Community Living
2020
BUTTS • CLAYTON • HENRY NEWTON • ROCKDALE COUNTIES An Annual Publication of Jackson Progress-Argus Clayton News • Henry Herald Rockdale/Newton Citizen
index 4 5
THINGS TO KNOW
7 8
DAUSET TRAILS NATURE CENTER
10 12 14 15 16 18 20
BUTTS COUNTY
WATER GIRL
ADDS TO BEAUTY OF JACKSON By Cheryl Hilderbrand
EDITORIAL STAFF Cheryl Hilderbrand Heather Middleton Robin Kemp Joe Adgie Hunter Terrell
INDIAN SPRINGS STATE PARK
A HISTORIC VISIT TO THE OUTDOORS By Heather Middleton
THINGS TO KNOW Clayton County
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Beth Slaughter Sexton Chris Starrs
CLAYTON STATE UNIVERSITY THE SOUTHERN CRESCENT’S HIDDEN GEM By Robin Kemp
ADVERTISING STAFF Vice President Sales Bob McCray
EXPERIENCE COUNTS
TEKESIA SHIELDS CONNECTS WITH HEARTS TO NOURISH HOPE CLIENTS By Robin Kemp
Butts County Acct. Exec. Sandra Thomas sthomas@myjpa.com
THINGS TO KNOW Henry County
ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY
Henry/Clayton Counties Acct. Exec. Mary Ann Holland maryann.holland@henryherald.com
ONE OF HENRY COUNTY’S MOST FAMOUS LANDMARKS By Joe Adgie
Rockdale/Newton Counties Acct. Exec. Alicia Goss alicia.goss@rockdalecitizen.com
ARTREACH 180
WORKS TO KEEP HENRY YOUTHS OUT OF TROUBLE By Joe Adgie
MCDONOUGH MAN’S BUSINESS Helps adults with special needs By Beth Slaughter Sexton
THINGS TO KNOW
25
CHARLIE ELLIOTT WILDLIFE CENTER
30
EDITOR Alice Queen
OFFERS RESPITE WITH NATURE IN BUTTS COUNTY
23 24 26 26
Community Living
Newton County
MEET BEA JACKSON
Administrative Support Rita Camp rcamp@henryherald.com SPECIAL PROJECTS Joel Kight SUBSCRIBER SERVICES 770-339-5845
A T.V. JOURNALIST TURNED COMMUNITY LEADER By Hunter Terrell
CONTACT US P.O. Box 603 Lawrenceville, GA 30046 Phone: 770-963-9205 Fax: 770-277-5277 southerncommunitynewspapers.com
TRANQUIL RETREATS AND HANDS-ON LEARNING By Hunter Terrell
THINGS TO KNOW ROCKDALE COUNTY
GEORGIA INTERNATIONAL HORSE PARK
CONTINUES TO BUILD ON OLYMPIC LEGACY By Chris Starrs
REFUGE
MARKS 35 YEARS OF HELPING WITH LIFE’S CHALLENGES By Beth Slaughter Sexton
Southern Community Newspapers Inc. operates a newspaper publishing business, which consists of six daily newspapers and one weekly newspaper that emphasize coverage of local news and local sports. Southern Community Newspapers represents 400 employees in metro Atlanta and Albany, Georgia, all dedicated to one principle: doing great things for you.
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JANUARY 2020 • 3
THINGS TO KNOW
BUTTS COUNTY
HISTORY
OF NOTE
Butts County was created in 1825 from parts of Henry and Monroe counties. The county is 187 square miles was named for Capt. Samuel Butts, a Virginian who was killed in the Battle of Calabee in Alabama during the Creek Indian War of 1811-15.
• Butts County is home to one of the oldest state parks in the country. Indian Springs State Park was created in 1826 as a result of the Treaty of Washington, a compromise between United States officials and the Lower Creek Indians. The park contains a mineral spring using by American Indians and settlers for hundreds of years. The water is thought to have homeopathic healing qualities.
JUST THE FACTS • The city of Jackson is the county seat • 2018 population estimate — 24,193 • Median household income (2011) — $40,330 • Households (as of 2016) — 7,737 • Butts County’s largest employers include Georgia Diagnostic and Classification State Prison, Dollar General Distribution Center and Ready PAC Foods.
4 • JANUARY 2020
• For more than 125 years, Butts County has been home to the Indian Springs Holiness Camp Meeting. Anyone of any denomination is welcome to join what is considered to be the largest camp in the state.
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The Butts County Courthouse in downtown Jackson.
BUTTS COUNTY
“Water Girl” adds to beauty of Jackson By Cheryl Hilderbrand
Green industry professional Haley Browning, known affectionately around Jackson as “Water Girl,” has been appointed adjunct instructor of horticulture at Southern Technical College’s Griffin campus. For the last two years Browning has been pursuing an associate’s degree in applied science with a major in horticulture. As a selfproclaimed “older student” with a decade of hands-on experience in landscaping, Browning did well in her classes and apparently impressed her professors. When a position opened up to teach horticulture science at Griffin Tech, someone suggested that she apply. She did.
Haley Browning removes old plants from a cement planter on the square in Jackson in preparation for putting in new plants.
“But I didn’t think I would get the job,” she said. “I tried “I am excited,” said to play it low key. I didn’t Browning. “I feel confident even tell my mother, but my about the content. I am daughter Elizabeth told her.” passionate about horticulture, the science of horticulture, She was selected for the sustainability, color, texture. job and began her duties at I will love sharing that. But I Griffin Tech in 2019.
am concerned about making sure I meet the needs of the students. The green industry is so diverse. We have people taking horticulture because they work at a garden center, or on a golf
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course, or they want to improve their personal yards and gardens.” According to the University of Georgia’s College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences,
JANUARY 2020 • 5
BUTTS COUNTY
‘Professor Browning’: Haley Browning shares her love of horticulture in 2013 the Georgia horticulture industry grew to $4.9 billion. “I think people like growing their own food, being able to sustain themselves,” she said. “I think they like creating beautiful yards and gardens. They like being able to step back and say, ‘I did that!’” Browning is the daughter of Robin and Frank Carson of Jackson. She is married to Carson Browning and with him, runs Integrated Turf Management Inc. (ITM). “I have been helping Carson since he started his business in 2006, not just in the office, but in the field. And while I find the design and installation of hardscapes and lawns intriguing, my passion is horticulture. I am amazed at how everything depends on plants, how it is all interconnected. If there are no plants, there are no people. “I will continue to work with Carson, but I want to use my degree to offer specialty services,” Browning added. “There are so many awesome DIY’ers (Do It Yourself) out there who don’t want to hire a company to do everything for them. They just want someone to walk around the yard with them and make suggestions. They just want a little help and advice about what plants to choose. I hope I can fill that niche.”
Haley “Water Girl” Browning in action, wielding her water hose on a hot summer day.
the weather was hot and the hanging plants and urns required hours of daily watering.
spots around the square and highlighted those buildings that were used as locations on the television show.”
“I just loved being on the square,” she said. “I loved meeting people, talking to people, the workers, the business owners and the visitors. New restaurants were opening up. So I started posting pictures and videos on Facebook about what was going on the square, and eventually I had a radio segment on WJGA at 9:30 every day, and then I got a call to host a TV show on SCB TV, a cable channel out of McDonough.”
The city of Jackson asks for bids to do the landscaping on a yearly basis. According to Mayor Kay Pippin, nobody ever compliments her or the City Council for the miles of new sewer and water lines that her administration has installed.
“But never a week goes by that someone doesn’t thank us for the hanging baskets, pots of flowers, beds of greenery and the landscaping around the square,” Pippin said. “And all the credit for this beautiful “Hometown Haley” aired downtown greenery goes during the Discovering to ITM landscapers, but Jackson and Butts County mainly to Haley Browning, series. who assures proper selection Browning said that she was and planting of the flowers talking to so many visitors and sees to it the plants who had come to Jackson to survive regardless of the ITM won the bid to do the see where “Stranger Things” weather or mistreatment by landscaping in the city of was filmed, that she became the occasional disrespectful Jackson. It was while she a tour guide. passers-by. was working for her husband “I was talking to so many “Haley is referred to by on the square that Browning earned the nickname “Water tourists that I decided to do a some as ‘The Water Girl,’” brochure. I wrote a little blurb continued Pippin, “but I think Girl.” In fact, “Water Girl,” about some of the historic of her as ‘Wonder Woman.’” was her daily avatar when 6 • JANUARY 2020
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Haley Browning frowns on “crepe murder” and has posted on her Facebook page about the proper care of crepe myrtles.
Interviewing a guest on her “Hometown Haley” segment which aired on SCB-TV.
Haley and her husband Carson in 2009 when she started working full time for Integrated Turf Management.
BUTTS COUNTY
DAUSET TRAILS NATURE CENTER offers respite with nature in Butts County Dauset Trails Nature Center Draws tens of thousands of people to Butts County every year to enjoy and experience nature. Dauset Trails features live mammals, birds of prey, reptiles and amphibians that are native to Georgia. Most have been injured or orphaned and cannot be released back into the wild. The 1,400-acre nature center has more than 20 miles of hiking and biking trails and beginner-, intermediate-, and advanced-level paths. Dauset Trails also has 10 miles of horse trails. Farm animals can be found at the barnyard area depicting a 19th century farm. Area vendors and thousands of visitors stream to Dauset Trails for the annual Bluebirds and Bluegrass Festival, the center’s spring festival. The nature center also offers a children’s garden to explore, a gift shop and overnight camping for organized groups. All events held at the nature center are free except for the annual youth summer day camp. Dauset Trails is located at 360 Mount Vernon Church Road in Jackson. For information, call 770-775-6798 or visit www.dausettrails.com.
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Dauset Trails Nature Center offers more than 20 miles of hiking and biking trails and 10 miles of horse trails.
JANUARY 2020 • 7
BUTTS COUNTY
INDIAN SPRINGS STATE PARK:
A historic visit to the outdoors
Boats are available for rent at Indian Springs State Park.
Lake McIntosh at Indian Springs State Park
Lake McIntosh at Indian Springs State Park. By Heather Middleton
FLOVILLA — Butts County residents have an historic and unique location to spend time with family and enjoy the great outdoors. Since 1826, Indian Springs State Park has been a public recreation area, making it one of the oldest state parks in the country. It became a park as a result of the Treaty of Washington — a compromise between United States officials and the Lower Creek Indians. The 508-acre park contains a mineral spring that was used by settlers and American Indians for hundreds of years. The mineral water, thought by some to have homeopathic qualities, is created by the pressure of the earth forcing underground water to the surface, according to the park’s history. The 105-acre Lake McIntosh offers visitors a place to enjoy the water whether on a boat or at the lake’s 8 • JANUARY 2020
edge. Bring your own boat or rent one from the park. Fishing, biking, hiking, miniature golf and geocaching as well as a number of picnic and campground sites are available to residents.
The Idlewilde Event Center is the newest
The park also offers 10 cottages for addition to Indian Springs State Park. rent at varying prices. To reserve space at Idlewilde or A former boarding house built inquire about campsites or cottage between 1907-10 on park property rentals, call 770-504-2277. is representative of many of the While the park is free, a parkpass park’s historic features. Previously is required for all vehicles. The cost known as Idlewilde, it was placed is $5 per day. Visitors can purchase on the National Register of Historic an annual parkpass for $50. Places in 1999. The house now Overnight guests are only required serves as the park’s administrative one parkpass for the duration of their offices and visitors center. stay. The fee for active duty military Most recently added to the park’s or veterans is $3.75 per day or services is the new Idlewilde Event $37.50 annually. Center. The 20,000-square-foot Indian Springs State Park is located facility opened in 2018, giving at 678 Lake Clark Road in Flovilla. visitors indoor and outdoor space For more information, visit with a main assembly room, two www.gastateparks.org/ smaller meeting rooms and two outdoor covered porches. IndianSprings. COMMUNITY LIVING
BUTTS COUNTY
Beautiful scenery awaits visitors at Indian Springs State Park
Sunset at Lake McIntosh at Indian Springs State Park.
The Stone Pavilion at Indian Springs State Park
The historic visitors center at Indian Springs State Park.
The bridge over Sandy Creek at Indian Springs State Park
Several campsites are available at Indian Springs State Park in Flovilla.
Several picnic shelters are available for visitors at Indian Springs State Park.
COMMUNITY LIVING
JANUARY 2020 • 9
THINGS TO KNOW
CLAYTON COUNTY
HISTORY Clayton County became the 125th county in Georgia on Nov. 30, 1858. It was created from parts of Fayette and Henry counties. At 143 square miles, it’s one of the smallest counties in the state. The county was named after Augustin Smith Clayton who helped compile state statues, served three terms as a judge of the Western Circuit, was a member of the Electoral College and served in the U.S. Congress from 1831-35.
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JUST THE FACTS • City of Jonesboro is the county seat • 2018 Population Estimate — 289,615 • Median household income (2011) — $37,706
The Clayton County Courthouse in downtown Jonesboro.
OF NOTE
• Households (as of 2016) — 90,182
Margaret Mitchell, author of “Gone With the Wind,
• Clayton County’s largest employers include Delta TechOps, Southern Regional Medical Center and Fresh Express
grew up visiting her grandparents in Clayton County. Clayton is the setting for the book’s fictional Tara plantation. Jonesboro hosted the 1996
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Olympic Games beach volleyball competition at the Clayton County International Park. The Battle of Jonesboro (Jonesborough) was fought Aug. 31-Sept. 1864. It’s considered one of the most important battles fought in the Civil War, as it resulted in the fall of Atlanta.
CLAYTON COUNTY
CLAYTON COUNTY STATE UNIVERSITY:
The Southern Crescent’s hidden gem
Clayton State University Ampitheater By Robin Kemp
Just off Jonesboro Road in Morrow, nestled among six lakes, Clayton State University has the look of a small private college but tuition that working adults can afford. Since 1969, Clayton State University has served the Southern Crescent’s higher education needs. Today, Clayton State is a Carnegie Foundation Community Engaged University, offering 35 undergraduate, eight graduate and six associate degree programs. Full-time undergraduate in-state tuition and fees for 12 credit hours in Fall 2019 were $2,768.96. Students 62 and older can enroll tuition-free. It also boasts NCAA Division II teams as part of the Peach Belt Conference, as well as campus apartments. 12 • JANUARY 2020
Clayton State has been named Georgia’s top online college for 2020 by Value Colleges. It also offers an online MBA program that can be earned in as little as 12 months and that was ranked 11 of the 15 Best Georgia Online MBA Programs by MBACentral.org. The graduate program in Archival Studies is unique in that both the Georgia State Archives and a branch of the National Archives are right next to Clayton State’s campus. The online graduate program in Supply Chain Analytics is also ideally placed, given Clayton State’s proximity to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, United Parcel Service and Gillem Logistics Center. Other graduate programs include psychology, public administration, nursing, and the online program in strategic leadership development.
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CLAYTON COUNTY
Students learn through experience at Clayton State One of its biggest programs is the School of Nursing, which Nursing Schools Almanac has ranked 14 out of the top 40 best nursing schools in Georgia, thanks to its small class sizes, hands-on learning, “strong relationships with Atlanta-area hospitals,” study-abroad programs and 90 percent first-time pass rate on the NCLEX-RN exam. Fall 2019 enrollment was 6,880, with about half those students enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences. Two-thirds of students were enrolled full time, two-thirds were women and two-thirds were black or African-American. 6,201 students were enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs and 1,602 were listed as “nontraditional” students. With a student-faculty ratio of 22 to one, Lakers are more likely to receive personal attention from the 237 full-time faculty and additional part-time instructors. Clayton State also offers assistance for students who are also parenting young children through the Boost EDU childcare tuition assistance program, as well as help with food and clothing through the Laker Care Closet and CSU Meal Share Program.
Spivey Hall at Clayton State University
In 2018, Clayton State was named the “Best Value” public university in Georgia by JAMES Magazine. In 2017, it was recognized as Top School Offering a Supportive Environment for Active Service members and Veterans by Military Advanced Education and Transition Guide. Clayton State is home to Spivey Hall, an international cultural touchstone for jazz and classical music lovers. The 400-seat concert venue, which is world-renowned for its excellent acoustics, was a legacy of Walter and Emilie Spivey, who donated $2.5 million to create the venue. Emilie Spivey also supervised the hall's design, which was built specifically to create as acoustically-perfect a listening experience as possible. Spivey Hall is home to the 4,413-pipe Albert Schweitzer Memorial Organ. Fratelli Ruffatti of Padua, Italy built the 79rank, 3-manual organ, which took six months to install. The hall has hosted the radio show Performance Today, as well as greats like pianist Ellis Marsalis, the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Chanticleer, organize Nathan Laube and violinist Joshua Bell, as well as Clayton State music students and local youth choruses.
James M Baker University Center at Clayton State University
James M Baker University Center at Clayton State University
The university also is home to a 10,000-square-foot film and video production studio named for local civil rights activist and oral historian Lucy Huie. Originally, Lucy and Arthur Huie had donated their small private airstrip off Tara Boulevard to Clayton State for an aviation technology program. When the land was converted to the film studio, it was also renamed for Lucy, a Clayton State trustee. Clayton State takes pride in meeting its students where they are and helping them “bridge gaps towards success,” whether in the classroom or as part of student life. The university is keen on experiential learning and sees inclusivity as “a growing reality, not a repeated cliché.” Learn more about Clayton State University at clayton.edu.
In 2018, Clayton State was named the “Best Value” public university in Georgia by JAMES Magazine.
COMMUNITY LIVING
JANUARY 2020 • 13
CLAYTON COUNTY
EXPERIENCE COUNTS:
Tekesia Shields connects with Hearts to Nourish Hope clients By Robin Kemp
Tekesia Shields knows what her clients at Hearts to Nourish Hope are going through because she's been through it herself. Shields, 43, is program manager for the nonprofit agency, which "provides high quality programs to identify and develop the internal resources of youth" in Clayton, Fayette and Gwinnett counties. She works with young people ages 16 to 24 who need help getting their lives back on track. "Some may be exoffenders, some are individuals that graduated from high school, some are individuals that graduated from college," Shields explained, "and they need that extra push and extra assistance to finding their career idea as becoming adults." Shields, who is known as "Ms. T.K." around the agency, came to Hearts to Nourish Hope after 13 years with Atlanta's Center for Black Women's Wellness, where she taught new mothers about infant mortality and the importance of breastfeeding. She met Hearts to Nourish Hope executive director Deborah Anglin through Project Safe Neighborhoods. "I spoke with her about bringing our 14 • JANUARY 2020
forward-thinking mentoring program here to Clayton County," Shields said. "She was like, well, I have another position that I'm interested in working with you with....it allowed me to provide more resources to those youth that I work with in the community." Three years later, Shields says she's worked with over 200 clients. During each eight-week program, Shields helps about six to 10 "becoming adults" try out career paths like HVAC, maintenance, automotive and customer service and helps them make professional resumes. She also guides them into programs for anger management and substance abuse. "The individuals that are coming out of incarceration, it's the opportunity to give them a second chance in lieu of them going to jail," she said. "Some of them are released into our custody and if they complete the program successfully, it will be in lieu of their time served."
Tekesia Shields, known as “Ms. T.K.” to everyone at Hearts to Nourish Hope, helps young people get their lives back on track.
meet with their career case manager and that career case manager can help them find employment in another field....We never turn them away if they feel like it's not for them." As the mother of four young men, one of whom is about to graduate from college and wants to be an FBI agent, another of whom is serving a sevenyear robbery sentence, Shields says she genuinely understands what her clients and their parents are going through. In particular, she shares the pain of parents of young people involved with crime.
"When I started experiencing peer pressure and things in my own home with my own son, I wanted to start Mothers Against Gang Violence because I was going back and forth When the eight weeks are to court, I was missing days up, the support continues. at work, I was ashamed "They still have a case to tell people what I was manager that worked with going through at work, you them," Shields explained. If, know, things my son had at the end of eight weeks, done out in the community. the client decides he or she I was ashamed. I had to go doesn't think that career is a to parenting classes even good fit, "they can come and though I thought I was the COMMUNITY LIVING
best parent...I thought I was the best mother in the world. I was on the PTA, I was on the booster, always provided, I was always involved. "And so a lot of parents are like, 'Why do I have to go to a parenting class? Why (is there) a judge's order? Why do the social workers have to go to my house?' My story was, 'They're coming in your house for a reason, so let's utilize what they're giving us and make it work for us.' That's what I bring to the community. I teach them how to make the system help them. That's perfect. That's all I need." Shields sees her job as connecting people in the community with the resources they need to grow and change—just as her family is doing. Even as one son prepares to graduate from college with an accounting degree and dreams of the FBI, Shields said, her incarcerated son has finished his GED. She tells her clients, “I understand you and I understand where your parent's coming from because I'm that mother.”
THINGS TO KNOW
HENRY COUNTY HISTORY Henry County became the state’s 52nd county in May 1821. The 323-square-mile county is named after Patrick Henry, a Revolutionary War patriot and orator.
JUST THE FACTS
OF NOTE
• City of McDonough is the county seat
Martin Luther King Sr. was born and raised in Stockbridge in Henry County. “Daddy King,” as he is sometimes called, was a American Baptist pastor, missionary and early figure in the Civil Rights movement. King Sr. is the father of Martin Luther King Jr. who became a Civil Rights leader and Nobel Peace Prize Winner.
• 2018 Population Estimate — 230,220 • Median household income (2011) — $58,130 • Households (as of 2016) — 71,000 • Henry County’s largest employers include Piedmont Henry Hospital, Luxottica and PVH Corp.
The city of McDonough is home to the Shingleroof Campground, the site of annual Christian church meetings since the 1830s. The location served as a gathering and staging area for Confederate troops during the Civil War.
COMMUNITY LIVING
The Henry County Courthouse in downtown McDonough
JANUARY 2020 • 15
HENRY COUNTY
Atlanta Motor Speedway one of Henry County’s most famous landmarks By Joe Adgie
Perhaps the most famous single landmark in all of Henry County sits on several hundred acres of land in the southwestern corner of the county. The Atlanta Motor Speedway, celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2020, is nationally and internationally known as one of the most prominent motorsports venues in the world. The speedway, located just outside the Hampton city limits, has hosted NASCAR racing in the Atlanta area since it opened in 1960, and has since grown to hold a number of other events, such as music festivals and car shows. In fact, Ed Clark, longtime president of the speedway, recently said the track is used practically every day out of the year, even though its most prominent event, the NASCAR Cup Series, rolls into town only once per year. That one weekend, however, draws around 100,000 people from all over the United States and other countries to Henry County for several days of auto racing excitement, culminating with the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday. Millions more worldwide tune in to the event on television, transmitting the events going on in Hampton across the planet. The city of Hampton has also been welcoming as hosts of NASCAR racing, kicking off race weekend on Thursday with the annual 16 • JANUARY 2020
For 60 years, action at the Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton has been intense.
hauler parade that runs through Main Street. Many of the haulers that carry the cars of the NASCAR Cup Series will parade down Hampton’s Main Street. That day, the city will also induct an important figure to the city of Hampton or to NASCAR racing to the city’s Speed Lane, located near the historic train depot. Legendary figures such as Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, Richard Petty and Bill Elliott have been inducted in the annual ceremony, which traditionally draws quite a crowd to downtown Hampton as residents and fans alike hope to see one of their favorite drivers in person. This year, Hampton and the Atlanta Motor Speedway
will benefit from a change of dates for the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 race weekend. Instead of the week after the Daytona 500, a week frequently plagued by cold weather and rain, NASCAR will compete in the warmer, and hopefully drier, month of March, just days before the first day of spring. This year’s NASCAR Cup Series race will be held on Sunday, March 15 at 2 p.m, while the preliminary races for the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series will be held on Saturday, March 14 in one of the rare doubleheader race days on the NASCAR schedule. For 60 years, some of NASCAR’s most historic moments have happened
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in Hampton, including the last race for NASCAR’s King, Richard Petty, the first race for Jeff Gordon, and the most incredible Cup Championship battle in history in 1992. The track has played host to electrifying photo finishes and incredible feel-good moments, such as in 2001 when Kevin Harvick, replacing the late Dale Earnhardt, beat out Jeff Gordon by inches to take his first career NASCAR victory. What could the future hold for the Atlanta Motor Speedway? It’s too early to tell, but it could feature a casino and resort, including a major hotel and convention space, gaming and dining facilities, high-end dining, a theme park with rides for all
HENRY COUNTY
Thousands of fans visit the speedway in Hampton each year ages, an indoor/outdoor water park, concert venues, a golf skill arena, an outdoor adventure course, a major cinema, a grand scale night club and the like. Recently, there has been a push to legalize horse racing and/or casino gaming in the state of Georgia, and with a call from Gov. Brian Kemp to cut state budgets, some suggest that allowing casino gaming may be a way to increase revenues to help fund the HOPE scholarship. Clark said that AMS would be a fit for such a facility. “We’ve got hundreds of thousands of people that come through the property every year,” Clark said. “We’re known nationally and internationally as a destination for people who come to the events and activities we have every year. We have the airport next door, we’re convenient to Interstate 75, we’re within 100 miles of 8.5 million people.”
Every year, thousands of fans make the trip to Hampton to see their heroes, like Jimmie Johnson, who has won five races at the city’s most famous landmark.
Clark said, however, that many steps would have to “fall in place” for the speedway resort to become a reality. “But, if that happens, we’d like to be a location that’s considered.”
The Thursday before the race, the city of Hampton rolls out the welcome mat, as the haulers carrying the NASCAR Cup Series cars parade through downtown.
Sometimes the Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton can prove a little tricky. COMMUNITY LIVING
JANUARY 2020 • 17
HENRY COUNTY
ARTreach 180 works to keep Henry youths out of trouble By Joe Adgie
For the last 10 years, a program conducted by Crosswalk Ministries has worked to keep at-risk children and teenagers out of trouble in the most vulnerable hours of the day right after school when some of those youths may not have a parental figure to guide them. Crosswalk Ministries’ program, ARTreach 180, is an expressive therapy program for those youths, especially juvenile offenders on probation. The program works to help at-risk youths who may run the risk of getting into trouble between the hours of 3:30 and 7 p.m., when 75 percent of juvenile crimes typically happen, said Gina Moore, the co-founder of Crosswalk Ministries and the director of curriculum and expansion for the program. The program consists of five components and starts off with a family meal time, where the students and the adults sit down at the table together and enjoy dinner together. “Many of them are not used to that,” Moore said. “They balk at it at first, but once they get used to it, they say that meant the most to them, because they never really sat down with an adult that wanted to hear from them about their day.” The second component involves a team-building, problem-solving exercise that Moore said looked like games, but the students are 18 • JANUARY 2020
learning to work together and trust each other. The exercises come from Moore’s 24 years of experience as a drama teacher, where a drama team would be trying to build camaraderie as a team working on a play. “They’re learning to trust again,” Moore said. “Many of them come in with no trust at all. They’ve been hurt and disappointed by too many people. They learn to trust each other and learn to trust the staff.” Following the team-building exercises, the group gets together in a circle for a program called “jump-start” where the cell phones are turned off and questions are answered about what’s impacting the lives of those in the program. The questions are related in some form to the art and drama projects being worked on by the ARTreach students. “We’re just kind of getting them thinking before a handson project,” Moore said. “Everyone is required to answer the questions. Some of them choose to share more than others. It takes a little while for kids to become vulnerable enough to share what’s bothering them or going on at home.” There are trained counselors and social workers at the program’s three sites to help the children in the event of a meltdown from something that may have happened as well. The program has dozens of art and drama projects as a sort of expressive therapy,
Crosswalk Ministries’ program, ARTreach 180, is an expressive therapy program for youths, especially juvenile offenders on probation.
character’s mother, drunk, demanding the younger character get her another beer. Another might come in as the person that gave “The main thing we’ve learned is the process is more the character drugs for important than the product,” the first time, or the social she said. “Getting these kids worker taking the character’s to finish something they start children away. Moore said that story paints the entire is a major life lesson.” picture of the character, One project completed and allows the students to last semester discussed the explain what’s going on in concept of superheroes their life through the fictional and being your own hero character. in your own story. Students “It’s a safe distance to talk were asked to contemplate about that,” Moore said of a superpower to give the fictional characters. themselves, not one to help themselves out, but rather The program operates one to help society as a two days a week from 3:30 whole. p.m. to 6:30 p.m. during the school year in Henry County. “One girl said she would like her superpower to catch Students may complete the program in one semester, but the tears of someone in have the option to continue pain and make that pain go as space and needs dictate. away,” Moore said. The ARTreach 180 An example of one of program operates in three ARTreach’s drama projects was an exercise called “This sites and serves all 14 schools in Henry County. Is Your Life,” and started off According to the program’s with a staff member playing website, over 450 youth someone who had battled have completed the program personal demons of some as of spring 2019, and only sort. The students and other 15 have reoffended. staff members would then come in as a character in To donate to the program, the person’s past, present or visit the program’s website future in an effort to develop at crosswalkusa.org/ the entire story of the artreach-180/ or mail a character. check to the program at P.O. Box 613, McDonough, GA For example, one person could come in as the 30253. and Moore said they have learned a lot over the 10 years the program has been going on.
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HENRY COUNTY
McDonough man’s business helps adults with special needs By Beth Slaughter Sexton
Welcoming a new baby and starting a new company within three months of each other made 2005 a big year for McDonough resident Jonathan Kendrick and his family. Kendrick’s business, Digital Technology Partners of Conyers, was off to a roaring start and serving a growing list of clients. But baby Elijah John was not doing so well.
With the lack of adult resources and with his desire to have Eli work with computers, Kendrick came up with an idea to develop a new division for his company, Digital Technology Partners (DTP), which is a full-service computer company serving the dental industry throughout the U.S.
“The concept is simple, but the impact is great,” he said. “The program will provide a recycling center for DTP’s It had been a difficult pregnancy for clients and other dental offices and Melissa Kendrick, and when baby Eli businesses to properly dispose of was born Oct. 16, 2005, he came into unwanted electronics. DTP will employ this world with a heart defect and Down adults with special needs to dismantle syndrome. such electronics and prepare them for “The next year was spent being more either scrap or reuse. We will simply Members of the Kendrick family are shown in of a nurse than a parent, feeding tubes, call the division Work4Eli.” this family photo — dad Jonathan Kendrick, medications and two heart surgeries for Located in DTP’s facility in Suite 500 Elijah John, mom Melissa Kendrick and Gavin. Eli,” Jonathan Kendrick said. “Our lives The Kendricks are residents of McDonough. at 371 Gees Mill Business Pkwy. in would never be the same.” Conyers, Work4Eli already employs equipment and backup equipment, to Eli has grown up with a number of three adults with special needs with name a few. issues, his father said, including sensory hopes of employing even more as the processing problems, sleep disorders, project grows. While DTP is specific Since it began in March 2018, being non-verbal, having behavioral to the dental field, Work4Eli recycles Work4Eli is already making an impact issues and oppositional defiant e-waste (electronic waste) for anyone with 27,788 pounds of metal recycled; disorder. And then when he turned 8 who needs it, Kendrick said. 2,776 pounds of hard drives; 4,169 years old, the child was diagnosed with pounds of power supplies; 1,594 “We are wanting to connect with autism. anyone, including business, government pounds of DVD drives; 1,234 pounds of heatsinks (heat exchangers in or individuals who have e-waste that “It didn’t really shock us, but it was electronics); 3,218 pounds of UPS can help us grow this program in still devastating,” Kendrick said. (battery) backups; 2,644 pounds of However, he said he is thankful for all Rockdale County,” he added. “We motherboards; 1,368 pounds of scrap want to do great things in Rockdale the resources that have helped Eli and wire; 93 pounds gold RAM (random his family cope and deal with the many County and with the help of others, access memory) and 54 pounds of there is no limit to what this program struggles his son has had to face. processors. can become.” “He is doing so well and has come Kendrick said 100% of the parts Kendrick cites reports that show so far,” Kendrick said, adding that he is handled by Work4Eli make it to the more than 60% of e-waste ends up proud of his son. “He has a wonderful appropriate refineries and 0% end up in landfills, where toxic materials, personality outside of these challenges in landfills. such as mercury and lead seep into and continues to get better every day.” the environment. Work4Eli’s disposal The organization charges a small fee Kendrick said his son and many process includes the proper separation for equipment pickup, Kendrick added, others like him have numerous resources of materials and their delivery to the saying that Work4Eli is self-sustained available to them until they age out of appropriate refineries, he said, adding and all excess revenue is funded the public school system when they turn that compliance is a big issue for dental directly back into the program. As a 21. and other industries in e-waste disposal minimal processing facility, he said and Work4Eli follows all mandatory employees do not work with hazardous “After 21, there are few programs requirements, as well as providing materials on site. He said protective available for the growing number of documentation certifying the items’ safe equipment is provided, as well as adults with special needs,” he said. training and supervision. disposal. “I want to do something about it. I have always been passionate about In May 2018, Georgia’s Employment Work4Eli accepts any information computers and technology and hoped First Act was signed into law to promote technology-related equipment, such that my sons, Elijah and Gavin, my employment as the first and preferred as computer servers, workstations, option offered to people with disabilities youngest, might follow this passion as switches, routers, printers, monitors, receiving government-funded services. well.” scanners, phone systems, audiovisual 20 • JANUARY 2020
COMMUNITY LIVING
HENRY COUNTY In states where Employment First has been implemented, employment rates of people with disabilities have increased significantly, Kendrick said. “Digital Technology Partners’ Work4Eli e-waste employment program solves two of the world’s problems: improper disposal of electronic waste and limited employment opportunities for special needs adults, while also providing a resource to our clients for recycling IT equipment,” according to Shawn Adkins, Work4Eli manager. Individuals, organizations and businesses throughout the community are encouraged to support Work4Eli by bringing electronic waste to its Gees Mill Business Parkway
location, or for larger loads, set up an appointment for pickup. Adkins said as the program grows, there will be more opportunities to hire a greater number of adults with special needs. More information and forms are available at the website www.dtpartners.com. “If successful, when Eli gets older, he might have a job waiting for him, as well,” Kendrick says of his nowteenage son. “Our mission is to create long-lasting career opportunities for the special needs adults we employ. We are not a training facility; we are a real business that provides real jobs to real people in need. The more money we can make, the more jobs we will provide.”
COMMUNITY LIVING
JANUARY 2020 • 21
THINGS TO KNOW
NEWTON COUNTY HISTORY Newton County was created in 1821 from parts of Henry, Jasper and Walton counties. It was named for Sgt. John Newton, a Revolutionary War hero.
JUST THE FACTS
OF NOTE
• The city of Covington is the county seat
The popular television shows “In the Heat of the Night,” “The Dukes of Hazzard,” and “Vampire Diaries,” along with a number of feature films, have been filmed in Newton County.
• 2018 population estimate — 109,541 • Median household income (2011) — $44,089 • Households (as of 2016) — 35,090 • The county’s largest employers include Newton County Board of Education, Takeda Pharmaceuticals and Becton Dickinson & Company
The 4-H Clubs in Georgia were founded in Newton County in 1904. Emory College was founded by the Methodist Church in Oxford in 1836. A second college campus opened later in Atlanta and became Emory University. Emory College came to be known as Oxford College. Since 1836, the county has had a railroad. The route is still heavily traveled by long freight trains today.
COMMUNITY LIVING
The historic Newton County Courthouse is located on the Square in Covington.
JANUARY 2020 • 23
NEWTON COUNTY
MEET BEA JACKSON — a T.V. journalist turned community leader By Hunter Terrell
Born and raised in Williamsburg, Va., Bea Jackson, executive director of the Washington Street Community Center, never dreamed of the experiences that she would have throughout her lifetime.
She was soon employed by the DeKalb County Office of Aging as a PR specialist and became heavily responsible for the first Silver Haired Legislature in the county.
“Working with seniors really gave me a different outlook on life,” said Jackson. “I haven’t had too many jobs, but each In 1980, the Girl Scouts of U.S.A. one presented me with opportunities found Jackson and asked her to be an I’d otherwise not have, not even in my outreach specialist in Atlanta geared wildest dreams,” said Jackson. specifically toward low-income families Graduating from West Virginia in over 20 counties. State College in 1973 with a B.A. in elementary education, Jackson expected her first job to be an elementary school teacher, not a television journalist.
“When I graduated, I was given the opportunity to serve as a leading news anchor in Charleston, W. Va.,” said Jackson. “Of course my intention was to be a educator. I completed my student teaching program as a first grade teacher and I really fell in love with watching the children grow and develop from the beginning to the end of the school year, but having the news director approach me and say ‘someone told me you had guts,’ I couldn’t say no. That’s how I became the first African-American key reporter for the station.”
“I went from working with seniors to working with children,” laughed Jackson. “I was hired as the lead innovation manager and did outreach work all over Georgia. This is where I gained the self-esteem and confidence that I was creative enough and good enough to design programs for children.”
just trying to pull things together,” said Jackson. “And I’ve been here ever since.” Being the executive director, Jackson has orchestrated hundreds of programs including a strong girl mentoring group, a Girl Scouts Troop, STEM group, leadership programs, field trip opportunities, music and choral camps and groups, recreational sport groups and so on. “I’ve seen a lot of success walk through these doors,” said Jackson. “Hundreds of students who’ve come through the Center and even today I am now seeing those kids who grew up here, who have children, and their children are in our program and it really is amazing.”
The Washington Street Community Center is heavily supported by numerous Newton County organizations and After 30 years, Jackson retired from has strong partnerships with the the Girl Scouts when her husband, Wick, Newton County School System and the was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis Covington Police Who Care. and decided to move out to Covington “We wouldn’t be able to do what in 2000. we do without our community support, “We thought coming out to the volunteers and educators,” said “country” would be therapeutic,” said Jackson. “I am so grateful for my staff, Jackson. “And it was here that I had my husband and the people who have After three years at WSAZ-TV Channel to find something to do with the rest of worked tirelessly for the past 20 years to my life. That’s how we have found the 3, Jackson moved to Atlanta in 1978 help me build upon the legacy that Mr. Washington Street Community Center, a and Mrs. T.K. Adams created.” with high hopes of continuing her real diamond in the rough.” broadcast career. In 2020, Jackson wants to expand Jackson presented her resume to “I came to Atlanta because I thought the Center so it can serve children with longtime Newton County educators it was truly the place to be for Africanmore futuristic opportunities. “Two years Louise and T.K. Adams in 2002 and told ago, the Center was the recipient of a Americans,” said Jackson. “It it was them she had “some great ideas.” progressive, blacks were doing great $250,000 SPLOST grant,” explained things and were in positions of great Jackson’s first task at Washington Jackson. “My dream is to use those influence.” Street was to establish a summer camp funds to establish a STEM center, a CNN was Jackson’s main focus when for middle school students. “The camp technology lab, a music room dedicated coming to Atlanta. “Though being at was designed as a Leader In Training to T.K. Adams and to really give kids an CNN was my main intention, it didn’t in-wrap for 21st century jobs. Covington program; we realized there wasn’t is growing and bringing these jobs to really look like I was going to have the much going on for children in that age our area, and I want my kids to be a opportunity to continue that career,” said group and wanted to help build and part of that. This is their home, they Jackson. “But I was determined to not be show them how they could be leaders, should come first.” defeated, and I would not give up on the active participates and really involve things I had going for me.” themselves in the community.” Jackson said she is always looking for volunteers and contributions and invited Jackson decided that her charisma For the first six months at the Center, members of the community to stop by the and love for people would be put Jackson didn’t receive a dime. She to work best in public relations and volunteered all her free time. “Numerous Center at 4138 School St. or call 770communication-related work. days and nights spent here at the Center 786-4002. 24 • JANUARY 2020
COMMUNITY LIVING
NEWTON COUNTY
CHARLIE ELLIOTT WILDLIFE CENTER: Tranquil retreats & hands-on learning
By Hunter Terrell Located just south of Mansfield and north of Monticello, the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center is the perfect outdoor retreat for all hunters, fishermen and anyone who enjoys the outdoors. Named after the famed outdoorsman, author and nature conservationist Charlie Elliott of Covington, the center is headquarters for both the Clybel Wildlife Management Area and the Marben Public Fishing Area under the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division. In 1993 Gov. Zell Miller and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources received the title to the 6,400-acre area on the Jasper and Newton County border after purchasing land from several farm owners and families. Today, the wildlife center offers a plethora of educational and handson activities for students, teachers, intermediate explorers, organizations and families. "Because we are so close to Atlanta and the metro area, we do our best to offer an array of programs and really reach out to all skill levels and audiences, not just hunters and fishermen," said Kim Morris-Zarneke, CEWC program manager. "Each month we host a public program that is usually free unless we decide to include a meal due to the length of the program. In December we
hosted an annual bird count for kids. Families came and walked our trails and took note of the different birds they could find. In February we are going to have an Open House event inviting families to come learn about Georgia's native wildlife as well as our popular Dutch Oven 101 cooking class." The CEWC also offers annual summer camps for both the teacher and student; monthly programs such as Pond Study and Water Cycles; volunteer options like becoming a trail keeper or a member of the CEWC Garden Club and professional development workshops such as Flying Wild and Project Wild Educator Workshop.
The Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center features a Visitor Center that houses a museum dedicated to Elliott’s life, including a replica of his den.
women (Becoming an Outdoors Woman or BOW) as well as campaigning for a new animal nature center that can give 25 animals a new home and will house animals that local law enforcement agencies seize due to harm or illegal status. Morris-Zarneke hopes to raise around $2 million. The Charlie Elliot Wildlife
Center is definitely worth the time to visit. It contains mesmerizing scenery, inclusive experiences and a wealth of information on Charlie Elliot’s life. You can visit the CEWC at https://georgiawildlife.com/ charlie-elliott-wildlife-center or anytime between 9 a.m.4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Not including individual hikers, the CEWC has served more than 470,000 people since it's establishment and maintained its average of 2,500 guests in 2019. "We have a campsite that families and organizations such as the Boy Scouts or 4-H can use, we have five walking trails and one multi-use trail; we have 15 ponds, six lakes; a shooting range, an archery range and a visitor center; our Conference Center is used for many retreats and events such as the Newton County Chamber's Annual Dinner, and we often have a group of quilters that use our facilities," said Morris-Zarneke. In 2020, Morris-Zarneke and her team will be working toward establishing more programs specifically for COMMUNITY LIVING
JANUARY 2020 • 25
THINGS TO KNOW
ROCKDALE COUNTY
HISTORY Rockdale County was created in 1870 from parts of Henry and Newton counties. The county is 131-square-miles named for the layer of granite just under the soil. The Creek and Cherokee Indians, known as mound dwellers, originally lived in the area.
JUST THE FACTS • The city of Conyers is the county seat • 2018 population estimate — 90,594 • Median household income (2011) — $51,106 • Households (as of 2016) — 29,940 • The county’s largest employers include Rockdale Medical Center, Acuity Brands Lighting, Hill-Phoenix and Golden State Foods.
OF NOTE • Rockdale County is home to the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, a Trappist monastery founded in 1944. The 1,400-acre former plantation was once owned by silent film star and flapper Colleen Moore. • In 1996, the Georgia International Horse Park was developed for the 1996 Olympics equestrian events and mountain bike competition. • Academy Award-winning actress Holly Hunter The Rockdale County Courthouse in Conyers. grew up on her family farm in Conyers. She attended Rockdale County High School where she began her acting career on the school’s stage. In addition to an Academy Award, she has earned a BAFTA, Golden Globe, Cannes Film Festival Award for best actress and is a seven-time Emmy nominee.
Georgia International Horse Park continues to build on Olympic legacy By Chris Starrs
CONYERS — While the Georgia International Horse Park certainly has a colorful history, it also continues to have a promising future. Originally constructed some 25 years ago to host the equestrian and mountain biking events for the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, the 1,139-acre multi-use facility has increased its breadth through the years to include a nature preserve, golf course, apartment complex and banquet center, and has clearly stretched far beyond its origins in the equestrian game. “We have different niches we get into,” said Jennifer Bexley, director of the GIHP, which now also serves as the home of the annual Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival, in addition to many other gatherings. While horse-related events still comprise the park’s “bread and butter,” Bexley agreed that the facility has hosted a 26 • JANUARY 2020
number of events the likes of which few community leaders could have predicted a quarter century ago. Among the more popular and enduring events are obstacle courses, mountain biking and other endurance sports. “We’re thrilled now that we host the obstacle courses; the venue is really perfect for something like that with all the trails that we have,” said Bexley. “It started with the mountain bikes and while we still have mountain biking events but the obstacle events and more of the extreme sports have become popular and it just works really well for us.” Bexley, who grew up in Rockdale County and has served as director of the GIHP for 17 years, said there’s usually something happening every weekend at the park and noted that visitors to the facility’s website (www.georgiahorsepark. com) will see that the calendar of events is updated almost daily. “Our ‘season’ used to be March through the end of November, but because we’re more of an outdoor facility
COMMUNITY LIVING
ROCKDALE COUNTY
TV and film production companies desire the park’s location we were kind of down for the months of patronage from the cast and crew of December, January and February,” she the popular science-fiction Netflix series “Stranger Things.” said. “But that’s really not the case anymore. We’re not nearly as busy in December, January and February, but we still have horse shows and different events. So we don’t really have a down time now, which is good and bad – it’s great that we have the business, but it just doesn’t give us as much time to get ready for the season.” Not long after the GIHP opened, it appeared as if the facility would be a player in the always-evolving concertpromotion business as artists like the Allman Brothers Band, Alan Jackson and Travis Tritt performed in the stadium section of the park. But a variety of factors convinced city leaders to eschew the concert industry.
“It’s absolutely an important part of our business,” said Bexley. “We love working with the movie people. A lot of times, it’s weekday business and we’re often weekend-driven because of the horse shows, so it’s great for us because we’re always looking to pick up our weekday business.” Tourism makes a considerable impact on the economic fortunes of many communities, and Conyers and Rockdale County are no different. While interest in the films and shows produced in the area bring tourism dollars to town, there’s little question that the GIHP is a key contributor to the bottom line when it comes to economic development.
“(Promoting concerts) would be a decision from the mayor and council,” said Bexley. “I think the council felt it was not the best use of taxpayer money because it could be very risky. I think they had a couple of concerts planned and due to inclement weather they had to be cancelled. They were concerned about that.”
“We have nearly 200 events a year at the park, and 65 to 70 are equine events, which are always going to be our bread and butter,” said Bexley. “The latest state study that came out for tourism had economic impact from tourism in Rockdale County at $144 million.
back. And from time to time, we have festivals, in addition to the Cherry Blossom Festival, that have music going on.”
The future looks bright for the GIHP, and while there may or may not be any new events being developed (for the record, the park has also played host to monster truck and bull running events), Bexley is adamant that the nowvenerable venue will continue on its path with an ear cocked to hear about the next big thing.
Julie Cochran rides Gladiador De Lyw during Labor Day Classic competitions at the Georgia International Horse Park in September. Equestrian events are the “bread and butter” of the horse park.
“There are other tourism opportunities However, Bexley said the GIHP would in Rockdale County, but we’ve always be interested in providing the venue for felt we were at least 75 percent responsible for that because for so future large-scale musical performers. many of our events, people come in “We would certainly rent the venue for concerts if people were interested,” and stay a couple of days and that’s what drives those economic impact she said. “We’ve got a great stadium numbers.” for it, and we would love to have it
Another aspect of park use that may not have been on the radar back in 1995 concerns the still-booming film and television productions in Georgia. The east metro area is a popular one for location filming, and the GIHP is a desired destination, as evidenced by 28 • JANUARY 2020
“We welcome any type of event and love the challenge of seeing if we can COMMUNITY LIVING
Tyler Hanley riding Truly Graceful came in 2nd place in the NSBA Junior Hunter Hack competition at the Georgia International Horse Park in 2019.
accommodate the needs of the various events,” she said. “We especially like events that bring a lot of people to the park so they can learn more about us and see the facility for which we are so proud.”
ROCKDALE COUNTY
Refuge marks 35 years of helping with life’s challenges By Beth Slaughter Sexton
Young. Scared. Pregnant. That was Angela Worthey when she was a teenager. And then she had an abortion. At that point, Worthey said her life changed in every way. “It basically devastated me,” she said. “I did the typical downward spiral afterward. I did a lot of things I’m ashamed of today. But then God started reaching my heart. He really just healed me and showed me that all I had to do was give that over to him. Pretty soon after that, I heard someone speak about Refuge.” Known then as Refuge Crisis Center and then Refuge Pregnancy Center, but now simply called Refuge, women throughout Rockdale, Newton and surrounding counties found it as a place of help and hope as they dealt with unplanned pregnancies. “I felt like that was where I needed to go,” Worthey said. “I started off as a volunteer. They weren’t really sure I was going to make it because every time I met with someone, I would cry about their situation. They were afraid I was too tender. I got very invested in the ladies. I just felt like God called me to be here, so I stayed.” That was 19 years ago. Worthey became such a dedicated volunteer that she worked at the center several days each week helping girls and women in need. She began pitching in with office work, and when the center needed an office manager, Worthey was named to fill the spot. After a dozen years in that job, she became executive director of Refuge, a position she has held now for three years. “I’ve been here for a long time and seen a whole lot of changes,” she said. As Refuge marked its 35th anniversary last year, the center held “Celebrate Life,” its annual benefit dinner at Conyers First United Methodist Church where it remembered its history and the many people throughout the region who have found help thanks to its many services. “We’ve been keeping statistics for 30 • JANUARY 2020
a long time,” Worthey said. “It’s a list of statistics for what all God has done in our community through Refuge and everybody in the community. We put out bags with children’s names on them of the children whose parents were considering abortion, but chose life. There were 1,923 luminaries, bags we made up. There were so many we couldn’t sit them all in the room.” Worthey said 800 of those luminaries fit into the room while others were placed in other areas. She said she wrote the children’s names on the bags, but said seeing the bags all stacked up was much different than seeing them sitting throughout the building with a little light inside. It was a significant visual of just how many lives have been affected thanks to Refuge.
them permission. “We also have Earn While You Learn, our motherhood program that teaches the girls how to take care of themselves and their baby,” Worthey said. “They can earn points and get things for their baby. Last year, we started fatherhood classes doing the same thing, but for the guys. Since 2004, we have had 761 students in that program.” Refuge offers classes for women and men in successful parenting techniques; a tutoring program and classes, also for men and women where it has helped 317 GED students since 2004. That was also the year the center began its Healing from Abortion Trauma, a seven-week program that has already helped 69 women and men heal from that decision.
Since it began in 1984, there have been more than 63,122 visits to the center and “we’re still counting,” Worthey said. More than 9,248 babies have been born and there have been more than 23,509 visits to the center for parents to receive baby items.
“Sometimes men are struggling too,” Worthey said. “They have come to us for that type of healing. There’s a lot that’s going on, and it’s amazing to see what God has done. People stop me all the time and say, ‘I know somebody who’s here today because of Refuge.’”
“It’s amazing what all God has done,” Worthey added. “We help people with food, clothing, diapers — all of that stuff is donated from the community.”
Years ago, Worthey said pregnancy centers were “all about the baby.” She said people realized that the baby cannot survive on its own, so efforts to help the mother and then later efforts to help the father were implemented. It was a change toward helping the whole family. Realizing there are generations growing up in single-parent homes, she said the ministry is working to help the traditional family become strong again. Refuge seeks to do this by helping with material items, education, parenting classes, job readiness and everything else they can do to help the family unit succeed. The center depends on support from the community and anyone interested in donating or volunteering is asked to contact Refuge.
When it began 35 years ago in Newton County, Refuge was a place to help pregnant women in unplanned situations by providing free pregnancy testing, food, clothing and baby items. In its first year, Refuge had a total of 119 visits. A second office was opened in Rockdale County. Worthey said it later became more cost efficient to have one office and at that point the Rockdale center began serving Newton, Walton, Henry, DeKalb and other outlying counties, which it continues to serve today. In 2004, Refuge began doing ultrasounds and in those 15 years, the center has done 5,090 ultrasounds, as well as making and sending 72,185 encouragement phone calls, letters and emails. When a pregnant girl comes into the center, volunteers follow up with her throughout her pregnancy if she gives COMMUNITY LIVING
Presently located at 1307 Milstead Ave. in Conyers, Refuge invites women and men to stop by or call 770-9225939 during office hours, or call 1-800712-4357, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They can also visit the website at www.refugeconyers.org.