Sumter County Living - August 2016

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I Hope You Dance Addie Cook is taking steps to fulfilling her life’s dream of dancing in New York City with the Radio City Rockettes.

The Story of a Champion When Bruce Hall talks about his dogs and Gizmo especially, his passion is obvious.

Maggie Tu gives new meaning to what is referred to as a well-rounded individual.

Young at Heart

Phil Hardy loves the thrill of the hunt as he travels the globe to photograph birds in their natural habitats.

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Sumter County l i v i n g

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contents 10

Young at Heart

Phil Hardy loves the thrill of the hunt as he travels the globe to photograph birds in their natural habitats, and sometimes he encounters a surprise or two along the way.

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True Grit

Decorated veteran and Purple Heart recipient, Sgt. Charles Robinson Barr, still standing to share with the rest of us a veteran’s tale.

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The Story of a Champion

When Bruce Hall talks about his dogs and Gizmo especially, his passion is obvious.

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The Journey

The story of how this family came to be is so inspiring and demonstrative of God’s hand guiding their individual paths in life.

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Sumter county Living

About the Cover

The cover photo is of Maggie Tu. You can read more about this incredibly talented girl on page 58. The photo was taken by David Parks. www.dparksphotography.com

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Renaissance Girl

Maggie Tu gives new meaning to what is referred to as a well-rounded individual.

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Making a Difference

The Sumter Faith Clinic is so much more than simply a clinic; it is a living and thriving testimony of faith.

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I Hope you Dance

Addie Cook is taking the next steps to fulfilling her life’s dream of dancing in New Your City with the Radio City Rockettes.

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A Vision for the Future Taking care of their community as well as their customers is a way of life for Parker’s Heating and Air Conditioning.

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A Heart to Serve

For Beth Ragan, Executive Director and CEO of Middle Flint Behavioral HealthCare, the love of serving others in the behavioral health field started early in her childhood.

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Building Homes and Hope

The sense of empowerment Thad Harris feels is something seen time and time again with Fuller Center homeowner partners not just in Americus, but across the nation and around the world.

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in every issue Hometown Happenings

A glimpse inside a few of the exciting events recently held in Sumter County.

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Scenes of Sumter

Take a look at a few more of the reasons why we think Sumter County is a great place to live.

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Hometown Living At Its Best

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From the Publisher

Sumter County l i v i n g

P u b l i s h e r With You In Mind Publications E x e c u t i v e E d i to r Landon Spivey C r eat i v e | D e s i g n Eric S. Love

Stacey Nichols Photo by Eric S. Love

Mandi Spivey O f f i ce m a n age r Ashton Spivey

A s s i s ta n t

Ma n age r s Nikki Burkhalter

June Dixon That quote by Walt Disney perfectly sums up the amazing tenacity that is imprinted

on the pages in this issue. Through these stories, you will fall in love with people who

radiate pure joy from seeing their big dreams realized and ones who reach for the sky only to end up touching farther beyond.

Be sure to read about young Addie Cook, who is currently pursuing her lifelong dream of becoming a Rockette, which is what her little girl heart beckoned her to

P h otog r ap h e r s Chris Usrey

David Parks Photography Eric S. Love Lisa Shiflett

do. Also, you will find out about a lady behind the scenes, Beth Ragan, who is on

Shannon Campbell Photography

the forefront of helping share her giftings to encourage others to reach for the stars

SuAnn Bird

beyond what they imagined possible. Another amazing story is of Thad Harris, who

Susan Ruckman

found himself at the most unexpected lowest place in life due to an accident, yet he

didn’t let that keep him from believing in himself and succeeding personally beyond his wildest dreams. The cover story is about Maggie Tu, who is an inpsiration to all who meet her. She chooses not to let any obstacles get in her way and that has led her down an exceptional path.

C ov e r P h oto Maggie Tu,

Photo by David Parks Photography

One more story that is a must-read which will bring you to tears and remind you why we should be proud to be Americans. It is the compelling story of wounded

Sale s Patti Martin

veteran, Charles Barr. The determination he gave to his Country and in turn to us, is

Landon Spivey

one sure to leave you humbled.

To all the veterans and the active military men and women, we humbly say “THANK YOU” for serving. Thank you for your service and your strength which carries us each day. We salute you.

Contributing

Wri te r s June B. Anderson

Along the same lines of gratitude, we ask that you please be sure to thank

Mandy Barr

the advertisers listed on page 136 that make this publication possible to place

Kim Fuller

in your hands at no charge. You can pick up your very own copy at any of those locations. We hope that you will take a look at all they have to offer in these pages and continue to shop local and support this amazing county and the people who make up the most incredible place to live.

Keep dreaming big Sumter County,

Landon & Mandi Spivey Sales: (912) 237-5623 Email: mandi_withyouinmind@yahoo.com 8

Sumter county Living

Chris Johnson

Sherri Martin

Crystal Waddell

Sumter County Living© is published semi-annually by With You in Mind Publications. www.hometown-living.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.

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story by June B. Anderson photos by David Parks and Phil Hardy

young at heart Phil Hardy loves the thrill of the hunt as he travels the globe to photograph birds in their natural habitats, and sometimes he encounters a surprise or two along the way.

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Our interview took place at a local coffee shop.

I was a little early so I ordered a slice of date nut bread and apple juice and took my seat. Soon my friend arrived and joined me with his coffee. We’ve known each other for years but see each other rarely. However, our conversation began as if it were picking up from just the day before. Known for his sense of humor, the conversation didn’t disappoint, and since he had just returned from foreign lands photographing birds, I appreciated his ability to maintain his composure. Under the same circumstances, I would have been talking incessantly and bouncing all over the place!

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Although I love birds, I have so many irons in the fire that I can’t give it the attention it deserves like many others. Especially Phillip Hardy, most often known as “Phil.” Not much excites him more than “bird talk.” I knew this and egged him on, an easy task on my part.

He showed me stunning pictures he had taken on some of his trips to photograph these avian beauties. I’d never seen or heard of some of them but loved them immediately. Of course,

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I don’t think anyone loves them as much as Phil does. I urged him to tell me how in the world he ever got so involved with God’s creatures of flight.

He started in 1996 but says his paternal grandfather introduced him to birding when he was a young boy. He grew up in the Buckhead area of Atlanta in the 1950s, aware of the Redheaded Woodpeckers in their Peachtree Hills neighborhood where they went on “field trips”

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together. As a Boy Scout he easily earned the Bird Study merit badge because of his grandfather’s lessons. Years later a neighbor in Americus, Dr. Bob Norris, who also took him on “field trips,” was to be his next influence. Phil didn’t know at the time that Dr. Norris was a noted ornithologist, a lovely word that falls trippingly off the tongue and loosely means “one who studies everything having to do with birds.”

Phil doesn’t know exactly how far back his family goes in the Atlanta area, but he says he knows that he and his sisters, Judy and Teresa (also a bird watcher) are at least the third generation of his family born and raised there. He graduated from North Fulton High School in 1967 and in January, 1971, he was drafted and spent “six years, two months, and one day” in the United States Army. He was drafted for two of those years and volunteered for the other four. He counts this among his learning and “growing-up” experiences. He used his GI bill benefits to attend and graduate from Troy State University in Columbus with a BBA and began graduate school. However, he was fortunate enough to have been hired by Georgia Power before he could finish, and the company is what brought him to Americus. He married the lovely Myra Moye Wallis in 1994.

Daughter Cara is married to Rick Barnes, a contractor, and they live in Juliette.

I laughed as I asked Phil if he has any hobbies, suspecting that he probably has very little extra time for anything but his birds.

He does, though, and names them as gardening and writing. His gardening activities include planting and maintaining a garden that attracts birds. Since I am a butterfly lover, I assumed his garden is filled with butterflies, too, and he confirmed my hopes, although he is not as interested in them as he is the birds. I doubt he has much time to study butterflies and birds, too.

He writes a monthly column for the Americus Times-Recorder and also writes for The GOShawk, (pronounced GAHS-hawk) a quarterly birding newsletter of the Georgia Ornithological Society. He volunteers with the Boy Scouts in assisting members attempting to earn the Bird Study merit badge. The National Park Service has asked him to do a year-long survey for the Jimmy Carter Boyhood Farm and Plains High School, and he is in the middle of its completion. The purpose is to document the bird species on these properties during different months of the year. After this cataloging is turned in, they should have a better understanding of future land use and what species of birds are found or are using the property.

When asked what he is zealous about, of course he says birding and conservation, but he also is adamant about bird photography, his family, his mother, Thetis, and his faith. He attends Central Baptist Church, and one of his favorite Bible

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Sumter county Living

He likes to travel, mainly to photograph birds, and has been to nine countries, including Egypt, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Ecuador, England, Trinidad, Tobago, Canada (twice) and Guatemala (three times.) He has, also, been to many places in the United States, including Florida, Alabama, Arizona, Washington, and Texas.

verses is Genesis 1:20, “And God said, ‘Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky’.”

He likes to travel, mainly to photograph birds, and has been to nine countries, including Egypt, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Ecuador, England, Trinidad, Tobago, Canada (twice) and Guatemala (three times.) He has, also, been to many places in the United States, including Florida, Alabama,

Arizona, Washington, and Texas.

He tells a short but riveting story about travelling with two buddies to Churchill, Manitoba, in Canada to photograph birds. A game warden had told them about seeing an American Golden Plover the day before. Of course, they had to go in search of it, and as they perched on an outcropping of rocks on the Hudson Bay, Phil kept hearing a strange snorting sound. Suddenly out from behind a rock

Hometown Living At Its Best

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near him lumbered a polar bear! Phil surmised he could beat his two buddies to the truck if he had to, but the bear must have been well fed since he did not attack and eat, as they are known to do. No mad dash for the vehicle was necessary.

He thinks his mother’s prayers had something to do with it! He said he gladly traded a polar bear sighting for the anticipated American Golden Plover.

Phil doesn’t just photograph birds…his pictures win prizes! Or at least one of them has. Besides having a story, complete with his photography, published in BirdWatching Magazine, on June 25, 2012, his picture of a Roseate Spoonbill won Best in Show for the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Photo Contest in 2014. He is grateful for that nice surprise…and the accompanying prize money!

(Again with the sense of humor!)

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Sumter county Living

The published story was about his Painted Bunting sighting, a tale with a bit of a twist. The closest area where the species regularly breeds is more than sixty miles northeast of Americus along the Ocmulgee River corridor, but his friend Dr. Bob Norris told him he had heard one down by the railroad tracks adjacent to Shiver Lumber Company. Bob, who passed in 2010 at age 87, was a noted expert on the birds of Georgia. He had discovered the Bunting in June, 2002, and the bird was the first Painted Bunting found in Sumter County and most likely all of southwest Georgia in more than twenty-five years. Bob had found Buntings in Americus in June, 1976, that he suspected were breeding. However, by 2002, there were no more seen.

Some will remember Clive Rainey who worked for Habitat for Humanity for many years. He and Phil and some others took the trip down to the railroad tracks to see the bird that Dr. Norris had heard. They did find it and later Clive and Phil found another male and within a few days they saw a male and a female together.

At work the next week Clive mentioned to Millard Fuller that they had seen the birds.

Millard said he should tell President Carter, also a birder. Clive knew that one doesn’t just show up on a former president’s doorstep and say, “I saw a bird,” but in a roundabout way he got the message to President Carter who called him and requested that he escort him and his wife to see the bird. A date was set and the Carters met with Clive to see the beauty. Indeed, they had never seen one and were excited to have been able to get a look at one right here in their own county.

It is to the Carters what is known as a “life bird,” a species that a birder has seen and identified in the wild for the very first time in his or her life.

Phil says he has about seven birding buddies living mostly in the Macon area that also like to photograph their sightings. They take a trip or two each year to photograph birds and enrich their friendships, and although they are very competitive with one another, they also learn techniques from each other to make themselves better photographers of their pastime.

Phil is a member of the Georgia Ornithological Society and serves on its Executive Committee.

He is a member of the Ocmulgee Audubon

Society in Macon and was their featured speaker in June this year, presenting a slideshow about his recent bird photography trip to Ecuador.

Toward the end of our discussion, Phil became very serious. It is human nature for anyone excited about something to feel the need to involve others so they can experience the same joy, and that is true for Phil Hardy and birding. His main concern is that young folks are so enthralled with electronic devices and the internet that most of them will never know the pleasure of birding. He says they suffer from NDD: Nature Deficit Disorder. (His sense of humor can rise up even when he is serious.) This is a malady he hopes to encourage people to assist him in eliminating. Phil wants young people to realize the elation one can experience from seeing a bird species for the first

time in his natural habitat. He wants people, especially young people, to know the God that created the birds. He wants them to know that He is the same God who created us, and that He says that, “…you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:31) His hope is that this article will help draw young people outdoors to watch the birds, so if you’re reading this and you’re ever around youngsters, you might want to give aid to Phil with this endeavor by giving them this article to read.

You never know…that youngster might be the next one in Sumter County to see the Painted Bunting!  SCL Phil wants young people to realize the elation one can experience from seeing a bird species for the first time in his natural habitat. He wants people, especially young people, to know the God that created the birds. He wants them to know that He is the same God who created us, and that He says that, “…you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:31)

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Sumter County Living

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True Grit

Decorated veteran and Purple Heart recipient, Sgt. Charles Robinson Barr, still standing to share with the rest of us a veteran’s tale.

Story by Mandy Barr

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Photography by David Parks

A

A wise man with true grit once said, “If you’re going through hell, keep going.” At the time, Winston Churchill was unaware of just how much these words would impact the life of a young man facing the front lines of war for the first time. Hailing from the small Southern town of Americus, son of Wade and Susan Barr and brother to Chris, decorated veteran and Purple Heart recipient, Sgt. Charles Robinson Barr did, in fact, hold onto Churchill’s words of encouragement while serving two tours in Iraq—his first in Baghdad, Sadr City, Mosul, and his second in Kirkuk, Iraq.

Since he was a young boy, Charles Barr knew exactly what he wanted to do with his life. Upon graduating high school, the accomplished soccer and football player decided to serve his country by joining the U.S. Army Infantry in June 2005. By November, he was stationed at Fort Lewis in the state of Washington, and in July of 2006, his brigade was stationed in Vilseck, Germany, and then deployed to Baghdad and Sadr City, Iraq, and later Mosul, Iraq, in August of 2007. He returned to Germany in October of 2008 then left for Ft. Stewart, Georgia, in February of 2009. By October of that year, he returned once again to Iraq for a second tour in Kirkuk. The tour seemed to be

Since he was a young boy, Charles Barr knew exactly what he wanted to do with his life. Upon graduating high school, the accomplished soccer and football player decided to serve his country by joining the U.S. Army Infantry in June 2005.

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I wonder out loud how all of these bittersweet experiences have affected him since he’s been home. Fixing his gaze on a framed picture of his precious girls, he replies, “Yeah. I’m closer to my family now than I was before. It gave me a different outlook on life.

It showed me that life is short, so we need to make the best of it.”

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Sumter county Living

going fairly smoothly until January of 2010 when he was wounded by a sniper, sending Barr home on convalescent leave. Little did he know at the time that he would soon be meeting his future wife, Mandy Fuller, just a few days after returning to Americus in February for some much needed hometown healing. After a two month dating period—and once his wound had healed just enough to allow him to leave, Charles decided to return to Iraq in April to finish his tour. After saying goodbye to his family and his girl, Charles resumed his duties as a squad leader back in Kirkuk for

an additional six months. Finally, after a couple of close calls, he came home for good in October just in time to celebrate his 24th birthday. On one cold December night in Savannah, during the military ball weekend, he proposed to girlfriend Mandy. He was soon after transferred to Ft. Benning in February of 201l. He and Mandy were married in Plains the following June. He remained in Ft. Benning until he was officially retired on November 24, 2012, while the couple was expecting their first daughter, Riley.

Three years later, we sit at the dining room table surrounded by pictures of his two little girls, Riley and Emily, as well as many other pictures sharing sweet memories of a life well lived post-combat. Now that time has passed, Barr feels more comfortable sharing with others his memories of the day that would forever change his life: “That morning we got up and conducted PT. Once we were finished with that, we got the trucks ready and prepared for a Counter IDF mission to SP [start patrol] at 0900. We started out heading to one of our Iraqi police counterparts down at the Iraqi police station. Once we made the link up, we started driving the main MSR’s [main supply routes] looking for any signs of IDF and direct fire sites. About 1045 local time, we dismounted in the rock quarry, and our sector started doing a foot patrol through the rock quarry. After we had gone about four klicks (kilometers), we started making our way back towards the trucks.

As we were moving through, we passed a house with a man and two kids playing outside. I looked at them, and as the trail element, I turned around to check behind us. I didn’t see anything. As I turned around and took about ten more steps, all of a sudden I saw a bright flash come out of my left chest area. My weapon went flying from my hands--and it dropped me to my knees,” Barr describes.

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“At that point, I knew I had been shot, so I made myself roll down the hill and into the rock quarry in order to get some cover. About the time I stopped at the bottom of the hill, one of our other guys had caught up to me. That was when he yelled for a medic. As the medic got there, and they started checking me, I thought I had been shot side to side through the lungs, but once we were able to get my vest off they checked my sides. My sides were clear. They rolled me over and found an entry wound on my back just below my left shoulder. The medic dressed that wound with a bandage and rolled me back over onto my back. They started treating my chest for a sucking chest wound.

From that point, the rest of the platoon had gotten there and set up a security perimeter. We had called the trucks. Before the trucks pulled up, they came under sporadic gunfire. After about two minutes, the trucks had arrived at our location. The medic and the first guy to get to me helped me to my feet, and we walked to the trucks. They loaded me in the back of one of them with the medic. Once everyone was loaded, we took off for the FOB. By the time we got to the FOB, I had lost a lot of blood…I could taste the blood in my mouth and was having difficulty breathing. When we pulled up to the combat support hospital (CSH), the surgeons “The two things that made me mad the most about being shot was that one bullet hit two tattoos and that they cut my boots off of me versus untying them and taking them off. That was my favorite pair of boots.”

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and some of the medics from there met us with a stretcher to carry me inside. At that point, once we were inside, they cut off all my clothes to check for other wounds. As we were doing that, the doctors were getting IVs put into my arms. Then they gave me a painkiller that knocked me out. While I was unconscious, they put a chest tube into my left lung and re-bandaged my entry wound and exit wound. They also gave me an IV of morphine and a lot of blood—around three liters of blood,” Barr continues.

“After a few hours and once I stabilized, I was flown to Balad, Iraq. From there, that was the first time I woke since being given the painkillers. I spent about 12 hours in Balad. From there, I was flown to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, which is where I first found out that I had four broken ribs, a broken shoulder blade, and the top part of my left lung missing. I spent 24 hours in Landstuhl and was flown to Andrews Air Force base in Maryland. I spent 48 hours in Andrews because of snow and then was flown to Hunter Army Airfield and was transported by ambulance to Ft. Stewart where my family was waiting for

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me at the hospital. While I was at Ft. Stewart, I was awarded my Purple Heart. I spent 11 days in the hospital there until my lung was able to stay inflated on its own. I was released on 30 days convalescence leave. The two things that made me mad the most about being shot was that one bullet hit two tattoos and that they cut my boots off of me versus untying them and taking them off. That was my favorite pair of boots. As an infantryman, good boots are hard to come by,” he concludes.

Not only is this weathered soldier brutally honest, but he’s also known to drop some quick wit when you least expect it. When asked to describe his definition of a good day while out on a mission, he simply replies. “A good day is when everyone comes back.”

I asked him to share a few words of advice with our parents and young people out there who are contemplating joining the military. “Be sure it is something you really want to do,” he says.

After a brief pause, he continues, “It’s not for everyone. Make sure your heart is in it. And be prepared for war. I wish I could explain how it affects everyone who has actually seen combat.

It’s not some movie or some game. People are dying. People are getting wounded. All of us that have seen it have come back changed one way or another, but it doesn’t mean that we all have problems. It just means that we’re a little stronger because we’ve seen the world in a different light.”

Barr admits that he himself has changed as a result of his experiences. All too aware of how these changes can affect family and friends, he speaks openly about what our military caregivers

and other civilians can do to help. “Be patient,” he advises. “It’s not something that can change overnight. However which way the veteran needs to deal with it, try not to nag them or push them about it. They know what they need, and they know what helps them. Just give them time, and support them the best you can. Also, stop making assumptions about our experiences. We’re not all crazy. Stop making the assumption that we all join because we love war and want to kill people. Some of us joined for other reasons,” he admonishes.

He goes on to explain what often makes most veterans the most uncomfortable when dealing with the public after returning home from war. “People asking you about your experience and trying to give you attention for it,” he explains.

“Sometimes you just want to be left alone with it. Give them space—give them time. If they want to talk about it, they will talk about it. Don’t keep questioning them or keep trying to get the details about what happened or what it feels like and what they could’ve done differently. Just treat them as if they had never changed. Don’t treat them special because they have been wounded,” he cautions.

Stepping away from the more serious topics, Charles and I enjoy a good laugh over some of his favorite memories. With a twinkle behind his mischievous hazel eyes, he shares a few funny anecdotes (some of which cannot be repeated) along with his overall enthusiasm for being a part of the military culture, especially when overseas. “The brotherhood,” he says.

“You will never have friends like the ones you had in combat. Germany was probably my favorite duty station. The guys I was with there were like one big family. While overseas, the care Hometown Living At Its Best

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“We are the unwilling led by the unknowing to do the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much with so little for so long we are now qualified to do anything with nothing.�

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Sumter county Living

packages, getting care packages from home, getting cards from young kids at school, strangers sending us things showing their love and support for us—it makes us feel better about what we’re doing and where we are at. And I would say my least favorite thing would be the mass punishment because one person messed up. Everybody had to pay for that mistake.” Still, he laughs even when remembering the various punishments that he had to endure as a result of being part of a team. Clearly, this is a man who has no regrets.

I wonder out loud how all of these bittersweet experiences have affected him since he’s been home. Fixing his gaze on a framed picture of his precious girls, he replies, “Yeah. I’m closer to my family now than I was before. It gave me a different outlook on life. It showed me that life is short, so we need to make the best of it.” These same experiences have also shaped what Barr decided to do while starting a new life over as both a veteran and a civilian.

By first volunteering and then accepting a position at Andersonville National Historic and then working his way to being the Cemetery Administrator at Andersonville National Cemetery, he feels that what he has seen and done enables him to perform his job with a more personal connection to the families with which he works. “It’s helped me because I understand where the veterans come from and what they need,” he explains. “It helps me to deal with the grief for the families and for the veterans as they lay their loved ones to rest.” Being a veteran himself, he supports the hiring of our nation’s experienced service members because “we have a strong work ethic because of the things we have done…things that have been required of us. We are

Before our visit comes to an end, he is quick to flash a smile and crack a joke, reinforcing his belief that this life is what you make it. And if you’re marching through hell, then you best keep on marching.

accustomed to following orders, and we are good at working under time restraints. Combat veterans, especially, are able to think on our feet and problem solve quickly and efficiently. We work well as a team.” Indeed, Barr’s family and friends would all say the same of him and his willingness to go out of his way to help others.

Drawing toward the end of our session together, he and I finally approach the elephant in the room— the issue of Post Traumatic Stress and suicide within our veteran population in the U.S. as well as how veterans cope with grieving for their brothers lost in battle. Looking down at his left wrist, he directs his focus to an inch wide aluminum cuff bracelet that he wears, bearing the names of several men who are no longer with him today. Overall, Barr has lost six brothers in action.

Since retiring, he has also lost five brothers to suicide and/or overdose— all brave men who couldn’t battle the demons within any longer. While he shares the stories of these precious lives with me, I can’t help but stare in awe

at him and think, “It’s a miracle you’re alive today.” Sensing my thoughts, he emphasizes the importance of helping our veterans that have survived and are living among us every day: “Within the veteran community we need to stay in touch better. We need to communicate better with our brothers that we served with, and we need to remind them that we are their family,” he advises.

“Be willing to go out of our way to help them. Stay in touch.” I notice him look away as he places his hand over the names of the fallen inscribed on his wrist, and it resonates with me just how much pain this honorable man and so many of our veterans have endured over the years. And yet, here he is—an amazing husband and son as well as the best daddy that two little girls could ever ask for—still standing to share with the rest of us a veteran’s tale. Before our visit comes to an end, he is quick to flash a smile and crack a joke, reinforcing his belief that this life is what you make it. And if you’re marching through hell, then you best keep on marching.  SCL

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story by

Kim Fuller

When Bruce Hall talks about his dogs and Gizmo especially, his passion is obvious.

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photos by

David Parks

This is a story of a National Field Champion and his owner… of Top Dog in the country and his owner… of a man and his dog… of Bruce Hall and his dog, FC-AFC Keeno’s Gizmo… But most of all, this is a story of a man who is pursuing his passion and one of the dogs that allows him to do so.

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On a back country road in between Plains and Smithville lies Pinetree Farms, a picturesque setting of green grass and rolling fields. This is where Gizmo, 2015 AKC National Field Champion, trains from September to May. In fact, Bruce says that he built the farms just for training his dogs.

“There are those who retire and play golf, fish, or do some other thing that takes up their time,” he says. “I train my dogs and can’t imagine a day without them.”

Before I tell you a little about the art of developing a champion, let me introduce you to Gizmo’s owners, Bruce and Betty Hall. Born in Belo, West Virginia, Bruce moved to Salisbury, Maryland, with his parents when he was a young man. He joined the Navy, and right before he was discharged, he met Betty, proudly stating, “The rest is history; we’ve been married for the last 43 years.” For over 40 years, Bruce ran and owned a coatings and concrete repair company and worked all over the country. But after 9/11, he started a new company… one that was related to bomb blast protection of buildings.

Throughout all those years, Bruce trained his dogs, first Chesapeake Retrievers and then Labrador Retrievers.

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“It all started with me wanting a good hunting dog,” Bruce shares. “We lived on the eastern shore of Maryland where goose and duck hunts were popular.”

Ten years ago, Bruce and Betty sold their company and bought a farm in this area.

“We had been using a professional trainer from Wisconsin who spent his winters here; I would come down for a couple of weeks each year to work my dogs,” he explains.

But why here? Because of the weather. They live in Sumter County from September to mid-May, but then they go back to Maryland for the summer. And when they head North,

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their dogs do too. “Too many rattlesnakes and too much heat!” Bruce chuckles.

One night during prayer meeting at Maranatha Baptist Church, Bruce and Betty asked us to put Gizmo and his handler, Al Arthur, on the prayer list, which is not an uncommon thing for pet lover’s to ask for prayers for their fur babies. Little did we know that we were praying for a celebrity! The next meeting they told us that prayers had worked! Gizmo had won!

“As I tell people, there are those who retire and play golf, fish, or do some other thing that takes up their time. I train dogs and can’t imagine a day without them,” Bruce shares.

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So… let’s learn about how Gizmo came to be a champion. Gizmo was 16 months when Bruce purchased him from a friend in Kentucky. He was at a field trial in South Carolina when his friend called and he stopped on his way home and picked Gizmo up. Once back home in Sumter County, he ran him on a water blind at the farm a task the dog should not have been able to do. But Gizmo proved him wrong and ran the trial better than any other; he ran one in Lee County that was more complex the next day, Bruce proudly states, “I made up my mind I was going to buy him.” The rest is history… Gizmo ended up being the #3 Derby dog in the United States that year.

And he didn’t stop there; by the time Gizmo was three, both Bruce and a friend of his won Opens with him, and once the dog turned four, Gizmo won another Open, which gave him his Amateur Field Championship. In November 2015, he won the National Field Championship in Corning, California, Top Dog in the Country.

Phew! After this, I looked Gizmo’s stats up on line. Pretty impressive. I found a table of tests that showed his Championship run. I admit I wasn’t really sure what I was looking at, but it was obvious that Gizmo far surpassed other competitors on the list, so I wasn’t surprised when the big red W showed up on the tenth test! I even found a Facebook post congratulating him on his National Field Championship win, complete with a handsome picture of him smiling for the cameras!

Bruce is quick to say that Gizmo is a good dog…a great dog… a phenomenal one. And Gizmo isn’t the only dog that he owns and trains. He has ten Labs, four of which are in training now: two in Patterson, Georgia, one in Florida, and one here in Sumter County. Five field trials are held at Pinetree every year with 250 dogs and 75 people at

On a back country road in between Plains and Smithville lies Pinetree Farms, a picturesque setting of green grass and rolling fields.

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each trial. Hunt tests are held as well. Bruce notes that the sport is evolving constantly.

When Bruce talks about his dogs and Gizmo especially, his passion is obvious. I asked him where he saw himself in ten years: “I hope I’ll still be able to go out and train my dogs. They’re my family and I know they love this as much as I do,” he answers.

And even though this past year he underwent heart surgery, Bruce still kept up with Gizmo’s competitions by having Al Arthur handle him, especially during the championship trials.

“As I tell people, there are those who retire and play golf, fish, or do some other thing that takes up their time. I train dogs and can’t imagine a day without them,” Bruce shares. And what makes Bruce Hall smile? “My WIFE and my dogs. Both bring me joy each day,” he emphatically states.

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It’s no wonder that Gizmo is Top Dog. He has Bruce and Betty looking after him.

Oh…he’s covered with prayer too...  SCL *Some information taken from 11/3/2015 Times Recorder article “Local dog wins National Championship.”

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story By Crystal Waddell

photos By David Parks

The Journey Jacob and Angela High received a call on December 28, 2009 that forever changed their lives for the better. Their adopted daughter, Katelyn, who was 9 years old at the time, and her 14-month-old sister, Maree, had been left home alone by their biological mother. Because Katelyn was Angela’s biological niece, the Highs were contacted about taking the girls in temporarily, and both girls went to live with the Highs in January 2010. The next month, another sister, 3 year-old Haylee, also went to live with them. Jacob and Angela had a full house since they also had their own two biological children, Gavin and Taylor who were 5 and 3 at the time. “Initially, the plan was for the girls to stay with us while their mother completed her rehabilitation and could get the girls back, but she never recovered,” explained Angela.

Six months after the girls had been living with the Highs, DFACS requested the Highs also take another baby to whom the mother would be giving birth in October. “[DFACS] said they were terminating the mother’s rights and wanted us to take all four girls, but it was not an option for us to take the new baby as well,” said Angela. DFACS soon placed all of the girls into the foster care system to keep the sisters together. Because Katelyn and Maree had been living together before going to stay with the Highs, Jacob and Angela wanted to keep them. DFACS said keeping them together would be in the best interest of the girls, which was difficult for the Highs who were emotionally attached to the girls.

Even after taking the girls back to DFACS, which was excruciatingly hard for the Highs, they continued to fight for custody of Katelyn since she was the only girl that

Katelyn is an amazing and well-adjusted young lady for someone who at nine years old was taking care of her younger siblings by cooking for them and providing the rest of their needs. She has seamlessly become accustomed to life with Jacob and Angela as well as with her siblings Gavin and Taylor. It is so clear that the siblings share a close bond, and the whole family feels blessed that God brought Katelyn into their lives.

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was related by blood to them. “Once a child is in the foster care system, he or she must be adopted through Foster to Adopt or by being related by blood to the adoptive parents,” explained Angela. “We continued going to the court hearings for Katelyn, even when her mom did not attend the hearings,” commented Jacob. It is so apparent the couple was desperately trying to get Katelyn back. Their prayers were answered in January 2011 when Katelyn was permanently placed with the Highs while they went through the adoption process. Fortunately, the other 3 sisters were adopted by another family, keeping them together, and all of the girls are still able to keep in touch.

Regrettably, because of a glitch in the paperwork, the Highs found out that the adoption they thought was final was not yet official. “We discovered that we never got the State’s approval and that Katelyn was still a ward of the State. There was some paperwork that was never filed, which was the fault of our attorney. It was a very stressful time,” recalled Angela. Jacob and Angela had gone through all 52

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of the proper channels, and they were assured the adoption had been processed. Despite the fact that the family called several times to question the relative placement checks they were still receiving even after the adoption, Jacob said, “When I spoke to someone, I was told it was probably the adoption assistance checks.” Angela added, “DFACs never signed off on her adoption, and they were wanting to press charges against us for receiving the checks. They were also talking about coming to pick Katelyn up despite the fact that it had been six months since the adoption was final, or so we thought.” They got in touch with the Americus CASA office (Court Appointed Special Advocate) to help straighten out the situation. “The suggestion was that we contact a different attorney as soon as possible. Patrick Calcutt saw us the next day and was a huge blessing to us. He gave us a lot more information that helped us out even more the second time around,” said Angela. Jacob added, “There is just not one place to go to in order to get all of the information about adoption and foster care. You would think it would be a little easier than it was.”

After a nullification of the original adoption, Katelyn was officially a member of the family in September 2014, which was over a year after the original adoption.

During the adoption process, their church, Central Baptist Church, was so wonderful to the family; they provided meals and gift cards for clothing, and someone even paid for Rockbridge Camp for Katelyn. “We went from a family of four to seven when we first took in the girls, and it was incredible to think about it in hindsight how wonderful everyone was to us during that time. Luckily, we had just gotten a new car and had picked the one with a third-row seat because Angela said we needed it.

Looking back there were so many little things that happened along the way that helped us,” said Jacob.

It was fortunate that the family had so many church members that assisted them because the economic conditions at the time were affecting Jacob’s job and income in a negative way. Yet, God continued to provide them with everything they needed.

The family has been so blessed and also enjoys giving back in order to help others. Angela and Katelyn went on a mission trip to Long Island in April with Central Baptist Church. They helped serve in the kitchen as well as helped with the construction of new staging for Crossroads Church

of Farmingdale, New York. “We loved it so much that we are going on a mission trip to Nicaragua in the fall,” said Angela. Matthew 9:37-38 inspired Angela and Katelyn, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into this harvest.”

It is really an amazing parallel between the foster care system and adoptive parents considering the children in foster care are like the harvest in that they are plentiful, but the laborers, like adoptive parents, are few. It is not an ironic twist that the Highs are so inspired by these Bible verses, but rather it is another wonder of God’s amazing love and power.

Jacob and Angela made the decision to home school all three children with Angela as the teacher.

It has been a wonderful, positive experience for the whole family. Angela works part-time in order to accommodate the educational requirements.

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“Katelyn also does Veritas Academy which is a classical learning school in Albany, and goes there one day a week. She completes the assignments given to her at Veritas for the remainder of the week. Homeschooling works for us because it gives us more time as a family, and we are able to go on field trips together. Katelyn did her standardized testing and scored above average and ‘post high school,’ which makes me feel like I am doing okay with homeschooling them. I feel like spiritually and emotionally we are connected and have really grown as a family. Individually, they have grown. Gavin loves all of it, but Taylor misses recess time with her friends,” said Angela.

However, the High children receive so much social interaction at Central Baptist Church since the family is heavily involved with the church.

They also gather with other homeschooled children in Americus for study groups and social activities. Jacob is full of praise for his wife and children in how they are doing, “The kids

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really do work well together. I remember when I was younger very few people homeschooled, but now there are so many more people choosing it over traditional school,” he shared.

Katelyn is now 15, Gavin is 11, and Taylor is 9.

Katelyn is an amazing and well-adjusted young lady for someone who at nine years old was taking care of her younger siblings by cooking for them and providing the rest of their needs. She has seamlessly become accustomed to life with Jacob and Angela as well as with her siblings Gavin and Taylor. It is so clear that the siblings share a close bond, and the whole family feels blessed that God brought Katelyn into their lives. Another adoption is not completely out of the question, but Jacob is not quite on board yet. However, Angela and the children are all for it, and Gavin has even put in his request for a brother.

The story of how this family came to be is so inspiring and demonstrative of God’s hand guiding their individual paths in life.  SCL

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story by Sherri Martin

photos by David Parks

Maggie Tu gives new meaning to what is referred to as a well-rounded individual.

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To take one photo that represents all of Maggie Tu’s interests much less her accomplishments would be quite a feat. The photo would have to include books because she is an excellent student. One of those books would be a Bible; her faith is first and foremost. Add a few animals since she plans to become a veterinarian. She would also be holding a violin as she is an accomplished musician.

Somewhere nearby would be a sewing machine; her 60

Sumter county Living

“I would consider myself unique in that I do weird things.�

This seventeenyear-old, collegebound young lady has figured out that time well spent reaps benefits.

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sewing creations have won ribbons. And have her dress in running shorts and shoes. Yes, she runs half-marathons and 5-Ks. Yet to show who Maggie really is would be to show a person who is humble about her abilities and matter of fact about how she has accomplished so much already. “I would consider myself unique in that I do weird things,” she says.

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Those “weird” things have led to her acceptance to Mississippi State University’s Early Entry program for the College of Veterinary Medicine.

“You apply as a high school senior,” she explains.

“If you get in and then complete your undergraduate work, you are guaranteed a place in vet school.”

Requirements for the program include a 3.6 high school GPA, an ACT score of or above 27, and 480 hours of veterinary experience, which she is fulfilling at Harper’s Animal Clinic in Americus.

In addition to the early enrollment program, she will also be in the “3+1” program, an optional component. “The 3+1 option allows me to work three years toward my undergrad degree as opposed to the traditional four, and my first year of vet school counts as my fourth year,” she says.

Maggie has been preparing for this next step for several years, having started dual enrollment classes at Georgia Southwestern State University at the age

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of 15. This allowed her to already have several hours completed toward her undergraduate degree.

She has always wanted to work in the field of medicine in some capacity, following the examples of her parents. “My mom was a nurse; my dad is a doctor,” she explains. “Pretty much from a very young age, I knew I would do something in the medical field.”

Her father is Dr. Chanh Tu, an ophthalmologist at Regional Eye Center in Americus. Her mother, Kim Tu, is an RN but has dedicated her time to homeschooling Maggie and her four sisters.

Maggie is the middle of the five girls.

And while she knew she would work in the medical field, Maggie has not always wanted to be a veterinarian. “I have not always been an animal person,” she admits.

However, this changed when her family adopted some Labrador retrievers, and she became interested in training them. Later, she began volunteering at the Sumter Humane Society, and her interest grew. In the fall of 2014, she began shadowing Dr. Sam Harper, learning the ins and outs of a small animal practice. “Watching Dr. Harper at work has only served to strengthen my love for animals and my compassion for pet owners. It has also given me a 64

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glimpse of how I can integrate Biblical principles into my future work,” she says.

She credits her parents with encouraging her to succeed academically. “I was always put in classes that challenged me,” she says.

For her, homeschooling has had many benefits. “I feel very close to my parents, which is a good thing,” she says. “Homeschooling allowed me the flexibility to do all that I do in extra curricular activities.”

She began one of those activities when she began playing the violin when she was five years old. Her friend, Kassidy Lowe, had a half-size violin that she had outgrown and was willing to hand down. “My mom said, ‘Want to learn violin?’” Maggie remembers. “I was excited at first, then I got tired of it.

But my parents made me stick with it for two years.”

Her interest in the instrument grew but then waned again at age 11. Instead of putting down the violin for good, she went to a music camp. “It was an eye opener, to see people who were so good,” she says. “I thought maybe I could practice more. Someone is always going to be better than you. You can either get discouraged and quit or be inspired to get better.”

After the camp, she practiced more and has since joined the Central Baptist Church orchestra and the Dougherty

For Maggie Tu, being exceptional is not really exceptional at all. It is simply how she has chosen to live her life, and now that choice is giving her a head start to pursue her dreams.

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“I hope to do everything for God’s glory,” she says. “I hope to do everything to the best of my abilities.”

County Youth Orchestra; she has also played at weddings. The youth orchestra is an orchestra of all stringed instruments. “I have worked my way up in it,” Maggie says. “This year, I’m concert master. I’m the person who comes on stage and tunes up everyone. I’m also first chair, first violinist.”

As if academics and music do not keep her busy enough, Maggie also finds time for another artistic pursuit – sewing. “I always liked to do craft staff, and I started sewing about four years ago. I was on Pinterest, and I saw lots of projects, but I needed to be able to sew to do them. We had a sewing machine, so I said, ‘Mom, teach me to sew!’” she explains.

Soon after, Maggie attended a summer camp run by Martha Usry and later started taking

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private lessons from her. Maggie became interested in embroidery and has since entered several of her creations in the Georgia National Fair. “I have won some Best in Class ribbons and made Christmas money,” she says. “Sewing is relaxing as long as you don’t mess up!”

Then, in her free time, she says, “I run a little bit.”

She has completed three half-marathons and “innumerable” 5Ks and fun runs. “I’m not fast. I just think it’s cool that I do it,” she admits. “It’s just to stay healthy.”

She has also taught at music camps here and in Louisiana when she went on a mission trip.

Is there any wonder she says she has “no time” for dating?

This seventeen-year-old, college-bound young lady has figured out that time well spent reaps benefits. She encourages other young people, especially other homeschoolers: “Use your time wisely. The biggest advantage is that you do have time. Use that time to explore and figure out what you like and what you want to do. Don’t spend all of your time on TV.” She says her success is due to God (“I thank Him for everything”), her parents, good friends, and good teachers.

“I hope to do everything for God’s glory,” she says. “I hope to do everything to the best of my abilities.”

For Maggie Tu, being exceptional is not really exceptional at all. It is simply how she has chosen to live her life, and now that choice is giving her a head start to pursue her dreams.  SCL

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S t o r y b y M A N DY B A R R

P h o t o s b y Dav i d Par k s

Making a Difference The Sumter Faith Clinic is so much more than simply a clinic; it is a living and thriving testimony of faith.

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First opening its doors in October of 2011, the Sumter Faith Clinic took a total of three years of prayer, community collaboration and planning to get its mission started. Both Anna Stinchcum and Mary Wysochansky, two of the volunteer nurse practitioners at the clinic as well as co-founders, had a specific goal in mind. “We wanted to share the gospel with others as well as recognize and treat a growing problem within the

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community—the lack of medical treatment available for the underinsured,” said Stinchcum.

The first catalyst that set the project into motion transpired when First Presbyterian Church graciously offered up their Community Service building. Next, fueled with a fire in their hearts and a board made up of local nurses, doctors, and community members, they created a mission statement.

From these humble roots, a new ministry was born.

The mission of the Sumter Faith Clinic is to promote the health and well-being of Sumter County’s uninsured and working poor through compassionate medical care, education, prevention and referral, providing a gateway to other community services--and to joyfully serve so that all feel God’s love through the experience.

Sumter Faith Clinic is now a volunteer medical ministry that seeks to serve by addressing both the physical and spiritual

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“We wanted to share the Gospel with others as well as recognize and treat a growing problem within the community—the lack of medical treatment available for the underinsured.”

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needs of the underinsured in the community. Its belief is two part: One, that healing begins when you greet a person at the door, invite him or her in and take an interest in the life of that person and give them some of the respect and dignity that may not have been shown elsewhere. And two, that the greatest healing does not go to the people who come to the clinic to receive care, but rather to the volunteers who go there to give care.

Patients wishing to receive care must not have any form of medical insurance, including Medicare or Medicaid. Patients must have a yearly household income of no more than 200% of the federally designated poverty level. The clinic is available to patrons on Mondays from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and on Thursdays from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Sumter Faith Clinic offers services such as physician and nurse practitioner directed general medical care, access to many (but not all) medications at minimal cost, referrals to specialists when deemed necessary by the physician, and arrangement for admission to the hospital when needed.

A caring staff of medical providers currently working at the clinic includes such local doctors as Dr. Michael Busman,

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mission

The mission of the Sumter Faith Clinic is to promote the health and well-being of Sumter County’s uninsured and working poor through compassionate medical care, education, prevention and referral, providing a gateway to other community services--and to joyfully serve so that all feel God’s love through the experience.

Dr. Sean Sheff, Dr. Malcolm Floyd, Dr. Wallace Mays, and nurse practitioners Anna Stinchcum, Mary Anne Shepherd, Deborah Tymes, and Ray Eschman. This highly competent staff is always ready and waiting to address its patients’ needs.

Located in the Community Services Ministry building, next door to First Presbyterian Church, Sumter Faith Clinic is a non-profit corporation supported by donations from individuals, churches, businesses, and civic groups. The clinic welcomes your tax deductible support in the form of ongoing monthly support or one-time giving. They also welcome other forms of giving through individual or group volunteer service.

Becoming a partner church, for example, allows a church family to be a vital partner with this local ministry by welcoming the unchurched patient and their family into fellowship, by extending benevolent care for other patient needs, and by supplying volunteer teams from your Sunday School classes, Bible Study groups, Senior Adults, and Youth Groups, who will provide rotating help. Partnering churches can also provide mature Biblical counsel and encouragement to patients on a rotating basis.

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“We encourage our patients to utilize the help of our Prayer Warriors, a group of special people dedicated to praying with and praying for our patients when they visit the clinic,” she says with a smile. “If anyone is interested in becoming a volunteer, they can call the clinic for more information at 229-924-8599. We are in need of reliable and consistent volunteers that are truly passionate about serving our patients.”

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The Sumter Faith Clinic has made a tremendous impact on the local community since its opening in 2011, its satisfied patients eager to demonstrate just how appreciative they are for its services.

“The spiritual benefits are wonderful”, says patient Regina K. Benson. “They will pray with you. They treat you as a person rather than a number.” This statement speaks volumes, seeing as how the clinic strives to not only address the physical ailments of the patient but also the state of their spiritual and emotional well-being. Louise Tucker, Volunteer Services Coordinator for the clinic, emphasizes just how much faith and spiritual care play a role within the mission of the clinic. “We encourage our patients to utilize the help of our Prayer Warriors, a group of special people dedicated to praying with and praying for our patients when they visit the clinic,” she says with a smile. “If anyone is interested in becoming a volunteer, they can call the clinic for more information at 229-924-8599. We are in need of reliable and consistent volunteers that are truly passionate about serving our patients.”

The Sumter Faith Clinic is so much more than simply a clinic; it is a living and thriving testimony of faith. The three humble acts of healing, helping and hoping can truly make a difference in the lives of others.  SCL

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NEW FDA APPROVED TREATMENT PROVEN TO RELIEVE KNEE PAIN

NEW NEWFDA FDAAPPROVED APPROVEDTREATMENT TREATMENTPROVEN PROVENTO TORELIEVE RELIEVEKNEE KNEEPAIN PAIN

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DID DIDYOU YOUKNOW KNOWthat thatover over100 100million million DID YOU suffer KNOW that over 100 million Americans Americans suffer from from knee knee and and joint joint pain? pain?

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In fact, fact, thisthis pain pain accounts accounts forfor 25% 25% of of all all visits visits to to primary primary care care physicians physicians and and halfhalf of of all all antiantifact, this pain accounts for 25% of all visits inflammatory inflammatory drug drug prescriptions. prescriptions.

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to wait any longer to get the most advanced

HOW HOW DOES DOES THIS THIS TREATMENT TREATMENT WORK? WORK?

HOW DOES THIS TREATMENT WORK?

Advanced Advanced flouroscopy flouroscopy (live (live motion motion x-ray) x-ray) allows allows us usto topinpoint pinpoint problem problem areaswith with extreme extreme Advanced flouroscopy (liveareas motion x-ray) allows accuracy. accuracy.

us to pinpoint problem areas with extreme accuracy.

WILL WILL MYMY INSURANCE INSURANCE COVER COVER THIS THIS TREATMENT? TREATMENT?

WILL MY INSURANCE COVER THIS

If you If you suffer suffer from from anyany degree degree of of knee knee pain, pain, wewe Medicare Medicare and and most most major major insurances insurances willwill pay pay TREATMENT? non-surgical FDA approved invite invite you you to regain to regain control control of treatment. your of your lifelife by by visiting visiting for for some some if not if not all all of of ourour services. services.

Southwest Southwest Georgia Georgia Center Center of of Medicine, Medicine, a state a state of of thethe artart medical medical facility.

WHAT IS IS ACTUALLY ACTUALLY INJECTED INJECTED INTO INTO If you suffer from facility. any degree of knee pain, we WHAT Medicare and most major insurances will pay THE THE KNEE? KNEE?

invite you to regain control of your life by visiting Southwest Georgia Center of Medicine, a state of the art medical facility.

WHAT WHAT IS IS OSTEOARTHRITIS? OSTEOARTHRITIS? Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis (OA), (OA), also also known known as as degenerative degenerative joint jointdisease, disease,is isthethemost mostcommon commontype typeof of arthritis. arthritis.

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The The cause cause of of osteoarthritis osteoarthritis is unknown. is unknown.

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In most • Stresses • Stresses onon thethe joints joints from from certain certain activities activities individuals joint damage develops gradually including including sports, sports, work work and and leisure leisure activities. activities.

over years.

for some if not all of our services.

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The The lining lining of of thethe joint joint capsule capsule contains contains synovial synovial cells which which Hyaluronan (Supartz) iscells similar to secrete secrete a thick, a thick, viscous viscous synovial synovial fluid. fluid. substances that occur naturally in your Hyaluronan Hyaluronan contributes contributes to to thethe viscous viscous joint.

The outside of the nourishes joint (joint nature nature of ofthe thejoint joint fluid, fluid, nourishes the the cartilage, cartilage, helps helps eliminate eliminate waste waste capsule) is comprised of a sturdy products, products, lubricates lubricates thethe joint joint and and acts acts fibrous tissue.

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Therefore, Therefore, thethe easiest easiest way way to to think think of of Hyaluronan contributes to the viscous Hyaluronan Hyaluronan injections injections is that is that they they help help nature ofthe the joint fluid, nourishes replace replace the joint’s joint’s natural natural fluid, fluid, which which isthe otherwise is otherwise lostlost in osteoarthritis. in osteoarthritis. isIt is cartilage, helps eliminate Itwaste sort sort of of likelike changing changing thethe oil oil in in your your products, lubricates the joint and acts car.car.

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Factors the situation.

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• Being overweight WHEN WILL Ipatients.

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• Getting older (wear and tear) • Joint injury Most people feel better in a matter of weeks • Joints that are not properly formed and can begin enjoying everyday activities.

CONSIDER CONSIDER THESE THESE FACTS FACTS BEFORE BEFORE SURGERY: SURGERY: (alignment/imbalance problems) Treatment Treatment at Perimeter at Perimeter Spine Spine andand Rehabilitation Rehabilitation Center CenterSurgery Surgery HOW DO I KNOW • A genetic defect in the joint cartilage Cost Cost Covered Covered by most by most insurance insurance plans plans including including Medicare MedicareDeductible, co-pay, medications, timetime off work, etc etc THIS IS RIGHT Deductible, co-pay, medications, offTHAT work, FOR ME? • Stresses on the joints from certain activities Risk Risk Redness, Redness, swelling swelling possible possible at injection at injection site site Complications, poorpoor outcome, addiction to pain medications Complications, outcome, addiction to pain medications including sports, work and leisure activities.

Pain Pain LittleLittle to none to none CanCan be severe for months be severe for months In most cases, if you have knee pain, this is a Recovery Recovery Immediate Immediate Months/years Months/years WHAT IS AVAILABLE TO TREAT KNEE PAIN? great solution. Our medical staff will give you an honest and fair evaluation of your particular After careful study and several trials the FDA knee pain. We are pleased to announce that we approved a new treatment aimed at helping have opened up our schedule and we are now 68 with Sumter County Living those knee pain. accepting new patients.

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㔀 夀攀愀爀猀 漀昀 匀攀爀瘀椀挀攀

㐀㈀㜀 匀漀甀琀栀 䰀攀攀 匀琀爀攀攀琀 䄀洀攀爀椀挀甀猀Ⰰ 䜀䄀 ㄀㜀 㤀 ∠ ㈀㈀㤀⸀㤀㈀㐀⸀⸀㘀㐀㔀 ∠ 眀眀眀⸀栀栀渀挀漀挀欀昀甀渀攀爀爀氀栀漀洀攀椀渀挀⸀挀漀洀 Hometown Living At Its Best

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Addie Cook is taking the next steps to fulfilling her life’s dream of dancing in New York City with the Radio City Rockettes.

Story by Sherri Martin

Photos by David Parks

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“You have to be really committed to practicing and showing up for class and stretching a lot.”

[Addie Cook]

A dream this big takes commitment. Addie took dance at Nancy’s School of Dance in Americus when she was younger. She currently takes a two-hour class twice a week at Pritchett-Pippin Dance Studio in Albany. She studies tap, jazz, ballet, and pointe; she especially enjoys the technical side of dance.

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Just a year after Addie Cook was born, country singer Lee Ann Womack released the hit song “I Hope You Dance.” The lyrics describe a parent’s hopes for a child, and the chorus sums up those hopes with the lines “... and when you get the chance to sit it out or dance – I hope you dance.”

For Addie, this song has proven to be a soundtrack to her life, for what she wants to do more than anything is dance.

Charlie and Karen Cook knew their daughter was serious about dancing when she asked to take lessons at the age of two, then complained after her first dance recital that the other students were not taking their routines seriously enough.

Years of dance lessons followed along with hours of practice and numerous recitals. Still her passion continued. But her love of dance found a goal when around the age of nine or ten, she first saw the Radio

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“I’ve always wanted to be a Rockette.”

Years of dance lessons followed along with hours of practice and numerous recitals. Still her passion continued. But her love of dance found a goal when around the age of nine or ten, she first saw the Radio City Rockettes on television.

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City Rockettes on television. From that point on, Addie says, “I’ve always wanted to be a Rockette.”

For a young baseball player dreaming of making the Major Leagues, there are 30 teams each with 40-man rosters. The National Football League has 32 teams with 53 players on each. The Rockettes have two dance troupes of 40 each who perform at Radio City Music Hall in New York City and two troupes that travel. In addition, a Rockette is not guaranteed a spot from year to year; she must re-audition each summer.

These odds do not deter Addie; they just make her more determined. She saw the Rockettes in person in Atlanta about three years ago, and enthuses, “It was awesome – the best thing ever.”

A dream this big takes commitment.

Addie took dance at Nancy’s School of Dance in Americus when she was younger.

She currently takes a two-hour class twice a week at Pritchett-Pippin Dance Studio in Albany. She studies tap, jazz, ballet, and pointe; she especially enjoys the technical side of dance. “You have to be really committed to practicing and showing up for class and stretching a lot,” she explains.

A dancer also has to know how to dance through pain. Two years ago, during her recital, she broke a bone in her foot when she slipped on some stairs. She danced five of her recital dances on a hurt foot before going to the emergency room.

It was there that her dance career almost came to an end. A doctor talked about putting a metal rod in her foot, but her mom asked how that would affect her dancing career. “Oh, she’ll outgrow dance,” Karen was told.

“No, she won’t,” Karen replied at the time. They wound up going to Egleston Children’s Hosptial where a doctor whose daughter also dances worked to make sure

Addie’s dancing days were not over although she will now always dance with some pain.

The support of her parents has been instrumental to Addie’s dance success; two Christmases ago, they made room in their house for her own hardwood-floored, mirrored dance area where she practices and stretches.

They have also helped her to have extra opportunities to succeed at dance, taking her to Cumming to take classes with a Rockette last summer. Addie worked as a babysitter to help pay for the classes, and she now works at the Roman Oven to help earn money for the opportunity she has this summer: a summer dance intensive with the Rockettes in NYC. The Rockettes Summer Intensive is an audition-only program that provides a week

The support of her parents has been instrumental to Addie’s dance success; two Christmases ago, they made room in their house for her own hardwoodfloored, mirrored dance area where she practices and stretches.

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of study with the Rockettes and a Rockettes director/ choreographer. Addie will work for six hours each day, practicing in St. Paul’s Cathedral where the Rockettes practice and learning a Rockettes routine for a final showcase. She will also take dance classes as well as attend a seminar on injury prevention and dancer health and wellness.

Addie and her mom will be in New York August 7-12, and while the week is an expensive step to fulfilling a dream, it is an exciting step. At the end of the intensive, the dancers are able to audition for the Rockettes. Because Addie is only 17, she cannot audition this year, but she will be on a priority list for next year when she is 18. She does hope to be able to participate in a mock audition, which will help prepare her for the real one. It is a good thing that she is finally 5’6”, the minimum height requirement for which the Rockettes are famous. “I am 5’6” exactly,” she states proudly.

She is looking forward to the whole experience.

“I get to see what they are actually like,” she says. “There are actual Rockettes teaching actual choreography.”

After her week in New York City, she will come back to Americus to complete her senior year at Southland Academy. She will continue to work and take dance classes as well as to work on what she and her family call “Plan B.” At first, she had no Plan B. “I can’t imagine my life without dance,” she admits.

But she is auditioning for a scholarship at Brenau University in Gainesville, Georgia, where the dance program has a partnership with the Gainesville Ballet. If she earns the scholarship, she will major in dance with physical therapy. Whether it is before, during, or after her career as a Rockette, she eventually plans to have a Ph.D. in dance therapy.

“It is like physical therapy for professional dancers,” she explains. “If I can’t dance, I can at least help other dancers.”

And in the meantime, she will dream of living in New York City and being on stage in that famous kick line, performing 300 high kicks per show, as a Radio City Music Hall Rockette.

So if you are in the Roman Oven and you see a beautiful blonde with perfect posture, be sure to tip her big: she’s dancing her way to a dream.  SCL

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ACADEMICS • ATHLETICS • ACTIVITIES South Georgia Technical College’s 2016 State GOAL winner Ashley Rodgers with her new KIA

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THEATRE

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Story by June B. Anderson

I

Photography by David Parks

In 1949, a father and son envisioned a refrigeration service company in Americus. That duo was Roy Parker, Jr., and Roy Parker, III. They did start the business and were working hard at it when Roy, III, was called to serve his country in the Korean War. Unfortunately, while he was there, his father passed away. Upon his return home to Americus, he found that the business had incurred much debt and was near ruin.

Roy’s strong moral character wouldn’t allow him to rest until the debts were repaid, so he set to work over the next two years rebuilding the business and paying off the debt that had accumulated since his father’s passing. Sixty-seven years later, the aim of that company, now known as Parker’s Heating and Air Conditioning is still to “always do the right thing.”

At the helm of that business now is fourth-generation Parker’s president and family member, Kevin Reeves, an enthusiastic young man who gives you the feeling that Parker’s cares and knows what they’re doing. Their vision statement encourages it: “To be the most trusted and reliable HVAC provider in Southwest Georgia.”

Taking care of their community as well as their customers is a way of life for Parker’s Heating and Air Conditioning.

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Kevin is the son of Allene and Sparky Reeves and was born and raised in Sumter County, attended its schools, and is a 1993 graduate of Southland Academy. He has a BBA in Small Business Management obtained in 1997 from Georgia Southern, and in 2000 he married the former Jenny Wheeler. They have a 14-year-old daughter, Parker, and an 11-year-old son, Will. He says he loves being outside, a fact proven by his hobbies. He is an avid golfer and hiker and is honing his bird hunting skills. Attendance at live concerts and college football games rounds out his list of leisure activities.

He is a member of First United Methodist Church in Americus and became president of Conditioned Air Association of Georgia (CAAG) in March, 2016. Kevin is the third generation at Parker’s to hold that title.

While he was working at Wachovia, his father-in-law, Wes Wheeler, who was president of Parker’s at that time, asked him to lunch one day and inquired as to whether Kevin would be interested 96

Sumter county Living

in joining the company. Apparently he was! He soon came on board and you might be impressed to discover that he came in on the ground level… literally. He crawled under houses and into attics and trained to perform pretty much all the tasks that the other HVAC techs do. It was important to the management at Parker’s that Kevin know all the aspects of the business firsthand. So when you talk with him about what all goes on in a Parker’s day, he can relate. Been there, done that.

When asked what he’s zealous about, he says his family and his career. And, of course, Parker’s! But he also says he’s zealous about his faith. They open their meetings with prayer, and off and on during our interview session he pointed to a large painting, hanging on the wall beside his desk, of Jesus standing beside a businessman guiding his actions. My guess is that painting has been there since Roy L. Parker, III, ran the business. I remember “Mr. Roy.” He was a quiet, respectful Christian man who lived by a belief that because God gave us two ears and one mouth we should listen more than we talk. Kevin told me one of Roy’s discoveries after becoming a Christian many years ago: “I was amazed at how much the Lord knew about HVAC when I asked Him to be involved.” That made me smile. The business struggled in the early years until the 1960s when Roy took God as his partner. Kevin gave me the intricate history of this company. You’ll find it quite interesting.

The two Roy Parkers envisioned a family-owned business that was a positive workplace for their family and for others. Decades later their vision is still very much alive and well and serving this area’s HVAC needs, as well as other needs, with vim and vigor.

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So far the company has employed nine family members. It is currently owned by third- and fourth-generation Parker family members. Both the vice-president and the service manager have been instrumental in shaping the company for over thirty years each.

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We’ve already established the beginnings of the company, but a turning point in the building of the business came when Roy attended a meeting in Atlanta hosted by General Electric where they were introducing the first total electric heat pump. He excitedly returned home certain that he could sell and service this new product and grow his business. He was “One Man, One Truck with One Vision.”

In the early 1950s, when central heat and air conditioning installations in homes and businesses became popular, Parker’s became one of the heat pump pioneers in the state of Georgia and later became the first Georgia Power Heat Pump certified dealer. As you might expect, business began to pick up.

In the 1970s, Roy brought in three key team members, Terry Duncan, Dale Davis, and Roy’s son-in-law, Wes Wheeler, who joined in 1974. All have retired now, but they were instrumental in building the business into one of the premier HVAC companies in southwest Georgia. In 1985, they aided Roy in construction of the modern facility at their present site, 134 Thomas Drive in Americus.

During the 1990s, the company grew as more people and technology were added to meet Parker’s own demands of service to their customers. They also added indoor air quality and duct cleaning to their growing list of services offered.

In 1993, Wes Wheeler, took the wheel as the third generation to hold the title of president of the company. Although the way of the world is corporate consolidation, Parker’s is proud of the fact that they have chosen to remain a private and family-owned business. In 2000, during the HVAC consolidation frenzy, Wes made the wise decision not to sell out but established the company further as a family-owned-and-operated business by inviting his son-in-law Kevin Reeves to help lead the company into the 21st century.

In the early years, Roy, III’s, mother, Theone, and his wife, Liza, helped in many ways in the day-to-day operations of running the business and with customer satisfaction. Roy and Liza’s children, Jean and Bill, also aided the business through the years. Wes and Jean’s children, Jenny and Caroline, felt the privilege of being able to help “Daddy Roy” on special projects from time to time.

So far the company has employed nine family members. It is currently owned by third- and fourth-generation Parker family members. Both the vice-president and the service manager have been instrumental in shaping the company for over thirty years each.

After Roy Parker, III, passed away July 4, 2006, Wes continued with Roy’s same vision and passion and in 2010 passed the gavel to Kevin. The hope is that the mantle will eventually pass to the fifth generation.

A principle that they believe has contributed to the success of Parker’s and also of the individual Parker

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families is that they don’t talk too much family at work, and they don’t talk too much work at home or when they’re together outside the office. This can make for some carefree family vacations!

Their mission statement is to “provide our customers with comfortable, healthy, energy efficient homes and businesses,” something that has helped their business to grow and maintain the good reputation they now enjoy. They have always strived to provide their customers with the highest quality heating and air conditioning equipment, installation, and prompt professional service. I can attest to this as just the day before my interview with Kevin one of their service men had come to our home to change our filters and check our HVAC equipment. I was impressed with his professionalism and his respect for me as we talked. He completed his tasks, said his courteous goodbyes, and moved on to his next customer.

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Parker’s takes care of as many as 12,000 service work orders plus 400-500 contract jobs per year.

They employ 38 people for a forty-hour work week and have never experienced an employee layoff. In a struggling economy, this is quite an accomplishment. They are in tune with the latest technology and own a computer-driven Plasma Arc sheet metal cutting machine to improve efficiency and productivity.

This company likes to give back to its employees for their loyalty. Many businesses hold an annual Christmas party, and that’s true for Parker’s, but they go a few steps further by giving them a yearly “adventure” outing such as a fishing excursion or a trip to a Falcons game. Sometimes a department manager will take them out to breakfast or to a pizza lunch at the company’s expense just for a time of fellowship among department employees. And because this is South Georgia, they are sometimes treated to a fish fry! Parker’s will from time to time discover that an employee is having a rough time with finances or is experiencing a family emergency and will give assistance as needed. Then there are the special uniform programs, a tool and boot account, an option to join a Christmas club, health insurance, and a 401k retirement account.

While it may be intriguing to learn about the business side of this local operation, what might capture your interest even more is the fact that Parker’s doesn’t stop at taking care of their customers. They also take care of different aspects of our county and state.

It was important to Roy that they tithe company profits every year, giving to over 25 churches and charities. They still believe that God has blessed their family and their business because they continue to run it on Christian principles, and they follow in Roy’s footsteps, treating their customers and co-workers according to the Golden Rule: Matthew 7:12 – “…do to others what you would have them do to you…”

Parker’s has blessed this community in many different ways over the years. All of the leaders at Parker’s have been involved in civic clubs, Chamber of Commerce, and Habitat for Humanity.

Roy, III, and Wes both held seats on the Board of Directors for CAAG and also served as president, as

Kevin does now. Each also served on the Board of Directors for a local bank.

They have built two Habitat houses in Americus and have partnered with Habitat in providing HVAC on over 200 Habitat houses. They have engaged their manufacturers, vendors and co-workers to donate equipment, material, and labor on six Habitat Blitz Builds (over 100 houses) in Americus. Each season they install heating or air conditioning on a no-charge basis because of the financial or health problems of a person or family with a special need.

Parker’s supports education in Sumter County, having served on the Foundation Board at South Georgia Technical College (SGTC) and Southland Academy. Roy, III, was instrumental in founding the HVAC program at SGTC and served for years on the advisory committee. The Wheeler family provides a scholarship at SGTC in honor of his

involvement in the program. Four of the family members are graduates of Georgia Southwestern State University and support that institution as alumni. Parker’s is a member of and involved in Air Conditioning Contractors of America and Refrigeration Services Engineering Society. They have also employed several college students in the summer who want to earn extra money to help with their education. Parker’s believes in giving back to a community that has been faithful and supportive of them.

The two Roy Parkers envisioned a family-owned business that was a positive workplace for their family and for others. Decades later their vision is still very much alive and well and serving this area’s HVAC needs, as well as other needs, with vim and vigor. Just talk to Kevin Reeves for a few short minutes and you’ll understand what I mean!  SCL

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For Beth Ragan, Executive Director and CEO of Middle Flint Behavioral HealthCare, the love of serving others in the behavioral health field started early in her childhood.

f story by

Crystal Waddell

photos by

Eric S. Love

For Beth Ragan, Executive Director and CEO of Middle Flint Behavioral HealthCare, the love of serving others in the behavioral health field started early in her childhood. Beth’s mother was a social worker who provided counseling to individuals at the local mental health clinic in Thomasville. The clinic was located at Archbold Hospital, which was a short walk from Beth’s school. “I would walk from school to the hospital and wait for my mother to finish with her patients. My mother’s love for the field of social work and behavioral health was inspiring to me, so I gravitated naturally toward it,” said Beth.

After graduating from Valdosta State University, her first job was in Thomasville working in a mental health day program, which provided life skills training to individuals who had spent dozens of years in mental health institutions.

Other opportunities in the behavioral health field opened up, allowing Beth to broaden her experiences by working with a variety of individuals in need. “Most of the positions that I held early in my career allowed me to provide direct care services,” she explained. “I provided counseling to individuals with a variety of mental health concerns, worked with psychiatrists both in outpatient and long-term stay settings, provided individual services and developmental skills training to persons with developmental disabilities, and developed group and individual service delivery programs for individuals suffering from substance abuse issues,” she finished.

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Beth loved living and working in her hometown of Thomasville, but her husband’s career moved them to Americus 20 years ago.

Beth found many parallels between her beloved hometown and her new city, among which was a job at Middle Flint. “When we moved to Americus, my two girls were very young, and I wanted to be at home with them while we settled into our new life. The mental health field is very inter-connected, so I knew people at Middle Flint. Eventually, I was approached about contracting with the agency to set up an early intervention program for babies with developmental delays,” explained Beth.

What began as a part-time, contracted position, evolved into a position that Beth never envisioned but at which she has certainly excelled. Under her direction, Middle Flint’s eight county comprehensive community behavioral health, addictive disease and developmental disabilities service system has been touted as an example for the other 24 state Current Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Commissioner, Frank Berry, recently requested that Middle Flint’s residential program be used in a presentation to the legislature as an example of how to provide 24-hour residential service delivery in a dignified and successful way.

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Shining Example Under her direction, Middle Flint’s eight county comprehensive community behavioral health, addictive disease and developmental disabilities service system has been touted as an example for the other 24 state community service delivery programs.

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providing services to more than 4,000 individuals a year

With day service programs, community job development, intervention and recovery services, outpatient therapeutic, psychiatric and pharmacy clinics, residential and homeless programs, and numerous prevention programs such as HIV and substance abuse, Middle Flint occupies over 30 buildings and provides services to more than 4,000 individuals a year with only 220 staff members.

community service delivery programs.

Current Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Commissioner, Frank Berry, recently requested that Middle Flint’s residential program be used in a presentation to the legislature as an example of how to provide 24hour residential service delivery in a dignified and successful way.

The numerous group homes operated by Middle Flint that exist throughout Americus are nestled quietly in nice neighborhoods. “The group homes are located in neighborhoods where we ourselves live and want to live,” explained Beth. The homes have undergone renovations to increase their appeal to the individuals who live there and also to the

neighborhood residents.

With day service programs, community job development, intervention and recovery services, outpatient therapeutic, psychiatric and pharmacy clinics, residential and homeless programs, and numerous prevention programs such as HIV and substance abuse, Middle Flint occupies over 30 buildings and provides services to more than 4,000 individuals a year with only 220 staff members.

Beth realizes that people in our communities are often surprised at the numbers and at the extensive list of services offered. “We have an annual budget of about 13 million dollars, which certainly positively affects the economy in our community.

What is often not realized is that we are not a stateHometown Living At Its Best

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Our success stories are numerous and inspiring.

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While the accolades associated with Middle Flint’s ranking are nice, Beth emphasized that the real success lies with the people who are receiving the services. “For every individual who seeks services, there are five more who are hesitant to make that first step. Our success stories are numerous and inspiring.�

funded program in the traditional sense; we have to earn our dollars by first providing the service, then billing for and receiving the dollars exactly as a private service provider would have to,” Beth clarified.

There are a multitude of outside regulatory agencies and compliance requirements that are imposed on programs such as Middle Flint. Beth proudly noted that the State ranks the 25 community service programs, and Middle Flint is at the top. “We have led the State in the areas listed as required performance indicators. Solvency and better-than-positive chart audit results are just two of the dozens of requirements in which Middle Flint is considered exemplary,” she stated.

While the accolades associated with Middle Flint’s ranking are nice, Beth emphasized that the real success lies with the people who are receiving the services. “For every individual who seeks services, there are five more who are hesitant to make that first step.

Our success stories are numerous and inspiring. We have a vigorous work readiness program that improves selfesteem as well as ability. One young man entered our homeless program last year. He had suffered from severe depression, lost his family and job, and found himself living under a bridge in Atlanta. He was referred to our homeless program where he received housing, medication assistance and job readiness support. He had received an art degree years before and, with support, is now employed in a position that utilizes his talent and training,” she stated.

Because the area served by Middle Flint is considered rural as compared to the metropolitan areas such as Atlanta, Macon and Columbus, Middle Flint has

It is Beth’s hope that disseminating more information about programs offered through Middle Flint, as well as information about behavioral health services in general, will aid in creating a healthier community.

a unique set of challenges. “We don’t always have the personnel resources that the more urban areas have. For that reason, we have been forced to be a bit creative, and thankfully, that creativity usually pays off,” said Beth.

She cited an example of this “outside the box” thinking in the agency’s physicians on staff. “Psychiatrists are difficult to secure, even in urban areas.

We are fortunate to have two and need double that number. In order to meet the growing demands at our outpatient clinics, we employ several local doctors on a part-time basis. This practice has proven to be a wonderful success primarily due to the commitment that these local doctors have for the community and the patients,” she explained.

Another challenge faced by the agency is transportation. Because there are limited public transport options in the area, Middle Flint

utilizes about 100 vehicles to assist individuals in securing transportation to and from services. Beth added, “We do receive some reimbursement for transportation services; however, it certainly doesn’t cover all the costs. We choose to provide it because without transportation assistance, hundreds of individuals would be without help, leaving those in need even more vulnerable.”

Beth explained that while the challenges associated with ensuring the continued existence of programs such as Middle Flint are far outweighed by the successes, they are nonetheless real. “We’re in the behavioral health and developmental disability service provision business, but we have to be good at a multitude of other tasks. For example, we own a lot of property, which certainly is positive because it allows us to serve more individuals.

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requires a lot of attention as well as planning,” she said.

Another challenge is the ever-changing requirements of how services should be delivered. “We are at the mercy of whatever the latest trend in service delivery focus tends to be. While the changes are necessary and beneficial, individuals get used to services a certain way, and change is sometimes very hard,” she described.

“A current example of large scale change is in day program services to the developmentally-disabled adult population. We are currently required to move toward a more community-based service delivery option rather than serving individuals in a building. In order for this to be successful, families and caregivers must be informed and educated about the benefits, requirements and the effects on their loved ones,” she added.

While Middle Flint has always had a close relationship with other agencies in the service delivery field, Beth feels that it is vital to the community that these relationships become even more aggressive in pursuing their common goals as a team. “We work closely with the area hospitals, law enforcement, health departments, physicians, schools, judicial systems, and local and state governments, to name just a few. For

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this reason, it is imperative that we support all of the efforts to assist those with behavioral health needs with and through one another. I can’t remember a time in my career when there has been as much need for community behavioral health services as we see presently. There’s no way we can succeed at meeting those needs without a positive working relationship with our community partners,” she emphasized.

A final challenge noted by Beth is the one that she considers the most difficult. “The stigma associated with behavioral health services continues to hinder the desire to seek help. This is tragic and often leads to a multitude of other problems. This same stigma also shows up in a lack of understanding about why community programs such as Middle Flint are not only needed but are necessary,” she observed. It is Beth’s hope that disseminating more information about programs offered through Middle Flint, as well as information about behavioral health services in general, will aid in creating a healthier community.

But however numerous the challenges, Beth and her staff meet each and every hurdle effectively and gracefully.  SCL

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story by

Chris Johnson

photos by

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The sense of empowerment Thad Harris feels is something seen time and time again with Fuller Center homeowner partners not just in Americus but across the nation and around the world.

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t

Thad Harris was one block from home in 2001when his life was changed forever.

A construction worker at the time, Harris knew it was not the wisest move hitching a ride in the back of his buddy's truck after a tough day on the job, but he figured no harm could come on such a short ride. After accepting the ride, the next thing he remembers is lying on the ground in pain after being thrown from the truck when it wrecked.

The pain, though, was not in his legs. In fact, there was no feeling in his legs. He was paralyzed from the waist down. In a flash, he went from 38 years old and loving life to 38 years old, unemployed and living with his parents. A deep depression set in. “It was like, 'This is it,'� Harris recalls after moving back in with his parents. “I was grateful that my parents would let me come

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Harris built much more than an energy-efficient, wheelchairaccessible home of his own.

He rebuilt his confidence and self-esteem. He even found the courage to propose to a woman in his church that he otherwise would have never even had the courage to speak to.

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back in, but what do you do now with the rest of your life? Can you imagine your life as one long day for eight years, thinking this is the way it is and always will be? Nothing new, nothing different, and it'll be that way from now on?”

He tried to get a place of his own and reestablish his independence, but “help was out there for everyone but not for me,” he remembers. “I couldn't apply for this because I had too little, and I couldn't apply for that because I had too much. The American Dream didn't apply to me.”

Until The Fuller Center came along, that is.

Fuller Center for Housing founder Millard Fuller had challenged First Presbyterian Church of Americus to match a $20,000 grant, which would provide enough funds to build a wheelchairaccessible duplex on Elizabeth Street. The church answered the call and matched the Americus-based Christian housing ministry's challenge to sponsor the home.

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Chuck Davis, whose cerebral palsy had confined him to a wheelchair, was selected as a homeowner partner. Davis committed to contributing the required 350 hours of sweat equity and to repay the costs of the work on terms he could afford via mortgage payments with zero-percent interest and no profit made, in line with The Fuller Center's principle of partnership in offering a hand-up instead of a handout. What he needed was a neighbor willing to do the same and occupy the other half of the duplex.

That's when Kirk Lyman-Barner met Harris.

Lyman-Barner leads The Americus-Sumter Fuller Center for Housing, a covenant partner — think chapter or affiliate — of the international Fuller Center that led the construction effort. Harris doubted he was capable of fulfilling the 350-hour sweat equity requirement or that work he did could possibly be of any value. Lyman-Barner convinced him otherwise.

Working alongside volunteers on the duplex, Harris completed the required 350 hours of sweat equity … and then some.

By the time the home was dedicated five years ago, he had completed more than 500 sweat equity hours.

Working alongside volunteers on the duplex, Harris completed the required 350 hours of sweat equity … and then some. By the time the home was dedicated five years ago, he had completed more than 500 sweat equity hours. That above-andbeyond effort provided a glimpse of what was to come over the next five years.

“Thad has become our premier volunteer here in Americus,” Snell says. “His appreciation for the gift he received has been manifested in countless gifts of kindness for others.”

Building Confidence

Harris built much more than an energy-efficient, wheelchair-accessible home of his own. He rebuilt his confidence and self-esteem. He even found the courage to propose to a woman in his church that he otherwise would have never even had the courage to speak to. He and wife Leala were married just Hometown Living At Its Best

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before moving into the home five years ago.

“Being required to do the sweat equity, doing that, that's when the turnaround happened,” he insists. “That's when I woke up. I didn't know I could do those things. I thought that part of my life was over with, being able to have a house and a family. I did not see it coming at all, but thank God for The Fuller Center.”

Among the many volunteers who worked on the Americus duplex were Habitat for Humanity and Fuller Center co-founder Linda Fuller and Fuller Center President David Snell.

“There are a number of premises that underlie the work of The Fuller Center for Housing — that people are edified rather than diminished by being an integral part of building their home; that homeownership lifts people not just from poverty housing but from poverty itself; and

that having a decent place to call home creates a healthier environment for families to nurture and grow,” Snell explains. “Thad Harris is as good an example of the validity of those premises as you're likely to find.”

Fuller Center homeowner partners pay forward the hand-up they receive through zero-interest mortgage payments that go into a Fund for Humanity to help others in their community receive the same helping hand — a foundational principle hammered out in the 1960s when Millard and Linda Fuller met Christian theologian Clarence Jordan at Sumter County's historic Koinonia Farm.

Harris, though, has gone far beyond his requirements. After receiving the keys to his own home, he has logged hundreds more hours as a volunteer, often supervising groups of college

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students and church youth groups who make service trips to Americus through The Fuller Center's U.S. Builders program. He also serves on the board of the Americus-Sumter covenant partner.

“Thad has become our premier volunteer here in Americus,” Snell says. “His appreciation for the gift he received has been manifested in countless gifts of kindness for others.”

Among the many groups who have worked under Harris’ leadership in Americus is a youth team from Alpharetta Presbyterian Church that worked in June to help turn an abandoned Americus property into a like-new home — a signature program for The Fuller Center, which now works in 68 U.S. communities and 16 other countries. Pastor Ollie Wagner said working with Harris was the highlight of the trip for many of the kids.

“Thad was an inspiration to our youth on the mission trip,” Wagner emphasizes. “He is dedicated, helpful and has a great sense of humor. We shared a lot in our week together, and all appreciated his openness and big heart. Thad puts into action what 124

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The Fuller Center is all about.”

“I get so much out of it,” Harris explains of his volunteering with these teams. “And I meet so many different people. I've been doing it for five years, so I've met hundreds of people. That's a good thing.”

Of course, he says, there is one simple reason why he continues to give back. “I remember how good it felt that somebody came to help me,” he says. “I want to help somebody else through that process the way that somebody helped me. You're helping a person that at the time may not believe they can do it themselves, but you're also giving them a sense that they can.”

A decade of service

The sense of empowerment Harris feels is something Snell sees time and time again with Fuller Center homeowner partners not just in Americus but across the nation and around the world. Since its founding 10 years ago, it has changed mind-sets of dependency in places like Haiti, resurrected entire neighborhoods in cities like Shreveport, Louisiana,

and Indianapolis, Indiana, and helped people from Atlantic City to Nepal recover from natural disasters.

“When Millard Fuller and Clarence Jordan were planning what was to become the greatest nonprofit housing movement in history, they came up with some foundational principles that were profound — having the poor be participants, not simply recipients; not charging them interest; concentrating the decision-making at the local level; being cautious with the use of government funds; and, most importantly, being unashamedly Christian and enthusiastically ecumenical,” says Snell, who was named president of The Fuller Center when long-time friend Millard passed away unexpectedly in 2009. “We feel that these principles were more than just good ideas — they were inspired. So, we work hard to follow them today just as they were in those early years,” Snell adds.

Though The Fuller Center's ministry reaches around the world, Snell says the ministry will not stray from its Sumter County roots — in principle or geographically. The Fuller Center will always call Sumter County home, he insists.

“When Millard and Linda settled in Americus in the early 1970s, they knew that they had come home,” he says. “All three of Millard's housing ministries — Koinonia Partners, Habitat for Humanity and the Fuller Center for Housing — were born in Sumter County. We plan on staying right here.

It's a good location for an organization like ours, and there's something about it. It's amazing what's come from this

small place,” Snell insists. “We've seen tremendous growth over our first 10 years, but we don't aspire to be the biggest housing nonprofit — just the best. We'll continue to honor Millard's foundational principles and direct the work from right here in Americus, Georgia.”

As for Harris, he has no plans to slow down. “I like to see all living things grow, and I feel like The Fuller Center is a living being,” he says. “And I know it's going to grow even more and help more people like me. And, to think, God gave the vision of The Fuller Center to those two men, Millard Fuller and Clarence Jordan, right here in Sumter County. It's something special.”  SCL

As for Harris, he has no plans to slow down. “I like to see all living things grow, and I feel like The Fuller Center is a living being,” he says. “And I know it’s going to grow even more and help more people like me.

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2 n

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VIDEOGRAPHY . PHOTOGRAPHY . GRAPHIC DESIGN 126

Sumter County Living

AO16

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Fuller Center for Housing

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Mark T. Pace, ALC

Accredited Land Consultant/Broker 229-942-2299 cell

Charles Crisp - Realtor 229-938-4127 cell

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Hometown Living At Its Best

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p O

G

F

The Sumter area is growing and steadily becoming a central marketplace. You can find great retail shopping, restaurants and services around each corner. If you haven’t done so lately, take the time to look around and discover all the wonderful things there are to find.

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JohnstonRealtyGroup.com

122 W Forsyth St. Americus 229.928.8293 128

Sumter County Living

318 W Lamar St. in Americus 229.924.4106

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where Rustic meets Regal

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123 W Lamar St. Americus 229.928.0800 Hometown Living At Its Best

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Hometown Happenings Pho to Credi t: L i sa Sh i f l e t t

April

Arts in Rees Park

Hosted by the Sumter County Arts Council

Americus, Georgia

O

nce again, Arts in Rees Park was a huge success! The annual event presented by the AmericusSumter Co. Arts Council took place on April 23, 2016 and was a fun, relaxing, and inspiring day of arts experiences.

There were plenty of activities to make for a full family day.

Folks could stroll to view and purchase hand-crafted jewelry, original paintings, unique art glass pieces, hand-thrown pottery, hand-caned furniture, crocheted afghans, hand-woven items, and more.

An art contest for Americus Sumter High School Art Department art students was one highlight of the displays.

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Sumter county Living

Hometown Happenings Ph o to Credi t: SuA n n Bi r d

February

Night to Shine 2016 Hosted by First Baptist Church Americus

Americus, Georgia

O

h what a night Friday, February 12th, 2016 was in Americus, Georgia – and in 200 other churches, 48 states and 7 different countries! Night To Shine, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation and hosted by First Baptist Church Americus, provided an unforgettable prom night experience, centered on God’s love for people with special needs 16 years and up.

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Sumter county Living

Hometown Happenings Pho to Credi t: Susa n R uc k m a n

June

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Hosted by Rotary Club of Americus

Americus, Georgia

I

f it’s summertime in District 6900, that mean it’s time for the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards! RYLA is designed for young adults with proven leadership ability and a commitment to community service. The District 6900 RYLA camp was hosted by the Rotary Club of Americus and held June 11 – 14 on the campus of Georgia Southwestern State University. After another overflow of requests for reservations, camp attendance once again topped out at 114 students sponsored by 49 clubs.

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6 FA LL 201

tetr scuom u nLiviy ng also...

I Hope You Dance

steps to k is taking am of Addie Coo life’s dre fulfilling her York City with New dancing in io City Rockettes.

Rad the

of a The Storypion Cham

s ce Hall talk When Bru Gizmo dogs and about his his passion especially, obvious. is

Heartof Youndyglovates the thrill ing es new mean Maggie Tu giverred to as a to what is ref individual. well-rounded HOMET

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the Phil Har he travels the hunt as raph birds in tog globe to pho ural habitats. their nat

We’ll Come to Your Doorstep We hear it all the time. Readers don’t want to miss an exciting issue of Sumter County Living. Now you can make sure a copy is delivered right to your home, so you’ll never miss a story.

BEST AT I T S

Detach and return bottom portion with payment to PO Box 55, Glennville, GA 30427

o Yes, I want a 1 year subscription to Sumter County Living, that's 2 issues for $15.00 Begin my subscription with o February 2017 Issue

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Scenes

of Sumter

Around every corner in our amazing community, there are treasures that lay awaiting discovery. Beauty is indeed all around us and in endless supply. Take a look at a few more reasons

Photo by

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Sumter County Living

Lisa Shiflett

why we love Sumter County.

Photo by

Lisa Shiflett

Photo by

Photo by

Eric S. Love

Lisa Shiflett

Hometown Living at Its Best

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index of advertisers A Cut Above Salon………………….......................…9 Accelerated Physical Therapy……………………....34 AfterHours Care of Americus, Inc………….........103 Agrium Wholesale…………………….......………….114 Alfa Insurance………….....................……..……..126 Americus Dental Associates……......……….……..57 Americus-Sumter Chamber of Commerce…..36-37 Angelite Homecare Services……........…………..102 Better Hometown Program………..................…..47 Café Campesino………………..................……....126 Center Stage Market………...........………….……..92 Chandler Morgan Eyeworks………………........…..91 Citizens Bank of Americus…….…….48; Back Cover City of Andersonville……………................………..49 Cooper Lighting by Eaton…….....Inside Back Cover D&D Kitchen Center……………..............………….69 Decorating Unlimited…………..................…………7 Edward Jones……………………......………..………..77 Farmers Seed and Feed Service..................….129 Fuller Center for Housing…………………..……….127 FYI-For Your Interiors Fabric and Trim……...……115 Gatewood, Skipper & Rambo………….....………113 Georgia Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center…..115 Georgia Rural Telephone Museum……...........….79 Georgia Southwestern State University…...……113 Giggles Frozen Yogurt………...........………………129 Gotta Have It…………………......……………………115 Hancock Funeral Home…………..........……………79 Hart Eyecare……………………........…………………55 Heart of Georgia Railroad………........……………..90 Herbert E. Allen, CPA……………….....…………….129 HomeTown HealthCare……………......……………126 Inscape Design Studio, Inc………….......………….23

Johnston Realty Group, Inc..…………...………….128 Little Brother’s Bistro & Café…………......………..35 Logic4Design…………………..........………………127 Dr. Louis A Riccardi D.D. S., P.C & N. Alexandra Riccardi, D.M.D…............................................103 Middle Flint Behavioral HealthCare…….......……67 Minick Interiors…………………................……….127 Modern Gas…………………………........…………….22 Monroe’s Hotdogs………………................………128 One Sumter Economic Development Foundation…....................................................37 Parker’s Heating & Air Conditioning…….....……..68 Perfect Care………............................…………….90 Plains Historic Inn & Antique Mall……..........….2-3 Pro-Tech Security Group, Inc……….............……..91 Richelle’s………………………...............………….129 Rustic Charm……….............................………...129 Rylander Theatre…………………..........…………….93 South Georgia Technical College…………......…..92 Southern Heights………….........................……..114 Southern Land and Realty……......................…127 Southland Academy…………................…………..20 Southwest Georgia Center of Medicine…...........78 Southwest Georgia Farm Credit………….......……21 Southwest Georgia Foot and Ankle…….......………5 Strickland Accounting LLC…………...........……..127 Sumter County Living Subscription Page……….133 Sunbelt Ford & Lincoln…………………….......…….56 Sweet Georgia Baking Company……..........……115 The Kinnebrew Co………………...................……129 The Staffing People…………...............………………1 The UPS Store…………………............…………….102 Turton Properties……………................……………93

Shop locally and please thank these sponsors for making this publication possible!

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sumter county Living

also...

I Hope You Dance Addie Cook is taking steps to fulfilling her life’s dream of dancing in New York City with the Radio City Rockettes.

The Story of a Champion When Bruce Hall talks about his dogs and Gizmo especially, his passion is obvious.

Maggie Tu gives new meaning to what is referred to as a well-rounded individual.

Young at Heart

Phil Hardy loves the thrill of the hunt as he travels the globe to photograph birds in their natural habitats.

H o m e t o w n L i v i n g at i t s B e s t