers says that his and Dr. Fields’ treatment plans and approaches to dentistry are very much the same. They bought the practice from Dr. Steven Sample, and this past summer Dr. Sellers joined his colleague there. The mid-forties outdoorsman is new to pediatric dentistry. In fact, he’s new to medicine in general. He started out selling lumber in Hazlehurst, Ga., where he was born and raised.

Albany Living Magazine

Smile

Then he started, operated and sold a coffee roasting business in Vidalia, Ga. His next adventure was his most successful to that point: he and his brother started up a cabinetry company in Uvalda, Ga. “We were doing very well,” says Dr. Sellers. “We had about 30 employees and a 15,000-square-feet warehouse. And then, in the middle of the night on October 31, 2009, I got a call. The warehouse had burned to the ground.” It sounded like a bad Halloween joke, but it was all too real. “It was a chance to start over,” Dr. Sellers says. “My brother asked me what I wanted to do, and I said, ‘I want to be a dentist.’ He said, ‘Me too.’ So we went back to school together.” Having a liberal arts bachelor’s degree (English, UGA, 1993), Dr. Sellers and his brother had to take a lot of undergraduate courses to even be considered when applying

to medical school. “A college counselor told us we’d better make straight A’s, or we’d need to go back to building cabinets.” says Dr. Sellers. “So we made all A’s. And when we applied to the Medical College of Georgia, we both got in on the first attempt. We didn’t know it at the time, but that’s fairly unheard of. Most people try two or three times.” Along the way, Dr. Sellers married Angie Chavis, a Uvalda native who taught kindergarten and elementary school. They have three children: Abby, 13, Trey, 11, and Peyton, 8. They also raise Boykin spaniel “children.” They have five girls: Gracie Pearl, Lillie, Birdie, Georgia and Delta. And their two boys, Doc and Buck, are off at school. Some of their sought-after retrievers have been purchased by the likes of Kid Rock, Jimmie John, and a Colorado Rocky Professional Baseball Player, among others. “Raising and training puppies teaches our kids responsibility,” says Dr. Sellers. “They learn about hard work and taking responsibility. I am proud of their maturity.” When Dr. Sellers is not making children smile (even with hands in their mouths), he is hunting, fishing or golfing. “But my favorite thing is spending time with my kids,” he says. “I should have known all along I was cut out for this work; I’ve always loved working with kids. We have the same attention span.” He grins. “God wanted me to be here. Every step along the way, everything has fallen into place,” he adds. “For Angie, too. We were meant to be here. And we love Albany.”

2301 Lullwater Rd, Albany, GA 31707 (229) 439-8896 www.southlandkids.com

Hometown Living At Its Best

“Faith, family and my job. Those are the three most important things to me,” Shelley Spires says as we discuss her enriching career path over our lunch break. “All of my achievements would not be possible without the love and support of my wonderful family, and the good Lord himself.” When she speaks, her voice radiates kindness, determination, and positive energy. She is the epitome of GIRL POWER. Now the CEO at Albany Area Primary Health Care, Inc. (AAPHC) Shelley started her career like the rest of us, unsure of what the future held and which path was the right one for her. As a child she grew up playing anything in the healthcare field, from being a doctor to a nurse. Upon graduating high school her career plan was undecided. When I asked her why she couldn’t decide she joked and said, “You never know where your initial path is taking you.” She graduated from Georgia Southwestern State University in 1998 with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management. She accepted a position in Americus as a Human Resources Representative. After being there a little over a year and a half the position was cut. She then accepted a position as the Director for Human Resources at a critical access hospital. A little over two years later, the hospital was forced to close and she, along with all other employees was out of a job. I could hear within her voice the discouragement and fear as she recalled this tough time in her life.

albany living magazine

Hometown Living At Its Best

Shelleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s passion for serving her community and patients has led to many projects and advancements for AAPHC. There is no shortage of love and determination to help those who cannot help themselves. Her strong interest in population health disparities within communities has been the driving force behind her endless work on school-based health centers in which she refers to as â&#x20AC;&#x153;the best thing since sliced bread.â&#x20AC;?

albany living magazine

One day, while browsing her newspaper she saw a posting for a job in Human Resources Management that required just three years of experience. She applied without hesitation. At that time she was living in Cordele, GA and when she accepted the job at AAPHC it would mean her job would require a hefty commute; driving almost one hour away to work. I asked her, how did you take it? She sighed and said, “It was a rough start. I couldn’t handle the time away from my family. I was tired,

I hated the drive. I came home to my husband one night and said I don’t think I can do this, I don’t want to do this anymore. I asked him what I should do, and do you know what he said to me?” I asked her, “What did he say?” She replied, “He asked me what I would tell one of my employees who came to me expressing these same feelings. He asked me what I would say to them. So, I told him I’d tell that person to give it 90 days and see how you feel then, and we can discuss options.” She was quiet

a moment and then said, “I had to take my own advice. I gave myself 90 days. And here I am 15 years later ever so thankful I did.” Shelley will tell you that she is just an average woman who cannot leave the house without her bottle of water and Kellogg’s breakfast cereal bar in the morning. A mom to a beautiful eightyear-old girl named Sara-Beth, a social butterfly that consumes all of her free time, and wife to her husband Jason, a proud Christian, and determined Hometown Living At Its Best

Before anything her love for God and others exceed all personal needs and desire. Her main goal in life is to provide better quality of life and services to others, which is why she has given her all in her career to do just that.

individual. Before anything her love for God and others exceed all personal needs and desire. Her main goal in life is to provide better quality of life and services to others, which is why she has given her all in her career to do just that. In her free time, Shelley enjoys spending time at home with her family and shopping with her daughter. She says on her long rides to work it gives her time to reflect and talk to God. Her faith is what has gotten her so far in life and she gives all the glory graciously to God. With a variety of experiences, and let-downs, Shelley did not let anything stand in her way from great achievement. Within 5 years of working at AAPHC she was promoted to Human Resources Director. With the coaching and encouragement of her manager, she pursued her Masters in Health Care Administration and Management from Troy State University in 2003. In 2010 she was named Deputy Director, and in 2013 when the former CEO announced his retirement, Shelley was named the Associate Chief Executive Officer (CEO), she subsequently took the helm as CEO in September 2015 when

albany living magazine

Shelley will tell you that she is just an average woman who cannot leave the house without her bottle of water and Kellogg’s breakfast cereal bar in the morning. A mom to a beautiful eight-year-old girl named Sara-Beth, a social butterfly that consumes all of her free time, and wife to her husband Jason, a proud Christian, and determined individual.

the previous CEO entered retirement, becoming one of the few women in the United States to be a chief officer within the healthcare field. In her short time being CEO she has overcome some of her biggest failures while creating success. “I have had to learn from experiences, there were times where I was not as compassionate to an employee as I should have been. I did not justify their feelings or perceptions. When I did this a second time, I knew I had to make some personal calls and revaluate myself. For the good of people, and to make good decisions I had to focus on personal development. Having a mentor like Tary Brown, former CEO, I don’t know where I would be without him.” Shelley’s passion for serving her community and patients has led to many projects and advancements for AAPHC. There is no shortage of love and

determination to help those who cannot help themselves. Her strong interest in population health disparities within communities has been the driving force behind her endless work on school-based health centers in which she refers to as “the best thing since sliced bread.” In 2011, AAPHC was asked to consider expanding their services into school systems, providing a school-based health center. After investigating, searching, hoping, and praising, grants came through for the expansion to become possible and in 2013 Turner Elementary School-Based Health Center clinic opened, which has two exam rooms, a physician assistant, and nursing administrative personnel. When asked what she would like to achieve further in her position she replied, “More specialty care options. We need healthcare no longer based on income. Our mission at AAPHC is to be here for

Hometown Living At Its Best

the patients, for all of their medical needs. We want to continue to deliver the highest quality of medical care to residents of this area in an efficient and cost effective manner. If there is a will there is a way.” AAPHC services Baker, Calhoun, Crips, Dougherty, Dooly, Douglas, Lee and Terrell counties. Named as one of Dougherty County’s 40 under 40 and 2015 Small Town America’s 100 Most Influential People, it is obvious she is on the track to saving the world, she is already saving southwest Georgia. “If I had one superpower it would be to predict the future,” Shelley says, “I would want to eliminate the barriers that enable us to better strategize.” When asked what her words of wisdom would be for someone starting their career path or unsure of how to get there she states the best thing you can do is to “Be a sponge. Don’t discount anything and absorb all knowledge.”  ALM

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Albany native Laura Stubbs Fay returns home to join her fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s medical practice.

Laura Stubbs Fay grew up in Albany and is the middle daughter of internist Dr. Joe Stubbs, who has been with Albany Internal Medicine for 35 years, and his wife Annabelle. As the daughter of a physician (and the granddaughter of two doctors), Laura has seen firsthand the special relationships that physicians and their patients develop over time and the opportunity that doctors have to make a real impact on people’s lives. After graduating from Deerfield Windsor, where she was valedictorian of her class, she went on to attend the University of Georgia. At the University she majored in biology with a minor in Spanish, and she enjoyed using her summers off to pursue her love of medicine through service: working at rural primary care clinics in Peru, interpreting for inner-city physicians in Atlanta, and conducting nutrition research in West Africa. She also learned to balance school with fun as she met her husband, Clifton, while at UGA. After finishing at UGA, Laura and Clifton both went on to attend the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. Laura enjoyed her time at MCG and was active on the Honor Council and served as president of the school’s chapter of Alpha Omega Alpha, the national medical honor society for physicians. For residency, Laura and Clifton both matched to the University of Oklahoma. There, Laura completed her three years of internal medicine residency. She was named intern of the year her first year there and was later selected as one of the Chief Residents to help lead the University’s Internal Medicine Residency program and teach internal medicine to medical students. While living in Oklahoma, the Fays welcomed a baby girl, Annabelle, who gives them tremendous joy.

After completing their residencies, the Fays were recruited by several practices, but fortunately selected to settle here in Albany. Laura explains, “With my father a practicing internist in the group, Albany Internal Medicine has been a part of my life since I was a young girl. The people who work there and the patients they serve mean so much to me. I think it is a real blessing to work alongside my father, whose patients’ rooms are just down the hall from mine, but I am also so appreciative of the other providers in the group and the wealth of knowledge and experience they offer.” In her practice, Laura is passionate about preventive care for adults, helping patients feel their best, and health issues unique to women. Board-certified in internal medicine, she is skilled at diagnosing and treating a variety of medical conditions, including heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, and thyroid conditions. Laura appreciates Albany Internal Medicine’s reputation as one of the area’s premier providers of high quality, comprehensive medical care, as demonstrated by its prestigious recognition as a Patient Centered Medical Home from the National Committee for Quality Assurance. Outside of work, Laura enjoys every minute spent with her daughter Annabelle, now two years old. Laura also enjoys running, cooking for family and friends, and staying involved in the church community. Both Laura and Clifton are excited to be in Albany and to have the opportunity to work in practices with people they admire and that offer such high quality services and sophisticated care. Laura, a general internist, plans to continue the outstanding care that the patients at Albany Internal Medicine have come to know.

ALBANY INTERNAL MEDICINE (AIM)

2402 Osler Court, Albany, GA 31707 (229) 438-3300 | www.albanyim.com Hometown Living At Its Best

C Transformative Power Of Surgery

The

Clifton Fayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interest in the medical profession began after he was involved in a life-changing automobile accident.

Albany Living Magazine

Dr. Clifton Fay was born and raised in Columbus, Georgia. At the age of 15, he was involved in a serious automobile accident that left him with substantial lacerations to his face, ears, arm, side, and back. The medical care he received following the accident saved his life and inspired curiosity about a career in medicine. Six months after the accident, his neighbor, an ophthalmologist, invited Clifton to join him on a medical mission to Jamaica. There, Clifton witnessed the transformative power of cataract surgery. Prior to surgery patients were unable to see or provide for their families, but the day following surgery they had their vision restored and their lives literally changed. This amazing experience sparked Clifton’s interest in pursuing a career in ophthalmology. After finishing high school at Brookstone School in Columbus, where he was valedictorian, Clifton went on to attend UGA with the goal of being a physician. At UGA, Clifton learned to balance serious and fun pursuits, even as he started dating Laura Stubbs in the spring of freshman year. Both were accepted to the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) in Augusta and after freshman year there, were married. The Fays were fortunate to join a wonderful church in Augusta, where they found a supportive, encouraging community, and both grew in their faith while going through the rigors of medical school. Clifton was able to continue his passion for international medical missions traveling with Laura and fellow students.

After completing their residencies, the Fays were recruited by several practices, but fortunately selected to settle here in Albany. In August, Clifton joined Dr. Chandler Berg at Albany’s Berg Eye Center. As a comprehensive ophthalmologist, Clifton cares for all diseases of the eye, but he specializes in cataract surgery and minimally invasive glaucoma surgery. He says that the Center’s staff, practice organization, quality of care, and innovation stand out among all the ophthalmology groups he looked at. Dr. Chandler Berg developed the first outpatient ophthalmology surgery center in Albany. Clifton appreciates that Berg Eye Center offers well-trained ophthalmologists the opportunity to work as a team with experienced optometrists to deliver high quality, innovative medical and surgical eye care. Outside of work, Clifton loves every minute spent with his daughter Annabelle. “We are so excited to be in Albany and are looking forward to becoming a part of and caring for this community.” He also enjoys hunting, fishing, and cheering for his Georgia Bulldawgs! Both Clifton and Laura are excited to be here and to have the opportunity to work in practices with people they admire and that offer such high quality services and sophisticated technology. Clifton, a comprehensive ophthalmologist, plans to continue the outstanding care that their patients have come to know at Berg Eye Center.

While at MCG, Clifton was elected to the national medical honorary society, Alpha Omega Alpha, signifying he was in the top quarter of his medical class. After graduation, the pair jointly matched for residency training at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City. In Oklahoma, Clifton trained at the prestigious Dean McGee Eye Institute, a center of excellence recently named one of the top five ophthalmology training programs in the nation and with a one hundred percent pass rate of the ophthalmology boards for 16 years running. Clifton is very thankful for the strong clinical foundation he received during training at Dean McGee and looks forward to using the latest techniques and practices in the community. During his training, he continued to pursue his passion for mission work and participated in ophthalmology mission trips to Swaziland and the Dominican Republic. While living in Oklahoma, the Fays welcomed their first child, Annabelle.

Berg Eye Group 2709 Meredyth Dr #110, Albany, GA 31707 | (229) 432-7012 | www.bergeye.com

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If you think Chehaw Park is primarily a zoo, you might have “bats in the belfry”. From beekeeping to mountain biking and disc golfing to remote control racing, Chehaw offers numerous and varied activities for kids and adults alike. The 800-acre park has ample room for expansion, and the staff is going “whole hog” planning and building several new exhibits and amenities. Here’s what’s happening at Chehaw, straight from the horse’s mouth… Beekeeping: A Sweet Tale Let’s mention the most important thing first: Chehaw has its own, incredibly delicious, organic honey for sale. You need to know that. You might want to know that Chehaw has purchased equipment and hives, and the staff is learning from local bee experts how to maintain and harvest the honey. The Bee Club, a local educational group, set up a bee colony at Chehaw several years ago and conducted public educational meetings about beekeeping. Hometown Living At Its Best

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“We’re expanding that to sell honey for revenue,” says Don Meeks, Chehaw’s Executive Director. “We started with 10 hives and just bought 10 more; we harvested 500 pounds of honey this year and expect to double that next year.” Sweet!

For the uninitiated, disc golf is played with Frisbees instead of clubs and balls. The surrounding flora offers obstacles and challenges. If you left your Frisbee in the ‘70s, discs are sold at the ticket booth and gift shop. It’s kind of hip; give it a spin.

BMX Track, Mountain Bike Trails and Horse Trails The BMX track was built about 20 years ago as the brainchild of the late Jim Laue, who owned Cycle World bike shop, which was recently rebuilt. Team Chehaw BMX in Albany organizes races, practice schedules and fundraising. The new track attracts regional qualifying races. “We support them with mowing and maintenance, but they do everything else,” says Don. “When the track was rebuilt three years ago, they [BMX team] raised the money and brought in the designer who did the London Olympics track. Few people realize the technical quality of the track here.” BMX racing is a close cousin of mountain biking. The local cycling club, Pecan City Pedalers, built and maintains 11 miles of mountain bike trails at Chehaw. President Richard Thompson sees mountain biking as a natural progression for the kids riding the BMX circuit. (See the Pecan City Pedalers article in this issue for more on Chehaw’s mountain bike trails and extensive opportunities for the region’s youth.) Hometown Living At Its Best

Everyone with kids knows that Chehawâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Play Park is one of the largest playgrounds in South Georgia. But few know thisâ&#x20AC;Śa state-of-the-art Splash Park is in the works! The design incorporates the newest and coolest splash amenities available.

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Hometown Living At Its Best

Disc Golf Disc golfers know about the Joshua W. Franklin Memorial Disc Golf Course at Chehaw. It was built 10 years ago with funds raised by friends and family of the Franklin and Griner families. The 18-hole, par 54, course is sanctioned by the Professional Disc Golf Association and is home to two annual tournaments. For the uninitiated, disc golf is played with Frisbees instead of clubs and balls. The surrounding flora offers obstacles and challenges. If you left your Frisbee in the ‘70s, discs are sold at the ticket booth and gift shop. It’s kind of hip; give it a spin.

Horseback riding trails are new to Chehaw. “There are currently two-and-a-half miles of marked trails, with plans to add more,” says Morgan Burnette, Director of community engagement and horse addict. “We’ve built three corrals in the back of the campground and added RV hook-ups next to them.” If you are a hiking enthusiast and carry lots of bug spray, you can hike any of the mountain bike and horse trails. Campgrounds This is a good place to discuss the camping facilities at Chehaw. Lots of people come from near and far and often want to stay for more than a day. There are plenty of hotels in the area to accommodate Chehaw’s visitors, but for those who want to stay close to the action (or their horses) the park offers 41 RV sites, 14 pull-through sites, 18 tent sites, camper cabins with AC, a clubhouse, laundry area, bathhouse and free Wi-Fi. Horse camping sites are separate. Remote Control Car Track There are hobbyists and then there are “dyed-in-thewool, don’t-touch-my-stuff, die-hard hobbyists”. The latter are remote control car owners. The Chehaw RC Raceway is built for speed and greed. These races see 70 mph speeds. The track is part of the regional circuit and, as such, draws professional racers. “RC racing is an adult sport that kids get to participate in,” Don says. “Mom, Dad, and the kids all race in different classes. Cars start at $250 – plus more for accessories – and go on up to $15,000 at the upper level. People visiting the park for other activities always stop to watch when a race is happening.” Exciting stuff. 54

albany living magazine

The Zoo The city of Albany and Dougherty County SPLOST funds are helping Chehaw with all of its needs, and the zoo stands to benefit. A new fruit bat exhibit is being built. These are huge bats that hang out, literally, during the day, ideal for viewing. Lee County Middle School’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) students are helping to design and construct the exhibit. A new red wolf and bear complex is in the works, as well as a warty pig exhibit. “We are putting animals together that would naturally be together geographically,” says Morgan. One of only two accredited zoos in Georgia, Chehaw is home to 238 specimens representing more than 125 species…lions, tigers, bears, etc. “The zoo is going on 4- years-old,” says Don. “It’s time to renovate or replace walkways, railings, and structures.” “ SPLOST helps a lot,” Don adds, “but I’d like to see other area governments step up to the plate. This is an incredible, deserving community resource.” Creekside Center and More There are pavilions and picnic shelters situated throughout the park; however, the Creekside Center has come to be regarded as a premier venue for meetings, fundraisers and weddings. It overlooks the Muckalee Creek and offers indoor rooms, a kitchen and deck space.

Lots of people come from near and far and often want to stay for more than a day. There are plenty of hotels in the area to accommodate Chehaw’s visitors, but for those who want to stay close to the action (or their horses) the park offers 41 RV sites, 14 pull-through sites, 18 tent sites, camper cabins with AC, a clubhouse, laundry area, bathhouse and free Wi-Fi. Horse camping sites are separate.

From beekeeping to mountain biking and disc golfing to remote control racing, Chehaw offers numerous and varied activities for kids and adults alike. The 800-acre park has ample room for expansion, and the staff is going â&#x20AC;&#x153;whole hogâ&#x20AC;? planning and building several new exhibits and amenities.

Hometown Living At Its Best

“Our weddings are snowballing,” Morgan says. “Our weekends are booked for the next six-to-seven months.” Staff offers catering, music and fullservice wedding planning. “We are growing our footprint in the business community, too,” says Don. “The Center is a prime meeting space.” The list of ongoing events is long – there is the enormously popular Festival of Lights during the Christmas holidays and the annual Native American Indian Festival the second weekend in April, to name a couple. “Our summer camps for kids have been huge this year,” Morgan adds. Education is a top priority for Chehaw, and their staff is top-notch. On the Drawing Board A new “luxury” campground is coming to the banks of the lake. Look for a new boat ramp and modern RV spaces in the fall of 2018.

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Everyone with kids knows that Chehaw’s Play Park is one of the largest playgrounds in South Georgia. But few know this…a state-ofthe-art Splash Park is in the works! The design incorporates the newest and coolest splash amenities available. Speaking of cool, summer 2018 will see two new zip lines! Imagine dangling high in the air, wind in your face, as you zip over trees, race tracks and alligators. Don took the ED position two years ago and hit the ground running. “Chehaw is a resource that has been underutilized. We opened up the park for other organizations to partner with us. It has proved to be immensely successful – our revenues are up and our visitor counts are up. We are connecting our value back to the community.” And in the process, the economic impact in the region is undeniable. More visitors equal more meals, gas and lodging purchased in the vicinity.

Don says, “We want to become the families’ first thought when they are planning their weekend. We want them to think, ‘What’s going on at Chehaw?’ We want to be first; we want to be real.” Visit Chehaw.org for hours, costs, memberships and more information.  ALM

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Story by

Jessica Fellows

I met Babs Hall, when I was a teenager, while she was working at the Department of Family and Children Services with my mother. I’d see her from time to time on WALB when mom would say “There’s Babs on TV,” where she’d be receiving a grant, visiting the capitol, or educating the community in one way or another. I didn’t think a great deal of it. In my 11 years as a teacher, I never paid much attention to the world of recovery as it is related to community health, mental health, substance abuse, or the like, unless it occurred in my classroom. That is until one of these problems became my own, and I met Babs again in a completely different light when she hired me as a Crisis Counselor for the Georgia Recovery Project. But let’s start from the beginning in telling her story of recovery, not mine, because mine only begins with her. Babs is a native of Dawson, Georgia born to a stay-at-home mother and a father who owned his own business. Two boys, 10 and 15 years her senior, preceded her in the family; so, when the baby girl came along, the center of her parents’ attentions shifted ever so slightly, to say the least. She recalls, “I grew up in a ‘Leave it to Beaver’ home. My parents were at every school function; we played sports and participated in clubs and activities. My dad was at all practices, and both of my parents were always involved. I thought we were the perfect family unit. My mom broke the mold

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David Parks Photography

a bit because she smoked cigarettes and cursed like a sailor, but I never heard my father utter a foul word. My parents wanted to give us everything they didn’t have as kids. As I got older, I learned that Dad’s parents had been divorced leaving his mother devastated, so he grew up with coming home to find his mother having attempted suicide in several ways and often. Learning this shattered the perfect picture for me. That is also when I learned that my grandfather was not my mother’s biological father. No one ever talked about any of this, so I think that is what drives me to talk about mental illness and suicide because secrets kill and hurt people. My mother was bitter about her father abandoning her until her 60s, and out of the blue, her dad reached out to her and made amends of sorts. He had Alzheimer’s by this time, but it made things better.” I listen in awe as Babs tells me these things. I’ve known for a while that she is the facilitator of the Survivors of Suicide Support Group in Albany. As she mentioned, people don’t talk about these things, so I’ve been reluctant to ask her if there was a personal reason for that particular affiliation. Even more surprising, she begins to tell me that the dawning of her career in social work spawned from a passion for competition—a need to “outsmart” her brothers. “I graduated from Terrell Academy and went to Middle Georgia College in Cochran. I told my advisor on the first day of school,

Hometown Living At Its Best

‘I’m only here because I want to do three things: be a college cheerleader, find a husband and have babies, and I want to graduate college because neither of my brothers did. So I don’t care what classes you put me in, I just want to do those things.’ He happened to be a psychology professor, so that’s what he signed me up for.” I wrote the things Babs told me, and it sounded crazy. We laughed. But as she continued, I decided that it is undeniable that from the start, there was a bigger plan for her from somewhere bigger than us. She continued, 68

albany living magazine

“I went to a place where I knew absolutely no one, but by the time I graduated, I was the captain of the cheerleading squad, senator on Student Government Association, in the Psychology/Sociology Club, and I was on the homecoming court. But this was also around the time I began to feel for the first time like I was going crazy. I felt like I was losing my mind. I came from a perfect family, I went to a private school, I had a 4.0 in college—why was I not happy? My first car was a Mercedes, my parents gave me everything

Hometown Living At Its Best

Most recently, Babs was named Georgia Trend’s “40 Under 40,” which is an astonishing accolade for anyone who makes the cut. It’s a best-of-the-best list for Georgia, the crème de la crème. There is no doubt in my mind that Babs Hall’s name belongs on this list. She did for me what few other employers would be willing to do, perceiving me as an imperfect but capable employee.

in the world, so why wasn’t I happy?” These symptoms were the first to show, rearing the ugly head of depression, a mental illness that so many don’t understand if they don’t have it. But it is very real, and Babs makes it her personal ambition to raise awareness of this illness and others like it. She says, “I felt that way then, and as I’ve gotten older, I know others must feel that way, and that’s why I like helping others, because I don’t want anyone to ever have to go through what I did without help.” These first symptoms began to incite personal change within Babs, and as she graduated, life would continue that process. “I ended up at the Department of Family and Children Services by doing an internship through a connection with 70

albany living magazine

Mavis Moore, a dear friend and beloved mentor. When it was over, DFACS had an opening. I was a bright-eyed baby, and they were sending me into these homes to solve these problems of drugs and abuse, and taking children away from parents. I was so ignorant. This is why I say that God protects dumb people and animals! For the most part, I think all of my clients liked me because even though I didn’t know where they came from, I saw them as people, not just case numbers. They had hurts and pains and crisis in their lives, and I tried to understand that. I came from a family that would’ve provided support in those situations, but these people didn’t have that. The only thing that separates me from the people I’ve served as a social worker is…call it luck or the grace of God or whatever, but I could be where they are. It’s easy for me not to be judgmental when I look at things this way. So many people didn’t have the same opportunities as I did, and I struggle with that. I can’t imagine being in that helpless, hopeless situation where basic needs such as food, shelter, and education aren’t met. Life is a roll of the dice, and that’s why I’ve always been grateful for what I had. That’s also why I’m so grateful for DFACS being my first job out of college because school can’t prepare you for that type of reality. It was humbling.” Babs’ resume includes a myriad of accomplishments that center around the recovery and betterment of our city and her hometown. She is on the Board of Directors (as well as wearing other hats within these organizations) for three non-profit organizations – Leadership Albany, Inc., Georgia Gerontology Society, and Albany’s affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. She is the co-chair of Southwest Georgia Suicide Prevention Coalition and a member of the State Coalition of Advocates for Georgia’s Elderly (CO-AGE). She previously served as a member of The Lily Pad’s Sexual Assault Response Team,

Dougherty County Paratransit Advisory Group, Dawson Ladies’ Club (also Vice President), and the Georgia County Welfare Association. Babs has also received awards and grants for servant leadership as a deliverer of Meals on Wheels that she began at age 14; she was a part of the fall-prevention program through SOWEGA Council on Aging. There aren’t many walks of life that she hasn’t tried to become a part of in a positive way, but when I asked her what her most poignant position was, she replied, “One of the most rewarding of my achievements, also the most difficult, is facilitating support groups for people who have lost family members to suicide. It’s the club no one wants to be in; people come to us in a state of profound grief and loss. As the facilitator, people come to me, so when the phone rings, I never know what to expect. Just last week a lady called who

Babs’ resume includes a myriad of accomplishments that center around the recovery and betterment of our city and her hometown. She is on the Board of Directors (as well as wearing other hats within these organizations) for three non-profit organizations – Leadership Albany, Inc., Georgia Gerontology Society, and Albany’s affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. She is the co-chair of Southwest Georgia Suicide Prevention Coalition and a member of the State Coalition of Advocates for Georgia’s Elderly (CO-AGE). She previously served as a member of The Lily Pad’s Sexual Assault Response Team, Dougherty County Paratransit Advisory Group, Dawson Ladies’ Club (also Vice President), and the Georgia County Welfare Association.

Hometown Living At Its Best

had just lost her husband three weeks before to suicide. What makes me be the person who deserves to be able to take that phone call? The person who can give hope to someone who is in an otherwise hopeless situation? Some of them we only see once or twice, and that’s okay, but then there are people who have turned into best friends. To watch someone come in broken and feeling like their whole world is over, change into one who can help others—you cannot put a price on that. I feel like it’s a gift that I get to do.” Currently, in addition to all of her volunteer work, Babs serves as the Corporate Compliance Officer

albany living magazine

for Aspire Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Services and the Program Manager for the Georgia Recovery Project, which is a free crisis counseling program to help those dealing with mental and emotional struggles after the January tornadoes. This latter title is where her recovery story collides with mine. When I write someone’s story, I like to get an outsider’s perspective on the person I’m writing about. In Babs’s case, I have witnessed first-hand her generosity and willingness to help those of us who have fallen on hard times. I have struggled with alcoholism for years, and in January 2017, I finally

Hometown Living At Its Best

won the battle against the disease, but I lost my job in the process. Teaching was what defined me, and word traveled quickly through our little, Southern towns that I was no longer fit to head a classroom. I was left without a job—hopeful in my recovery process, but hopeless in the professional world—until my phone rang three months later, Babs on the other end offering me a position helping others…one of the best tools there is for maintaining recovery. She didn’t ask any questions about my broken resume; she let me open those doors when I was ready. She has trusted my recovery program, my professional judgment, and my abilities in a new field. She allowed me to “bloom where I was planted”, overlooking any checkered reputation that may have been seen by others as overshadowing my skills. She has been a crucial player in allowing me to be honest about my disease and even embrace it as a reformed asset for helping others. I am indebted

albany living magazine

to her generosity and judicious consideration during a time in my life that could have left me bereft. Most recently, Babs was named Georgia Trend’s “40 Under 40,” which is an astonishing accolade for anyone who makes the cut. It’s a best-of-thebest list for Georgia, the crème de la crème. There is no doubt in my mind that Babs Hall’s name belongs on this list. She did for me what few other employers would be willing to do, perceiving me as an imperfect but capable employee. She not only represents recovery in her own life, but she stands for others, believes in the hope of their rehabilitation, and acts as an advocate in their journeys as well. I can say confidently that her support was crucial in allowing me, and others like me, to better our lives and show first hand that recovery is real.  ALM

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At the Willson Hospice House, our skilled team provides high-quality, compassionate, inpatient and respite care to patients and their families in a warm, friendly environment. Nestled in the woodlands of northwest Albany, the Willson Hospice House is perfect for those Phoebe Hospice patients who need pain and symptom management or whose families need a temporary break COMMUNITY CENTER from caregiving. HOSPICE HOUSE

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Phoebe Hospice welcomes all patients, regardless of financial circumstances. For more information, call us at 229-312-7050, or visit phoebehospice.com.

Willson Boutique CANCER CENTER HOSPICE HOUSE

320 Foundation Lane Albany, Georgia 31707

License - 047-012-H

PROUDLY SERVING & SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY FOR 70 YEARS

3200 PALMYRA RD, ALBANY, GA 31707 | (229) 883-3232

1602A EAST FORSYTH STREET | AMERICUS, GEORGIA 31709 | (229) 924-9798

outh Georgia Brick Company, Inc. originated in 1971, has been locally operated by the Jack Morrell Family since 1975 and owned from 1989 to present.

Since its origination, the company has been dedicated to service and quality. This can be seen in the company’s long history and the loyalty of their employees. Several of the employees have been with the company 20 plus years, creating a true “family business” atmosphere. The company has primarily relied on their reputation of quality services, strong contractor referrals and direct advertising. The “grass roots” positive customer service campaign along with an aggressive, recognizable television campaign “South Georgia Brick Still Means Quality Every Time” helped in building the company’s strong foundation due in large part to concentrating on customer experiences and quality standards. South Georgia Brick Company, Inc. conveys to the customer, “you don’t buy brick, you invest in it.”

2503 W Gordon Ave | Albany, GA 31707 800-241-2156 | 229-435-1338 southgeorgiabrick.com

South Georgia Brick STILL Means Quality Every Time

Your Low-Overhead Brick Supplier Since 1971

Brick vs. Fiber Cement Home Based on a 2,100 s/f Heated Home

Monthly Payment

Monthly Savings

$33.42

Energy Savings of 8% on a $300 Light Bill

$24.00

Insurance Savings up to 11% on a $68.00 monthly Insurance Premium

$7.48

Total

$33.42

$31.48

Cost of Using Brick after Savings

$1.94

Homeowner increase in loan payment for $7,000 cost of adding brick 30 years @ 4% interest rate.

Additional Savings of Brick over Siding

Pressure wash cement siding house every 2 years: $350.00 over 30 years

$5,250.00

6% higher resale based on $239,000.00*

$14,340.00

Needs repainting every 5-7 years: $6,000 x 4 over 30 years

$24,000.00

Total Potential Savings Based on 30 Year Mortgage

$43,590.00

*In some cases brick houses resale 25-30% higher than the same houses with siding.

Our Name Says It All

Penny Champion, CNM • Lynette Talley, CNM, WHNP • Sharon Pierce, CNM At Women’s Health Professionals, it’s no coincidence that the first word in our name is

Woman to Woman WOMEN.

We pride ourselves on our We understand that some women prefer the option of to being decication women, through all treated by a female health provider – especially when it the stages of their lives. comes to female health issues. That’s why at Women’s Health Professionals, in addition to our OB-GYN physicians, our team of women’s healthcare practitioners includes not one but three women.

All three of our practitioners have over 20 years’ experience with a passion for treating women of all ages. Please call to schedule an appointment today. At Women’s Health Professionals, Our Name Says It All.

Thomas Talley, MD, FACOG • Paul Smurda, MD, FACOG Emily Sumner, MD • Lynette Talley, CNM, WHNP

229.883.4555

414 Fifth Avenue Albany, GA 31701 WomensHealthAlbany.com

414 Fifth Avenue • Albany, GA 31701 • 229.883.4555 • WomensHealthAlbany.com

albany living magazine

Hometown Living At Its Best

If you grew up around this town, maybe you can recall a place called Owen’s Sporting Goods. It was originally located downtown at 202 West Broad and, in 1994, moved next door to the old Carmike Cinemas on Gillionville. I distinctly remember as an elementary kid of the 80’s making trips to this store with my dad. He loved sports and was very active in basketball, fitness at the YMCA, and a team player in church league softball. But one thing that only some people knew was that my dad loved to shop! If he was going out on a Saturday morning to town, I’d jump in the car with him because I could count on convincing him that I needed something too! Those special father-daughter trips frequently took us to Owen’s. I mean, who doesn’t need a new pair of shoes, right? My memories of getting sized up as the sales associates measured my feet are from Owen’s Sporting Goods. That was always fun for me. Then as I got older it would

albany living magazine

Jamie desires to inspire and see a fitness movement here in Albany, where being active and eating healthy becomes a lifestyle. His intentions are to get as many people in our community as active as possible! Integrating fitness in your life doesn't mean you need a gym membership. He encourages people to just get moving, get outside, get your heart rate up and use the bodies God gave us. He will tell you, “You have all the tools you need!”

Hometown Living At Its Best

Jamie has taken up a passion for serving our community and his focus is helping people change their lives through physical fitness. He is a motivator and his aim is to get people active and off the couch.

be the one place to find “Umbro” soccer shorts, which were quite a trend in our time. I kind of obsessed over having a Kelly green pair and Dad came through for me! Fast forward to now…while settling back into Albany in 2015, after being away for 16 years, one of my first priorities because of what my dad instilled in me, was to find a gym and a routine to stay active. While I was living in Florida, I had an established workout regimen that was working great for me. I found a YMCA that made me feel at home since that’s where I spent my youth in Albany. They had amazing classes and trainers and quite honestly, I was a little apprehensive to starting over. Looking for a gym or trainer that would give me the level of challenge and motivation I was accustomed to seemed daunting. Then I met Jamie on a trial gym membership. While I was getting acclimated with a new gym, I noticed this guy who looked like a ninja warrior and was “in the zone” working out! I was very curious as to whether or not he was a trainer because he looked like someone who could motivate me. He

albany living magazine

was not just going through the motions, he had a method. I found out later that not only was he a great trainer, but he just happened to be the son of the family that owned Owen’s Sporting Goods. (We had a few nostalgic moments about those Owen’s Sporting Goods days during our interview for this magazine.) You could say he’s in the same lane maybe, just a different role than that of his parents. Jamie has taken up a passion for serving our community and his focus is helping people change their lives through physical fitness. He is a motivator and his aim is to get people active and off the couch. After an hour of a grueling workout led by him, my husband and I had found our challenge! We discovered that there was more to Jamie’s level of fitness than just our one-hour training session. We asked him what else he was doing and he invited us to join him for a Saturday morning to work out. With a slight grin,

Hometown Living At Its Best

albany living magazine

he said, “Just come…it’s kinda like what we do here with a few extra additions.” I would definitely agree there were a few extra additions! That Saturday morning was a workout that pushed us to our limits physically and included several elements that you just don’t get in an average “gym” workout. It was at this point that Jamie revealed to us that he wanted to become the first certified Spartan trainer in Southwest Georgia. Spartan Training is a new movement that Jamie feels will grow like the craze of Cross Fit. He is now OCR certified and SGX Spartan certified. Not only is it way more interactive than the average day at the gym, but Albany is home to the ONLY Spartan certified trainer north of Tallahassee, FL and south of Macon, GA. That trainer is Jamie Owens! He will prepare you for a race or give you a taste of what an actual Spartan race is like with his training! I will never quit bragging about that one Saturday workout when I made it over that 8-foot wall that he built! For a long time I watched, afraid to try, and would keep putting myself at the end of the line to avoid it. Then, with the encouragement of others gathered, I did it and it was so much fun! Jamie desires to inspire and see a fitness movement here in Albany, where being active and eating healthy becomes a lifestyle. His intentions are to get as many people in our community as active as possible! Integrating fitness in your life doesn’t mean you need a gym membership. He encourages people to just get moving, get outside, get your heart rate up and use the bodies God gave us. He will tell you, “You have all the tools you need!” What I love about Jamie is that he isn’t one to allow excuses. He just wants you doing something. He has one requirement: A GOOD ATTITUDE. Jamie fosters a judgement free zone for people to work out in. The only person he allows you to compete against is yourself! There’s an anonymous quote that says, “When you continuously compete with others, you become bitter. But, if you continuously compete with yourself, you become better.” For some, even the word exercise is intimidating, right? It just sounds like a monotonous task to

Hometown Living At Its Best

I have been there and experienced the frustration of walking aimlessly through the gym floor searching for a regimen that would yield results. Eventually it can become overwhelming and then we just give it up. But let me encourage you not to give in so easily! I have experienced that by changing things up, I can stay motivated and gain the momentum to keep going.

albany living magazine

some. Perhaps it is because we associate exercise with boring repetitive movements, or even a trip to the gym where we feel lost in the midst of a sea of machines and weights. I have been there and experienced the frustration of walking aimlessly through the gym floor searching for a regimen that would yield results. Eventually it can become overwhelming and then we just give it up. But let me encourage you not to give in so easily! I have experienced that by changing things up, I can stay motivated and gain the momentum to keep going. While there are a ton of misconceptions out there about Spartan Races, Jamie is convinced that if you can walk and do a burpee (a basic body weight exercise), then you can do a race. Spartan Race is a sport and a philosophy; the idea is that obstacles only make you stronger. Spartans believe that you can’t have a strong body if you don’t first have a strong mind. Spartan is all about mind training. It’s about breaking through mental blocks and finding the strength within to cross the finish line. The obstacles are there for you to overcome and maybe even reveal an inner strength you didn’t know you had. All it takes is a mindset that is willing to try something new, and before you know it, you will have the confidence to overcome more challenges and obstacles. Breaking through old patterns and cycles is what really produces change.

Jamie made it very clear that changing up your routine can be what produces a change in gains. “Gains” is a new term used in fitness that simply means progress. It dawned on me one day that I wasn’t making any significant changes from my fitness routine and it made me start to examine myself and ask “why”? I determined from this epiphany that I would start pushing past this plateau. Jamie even encouraged me to start picking up a more challenging weight or doing an extra burpee when I thought I was at my limit. Little gains like this push you to new endurance levels. I love this quote from the book Spartan Up and creators of the race…“My goal with every Spartan Race is to push you to overcome your short-term desire for comfort in an effort to reach for something greater than your current self.” When you see the physical condition that Jamie is in, it’s crazy to think that he has only been doing this for two years! It reveals to me that discipline is all you need to change your habits, and that changing those habits can have a monumental impact on your overall fitness. In the short amount of time I have known Jamie, I’ve seen him lead people to a new approach on fitness through his personal focus and determination. He is continually learning and evolving as a leader in Spartan training, which is translating into results for everyone who takes his classes. He shared with me the Spartan Code: A Spartan pushes their mind and body to their limits. A Spartan masters their emotions. A Spartan learns continuously. A Spartan gives generously. A Spartan leads. A Spartan stands up for what they believe in, no matter what the cost. A Spartan knows their flaws as well as they know their strengths. A Spartan proves themselves through actions, not words. A Spartan lives their every day as if it were their last.

The obstacles are there for you to overcome and maybe even reveal an inner strength you didn’t know you had. All it takes is a mindset that is willing to try something new, and before you know it, you will have the confidence to overcome more challenges and obstacles. Breaking through old patterns and cycles is what really produces change.

Jamie also shared with me one of his favorite recipes for a healthy protein energy snack to fuel his work out… 1.5 c of gluten free oats .5 c of brown rice flour 2 scoops of chocolate whey protein powder 8-10 tbs of nut butter of choice add dried fruit or organic chocolate chips, if wanted 1 tbs of natural vanilla extract a squeeze of agave syrup Mix together. Add tablespoons of almond milk till it forms a dough that can be rolled into balls. Jamie is exploring ideas for his next venture in training. If you are interested in getting a Spartan certified workout or training in fitness, contact Jamie Owens: jamie@poolbrosflooring.com. This could be the best decision you have made for your body in a long time. It might not be easy, but it will be worth it!  ALM

Hometown Living At Its Best

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2O17-2O18 SEASON

Not the same old la-di-da.

Friday, October 28th - Paul Peach Masterworks Concert No.1 Sunday, November 12 - Chamber Music Concert Friday, December 16th - Paul Peach Masterworks Concert No.2 [Peppermint Pops and Children’s Matinee] Sunday, January 28 - Chamber Music Concert Friday, February 17th - Paul Peach Masterworks Concert No. 3 the Date! Friday, March 16 - 2nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Fundraising Event Friday, April 14 - Paul Peach Masterworks Concert No. 4 Saturday, May 12 - Swingin’ on the River at Veterans Part Ampitheater

Don’t miss a note! Be a part of the excitement of live symphonic music.

www.albanysymphony.org | Facebook | Phone 229.430.8933

Performances are made possible in part through the generous support of the City of Albany and the Albany Municipal Auditorium.

Hometown Living At Its Best

Millie Mac

PHOTOGRAPHY

www.milliemacphotography.smugmug.com facebook.com/MillieMacPhotography

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Albany Living Magazine

FOR THOSE WHO ARE ALL IN, ALL THE TIME

At WINGATE BY WYNDHAM, we have what you need to help support your life, your work, your time, and your knack for balancing everything in between. We keep you connected, on schedule, de-stressed, and ready for whatever comes next.

2735 Dawson Rd, Albany, GA 31707 | (229) 883-9800

Story by Elizabeth Sheffield Photos by David Parks Photography

The small-town family doctor has long been transformed by local hospitals and large practices. The days are no longer the ones seen in the movie My Girl, where Vada visits the local doctor and the few nurses know not only her name, but her family and they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to pull her file to know everything about her; however, this concept is not totally gone. Dr. Charity Wilson (37), of Albany, still attempts to keep this kind of concept in her practice and in the way she interacts with her patients, standing on equal ground with those who need her most.

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“Family Medicine is a specialty without as much prestige as others and it doesn’t pay as much. It is a thankless type of job, but I enjoy the variety. I can’t imagine just concentrating on one specialty. I would get bored,” she says with a laugh.

Though Wilson practices with many other doctors at The Veranda in Albany, she creates within the practice a family atmosphere with her fellow doctors and nurses and with her patients. “Patients,” Wilson says, “have an automatic, instant relationship with doctors from the minute they walk in the room. They open up and talk to you, which you won’t always have in other settings. They want to tell you what they’re upset about or what’s going on; they pour their heart out and it is like an instant connection that is always going to be there.” This, she says, is her favorite part of being a doctor. This helps her connect with her patients, but more than that, Wilson is trained in many areas that allow her 102

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to treat patients herself instead of referring them to a specialist. If she does have to refer them, The Veranda usually has the specialist she needs instead of having to send the patient away thus helping to maintain the town-doctor feel. Wilson, who was born and raised in Albany, did not always think that she would be a family medicine physician. Having several family members who were LPNs or nurses, she knew she wanted to go into the medical field, but she never dreamed she would become a doctor because “the idea of being a doctor just seemed way out there”. During her senior year at Dougherty Comprehensive High School, Wilson

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During med-school, Wilson chose to come back to Albany for her residency; a choice she said was easy. “We [Wilson and her husband] always knew we would come back to Albany,” she says. “I kept imagining practicing in Albany and practicing in my hometown. That’s what motivated me the whole way through. We knew we wanted to come back to Albany, we just didn’t know if we were going to do it right away or after residency.”

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shadowed a P.A. in Albany, “and that is what I thought I was going to do,” she says. “At that time, I was going to school for two years and I would have liked a bachelor’s degree. Now it’s practically a doctor.” After graduating high school, Charity found herself with a full scholarship for the most part “so I had enough to cover four years” at Mercer. In the beginning, as a Pre-Med major, she found herself doing well. “I said if I can do this, then I can keep going. I started learning about different positions and getting experience. Before I ended, I studied almost every specialty including

NICU, internal medicine, and OBGYN. I shadowed all these different specialties and was a hospice volunteer. I wanted to get a wide variety of experiences,” Wilson says. She had so many different experiences that when she applied to med school, “the interviewer was like, I have never seen someone who had this much experience. What have you not done?” Doctors tend to be put on pedestals as superheroes that can cure the world, but Wilson says “they are normal people.” Realizing that doctors were normal people was when she decided she could also be a doctor.

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It wasn’t reserved for certain people, she just had to put the work into learning the material and have a passion for helping people, both characteristics she possessed. After finishing her bachelors at Mercer, she chose to go to the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) for medical school because, she says, “I needed to go where I knew no one so I would not have any distractions. I didn’t know a single soul and I left all my friends in Macon. It was a different environment than what I was used to. It didn’t seem like a smaller, local hospital and they discouraged primary care and family medicine, which is what I was determined to do.”

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However, she did not let this stop her. Instead, she pushed on, taking the steps to do what she wanted to do – practice family medicine. “It wasn’t really respected,” she says. “We’re kind of the most challenging of the specialties because we have to cover so many things.” She is not boasting, but does note that in order to practice family medicine, all parts of the body have to be known to best assess what is wrong and, if a specialist is needed, where a specialist can concentrate mainly on the body parts of their specialty. “I don’t think people realize that,” says Wilson. “Family Medicine is a specialty without as much prestige as others and it doesn’t pay as much. It is a thankless type of job, but I enjoy the variety. I can’t imagine just concentrating on one specialty. I would get bored,” she says with a laugh. During med-school, Wilson chose to come back to Albany for her residency; a choice she said was easy. “We [Wilson and her husband] always knew we would come back to Albany,” she says. “I kept imagining practicing in Albany and practicing in my hometown. That’s what motivated me the whole way through. We knew we wanted to come back to Albany, we just didn’t know if we were going to do it right away or after residency.” With this idea in mind, Wilson knew that Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital had its own family medicine program. “When I was looking at programs, I knew I had to go to a residency program that is only family medicine; I was looking for smaller programs and Albany was called an unopposed residency. All they had was family medicine and Rome had one,” Wilson explains. “The program made it so that in Albany, when I was doing my surgery rotation, it was just the surgeon and me. I didn’t have a big pile of students that have all these residents. Because it was just a surgeon and me, I had a really good experience. It also worked out because that is how I got my job here at The Veranda.” While doing her rotations at Phoebe, Wilson met a mentor who would also inspire her and show her the kind of doctor she would strive to be. “Early on, there was a physician in Albany,

Dr. Lawrence Crimmins, who’s still around, but not practicing anymore. He’s been around Albany forever, had a private practice, and then became part of the residency program,” says Wilson, who knew of him in high school when she was shadowing. Dr. Crimmins became Wilson’s attending physician while doing rotations in Albany. “Attending,” explains Wilson, “is like your physician that’s over you as a student.” Crimmins is well-known by Albany residents, most holding him in high esteem. As an attending physician, Wilson found him “to be a great teacher. The other physicians respected him and the patients loved him. You hear all of these Crimmins stories. He was kind of like the classic country doctor that everyone just loved.” Crimmins set the example for what Wilson wanted to be like as a doctor. “You really don’t know what type of doctor you’re going to be when you’re in residency,” Wilson says. “You know you’re going to be in family medicine, but you don’t know how you’re going to be working. I always thought I wanted to be like Dr. Crimmins. That was always my plan,” says Wilson. “I wanted to help teach students and help teach residency. He has things named after him like the Crimmins House, which is student housing for the med students at Phoebe. Everyone knows Crimmins. If people want to go to med school, they have Crimmins write their letter of recommendations because everyone knows and respects him.” However, in the middle of Wilson’s residency, Crimmins retired. At his retirement party, people came to talk about Dr. Crimmins and how great he was. “Stories like how he sat at my bedside all night long. All of these wonderful stories,” Wilson says, who sat

Doctors tend to be put on pedestals as superheroes that can cure the world, but Wilson says “they are normal people.” Realizing that doctors were normal people was when she decided she could also be a doctor.

listening and realizing that that kind of doctor was not what she was probably going to be. “I started feeling kind of depressed and sad. I don’t know if I can ever be a Dr. Crimmins,” Wilson says. “I was like, maybe I’ll just never be known. I’m just going to be a doctor somewhere.” As the stories came to a close, Dr. Crimmins was the last to stand and talk. “He gave this 20-minute speech with no notes,” says Wilson. “He was as sharp as a tack.” As she and the table of other residents sat listening, Crimmins looked toward them. “He said the only thing he regretted out of his long career was that he never spent as much time with his family.” Upon hearing this, Wilson knew that she would never be a Crimmins, but it no longer made her sad. “As soon as he said that, the other residents and I started crying. At that point, we didn’t have children, but we all wanted to

have children one day. We had to wait because we were so busy and we had to decide when in our career we were going to have children. So, when he said that, I said, I’m not going to be a Crimmins, and I’m okay with that. That, to me, is like my big moment in life that I realized that it’s okay not to be that doctor,” she says. “I may tell my patients, I may not be at your bedside at 3 a.m. because I’m going to be home with my family, but I’ll be there for you when I can.” Because of the great teacher he was and the realizations he left her with, Wilson says, “Crimmins was one of my biggest mentors. He encouraged me to go on in the field. He was the biggest champion of family medicine,” she says. “I’m okay with not being a Crimmins though; I would rather my children know me more than being known as Crimmins is.” Though Wilson may not be known as

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These are the things, the preventative care and the relationships with patients that are most important to Wilson in her career. The Veranda has made this easy for her, as it is a multi-specialty type of practice, which is the only one of its kind in Albany.

a Dr. Crimmins, she is known and respected not only in The Veranda, but by those who call themselves her patients. The best part of being a family doctor, Wilson says, is that she is able to prevent things before they happen and she gets to know the patients really well. “I’ve been with The Veranda nine years this summer. I’ve had patients who have been with me from day one. I had teenagers I’ve seen go to college, get married and have kids, and when they come in, I feel so old. I look at these kids, and I was 29 when I started here and they are young adults now. And, there are kids who I delivered when I was in residence,” she says. She stopped doing obstetrics when she took the job with The Veranda after her residency, but “there are people that I run into that I delivered their babies. It’s crazy to think about that!” These are the things, the preventative care and the relationships with patients that are most important to Wilson in her career. The Veranda has made this easy for her, as it is a multi-specialty type of practice, which is the only one of its kind in Albany. “We have the OBGYN, endocrine, pediatrics, and more, so if I have something a little bit beyond me, then I have a lifeline. I can call and say, ‘can you come look at this really fast; I’m not quite sure what I’m looking at.’ They do the same with me. I don’t feel alone here. I always feel like I have some backup. This is a great asset in the doctor business,” she says, “because it not only facilitates the family atmosphere, but it helps the patient more than just a one specialty office or a single family practitioner.” Wilson not only helps the Albany community through her dedication to her practice, she also sits on the board for the local Junior League of Albany

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chapter. She joined the local Junior League the same year she joined in practice with The Veranda. “I couldn’t do it earlier when I was in residency because I wasn’t in control of my own schedule or life at all,” she says. “I needed something that isn’t work, though. It’s like my mental break. I want to feel like I’m giving back, but I wanted something that wasn’t work.” Junior League fit this bill as an organization of women who are dedicated to helping the surrounding community through charity events and raising money. However, this is Wilson’s first year on the board since work must come first and her family second. “I like that the League has opportunities where I can do things on my own as a woman and not a mom, and then there are things that I can take my kids to as well,” says Wilson. “It’s voluntary and you get to do a little bit of everything. That’s what I like about it.” A large part of being in the Junior League for Wilson is that for some events she is able to take her kids with her. “Alex is now eight years old; I can take her to things and she can help me. She’s helped the League and me pass out food for the tornado victims, she’s helped me do stuff at the hospice house, she helped me plant plants at Chehaw, and she’s helped ring the bell at the Salvation Army,” says Wilson, who is also now getting her other two younger kids, Piper (5), and Asa (2), involved. “I want them to see me involved and trying to give back to the community. I want them to see that it’s not all about me.” This idea is one she demonstrates throughout her life, not only in volunteering, but also in raising her kids and in her practice at The Veranda.  ALM

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For over 50 years, Rehabilitation Center of South Georgia has been providing healthcare services to the senior community. Our goal is to maximize the quality of each individual’s life by valuing dignity, independence, and individual needs.

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The Cookie Shoppe is a true testament to the kinship and tenacity of Albany living, and Mona, Magid, and their dedicated employees work hard to keep the integrity of our city thriving from a little downtown eatery. In downtown Albany, cars rush around, sliding through caution lights; people shuffle hurriedly to their next appointments. The bustle of the city is stifled, however, as I step inside the little café off North Jackson Street, a homey sign hanging above the door that reads “The Cookie Shoppe.” Inside, it is quiet and warm, and the smells of fresh bread and sweetness fill my nostrils as I step across the threshold and a greeting comes from the kitchen.

“How are ya!” a voice welcomes me from the back as a small, dark haired woman approaches, and I introduce myself. Mona Qaqish offers her hand in a friendly gesture, speaking welcomingly. The whole shop has a benevolent atmosphere. It is quaint, not boasting of bright lights or fancy signs. The pace is quick as a few customers have entered and are served within a few minutes, Mona taking a moment, speaking to them as if they were long-time friends. It is Hometown Living At Its Best

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obvious why this little hometown eatery has lasted in this rather inconspicuous location for over thirty years. Mona’s adult son, Magid, saunters into the dining room after being beckoned by his mother. When he appears wiping his hands with a kitchen towel, she questions him about a small burn on his arm and shakes her head as if he knows better than to be so careless, but it is clear that her concern resonates from the heart. Her persona is caring, matriarchal, and professional all at once. These attributes are ones that she and, by default, Magid have poured into their business since taking it on with her late husband in November of 1985. At the time, Mr. Qaqish was an employee of Firestone, and the Mrs. was a dental hygienist in town, but they entertained a curiosity for being their own proprietors. They often enjoyed having lunch at The Cookie Shoppe, which opened in 1981 and was then owned by Zoe and Red Hall. The Qaqishes didn’t seem to have a particular place in mind and sort of wandered upon buying the tiny restaurant on a whim. Mona says, “We were looking for a business to buy. I walked in and asked if it was for sale, and out of sheer luck, it was. That was 1985, and we have been here ever since. We love downtown, and we’re not going anywhere any The whole shop has a benevolent atmosphere. It is quaint, not boasting of bright lights or fancy signs. The pace is quick as a few customers have entered and are served within a few minutes, Mona taking a moment, speaking to them as if they were long-time friends. It is obvious why this little hometown eatery has lasted in this rather inconspicuous location for over thirty years.

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time.â&#x20AC;? She has an apparent love for her city, which is obvious in the way she speaks of her business, but also in the way that she has instilled in her work and her family a desire to help the community. Neither Mona nor Magid specifically state that generosity and service are foundations on which their business thrives. It is apparent in their giving of time and food within the

community that they were clearly happy bringing aid to their hometown friends. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We never turn down an opportunity to give a donation,â&#x20AC;? Magid says. He and his mother begin talking in unison about the charities they gladly provide for, including churches, teachers, The Boys and Girls Club, and Albany State, among others.

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On asking her what her inspiration is for being an everpresent part of Albany recovery, she responds, “I just want Albany to be better. I was born and raised here; it’s a good town. I don’t want to be anywhere else. My parents were here. It’s my hometown, and I love it. There are good things here—a good community and lots of people who help here.”

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They donate to a fraternity at the university that mentors young students in reading, which the group hopes will help drive the adolescents toward college and away from the street. The Empty Bowls soup bowl project is a joint outreach program orchestrated by the Albany Area Arts Council and the SOWEGA Council on Aging that The Cookie Shoppe donates soup for each year in order to promote knowledge and to fight hunger. Along with other local restaurants, they contribute a pot of soup so that patrons will come and buy the soup in bowls handcrafted by local artists as a reminder of all the empty bowls throughout our community. The Qaqishes have

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The compassion spread from their service is felt throughout businesses and individuals alike in a tight-knit community that celebrates in times of wealth and struggles together to recover in times of need. We could all take a little piece of advice from Mrs. Mona as she smiles and says to me, “Work hard and do the right thing. Be happy. Life is too short.”

also donated to Mission Change and other rescue organizations that help disadvantaged and homeless people in Albany; one event included an overnight sleep out at which they provided food for the needy. Private Residence and Graceway are local organizations that aid young women in recovery from addiction; Mrs. Mona offers jobs to them if needed. Many other places regard the women as troubled, but with the right recommendation from the treatment centers, an occupation is the first step toward recovery in society, and she offers that to them. She and Magid also participate in raffles for schools, giving out

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gift certificates for door prizes, and during the recent storms, they provided food to workers and linemen as they helped rebuild the city during the devastating aftermath. Over 1,000 homemade breakfast and lunch sandwiches came from The Cookie Shoppe during this time of need. On a more personal level, the family opens their doors to anyone who needs something to eat. “They came in with nothing to eat [after the storms],” Mona says, “told me where they lived, and we fed them. We have a motto here that you come as a customer and leave as family.” She and Magid’s eagerness to share with me made their willingness to contribute to the community even more apparent. Their humility and willingness to provide a helping hand to those in need is such a blessing to the citizens of Albany. Mona speaks as affectionately about Albany as she does the restaurant: “We are so grateful that people come to see us. They come from Proctor and Gamble, the marine base, Miller, and the mall. We try to work fast enough that they are able to get in and out [from any distance] because we want them to come back. A lot of our customers are local, and we learn their names. Travelers stop here because they hear about us or find us on the Internet, and they want something local. Everything we make is from scratch, from the cheese biscuit on Fridays to the chicken salad and our pimento cheese with bacon and tomato. It’s all homemade. We keep our standards high and have high quality food and customer service. Buying

She has an apparent love for her city, which is obvious in the way she speaks of her business, but also in the way that she has instilled in her work and her family a desire to help the community. Neither Mona nor Magid specifically state that generosity and service are foundations on which their business thrives. It is apparent in their giving of time and food within the communitythat they were happy in bringing aid to their hometown friends.

this place was the best decision I’ve ever made. We have nights and weekends off, and there is no other food service business where you can work and raise a family.” On asking her what her inspiration is for being an ever-present part of Albany recovery, she responds, “I just want Albany to be better. I was born and raised here; it’s a good town. I don’t want to be anywhere else. My parents were here. It’s my hometown, and I love it. There are good things here—a good community and lots of people who help here.” The Cookie Shoppe is a true testament to the kinship and tenacity of Albany living, and Mona,

Magid, and their dedicated employees work hard to keep the integrity of our city thriving from a little downtown eatery. The compassion spread from their service is felt throughout businesses and individuals alike in a tight-knit community that celebrates in times of wealth and struggles together to recover in times of need. We could all take a little piece of advice from Mrs. Mona as she smiles and says to me, “Work hard and do the right thing. Be happy. Life is too short.”  ALM

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KNI Knights Apparel and Gifts

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If you are looking for a club to call home, you’ve found it at Doublegate.

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ocated in Albany, GA, Doublegate offers an 18-hole championship course designed by George Cobb, Shirley Cooper, and Jack Rowe. The club was originally owned and developed by Angus Alberson, Charles Oxford, and O.D. Carlton, II.

Please call (229) 436 -8151 Doublegate Country Club for more menu suggestions

Doublegate Country Club provides elegant seating for your next 10 person business meeting or 225 person banquet. With a great atmosphere and caring staff, we will learn your every need and take care of it all for you. Your event will be memorable for all present.

“The Plantation Room” Albany’s finest dining experience by Chef Jabbaar Newton

We offer Military Discounts

3800 Old Dawson Rd | Albany, Georgia | (229) 436-6501 126

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1115 W. 3rd Ave | Albany, GA 31707 | (800) 833-4379 | (229) 436-2408 | flemingins.com

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Hutchins Clenney Rumsey Huckaby, P.C. Certified Public Accountants and Advisors 406 North Westover Boulevard in Albany | 229.435.4611 | www.hcrhcpa.com

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Albany native Jack Ledbetter had a driving passion that drew this award winning photographer to the Maine coast sharing the best of both worlds. Story by Kate DeLoach Photos by Chuck Olm and Provided by Jack Ledbetter Albany native Jack Ledbetter has called Maine home for more than 30 years, although he maintains a residence in Albany as well. His photography studio and primary residence are set up in Northeast Harbor, Maine. Jack may have heralded from the Good Life City, but the 56-year-old looks every bit the part of a Down Easter – wind-swept curls and a saltand-pepper beard frame a face that looks suited to the cold air and sea-splashed shoreline he often depicts in his photography. It was that very passion – photography – that drew him to the Maine coast in the early 1980s. Back up a few years to Jack’s childhood, and there the seed for his lifelong hobby-turnedvocation was planted. His mother, Jane (Haley) Ledbetter, was interested in photography and several other relatives were experimenting with it as well. When Jack was in the sixth grade, his parents bought him a camera and taught him how to work in a darkroom. He was attending a preparatory school in Aiken, SC, at the time, but returned to Albany for his junior and senior years. “I was always a little bit homesick [at prep school] and so I came back to Albany after the eighth grade,” Jack says. And working summers

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at the Coca Cola bottling plant in Albany, where his father, Jack Ledbetter Sr., worked, allowed him “to see Albany.” He fondly recalls going on delivery routes and into the bottling room, filling in as summer help. “I saw Albany at its best.” Jack graduated from Riverview Academy and went on to Albany Junior College long enough “to learn the three Rs of education.” By this point he was unequivocally focused: he would go on to photography school. He moved to New York City where he attended the International Center for Photography. “I cobbled together another two years at the Parsons School of Design and the New School,” he says. He would jockey between the schools, taking classes from his favorite instructors. “When I was studying photography I was looking for an artistic angle. Most schools taught the mechanical aspects, but I wanted to learn the aesthetic aspects also,” Jack says. “I would search out the teachers whose work I liked.” His mentors, of a prior era, include Paul Strand, Walker Evans, Alfred Stieglitz and Edward Steichen.

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Jack’s work consists mostly of landscapes and portraits. While in NYC in the early ’80s, he focused on urban landscapes and portraits with a bent toward fashion. As he looked for a place to settle that would offer long-term photographic opportunities – ultimately, Maine – his interests morphed into coastal landscapes and more conventional portraiture. His landscapes often reveal a majestic quality in nature, whether of a serene coastline, tumultuous surf or craggy cliff side; and he has a penchant for capturing the unique and alluring qualities of humble, historic structures, set against a natural backdrop. He has a keen appreciation for architectural details and likes to focus in on individual elements such as a steeple, old window casing, or doorframe. Some of Jack’s favorite sites to photograph are on Mount Desert Island and within Acadia National Park. He is an expert in the use of light and showcasing panoramic vistas. “Only about 5 percent of photographers still have an appreciation

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for large-format cameras. It gives us a way to represent our thoughts using real film,” explains Jack. “I later scan the film and make prints.” He considers these prints his “better work”; however, he also uses the more popular digital format. “I will use a digital point-and-shoot camera the way an artist would use a sketchbook,” says Jack. When he shoots images worthy of more effort, he returns with the large-format camera. He recently used a digital camera to snap some images while canoeing on the Kinchafoonee Creek in Leesburg.

With the large-format camera Jack produces archival pigment prints, which are produced on a high quality inkjet printer. This process, he explains, allows him a lot of control that was unavailable in the past. The archival prints do not fade, discolor or deteriorate, for long periods of time even under display conditions. These prints exhibit image clarity, color purity and reproductive accuracy to the original. When working in portraits, Jack often chooses to use soft-focus lenses. These are lenses made in the 1920s, he explains, and were popular for about 30

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Jack’s work has been showcased in numerous exhibits, both group and solo, in Maine and Georgia. In 1989, he published a coffee-table book, Maine: The Coast and Islands (New York: Rizzoli). His work has been featured in Down East magazine and several public collections.

years. He found them fascinating and did a lot of research to learn how to use them. For these portraits, he prefers black-and-white presentation. Jack’s work has been showcased in numerous exhibits, both group and solo, in Maine and Georgia. In 1989, he published a coffee-table book, Maine: The Coast and Islands (New York: Rizzoli). His work has been featured in Down East magazine and several public collections. But accolades don’t interest him. Jack is happiest in the darkroom, watching a day’s work come to life in print. His studio stays abuzz during the New England summer season; off season, he works on commissions from clients (many are regular customers), and comes back to Albany to reacquaint with friends and relatives. While Jack’s parents are deceased, he has a sister living in Florida and two step-siblings. Jack has never been married, but considers himself fortunate to have enjoyed two long-term love affairs in his life. His most recent – his “soulmate” of 17 years – passed away. “I may never find another woman who loves both Maine and South Georgia equally,” he says. We’re guessing this handsome Southern gentleman may be wrong.  ALM For more information or to view more of Jack’s work, visit www. jackledbetterphotography.com.

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loving

It is a Tuesday morning, a little after 10 AM, on 841 West Broad Avenue in Albany, Georgia. Cars whiz by as a long line of people forms outside of a nondescript building with NATIVITY posted across the awning in large, red letters. Residents have gathered here at Cutliff Grove Family Resource Center to pick up needed items: clothing, water, some non-perishable food items, products for personal hygiene, toys for children, housewares, and more.

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people Making her way through the crowded tables is a strong-voiced, African American woman who is always operating at a pace most of us canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t match in a work day. One would never guess that this pig-tail wearing little lady, Reverend Dr. Juanita Nixon, is 72 years old and standing at the head of this well-oiled machine. With a heart for humanity and hands crafted for service, Mrs. Juanita is constantly on the move on these mornings, making sure (to the best of her

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heart for humanity and hands crafted for service ability) that the people here have a place to turn when they find themselves in need. Several people in our city refer to her as the “Mother Teresa of Albany” because of her inexhaustible selflessness and, if you’re quick enough to catch her for a conversation, you’ll understand why. Dr. Nixon was born Juanita Cobb in Jacksonville, Alabama, the youngest of four girls; a younger brother came after her. Her father left the large family when

With a heart for humanity and hands crafted for service, Mrs. Juanita is constantly on the move on these mornings, making sure (to the best of her ability) that the people here have a place to turn when they find themselves in need. Several people in our city refer to her as the “Mother Teresa of Albany” because of her inexhaustible selflessness and, if you’re quick enough to catch her for a conversation, you’ll understand why.

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she was young, leaving her mother to raise the children on her own. His absence left Juanita bereft of words. Being the baby girl, she was a daddy’s girl, and his departure left her not wanting to communicate, which she attributes to her shyness in her early years. Having a strong mother, however, was crucial in her blossoming into the tenacious woman she is today. She says, “I was born with this integrity. My mother taught me through a saying, ‘You’ll understand it better by and by.’ I would try things she told me not to do just to see what would happen for me. I grew through parental guidance of a single mother, who worked day and night (two or three jobs), but we, as her children, never knew a cold breakfast. We never had cereal; we had hot food every meal. It may not have been a choice meal, but it was hot, and she was very qualified for creating a life and opportunities for us. My mother did an excellent job from birth instilling into me love. We didn’t have fights in our home. She was stern enough that if she said ‘don’t,’ you just didn’t. With six kids in the house, there was no fighting still. My whole family has been givers. We don’t ask for anything in return. We are closer now than we ever have been. How does this closeness happen? It’s not something a single parent can do. It was my mother keeping Jesus before everyone and everything. All of her actions showed Jesus Christ in them. She had a sixth grade education—there were probably things she couldn’t read in the Bible; however, her relationship with God allowed her to live His word. Many times during her sickness and even on her death bed, she told us to ‘stick together. If you stick together, nothing can come against you.’ We had no idea what she was talking about, but as we became older, we realized that she meant to pray together. So now, we pray. The Holy Spirit is what keeps us together.” Pushing her way through segregation when the battle for Civil Rights was rampant and sometimes dangerous, Mrs. Juanita graduated second in her class from Eastwood High School in Jacksonville, Alabama in 1963. “Our curriculum came from the white schools,”

she says. “We got what was left over—torn up books and pages ripped out. There were certain sides of town you didn’t go on as a black person. When you went to the dentist, you went to the back door, and he didn’t seem to have any sort of humility about sticking a needle in your mouth. I started working as a babysitter for a white girl when I was seven years old. It taught me humility and work ethic. It taught me to love people even when they use and abuse you. It taught me to be able to overcome, and to try to reach out to Hometown Living At Its Best

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the people who are less fortunate. God has blessed me with a lot of inner knowledge that I never knew I possessed. I didn’t know that I had great potential to elevate from what society addressed in those days as second-rate.” Despite her shortcoming of her own potential at a young age, she was proactive in finding her gifts of life and God given abilities. The Reverend Dr. Nixon acquired her furthest

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“You have to live with a clean heart. I look for the good in everything and everybody. When we talk about the storms, which may cause darkness into our lives, we can all come together at shelters, food centers, or wherever, but when the sun is shining, we can’t even give each other a kind word. She closes with a reminder that her accomplishments have not made her who she is today—it has been by the Grace of God who found favor in her life.

She shows her friends and the people she helps who she is through an endless love.

degree, a Doctor of Philosophy in Religion (Christian Education), in May of 2016 at 72 years young. Before this, she acquired her Bachelors of Art in Religion and Masters of Ministry in Pastoral Leadership. She became the Director of Cutliff Grove Family Resource Center in 2008 and was licensed in the Ministry of the Gospel in December 2011. To serve one of Cutliff Grove’s outreach, she is also the Director of Gifts in Kind (GIK), which means she is in charge of products received from a company called World Vision International. These products attribute much to this outreach success, for without them her current endeavors in serving the community would be much more difficult. But those are

labels, and those are the things she does. She doesn’t ask for, nor need recognition; it’s what she’s supposed to do. It’s why God put her here. The people who know her call her Mrs. Juanita. You never hear a person call her Doctor because that is just a title. She shows her friends and the people she helps who she is through an endless love. Mrs. Juanita didn’t slide into these titles and accolades with any sort of ease, as most usually don’t. Matters of the heart brought her to her beginning, and through her innate, dogged work ethic, the rest followed. She married her best friend 53 years ago, Paul Nixon, Sr. He has been her confidant and partner

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through all of these endeavors, allowing her to thrive as she desired. She says, “My husband was military and retired from the Marine Corps in 1986. He is a 100% disabled veteran. We have been all over the United States and have two children. The secret to being married so long is remaining friends. There is no percentage balance and it’s not about who’s right or wrong; it’s just whatever it takes to make it work in the name of the Lord. I am free to realize who I am, along with the title of wife and mother. I am Mrs. Paul Nixon Sr., but I am also Juanita. I have been able to live out who I am and to respect who he has made me become.” One of those people she became was an Interior Decorator, which is where she made her start in Albany. Mrs. Juanita’s little brother was murdered at the beginning of this career, so she wrapped herself into this work as a coping mechanism. She credits her husband for supporting her efforts through this time. “I basically worked myself up within Home Interiors and Gifts. I did displays and I went into homes and taught accessorizing. In 1981, I was the first black to ever be invited into a white home in Albany, Georgia to do an Interior Design Show. From there, I excelled in all areas of the company. In 1988, I was Miss Home Interiors of America, and after that, I was promoted to Branch Director which gave me the opportunity to train, teach, motivate and grow the South Georgia Region with over 2000 people. This position allowed me to travel abroad teaching and presenting motivational speeches for other decorators. It also allowed me to focus on putting together and building our home while my husband finished his career in the Marine Corps, having served in Vietnam three times and being one of the first troops to hit the beach of Chula in 1964. This change of events has attributed to who I am and who I have blossomed into today.” We see people on a daily basis without knowing their stories…where they came from or what makes them tick. Why do some give and some take? Mrs. Juanita is one of those people who makes you want to know how she can give ceaselessly to others even though she is sometimes taken for granted. Her response to that question? “I’m only responsible for what I do. I was left here with a purpose to bless and serve others, to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. Once I have achieved and continued the process of what I’m put here to do, it’s left up to the

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individual who receives the benefits to keep working to better his/her life and give himself/herself a safe and decent environment. Everyone who comes through that door has a need. The needs are typically divided: one has lived in poverty all of his life, and then there are those with no hope. It is hard to reach people when hope has been drained. There is sometimes a mentality that ‘I can’t do any better.’ The second is a group who has managed to pull themselves up by their boot-straps, but the tornadoes [in January 2017] knocked them off their feet. We are all God’s children and we have a responsibility to be accountable for others’ actions. I’m not in a position to judge anything or anyone. We are all wonderfully made by God. I have certain qualities that you don’t have, and you have certain qualities I do not have, but together, we can create greatness.” She follows with a verse, Matthew 18:20: “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” All of her points are proven through the Word, which she turns to relentlessly. Listening to her is like listening to a woman who is directly in touch with God. She is a vessel for teaching God’s children not only through her words, but through her actions. When asked what she would tell Albany if she could, she cites 2 Chronicles 7:14: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” Continuing she says, “You have to live with a clean heart. I look for the good in everything and everybody. When we talk about the storms, which may cause darkness into our lives, we can all come together at shelters, food centers, or wherever, but when the sun is shining, we can’t even give each other a kind word. She closes with a reminder that her accomplishments have not made her who she is today—it has been by the Grace of God who found favor in her life. She lives by realizing, “Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care.” Dr. Nixon believes and lives these words…when we all (the citizens of Albany) begin to as well, our town can become a better place to meet the needs of mankind.  ALM

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customer care and

Selfless Service Story by Elizabeth Sheffield

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Photos by Eric S. Love

Though he calls himself â&#x20AC;&#x153;a very selfish person,â&#x20AC;? Warren Nichols, owner of Complete Auto Solutions in Albany, Georgia, is anything but when it comes to his business and his customers. A 21-year veteran of the automotive industry, Nichols did not start with the idea of opening a business; actually, he did not start in the automotive industry at all.

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Nichols began working in lawn and garden chemicals, but after several years and blood tests coming back with high levels of chemical toxins, Nichols decided, “it was time to get out.” “A friend of mine told me I should become a diesel mechanic, so I went to work for Mack trucks. They immediately took me from the just turning wrenches side of things to having me work on a new-at-the-time system called V-Mack, which is the electronic side of the business,” says Nichols. After a while of working on the larger trucks for Mack, Nichols decided he wanted to work on smaller vehicles, leading him to begin work for Dodge Chrysler in Cummings, Georgia.

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“A friend said, ‘it’s just like working on the big trucks.’ But it was nothing like the big trucks,” says Nichols with a laugh. After spending 6 months out of every year in training, Nichols became “extremely proficient” at the electrical side of working on Dodge and Chrysler vehicles. However, after working in several locations and getting comfortable with his line of work, Nichols no longer had to focus on the exact task he was doing, allowing him to notice what other people were doing and the customers flowing through the shop. “I started seeing a lot of customers not getting the service they wanted,” he says. “That’s when I decided to open my own shop so that I could give the customers the service they deserved.” He knew that dealerships ended up with bad reputations very quickly, so he took it upon himself to offer the same services as the dealership, but with the better reputation built through communicating with the customers

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in ways where they knew what was happening with their cars at prices they knew they were not being gouged with. In 2011, Nichols refinanced his wife’s diesel truck and built a shop on the back half of his 12 acres on the edge of Dougherty County. When it was complete, Nichols told Dodge Chrysler that he was done and set off on his new adventure with nothing but a helper, his wife’s support, and promised business from State Farm Insurance. “I started off by myself with a helper and three bays,” says Nichols, who did everything at first by himself, including

the books, the wrench turning, and the electrical work. As the buy-here, payhere lots began to realize the services he provided and his ability to do diagnostic work, they started to ask him to do more work. He hired another helper, but they were all still working all day, seven days a week in order to finish as many cars as possible. Again, the service to customers began going down as the cars coming in went up. Nichols began hiring more people. “It just started dominoing from there until I had four technicians at the shop at my house, and I had built on to it

twice. It just wasn’t getting the job done anymore,” he says. This led him to looking at opening a professional shop in town. “I didn’t want a shop that looks like your average, independent automotive repair shop,” Nichols says of the recently opened shop off of Hwy 19. “When you walk in the new shop, it’s built like going into a new car dealership. It’s set up the exact same way.” Nichols’ passion has not always been in cars; his first passion was fishing and marine life, a hobby he started with his Hometown Living At Its Best

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dad as just a boy and that he has continued any chance he gets. “Outside of the business, all I do is fish,” he says, with his techs backing up this claim, noting how at any given moment in the shop Nichols can be found reeling in a pretend fish. Born and raised in Victoria, Texas, Nichols recalls his dad taking him crabbing and fishing. Nichols’ father was always busy with working, going to school, and trying to help police officers be trained to their best ability, but he always took time for his family, taking Nichols fishing on “little junk boats that were

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always broken” and having a good time being “pulled in more times than we can count, but it was fun with Dad.” While working for Dodge Chrysler, Nichols began training coonhounds professionally, which is what initially brought him to the Albany area, while also working for Dodge, who allowed him to switch to working at their Albany location. “The plantations, back in 2000, were putting out poison eggs to kill predators. I was doing eradication back in Texas, and thirteen plantations

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got together and hired me and moved me here.” Every day after working for Dodge Chrysler, Nichols would go to the plantations and train the coonhounds, hunting them in the process. “I did that until we pretty much eradicated the predators from the plantations. Then I got back into the mechanic side of things,” he says. This return to the automotive industry let him focus more on what customers were saying and wanting, but not receiving. He also realized that the business was not just working and communicating well with customers, but that the people working around him deserved the same. “The hardest part of trying to run a business that is customer service oriented and also looks at the behind the scenes people is having to bite my tongue to keep customers happy all the time, no matter what it is, whether it is my fault or not,” he says, noting that without customers or employees it is hard to run a business. “When it was just me, I could pick and choose what I wanted to do and who I wanted to work with. Now, it’s not just my future involved anymore.” In order to provide the best for customers, Nichols has made it a priority to hire the best talent he can find, growing the business reputation and guaranteeing jobs for those working for him. “I really have no other obstacles other than doing what it takes to make sure everyone who works for me has and keeps a job,” he says, showing the selflessness he claims he does not embody.  ALM

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Index of Advertisers Adams Exterminators ……..............................................…………. 98 Agrium .........................................................…………….........…. 131 Albany Air Conditioning & Heating ……….....................…………. 156 Albany General Tire ………...............................................………. 142 Albany Internal Medicine ………..........................…….........…. 44-45 Albany Living Magazine …………......................................………. 172 Albany Living Magazine Subscription ……................…….......…. 110 Albany Mall ……...............................................….........…………. 158 Albany Symphony Orchestra …..........................……….........……. 95 Albany Technical College ………...................................…………. 156 Albany Urology Clinic ….................................................……………. 5 Alfa Insurance - Mike Trull Agency ….............………….........……. 175 Allen’s Jewelers …………….....................................................…. 127 Allergy & Asthma Clinics of Georgia, P.C. ….........…. 58, Back Cover Art Sign Company, Inc. ……..........................................…………. 117 ASP …………....................................................................………. 157 Austin’s Firegrill ……......................................................…………. 60 Backwoods Outdoors …………........................................……. 12-13 Berg Eye Group ………..................................................………. 46-47 Bison Valley Lodge ………................................................………. 131 BJ’s Buffet & Drive Thru …................................……........………. 126 Bliss Nails Spa ……...................................................……………. 175 Cleanstart Professional Cleaning ……………......................……. 145 Colony Bank …...................................................……….........……. 75 Concrete Enterprises, LLC ….............................…….........………. 2-3 Custom Interiors .......................................................………………. 1 D & D Kitchen Center ……….........................................………. 14-15 David Parks Photography ………........................................………. 92 DJ’s II Car Wash & Quick Lube ……...................……….........……. 173 Doublegate Country Club ….....................................……………. 126 Dougherty Glass Company ……........................…….........………. 174 Dunn’s Business Services …….........................…………….......... 173 Duren Paint & Body Shop …….....................................…………. 128 Elegance Nails …………...................................................………. 174 Elements Coffee Company ……........................……........………. 157 Farmers Insurance - Mercedes Aldridge …………….........……..... 174 Fast Copy Blueprint ................................................................... 170 Finnicum Motor Company …………….....................................…. 113 First State Bank of Albany …………............………. Inside Front Cover Fleming & Riles Insurance …......................................……………. 61 Flint Community Bank ………….......................................……. 10-11 Flint Equipment Company …..............................…….........………. 62 Harvey Well Drilling …............................................……………. 30-31 Healing Hands Massage …....................................………………. 175 Hickory Grove Storage ………..........................................………. 140 Hinman Pool Supply....................................................................154 Hope City United ……...................................................…………. 112 Hutchins, Clenney, Rumsey, Huckaby, P.C. ……….........……….... 130 Ivey’s ………………..................................................................…. 145 Journey Counseling.....................................................................155 Kay Fuller Interiors.......................................................................155 Kimbrell-Stern Funeral Directors …...............….........……………. 175 Knight’s Apparel ………......................................................………. 27 Knight’s Appliance & Mattress ………..................………….......... 171

Lancaster Village …………………........................................ 153-155 Livi & Company …….....................................................…………. 143 LMC Ag …………..............................................................………. 159 Logic4Design …........................................................……………. 114 Longleaf Dental ……....................................................…………. 129 LRA Constructors, Inc. …….................................……….........…. 129 Medical Associates of Albany …………............................………. 169 Mellow Mushroom ……………..................................................…. 65 Millie Mac Photography ……….................................….........……. 96 Modern Gas ………............................................................………. 76 Newman’s Bar & Grill ….............................................……………. 60 Oakland Plantation ………….................................................……. 41 Oxford Construction ………................................................………. 78 Paul Anderson Youth Home ……………...............................……. 172 Pellicano Construction …………..........................................……. 141 Phoebe ……...................................................................…………. 77 Plantation Colission Center ………...............................…………. 171 Prince Automotive Group of Albany ……….............................…. 144 Pro 1 Collision …......................................................……………. 128 Pro Outdoor Landscape Management …………....................……. 59 Ralph Jackson - Hearing Aid Services, Inc. …………............……. 143 Rehabilitation Center of South Georgia …………........……......... 111 Renasant Bank ………….....................................................……. 130 Rental Depot ……........................................................…………. 128 Royal Collection, Inc...................................................................153 Rylander Theatre ….....................................................……………. 93 SafeAire Heating & Cooling ……....................................…………. 64 Shae Foy Photography ……..........................................…………. 116 SL Sausage Company ………...........................................………. 141 Smallcakes ……...............................................……….........……. 170 South Georgia Brick Company, Inc. …………........................……. 80 Southern Pines Senior Living ……....................………….......... 42-43 Southern Point Staffing .......……........……………. Inside Back Cover Southland Children’s Dentistry ……….........…................……. 32-33 Southwest Georgia Farm Credit ……………............................…. 127 Southwest Georgia Periodontics ……..............….........………. 28-29 Southwest Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, LLC ……............…………. 7 Spectacular Vision …………............................................………. 159 Speed Shop & Truck Accessories ………….......................………. 170 Stewbos ……..................................................................…………. 94 Sunbelt Ford Lincoln …………...............................................……. 97 The Flower Basket …………….................................................…. 140 The Staffing People …...................................................……………. 9 Three’s Company Too ………..............................................………. 79 Tuff Truckin …………........................................................………. 158 U Save It Pharmacy ………............................................…………. 169 Westover Animal Hospital …………….................................……. 144 Wild Flour Café …….....................................................…………. 142 Wild Side Running .....................................................................154 Wil-Power Massage Therapy …………..............................………. 174 Wingate by Wyndham ……….............................................………. 99 Women’s Health Professionals ………...............................………. 81 World Camp Crossfit ………….............................................……. 115 Wynfield Plantation ……………….............................................…. 63

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