AMY SHIPPY’S SUCCESS IN GROWING HER COMPANY, BLUE POPPY DESIGNS, THROUGH A PANDEMIC.
The historic Tybee Post Theater is lovingly restored TIME TO SAY I DO
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IIt’s no secret that the COVID pandemic has shifted the economic and educational landscape in our community. Working from home has become the new norm for many, and homeschooling has increased dramatically not only in Georgia, but across the nation as well. Parents have become more open to considering new solutions for meeting the academic, emotional and spiritual needs of their children.
To that end, Veritas Academy offers an option for families who might want help with homeschooling, but who also want the flexibility to spend their afternoons in ways that best suit their family’s needs. Veritas has been partnering with parents since 1998 to offer a Christian, Classical education, and the school is unique in that it offers a condensed day program for kids Pre-K through 12th grade. “We teach our subjects in such a way that our students gain wisdom about the world in which we live…and they also grow in virtue,” says Veritas Headmaster Scott Taylor. Mr. Taylor stands at the door each morning, shaking students’ hands, one by
Veritas Academy offers an option for families who might want help with homeschooling, but who also want the flexibility to spend their afternoons in ways that best suit their family’s needs.
one, welcoming them to school. “We teach our students how to look an adult in the eye; we’re very serious about academics, and we also want to train them to show kindness and respect to others.”
With a 12:1 student-teacher ratio, and 36 staff and faculty members who are committed to rigorous academics and Christian values, Veritas aims to educate children by cultivating truth, goodness and beauty in every student. Andrea Jarrett, Director of Enrollment and Marketing, was drawn to the school for these reasons. “The Christian aspect is truly the center of what we do,” says Andrea. “Every subject, every discussion, the approach to teaching, it is all taught from the perspective of a biblical worldview of which Christ is the center of all truth and all knowledge comes from Him.” Andrea and her husband, Patrick, have two children who attend Veritas.
Many parents also appreciate the family-focused environment of the school. Tyler and Heather Moore
have two children enrolled, Lydia (7) and Elliot (4).
“My husband and I wanted to be involved in our kids’ education in a really meaningful way,” says Heather.
“The school and the parents partner together for the education, and I love that.” Likewise, Erin and Stan Pennington, whose children are in their fifth year at Veritas, appreciate the structure, compassionate care and critical thinking skills their kids receive. “Veritas teaches my children how to think and not what to think,” says Erin.
Veritas sets high expectations for their students; those who attend through high school graduate well above the national average. Veritas offers an optional extended day program for children who want to take advantage of extracurricular activities. Some of the afternoon offerings include art, music, drama and a plethora of sports such as archery, golf, flag football and cross country.
If you are searching for an educational environment where the focus is not only what your children will learn, but who they will become, call Veritas Academy at 912-238-1222 or visit them online at www.veritassav.org.
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this last weekend was my wife’s, Patti’s, birthday. t has been a family tradition to gather at the dinner table for a simple meal. During the meal everyone shares anything funny or special that may have taken place in the last few months. Many times someone will share a special meeting or encounter that took place. in some instances it is referred to as a “God thing”.
We also have a tradition of telling the person who is celebrating their birthday one special character trait or a tribute that we appreciate about them. As each person at the table shared a special characteristic they had seen exemplified by Patti, a pattern began to develop. some of the qualities that were brought up were: her heart for others, her gift of making people feel special, and being an encourager to others.
When each child had shared their solution to a situation they had encountered earlier in the meal, it was very similar to the special characteristics that someone had pointed out about Patti.
Tenacity and flexibility are not qualities commonly found side by side in an individual, but they may be the keystones of Amy Shippy’s success in growing her company, Blue Poppy Designs, through a pandemic.
AAmy Shippy, 49, grew up in Hilton Head, SC, inheriting her entrepreneurial spirit from two generations of business owners before her. Amy’s journey towards becoming a Savannahnian began in 1993, when she entered SCAD to study graphic design. At age 21, she started her first business in computer training and, in the years since, has a string of successful companies to her credit, including a partnership in the Savannah-based Marche de Macaron. The latest solo venture of Amy’s is Blue Poppy Designs, sparked by her passion for the Lowcountry and her love of color. “The idea was to take my product blanks - kitchen towels, bags, Yeti cups, etc. - and my art to trade shows and have customers choose the product and art they wanted,” Amy explains. “I would print and personalize it, and they could come back after a few minutes and pick it up.”
By Rebekah McLeod | Photos by Dream Weaver Photos
Amy’s first attempt in October of 2018 to sell her one-off designs at a trade show in Jacksonville, FL, failed, but it did not dim her resolve. “I realized that people could not make that many decisions on the spot. Most purchases at trade shows are impulse buys, and I needed to have products already printed that people could quickly buy as gifts.”
Blue Poppy’s first product to gain traction was a kitchen towel with a coastal design of an oyster-stacked Christmas tree. After selling hundreds of them at a handful of trade shows, Amy added four more coastal designs to her towels. By the end of 2019, she had participated in almost 30 festivals and trade shows with product sales in the thousands.
In early 2020, Amy signed a one-year lease for a new studio space, where she had plans to expand her production line, as well as host classes for local makers and meetings for women entrepreneurs. She also pushed Blue Poppy beyond direct sales and pursued the wholesale market, while still participating in the 12 largest trade shows in the Lowcountry.
On March 1st, Amy uploaded the necessary forms to list Blue Poppy’s products on Faire, an online wholesale platform.
Amy is passionate about empowering women to take their businesses from concept to market. In addition to mentoring and coaching, she hosts a weekly podcast, Lady Bizwiz, and she plans to release her first book by the end of 2021. One of Amy’s messages for business owners is that failure is not final. “I don’t spend a whole lot of time crying over things that don’t work because I know what will work is right around the corner. I just have to analyze honestly what isn’t working and come at it from a different angle.”
Less than three weeks later, the COVID lockdowns began in Georgia. “I had already paid for my booths at all of the trade shows for the year, and now 10 of them were canceled...I was feeling petrified because I had lost my last business after the 2008 recession and I knew what that felt like, and this was even bigger…this thing was coming almost like a tsunami,” recalls Amy. She arrived home in late March of 2020, her mind racing, and she sat down at the table with her husband, Rob, unloading her fears. He looked at her with his steady gaze and said, “Amy, I don’t know what’s going to happen, but if anyone can reinvent from nothing, you can.”
In 14 short months, Blue Poppy went from being sold in one shop to nearly 400 and can now be found in 49 states, as well as Canada and England. After noticing gift shops adding edibles to their offerings, Amy seized the opportunity to replicate Blue Poppy’s success.
Each month during the lockdowns, Amy would search for opportunities for Blue Poppy to participate in local Farmers Markets (which were open under the essential businesses portion of the COVID mandate), and each month she was somehow able to make her rent payment for the new studio. “My whole existence is looking for opportunities, and I do think we tend to find what we’re looking for...but I also believe in Divine Providence, because the opportunities in my life are far beyond mere coincidence.”
By the next morning, Amy began formulating a plan that included investing more heavily in her macaron shop, while setting aside Blue Poppy. Amy and her business partner, Laura Hale, dug in and went back to baking together like they did in the early days of the business. With bad news swirling on COVID and the economy, Amy focused all of her efforts on maintaining sales with the macaron shop, which was fortunately a takeout-type business and didn’t require much of a shift in operations. Amy’s two college-aged sons were living back at home and her youngest son was transitioning to online learning. “Every day of the pandemic,” recalled Amy, “I approached it with ‘today is today and I can do the best I can do today.’”
Strangely enough, on April 3rd, after Amy had forgotten about the uploaded spreadsheet with Faire, she received her first order for Blue Poppy from a store in Maryland. “I remember running to my husband and saying, ‘Honey! Look at this! I had forgotten all about it and we got an order! We got an order!” A week later, another order came in. Orders began steadily trickling in and by August, Blue Poppy had been picked up by 50 stores through Faire.
Each month during the lockdowns, Amy would search for opportunities for Blue Poppy to participate in local Farmers
Markets (which were open under the essential businesses portion of the COVID mandate), and each month she was somehow able to make her rent payment for the new studio. “My whole existence is looking for opportunities, and I do think we tend to find what we’re looking for... but I also believe in Divine Providence, because the opportunities in my life are far beyond mere coincidence.”
In 14 short months, Blue Poppy went from being sold in one shop to nearly 400 and can now be found in 49 states, as well as Canada and England. After noticing gift shops adding edibles to their offerings, Amy seized the opportunity to replicate Blue Poppy’s success. She opened a new company, Lottiebelle’s Candied Pecans, in March. Lottiebelle’s is already in over 30 shops, and expected to grow rapidly with
the September release of new spice and dip blends, a collaboration with James Beard nominated chef, Jon Buck, who also happens to be Amy’s brother.
Amy is passionate about empowering women to take their businesses from concept to market. In addition to mentoring and coaching, she hosts a weekly podcast, Lady Bizwiz, and she plans to release her first book by the end of 2021. One of Amy’s messages for business owners is that failure is not final. “I don’t spend a whole lot of time crying over things that don’t work because I know what will work is right around the corner. I just have to analyze honestly what isn’t working and come at it from a different angle.”
In other words, tenacity and flexibility will yield success every time. CCL
Therapeutic massage is offered to Hospice Savannah patients to address clinical issues as identified on the patient’s Plan of Care, such as expression of feeling, pain, coping strategies, insomnia, anxiety, and depression.
Massge can be done either in the patient’s home or in our inpatient facility. Our massage therapist is specially trained in palliative tech niques to meet the comfort needs of Hospice Savannah patients.
Our board certified music therapist uses music-based techniques and interventions to address clinical issues of our patients. Each session is individualized to meet the needs of the patient and family.
Music therapy can facilitate relaxation, reduction of symptoms (i.e. pain, anxiety, and shortness of breath), improve mood and allow for self-expression. Music volunteers of ten assist when the intervention is not clinical in focus.
Story Keeping is a unique allied therapy that provides an opportunity for patients of Hospice Savannah to engage in the healthy processes of reflection and life review at end of life.
The Story Keeper visits patients in their homes and uses audio recording equipment to record the patient’s life story using inter view prompts as appropriate and involving family members if desired.
Located just one block from the beach on Tybee Island lies a true community treasure – the historic Tybee Post Theater – lovingly restored and brought back from the wrack and ruin in which it lay for over 30 years.
Constructed in 1930 on Fort Screven, a military base active from the SpanishAmerican War through the end of World War II, the theater was one of the first
On Tybee Island lies a true community treasure – the historic Tybee Post Theater
When Jim Kluttz was Board President, his goal was for patrons to say, “I came to the Post Theater and I had a good time. It was at a fair price and I want to go again.” Those sentiments are echoed by Evan. “These walls are almost 100 years old. There is a spirit and an ‘energy’ when you walk into this space. People have experienced art, culture, and movies in this very intimate setting that is unlike anything else in Chatham County. Connections are created and crafted. You bring friends, you can enjoy a beverage, and you can sit outside. It feels like home. It feels like you are seeing an old friend.”
in Georgia equipped to show feature-length “talkies.”
It attracted such famous patrons as Base Commander General George C. Marshall, future President Dwight Eisenhower, and Savannah’s own Johnny Mercer. The Army decommissioned the Fort in 1947, selling it to the City of Savannah Beach (now Tybee Island) and auctioning off many of its structures. The family that owned Savannah’s beloved Lucas Theater bought the movie house, named it the Beach Theater, and screened films until its closing in the 1960s.
For the next three decades the property declined, and a devastating fire destroyed much of the roof and the wooden stage.
In 1999 developer Phil O’Dell unsuccessfully tried to save the theater but ultimately
applied for a demolition permit to recoup his investment and build condominiums. The landmark, so cherished by many generations of beach goers, escaped that fate when the City of Tybee obtained a temporary lease and, together with the Tybee Island Historical Society, purchased the building. Soon, a group of concerned Tybee citizens formed the nonprofit Friends of Tybee Theater dedicated to its restoration and reopening. The Friends bought the building in 2006 and began the long process of renovation. Walls were refurbished and a new roof installed, followed by new electrical systems, doors, and windows. But there were so many naysayers and fundraising was a slow and arduous process. Fortunately for all, the theater’s Fort Screven neighbors, Jim and Dottie Kluttz, became involved in 2010.
Jim left the Presidency of the Tybee Island Historical Society to lead the Friends of Tybee Theater board. He, and the Historical Society’s Executive Director Cullen
Chambers, devised a plan to embark on aggressive fundraising. Jim’s wife, Dottie, recalls, “Jim would approach donors and say, ‘We’re going to have a theater on Tybee’ and they would say, ‘but there’s no parking.’
Or ‘It’s too far from town.’ Then Jim would say, ‘We’re going to have a theater on Tybee and it’s going to be successful.’ That was his mantra to the Board every time they met – ‘We’re going to have a theater on Tybee and it’s going to be successful.’”
Tybee realtor Cindy Meyer came up with the idea of an annual wine festival and accompanying restaurant dinners. Also, there were New Year’s Day Polar Bear Plunges, a beer festival, and an island-wide yard sale. The project still had its naysayers, but slowly bigger donations appeared from the Courtney Gaines Foundation, Georgia Power, and others. And while fundraising was happening, wonderful gifts came in… Ann Acker located a special piano - a marvelous 1879
When not engaged with his multi-faceted role at the theater, Evan and partner, Justin, are building a house together. He sings in the First Baptist Church choir in downtown Savannah where Justin is Minister of Music and he enjoys kayaking. “But my entire life, including my kayak, is in storage right now!” Evan tells me with a laugh. “Just being close to the water is wonderful. I can walk to the beach for lunch. I love Tybee.”
rosewood Steinway that she relocated, meticulously restored, tuned, and repaired. The City of Tybee came up with a loan for a state-of-the-art sound system (subsequently forgiven) and Stratton Leopold found Savannah’s Trustee Theater’s discarded seats in the lane behind his ice cream shop, which the Post then went on to buy, recover and install. Dottie relates, “Most of the money that was raised came from the people of Tybee. They provided labor for all the festivals, came to the festivals, and donated in-kind items and services. Tybee can take ownership of the theater because they did it!”
Dottie credits Ralph Kuhn of Kuhn Construction as the hero who helped push the project over the finish line. The Theater paid for materials and labor, and Ralph forwent his contractor fees to oversee the work. The community “gem”…fully restored and upgraded with ADA-compliant restrooms, a small concession area, front foyer, and its recreated historic marquee and box office…received the prestigious President’s Award during the Historic Savannah Foundation’s Preservation Awards in May 2016 and finally opened to the public in September of that year. (The Board named the auditorium in Jim and Dottie’s honor in recognition of their dedication and hard work.)
Now, five years later and post-pandemic, the Theater is delighted to welcome Evan Goetz as its Executive Director. Evan and I met in the sloping auditorium that seats 206 patrons and I asked if he always had an interest in theater. He told me that he first auditioned for a local production in late middle school in his hometown of Gaffney, SC. Despite
not getting the part and being ‘devastated,’ he had caught the acting bug and continued with theatre locally and in high school, ultimately meeting the Limestone University Theater professor and deciding to attend his program. His undergraduate degree in Theater was followed by an MFA program at Savannah College of Art and Design. During those two years he realized he did not want to be an actor anymore. He enjoyed it but it was not his passion. His degree afforded him the opportunity to teach at the collegiate level, and “I knew I could create a bigger impact off the stage. I started doing more marketing and arts administration and working with other nonprofit organizations.”
After SCAD, Evan held several jobs simultaneously including Marketing Coordinator for Skidaway Island State Park, teaching at the Children’s Theater, Creative Director for the Savannah Stage Company and teaching public speaking part-time at GSU Armstrong. He then secured a full-time job as the Arts Marketing Manager for GSU’s Art, Music and Theater Department. Eventually he moved back to South Carolina to work with the behemoth Blumenthal Performing Arts group in Charlotte, a company that owns six huge theaters and has touring Broadway shows. Evan did the marketing for the Broadway season and managed the 12,000 season subscribers. His next position was in local government and economic
development with the City of Rockhill, South Carolina’s Department of Arts and Culture.
During the early days of the COVID pandemic he was sent home for three months but still managed to facilitate virtual 4th of July events. “We had lots of contests to engage the community – sidewalk chalk competitions, baking competitions, logo competitions – always keeping an eye on the goal of downtown development and supporting the businesses during that difficult time,” Evan tells me. Additionally, he developed the Old Town Theater Company to present site-specific performances on the streets or in found spaces with the premise of connecting theater and economic development.
Fortunately for Chatham County, sea breezes and career opportunities beckoned Evan and his partner back to Savannah. In April of this year, Evan was selected as the Post Theater’s Executive Director from a field of 100
applicants. Arriving at the tail-end of the pandemic there was pressure to reopen the theater quickly. During his first week, Evan told his Board he would reopen once he asked the patrons.
A survey was sent to future concert attendees asking them if they were comfortable returning to the venue and, overwhelmingly, people said they were. Now begins the work of rebuilding the programming so ably established by his predecessor Melissa Turner, and reengaging members and donors to sustain the Theater’s financial future. Evan is really interested in making the music offerings more diverse, creating more children’s live-event programming, providing more live theater and more Tybeefocused talks, in addition to the regular tribute bands, movies, and private events.
Evan is helped tremendously by one full-time employee and 13 part-time staff who manage the house, concessions, and audiovisual systems. The box office workers and ushers are volunteers.
Additionally, a 10-week social media intern through GSU this summer helped with digital targeting and marketing. In addition
to diversifying the programming, Evan knows he must raise funds and visit with donors. He is working with a board committee to create materials, reevaluate large fundraising events, and see how best to partner with businesses. Creating a robust donor base is the biggest need right now. The Theater is grateful to the City of Tybee for continued funding through a portion of the hotel/motel tax revenues. “About one quarter to one third of expenses are met through ticket sales and through our membership program, but as COVID has taught us, we cannot continue to rely on those alone. I want to engage and appreciate donors with personal, authentic experiences. I am excited by the challenge. I think it is a fun opportunity with a lot of potential for growth,” explains Evan.
When not engaged with his multi-faceted role at the theater, Evan and partner, Justin, are building a house together. He sings in the First Baptist Church choir in downtown Savannah where Justin is Minister of Music and he enjoys kayaking. “But my entire life, including my kayak, is in storage right now!” Evan tells me with a laugh. “Just being close to the water is wonderful. I can walk to the beach for lunch. I love Tybee.”
When Jim Kluttz was Board President, his goal was for patrons to say, “I came to the Post Theater and I had a good time. It was at a fair price and I want to go again.” Those sentiments are echoed by Evan. “These walls are almost 100 years old. There is a spirit and an ‘energy’ when you walk into this space. People have experienced art, culture, and movies in this very intimate setting that is unlike anything else in Chatham County. Connections are created and crafted. You bring friends, you can enjoy a beverage, and you can sit outside. It feels like home. It feels like you are seeing an old friend.”
CCL
During the early days of the COVID pandemic he was sent home for three months but still managed to facilitate virtual 4th of July events. “We had lots of contests to engage the community – sidewalk chalk competitions, baking competitions, logo competitions – always keeping an eye on the goal of downtown development and supporting the businesses during that difficult time,” Evan tells me. Additionally, he developed the Old Town Theater Company to present site-specific performances on the streets or in found spaces with the premise of connecting theater and economic development.
Like so many professions, the practice of law has experienced seismic shifts in the past two years.
LLike so many professions, the practice of law has experienced seismic shifts in the past two years.
Personal injury attorneys Patrick Jarrett and Ben Price, who celebrate their tenth year in partnership this fall, think some of the changes brought about by the pandemic may be permanent. “We saw a lot of families lose loved ones in the past two years and a lot of businesses and livelihoods vanish,” says Ben. “It was a scary time, and every business including law was affected by office closures, court closures and concerns about social distancing and safety. Now that life appears to be heading back to normal, some of the concessions we all made out of necessity to keep our courts and practices open have proved to be beneficial and are probably here to stay.”
With notaries becoming video capable, courts allowing electronic filing, and clients appreciating the ability to meet their attorneys remotely, Jarrett & Price has expanded into a statewide practice. ”We can now serve all counties in Georgia without putting 50,000 miles a year on our vehicles,” says Patrick. “We can handle Dalton, Georgia just as easily as Hinesville.”
Even better, it’s more convenient and cost effective for clients. “In the past, pre-trial depositions were always done in person. Last year I was going to fly to New Jersey to depose a doctor,” says Ben. “Because of the way the rules have changed, I was able to conduct the deposition over Zoom, eliminating all the costs of a flight, car and hotel, which would have been passed on to the client.”
Patrick and Ben are now working from home 80% of the time and most of the clients they serve are working from home as well. Both attorneys appreciate the work/life balance this new system has made available to them: “I can drop and pick up the kids now,” says Patrick. “I love being at home to help with homework, from a family standpoint.” Patrick and his wife, Andrea, have 7-year old twins and Ben and his wife, Kimberly, have two children, ages 4 and 2.
Ben and Patrick are both passionate about making sure their clients experience excellent service, and they generally talk to their clients over their cell phones. “When you’re injured and it’s not your fault, it changes your life,” says Ben. Patrick chimes in: “Ultimately, it’s not our job to be the heroes, but to tell our clients’ stories and make them the heroes.”
To learn more about Jarrett & Price and the services they offer, call 912-401-8880 or go online to www.jarrettfirm.com.
2 E Bryan St., Suite 513
Savannah, GA 31401
Tel: (912) 401-8880
Fax: (912) 335-5361
113 Grant Street
Clarkesville, GA 30523
Tel: (706) 899-3993
471 Main Street Cleveland, GA 30528
Tel: (706) 725-5545
Our most trying times in life can make or break our faith. For Sarah Buck, her full reliance and trust in the Lord carried her through her most difficult experience yet.
Sarah, author of the new book You Will See, talks about navigating symptoms of an unknown disease and sharing her story to inspire others. “I had this
compelling story to share that I felt like I was hiding in my pocket,” she admits. Compelled to spread her encouraging message of faith through trials, she decided to put it on paper.
“I would never have said I was a writer before this book started,” she tells me. Having studied advertising and graphic design at the University of
Our most trying times in life can make or break our faith. For Sarah Buck, her full reliance and trust in the Lord carried her through her most difficult experience yet.
Georgia before running her own photography business, she felt underprepared to write a book. “There’s a creative side that I never knew writing had,” she quickly learned. Diving into a comfortable routine, she wrote out the beautiful story that strengthened her faith in the Lord.
At 30 years old, with two young children and her loving husband, Forbes, life could not have been better. Sarah juggled her photography business, being a full-time mom and maintaining an active social life with grace and poise. Energized by passion and fueled with coffee, life was moving a mile a minute – and she loved it.
In 2011, Sarah began to feel worn down. As
the months went by without explanation for her sudden weariness, she became extremely exhausted. Usually active and healthy, Sarah sought medical attention for her extreme fatigue. Around this time, she began losing weight. “I was very frail,” she recalls. “I was grey. I did not even look like the same person.”
Her symptoms included a loss of fine motor skills. Soon she was unable to swallow and was on a strict liquid diet. Over time, she suffered digestive issues, a leg that started dragging and an onset of memory loss. “By the time I was able to get an appointment to get in with a specialist to discuss whatever symptoms were showing, that
one would be better and others would come up,” she says.
Shaken by the uncertainty of what was happening, she sought the advice of many medical professionals. “I went to 20 doctors over a twoyear time span and no one could figure out what was wrong with me.” In the meantime, her daily routine was unbearable and she was forced to slow things down with her photography business. “Even just walking up the stairs with a laundry basket was impossible,” she says.
Through the uncertainty of her health and future, Sarah found solace in her relationship with the Lord. “There’s no physical way that I could have gotten through this without God,” she states. In her faithfulness to the Lord, she learned more about His love. “I’m a firm believer that we go through things to learn more characteristics about God, to grow closer to Him, shine His light and to help other people.”
She found comfort in John 16:33 where Jesus says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” That promise of peace eased her worries.
With faith in the Lord, you can trust that everything happens for a reason. While difficult to understand in the moment, the Lord’s perfect plan over our lives will one day be revealed to us. Having leaned on the Lord through her most difficult years, Sarah’s book is a testament of the goodness and peace that is found in our walk with the Lord. When we choose to see every hurdle as an opportunity to trust in Him, our faith is made stronger and our story made that much richer.
“The whole thing God gave me through this is inner peace,” she says. “Even in the brokenness I never lashed out at God because I know we’re promised to have trouble, but we’re promised to have peace.”
Sarah’s peace came with her diagnosis. After years of unknowns, she discovered Lyme Disease had so rapidly altered her health. Having a name for the disease that was crippling her body gave her the hope to fight it off. But the road to recovery was not an easy one. Sarah underwent IV antibiotics and oral medications for a year and a half before her health returned.
Through the journey, Sarah found joy in her troubles
knowing that her temporary health decline was not in vain. Soon after she began the road to recovery, she helped others identify the same disease she had. “I’m honored that God would allow me to experience such a hard thing and that someone would be able to grow from it,” she says. Her story has not only helped those battling Lyme Disease, it has encouraged people in their spiritual walk with the Lord through all types of challenges.
Determined to provide hope to others, Sarah turned her story into a book. You Will See launched on April 22, 2021. Sarah describes the response so
One day they got the call that would change their family forever. An unborn baby was up for adoption and was due to arrive in a matter of weeks. Although last minute, Sarah and Forbes felt this was the Lord’s perfect timing. “She has been in our arms since the day she was born,” Sarah recalls with pride. “I’m so honored and humbled that God picked us to be her parents.” Now 4 years old, Analise is a daily reminder of God’s perfect plan over Sarah’s life.
In the book, Sarah adds how her experience equipped her for all that was to come. A few years after her recovery, Sarah and Forbes discussed adopting a child. “We always talked about adoption,” Sarah says. Their children, Audrey and Warren, were 9 and 6 years old at the time and Sarah admits, “We thought we had lost our opportunity.” All the same, they prayed and felt led to explore the possibility of becoming a family of five.
far as “overwhelming and very humbling.” A beautiful testament of faith at work in our daily lives, it encourages readers to pursue the Lord in both good and bad times. While detailing the story of her battle with Lyme Disease, it is relatable and applicable to those struggling with any challenge. “I want to encourage people to trust in the Lord and to not give up,” Sarah says. In reading her story, you will certainly be encouraged by the Lord’s faithfulness and promises of peace amidst your trials.
In the book, Sarah adds how her experience equipped her for all that was to come. A few years after her recovery, Sarah and Forbes discussed adopting a child. “We always talked about adoption,” Sarah says. Their children, Audrey and Warren, were 9 and 6 years old at the time and Sarah admits, “We thought we had lost our opportunity.” All the same, they prayed and felt led to explore
the possibility of becoming a family of five.
One day they got the call that would change their family forever. An unborn baby was up for adoption and was due to arrive in a matter of weeks. Although last minute, Sarah and Forbes felt this was the Lord’s perfect timing. “She has been in our arms since the day she was born,” Sarah recalls with pride. “I’m so honored and humbled that God picked us to be her parents.” Now 4 years old, Analise is a daily reminder of God’s perfect plan over Sarah’s life.
“God is in every detail,” Sarah says. Her faith has given her eyes to see the Lord’s goodness through every uncertainty. Without the difficult years, Sarah says the story of her daughter’s adoption “would not
have been as rich and as blessed and as confident.”
The experience she underwent taught her the value of perspective in each situation, and it equipped her to encourage others through their difficulties as well. With faith in the Lord, you can trust that everything happens for a reason. While difficult to understand in the moment, the Lord’s perfect plan over our lives will one day be revealed to us. Having leaned on the Lord through her most difficult years, Sarah’s book is a testament of the goodness and peace that is found in our walk with the Lord. When we choose to see every hurdle as an opportunity to trust in Him, our faith is made stronger and our story made that much richer. CCL
life devoted to sports
reporting: Former Georgia first baseman enjoyed long career as TV sports broadcaster
By Stephen Prudhomme | Photos By Joel Keppel, Jim O’Donnell, Jonathon Godwin & Dream Weaver Photos
Ken Griner excelled at sports. After leading Savannah
Christian to its first state title in football, as a run-option quarterback, and starring on the baseball team, he embarked on a college baseball career that concluded with a senior season in which he batted .317 and completed 95 chances without committing an error at first base for the University of Georgia.
However, his true calling proved to be reporting the exploits of prep, college and professional athletes. Ken’s home plate, so to speak, was largely in Savannah where he became as synonymous with sports as the hometown Bananas are to baseball and fun at the ballpark.
A native of Savannah, Ken left WTOC in 2020. It was his second stint at the station and included six years as sports director followed by two years anchoring the morning news.
“It was time for another change,” Ken said. “I wasn’t sure I wanted to get up at 2 a.m. and anchor the morning news for another two years. It was a great opportunity and I’m glad I did it. I’m wide open to other possibilities.”
Growing up, Ken attached a different connotation to the term wide open. As a quarterback, that’s how he liked to see his receivers. Although not blessed with a great arm or speed, Ken was quick and made good decisions running the option. Those talents helped Ken lead Savannah Christian to its first state title in football in 1975.
“I ran the option,” said Ken, who played football, baseball and basketball as a youngster. “I had a great backfield and defense.”
Baseball was Ken’s best sport. Playing mostly first base, he had quick hands and hit singles and doubles. Ken also saw some time in the outfield but said he didn’t have the great speed to excel there. Ken was good enough to play baseball in college. He spent one year each at Middle Georgia College
and Brewton-Parker before transferring to Georgia Southern. His next stop was Athens and the University of Georgia, where he had to sit out a redshirt season before resuming his baseball career. Following a junior season in which he didn’t get much playing time, Ken ended his college career on a high note with the aforementioned .317 batting average and outstanding defense at first base.
“It was hard to match my time at Georgia,” Ken said. “The football team had won a national championship. You had Herschel (Walker), Dominique (Wilkins) and REM.” Ken said he got to be good friends with Herschel and described him as very down to earth. He added, “Herschel also had a great memory, recognizing
me years after last seeing him at Georgia during their playing careers.”
Ken said he made great, lifelong friends among teammates at Georgia. “It was just a few weeks ago that Jeff Treadway, a former Major League second baseman who played for the Atlanta Braves among other teams, and I had a great round of golf,” Ken said.
As with most baseball players who started at a young age, Ken dreamed of playing at the professional level. Although he did everything well, Ken did not fit the prototype of first basemen at the time. “A scout told me I was good enough to play at the AA level,” Ken said. “Teams don’t draft players to make it to AA. They were more geared toward power hitting first basemen.”
Ken had devoted his life to sports, and especially baseball, and always had
“Things fell together in a unique way for me to get this job,” said Ken, who started June 1 and is considering holding a summer camp to prepare for the upcoming school year. “It’s perfect for me and I don’t have to get up at 2 a.m. The kids will do everything. It will be challenging the first year, but I couldn’t be in a better situation.”
another game to play. He had made it farther than most but was faced with the reality he wouldn’t be competing at the professional level. It was time to find a career outside the field of play.
Possessing a degree would have made for an easier job search, but Ken had trouble learning Spanish and was a few credits short of earning his degree in speech communication. He said education had not been a top priority while he was at Georgia. “I lived up to the dumb jock stereotype,” Ken said. “I could have done a lot better if I listened to my mom. She was the educator in the family.”
Ken had majored in speech communication in college, and when a baseball career didn’t materialize, he opted for the next best thing. “If I couldn’t play, I would talk about it,” he said.
First, however, he had to earn his degree. Back in Savannah, Ken took the ever troublesome Spanish classes at Armstrong State and Savannah State while working at a furniture store, his father’s clothing store and as a studio camera operator at WJCL. He earned his degree in 1986.
While working toward his degree, Ken had used a connection at WJCL to land a job as a radio reporter at
After 25 years of working together, Doug learned there were two excellent sportsmen in the Griner family and he had chosen the right man for the job. “Ken’s a true gentleman, very good sportsman and excellent newsman,” Doug said. “He did a wonderful job for Savannah and was a good employee all the time. Ken was knowledgeable, had a good demeanor, and wasn’t hard to look at.”
WWSA, where he remained for three months and, among his assignments, interviewed Ted Turner while he was in town speaking to the Rotary Club. It was on that assignment that he ran into WJCL’s news director and his previous stint behind the camera helped him get hired in TV.
Ken made the switch, joining WJCL as a general assignment reporter during the week and a sports reporter on weekends. “I really enjoyed it,” said Ken, who remained at the station for two years. I felt more comfortable talking about sports.” That love of sports led to stints at WSAV and WTOC in Savannah, WSPA in Greenville/Spartanburg, SC, and back to WTOC.
Ken covered football, baseball, auto racing, golf and tennis during his long career. The College World Series stood out for the former Bulldog first baseman. “I covered it three times,” Ken said.
“It was a huge event, but not too big. I’m a college baseball fan.”
He also enjoyed reporting on golf, noting the Masters in Augusta and the Heritage on Hilton Head Island are two of the best weeks of the year. “I love golf and going to the driving range,” Ken said.
College football is another personal favorite. Ken said he enjoyed covering Georgia Southern and the mid majors. In Greenville, he had the ACC and SEC, leading to some opportunities in Atlanta that he did not pursue. I was comfortable in Greenville,” he said. “I was covering the ACC and SEC. Why go anywhere else?”
Back in Savannah, Ken liked the excitement of Friday nights under the lights. “I love high school Friday nights,” he said. “I love planning those things (coverage). It’s like a battle plan.”
Cristina Tuso worked as a weekend sports anchor
and reporter at WTOC for six years. For four of those years, she had Ken as her boss and described
him as a friend and mentor who taught her so much about golf and its history and players, NASCAR and Southern rock music.
“We took many a road trip,” said Cristina, a Colorado native who lives in Denver. “On the way back from Daytona we’d stop at a gas station for Coke and peanuts. On the way to Macon we’d
Ken made the switch, joining WJCL as a general assignment reporter during the week and a sports reporter on weekends. “I really enjoyed it,” said Ken, who remained at the station for two years. I felt more comfortable talking about sports.” That love of sports led to stints at WSAV and WTOC in Savannah, WSPA in Greenville/Spartanburg, SC, and back to WTOC.
listen to the Allman Brothers. He’s a creature of habit. Ken always wanted to create a fun environment. That made work fun and helped on those 14-hour days.”
Ken also introduced Cristina to Mrs. Wilkes’ fried chicken and how to live the best Southern life. “TV is full of transplants, but Ken is local and returned home,” Cristina said. “He knew the tricks of the trade and connected with viewers. Ken was inside Savannah as much as he was inside baseball.”
Whether he reported sports or news, Ken brought a hometown feel to the broadcasts. He exuded friendliness, professionalism and genuine affection for the job and his audience. Despite being a longtime fixture in local TV and getting paid to cover events that others had to pay to see, Ken didn’t adopt the persona of a TV star. “It’s only TV,” said Ken, a five-time AP sports award winner who was recognized for 33 years of service and community by Rep. Buddy Carter in the U.S. House of Representatives in February. “I took the profession seriously, not myself.”
Former WTOC news director and anchor Doug Weathers hired Ken in 1991; news director Jan Smith-Finnegan hired Ken for his second stint at the station, after the latter returned to Savannah from Greenville in 2012. Several months after Doug had hired Ken, he said he overheard him tell some people he was talking to that he (Ken) was brought on because Doug felt sorry for him. The news director countered that he hired him because he knew Ken’s father, Hal, a well-known local sportsman.
After 25 years of working together, Doug learned there were two excellent sportsmen in the Griner family and he had chosen the right man for the job. “Ken’s a true gentleman, very good sportsman and excellent newsman,” Doug said. “He did a wonderful job for Savannah and was a good employee all the time. Ken was knowledgeable, had a good demeanor, and wasn’t hard to look at.”
Chris Roberts has known Ken for over 40 years. They played on competing youth baseball teams and worked together at Whelan’s Furniture store in which Ken’s father eventually had an ownership stake. An artist and trolley tour guide, Chris would occasionally spot Ken jogging along Bull Street and encourage the people on his tour to shout out something after telling them the latter was a local celebrity.
“Ken is good-natured and always played along with the comments I would be slinging out to the tourists,” Chris said. “We had fun with that.” Chris described Ken as casual and natural on air, adding his good nature quickly shows through, along with a good sense of humor and genuineness. “He’s not plastic like some of those announcers,” Chris said. Ken is returning to the broadcasting field but in a different capacity. He’s starting a broadcasting program at Calvary Day School and, starting in the 2021 school year, will teach two classes the first semester and two the following semester. The immediate goal is to broadcast Friday night football games and go from there.
“Things fell together in a unique way for me to get this job,” said Ken, who started June 1 and is considering holding a summer camp to prepare for the upcoming school year. “It’s perfect for me and I don’t have to get up at 2 a.m. The kids will do everything. It will be challenging the first year, but I couldn’t be in a better situation.”
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Sandy West and Ossabaw Island remain inextricably linked
Robert S. Cooper PhotographyIn a city that values history, Elizabeth “Sandy” Torrey West fits right in. She was one of the few people still around who was born before the start of World War I and fewer than 200 years after Gen. James Oglethorpe came to Savannah and established the Georgia colony.
For many years, she lived on Ossabaw Island, a barrier island off the Georgia coast that is a State Heritage Preserve designated for natural, scientific, and cultural education, research and study. Like its caretaker, it defied time.
Just as her nickname was fitting for someone living near the ocean, so, too, was Sandy’s departure from this world. In the early morning hours of Jan. 17, she quietly passed away on her birthday. Sandy was 108 years old.
“It is hard to imagine that the death of someone at age 108 is surprising, but we are in shock over the loss of our visionary and friend,” said Elizabeth
DuBose, Executive Director of the Ossabaw Island Foundation. “Ossabaw Island, as we know it, exists because of Mrs. West, and Georgia is a better place because of her life’s work.” M. Tyus Butler, Jr., Board Chairman of the Ossabaw Island Foundation, said he was truly distressed and saddened to learn of Sandy’s death.
“It was Mrs. West’s vision, determination, sensitivity, and generosity that made the island’s preservation possible, all to the benefit of the State of Georgia, the public, the arts and sciences, the environment--all of us,” Tyus said. “Godspeed, Sandy. What a wonderful life.”
Sandy was inextricably linked to Ossabaw Island, which she first visited with her family in 1924 when she was 11 years old. Her parents, Henry and Nell
Torrey, purchased the island, the third largest of Georgia’s barrier islands and located just south of Savannah, as a winter residence.
Sandy was always eager to share the 26,000acre island and its varied wildlife with anyone. She established the Ossabaw Island Project in the 1960s and the Genesis Project in the 1970s as ways to allow students, artists, writers, scientists, ecologists, philosophers, and other intellectuals and creative thinkers to reconnect with the natural world, and with each other, in important and powerful ways.
In the late ‘70s, Sandy spearheaded her family’s effort to assure that Ossabaw Island, would remain in its unspoiled condition forever. She led negotiation of the sale of Ossabaw Island for $8 million to the state of Georgia, stipulating that Ossabaw be established as
“She’s determined, idealistic and stubborn,” Robin says. “That stubbornness and determination has undoubtedly helped her live such a long time.”
Those qualities defined Sandy for 108 years, as did her love for an island and its denizens that will remain unspoiled and timeless thanks to her efforts. She left behind the ultimate birthday present to current and future generations.
Georgia’s first State Heritage Preserve. Sandy was given a life estate of 23 acres, including the TorreyWest House, and lived part-time on Ossabaw from1959 until 1987, then full-time from 1987 to 2016. The life estate began in 1959 and ended with Sandy’s death. Some searched for loopholes in the Heritage Preserve designation.
Georgia House Bill 906, introduced to the Georgia Assembly in 2020, provided an avenue whereby parcels of Heritage Preserve land, up to 15 acres, could be taken out of state ownership and conveyed to a wide array of owners, including private commercial users, and developed without regard for the property’s history or the impact on adjacent Heritage Preserve land.
The Ossabaw Island Foundation opposed the bill, stating in a letter to the Georgia Legislature that the “stringent protection” outlined in the Heritage Preserve designation should remain intact. Bill 906, the letter continued, would erode these protections and may irrevocably harm these important places that have been set aside for all Georgians.
State Representative Jesse Petrea, who grew up in Savannah, proved to be an ally to the Ossabaw Island Foundation. Although he initially supported the bill, Representative Petrea stated he would never want to pass anything whose language might allow someone to misuse it. There’s a reasonable conversation to have, he stated, but this bill needed to die and it’s “dead as a wedge.”
In 1978, the Torreys sold the island to the state for half of its appraised value. It was and remains the largest of the Heritage Preserve lands that make up the 120 in the state and that comprise 330,000 acres.
Robert S. Cooper Photography
Beyond the generous sales terms, Sandy, with her enthusiastic and joyful spirit and love of the experience of Ossabaw, inspired thousands of people over her long and fruitful life. In her final days living on Ossabaw, Sandy, at over 100 years old, regularly spent time among the trees, on the beaches, and with the animals of the island that is comprised of 330,000 acres.
Elizabeth first met Sandy in 1991 when she visited Ossabaw Island as a student at the Savannah College of Art and Design. Seven years later, they renewed their connection when Elizabeth began working for the Ossabaw Island Foundation.
Elizabeth described Sandy as a kind woman who was devoted to preserving the island and its animals. She related a story illustrating Sandy’s passion for the animals of Ossabaw Island.
Sandy’s mother erected a cattle guard to keep the island’s cattle and deer population away from her
prized garden. After her mother passed away, Sandy took down the cattle guard. “Sandy said we’re the ones to be fenced in, not the animals,” Elizabeth said. “That’s a beautiful sentiment that sums her up.” Sandy was just as passionate about keeping the island in its natural state.
On the occasion of her 106th birthday, Sandy sat in a wheelchair as well-wishers surrounded her at the Coastal Georgia Center, located next to the Savannah Visitors Center and History Museum. She had little to say as she looked around, perhaps a bit uncomfortable being the center of attention and longing to be back on her island and reveling in its peace and quiet. Others did the talking for her.
According to Elizabeth, Sandy was upset when a ground water monitoring tower was erected on Ossabaw. “That was not her vision of the landscape,” Elizabeth said. “She didn’t want technology to take over.” Sandy also took exception to youngsters listening to Walkmans when visiting the island. “She said they will never hear a rattlesnake,” Elizabeth said.
Lee Kolb has visited Ossabaw six or seven times over the past decade. Joining him is his sister, Kathryn, who organizes trips to the island for artists. They tend to stay at the 19th Century Club House, located on the north end of the island and about one mile from the Torrey-West Estate. Lee said they tend to have the same core group accompaning them.
“It’s a fantastic place,” said Lee, a writer and animator. “It’s very peaceful and tropical. You can see bright stars at night. There are lots of birds, alligators and hogs, which were brought there by the Spaniards in the 1500s. There are also eight to nine donkeys. I would feed them carrots out of my hand while sitting on the front porch of the Club House.”
On several of Lee’s visits, Sandy was still living in her island home. He said they were not allowed to visit her, but he could see the house through a wrought iron gate. In 2017, after Sandy had left the island, Lee attended a pig roast fundraiser and had the opportunity to tour the home. “The mansion was like a time capsule,” Lee said. “It had 1940s toilets and a lot of antiques. It had a real 20th century feel.”
As a nature lover, Lee said he’s glad Sandy deeded the island to the state. He noted she could have made a lot of money selling it to a developer and have it become another Hilton Head Island. “It’s pretty rare for someone to set aside space and not sell it to a developer,” Lee said. “Sandy really liked animals and nature.”
She passed that on to her youngest child, Justin, who received an unexpected Christmas gift when he was 12 years old. Justin recalled a series of clues that started with instructions in an envelope under the large family Christmas tree and ended in the barn, where he found three donkeys. His parents had bought the Sicilian donkeys on Bull Island, S.C., and transported them back to Ossabaw Island in their blue Volkswagen minibus.
Within a year, in an effort to expand the gene pool, the Wests brought eight more donkeys to the island. By 1975, the number had grown to 69. Wanting to keep the population under control,
Sandy and her husband brought in vet students from Penn State to perform vasectomies while they studied the effects of the procedure on the donkeys’ behavior.
Justin said they missed a few, and by 1998 the number had swelled to 150. The State of Georgia, noting the impact of the donkeys on the island ecosystem, requested that the donkey population be reduced. Sandy found new homes for them on the mainland. The remaining eight have been quarantined due to being carriers of equine infectious anemia and will live out their remaining years on Ossabaw.
Justin feels a kinship with the donkeys. He said they travel wide and far on the island but don’t seem to rush. “I don’t want anyone messing with them,” he said. “They should have a full life and peaceful death on the island. They’ve woven themselves into island life and into what has come out of creative life as an integral part of the island.”
In 2019, in an annual tradition, the Ossabaw Island Foundation held a birthday celebration for Sandy at the Coastal Georgia Center. It would be the last such gathering, as Sandy was unable to attend in 2020.
On the occasion of her 106th birthday, Sandy sat in
Lee Kolb has visited Ossabaw six or seven times over the past decade. Joining him is his sister, Kathryn, who organizes trips to the island for artists. They tend to stay at the 19th Century Club House, located on the north end of the island and about one mile from the Torrey-West Estate. Lee said they tend to have the same core group accompaning them.
a wheelchair as well-wishers surrounded her at the Coastal Georgia Center, located next to the Savannah Visitors Center and History Museum. She had little to say as she looked around, perhaps a bit uncomfortable being the center of attention and longing to be back on her island and reveling in its peace and quiet. Others did the talking for her.
“She’s looking good,” said Bob Proctor, a member of Ossabaw Sound, the barbershop quartet that sang at West’s birthday reception. “She makes me feel like a youngster.”
Another member of the quartet, R.J. Hodges, sang at Sandy’s birthday for the third year. He said he enjoys being there and putting a smile on her face. “She must be a very good woman for God to allow her to live that long,” he said.
Fellow crooner J.B. Bennett said, “it’s very special to sing for Sandy,” who was unable to attend the 2018 birthday bash.
“It’s nice to see her back,” Bennett said. Rounding out the quartet was Thom Greenlaw, who serenaded West for the first time. He said she’s an inspiration, someone who has lived and continues to live a strong life.
Robin Gunn, project coordinator of the Ossabaw Island Foundation, said Sandy’s birthday happened to fall on the same day as their 2019 annual meeting. She added it was a way to celebrate and honor a woman and family who gave Ossabaw to all Georgians. Robin spoke about their amazing benefactor. “She’s determined, idealistic and stubborn,” Gunn says. “That stubbornness and determination has undoubtedly helped her live such a long time.”
Those qualities defined Sandy for 108 years, as did her love for an island and its denizens that will remain unspoiled and timeless thanks to her efforts. She left behind the ultimate birthday present to current and future generations.
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Trends and Survival Tips: Your guide to planning a stylish, successful wedding
With catering, flowers, music, and a myriad of other details to arrange, planning your wedding can be both exhilarating and anxiety-provoking. Discover the latest trends and follow these tips to reduce stress and survive the months leading up to your big day.
Weekday ceremonies are increasing in popularity in the U.S. This is especially true for those who’ve been married before. Off-day weddings can substantially reduce your overall costs. Whatever day you choose, unlimited options are available for your ceremony and reception sites so long as you plan well in advance.
If you belong to a church, you can ask your minister to be your wedding officiant and also inquire about the use of the church for your ceremony. If you prefer a more secular ceremony, contact your city hall for a list of judges who perform weddings.
Before you commit to a site or officiant, ask about their rules on the ceremony and wording of vows. Find out what fees the facility and officiant charge, how many guests may attend, and what decorations are supplied.
When planning your reception, keep in mind facilities often book a year in advance, particularly for Saturdays. Choose a reception location near your ceremony with plenty of parking space, an adequate dance floor, and plenty of lighting, outlets, and power. Also, ask about facility restrictions and whether you can use your own caterer, florist, and entertainment.
Ethnic cuisines have been growing in popularity for receptions, and there
are plenty of choices sure to please your wedding party and guests. Traditional Japanese, Indian, Mexican, Middle Eastern, and Italian are all excellent choices.
Another trend is for couples to create a multicultural menu that combines traditional dishes from both of their family’s home countries. Done right, this makes for a delightful feast.
How about brunch? Because daytime weddings are less expensive than later in the day or evening, this has become quite popular. It could result in savings on your menu, as well.
Before meeting with a caterer, decide the dishes you’d like to serve. When you meet, ask to see photos of the foods.
Don’t rule out a plate dinner either until you discuss the cost. The price difference between that and a buffet is often nominal.
As your wedding day draws near, expect the unexpected, and don’t let surprises upset your day. In all the hustle and bustle, remember the most important part of your wedding isn’t the details of the ceremony or celebration but the commitment you and your fiancé make to each other. Keeping that in mind on your wedding day will ensure you see it as a success whatever bumps you might run into.
When the big day arrives
Also, discuss with the caterer how the food will be served and what the servers will wear. Then get a written quote that includes costs of the food, beverages, alcohol, service, decorating, set up and clean up, and the number of people to be served.
Wedding cakes are more delicious than ever with a broader array of fillings and frostings to choose from. The hottest trend is statement cakes. Rather than serving multiple desserts, splurge on one big cake that is a focal point.
Still, many couples are opting for more simple one-tiered cakes, offering their guests an array of tasty desserts to choose from.
Designs that are currently quite popular include cakes decorated with rosettes, metallics, ruffles, monograms, geometric designs, and even painted cakes.
Take photos with you of some of your favorite designs when you meet with your cake maker. Ask to see pictures of the baker’s designs as well. Be sure to discuss your budget and the number of guests with the baker. Also, schedule a tasting to determine the combinations you like best and ask if the baker will deliver your cake.
Entertainment
Theme music for wedding receptions has become very popular, ranging from ethnic to movie soundtracks. Ballroom dancing is also on the rise, as is classic music from a particular genre or era.
A particularly hot trend is performance acts. Performances run from about 20 -30 minutes during the set break or with the band performing
in the background. Acts range from a choreographed dance show to acrobats to fire dancers.
Don’t forget the music for your wedding ceremony, too.
Before making your selections, check on facility regulations. Also, ask to hear the musicians perform to ensure they’ll meet your expectations. Discuss attire, breaks, and costs, including overtime fees.
Finally, on your wedding day, make sure the sound system is adjusted to avoid music that blares or is too low.
Bold colors continue to be a popular choice. But also trending are rich, moody color palettes that set a romantic, emotional tone for the big day. Berry colors mixed with white are also being seen this year.
For bridal bouquets, minimalism is in. A single flower with a lovely display of greenery and small bouquets are quite popular.
Before you meet with your florist, visit the library and flip through floral and garden books. Make a list of your flower preferences as well as your dislikes. Then compile a list of your floral needs. This will include the bridal bouquet, boutonnières, hair flowers, bridesmaid bouquets, corsages, and wedding and reception arrangements. Also, determine the quantity you’ll need of each.
Features that are especially hot right now include regal capes, large bows, off-the-shoulder necklines and sleeves, body-hugging silhouettes, and minimal embellishments.
When you visit your florist, discuss colors and make sure bridesmaids’ bouquets will complement, but not match, their dresses. Ask about substitution policies, freshness guarantees, and the charges for consultations, flowers, decorations, and delivery fees.
Photographers and videographers
Photojournalism is quite popular in wedding photography. So your first step is to decide between traditional posed photographs and candid shots by a photojournalist.
You may also want to consider having your special moment captured on video.
Whatever you choose, make sure your contract includes the number of hours for shooting or filming and the number of shots and rolls of film to be taken. It should also include package details, including the number and sizes of photos, and the costs.
Also, check with your wedding facility for any restrictions on photography.
Then, a few days before your wedding, send your photographer a list of the wedding party, close family and friends, and specific photos you want taken.
Many couples today are designing their invitations with computer software. If this isn’t your thing, don’t worry. You’ll be able to choose among a variety of templates and styles provided by your stationer.
When you visit your stationer, ask to see samples of paper types, invitation styles, and the ink colors available. Make your selection according to the formality of your wedding.
Also, ask if the stationer can print maps and directions and do the folding and inserting. Then decide whether you’ll include your reception details on enclosures or the ceremony invitation and whether to include response cards.
Finally, before placing your order, make sure your
guest list is complete. Also, have both of your families review your order to avoid errors.
Polka dots are the latest trend in wedding dresses. Features that are especially hot right now include regal capes, large bows, off-the-shoulder necklines and sleeves, body-hugging silhouettes, and minimal embellishments.
Your search for a wedding gown is likely to be your most significant journey. It’ll take you to department stores, bridal salons, designer
boutiques, consignment shops, seamstresses, trunk shows, and bridal warehouses.
When you try on gowns, make sure you can stretch your arms, sit, and walk comfortably.
The contract for your order should include the store’s alteration policy and cost, delivery date, and gown details, including color, fabric, and the designer and style number of the dress.
Don’t forget your veil or hairpiece, shoes, jewelry, purse, gloves, and lingerie, too.
As for bridesmaid’s dresses, these are becoming less of a burden for the brideto-be. Bridesmaids still wear the same color gowns, but current trends allow each bridesmaid to choose her style. Tea-length dresses are particularly popular right now as well as two-piece ensembles.
Grooms are also becoming more involved in planning their weddings and choosing their tuxedo or suit. Offer your assistance to your fiancé, but allow him to make the final decision on his attire.
When you register for gifts, don’t forget to take along the groom-to-be. This is now the standard.
If you register in a fine shop, be sure to register at a moderately priced store as well to accommodate all of your guests. Keep outof-town guests in mind also when choosing where to register.
As your wedding day draws near, expect the unexpected, and don’t let surprises upset your day. In all the hustle and bustle, remember the most important part of your wedding isn’t the details of the ceremony or celebration but the commitment you and your fiancé make to each other. Keeping that in mind on your wedding day will ensure you see it as a success whatever bumps you might run into. CCL
By David Pena | Photos by Dream Weaver Photos
These days the word “hero” seems to be applied far too often and without much consideration. As a result, the word’s meaning has become somewhat muddied over the years. In the traditional sense, however, a hero is a person who exhibits an extraordinary achievement, some selfless act that could put their own life in peril, all for the welfare of others.
This was never truer than in the case of Mindy Cauley, an EMS Paramedic with Chatham Emergency Services. For the past three years, Mindy has dutifully responded to countless numbers of emergency calls, but ironically it was during her time off that she performed an act of heroism that warranted recognition.
The incident occurred while Mindy was driving home through Thunderbolt on September 10, 2020. It was clear night, around 9 PM, and Mindy was traveling on Highway 80 in her personal vehicle. “I had just worked an overtime shift, so I normally would not have been on the road that late,” she recalls. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a man climbing onto the cement railing at the top of the Thunderbolt Bridge, 65 feet above the Wilmington River.
“Because I live on the island, I’ve seen people walk that bridge all the time. However, when I saw him that night, something just didn’t feel right about
the situation, so I kept my eye on him,” she says.
“When I started to pass him, sure enough he hopped up on the ledge.” Mindy then decided to pull over into the emergency lane.
As a trained first responder, Mindy knew she had to act quickly. There were no other emergency vehicles or personnel on the scene; there was only Mindy, her personal vehicle and the occasional passing car on the bridge. After calling 911 to report what was occurring, she turned on her emergency flashers and immediately got out of her car to assist the man.
When Mindy got closer to the man, he quickly acknowledged her but then turned around as if to make his fatal leap into the river below. Before he could jump, however, the quick-thinking paramedic managed to reach out and grab his arm, stabilizing him on the edge of the bridge.
For the past three years, Mindy has dutifully responded to countless numbers of emergency calls, but ironically it was during her time off that she performed an act of heroism that warranted recognition.
“At that moment, I looked down and noticed that he had laid out all his things on the ground,” says Mindy. “I saw a long typed note and asked him if he was trying to kill himself, and he nodded his head.”
Mindy then notified dispatch to send the police and EMS. The police arrived within minutes of the call, but since they recognized Mindy in her uniform, they stood off to the side. “They knew who I was and saw that I was building a rapport with the man,” she explains.
While waiting for EMS to arrive, Mindy continued
to talk with the man about what led him to his most desperate hour. She seemed to have a calming effect on him, and after a few minutes he began to open up to her about his life. She eventually learned that the typed message was indeed a suicide note to his family.
After nearly an hour of conversation, Mindy still could not convince the man to come down from the bridge, so she decided on a different tactic. “I’m not trained in mental health counseling, but I was running out of things to say,” she says with a
Emergency Services nominated Mindy for the 15th Annual 200 Club Medal of Valor Award in April. CEO Chuck Kearns says, “I was proud to nominate her for the award. What she did that night was truly heroic; she placed herself in grave danger to help a complete stranger and ultimately saved his life. Mindy embodies what it means to be a first responder. She responded that night while she was off duty because this is a calling to her, not just a job.”
laugh. “I was hesitant to ask him about his faith, but something in my soul told me [to do it]. I simply asked him if he believed in God.” The man told her that his faith was shaky at best, but she assured him that it was okay. He said he had actually prayed on the way to the bridge for some divine intervention, but his prayers had gone unanswered – or so he thought.
The man told Mindy that he was desperately searching for some sign from God to go on living. He said that his faith in God had been shaken to its very core. This prompted Mindy to then lean around the bridge in order to look the man squarely in his face. “I told him that I wasn’t supposed to be on this bridge at that time. I wasn’t even supposed to work that night, but had gotten off late from an overtime shift. God had placed me into his life at that particular moment.”
When Mindy finished her explanation of divine intervention, both she and the man both began to cry. “We sat there on that bridge with tears streaming down our faces, convinced that God played a role in both our lives that night,” says Mindy.
After sitting in silence for a few minutes, Mindy asked him again to come down from the bridge. He finally relented, and just before EMS arrived, he opened up a bit more about his life. “He told me that this wasn’t his first suicide attempt,” says Mindy. “This was something that he had struggled with for some time, and he had every intention to end his life that night.”
After sitting in silence for a few minutes, Mindy asked him again to come down from the bridge. He finally relented, and just before EMS arrived, he opened up a bit more about his life. “He told me that this wasn’t his first suicide attempt,” says Mindy. “This was something that he had struggled with for some time, and he had every intention to end his life that night.”
The man was then transported by Chatham EMS to Memorial Hospital. When he was put into the ambulance, Mindy was overcome with emotion and called her chief to tell her what had happened. “I told her that I cried harder than I have in years on that bridge,” she says. “It was such a relief that I didn’t witness someone take his own life. I know that God placed me there to help him, and He came into my life to help me.
At the time, I was also doubting my own faith, but that night on the bridge, it all came to a head and shook me to my core. As a result, my faith is stronger now than it’s ever been.”
The next day at work, Mindy transported a patient to Memorial and was happy to see a familiar face there. “When I went into work, he was still there, so I was able to give him a hug and catch up with him. He was in good spirits and had his fiancé with him. His family had no idea what he had been going through. Later on, I was happy to hear that he was ultimately sent to a rehabilitation center for treatment.”
“Because I live on the island, I’ve seen people walk that bridge all the time. However, when I saw him that night, something just didn’t feel right about the situation, so I kept my eye on him,” she says. “When I started to pass him, sure enough he hopped up on the ledge.” Mindy then decided to pull over into the emergency lane.
For her heroism, Chatham Emergency Services nominated Mindy for the 15th Annual 200 Club Medal of Valor Award in April. CEO Chuck Kearns says, “I was proud to nominate her for the award. What she did that night was truly heroic; she placed herself in grave danger to help a complete stranger and ultimately saved his life. Mindy embodies what it means to be a first responder. She responded that night while she was off duty because this is a calling to her, not just a job.”
In addition to receiving the Valor Award, Mindy also received a written commendation from her EMS District Chief for her courage. As the first woman to ever receive the award, Mindy says she doesn’t really relish her moment in the spotlight. “My family was very proud of me for winning the award, but I don’t really see myself as a hero,” she says. “I don’t do this for the recognition; I simply love what I do. My mother always encouraged me to put others above myself, so helping folks has always been like second nature to me.” CCL
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MRebekah McLeod tackles the difficulties of parenting, marriage and faith with both humor and insight. The Secret Life of a Doctor’s Wife is a collection of essays that chronicles the human struggle to find equilibrium (or just a shred of peace) when life throws a giant curve ball.
My husband, Ian, is an Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist, and he is a surgeon. I never knew ENT doctors were surgeons until I married a guy who became one. Ian operates on thyroid glands and sinuses that are chronically infected; he takes out tonsils and puts in ear tubes. He also happens to be a great listener, which I think is the best quality a doctor (or any human being) can have. From the many gifts he brings home from the office, I gather he has many adoring patients who love and appreciate him.
Ian has a few older women patients who are notso-secretly in love with him. I get it—the man is good-looking, he’s smart, he has crazy man muscles. One of his lady patients runs a business where she sells pure oil and vinegar products from Austria. She has given my husband no less than ten bottles of massage oil made from hemp seed. OK, quick poll of the audience here: When was the last time you gave your doctor massage oil as a thank you gift?
Whatever happened to the good old days when you gave your doctor baskets of fruit or homemade pies? Ian actually came home the other day and made me close my eyes, telling me he had a surprise
for me, and I was so mad when he placed yet another bottle of hemp massage oil in my hands. I’m ready to go toe to toe with this woman if she doesn’t get a little more tactful, or least creative, with her gift giving.
Then there is an older woman who works with Ian—I’ll call her Ms. C—and she brings him gourmet lunches all the time and leaves them in his office, hot and ready for when he comes out of the operating room. Ian’s co-worker, Dan, was at our house recently, and he looked me straight in the eyes and said, “God forbid anything should happen to you, but if it does, Ms. C will be knocking at your door before Ian finishes taking his coat off from the funeral.”
What happens to certain women as they get older—do they get so desperate that they have no sense of dignity and self-respect? They just go around hitting on married men who show them the least bit of kindness?
Recently, Ian took a temporary moonlighting job in the small town of Franklin, Virginia, where he sees mainly an older African American population. These women love my
from the book, The Secret Life of a Doctor’s Wife, by Rebekah McLeodhusband so much I may have to go over there and beat them off with a stick. They come in dressed up in their hats and their pant suits, and they try to get more appointments with him than they actually need. One of them called in and asked to make an appointment with “Dr. McHottie.” Another commented to a staff member when he walked out of the room: “Ooohhh… he fresh!” I’m just waiting for the massage oil to start rolling in from Franklin.
I have to admit, there are several perks to being married to Dr. McHottie. First, he can fill out all of our school physical forms. This is a good thing when your middle school son comes home and tells you he can’t play ball unless he has a physical by tomorrow. Second, I have major inroads through the nightmarish web of military healthcare. I’ve tried working the system like a regular military spouse, but I always end up having Ian call in a favor to another doctor friend so I don’t have to wait a month to be seen. Ian calls in all of our prescriptions when we’re sick, which is why my kids hardly ever go to the pediatrician.
Recently, Ian took a temporary moonlighting job in the small town of Franklin, Virginia, where he sees mainly an older African American population. These women love my husband so much I may have to go over there and beat them off with a stick. They come in dressed up in their hats and their pant suits, and they try to get more appointments with him than they actually need. One of them called in and asked to make an appointment with “Dr. McHottie.” Another commented to a staff member when he walked out of the room: “Ooohhh…he fresh!”
For all you single ladies out there, I would not recommend marrying a man in the process of becoming a doctor, because that entails a lot of long, lonely nights without any money to spend to comfort you. But I would definitely recommend jumping in after the residency is done for maximum benefits.
Most importantly, Ian is calm in a crisis. I have two stock responses when the kids get really hurt— complete paralysis or total panic. When Skye (our youngest) was eighteen months old, there was an incident that involved her running away from me with a bag of rice, with intent to spill it all over the living room carpet. I ran after her, and she fell right into the corner of a wall and split her forehead wide open. Thankfully, Ian was upstairs when it happened, because I went directly into panic mode. Skye’s head was gushing blood, and I don’t know who was screaming louder, her or me. Ian kept saying to me, “I need you to calm down. You’re scaring her. I do this stuff every day.” We ended up driving to his clinic where he was able to apply some skin glue and put the pieces of her forehead back together.
Having a doctor for a husband can also save your life if, say, you happen to be dying like I was back in 2003. Seriously, I could have been a goner. I had a life-threatening bacterial infection of the epiglottis, which is way down the throat. (It’s what they think killed George Washington back before antibiotics could be pumped into your veins.) It’s an illness that can only be diagnosed by an ENT doc, and thankfully I married into the right specialty. I had fever, chills, and the worst sore throat of my life. It was a Monday; Ian was a resident at the time and was slammed in the clinic. I paged him, and I was crying on the phone, and my voice was sounding a little funny (that was actually my throat beginning to close, which is how you can die within forty-eight hours of contracting this illness.)
Long story short, Ian told me to come in,
he put this super long tube with a camera down my nose and, upon viewing my epiglottis, ran out to get the attending doctor who rapidly admitted me for IV antibiotics and really good pain meds.
Ian has great stories to tell at parties, too. I mean, when I’m not telling the story of how I almost died. We’ll have to save those for when you come to our house for dinner, though, because some of them are truly disgusting and he tells them best.
For all you single ladies out there, I would not recommend marrying a man in the process of becoming a doctor, because that entails a lot of long, lonely nights without any money to spend to comfort you. But I would definitely recommend jumping in after the residency is done for maximum benefits.
And for all of you older ladies making extra
appointments with my husband just so you can smell his cologne while he looks in your waxy ears: Stop it. Really. Just stop it.
[To purchase a copy of The Secret Life of a Doctor’s Wife, go to Amazon or www.westbowpress.com] CCL
My husband, Ian, is an Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist, and he is a surgeon. I never knew ENT doctors were surgeons until I married a guy who became one. Ian operates on thyroid glands and sinuses that are chronically infected; he takes out tonsils and puts in ear tubes. He also happens to be a great listener, which I think is the best quality a doctor (or any human being) can have. From the many gifts he brings home from the office, I gather he has many adoring patients who love and appreciate him.
has
Brandon Roberts is a Pooler business owner and website designer who has used the Internet and social media to advance his career. Through digital marketing and advertising, he’s raised the profile and profits for his businesses as well as those of his clients.
A back injury paved the way for his entrepreneurial bent. As it turns out his pain led to gain.
Brandon is a husband and owner of a digital marketing company and director of marketing for a medical center. Both personally and professionally, Brandon has achieved success and is seemingly living the American dream.
Pooler man overcomes difficult childhood to enjoy success in digital marketing and advertising
“You have to believe in yourself,” he said. “I came from homelessness and an abusive childhood, to now owning a very successful medical practice and advertising agency. I had a ton of failures, late nights, uncertainty the entire time, money stress, marriage to keep, and none of it was ever a sure thing. The thought of failure was always present, but if I was to fail, I would start another one and another one until I got it right. I will keep learning and pushing forward until it happened.”
His early life, however, was more of a nightmare.
Brandon was born in the back of an ambulance, at an abandoned mall parking lot in Pasadena, Texas, on October 1, 1984. His home life was anything but ideal.
“I had a fairly rough childhood,” Brandon said. “My parents were both alcoholics and drug addicts, abusive to the core, and in no shape to rear children.”
Seeking an escape, Brandon read books and played video games. In school, he enjoyed reading new books, mathematics, and, unlike many of his peers, test taking. “School was something that came very easy for me,” Brandon said.
In seventh grade, he was chosen by Duke University for a talent search program and had the opportunity to take the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) early. His selection was based on his perfect scores from TAAS testing the three previous years.
The 13-year-old recorded a 1340 out of a possible 1600 on the SAT, a score that was higher than 95 percent of the seniors who took the test that year.
His outstanding test performance did not change his troubled family life. When he was 15, Brandon said he was beaten to a pulp by his stepfather and left home.
“I decided enough was enough,” Brandon said. “After years of facing this type of abuse, I had reached the boiling point and I could not stand it another day.”
Brandon enrolled in a home school program, which gave him time to work and pay his bills while living at the homes of various friends. He recalled that his late teens and early 20s were a mix of fights, drugs, drinking and homelessness.
In his mid 20s, Brandon got a job as a bartender and worked his way into
management. He discovered he had a knack for business. Brandon’s personal life also improved when he met the woman who would become his wife, Kellye Kokalis.
“I have to say meeting her was the best thing that ever happened to me,” Brandon said. “Up to that point, life had taught me to be fearless and aggressive to survive. She helped me understand that you can catch more flies with honey, not vinegar. She helped me to become more compassionate, caring, focused, and kind. Kellye is the reason my temper cooled, and she helped me remember there was more to life waiting for us, if we only had the will to chase it.”
The couple married after dating for 10 weeks and heard from “everyone” they would be divorced within a year. “All those same people are now
divorced, while we are celebrating our eighth year of marriage,” Brandon said with a laugh.
The newlyweds, wanting to start a family, worked multiple jobs to try and support a better lifestyle than the one they had growing up. “We did not want our kids to struggle the way we did,” Brandon said.
The more they worked, Brandon said, the less they seemed to get ahead. One day, while working for a hurricane proof glass installation company, Brandon injured his back and was unable to work for nearly two months.
During that time, they depleted most of the money they had saved over the previous year. Brandon realized they were only one bad injury away from being broke and possibly homeless.
“Being homeless was something I had
experienced before,” Brandon said. “With a wife now to care for, I could not let that happen again.”
With Kellye making enough to pay most of the bills, they decided Brandon would work part time and try to start his own business during his off time. Now all he needed to do was find a business.
“I had no real idea of what industry I would get into or even an idea for a start-up business,” Brandon said. “I did not even own a home computer yet, All I had was $500 to get started. I started watching YouTube videos on my iPhone to try and figure out what I was to do. I knew I would need a computer.”
After watching a few videos, Brandon decided to build a personal computer (PC) so he would have better performance power. He spent $450 and ordered the parts from Amazon and was successful in building a “new rig.”
Possessing a decent computer, Brandon researched potential businesses and chose drop-shipping.
“The capital needed to invest was close to zero,
which worked well for me considering I only had about $50 left to invest,” Brandon said. He quickly sold his Playstation 4, old cell phones, and other electronics to earn business capital and stayed up late at night taking online courses and reading blogs to learn more about the business.
The learning curve was steep.
“I opened the drop shipping store and failed beautifully two months later,” Brandon said. “I quickly learned that my problem wasn’t the product I was selling or my website, it was getting traffic to the site - advertising. I did not have the skills needed to perform the digital advertising part of the business.”
Over the next six months, Brandon focused on improving those skills. He built websites for various people and helped small businesses with Facebook ads. He also took digital advertising classes, learning from leaders in the industry. Brandon was ready to take his second shot at drop shipping.
Before pulling the trigger, however, he suddenly
realized he needed to take a different tack. Instead of drop shipping, Brandon would start a digital advertising agency.
“I loved doing marketing,” Brandon said. “It had became a passion of mine, and I was good at it, really good. “
Brandon started MBW Inc. Digital Marketing & SEO. The MBW stood for MediBrightWhite, his failed charcoal tooth whitening company. The abbreviation he said, represented a phoenix riding from the ashes andreborn into a success.
In his first year, Brandon, learning on the job and working out the details, made about $30,000. He proved a quick study and made well over six figures his second year, far surpassing anything he had ever made working construction or waiting tables.
With his company’s success, Brandon started generating leads for real estate agencies, law offices, medical and wellness practices, and
other businesses requiring high quality leads to generate revenue. Growing tired of operating mostly as a oneman operation, Brandon looked more closely at his burgeoning work in the medical field. Recognizing the needs of the clinics, he called on his recent experience and created a lead generation system that cut the cost of advertising in half and resulted in four times as many leads. Brandon demonstrated his system for a few clinics and said he was an immediate success.
It was during this time Brandon
“Brandon doesn’t rest on his laurels,” David said. “He’s a deliberate and driven young man who definitely has his head on straight and is self-taught and self-made. He’s come a long way and is providing a service to the community and making a good life for himself and his wife.”
met David Jackson of Elite Medical Center. They struck up a conversation in a parking lot, next to where Brandon’s wife worked, and David, needing to make a change in his advertising, was intrigued with Brandon’s design for lead generation. A partnership soon developed out of that chance encounter.
“We really hit it off,” said David, president and co-owner (with Brandon) of Elite Medical Center. “I’m not a technical guy. Brandon stays up on the cuttingedge and newest technical stuff. He’s an honest, good guy and Christian who will do anything for you and the patients. Brandon is very conscientious.”
After several months, they became good friends and watched the leads roll in. “Business was good,” Brandon said. That abruptly stopped with the shutdown caused by the pandemic. Brandon said all his advertising clients stopped marketing. It was time to take a new marketing approach, capitalizing on a need created by the virus. He and David decided to offer COVID testing.
“With my marketing and digital skills, we could really take the amazing things Elite Medical Center was doing to more patients,” Brandon said. “We ended up creating a great opportunity out of what was and still is a national/global crisis. The point of all this is simple. We do
not have to let a bad start in life be the reason to follow it up with a bad legacy.”
Brandon’s sister, Amanda Holley, said her younger brother was always a smart kid who helped her write her senior English papers. She also cited his strong determination and desire to experience life on his own.
“Self-improvement has been his forte,” Amanda said. He’s extremely tech savvy and built his own computer. He always had the success in him. I’m very proud of him.”
Amanda’s husband, David, is equally impressed with Brandon’ accomplishments. “Brandon doesn’t rest on his laurels,” David said. “He’s a deliberate and driven young man who definitely
has his head on straight and is self-taught and self-made. He’s come a long way and is providing a service to the community and making a good life for himself and his wife.”
Representative of Brandon’s service to the community is his work with Roy White Jr., owner of the Butcher Block in Bloomingdale. Brandon helped Roy revamp his website and advertising, resulting in a dramatic upturn in business.
“He’s a super nice guy,” Roy said. “He set up a website and used Google, Instagram and other forms of social media to advertise our business. He did for free what he usually charges several thousand dollars. In March
“I have to say meeting her was the best thing that ever happened to me,” Brandon said. “Up to that point, life had taught me to be fearless and aggressive to survive. She helped me understand that you can catch more flies with honey, not vinegar. She helped me to become more compassionate, caring, focused, and kind. Kellye is the reason my temper cooled, and she helped me remember there was more to life waiting for us, if we only had the will to chase it.”
“With my marketing and digital skills, we could really take the amazing things Elite Medical Center was doing to more patients,” Brandon said. “We ended up creating a great opportunity out of what was and still is a national/global crisis. The point of all this is simple. We do not have to let a bad start in life be the reason to follow it up with a bad legacy.”
(2020), we had $90,000 in business. An average month was $25,000 to $30,000.” Brandon’s success can be largely attributed to determination and attitude.
Bad things are always going to happen, he said, adding that your reaction to them is what needs to change.
“You have to believe in yourself,” he said. “I came from homelessness and an abusive childhood, to now owning a very successful medical practice and advertising agency. I had a ton of failures, late nights, uncertainty the entire time, money stress, marriage to keep, and none of it was ever a sure thing. The thought of failure was always present, but if I was to fail I would start another one and another one until I got it right. I would keep learning and pushing forward until it happened.”
Finally, after years of paying dues through a series of jobs, Brandon has a rewarding and enjoyable career.
“I love what I do every day,” Brandon said. “No more going to a job I hate, day in and day out. Now I work on projects I have a passion behind, plus vastly more important to me and rewarding.”
Former rock concert promoter/Savannah author experiences disappointment, self-realization through brief encounters with fame
Murray Silver could have been a wealthy and successful lawyer. He had an “in” with his father, who was a prominent attorney in Atlanta whose clients included the family of Martin Luther King, Jr. Murray worked at his father’s law firm during the day and attended law school at night. Instead, the Savannah native opted for a life as a writer/author and rock concert promoter. While that gave him fleeting moments of fame, it also brought frustration and disappointment as he went up against the Hollywood establishment and even had him fearing for his life while working on a book with Elvis Presley’s doctor purporting the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll had been murdered.
These days, Murray, 67, is far away from Memphis and Hollywood, both literally and figuratively. He lives by himself in a cozy brick home that has been in his family since the 1940s and is located across the street from his childhood school, Jacob G. Smith Elementary. He recently returned home after living in Brazil with his wife and helping care for her elderly and sick parents for a number of years. Murray is also caring for his sick and elderly parents, who live in Bluffton, South Carolina, trying to “make their day a little better.” Given the turmoil of his life over much of the past 30-plus years, Murray welcomes the familiarity of home and reminders of a simpler time, before he saw his byline in newspapers and his name on book covers and in tabloids.
Before Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley, Murray made his mark as a rock concert promoter.
He said he worked with many major artists and groups that led to a gig as a photographer for George Harrison during his only solo tour, in 1974, which raised money for the many starving people in Bangladesh. A longtime fan who dreamed of being a Beatle after seeing the legendary group perform in 1964 in Jacksonville, Florida, Murray said George was the most enlightened, after having worked with all the Beatles on various individual projects. “He was a very spiritual man,” Murray said. “I felt the closest kinship with him out of all the Beatles. He realized there was more to life than music.”
Four years later, Murray once again would venture into the world of the rich and famous. It all started with a chance meeting with the ex-wife of Jerry Lee Lewis, Myra, the 13-year-old bride and cousin of the rock ‘n’ roll legend who wanted to tell her story to the world. On an August day in 1978, Murray was seated
at a breakfast place in Atlanta following a late night of covering the music scene for Creative Loafing, a free alternative newspaper in Atlanta that focused on arts and entertainment. Having worked as a music promoter and possessing an English degree, Murray took the job of music reviewer for the newspaper after failing the bar for the second time. Seated next to him was Myra, a quiet woman in her 30s who initiated small talk by confirming he was a music writer and asking what he thought of Elvis. That segued to Jerry Lee Lewis,
Murray Silver could have been a wealthy and successful lawyer. He had an “in” with his father, who was a prominent attorney in Atlanta whose clients included the family of Martin Luther King, Jr. Murray worked at his father’s law firm during the day and attended law school at night. Instead, the Savannah native opted for a life as a writer/author and rock concert promoter.
Before Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley, Murray made his mark as a rock concert promoter. He said he worked with many major artists and groups that led to a gig as a photographer for George Harrison during his only solo tour, in 1974, which raised money for the many starving people in Bangladesh. A longtime fan who dreamed of being a Beatle after seeing the legendary group perform in 1964 in Jacksonville, Florida, Murray said George was the most enlightened, after having worked with all the Beatles on various individual projects.
her ex-husband, a claim that a skeptical Murray confirmed by looking at her driver’s license and doing some quick calculations with her birthdate and when she married Jerry Lee.
They subsequently developed a friendship that produced collaboration on a best-selling book that led to a movie, Great Balls of Fire, in which Murray had little or no involvement and, according to him, was doomed to fail because Dennis Quaid was miscast in the lead role and, most tellingly, couldn’t sing. The movie flopped at the box office, and Murray left Hollywood embittered and no richer for his efforts despite having written the book on which the movie was based. Murray said the directors/producers had other ideas, most notably promoting Dennis Quaid as an up and coming star; on a more positive note, Murray said he met with Brad Pitt, whom he describes as a “very, very nice person,” and the latter wants to direct a movie based on Murray’s book and with the screenplay written by Terrence Malick. Murray noted that Jerry Lee Lewis, now in his late 80s, would be an impediment to such a project and Brad wants to wait until “The Killer” passes away before proceeding with it.
Murray was waylaid by a different sort of “establishment” when pursuing the story on another music icon - the aforementioned Elvis Presley. As with Jerry Lee, killing was associated with Elvis, but it wasn’t just a snazzy nickname. It involved the death of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll and a threat to Murray’s life as well. Murray found himself in Memphis where, through various connections, he learned about Dr. Nick (George Constantine Nichopoulos), Elvis’ personal physician for many years. The two men eventually got together, and Dr. Nick revealed some stunning information on how, according to him, Elvis died.
Dr. Nick acknowledged that Elvis was taking a number of medications and pills for a litany of health issues. He maintained that Elvis, contrary to widely circulated news reports and an autopsy, did not die of an overdose or heart attack but was murdered by members of the Memphis Mafia. Included in this group were several stepbrothers who, according to Murray, were angry and upset after Elvis left them out of his will and
left his estate to his daughter. Dr. Nick maintained the stepbrothers had killed Elvis by pushing his face down into the bathroom carpet and suffocating him. He further stated that Elvis sustained facial damage consistent with being suffocated in such a manner, but medical examiners did not note that in the autopsy report. Murray said he thought he had a sensational story that would rock the world and proceeded to write the book.
Unfortunately, he was fighting a losing battle. The Memphis Mafia didn’t want any story of Elvis being murdered to come out, while many people thought such a claim was “sheer fantasy,” according to Murray. Furthermore, Dr. Nick didn’t tell Murray he had pitched the story to several other media outlets, without success, before he got together with Murray. As a result, Murray’s manuscript was rejected by several publishers because the “story” had already been publicized and shot down. If he had sent them the story sooner, before Dr. Nick made it public, the publishers told Murray they would have worked with him.
When he received death threats, Murray left Memphis. The story that would have rocked the world was relegated to a chapter in Murray’s later book When Elvis met the Dalai Lama. “It ruined my life and reputation,” Murray
said. “It also ruined Dr. Nick, who was blamed for Elvis’ death. He died broke. He did not deserve that.”
Murray managed to accomplish something positive before he left Memphis, leading to one of the happiest periods of his life. He encountered Dennis Quaid’s bodyguard, whom he befriended during the filming of the movie, Great Balls of Fire. The latter suggested he get in touch with Richard Gere, whom he knew, to pitch a movie script. Murray subsequently contacted Richard, who invited him to his place in New York City. Although the movie script didn’t work out, Richard invited Murray to attend a concert featuring the Tibetan Monks, who were traveling around the country to raise money and awareness for the people being persecuted in their homeland by the Chinese government. Murray attended the concert, which he said “blew me away,” and a reception hosted by Richard the following night at Columbia University, where he met the Dalai Lama.
“That changed my life forever,” said Murray, who was recruited by the Dalai Lama to put on a benefit concert in Atlanta. That subsequently led to Murray traveling with eight Tibetan monks in a van up and down the East Coast as their road manager. “That was the best time of my life,” said Murray, who received room and
They subsequently developed a friendship that produced collaboration on a best-selling book that led to a movie, Great Balls of Fire, in which Murray had little or no involvement and, according to him, was doomed to fail because Dennis Quaid was miscast in the lead role and, most tellingly, couldn’t sing. The movie flopped at the box office, and Murray left Hollywood embittered and no richer for his efforts despite having written the book on which the movie was based.
board but no pay for his services. “They treated me like a monk. I would have done it for the rest of my life, but the media found out about my involvement with the Elvis murder story. I became too much of a distraction and they let me go.” Murray described Richard Gere as a spiritual individual and the most influential person in his life. He noted how this matinee idol, at the peak of his celebrity, took all his fame and drew attention to the plight in Tibet and recognized him as a “useful foot soldier” in his mission.
Murray returned to his hometown and wrote Behind the Moss Curtain, a collection of true stories taking place in Savannah. His inspiration for the book was Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. “I wrote Moss Curtain because I was amazed at the success of Midnight,” Murray said. “There are better stories out there.” One of them was an account of the murder of a young man in October 1945 whose severed leg was discovered in a vacant lot by a man walking his dogs. The story, which fascinated the public in 1945, proved no less compelling more than 50 years later. It ran in six parts in Connect Magazine and, according to Murray, put the publication on the map. Murray also started his own publishing company. “I got as much satisfaction helping others publish their books as my own,” he said.
Savannah artist Chris Roberts enjoyed reading Behind the Moss Curtain. “Those are great articles about Shoeless Joe Jackson, Prohibition, and recent Savannah history from a generation ago,” Chris said. “I like the stuff about his grandfather, Bo Peep.”
Shannon Scott, owner of a Bonaventure Cemetery tour, said Savannah has been home to a canon
of great historical writers who were either born or moonlighted here and include Conrad Aiken, Flannery O’Connor, Julien Green, Joel Chandler Harris, Harry Hervey and John Berendt. According to Scott, although Murray is considered more of a Hollywood writer, he writes with the heart of a poet and sensibility of a fiction writer, always keeping Savannah close. “He really owes the world some novels, to be frank,” Shannon said. “Each year I’m asked by thousands of tourists for a book recommendation about Savannah and Murray’s Behind the Moss Curtain is always at the top of that list. I consider it the most profound short story book respective of Savannah history in so far as the 20th century and believe that is how it will be held in the minds of collectors 200 years from now.”
In 2015, Murray stepped out of the literary world and into the political arena, running for mayor in Savannah. “I wanted to serve as a bridge between rich and poor, black and white,” said Murray, who lost
the election to eventual winner Eddie DeLoach.
“I would have been the first post-racial mayor. Nobody wanted to hear it. Black people and prominent white people rejected my platform. We’re racially farther apart than in the 60s.”
Murray’s defeat in the mayoral race was the latest setback during a life in which he said he’s better known for his failures than his successes.
Although he said such a legacy is a horrible thing to say about someone’s career, Murray has contributed to the world in a positive way while also discovering his true purpose in life.
“Instead of making a donation, I go work with the Tibetan monks,” Murray said. “That’s the back story. Everything I chased was a mirage. I learned from George Harrison and Richard Gere that fame and entertainment don’t mean anything. It’s about spirit and people and doing what’s right in the world.”
CCL
