Houston County Living Magazine - Winter 2020 by With You In Mind Publications

Hometown Living at its Best Win t e r 2020

A Labor of Love Cindy Ritchie loves the joy of weddings so much, she decided to build a wedding venue of her own.

HOUSTON COUNTY LIVING

WHATCHA Got Cookin’?

Sheldon Hudlin created the interactive Facebook page, Whatcha Got Cookin’? as a creative outlet to carry him through this strange time.

eaving L a legacy

JP WILLIAMS is leaving a legacy for our youth to follow that represents leadership, stewardship and service to others.

Let us give you the smile you’ve always wanted.

J. Don Spillers Jr., DMD, MS | Adam Gordon, DMD

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Guiding you home for over 50 years 1271 S. Houston Lake Road Warner Robins, GA 31088 478-218-8052

1101 Washington Street Perry, GA 31069 478-987-0763

www.cbfreeRealty.com

Residential 2

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Land

lots

commercial

WELCOME TO

Warner Robins RANDY TOMS, MAYOR

478.293.1000 | www.wrga.gov | 700 Watson Boulevard | Warner Robins, GA

Hometown Living at its Best

CONTENTS /

WINTER ISSUE 2020

The Answer to a thousand prayers Liam Stuckey’s road to Hollywood

Caring for more than the animals Critter Fixers Veterinary Hospital puts Middle Georgia on the map & the big screen, 1 paw, 1 hoof, 1 tail and 1 heart at a time!

A Labor of Love Cindy Ritchie loves the joy of weddings so much; she decided to build a wedding venue of her own.

A Lifetime of Service Brev and Norma Hunt leave a mark on Warner Robins through education, faith and music.

‘Hope Dealer’ Joshua Wilson spreads love and encouragement to Middle Georgia youth.

ON T H E C O V E R Leaving a Legacy - JP Williams >> PHOTO: TINIKA BENNETT PHOTOGRAPHY 4 WINTER 2020 / HOUSTON COUNTY LIVING

Banking from the

Comfort

of your _________.

Online Banking goes wherever you go.

Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re on the go or unwinding at home, you can access your account informaaon anywhere using Online Banking with Morris Bank. It has the ease, convenience, and tools you need to stay on top of your ďŹ nances. Visit www.morris.bank to access your account today!

Hometown Living at its Best

C O NT E NTS

102 162

144 116

146

A Lasting Impact Retiring commissioners Tom

(Cover Story)

Leaving a Legacy JP Williams is leaving a legacy for our youth to follow that represents leadership, stewardship and service to others.

102

Whatcha got Cookin’? Sheldon Hudlin created the interactive Facebook page, Whatcha Got Cookin’? as a creative outlet to carry him through this strange time. 6 WINTER 2020 / HOUSTON COUNTY LIVING

116

His Boots were made for Walking Will Brett decided to take on the Appalachian Trail in early March and gained so much life experience.

130

Come Fly With Me There’s no greater feeling than soaring through the air – except perhaps watching your radio control airplane soar instead.

McMichael and Larry Thomson reflect on their decades of service.

162

Reading on my mind Reaching Tomorrow’s Community Leaders One Page at a Time.

176

From Nails to Know-How Warner Robins Building Supply is one family’s legacy and a community’s proudest supporter.

We Like Making You Smile!

S. Michael Loden, DMD & Amy S. Loden, DMD We are a team of health care professionals dedicated to improving the lives of our patients by establishing relationships based on trust, compassion, and commitment. Our goal is to become a partner with our patients to help them achieve and maintain optimum health, beauty, and comfort for a lifetime. 1267 Russell Parkway, Warner Robins | www.lodendental.com | Office Hours by Appointment

From the Publisher

P u b l i s h e r With You In Mind Publications

Jay and Patti Martin e d i to r Renee Corwine

A Photo by Leslie Hand

As we enter the “New Normal”, it is impossible to project what is ahead for our world, country, state, county, city and family. I have heard it said that “history repeats itself”. I’m not sure that “history” has ever seen anything quite like the last few months BUT, what history has shown us is that the world has previously faced wars, unrest and pestilence. Although devastating, we have come out on the other side – sometimes quickly and sometimes slowly – sometimes painlessly and sometimes painfully. Our goal is to highlight some of the people in each of our issues that represent the solutions to the “new normal”. The people in this issue are part of the history and legacy of Houston County. Their stories provide all of us with confidence that, together, we will persevere and thrive! As always, we could not do this without the continued support from our sponsors which are listed on page 192. We hope that you will join us in thanking them. Be sure to drop in at any of those locations listed and grab your free copy that they make possible! Shop with them, visit with them and just keep on showing the love you so freely give. John 10:10 KJV The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. Blessings,

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

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C reat i v e | D e s i g n Caffeine Generated Graphics

Courtney Kitchens Design Stacey Nichols o f f i ce M a n ager Nikki Burkhalter

A s s i s ta n t M a n ager June Dixon

D i r e c to r Of P h otograp h y Tinika Bennett

P h otograp h er s Annie T. Photography

Courtney Kitchens Photography Sugar Snapz Photography Tinika Bennett Photography C ov er P h oto JP Williams, taken by

Tinika Bennett Photography Sa l e s Dorothy Sichelstiel

Dottie Hicks Patti Martin Randy Montague

Contributing

Wri te r s Alexa Tebben

David Pena

Michael W. Pannell

Renee Corwine

Tricia Kloberdanz

Valerie Rose

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

CARING FOR

more than the animals

houston county living

BY VALERIE ROSE | PHOTOS BY TINIKA BENNETT PHOTOGRAPHY

C r i t t e r F i x e r s V e t e r i n a ry h o s p i ta l P u t s M i d d l e G e o r g i a O n T h e M a p & T h e B i g S c r e e n , 1 Paw, 1 H o o f, 1 Ta i l , a n d 1 H e a r t A t A T i m e !

Hometown Living At Its Best

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It’s said that a dog is a man’s best friend, and for a cat lover they would likely argue the same. In fact, if one were to travel all over central Georgia one would find that Houston County is full of animal owners, animal lovers and care takers of all kinds; cats, dogs, mules, cows, snakes, lizards, rabbits, etc. People care about people and people care about animals. As I recently sat in the waiting room of the Critter Fixers Veterinary Hospital I was quick to see that this hospital is about far more than animals, it is about community, it’s about family, it’s about helping one community member at a time. This home town feeling of bridging business and community together is led by two incredible gentlemen Dr. Vernard Hodges & Dr. Terrence Ferguson. Each of these gentlemen uses their knowledge and positions within the community to reach well beyond the walls of the hospital and care about far more than the animals of Houston County. Dr. Hodges graduated from Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine with a DVM in 1997, and has been a practicing veterinarian in

It is that relational value that is placed on being involved and amongst the community that is the “magic of the mission” for Critter Fixers Veterinary Hospital, as their mission is to serve the community with quality care and in return the community supports and takes care of the doctors and their team as well.

Hometown Living At Its Best

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Houston County for twenty two years. His original plan was to be the next “Jacques Cousteau”, luckily for the community of Houston County he ended up staying local taking care of people’s animals through veterinary medicine and in the process taking care of people in the community too. Dr. Hodges loves getting out into the community, speaking with students at schools and volunteering in times of need such as when hurricane Katrina hit and through a partnership with Kohl’s department store, his It Takes a Village Foundation treats local families to some holiday shopping during the Christmas holiday season. Dr. Hodges has a passion for helping others succeed, each in their own right, so much so that he has wrote about it in his book titled; Bet on Yourself; From Zero to Millions. Dr. Hodges will be the first to say that while the notoriety and wealth is great it doesn’t compare to the heartfelt support of the small town community that has supported him throughout his journey as veterinarian and successful businessman.

Hometown Living At Its Best

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Dr. Ferguson graduated from Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine with a DVM in 1998, and has been a practicing veterinarian in Houston County for twenty-two years. His love for animals originated from his childhood heart of rescuing stray animals and nursing them back to health. His mother encouraged him to educate himself and now all these years later he is paying that wisdom and sound advice forward through mentoring and coaching students in Central Georgia and a Peach County Youth Organization. He has a passion for mentoring local student athletes and their parents in regards to their education, scholarships, and funding for their educational and athletic endeavors. He also serves at his church Beulahland Bible Church in Warner Robins. These two gentlemen are leaders amongst the community, Dr. Hodges’ desire is to be a game changer amongst his community, and Dr. Ferguson’s desire is to inspire and lead others in the community to be key play makers. Dr. Hodges states that he would rather teach a man to fish than give him fish, and Dr. Ferguson says that he wants young people particularly young male athletes to realize the impact and power of

These two gentlemen are leaders amongst the community, Dr. Hodges’ desire is to be a game changer amongst his community, and Dr. Ferguson’s desire is to inspire and lead others in the community to be key play makers. Dr. Hodges states that he would rather teach a man to fish than give him fish, and Dr. Ferguson says that he wants young people particularly young male athletes to realize the impact and power of their play and/or actions.

Hometown Living At Its Best

their play and/or actions; that it is about more than the game of football, it is how you play, how you carry yourself throughout the game. Sitting down and talking with both of these gentleman was as comfortable as having your neighbor over for a nice tall cup of ice tea, as both are as kind, genuine, and humble as they come; one would be hard pressed to know that this dynamic duo recently placed central Georgia and Houston County on the map with their television show Critter Fixers Country Vets that recently aired Season 1 on Nat Geo Wild and is currently filming for Season 2. In fact as I waited to meet with these two doctors to discover the “ magic of the mission” behind this local veterinary hospital I was able to see client after client come in and immediately attended to as if he or she was the only client in the room despite being among

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several, I found myself seated next to Blake Allen whose beautiful daughter is a bit of a hometown hero battling against childhood cancer, he said that he and his wife Hailey, have been clients for years at Critter Fixers and have always been met with quality care. Earlier that morning his wife had put a post on social media to please pray for their sweet pup, as it was ailing in health and they were in route to the vet, sadly the news Dr. Hodges had to deliver to Mr. Allen that day was hard and yet, Blake said he had no doubt that the doctors and their crew did everything they could to save their pup. It is in those hard moments that both doctors agree that having such close knit relationships with their clients and community members is what matters most. Dr. Hodges said “It could be a day where you have 100 “wins” or good cases come through but at the end of the day you are still thinking and feeling that 1 loss”. It is that relational value that is placed on being involved and amongst the community that is the “magic of the mission” for Critter Fixers Veterinary Hospital, as their mission is to serve the community with quality care and in return the community supports and takes care of the doctors and their team as well. The doctors recall the community coming by one truck load after another in support of the doctors Hurricane Katrina rescue mission by donating supplies that the doctors took with them in assisting with its aftermath, both say that after twenty years they have literally watched their clients grow up and become wiser over the years and that they enjoy seeing their clients at ball games, at Kroger and that they don’t forget the value of the local police officer who patrols by the hospital and takes the extra effort to get out of his patrol car and check for locked doors, it’s that kind of hometown community family feel that inspire them to going and growing , right here at home in Houston County. For more information regarding the services rendered check out their web site and/ social media links : critterfixerveterinaryhospital.com and FB: Terrence Ferguson IG: @drferguson_ critterfixervet Twitter: @tflee31 Hodges’ social media: FB: Dr Vernard Hodges IG: @drhodges_ critterfixervet Twitter: @drhodges HCL

Enriching Lives. Securing Futures.

• Friendly Community • Bountiful Amenities • Engaging Lifestyle

Schedule a Personalized Tour!

Tours are safe and practice social distancing.

Take ownership of your retirement. Carlyle Place is a Life Plan Community where residents pursue the life they want, enjoying the peace of mind of a secured future.

CAL L 1 - 8 6 6 - 6 0 8 - 7 1 04 www.CarlylePlace.org • 5300 Zebulon Road | Macon, Georgia 31210 Hometown Living At Its Best

lasting legacies

for future generations Moody and Associates, works hard to ensure every client has peace of mind knowing they are prepared for the storms of life.

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Moody and Associates serves clients in middle Georgia with specialized expertise, care and compassion, helping clients establish their lasting legacies for future generations. At Moody and Associates, our team works hard to ensure every client has peace of mind knowing they are prepared for the storms of life. Experts in asset protection, complex estate planning, probates, guardianships, social security, elder law, civil law, and adoptions, our team is equipped to serve the best interests of each client. At Moody and Associates, we take the personal health and safety of our clients seriously and have made accommodations to minimize health risks with ultraviolet lights to kill viruses, fans to move air, and sanitation of all surfaces between each client meeting.

Moody and Associates founding attorney Becky Moody was the first female company commander within the GaARNG 48th Infantry Brigade. After a successful career at the base legal office as a civil law attorney, she was later mentored by the late Roy Cowart, esq., but Becky credits her mother most of all for establishing a trust which enabled her to finish law school at Mercer after her mother’s death and led to her career in estate law. Associate Attorney Kristy Harris earned her law degree with honors from Florida Coastal and has been an integral part of our team since 2015. Kristy’s gentle yet fierce spirit is vital to the success of our clients’ cases. We’re excited to welcome Jessica Ward, a recent graduate of Mercer Law. Jessica loves working with people and is eager to use her education to help others. A 2012 mission trip to Africa with Becky’s daughter, Emily, ignited the drive to help bright young people reach their potential. From that trip, the idea for Talents Empowered was born. Talents Empowered (TE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit co-founded by Becky, her daughter Emily, and the late Mr. Carroll Underwood to empower the marginalized in low-income countries. The co-founders believe education is the way to lasting change. TE’s focus is to support young people through scholarships so that students can receive college degrees that would be otherwise unattainable. These young people then return to their communities to empower others. TE reaches communities in Tanzania, Guinea, and Liberia and creates opportunities for individuals and their communities to empower themselves. Moody and Associates donates 35% of its net profits to TE which, when combined with the generous giving of clients, family, and friends, has resulted in over 30 scholars being funded. The nonprofit strives for zero overhead, so every cent being donated benefits those who need it. We don’t just provide excellent legal services at Moody and Associates. We create lasting legacies and invest in people. Attorneys Becky, Kristy, Jessica and our staff Ashley, Madelyn, Lori, and Brittany are eager to assist you in planning your family’s future. By placing your needs in our hands, you become a part of the Moody and Associates family. You will be at ease knowing your future is secure.

Moody and Associates donates 35% of its profits to TE which, when combined with the generous giving of clients, family, and friends, has resulted in over 30 scholars being funded. The nonprofit strives for zero overhead, so every cent being donated benefits those who need it.

MOODY AND ASSOCIATES 9 0 5 J E R N I G A N S T, P E R RY, G A 3 1 0 6 9 ( 4 7 8 ) 9 8 8 - 0 2 3 8 | W W W. M O O DYA N D A S S O C I A T E S .O R G Hometown Living At Its Best

Family

HEALING GRIEVING HEARTS ONE AT A TIME

Every situation is different; we know this. From traditional to highly customized to purely simple, we can honor your loved one perfectly. We will meet any budget need. Period.

Beautifully maintained, Magnolia Park has options for every type of memorialization and offers both affordability and enduring quality. Our newly expanded Veteranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Garden of Valor features a custom-made POW-MIA memorial. Spaces for Veterans will always be provided at no charge. Burial Lots | Private Estates Mausoleums | Cremation Options Free spaces for Veterans

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Offering exceptional value with compassionate service to our community has been the mission of McCullough Funeral Home for nearly 70 years. Still family owned and operated, ours is a history of unmatched integrity and we strive to maintain our reputation through quality, sincerity, and trust. We will never forget that our mission is one of service. No matter your situation, McCullough Funeral Home can and will help you.

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A Labor of

Love

BY ALEXA TEBBEN P H O T O S B Y T I N I K A B E N N E T T P H O T O G R A P H Y, T W O C H I C S P H O T O G R A P H Y & H U M M I N G B I R D H I L L S F A R M

Cindy Ritchie loves the joy of weddings so much, she decided to build a wedding venue of her own.

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Planning a wedding is like writing the first chapter of the rest of your life. The day marks the beginning of a new journey with your deepest love, one that many brides have dreamed of since childhood. That’s why such extensive labor is put into mastering each intricate detail of that much-anticipated day. Between the flowers, dresses, photographer – you name it – there are dozens if not hundreds of decisions that make that beautiful walk down the aisle all you’ve dreamed and more. Cindy Ritchie knows this better than most. As a mother of three, she began thinking of her children’s future weddings years ago. “I love weddings,” Cindy says almost as soon as I meet her. But she knew the pressure of finding that perfect place to promise one’s love to another and dreaded the trouble of finding the right one for each of her daughters. That’s why she decided to build a wedding venue of her own.

Hometown Living At Its Best

“We were our own contractor. We had some very good framers and electrical people that just pushed and pushed and pushed to get it done on time.”

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Cindy admits she had never considered a barn for a wedding venue until she attended a barn wedding and saw the creative potential of such a space. She came home and shared her idea of building one of their own with her husband, Scott. “My husband did not at first bite or even care about doing that,” she says ironically. “It took about three years until he was sold.” In the meantime, they had purchased a piece of property with plans to build a house and had plenty of room to add a barn. “My friend’s daughter had just gotten engaged,” Cindy explains, “and we needed a push to do something, we needed deadlines.” After toying with the idea for quite some time, it was the perfect nudge they needed to put their plan into action. Cindy brought the idea to the bride-to-be who decided to take a leap of faith and book a venue that had yet to be built. “They really believed in us,” Cindy says almost incredulously. With a date already set for the wedding, Cindy and Scott were left with five months to build the barn from ground zero to wedding-ready. “We had to put the peddle to the meddle and get started,” she says. And that’s exactly what they did. The next five months were perhaps the busiest most thrilling part of their barn experience to date. The entire construction and design process threw them into the hustle and bustle that naturally comes with joining the wedding industry. “We built it all ourselves,” Cindy says proudly. “We were our own contractor. We had some very good framers and electrical people that just pushed and pushed and pushed to get it done on time.” During this period of work, they made crucial decisions that would ultimately give their barn a unique character that sets it apart from other venues. For instance, they installed air conditioning units throughout the barn – one of Cindy’s personal favorite features. They also built a groom’s room, bride’s room and installed a water fountain. With a pavilion, gazebo

Hometown Living At Its Best

and chapel on site, there are several places to hold a ceremony. However, none of this came together easily. Cindy recruited the help of her children, parents and close friends to see the project through. “It was definitely a village that came together, that really stepped it up to get things done,” she says warmly. “I was at the barn every day because we were making decisions on the spot,” Cindy says adding that the process was a true labor of love. It was all worth it. The much-anticipated day arrived on May 27, 2017 when Ryan and Bethany Storms pledged their love to one another at Hummingbird Hill Farms. They were the first of many newlyweds to book the venue, and the day was one to remember.

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Word of the new venue spread fast, and soon the Ritchie’s were booking the barn almost every weekend. Cindy quickly fell into the rhythm of operating a well-sought after venue. She speaks of the growth she experienced in those first months and all the things she learned about wedding planning. One thing she saw is how a small last minute added feature you never knew you needed could make your special day even that much better. A few lanterns, candle sticks or vases might just be the missing piece to bring the whole look together. Knowing this, Cindy began collecting the décor left behind from previous weddings and offering them up on loan to anyone booking the venue. She placed all the

Cindy Ritchie knows this better than most. As a mother of three, she began thinking of her children’s future weddings years ago. “I love weddings,” Cindy says almost as soon as I meet her. But she knew the pressure of finding that perfect place to promise one’s love to another and dreaded the trouble of finding the right one for each of her daughters. That’s why she decided to build a wedding venue of her own.

items in a closet and referred to the lending set-up as Something Borrowed. Eventually, the pile of goods outgrew the closet. “Now it’s turned into a shed,” Cindy laughs adding that it is about to grow out of that, too. “We want to help out the brides as much as we can because it’s not cheap to have a wedding.” Brides find joy in rummaging through the Something Borrowed collection almost as much as Cindy finds joy in providing it for them. When asked more about her business strategies, Cindy revealed that she approaches every business transaction with the bride’s best interest at heart. “I’m not a pressured salesperson because I don’t like to be pressured,” she explains. “They want to find a place that they mesh with or that they’ve

always dreamed of.” Cindy understands the importance of booking the venue specially tailored to one’s needs, and she encourages brides to shop around before making a final decision. “No matter where they pick, their wedding is going to be beautiful,” Cindy says positively. “I’ve never seen an ugly wedding.” Since first opening Hummingbird Hill Farms wedding venue, Scott and Cindy have made continued improvements to the barn and property for the benefit of future brides. They’ve added a gorgeous fireplace and built what they refer to as a Love Lock Fence. This is a black iron fence built around a small tree near a pond. Newlyweds are encouraged to write their name, initials, or whatever

Hometown Living At Its Best

they please on a lock and throw the key into the pond. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an adorable tradition that symbolizes a bond that cannot be broken. In addition to all the other perks of this venue, Cindy offers the property to brides and grooms for engagement and save-thedate photoshoots. Personalized tours can be scheduled with Cindy prior to booking the venue. She also offers a monthly open house for any bride who has already booked the venue. This open house allows brides to visit the property in the months leading up to the big day. They are welcome and encouraged to bring family, friends or wedding planners to these open houses to visualize the space and toy with various decorating ideas. Cindy provides snacks and refreshments for visitors as they walk the beautiful grounds of their chosen venue.

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Hometown Living At Its Best

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Only three years after they hosted their first event, Hummingbird Hill Farms celebrated its 100th wedding on March 14, 2020. It was a milestone for what began as a simple idea and has become such a grand success. “I have never done anything like this before,” Cindy says when discussing how far the venue has come. “I absolutely love it. I love meeting new people; I love hearing their stories and how they met.” What started out as a hobby has become her full-time job, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Such a vast amount of love and attention to detail went into building and designing every inch of what has become the landing place for so many beautiful ceremonies and celebrations. And what Cindy values most is at the end of the day, regardless of where you get married, the memories you create when you begin your lifelong journey together will last and be cherished forever. HCL

Dr. Andrew Wang

Specializing in:  Preventative Medicine  Childhood Growth and Development  Obesity  Diabetes  Senior Health

1019 Keith Drive, Suite APerry, GA 31069(478) 218-1801 www.hhcphysicians.com

Healing Starts Here When you have a wound that won’t heal, there is hope. Houston Healthcare’s Wound Healing Center offers specialized care for wounds that have resisted traditional treatment. We have all the latest technologies and techniques including hyperbaric oxygen treatment, and we’re here to get you healed and back to doing the things you love.

1118 Morningside Drive, Suite APerry, GA(478) 218-1420

compassion

when you need it most

At Heritage Memorial Funeral Home, the lives of your loved ones are celebrated with a funeral like no other.

At Heritage Memorial Funeral Home, the lives of your loved ones are celebrated with a funeral like no other. Tailor-made to reflect their passions and interests, Heritage is the only funeral home in Georgia offering the Share Life experience. Share Life combines a variety of products, services and options that transform traditional funerals into one-of-a-kind celebrations. One of these ways is with a wall-size projector screen that can display themes and images relevant to your loved one’s life or interests. “For example, if the deceased was a retired Air Force member, we have an Air Force theme. If they were into gardening or cooking, or even football, we have ways to make it personal,” said Heritage General Manager Jason Moore. When Joana Felton’s husband, Chaspert Felton, passed away, the viewing service was transformed into a fairway, complete with Chaspert’s golf clubs,

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the scent of pine in the room and tees given out as tokens of remembrance. Chaspert’s funeral was held on the golf course at Landings Golf Club. “Pallbearers teed off one last time together for him and the pastor putted a hole-in-one,” said Joana. “That was my husband. That was what he enjoyed more than anything else in the whole world. Had we had a stiff funeral service, it would not have been bearable.” For the family of Claude Lewis, known as the “Father of Tee-ball” in Warner Robins, the choice to have his service at the Little League Southeast Region Stadium was a memory they’ll never forget. “His casket was on home plate, and people, like the mayor, spoke from the pitcher’s mound,” said Jason. “We had baseballs engraved with his life dates, and every family that came to the funeral left with a baseball.”

The baseballs and other special touches were a surprise for the family, said Maria Lewis, Claude’s daughter. “They sang ‘God Bless America’ and ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame.’ It was an amazing send off. I know daddy was grinning from ear to ear. When they rolled him off the field, he got red clay on him one more time,” Maria said. These special services and mementoes are things family and friends will treasure forever. “We go out of our way to tell the story of the deceased. This is about more than going to a somber service,” said Jason. “We want to tell their story, create a good experience that honors that person and their life, and give people something positive to take away, something that’s a memory.” “All we did was make the call and Heritage made this whole horrible experience of Claude’s death so much more bearable,” said Joana. “I could not have had a better experience. I lost my lifelong best friend and husband of 43 years, and they made it bearable.” Maria agreed: “All the folks at Heritage went above and beyond. They were wonderful to our family, and it was an amazing sendoff.”

478.329.1400 • 701 Carl Vi nso n P k w y Warner Robi ns, GA 3109 3

Hometown Living At Its Best

Jason Lee Realtor, Area Manager for Hughston Homes.

CELL 478-832-0388, OFFICE 706-568-7650 | JLEE@HUGHSTONHOMESMARKETING.COM 36

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Winning The Cancer Battle

EXPERIENCED, INNOVATIVE AND COMPASSIONATE PROVIDING CUTTING EDGE CANCER CARE SINCE 1978 WITH OVER 45 YEARS COMBINED EXPERIENCE

Central Georgia Radiation Oncology works closely with all of your cancer specialists and caregivers to plan and deliver personalized and precise treatment options. You or your loved one will have the benefit of the most effective and up-to-date care with reduced side effects. Every single day Central Georgia Radiation Oncologyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s team offers the latest radiation techniques to zero in on cancer so you can live your best life!

David Andrew Cole, Jr. M.D. | Zachary Lopater, M.D., M.P.H. | Kazumi Chino, M.D. | Linda Wobeck, M.D.

800 FIRST STREET SUITE 110 | MACON, GA 31201 | 478-743-3466 114 SUTHERLIN DRIVE SUITE R | WARNER ROBINS, GA 31088 | 478-287-6353 Hometown Living At Its Best

Experienced, Trusted, Respected and Dedicated

Clark, Smith & Sizemore LLC represents seriously injured individuals and the families of individuals killed as a result of negligence. The firm is led by Chris Clark, Mike Smith, and Richard Sizemore, personal injury lawyers with many years of experience in complex and challenging cases involving serious injuries, wrongful death, insurance litigation, business disputes and other matters. For professional, skillful and results-oriented representation, look to Clark, Smith & Sizemore LLC.

478.254.5040 | ClarkSmithSizemore.com

a happy

home environment Married 71 years, Weda and Clinton Thompson were given the ability to continue to live together during their retirement years.

With over 47 years of experience in specialized nursing care for seniors, Summerhill has many living options to meet the different needs of our aging population. From short-term rehabilitation, specialized memory care, independent living, or assistance with daily living activities, Summerhill has the flexibility to provide a complete continuum of care for every senior. Just ask our residents! We strive to provide seniors with the happiest possible home environment applicable to their needs. Weda and Clinton Thompson are just one example of a couple that are able to age happily together. Married 71 years, Weda and Clinton Thompson were both born and raised in Georgia. Weda worked at Samâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Club in Macon, and Clinton worked as a mechanic with LJL Trucking in Macon before retirement. The couple traveled extensively throughout their marriage and raised two sons and a daughter. They now have 7 grandchildren, 18

great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. Weda first came to Veranda West Memory Care at Summerhill while Clinton lived in an independent living villa. After further testing and diagnosis, Weda and Clinton were able to move in together in the skilled nursing part of the facility. The couple enjoys the activities at Summerhill, as well as the people who live and work there. They appreciate being able to receive on-site therapy and are able to enjoy one anotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s company since they are able to live together again. Weda says the thing she likes best about Summerhill is the personal treatment and care she and her husband receive as residents, as well as the ability to continue to live together during their retirement years. Clinton, who was unavailable for photography, agrees! As they experience the different aspects of growing older, both are happy and content knowing they will experience those times together enjoying life at Summerhill!

Short-Term Rehabilitation Comprehensive Long-Term Care Specialized Memory Care Personal Care Home Senior Independent Living

500 Stanley Street, Perry, GA | 1.478.987.3100 | summerhillseniorcommunity.com

lifetime of service

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BY MICHAEL W. PANNELL | PHOTOS BY TINIKA BENNET T PHOTOGRAPHY

Brev and Norma Hunt leave A mark on Warner Robins through education, faith and music

Many remember Brevard Hunt, known as Brev, from his seven years as a teacher and 30 years as principal at Warner Robins’ Lindsey Elementary School from the 1960s to 1990s. Many remember Norma Hunt as an organist at Warner Robins’ First United Methodist Church for more than 50 years, as a promoter of music and the arts, plus as a special education teacher focusing on speech and hearing. In these and other ways, the Hunts have endeared themselves to generations while serving others during their 58 years of marriage. “I was born in New York – a lot of people are surprised to hear that about me,” said Brev, who is now 85. “Our family moved to South Carolina during World War II, then to Macon where I grew up and graduated from Lanier High School in 1953.” After attending Mercer University to become a teacher, Brev landed the sixth-grade teaching job that began his career-long stay at Lindsey Elementary. An ROTC member while at Mercer, Brev said he was honored to receive his diploma from the late Sen. Richard B. Russell. Handing him the degree, Brev said Russell congratulated him and called him Brevard saying, “That’s a good name, boy. Brevard is my middle name.”

Hometown Living At Its Best

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“I’d never known what his middle name actually was, so I was surprised and thrilled to have such an illustrious person pay me that kind of attention,” Brev said. As for Norma, she’s a Texan. Born in Fort Worth, her family also lived in Austin and in Long Beach, California, before moving to Atlanta. Wesleyan College brought her to Macon to study education and is what ultimately drew the two together. “Brev was active at Macon’s Martha Bowman United Methodist Church and he and his brother gave Wesleyan students rides to services,” Norma said. “That’s how we met.” Brev said both he and his brother met their wives-to-be through the chivalrous rides to church. Norma received her teaching degree in 1961 with a minor in music. She concentrated on organ and church music, and became the school’s glee club accompanist.

“I struggled with stuttering as a young person and was greatly helped by a speech pathologist,” Norma said. “After graduating from Wesleyan, I decided to study speech pathology for a year in Atlanta at Emory University.” By this time, Brev and Norma had clearly become “sweet on each other.” While she was in Atlanta, he was living in Macon and teaching in Warner Robins. He had by then wrapped up his military active duty and reserve obligations. He also was carrying a ring in his pocket. “I had the ring all through that year,” he said. The two married in September 1962. “My birthday is Aug. 20 and hers is Oct. 2 so we got married on Sept. 22 – right in the middle so it’s easy to remember!” They rented an apartment in Macon and Norma began to work in speech therapy. When Brev

Hometown Living At Its Best

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became principal at Lindsey in 1964, they knew it was time to move to Warner Robins where, at times, Norma taught public school and at what was then Houston Speech School. But her years were largely dedicated to raising the couple’s two children, David and Dottie. All-the-while, however, she played piano and organ at First UMC – first its Hammond electronic organ and later a Möller multi-pipe organ, which has undergone numerous restorations and improvements through the years, including a recent one that added a greater array of digital capabilities to the instrument’s amazing 1,425 pipes. As an organist, Norma not only played beautifully for services, weddings, funerals and other events, she kept meticulous notes of what she played going back to the 1960s. “I get some kidding about my notes, but they’ve been so helpful,” she said. “First, I don’t want to repeat pieces too frequently, but also my notes for weddings have let me play some of the same music for couples that I may have played at their parents’ wedding. It’s a sentimental thing and can be very meaningful.” Despite feeling it an honor to play the Möller and serve others, Norma said the greater honor is leading them in worshipping God. She said she expresses herself best through music, and especially so when a congregation is joyfully in worship sounding more beautiful than any instrument.

Hometown Living At Its Best

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Norma continues to play, though she has resigned from the role a time or two. Brev retired from Houston County schools in 1994. “I thoroughly enjoyed teaching,” he said. ”I probably would have stayed in the classroom if it wasn’t for the pay increase that came with being an administrator. But that was rewarding, too, and I got to meet many wonderful students and parents and help create programs I believe helped people.” Brev makes special note of teachers he’s worked with through the years and credits them with the county’s above-average school system that puts students first. “I still run into kids from the school who remember me and say hi or tell me something about their days at Lindsey, so that’s nice,” he said. “I got to know families because students would have younger brothers and sisters. There’s a guy from Lindsey I see when I go to Dino’s Gym to work out. He’s 71 and I’m in my 80s. There are so many different personalities that go through a school.” While Brev now enjoys being a Master Gardener and other aspects of retired life, he began a second significant career soon after leaving Lindsey that has kept him serving others, this time as a volunteer. Since the mid-1990s, Brev has been coordinator of the area’s largest ongoing food pantry ministry located at the Hunt’s home church, First UMC. It involves the efforts of First UMC, Christ UMC, Northview UMC and numerous other volunteers and community and military supporters. The volunteer-based work has annually provided food to more than 3,000 families representing over 8,000 individuals. Started in a spare closet at First UMC, it now occupies a purpose-built, 2,000-square-foot building where Brev and a roster of some 50 other volunteers collect, sort, package and distribute food they’ve gathered through canned-goods donations, stores and restaurants, the Middle Georgia Community Food Bank and other sources. “We like to give as many items as we can, sometimes a couple of dozen,” he said. “We spend a lot of time and effort sorting through and organizing things we give out like pasta and spaghetti, mac and cheese, Jiffy muffin mix, lots of canned vegetables,

The Rev. Dr. Josh Bizzell has been Brev’s and Norma’s pastor for two and a half years at First UMC and has observed their lives and commitment to family, neighborhood and community. “They’re really both the heart of the ministries they serve in, not just because of their longevity of service, but because of how they pour their heart and soul into them,” Josh said. “Neither do anything halfway and what they do they see as service to Christ as well as to others. I think that’s what makes them so successful.”

Hometown Living At Its Best

Started in a spare closet at First UMC, it now occupies a purpose-built, 2,000-square-foot building where Brev and a roster of some 50 other volunteers collect, sort, package and distribute food they’ve gathered through canned-goods donations, stores and restaurants, the Middle Georgia Community Food Bank and other sources.

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ramen noodles, loaves of bread donated from bakeries and restaurants and many other food items. There are a lot of needy people in Warner Robins and Houston County – a lot of needy people and it’s a shame. But there are a lot of generous, kind-hearted people, too. It’s rewarding to be a part of seeing the two come together and really, I think both are helped by it.” The Rev. Dr. Josh Bizzell has been Brev’s and Norma’s pastor for two and a half years at First UMC and has observed their lives and commitment to family, neighborhood and community. “They’re really both the heart of the ministries they serve in, not just because of their longevity of service, but because of how they pour their heart and soul into them,” Josh said. “Neither do anything halfway and what they do they see as service to Christ as well as to others. I think that’s what makes them so successful.” He called the pair examples and inspirations. “You see their commitment and the love in their relationship with one another, in the work they do and in the work they did years ago in schools and at home. I just have to think of them as the kind of example married couples need today, and that everyone needs as community members whose hearts are to help those around them.” HCL

AMANDA FIEBIG, REALTOR

Let me be part of your family story!

2019 BUSINESS WOMAN OF THE YEAR MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR PRODUCER MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (MBA) MASTER CERTIFIED NEGOTIATION EXPERT (MCNE) US AIR FORCE VETERAN “Of all the places I have lived in this world, Middle Georgia has stolen my heart and I love raising my family here and becoming so involved in the community. Being a Realtor® is a natural fit for me. I really enjoy helping families and homeowners achieve their dreams. I endeavor to provide the highest degree of excellence in customer experience and real estate transactions. I will always strive to be the best that I can be and will be your greatest resource for real estate services in the Middle Georgia area!”

In addition to her MBA, Human Resources and Legal Degree, Amanda is a Graduate of the National Association of REALTORS® (GRI), REALTOR® Institute, has an SRS (Seller Representative Specialist) designation, an MRP (Military Relocation Professional) designation and is a graduate of the Perry Leadership Institute. Amanda is also a Director or Member of many Charity and Community Boards. “The more I know, the better I can serve my client’s needs.”

Amanda’s Top Things To Do in Middle Georgia 1 Explore the Museum of Aviation 2 Stroll the Shops of Downtown Perry 3 Visit the Georgia National Fair

Amanda Fiebig

BROKER | REALTOR® | OWNER Cell: 478-952-2499 | Office: 478-224-1919 760 Commerce Street, Perry, GA 31069 amanda@afrealtygroup.com www.amandafiebigrealtor.com www.afrealtygroup.com

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simply enjoy life The Canopy at Warner Robins has compassionate care in a modern, state of the art facility.

Offering upscale assisted living and memory care, The Canopy at Warner Robins has compassionate care in a modern, state of the art facility. Staff is on call with emergency response service 24 hours a day, and we take care of the dining, laundry, and housekeeping so residents can simply enjoy life. Resident Betty McDaniel credits the caring staff at The Canopy and the many social activities as her favorite aspects of life here. Whether it’s the popular Pen Pal Program, light exercise, church, Bible study, book club, arts and crafts or the many other activities at The Canopy, Betty says there’s something for everybody. Miss Betty worked in civil service at RAFB for over 25 years. She and her husband Ed, who passed in 2014, have 3 children, 4 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren who live locally. This year extra measures were put in place to protect residents from viral infection including window visits and a visiting station. Miss Betty also enjoys talking by phone with family daily, sometimes multiple times a day. She says the residents have really become family for one another as well, looking out for each other and spending time together. They’ve had lots of fun with the Georgia vs Florida rivalry and look forward to the Red Hat Club starting soon. If you or a loved one desires a home where you’re confident they’re protected and cared for, contact us at The Canopy to ask about our studio or one-bedroom apartments with kitchenettes. Pets are allowed, and we’ll be happy to discuss those arrangements. Living agreements are month-tomonth, and we offer a 30-day risk-free guarantee. Welcome home to The Canopy! We are happy to have you as a part of our family!

120 Latham Drive, Warner Robins, GA 31088 | (478) 313-5533 | thecanopyatwarnerrobins.com

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Hometown Living At Its Best

She’s Got What You Knead

If 2020 has been tough on you, you should consider giving Laura Peyton Cunningham a call! Peyton is a licensed massage therapist and one of the founding members of Float Robins, a health spa located on Smithville Church Road in Warner Robins. She is also the owner and founder of Smashsonian Rage Room and Paint Splatter on Elberta Road in Warner Robins. Recently awarded the “Best of the Best 2020” for massage therapy by readers of the Macon Telegraph, Peyton helps her community with her healing touch. She received her training at Mind Body Institute in Nashville and practiced there for a while but moved back to Middle Georgia in 2019 to help her mother, Telisa Asaro, open Float Robins. While living in Nashville, Peyton visited what is known as a “rage room” and thought it would be an amazing addition to activities available in her own town. “Massage therapy is an important component of self-care…but smashing things with a baseball bat is extremely cathartic!”, says Peyton.

breakables to destroy. “It’s quite a workout when you unleash your stress in one of our rage rooms”, adds Peyton. And if rage isn’t your thing, or you’d like to bring the kids, Smashsonian also has a paint splatter room where you can make a mess, create some art, and not have to clean it up! Float Robins is an all-natural health spa featuring sensory deprivation tanks, massage therapy, an infrared sauna and a dry salt therapy known as “halotherapy.” Peyton is one of three gifted therapist that provide massage services at Float Robins. When asked about the dichotomy of her two businesses, Peyton laughs and says, “It’s all therapeutic! Sure, they’re different means to an end, but both are healthy ways of dealing with physical and mental stress. I give people options!” Find Float Robins and Smashsonian on the web (www. floatrobins.com and www.smashsonian.com) or Facebook.

The concept of Smashsonian is simple. Show up, complete a waiver, suit up in protective gear, grab your weapon of choice, then take out all your rage on the “breakables” in your rage room. They’ll even play your favorite raging music over the Bluetooth stereo system to add to your experience! You can bash bottles, dishes, TVs, appliances…or you can bring your own

225 Smithville Church Road, | Warner Robins, Georgia 31088 | 478.333.5628 | floatrobins.com

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THE ANSWER TO

a Thousand Prayers

STORY BY DAVID PENA | PHOTOS BY TINIKA BENNETT PHOTOGRAPHY

Liam Stuckey’s road to Hollywood has been comprised of nearly 30 magazines, two television shows, as well as a feature film.

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At first glance, Liam Stuckey is much like any other sevenyear-old in Perry, Georgia. He enjoys playing outfield for his Little League team The Orioles. While at home, you’ll often find Liam playing Minecraft or watching Critter Fixers Country Vets on TV. He also loves to take a dip in his pool or go kayaking around the lake. With his captivating smile and easygoing nature, Liam is not unlike a lot of other kids his age. What may be surprising, however, is that Liam has modeled for nearly 30 magazines and has also acted in two television shows as well as a feature film. The young thespian’s road to Hollywood actually began in 2004, eight years before his birth, as his mother, Kim, explains, “My husband, Billy, and I grew up together in Perry, and our parents married young and are all still together, which you don’t see very often. Because Billy and I had known each other

Hometown Living At Its Best

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for so long, we decided very early on to start our family. We literally started trying to get pregnant the day after we married in 2004, but had no luck for some time.” Unfortunately, like many couples, the Stuckeys struggled in the past with infertility. “I was told by my doctor in 2009 that we may not be able to have children, so naturally we started to look at other options,” explains Kim. “We began to discuss the possibility of adopting a child; we had a few possibilities, but they all turned into dead ends.” However, in 2012 they met with a social worker, who carefully explained their options and educated Kim and Billy about the various types of adoption. “We were still undecided and continued praying to God, hoping that one day we would be able to start our family,” says Kim. Early on, the Stuckeys had decided that if they couldn’t have children of their own, they would definitely be open to adopting one.

Hometown Living At Its Best

“I love being a dad to Liam. Just being able to teach and grow with someone who’s just like me has been great,” says Billy. “I want to teach him to hunt and fish and love Georgia football like me.” The proud father also wants to share his love for aviation with his son as well. “I have an old airplane in storage that I’d like to restore some day and fly. Hopefully, he’ll be a part of that.”

It was around that time that they saw a story on Facebook about a couple they knew who had recently adopted a baby girl. “Our friends got a call in the middle of the night (about their baby) and had gone to pick her up the next morning. I asked Billy, ‘Why couldn’t that happen to us?’” Little did the couple know something great would happen that very same day! As luck would have it, Billy’s mother was working at Perry Hospital at the time, and had heard about Liam through his biological grandparents, who happened to be there for surgery. “The couple’s nurse told Billy’s mother that their relative was looking for someone to adopt her baby boy,” says Kim. “We got their information and decided to call and inquire about Liam.” On April 11 of 2012, God finally answered the couple’s prayers. Billy texted Kim that

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morning asking if she wanted to be a mother to a baby boy in August. “I was working at the time and didn’t see the text, so he called me to double check,” she says with a laugh. “I was over the moon that I might finally get to be a mother! We contacted his birth family and then began a relationship with them right away.” Kim and Billy told Liam’s birth family about all they had been through, the heartaches, the endless prayers and dead ends. Everyone involved now agrees it was divine intervention that had led the couple down this road. Thus, on August 14, 2012, William (Liam) Hunter Stuckey was born. “I remember that day like it was yesterday,” says Kim. “I got to be in the delivery room to watch the birth. I even cut the cord. One of my friends took pictures of the whole thing and we have a picture of Billy and his parents crying, since this is their first grandchild. It is still the best day of my life, next to

As if by fate, young Liam’s life was eventful right from the start when it took an unexpected turn toward the glamorous life of modeling. The youngster was picked by a local photographer for his very first photo session at only a month old.

Hometown Living At Its Best

marrying Billy.” The happy new parents took Liam home the very next day, and they knew their lives would never be the same. “I love being a dad to Liam. Just being able to teach and grow with someone who’s just like me has been great,” says Billy. “I want to teach him to hunt and fish and love Georgia football like me.” The proud father also wants to share his love for aviation with his son as well. “I have an old airplane in storage that I’d like to restore some day and fly. Hopefully, he’ll be a part of that.” As if by fate, young Liam’s life was eventful right from the start when it took an unexpected turn toward the glamorous life of modeling. The youngster was picked by a local photographer for his very first photo session at only a month old. “She put an ad on Facebook, stating that she was looking for a newborn to photograph,” explains Kim. “That’s where his modeling started.” With some professional photos under his belt, Liam then began

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Recently, however, Liam began his acting career, which will be his focus in the future. “I like to be around other actors,” he says. “I also like the camera.” Liam’s road to Tinseltown actually came by way of Macon. “A company called Industry Network came to Macon two years ago in search of new models, actors and singers,” recalls Kim. “I asked Liam if he wanted to do it, and he said ‘yes’.”

modeling at the ripe old age of three. “I began submitting his picture to various children’s magazines, and he’s been picked by them all. He has always loved being in front of the camera, and it just evolved from there,” she says. Since then, the photogenic youngster has appeared in over 25 child Model magazines. Recently, however, Liam began his acting career, which will be his focus in the future. “I like to be around other actors,” he says. “I also like the camera.” Liam’s road to Tinseltown actually came by way of Macon. “A company called Industry Network came to Macon two years ago in search of new models, actors and singers,” recalls Kim. “I asked Liam if he wanted to do it, and he said ‘yes’.” He immediately got picked to go to the regional competition in Columbus, where he learned monologues and how to walk down a runway.” Liam then went on to attend the national competition in California, and was in such demand that he eventually signed with Kiddin Around Model and Talent Agency in Atlanta. He then went on to sign with Central Casting as an actor. Liam’s growing number of fans can see him on Fox’s The Resident and in the upcoming film Greenland, featuring Gerard Butler. While shooting the film, Billy says that Liam proved to be a natural. “He gains the attention of everyone he meets,” says the proud papa. “He has a unique energy about him, as well as the discipline needed to do his job. He wants to make everyone happy and loves being in front of the camera.” The Stuckeys take the proceeds from Liam’s modeling and acting and put it all

In addition to his acting and modeling careers, what makes Liam’s story quite unique is that his birth mother and her family remain very active in his life. “We are so thankful for them,” says Kim tearfully. “They are now part of our family and share our love for Liam. There is really nothing that we would change about our journey. “

Hometown Living At Its Best

Liam’s growing number of fans can see him on Fox’s The Resident and in the upcoming film Greenland, featuring Gerard Butler. While shooting the film, Billy says that Liam proved to be a natural. “He gains the attention of everyone he meets,” says the proud papa.

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in a savings account for him. “As long as he’s happy, we’ll keep on letting him do it,” says Kim. As for Liam, he hopes to help animals someday, like the vets on his favorite show. “I want to become a veterinarian who saves animals like Dr. Hodges and Dr. Ferguson.” In addition to his acting and modeling careers, what makes Liam’s story quite unique is that his birth mother and her family remain very active in his life. “We are so thankful for them,” says Kim tearfully. “They are now part of our family and share our love for Liam. There is really nothing that we would change about our journey. Many folks who have been in our shoes have not even thought about adopting, but without Liam, we would not be parents. We have loved every step along the way and can’t wait to see what comes next.”  HCL

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Welcome to Center Park! Center Park at Centerville creates an exceptional quality of life for all residents and visitors, including entertainment and recreational opportunities. Located at the corner of North Houston Lake Boulevard and East Church Street, Center Park at Centerville is perfectly positioned to be the front door to Centervilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s community activities. The open green space has amenities such as a picnic pavilion, restroom pavilion, playground, and splash pad. Center Park is home to regular events such as Food Truck Friday, Farmers Markets, Fall Festival, and more! Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re excited for you to visit Center Park and have fun in the Center!

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Hope

dealer’ Joshua Wilson spreads love and encouragement to Middle Georgia youth

When he’s not sitting behind a piano, you can find Joshua Wilson at his hometown church, his favorite school or out in the community dealing his favorite drug of choice. With his soft laugh and ready smile, it’s easy to see why many get addicted to what he’s offering. But it’s not what you may think. “I call myself the hope dealer. I deliver hope, and express love and kindness to everyone regardless of if they are black, while, green or yellow, it doesn’t even matter,” said Josh, age 34. “I have a desire to see my community become better, and that has helped me transcend racial backgrounds, financial backgrounds and put me in spaces where there are no limits.” Josh grew up in Warner Robins and attended church at First Baptist, where his grandfather was a founding member. That’s where his love for music and public speaking began. “Growing up in church, I’ve always had a love for music. I played drums as a kid but piano just fascinated me. I’d stand over the piano player’s shoulder just watching their hands, and then I would go home

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and try to mimic what I remembered,” he said. His parents put him in piano lessons at a young age, and he went on to learn the French horn and was in chorus and band at Warner Robins High School. Aiming for a career in music, he moved to Henry County in 2010 to be closer to Atlanta, where he hoped to have more opportunities to play the piano and teach piano lessons. But in 2016, he got a call he wasn’t expecting. “In Atlanta, I’ve had the opportunity to play for many different events, including some at Morehouse and Spelman colleges,” he said. “Then I got a call asking if I’d come back

Hometown Living At Its Best

“I call myself the hope dealer. I deliver hope, and express love and kindness to everyone regardless of if they are black, while, green or yellow, it doesn’t even matter, “I have a desire to see my community become better, and that has helped me transcend racial backgrounds, financial backgrounds and put me in spaces where there are no limits.” to Middle Georgia. I was resistant at first. I felt like that’s where I grew up, but I’d graduated and moved on. Now, you want me to move back? Seriously? But I prayed about it and I accepted the offer. Ever since then, I feel like I am where I’m supposed to be, right here in Middle Georgia trying to make a difference. For me, if I can touch one life, that’s incredible, it’s more than mind blowing for me.” Although he still lives in Henry County, Josh commutes to Warner Robins where he works as an associate minister and music director at Frist Baptist, his hometown church. “As our music minister, he’s very talented, even a prodigy. He’s been playing music and performing for years, since he was young,” said Gerald Flowers, director of ministry development at First Baptist. “He’s serious about ministry and the betterment of young people. Mentorship seems to be his passion, although he loves to preach when he gets the opportunity.” A role Josh has taken on at First Baptist is that of a liaison between the church and Lindsey Elementary, a Title 1 school “adopted” by the church. “Last year, I had a desire to bless the school, so starting in late summer I decided I wanted to give every student a gift for Christmas, all 300-plus of them. I wanted to give them something of substance that they could use or enjoy,” he said. “I’ve seen how these kids are growing up, a lot of them have ‘less than’ environments. I really wanted to give back. I presented the idea to my church and told them that God placed this on my heart.” After dedicating himself to the task, in the end every student at Lindsey Elementary got a gift. It happened

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Hometown Living At Its Best 73

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growing up A child prodigy

“Growing up in church, I’ve always had a love for music. I played drums as a kid but piano just fascinated me. I’d stand over the piano player’s shoulder just watching their hands, and then I would go home and try to mimic what I remembered.”

with the full support of his church, other local churches and several community partners, as well as money from his own pocket. “I gave money out of my own pocket to give toward the effort,” he said, “I believe that if I have a vision and an idea, I should be leading by example. So, I purchased gifts as well.” Dr. Anisa Baker-Busby, principal of Lindsey Elementary, called Josh a blessing — and not just for the Christmas presents. “He has been a great liaison between First Baptist and our school. He’s so motivating to our students and staff. The kids know him as Mr. Josh,” she said. Knowing his love for music, Anisa has welcomed Josh into the classroom to help with music lessons. “Music is one of those languages that we all have in common; music brings everyone alive. Whatever the genre, we Hometown Living At Its Best

can connect in some form or fashion to music,” she said. “Josh would go into music classes and teach the kids a song or play piano, expose them to different avenues of how they can express themselves through music.” Even as his involvement in the school has shifted with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, Josh still volunteers at drive-through events. For his work with the school, Josh has even won an award from the local chapter of the Council for Exceptional Children. “Our kids respond so positively to him. He’s a wonderful support for our school, and it’s a blessing to have someone as passionate about learning as we are,” she said. In addition to his love of music, which he has shared with his own children, Ryan and Cayla, Josh uses his talents as a public speaker to spread hope and love throughout the community. He believes that when it comes to reaching people’s hearts, laughter is the best medicine. “I speak on whatever God lays on my heart, and I center my message around hope because I believe everybody can use some hope. No matter what your 76

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background, everyone can use hope and some type of uplift and encouragement,” he said. “I love comedy and I love laughter, so I incorporate that. I want people to leave feeling better than they came in, especially now. Now more than ever, people need a sense of hope, of encouragement, of knowing that they can press on a little bit and that things may get a little better.” His love for public speaking started in church. “I was the child of single mother until I was 4, then my parents got married. Even then, my parents instilled religious beliefs in us. We went to church. I took a strong affinity to preaching and public speaking. From there, it’s expanded and cultivated in my life to where I just love doing it, regardless of where or to how many,” he said. Josh said that if he could issue a challenge to the residents of Middle Georgia, it would be that they become intentional about having tough conversations, finding common ground and learning to love one another despite their differences. “Seeing the culture in which we are living right now, my challenge to the community is to find ways to be intentional about loving each other beyond our differences. How can we be intentional about expressing that love? At the end of the day, I believe that we’re all different, but just because someone is different, that doesn’t make them deficient in some way. We have to learn to love our differences,” he said. “Conversation is the first step to change and to healing – and our nation needs healing. If we can start to embrace our differences and convey how we feel, it would make a powerful impact.”

Josh said that if he could issue a challenge to the residents of Middle Georgia, it would be that they become intentional about having tough conversations, finding common ground and learning to love one another despite their differences.

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THREE QUALITIES When we asked Dr. Anisa Baker-Busby, principal of Lindsey Elementary, to describe Joshua Wilson’s top three qualities, she said, “he’s positive, high-energy and compassionate.” Gerald Flowers, director of ministry development at First Baptist Church, called him someone who is “energetic, serious about ministry and who loves children.” Here’s what Josh had to say about what he feels are the three qualities that have shaped his life. 1: Transparency. “I try to always be transparent with people. I haven’t always made all the right decisions or all the right choices, but I’ve owned the choices that I’ve made and I think that people can relate to me being real.” 2: Communication. “I can talk! I love to communicate and hear people’s stories, where they come from, what their journey is, their struggle. You never know how you can help each other until you communicate with them.” 3: Being loving. “Love transcends everything. Love goes beyond color. Love goes beyond race. Love goes beyond socioeconomic status. Love goes beyond any barrier. I live by the old saying, ‘People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.’” HCL

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a legacy JP Williams is leaving a legacy for our youth to follow that represents leadership, stewardship and service to others.

In the 1987 film The Secret of My Success, the character Brantley Foster (Michael J. Fox), shows viewers anything is possible if you put your mind to it, as he works his way up to the corporate office from the mailroom. Likewise, in the 1989 film Field of Dreams, viewers cannot help but recall the iconic film quote “If you build it they will come.” There is no doubt that Hollywood and the big screen have a way of inspiring us to dream big in pursuit of our goals and dreams. Houston County holds some pretty inspirational people; the secret to their success is deeply imbedded in the J brand that is proudly displayed at the business’s Houston Lake location. While some would believe the J is representative of its owner, JP Williams, he will be the first to tell you that it is

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not about him. It’s really not even about all the monetary and materialistic parts of the business. It’s about falling in love with Jesus daily, having faith to follow the plans God has set before you, trusting Him to bring the right people together to execute the plan and then leaving a legacy for our youth to follow that represents leadership, stewardship and service to others. In fact, it’s all about the details, both big and small, in regards to the collaboration and continued growth of this business that sets it apart from others. The story and secret to its success is that it was built from the ground up with prayer and a passion for purpose. JP says he has lived through many hardships and tried conducting business according to his own plans for years, only to discover that, without fulfilling God’s mission, the road to success is both lonely and empty. When asked what kind of leader he aspires to be? JP says he believes it’s about surrounding oneself with likeminded people to create a team. As a team, everyone achieves more and then

When asked how he hopes the business itself impacts the community, his answer is poised yet a powerful saying, “As community members we are called to be the church. It is important that we understand that community service is not something one only does by way of a court order; we understand that church or corporate worship isn’t intended just for the church buildings or Sundays.”

Hometown Living At Its Best

it is about developing Godly men who will carry on God’s mission to serve others well. He is forever giving credit to his team…a group of 16 people on staff that has become a part of his extended family. He firmly believes that God has hand-placed each one of them together knowing that together they function like a fine-oiled machine serving the local community straight from the heart. When asked how he hopes the business itself impacts the community, his answer is poised yet a powerful saying, “As community members we are called to be the church. It is important that we understand that community service is not something one only does by way of a court order; we understand

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that church or corporate worship isn’t intended just for the church buildings or Sundays.” JP shares that it is important to remember that we are all brothers and sisters placed here on this earth together to help and serve one another, that our ability to coexist relies upon operating under one heartbeat. While that may seem like a tall order or unlikely expectation given society’s current times of COVID-19, social distancing, political, racial and cultural tensions running amuck, it is during these very times that remembering what community stands for and is all about is most important. The community of Houston County is like one big extended family…they come together for Friday

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The team’s goal at J Auto Ranch is to de-stress the buying process, remove the “buy now and see ya later” stigma affiliated with most auto sales shops, and establish a relationship with each of the customers as they become members of the J Auto Ranch family.

night football, farmers markets, and one locally-owned business supports another. It is also a community where odds are if you run into Mayor Randy Toms downtown in need of a lending hand, you’ll likely get it with no questions asked. JP says it is that sense of community that mandates quality customer service because it is about more than just selling cars and trucks to people to make a profit; it is about helping them fill a need within their own families and homes. Customers come to J Auto Ranch looking for a good fit for their needs and the friendly family-orientated staff intends to give them their best. JP shares that it is about providing the same quality service for customers as one would give their grandmother, cousin or neighbor. He believes that quality service, along with building personable relationships with the customers, is what helps a business grow and, in turn provides further and greater services going forward for the community. There is no doubt that J Auto Ranch is built from faith, family and trust, nor that these team members build strong bonds from faith, family and community. JP says that his wife, Hannah, is without a doubt his source of unconditional love and encouragement

Hometown Living At Its Best

kindness, care and compassion instead of making fast deals or slick sales pitches. The team’s goal at J Auto Ranch is to de-stress the buying process, remove the “buy now and see ya later” stigma affiliated with most auto sales shops, and establish a relationship with each of the customers as they become members of the J Auto Ranch family. As members of this big old extended family, the business prides itself on taking care of its members before, during and after the sale. Building these invaluable relationships with their members and other Christian business leaders in the community is what attributes to the heart of the business behind the profit of the business. At J Auto Ranch you may come onto the lot as a customer, but odds are you will leave as a family member. *For more information regarding the services rendered, check out their website and social media links: jautoranch.com and/or https://www.facebook. com/jautoranch/  HCL

and that the love and support shared by each team member and their families is what motivates the business to continue to grow bigger and serve others a little better each day. Every morning as the sun comes up at the Ranch, Neal Spence, managing partner of The Service Center at J Auto Ranch is praying over the vehicles, the lot and all of the team. Additionally, The Service Center at J Auto Ranch stands firmly behind the quality and integrity of their brand by tending to the mechanical needs of each vehicle on the lot. Neal has been in the automotive repair business in Middle Georgia for over 15 years. The integrity and quality of his work is a perfect “marriage” where there are no hidden secrets or fees, no fast deals or half fixes. In fact, JP says that if for whatever reason (and on the rare occasion) he or his team cannot find a customer the deal he needs or wants, they will take the extra steps to help refer him out. Because, at the end of the day, it is about the customers (aka community members) knowing that they were treated with

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Every morning as the sun comes up at the Ranch, Neal Spence, managing partner of The Service Center at J Auto Ranch is praying over the vehicles, the lot and all of the team. Additionally, The Service Center at J Auto Ranch stands firmly behind the quality and integrity of their brand by tending to the mechanical needs of each vehicle on the lot.

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Cardiac care with passion and integrity Specializing in Cardiovascular Disease, we treat patients with Coronary Artery Disease, Atrial Fibrillation, Heart Failure, Hypertension, and a multitude of other cardiac diagnoses. We offer in-house Echocardiograms, EKGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Pacemaker checks, Holter Monitors, and Event Monitors. Associated with Coliseum Medical Center, Medical Center Navicent Health, Fairview Park, and Dorminy Medical Center. We are proud to serve the middle Georgia community and have offices in five convenient locations (Warner Robins, Macon, Eastman, Dublin, and Fitzgerald).

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WHATCHA

Got Cookin’? Sheldon Hudlin created the interactive Facebook page, Whatcha Got Cookin’? as a creative outlet to carry him through this strange time

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B Y A L E X A T E B B E N | P H OTO S B Y T I N I K A B E N N E T T P H OTO G R A P H Y

During a time of encouraged distance and social isolation, our community, along with the rest of the world, experienced an unnatural divide from our normal forms of interaction. When a simple handshake becomes a taboo, we are forced to adapt to the stigmas around us and find other ways to feed our need for interaction. That’s why Sheldon Hudlin created the interactive Facebook page, Whatcha Got Cookin’? A local entrepreneur and talented cook, Sheldon is one of the many people that yearned for a creative outlet to carry him through this strange time. As news of COVID-19 spread and words like mask, social distance, and quarantine became part of our daily vocabulary, Sheldon grew discouraged by the negativity he was constantly met with. “I was trying to find a place that’s polite, encouraging and educational,” he tells me. “You turn on the TV and everything’s negative.” A long time cook who is passionate about perfecting flavor and presentation, Sheldon found sweet relief in the kitchen and longed to bring that same delight to others. To provide his community with the positive outlet he himself longed for, Sheldon created a page on Facebook for people to bond over their mutual love of food. Whatcha Got Cookin’? is a platform that allows foodies all over the world to post and exchange foodrelated questions, pictures and recipes. “Food’s always a happy place for everybody,” Sheldon believes, which is why he made a space focused on the art of cooking that allows its members to indulge in much needed interaction.

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To provide his community with the positive outlet he himself longed for, Sheldon created a page on Facebook for people to bond over their mutual love of food. Whatcha Got Cookinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;? is a platform that allows foodies all over the world to post and exchange food-related questions, pictures and recipes.

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What Sheldon could not have predicted was the immediate success and rapid growth of his page. “When this started, our numbers jumped like crazy,” Sheldon says. And indeed they did. In the first weeks, the page gained thousands of followers and a flood of posts, comments and conversations. As people were staying home and cooking more homemade meals than before, Sheldon says, “Being able to visit this site has encouraged them to dabble in the kitchen even more.” Because of Sheldon’s page, people are challenging themselves to try new recipes in a safe, loving environment that encourages and supports food lovers all over the world. With active members in over 57 countries and 101 major cities, the page connects a diverse group of people that otherwise may have never met. Sheldon speaks of the page’s followers with pride for the way they embrace one another. “Not only are we providing education, we’re

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providing connection,” he says of the page’s members. “They’re dialoging like they’ve been friends for years.” To protect his page and its followers, Sheldon took precautions when making this group. Creating it with the intention of bringing joy into people’s daily lives, he knew he would have to set the tone for the atmosphere of this social platform. From the beginning, Sheldon has encouraged the people that follow Whatcha Got Cookin’? to keep their comments nice and friendly. He periodically posts things like, “Thank you all for making our group a continued judge-free zone and a happy place.” To enforce this, Sheldon set in place a handful of people to monitor the social platform for any kind of rude or nasty content. These monitors are notified when new content includes certain words or emoji’s that are unfriendly, and they will instantly remove them. In addition, Sheldon switched the page to a private setting that requires an individual to request to join the group and be properly vetted before they are allowed entry. This prevents hackers and fake

To protect his page and its followers, Sheldon took precautions when making this group. Creating it with the intention of bringing joy into people’s daily lives, he knew he would have to set the tone for the atmosphere of this social platform. From the beginning, Sheldon has encouraged the people that follow Whatcha Got Cookin’? to keep their comments nice and friendly. He periodically posts things like, “Thank you all for making our group a continued judge-free zone and a happy place.”

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accounts from easily joining, and it provides a more personal and clutter-free space for people truly interested in cooking. American TV cooking show host Paula Deen created a video giving praise to Sheldon for creating Whatcha Got Cookin? In the video, she says, “Sheldon, I’ve got to say, I love your straightforwardness. No ugly is allowed, and I like that.” The approval from such a well-known cook meant a lot to Sheldon. “We love Paula Deen,” he says, “and when she sent me that video that was like the icing on the cake.” Sheldon contributes his passion for cooking to his mother, Joyce Parker Boone. The youngest of three boys, Sheldon recalls, “We used to sit in the kitchen on stools and watch my mom cook, whether she was baking or doing meal prep. We would just talk and laugh and fight over who gets to lick the spoon.” Those days in the kitchen inspired Sheldon. He did more than observe, he truly learned what it felt like to create something beautiful and edible to be shared over a pleasant conversation. As a young man and visionary, Sheldon started his own cleaning company in 2004 called 1st Class Cleaning Service.

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American TV cooking show host Paula Deen created a video giving praise to Sheldon for creating Whatcha Got Cookin? In the video, she says, “Sheldon, I’ve got to say, I love your straightforwardness. No ugly is allowed, and I like that.” The approval from such a well-known cook meant a lot to Sheldon. “We love Paula Deen,” he says, “and when she sent me that video that was like the icing on the cake.”

As a young man and visionary, Sheldon started his own cleaning company in 2004 called 1st Class Cleaning Service. He says, “I took $25, I went to the store and I bought some cleaning products.” From there, he built a business from the ground up. “I don’t advertise,” Sheldon says. “I do free advertisement on Facebook, but other than that word of mouth has carried me for 16 years.”

He says, “I took $25, I went to the store and I bought some cleaning products.” From there, he built a business from the ground up. “I don’t advertise,” Sheldon says. “I do free advertisement on Facebook, but other than that word of mouth has carried me for 16 years.” And it is no wonder why. Talking with Sheldon leaves you feeling renewed and energized as his enthusiasm for life revitalizes your own. Community members who use his service not only remember the work he does, but the attitude of joy in which he does it. Still invigorated by the rush of running his own business all these years later, Sheldon says, “I’m 16 years in, but for me it feels like day one. I’m still hungry, I’m still passionate. I clean something every day.” Throughout the years, food has remained an important part of Sheldon’s life. When he got married and had two sons of his own, he introduced them to the countless possibilities found in the kitchen. “We’re a tight knit group,” he says of his wife, Charlotte, and sons Tyree and Caleb. Cooking is not only a joy in their household, but an avenue towards fellowship and connection that strengthens the foundation of their love for one another. Sheldon maintained a close relationship with his mother, and it was incredibly difficult when she passed away in April 2018. It was especially trying as she battled Alzheimer’s disease in the years leading up to her passing. Honoring his mother’s battle with Alzheimer’s, Sheldon has since gotten involved in the Alzheimer’s Association nonprofit that fights against the disease. He even changed the colors of his cleaning business to purple, the color of the Alzheimer’s movement. He says, “I could hear my mom telling me, yes, she’s gone, but I’ve got to fight

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Throughout the years, food has remained an important part of Sheldon’s life. When he got married and had two sons of his own, he introduced them to the countless possibilities found in the kitchen. “We’re a tight knit group,” he says of his wife, Charlotte, and sons Tyree and Caleb. Cooking is not only a joy in their household, but an avenue towards fellowship and connection that strengthens the foundation of their love for one another.

for the people that can’t fight.” He tells me of events and fundraisers he participates in saying, “This day is about her energizing me to honor all the people out there affected by this disease.” In a way, Sheldon also honors his mother’s memory with the Facebook page, Whatcha Got Cookin’? After all, it was her guidance and instruction that made him the cook he is today. And now thousands of people are refining their cooking skills alongside fellow foodies across the globe. Sheldon speaks of this with joy saying, “We are in a time where we have to lay aside all of our differences and come together to encourage each other.” And he has provided the world with a perfect platform on which to do so. A space that encourages kindness, Whatcha Got Cookin’? celebrates inventive ideas shared with love in a time when we need connection the most. HCL

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His Boots Were Made for

WALKING

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B Y D AV I D P E N A | P H OTO S P R O V I D E D B Y W I L L B R E T T

Will Brett decided to take on the Appalachian Trail in early March and gained so much life experience.

Imagine telling your loved ones goodbye, taking a hiatus from your job, and then going on a hike for over six months. As outlandish as that sounds, every year hundreds of people strap on their gear and pack up their tents to take part in what is known as a “thru-hike,” which involves traversing an established endto-end trail continuously in one direction. Thru-hiking is often associated with the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, or the Continental Divide Trail, and about one in five prospective hikers usually quit thru-hikes within the first week. Fortunately, 23-year-old Will Brett doesn’t know when to quit. The recent college graduate decided to take on the Appalachian Trail in early March when he tied up his hiking boots and hiked for 196 days, ultimately finishing his trek on September 14. “I always wanted to go on a crazy adventure that I could tell people about for the rest of my life,” he says. “I really didn’t relish the idea of

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getting old, wishing I had done more with my time.” Will was introduced to the Appalachian Trail by his grandparents years ago, when they showed the young boy a Netflix documentary about it. “It just intrigued me, and then I did some camping on it with friends when I got older,” he says. More than 2,100 miles long, the Appalachian Trail runs from Georgia to Maine. Its length was the only obstacle for Will since the longest hike he’d done up to that point was 70 miles. When Will first mentioned the idea to his parents in October of 2019, they actually weren’t as surprised as one might think. “As an Eagle Scout and avid hiker, Will

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has always been comfortable in that type of environment, so that was never a concern,” says his father Jeff. “However, the physical toll of walking 2200 miles was another issue. However, he did all of the research, so I never questioned his motivation.” “Prior to leaving Auburn University, Will texted me and told me what he planned to do after graduation,” recalls his mother Martha. “I asked him who he was going with, and he said he was doing it alone. I figured he’d find a way to succeed.” The college grad then set about doing the research on thru-hikes, saving his money, and then purchasing the

By and large, the townsfolk along the way were friendly and extended their help whenever they could. People would hand out food and water on the trail for the hikers. “It was a zillion degrees in Pennsylvania, and there were few water sources,” says Will. “A guy would leave about 20 gallon jugs of water at road crossings for us, and others would let us sleep in their yards or take showers in their houses. One guy even let us borrow his car in Duncannon, Pennsylvania to get food.” Some folks were also happy to outfit the hikers with equipment when they needed it. “I guess he made out alright since he came home in one piece,” laughs Martha.

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“In Maryland, there’s a lot of civil war battlefields, and it made me start thinking about ghosts. The moon was so bright, and it was quiet until I came to a rocky part in the trail.” Will then heard a rustle and looked up to find a huge bear was in the middle of the trail. “He was about 20 yards in front of me, and we just stared at each other for a second until I just scared it off. That had me spooked for the rest of the night until I reached camp.”

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gear needed for such an undertaking. “His father and I didn’t fund this trip at all,” says Martha. “This was entirely his baby.” Will soon found out that hiking cross country is not cheap; expenses can total at least $1000 dollars a month. However, this proved to be no problem for the frugal young hiker. “Many places were closed due to the virus, so that helped me save a good bit,” he says. Since hotel stays can get pricey, camping on the trail became somewhat of a staple for Will. “I didn’t carry a tent with me most of the time on the second half of the hike anyway.” Will hit the trail solo on March 1, but soon found some companionship along the way. The number of hikers in his group would vary from day to day. “There were eight of us at one point, but sometimes I’d be alone on the trail,” he says. There were shelters every few miles that the group would use as landmarks. During clear nights, however, Will would just find a flat spot and sleep under the stars.

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on his own

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Will hit the trail solo on March 1, but soon found some companionship along the way. The number of hikers in his group would vary from day to day. “There were eight of us at one point, but sometimes I’d be alone on the trail,” he says. There were shelters every few miles that the group would use as landmarks. During clear nights, however, Will would just find a flat spot and sleep under the stars.

Typically the hikers would wake up at sunrise, get a quick bite to eat, then pack everything up and hike until lunch or when it was necessary to take a nap. “I had a reputation for taking a lot of naps,” laughs Will. Some days they could cover as much as 25 miles, but a typical day’s hike would cover around 18 miles. “We could always catch up later if we lagged behind. We would sometimes have night hikes due to the temperature, or if we needed to cover more ground.” During one particular night hike, Will had a hair-raising experience. The group was hiking through Maryland, and he had fallen behind the rest of the group. “I already knew that I’d be hiking into the night to get to where we had agreed to camp for the night,” he recalls. “In Maryland, there’s a lot of civil war battlefields, and it made me start thinking about ghosts. The moon was so bright, and it was quiet until I came to a rocky part in the trail.” Will then heard a rustle and looked up to find a huge bear was in the middle of the trail. “He was about 20 yards in front of me, and we just stared at each other for a second until I just scared it off. That had me spooked for the rest of the night until I reached camp.” Thankfully, Will’s parents were able to check on their son to get an update on his progress. “Fortunately, there was reasonable cell service most of the time, “ explains Martha. “We met him in Gatlinburg a month into his trip just to make sure he was alright. We also traveled to the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia to check on him.” After the first month, Will says the wear and tear on his body became somewhat manageable. “’My feet hurt, and you’re always sore, tired and hungry. For the first week, you can hardly get out of bed; after that, you just become accustomed to it.” Will and his fellow hikers hiked rain or shine, but there were a couple of tropical storms that hit in July while they were in Connecticut, so they had to suck it up and hike through it. “It Hometown Living At Its Best

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When Will first mentioned the idea to his parents in October of 2019, they actually weren’t as surprised as one might think. “As an Eagle Scout and avid hiker, Will has always been comfortable in that type of environment, so that was never a concern,” says his father Jeff. “However, the physical toll of walking 2200 miles was another issue. However, he did all of the research, so I never questioned his motivation.”

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also snowed on us in early April, but that didn’t slow us down,” says Will. Will’s group also seemed to stay one step ahead of the virus. “They were in the Smokey Mountain National Park when it closed, and they arrived at Shenandoah National Park right after it reopened,” says Martha. However, due to the virus, in March Will received an email saying anyone who was hiking wouldn’t be officially recognized by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, but that didn’t hamper anyone’s plans to continue. “For us, the experience was always bigger than the recognition,” says Will. “When the virus got bad, we decided as a group to keep going as long as we could get food, and that’s exactly what we did.” By and large, the townsfolk along the way were friendly and extended their help whenever they could. People would hand out food and water on the trail for the hikers. “It was a zillion degrees in Pennsylvania, and there were few water sources,” says Will. “A guy would leave about 20 gallon jugs of water at road crossings for us, and others would let us sleep in their yards or take showers in their houses. One guy even let us borrow his car in Duncannon, Pennsylvania to get food.” Some folks were also happy to outfit the hikers with equipment when they needed it. “I guess he made out alright since he came home in one piece,” laughs Martha. With as much time as he spent on trail, Will experienced some pivotal moments during his adventure. His grandfather passed away suddenly, so Will came home for two days for the funeral and then returned to the trail. He also turned 23 in March, but says it was a low key affair. “My friends and I just got some beer and a couple Little Debbie cakes. We hung out at camp that night. It was nothing crazy, but it was a great birthday and awesome to spend it with some new friends.” Will ended his adventure at Baxter State Park in northern Maine on September 14 at Mount Katahdin, the highest mountain in Maine. All in all, he had hiked an astounding 2193 miles over the course of 196 days. “I went through five pairs of shoes and about 20 pounds,“ he laughs. Martha and Jeff always knew that their son was capable of achieving his goal but were especially proud of what he had to overcome in order to do it. “He never once thought of quitting. Snow, rain, heat, nothing deterred him,” Martha says with a smile. Will says he felt bittersweet about his experiences on the Appalachian Trail. “Obviously, I felt a lot of pride in what I’d done, but at the same time, I was just ready to come home. However, I got to meet some incredible people, see some amazing stuff and come home with some wild stories for my grandkids one day. Plus, doing it during this pandemic gave me more than I could’ve hoped for.”  HCL

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B Y A L E X A T E B B E N | P H OTO S B Y T I N I K A B E N N E T T P H OTO G R A P H Y

There’s no greater feeling than soaring through the air – except perhaps watching your radio control airplane soar instead.

The Perry Radio Controlled Flyers Club (PRCF) was founded in 1991 by a small group of men passionate about remote control flying. Wayne Thompson, the club’s current president of the past eight years, says, “Five or six members started the club to promote remote control flying.” Wayne is now the longest standing member. “I got into it about three months after the club started. One of the founding members was my father-in law,” he says. With almost 30 years of dedication to radio control flying, Wayne is passionate about the hobby and teaching it to others. One man Wayne introduced to radio control flying is the current secretary of the club, Jim Lay. “I’ve been a member since about 2011,” Jim says. “Wayne is in construction and I hired him to make some repairs to my house. At some

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The Perry R.C. Flyers try to be as inclusive as they can, sharing their love of radio controlled flying with all generations. Nickolas, the PRCF’s youngest member and son of the club’s treasurer, is seven-years old. “There’s a worry among [us] that the hobby is not attracting young people so the generation that is flying now will dwindle,” Wayne admits. “We’re trying to figure out ways to promote it.”

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point in time, I casually made the comment that I needed a new hobby. Wayne replied, ‘I think I can help with that!’ The rest is history,” Jim says with a hearty laugh. Wayne invited Jim to a model show where Jim recalls, “I bought my first model airplane and here I am, eight or nine years later, still crashing and burning.” Jim’s love for the sport was born and still grows to this day. The Perry R.C. Flyers is a chartered club with the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) headquartered in Muncie, Indiana. As a subsidiary of the lobby group, PRCF adheres to their rules and bylaws. Wayne says, “There’s an AMA membership that we require of our members in addition to our own club membership. It gives us various features and, as a charter club, we have liability insurance.” Being part of this larger group also allows the PRCF to take part

in nationwide events. One of these events is the annual Southeastern Model Show that takes place around the end of February at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry. Jim says about the event, “We’ve had people here from as far away as Oregon and all over the south that attend the show and then a BBQ and night flying event at our field after the first night of the show.” Jim believes that the show is the second largest event at the fairgrounds after the Georgia National Fair held in October. Attendees enjoy the buying and selling of planes, accessories and trinkets, along with meeting new people from across the country with similar interests. Wayne and Jim, like most of the club members are known to do, have become great friends through the years. Jim says, “When

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All-in-all, the club provides community members the opportunity to expand their horizons when they take part in this outdoor activity. “When you see the same guys and they’ve got the same interest every weekend, you make a bunch of friends,” Jim says. PRCF provides a unique and entertaining way to meet like-minded people, all while enjoying the beautiful outdoors.

you’ve got somebody that teaches you to fly, you become good buddies.” He explains the club’s process for teaching new members how to fly and the unique learning system they use. They implement what they refer to as a Buddy Cord, where the student and the flight instructor are electronically linked with a cable, wireless or Bluetooth cord, which allows the instructor to assume control in case the student requires immediate assistance. This provides the student the opportunity to master his flying skills while under attentive supervision. Jim

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The Perry R.C. Flyers is a chartered club with the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) headquartered in Muncie, Indiana. As a subsidiary of the lobby group, PRCF adheres to their rules and bylaws. Wayne says, “There’s an AMA membership that we require of our members in addition to our own club membership. It gives us various features and, as a charter club, we have liability insurance.” Being part of this larger group also allows the PRCF to take part in nationwide events.

describes the bond that grows between students and flight instructors. He says, “It builds a lot of trust,” when you rely on someone else to save your valued radio controlled airplane. The Perry R.C. Flyers club occupies about five acres of the Perry Dove Field. The property is owned by the state of Georgia and is east of the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter complex. Jim tells me, “From mid-September to mid-January, we have to share the field with dove and deer hunters on weekends. This has not been a problem as we recognize the importance of those activities and give the hunters ‘right of way’ if we know they are there.” They even suspend flying on opening days to give hunters more space. The club has been at this location for almost two years, and they enjoy the location which is available to club members nearly 24/7 every day of the year. “The hobby has changed dramatically in the last few years,” Jim says, explaining the evolution of radio controlled airplanes. People used to make their own planes from plans or kits, and they were mostly made with balsa wood. Not long ago, planes were also commonly fueled with nitro fuel or even gasoline on the larger models. They were noisy and complex, while the battery powered electric airframes more commonly flown today are primarily constructed of durable and easily repairable Styrofoam. These can also be less expensive to buy, require little assembly, lower maintenance and are easier to get off the runway and into the air. They are powered by lithium polymer batteries that allow for good flight time and a charge of less than an hour. As the hobby evolves, pilots adapt simply enjoying each stage of radio controlled flying. The Perry R.C. Flyers try to be as inclusive as they

can, sharing their love of radio controlled flying with all generations. Nickolas, the PRCF’s youngest member and son of the club’s treasurer, is seven-years old. “There’s a worry among [us] that the hobby is not attracting young people so the generation that is flying now will dwindle,” Wayne admits. “We’re trying to figure out ways to promote it.” Folks that live nearby will often hurry over to the field when they hear or see the club members flying. They enjoy bringing their children and grandchildren to watch as well, and the club loves its curious spectators. “All our neighbors are super nice all

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Wayne and Jim, like most of the club members are known to do, have become great friends through the years. Jim says, “When you’ve got somebody that teaches you to fly, you become good buddies.” He explains the club’s process for teaching new members how to fly and the unique learning system they use.

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around us,” Jim says fondly of them. Over time, including people of all ages has become a focus of the club, and its members welcome the addition of spritely new faces with enthusiasm. The Perry R.C. Flyers celebrates the sport of model airplane flying by introducing all sorts of aircrafts into the club. Members of the Perry R.C. Flyers get the chance to fly war-birds like the T-28, F-4U, P-51, P-47 and AT-6. The vast variety of model airplanes out there is quite impressive and now includes drones that have recently become more popular. “Just about any type of war-bird is available these days,” Wayne says. These fighter model airplanes are especially liked by retired Air Force, of which the club has many. All-in-all, the club provides community members the opportunity to expand their horizons when they take part in this outdoor activity. “When you see the same guys and they’ve got the same interest every weekend, you make a bunch of friends,” Jim says. PRCF provides a unique and entertaining way to meet like-minded people, all while enjoying the beautiful outdoors. And just like so many other members who have joined this club, this could easily be the place you happen to meet your next best buddy.  HCL

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BY MICHAEL W. PANNELL | PHOTOS BY TINIKA BENNET T PHOTOGRAPHY

a LASTING

impact Retiring commissioners Tom McMichael and Larry Thomson reflect on their decades of service

Two long-time Houston County Commissioners – with 50 years of service on the commission between them – chose not to run in November but instead are retiring from their posts at the end of 2020. They’re commissioners Tom McMichael and Larry Thomson. “We’re losing truly outstanding commissioners,” said Houston County Board of Commissioners Chairman Tommy Stalnaker. “Without a doubt, we’ll benefit for years to come from all they’ve contributed and the unselfish way they’ve championed what’s best for the county. They’ve worked tirelessly for the good of all citizens – not just a few.” Both Thomson and McMichael heartily agree that it’s people who make Houston County a great place. “We have such good people here,” McMichael said. “We have excellent schools with excellent teachers and administrators and we have Robins Air Force Base with its civilian and military workers who make it the vital economic engine it is and the benefit to our nation’s wellbeing. Through hard work and cooperation, we’re a growing, vital community that people and businesses want to move to. I know Larry and I will continue to be involved, but I trust that those who take our county into the future will continue to make it the wonderful place it is to raise a family and live a good life.”

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LARRY THOMSON Larry Thomson, 76, has served as a commissioner for 21 years. Beyond that, he’s been a board of elections member for seven years and was chief county building inspector for six. A Houston County native, his roots and memories reach far and wide but run deepest along U.S. 41. “I guess I’ve ridden a million miles on a tractor there around Highway 41 and where Thomson Middle School is now,” Thomson said. “My grandparents, Walter and Eva Thomson, and my parents farmed an initial 150 acres my grandparents bought in the 1920s. And of course, Thomson Road is named after our family.” As well as farming, Thomson said his parents, Harold and Ruth, operated a store on U.S. 41. In his high school days, Thomson said he traveled that same highway daily to Perry High School where he enjoyed football and track but never pursued baseball due to seasonal farming duties. That said, he was good at baseball, not unlike his grandfather Walt, who gained serious notoriety in his own day as catcher-coach of a legendarily successful Centerville sandlot team. Thomson’s claim to fame came as member of a 1955 Little League All Star team. After graduating high school in 1961, Thomson’s

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path led away from farming to a year at Mercer University then one at the University of Georgia. He said his grades were fine but he realized college wasn’t for him. Instead, he headed off to work in Florida before turning to his true love at the time: music. “I had a career in music for a number of years – I’m a singer – and by 1969 I’d cut a record in New York,” he said. “I was sort of a Tom Jones, Engelbert Humperdinck style singer and recorded songs like ‘I Found Someone Who Loves Me’ and ‘I Knew When We Met.’ I toured quite a bit and got to travel the world.” Thomson keeps a collection of his songs on his smartphone to this day and gladly shares them with those wanting to hear. As a performer, a big break almost came when the owner of a club he performed at in Hong Kong offered him a contract and promotion deal but the young singer saw it was too one-sided with

the owner reaping all the benefits. He turned it down and continued on his own terms. But soon the time came for Thomson to return to Middle Georgia where he aligned his career to building and land development. That was followed by work with the county as building inspector through most of the 1980s. Thomson still sings but now it’s mainly at Central Baptist Church. By 1998, Thomson pursued and won a commissioner’s seat and, apart from a few months in the early 2000s when he resigned to unsuccessfully run for commission chairman, began what cumulatively made up his many years of service after winning back a seat unopposed. While all commissioners take and share responsibility for all county matters, departmental work assignments and focuses are divvied up. Thomson’s have included the Houston County Sheriff Department, public works, the county’s library system, state, juvenile and magistrate courts and close work with the board of tax assessors. He’s also the commission’s liaison with Perry.

As well as farming, Thomson said his parents, Harold and Ruth, operated a store on U.S. 41. In his high school days, Thomson said he traveled that same highway daily to Perry High School where he enjoyed football and track but never pursued baseball due to seasonal farming duties. That said, he was good at baseball, not unlike his grandfather Walt, who gained serious notoriety in his own day as catcher-coach of a legendarily successful Centerville sandlot team.

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There’s much Thomson said he’s proud of during his tenure but first he mentions county finances, which he said all board members give careful attention to. “I’m especially proud of the fiscal responsibility we work for,” he said. “Our tax digest is growing but we’re not really taking in more money. Things like health insurance gobble up funds and budget constraints are always an issue so we pour over every decision and bill, and are careful with every tax dollar. We’ve been able to stick away emergency funds, and in every crisis we’ve never had to lay people off. I credit a lot of that to how well Tommy (Stalnaker) keeps an eye on things.” Thomson expressed pride in how well the Houston County Sheriff Office operates under Sheriff Cullen Talton, the longest-serving sheriff in Georgia. He also considers establishing the county’s $12 million, 800-megahertz emergency communications system a crown jewel. “We installed five gigantic towers and pulled all our municipal and county dispatchers together in one 911 center where every emergency call comes and gets relayed to responders. It virtually wiped out communication dead spots in the county, so wherever a

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deputy or officer or first responder is he knows he has contact. That’s a really big deal. We actually brought the project in at $11.4 million so I like to think I helped save taxpayers some money, but it’s one of the best things we’ve done.” Similarly, Thomson is pleased with his role in establishing the county’s Code Red system, which warns residents of emergency situations such as weather alerts and missing person alerts via siren warnings and phone messaging. “Then there are our libraries,” he said. “That’s an area nobody wanted back when I started but as the new boy on the block, I agreed to – and I’m glad I did. What we’ve been able to do is pull all the libraries together into one system rather than each having to go here and there each year for percentages of their budgets. Now, though they’re each called by their town, they operate as one system with county funds. We have a great library director in Sara Paulk, and you can see we’ve been able to dramatically improve facilities and services.” Thomson and his wife, Christine, known to all as Chris, have two children and two grandchildren.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I guess public service is my hobby, You have to have a measure of ego to seek public office but volunteering and public service to me have been because I felt I could make a difference.â&#x20AC;? - Tom McMichael

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TOM MCMICHAEL

McMichael had been in Army ROTC at the University of Georgia, where he studied banking. He later furthered studies in banking and finances and received a graduate degree from Louisiana State University.

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A banker by profession, Tom McMichael came to Warner Robins in 1979 as coordinator of the city’s C&S Bank branches. He joined with C&S in 1959 following active duty then reserve service in the U.S. Army over a span of six years. McMichael had been in Army ROTC at the University of Georgia, where he studied banking. He later furthered studies in banking and finances and received a graduate degree from Louisiana State University. Though it would be years after coming to Warner Robins that he sought and won a commissioner’s seat – where he has served 24 years – his name immediately began appearing on the volunteer and leadership lists of local charitable and civic organizations. A 2017 letter McMichael received from the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) congratulating him as the recipient of the organization’s highest and most prestigious award may tell as much as anything about McMichael’s character and quest to serve others. “What I most appreciate about you my friend is the fact that when the challenging and difficult decisions and tireless work had to be conducted YOU stood deep in the trenches to ensure the work was completed,” wrote Ross King, ACCG executive director. “You experienced some tough days and the bruises to show for it, because this can be a thankless and distressing line of work. Nonetheless, you always got back up each day and went right back onto the field of play with resolve and an even temperament.” Further, King spoke of McMichael’s humility, exemplary efforts and constant willingness to “talk matters over.” McMichael retired from banking in 1998 as First Liberty Bank’s Houston County city president but instead of taking things easy he turned up his community commitments.

Apart from success in banking and finance, he has continued his roles in organizations and on boards as president, chairman and other leadership roles, as well as being a committed rank-and-file, on-the-ground volunteer. A brief sampling includes the Robins Regional Chamber and other area chamber organizations, the Museum of Aviation, the Carl Vinson Chapter Air Force Association, the Military Affairs Committee, 21st Century Partnership, Middle Georgia Community Action Agency, United Way of Houston County and of Middle Georgia, the Community Concert Association, Boy Scouts of America, the American Institute of Banking, the Houston Hospital Authority, the Rotary and Optimist clubs, and the University of Georgia and Warner Robins Bulldog clubs. Two other organizations McMichael gave leadership to through many years are Houston County’s planning and zoning commission and the Georgia Peace Officers Standard of Training Board (POST). “I guess public service is my hobby,” said McMichael, a

native of Jackson, Ga. “You have to have a measure of ego to seek public office but volunteering and public service to me have been because I felt I could make a difference. I wanted to be sure I made that difference. If I’m part of something I’m all in. You have to take pride in your work and put your heart in it but you can never forget people. People are the reason you’re serving. Even if you work as hard as you can but forget about people, you’re not really doing anyone any good.” McMichael said one of the greatest things he’s learned is the importance of listening. “Serving has made me a better listener and taught me how important that is,” he said. “Plus, if you listen enough you often find answers to problems. The worst thing you can do is interrupt someone.” For 12 years, Georgia’s governors have kept McMichael as a member-leader of the POST board and committees, and he’s duly proud of the fact. Hometown Living At Its Best

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For 12 years, Georgia’s governors have kept McMichael as a member-leader of the POST board and committees, and he’s duly proud of the fact. He said he takes the role of serving all Georgians and their law enforcement officers very seriously.

He said he takes the role of serving all Georgians and their law enforcement officers very seriously. The group handles certifications and hears related complaints and issues. McMichael said he’s pleased that in his time with POST only one Houston County officer has appeared before the board in a negative light. Locally, in Houston County, there’s much more McMichael takes pride in as a citizen and commissioner. “My goodness, there’s so much,” he said. “But I’m certainly proud of our landfill and what’s been done there. It’s been named No. 2 among all landfills in the U.S. and Canada. It’s an amazing, well-run operation. I’m proud of the way we handle our county finances, which is a demanding, ongoing effort that’s helped by the fact everyone on the commission works well together. We carry that same cooperative spirit in working with other governing bodies and it’s a plus for everyone. We disagree 154

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among ourselves, of course, but at the end of the day, we settle matters for what we believe is everyone’s good, not just someone’s personal agenda. That’s the way to get things done and make Houston County a better place.” McMichael’s departmental assignments include issues affecting the landfill, the tax commissioner’s office, superior court, district attorney’s office and inspections and zoning. He’s the commission’s liaison with the Houston County Board of Education. Looking to the future, he said he’s pleased a new $5 million water treatment plant is opening near Frito-Lay on Ga. 247 and the opening of a new fire department-emergency management station and headquarters on Lake Joy Road. He said he would love to see the county move to a completely full-time, staffed fire department. “It’s all evidence of thinking ahead for the good of the county,” he said. “If you just deal with today, you’ll be caught short tomorrow. You can’t say to heck with tomorrow – you have to stay ahead of the game.” While anticipating retiring from the commission, 2020 also brought sadness to McMichael. With all the time he invests in the community, he said he always counted family as his greatest love and motivation. In September, Dianne, McMichael’s wife of 60 years, passed away. Like McMichael, she too was dedicated to service through their church, Christ UMC, and in roles such as being a board member and treasurer of the Warner Robins Convention and Visitors Bureau and volunteer with both the Rainbow House of Warner Robins and the SAFE House. McMichael has two children and four grandchildren. HCL

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READING

on my

MIND

It has been said that a book is a gift that you can open up again and again. It’s also believed that if you love to read, you have everything there is to offer within your reach. After spending a rainy afternoon with local community member Lorie Peterson, founder of a non-profit literary program, Reading on My Mind, Inc., it is clear to see that both of these sentiments are true and Houston County is certainly greater for it. Reading on My Mind, Inc. was created in 2009. To date, over 82,000 books have been given out as gifts to local community members. That is a whole lot of gifts that have continued to give back and pay themselves forward for 11 years and counting. If you are wondering how a local non-profit literary program sustains itself for 11 years through relocations and one major unprecedented pandemic, the answer is short and sweet, yet packed with far more than meets the naked eye. Community support is undoubtedly the fuel that keeps this genuine and compassionate organization afloat. Thanks to the generosity of local businesses such as Perry United Methodist Church, Samaritan’s Closet, Akikta Club, Byron Rotary Club, Christ Lutheran, VFW, American Legion, Sogadera Club, and many private donors, local children and youth in our community are being reached “one turn of the page” at a time. Even larger corporations, such as Books A Million (BAM), have decided to come onboard in showing their support by hosting an annual Toy Drive each Christmas; which they have done since

Reaching Tomorrow’s Community Leaders One Page at a Time

2013. The BAM book drive has brought donations of $13,000 for over seven years, which calculates to $84,000 of merchandise given to our local children in Houston County. In 2019, BAM donated over 1,477 books, average yearly donations, which totals around 9,800 books gifted in support of Reading on My Mind, Inc. That’s a whole lot of lives touched over this nonprofit’s tenure in the community…the best part is, that’s not all Reading on My Mind, Inc. is up to, nor are they done yet! Before we dive into multiple events, bookcases and learning organizations Reading on My Mind, Inc. is a part of and contributes towards, let’s get back to the heart of the matter, aka that special fuel that makes all these things possible, community support. As I sat with Lorie learning all about her non-profit, one of the things she echoed over and over again was an attitude of gratitude for the kindness, encouragement, and support Houston County has shown and continues to show. She shared with me how one of her original locations was across from our local Loaves and Fishes food pantries, which allows community members in need to come and pick up food goods. Afterwards, they could take a short walk to pick up books to feed their minds, imaginations, and souls too. When both organizations had to relocate to a new location, Loaves and Fishes incorporated a Reading on My Mind, Inc. bookcase within the food pantry so that books would continue to be available to their patrons.

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Lorie also recalls a Fire Sale fundraiser she decided to host to help cover the cost of the relocation from Carroll Street in downtown Perry, where on the day of the sale a downed power line caused power outages at the Carroll Street location. Instead of cancelling the event, she took to social media and posted a “bring your flashlight” post to which the community responded tenfold. Her eyes fill with happy tears and her eyes light up as she recalls local community members coming in droves, treating this minor mishap as if it was merely one big adventure that all were willing to take to support this mission. Have you ever been to a book sale in the dark? I am quite sure that memory is one that will forever be embedded in the hearts of the community members that came that day. Speaking of community members, Lorie can recall quite a few of them from the various places she visits to share stories, books, and puppet time with the children within our local community. If you have ever seen a child’s eyes light up or perhaps if you yourself can recall being read your favorite story book or getting lost in the adventure that each page of a story book took you on, then it’s pretty clear to see how this non-profit is giving out far more than just books and it is far more than just a library. For those Lorie meets at the

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Emmaus Table, hosted by Trinity United Methodist, it’s a positive focal point, something fun and new to talk about, in the midst of financial hardships and tough times. She speaks of how good it feels knowing that those community members are not only receiving a warm meal for their bodies, but a warm hug for their hearts with each book they take in hand and every story they share in. A local men’s group from Harvest United Methodist Church chose to donate large print Bibles, which means that in addition to all the various fiction stories shared for all ages, there is also scripture and spiritual support being offered too. As the founder of Reading on My Mind, Inc., Lorie has an innate love for reading and sharing stories with others. She loves sharing stories with her grandbaby via FaceTime, whom she often refers to as her own personal book critic because she knows if she hears “GiGi, read it again!” it is a guaranteed good book pick for the local community children. She also gathers with local ladies’ groups to correlate crafts that go with National Geographic Explorer magazines, which allows for 100 local Head Start children to receive the craft and magazine. She enjoys sharing story time with older kids too in the Path to Shine program. Lorie has established multiple Reading on My Mind bookcases that she keeps stocked with books free for any who choose to grab one at local organizations

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th community

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If you are wondering how a local non-profit literary program sustains itself for 11 years through relocations and one major unprecedented pandemic, the answer is short and sweet, yet packed with far more than meets the naked eye. Community support is undoubtedly the fuel that keeps this genuine and compassionate organization afloat.

such as the Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry in Perry, Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church, and the Juvenile Courthouse in Macon. She firmly believes that the time, effort and energy she distributes into the local community is given back to her non-profit ten-fold from the community support she receives year after year. The generosity of Lorie’s time reaches far into the community through local events such as Vacation Bible studies and fall festivals at Christ Lutheran Church, during which other local community members donated plush toys for the children to have with their books. Other events that Reading on My Mind, Inc. has been a part of over the years are Jumpstart’s Read for the Record, Head Start programs, holiday events at ChickFil-A, Llama Red Pajama, Dr. Seuss’ “Read Across America”, Westside Elementary Reading Café, and Where the Wild Things Are. The essence of the Reading on My Mind, Inc. nonprofit program has always been to go where the people are, to go where other community outreach programs are helping those in need and to join in the giving. It has always been extremely important to Lorie, that her literary program reaches the hearts of those in need, those who might not otherwise be given the ability to create a love for reading. Hometown Living At Its Best

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Per the Jumpstart Read for the Record Program Campaign’s purpose is to highlight the importance of building early literacy and language skills for every child so that all children have the opportunity to enter kindergarten prepared to succeed. The giving, however doesn’t stop there as “Read Across America Day”, which occurs annually on March 2nd and the birthday of Dr. Seuss, encourages communities across America, more than just our own, to encourage creative reading for all children and youth at home; knowing that for every child with a book in hand there is likely an adult nearby observing, watching the story come to life through the eyes of the child. Recently that essence was challenged by the COVID-19 Pandemic…how would this community outreach survive a stayat-home order and/or social distancing by expanding its reach to ROMMtime? A new social media site under the umbrella of Reading on My Mind, Inc., ROMMtime was created where children’s books come to life by being set to video and music. Puppet skits also tackle common subjects through the antics of two sisters named Missy and Dixie. To see how these stories come to life to reach children throughout the community, you’ll have to go check it out yourself at Facebook and Instagram under the name ROMMtime. What does the future look like for Reading on My Mind, Inc.? Lorie says with the continuous support and partnership of the community, the possibilities are endless and she’s hopeful the story of Reading on My Mind, Inc. is one that never ends; as this program allows for those special moments that become tangible memories for the children of our community. If you have ever shared in reading a story to a child, then you know how beautiful and special those moments and memoirs are. Thanks to the Houston County community, these special moments are occurring for the children of our community “one page at time.”  HCL 170

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B Y R E N E E C O R W I N E | P H OTO S B Y T I N I K A B E N N E T T P H OTO G R A P H Y

What one man started by selling surplus lumber and nails under a small tent on Watson Boulevard has grown into a multi-milliondollar business with eight locations across the Southeast. In 1947, Ed Bayer founded Warner Robins Supply Company, now Warner Robins Building Supply Company, with surplus building materials and hardware, and the dream to build a better life for his growing family. Ed was the youngest of five children. He and his two brothers were in the grocery business in St. Louis. At the end of World War II, the brothers took their families and their mother to the beautiful San Fernando Valley in California. An Army veteran of World War II, Ed heard about a small town in Middle Georgia where an Army Air Corps base was being built. A base meant the construction business was about to take off, with lodging for troops and all the businesses that spring up around military bases. Known at the time as Wellston, Ed loaded up the car with his wife, Vera, and daughter Cheryl and moved to what would become known as Warner Robins, Georgia. He quickly went to work driving a log truck, and on the side purchased surplus building materials from the construction happening at “Robins Field” and the docks in Savannah.

Warner Robins Building Supply is one family’s legacy and a community’s proudest supporter

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Even though times were dark, the company survived and has continued to thrive in the years since. A name change to Warner Robins Building Supply Company came along with a company rebranding. Now, newcomers to Warner Robins won’t have to guess what they supply. “Building” is in their name as with the other two companies Henson and Mountain.

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“The story goes that he bought a keg of nails that was rusted solid,” said Jim Taylor, husband to Cheryl and the business development/marketing manager for the company. “Ed had a friend with a cement mixer, and rumor has it that he brought over a fifth of whiskey and threw the keg in the mixer to knock the rust off the nails. He turned around and sold them, and used that money to buy more materials to sell. Ed came home every night and went over the invoices by hand. And what’s amazing about it is that he only had a formal eighthgrade education.” As the years passed, the family and the business both

began to grow. Three years after arriving in Georgia, Mark was born, then three years later, Christine. Ed and Vera lived in a small house on McArthur Boulevard, then built a home on Davis Drive, which was recognized in the 1950s as being the first contemporary-designed home built in Warner Robins. Meanwhile, Warner Robins Supply Company outgrew its tent, where the Warner Robins Law Enforcement Center sits today, and moved into a location on Watson Boulevard and First Street. Soon, they upgraded to a place on Sixth Street and in 1972 built what is now their headquarters at 2756 Watson Boulevard.

Over time, all three children worked in the family business, and in 1981, son Mark took over the company. With a fresh perspective on business, Mark saw expansion on the horizon. The company added a truss plant on Dunbar Road called Piedmont in 1991 and Papa Bayer’s Lawn and Garden Center in 1992, both in Warner Robins. In 1992, Homeworks opened in Macon on Northside Drive. “Being the visionary that he is, Mark didn’t want to be tied to one geographical area, thinking that if the base here ever closed, their business would be in trouble,” said Jim. So, he acquired Mountain Building Supply’s two locations in Blairsville, Georgia, in 2003 and Hayesville, North Carolina, in 2006. The next year, he acquired Henson Building Materials, which at the time had six locations. He pared it down to three in North Carolina: Black Mountain, Forest City and Linville, and then opened a fourth Henson location in Ruth, North Carolina, in 2012. Jim said that while all are now divisions of Warner Robins Building Supply Company, they each retained their names because those names already had reputations for excellence in their individual communities. Jim, who worked with the company in the 1980s loading trucks and delivering lumber, and then went on to be an entrepreneur in his own right, returned to Warner Robins Building Supply Company in 2009 as the nationwide financial crisis was continuing to rock the construction industry and threatened the family’s business. “Many companies of our size in this industry folded. If it hadn’t been for our mountain locations, we would have folded,” Jim said. “But we reacted quickly, and up until that point we never laid anyone off. Those were hellacious days, and neither Mark or I drew a salary from the company for a year. Banks literally turned their backs on construction businesses, and so many builders and contractors went out of business. But with the help of Marlan Nichols of Nichols, Cauley & Associates and others we found a bank, Morris Bank out of Dublin. At Morris, Stacey Brantley in particular saw past the numbers and took us on and became a huge cheerleader for us. He and Morris’ leadership stepped in when everyone else stepped away. Plainly speaking, if it hadn’t been for Morris Bank believing in us, there would be no

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As the city of Warner Robins has grown, so have the number of big chain brands selling home and construction materials. But Jim said heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s confident this second-generation, family-owned business has something the others lack: decades of experience in the industry!

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Roy believes that the business treats its employees just as it does its customers: “They treat people fairly and are honest. They tell people exactly what they need to do and don’t sugar-coat anything. I think most people appreciate that.”

Warner Robins Building Supply Company today. We will never forget that.” Even though times were dark, the company survived and has continued to thrive in the years since. A name change to Warner Robins Building Supply Company came along with a company rebranding. Now, newcomers to Warner Robins won’t have to guess what they supply. “Building” is in their name as with the other two companies Henson and Mountain. Since then, they’ve added a remodeling business, Homeworks Design & Remodeling Center, and have expanded their commercial division. At their Mountain Building Supply in Hayesville, North Carolina, they have opened a lawn equipment and tool rental business called Mountain Powerhouse. As the city of Warner Robins has grown, so have the number of big chain brands selling home and construction materials. But Jim said he’s confident this second-generation, family-owned business has something the others lack: decades of experience in the industry! “We’ve been around so long and have a good

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reputation in the community. When people walk in the doors here, they know that we know what we’re talking about,” he said. “In fact, we have five employees who have been with us for over 40 years.” One of those is Roy Johnson. He started at Warner Robins Supply when he was 22, and that was 47 years ago. Even though he’s nearing retirement, he doesn’t want to leave. “Right now, I’m part-time, but I started as a truck driver, then became the lumber yard supervisor,” Roy said. “It’s a good job and the bosses don’t hassle me. They know what I need to do, what I want to do and then they let me do it.” Roy believes that the business treats its employees just as it does its customers: “They treat people fairly and are honest. They tell people exactly what they need to do and don’t sugar-coat anything. I think most people appreciate that.” Eddie Oliver started working part-time at Warner Robins Supply at age 16, through a half-day work program at his high school. That was in 1976, and he’s never left. “I stayed on after I graduated. It was a good company, one of the oldest companies in town, and I had a lot of great folks to work with, although when I started I didn’t know the difference between a 2x4 and a 2x6,” Eddie said with a laugh. Starting in the door shop, Eddie also has worked as a truck driver, dispatcher, counter salesman and outside salesman for the company. Hometown Living At Its Best

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He said it’s the people that have kept him enjoying his job for all these years. “I enjoy helping people. I like to help people build their dream homes,” he said, adding that he has no plans to retire any time soon. Forty years ago, this company became the livelihood of Marsha Melvin’s family. With a husband in the military, her family transferred from Utah to Robins Air Force Base in 1980. She’s worked at Warner Robins Building Supply ever since. Starting as the office manager, she’s now the personnel director and works hand-in-hand with Mark. “The Bayer family is so wonderful, and you can tell that for Mr. Bayer and his family, this company isn’t just about the numbers. He’s fair and kind and his main concern always is the customers, which is why customers are so loyal,” Marsha said. “I really feel like this family has become my family over the years. I’ve been here 40 years, and I’d be here another 40 if I could. I just don’t want to leave.” Jim said with employees who are so dedicated, the future of the company will remain bright. As the business profits, so does the community. Warner Robins Building Supply Company has a wide reputation for supporting organizations such as the Robins Regional Chamber, Perry Chamber, Museum of Aviation, 21st Century Partnership, Habitat for Humanity, Warner Robins Little Theatre, various veteran’s organizations, Scouting, as well as many local churches and community organizations. The reason is simple. “If it hadn’t been for the community, there’d be no Warner Robins Building Supply. We like giving back to this community that’s given us so much, as well as the other communities that support our other locations. It’s been the livelihood of the Bayer family and hundreds of other families for 73 years,” Jim said. “Robins Air Force Base means so much to so many. It’s what brought me here as a young airman to Warner Robins in 1973, as well as some of our other employees over the years. It’s most interesting to note that 2020 is the 73rd anniversary of both Warner Robins Building Supply and the United States Air Force. We are proud to share our birthday with such an awesome organization, that along with all of our military and first responders, provides the security and freedom for all of us to live, work, play and pray in our community.”  HCL

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Mindy Smith | facebook.com/SugarSnapzPhoto | sugarsnapzphotography@yahoo.com | (478) 231-4243

THE FLOOR STORE Warehouse & Showroom & Cabinet Shoppe

We have more than 30 years of experience designing, installing and selling custom cabinets and flooring in Warner Robins and the surrounding areas. Sunday: Closed | Monday – Friday: 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Saturday: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

4027 Watson Blvd., Suite 190 | Warner Robins, GA 31093 | (478) 333-3396 | www.thefloorstoreonline.com Hometown Living At Its Best

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KAMERIN BAZEMORE REALTOR

A luxury experience at any price point.

O:478.333.5050 | C: 478.542.1111 | F: 478.333.5060 kamerinbazemore@kw.com 4851 Russell Parkway | Ste. 800 | Warner Robins, GA

JONES AND COMPANY HOME

GIFT

GOURMET

910 CARROLL STREET DOWNTOWN PERRY (478) 224-0559

When Your Pet’s Safety Is A Concern

Use Pet Stop®

Healthy Eyes. Healthy Lives. DR. Lauren Grahl | Dr. Matt Dixon | Dr. Brittany Wright-Ennis

Two Locations! 1105 Morningside Drive, Perry | 770 GA Hwy 96, Suite 255, Bonaire 478-987-2020 | www.advancedeye2020.com 186

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Pet Stop® Underground Pet Fencing Systems 5619 Charles Drive | Macon, Georgia 31210 | 478-550-0107

Fun, unique and affordable clothing ... just for you! 405 GA Hwy 96 Ste 1100 | Bonaire GA 31005 | www.fringeandfrayed.com

MOVING WHAT MOVES YOU

Melissa Posilero

REALTOR® Cell: 478-390-2233 melissa@thehallerteam.com

526 S Houston Lake Rd, Warner Robins GA 31088 • Ph: 478-929-4444

Turner’s

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Greater Perry’s Safest, Cleanest Storage • Fenced & Secured • Video Security Cameras • Personal Gate Codes • Non Climate & Climate Controlled • Boat & RV Storage • Locally Owned & Operated

103 Woodlawn Drive (Across from Mike’s Golf Carts) Perry, GA 31069 478-218-5967 | www.bobwhitestorage.com

JWS, LLC | Commercial & Industrial | Joe Shuttlesworth 1205 Ball Street | Perry, GA 31069 | (478)988-8620

LOCAL SERVICE that MAKES A DIFFERENCE

At Moore Insurance you experience local service that makes a difference. As an independent agent, we know a variety of insurance companies which means more options for you. We help you protect your assets and help save you money. We also believe it’s important to work with companies, like Donegal Insurance Group, which deliver outstanding claims service and support.

Local service that makes a difference…

that’s Moore Insurance.

And if you have a question or concern, you have the peace of mind knowing you won’t have to deal with an automated voice menu or sit on-hold waiting for the next available operator. Instead, with Moore Insurance you’ll be able to talk to a real person, someone who can help.

478-987-1832 1009 Jernigan Street • Perry, GA 31069 188

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Mike Wells Mike Wells Towing LLC.

TOWS | STORAGE BUILDINGS | JUMPSTARTS TIRE CHANGES 302 VALLEY DR, PERRY, GA 31069 | OPEN 24 HOURS | (478) 987-7311

Peels Botox Facial The Glass Oxygen Facial Spa Facials Dermaplaning Microneedling and more!

Chetaun Smith (937) 838-4224 www.vision2020realtors.com

Located inside Hello Beautiful Salon

SKINfinity Skincare coming soon

Relax the mind Renew the body Revive the soul 1019 Jernigan Street | Perry, GA 31069 | 478-955-6099

“Let me help you turn your real estate visions into reality!”

Bill O’Neal CIC Life • Auto • Home Farm • Business

916 MAIN STREET, 2ND FLOOR | PERRY, GA 31069 | 478-987-0947 | MMMCPA.COM

1109 Washington Street | Perry, GA 31069 InsureWithONeal.com | 478-987-1951 Hometown Living At Its Best

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FOR ALL YOUR

UPHOLSTERY AND CARPET

Your Mortgage, Your Terms.

CLEANING NEEDS

KIM HARLEY | KIM.HARLEY@NAFINC.COM LOAN CONSULTANT, NMLS#1502078

100 STILLWATER CIRCLE STE A | BONAIRE, GA 31005 (678) 608-3127 | NAFHOMES.COM/KIMHARLEY Georgia Residential Mortgage Licensee, License # 22564; NMLS#1502078. Corporate Oce 14511 Myford Road, Suite 100, Tustin CA 92780. Phone (800) 450-2010.

We Offer Military Discounts | Like Us On Facebook 478-952-7578 | meansteamcarpetcleaning@gmail.com

Jimâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Quick Lube Schedule Your Eye Exam Today

VisionSavers

Monday - Friday - 9:00 - 6:00 | Saturday 9:00 -12:00 6011 Watson Blvd, Suite 320, Byron, GA |478-328-3937

857 Warren Drive | Warner Robins, GA 31069 | 478-218-0279

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(New Publix Shopping Center)

Stylish Clothing For Boys & Girls

Salon Fusion

917 Carroll St, Perry, GA 31069 | (478) 987-0970 | sugarplumtree.com

Lisa Corley, Realtor Golden Key Realty

526 S. Houston Lake Blvd. Warner Robins, GA 31088 (478) 333-5549 | lcorley@goldenkeyrealty.net www. goldenkeyrealty.net

405 Hwy 96 Suite 900 | Bonaire, GA 31005 salonfusionspa.net | 478-225-6866

New Firm: Same people you trust.

CLH CPAs,LLC Certified Public Accountants and Consultants

WARNER ROBINS OFFICE 468 S. HOUSTON LAKE RD. | WARNER ROBINS, GA 31088 (478) 953-0125

Hometown Living At Its Best

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Index of Advertisers Advanced Eyecare …............................................…………………. 186 AF Realty Group ……..............................………………. 49, Back Cover Alfa Insurance - Amy Harmon …...........................…………………. 161 Allen’s Tree Service, Inc. ……………...................................………. 140 Annie T. Photography …………….......................................………. 155 Arrowhead Tool & Equipment Company …………………….............. 80 Ashley’s Business Solutions ………...............................……………. 50 Bob White Self Storage ……....................................………………. 188 Bobby E. Glover Mortuary ……….................................……………. 175 Bodega Brew ………....................................................……………. 171 Boland Prosthetic & Orthotic Center ………..……….....................…. 9 Bonnie “Michelle” Smith Attorney at Law …………….........………. 112 Braswell Family Dentistry ……………….................................……. 142 Bridals by Gilbert ………..............................................……………. 127 BurgerIm …………..........................................................…………. 128 Buzzell Plumbing Heating & Air ……………........................………. 157 Carlyle Place ………….......................................................…………. 19 Central Georgia Radiation Oncology ………...…...................………. 37 Chetaun Smith - Vision 2020 Realtors ………….............…………. 189 Church Home LifeSpring …………....................................…………. 99 City of Centerville …………...............................................…………. 69 City of Perry …........................................................…………………. 53 City of Warner Robins ……………...........................................………. 3 Clark, Smith & Sizemore LLC ………………..............................……. 38 Clean Control | OdoBan ……………....................................………. 66 CLH CPAs,LLC ………………..................................................……. 191 Coldwell Banker Free Realty ……………...………. 2, Inside Front Cover Colony Bank ……….....................................................……………. 127 Community Foundation of Central Georgia, Inc. ………..…………. 187 Connor Suttles Insurance ………………….................................…. 113 Cornerstone Medical Associates, LLC ……………................………. 98 Country Financial - Jackie Whitley, LUTCF ……………………............ 55 Country Financial - Shawn Buchanan, MBA ……………….......……. 55 Courtney Kitchens Photography …………….......................………. 115 Cruz Tree Service, Lawn Care & Landscaping ……………...………. 160 Do It Best ……………………........................................................... 114 Flint Energies ….....................................................…………………. 96 Float Robins ………………........…........….......…........…...........……. 54 Fringe and Frayed Boutique …………………..............................…. 187 Gate Images …………….....................................................………. 128 Geico - Jesse Warren …………........................................…………. 140 Georgia Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center ……………….....……. 144 Golden Key - Lisa Corley ………………...................................……. 191 Golden Key Realty - Melissa Posilero ………...............……………. 187 Griggers Wealth Management …………............................…………. 79 Hampton by Hilton ……...........................................………………. 172 Heart MD ……............................................................………………. 97 Heart of Georgia Hospice ………..................................……………. 174 Hello Beautiful Salon ……….......................................……………. 145 Heritage Memorial Funeral Home & Crematory ……..…………. 34-35 Homestar Financial - Garrett Bennett …………………...............…. 114 Houston County Living - Dorothy Sichelstiel …………….....………. 159 Houston Healthcare ………….....................................…………. 33, 52 Hughston Homes Marketing - Jason Lee Realtor ……………………. 36 J Auto Ranch ……….....................................................……….……. 67 J T Custom Homes LLC ……….....................................……….……. 111 Jim’s Quick Lube ……............................................…………..……. 190 Jones and Company ……........................................………….……. 186 JWS LLC ……….........................................................……..………. 188 Keller Williams - Kamerin Bazemore …………………................…. 186 Kingsland Farm ………...............................................….…………. 129 Kollier & Co …….....................................................…….…………. 173 Lasseter Tractor Company …………................................…………. 158 Lifeguard Pediatrics …………………….......................................... 113 Loden Dental Associates ………......................................……………. 7

Magnolia Park Cemetery ……....................................………………. 22 McCullough Funeral Home ……….................................……………. 23 McNair, McLemore, Middlebrooks & Co ………………..........……. 189 Mean Steam Carpet Cleaning ……………..........................………. 190 Middle Georgia Orthopaedics …………............................…………. 84 Middle Georgia Surgical Institute …………….......................………. 95 Mike Wells Towing LLC. ………....................................……………. 188 Mike’s Tree Service …………………...........................................…. 175 Moody and Associates Law Office ….................…………………. 20-21 Moore Insurance Agency ………..................................……………. 188 Morris Bank ……………..........................................................………. 5 Moss & Brannen Orthodontics ……….........................……………. 171 My Father’s Place ………….............................................…………. 156 New American Funding - Kim Harley …………….................………. 190 New American Funding - Melissa Gibson …………………...........…. 68 Oil Lamp Restaurant ……………….........................................…… 115 O’Neal Insurance ………….............................................…………. 189 OrthoGeorgia Orthopaedic Specialists …………………...............…. 81 Pearson Farm …...................................................…………………. 142 Pediatric and Adolescent Dentistry ………………..................……. 111 Pellicano Construction ……….....................................……………. 143 Perry Drug Company ………........................................……………. 112 Perry Family Medicine Associates ……………......................………. 33 Perry Hospital ….....................................................…………………. 52 Perry Memorial Gardens ……………....................................………. 82 Pet Stop …………...........................................................…………. 186 Platinum Roofing ………….............................................…………. 126 Pool Orthodontics ……….............................................……………. 174 Posh Paws Pet Grooming ………….................................…………. 129 R. Jason Kent Physical Therapy ……….........................……………. 172 Recollections by Lynn ……….......................................……………. 156 Salon Fusion ……....................................................………………. 191 Sanders Law, P.C. ………...............................................……………. 85 Satterfield & Dempsey Jewelers ………….......................…………. 126 Skinfinity Studio …………….................…….................……………. 189 Southern Bridge Inc. ……….................…….................……………. 155 Southern Lighting ………….................……..................……………. 125 Spillers Orthodontics ….................…….................……………………. 1 State Farm - Ryan Mosley …………..........................………………. 143 Sugarplum Tree ……………….................….….................…………. 191 Sugar Snapz Photography ……..……...........................……………. 185 Summerhill Senior Living Community .................……………………. 39 Summer’s Landing of Warner Robins ……………................………. 173 Sumrall Family Dental ……………….................……...............……. 160 SunMark Community Bank ……………….................……….......…. 159 Surgical Associates of Warner Robins ……….................….………. 161 Synovus Bank …………………..............................……....…....……. 139 The Auto Glass Guy ………………....................……..........…………. 157 The Butcher Shop ………………........................……........…………. 144 The Canopy at Warner Robins ……….......................…………………. 51 The Floor Store ……………....................……................……………. 185 The Sandbox …………….................…….........................……………. 83 The UPS Store …………….................…….....................……………. 158 The Westfield School ……….................……..........…………………. 141 Tinika Bennett Photography ………….......................………………. 101 Total Computer Solutions ……….................................……………. 141 Turner’s Furniture ………………........................……. Inside Back Cover Turner’s Antiques ………..............................................……………. 187 Vision Savers ……………………..................................................... 190 Warner Robins E.N.T. Associates ………………......................……. 145 Watson-Hunt Funeral Home ……….............................……………. 100 Westmoreland & Slappey Animal Hospital ……………......………. 139 Williams & Geiger LLC Attorneys at Law …………………...........…. 125 Women’s HealthCare of Georgia …………........................…………. 65 Wound Healing Center ………………….......................................…. 33

Please thank our sponsors for making this publication possible! 192

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Hometown Living at its Best Win t e r 2020

A Labor of Love Cindy Ritchie loves the joy of weddings so much, she decided to build a wedding venue of her own.

HOUSTON COUNTY LIVING

WHATCHA Got Cookin’?

Sheldon Hudlin created the interactive Facebook page, Whatcha Got Cookin’? as a creative outlet to carry him through this strange time.

eaving L a legacy

JP WILLIAMS is leaving a legacy for our youth to follow that represents leadership, stewardship and service to others.