September/October 2026 Columbus and the Valley

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September/ October 2026

A Father & Son Legacy RANGER HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

Medicine in the Valley CELEBRATING AMERICA 250

FIVE UNDER 4O — & RISING STARS —

La Calavera Catrina

AT COLUMBUS BOTANICAL GARDEN

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Stewart Community Home Turns 50

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F RE E E V EN TS

Author Programs

ALL EVENTS WILL BE AT COLUMBUS PUBLIC LIBRARY, 3000 MACON ROAD

Bob Crawford

Author, Historian & Avett Brothers Bassist

October 8 • 11:30am When he’s not on tour or in the studio as the bassist for the American folk rockers The Avett Brothers, Bob Crawford can be found pursuing his passion for American History on podcasts like American History Hotline and The Road to Now. This multi-talented musician and writer has now written his first book: America’s Founding Son: John Quincy Adams, from President to Political Maverick. Bring your lunch to this event where Crawford will discuss his passion for history and why he thinks Quincy Adams might be American’s greatest ex-president.

All the Love You Can Use The Letters of Carson McCullers by Carlos Dews

October 12 • 6:00pm Carson McCullers became a profligate letter writer after shooting to fame with her first novel The Heart is a Lonely Hunter. Now Carlos Dews, the pre-eminent McCullers scholar and founder of the Carson McCullers Center at Columbus State University, has collected and edited this correspondence into his latest book All the Love You Can Use: The Letters of Carson McCullers.

Intimate, earnest, and as heartbreaking as it is uplifting, this collection is a product of remarkable scholarship and dedication. The result is the most comprehensive portrait of McCullers ever published. Co-sponsored with the McCullers Center for Writers and Musicians at Columbus State University.

FREE ADMISSION & NO RESERVATIONS NEEDED Books will be for sale and autographs will be available at all events.

cvlga.org

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— Established 1991 — P.O. Box 229 Columbus, GA 31902

214 E 10th St. Columbus, GA 31901

706-324-6214

EDITOR & PUBLISHER Jodi Saunders

jodi@columbusandthevalley.com

ADVERTISING & MARKETING Becky Kenimer Advertising Account Executive becky@columbusandthevalley.com

Margie Richardson

Advertising Account Executive margie@columbusandthevalley.com

Julie Lauzon

Sales & Marketing Manager julie@columbusandthevalley.com

Campbell Baker Intern

LAYOUT & DESIGN Rebecca DeLoach 62graphicstudio.com

FEATURE WRITERS Dr. Bryan Banks Doug Gillett Brett Buckner Althea McBride Elaine Clayton E.L. Miller CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Campbell Baker Brad Barnes Pat Daniel Dr. Britney Farmer Jansen Tidmore PHOTOGRAPHY Neely Ker-Fox Gary Poole

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Read this issue and access archives digitally at ColumbusandtheValley.com.

COLUMBUS AND THE VALLEY MAGAZINE is owned by Jodi and Gerald Saunders and is published bimonthly by Valley Life Ventures, LLC, dba COLUMBUS AND THE VALLEY MAG­A­ZINE, P. O. Box 229, Columbus, GA 31902.

The cov­er and contents are fully protected and may not be re­pro­duced in whole or in part without the writ­ten con­sent of the publisher. We are not responsible for loss of unsolicited inquiries, manuscripts, photographs or other materials. Opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher or staff. Copyright ©2026 by Valley Life Ventures, LLC trad­ing as CO­LUM­BUS AND THE VALLEY MAGAZINE. Postmaster: Please send address corrections to: Post Office Box 229, Columbus, GA 31902.

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CONTENTS

September/October 2026

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On the Cover

FEATURES Under 40 15 Five Standout Young Leaders Invested In Our Community

Stars 26 Rising Leaders Noted For Their Shining Futures

Than Life 33 Larger Discover La Calavera Catrina

Community Home 45 Stewart 50 years of serving America's 250th: 58 Celebrating Part Five: Medicine In The Valley

Ranger Hall of Fame

51 MCSD Teacher of the Year, Chris Grier 56 Lessons Learned

Sow It Grows 37 What’s Growing at Columbus Botanical Garden?

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photo by Ker-Fox Photography

55 Mental Health Minute

DEPARTMENTS

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This year’s Five Under 40 honorees, (L-R) Carrie Beth Wallace, Ashley Ginn, Brantley Pittman, Shakea Miller and Frank Lumpkin IV at the Columbus Museum.

Honor And A Legacy 68 AFather and Son Inducted Into The

Business 39 Hometown Local Enterprise Showcase

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Volume 35 | No. 5

In Every Issue 8 Valley Life Ventures with Jodi 12 What's Happening?

Libations 79 Great Wine & Cheese Combos

31 Valley Business Insider

82 Meet Brooke Neville, Executive

80 Food & Drink Guide

Conversations on the Couch Director, Steeplechase At Callaway

73 Valley Scenes

Valley Life Ventures My sense of pride in the opportunity to showcase our young leaders is palpable.

Columbus & The Valley is a small, tightknit team. Producing the magazine is an allhands-on deck affair. We are not by any stretch a publishing conglomerate where tasks are assigned to different departments – we are the department. Of course, that team extends to the writers, designers and photographers who we outsource that make each issue come With this year’s to life. Seeing the magazine to the finish line 40 at the Colum Five Under bus Museum is a true labor of love, and when the semitruck shows up delivering the magazines to our warehouse, the driver, much to their amusement, is met with a Christmas-kind of excitement.

When we have the tangible magazine in hand, we peruse me, was the seal of approval. the pages as if we’ve never seen them before with a There’s a lot to absorb in these pages. Recognition genuine sense of pride and achievement. of Chris Grier, MEEF’s Teacher of the Year; Hometown The September/October Leadership issue development Business’s – the people that apply their entrepreneurial takes the good part of six months. From the opening of skills to best serve you, our readers. Take the time to read our application window for the Five Under 40 and Rising what makes them passionate about their company. We Stars nominees, sending the applicants to our judges, the continue to celebrate our country’s 250th with a focus on final meeting to make the selection, coordinating photomedical history and modern health pioneers. We’re also shoots, interviews and all the additional content in this applauding Stewart Community Home as they reach their issue is a task I savor.

50th year of service in our community. Leaders who learn The sense of pride in the opportunity to showcase our from leaders is the father and son legacy of Roger and young leaders is palpable. By the time we recognize our Blair Brown. And in keeping with the season but not so honorees at the reception in October, we have absorbed spooky, learn the fascinating story behind the La Calavera their stories and thrived on the knowledge and affirmation Catrina exhibit at the Columbus Botanical Gardens. You’ll that the future of our city and region is not only in capable want to read all about this year’s Steeplechase at Callaway, hands, but it’s full speed ahead. They choose to live here, and Brooke Neville who is leading the charge in our and through their professional or philanthropic endeavors, Conversation on the Couch. make the difference in our burgeoning city and across the Finally, thank you to those who believe Columbus and Chattahoochee River in Phenix City—we are one region The Valley is the premiere local publication in our region. after all.

Our readers ­— we want our magazine to be an in-depth, These are not the only up and coming leaders. We interesting read and worthy of a pride of place on your co-host the Young Professionals of the Chattahoochee coffee tables, lobbies or offices. To our advertisers, we Valley annual kick-off at the reception in October and work hard to make sure that by choosing to advertise with announce the Leadership Class of the Columbus and East us, we reach a wide and engaged audience. Enjoy the read!

Alabama Chambers respectively in our issues. Times and the leaders of the future are changing.

While riding through Columbus recently with my youngest daughter, on her brief visit from college, she Jodi Saunders announced that Columbus is really growing, and that for Publisher/Editor 8

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Proud to be a local, independent small business in the Valley area for 30+ years.

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Our Team

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September/ October 2026

Medicine in the Valley

A Father & Son Legacy OF

CELEBRATING AMERICA 250

RANGER HALL TEES FAME INDUC

DER 4O FIVE UN — ING STARS — & RIS

La Calavera Catrina

BUS AT COLUM N GARDE BOTANICAL

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Stewart ity Commun s 50 Home Turn

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September/ October 2026

A Father & Son Legacy RANGER HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

Medicine in the Valley CELEBRATING AMERICA 250

FIVE UNDER 4O — & RISING STARS —

La Calavera Catrina

AT COLUMBUS BOTANICAL GARDEN

D

ERSHIP

R

S

LEA

Stewart Community Home Turns 50

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WHAT’S HAPPENING? Ongoing

Uptown’s Friday Night Fall Concert Series

FRIDAYS THRU OCTOBER 23

Join Uptown during its Spring and Fall Friday Night Concert Series, where you’ll hear jazz, rock, reggae, gospel and more. Pull up table at one of our many locally owned and operated restaurants or grab a lawn chair and blanket to make it a night your whole family will enjoy.

AlwaysUptown.com

Highside Market Farmer’s Market SUNDAYS

Spend your Sunday afternoons at Highside Market exploring their Farmers Market — a seasonal showcase of locally grown goods and handcrafted flavors in the heart of Columbus.

HighsideMarket.com VP Storytime with Grammy Trish at Columbus Bound Bookshop

WEDNESDAYS

Grammy Trish reads charming childrens books and engages with your little ones.

ColumbusBound.com

Yoga at Highside Market WEDNESDAYS

This complimentary outdoor yoga session is open to adults of all ages. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced yogi, this is a great opportunity to unwind, stretch and connect with the community in a beautiful park setting.

HighsideMarket.com

September

Bikes Off Broadway SEPTEMBER 11

The ultimate rally is back. Join the party at Woodruff Park for live bands, vendors, food trucks and more. facebook.com/p/Bikes-on-Broadway-61555274729703/

Global War on Terrorism Memorial Annual Rededication SEPTEMBER 12

Honor our fallen service members from the Global War on Terrorism and learn of the ongoing impact from this conflict. This year, 29 new names will join the memorial, where they will forever be remembered.

Join us in support of Gold Star Families. Free and open to the community.

NationalInfantryMuseum.org

Piedmont Columbus’ Teddy Bear Clinic at the Bill and Olivia Amos Children’s Hospital VP

SEPTEMBER 12

This free, family-friendly event invites children to bring a stuffed animal for mock checkups to ease fears about future hospital visits. Checkups will include X-rays, casting clinic, vaccinations and more.

Families can also enjoy first aid and safety activities, tours of ambulances, police cars and firetrucks plus face painting and crafts. facebook.com/SupportPCRF

Home Show at Columbus Civic Center SEPTEMBER 12 & 13

Discover an extensive array of residential enhancement specialists within an engaging and dynamic atmosphere. Attendees can engage with, evaluate and establish connections with professional exhibitors, gaining the inspiration and certainty required to begin their next project.

CSO: Beethoven and Brahms SEPTEMBER 19

The Columbus Symphony Orchestra presents an evening of timeless masterworks in Beethoven & Brahms, a program that showcases the depth, elegance and emotional power of the Romantic repertoire.

CSOGA.org

Midland Commons Fall Market SEPTEMBER 19

Come on over to Midland from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and experience live music, vendors and local food. facebook.com/midlandcommonsga

Pine Mountain Fall Festival & Ole Chipley Town Fair VP

SEPTEMBER 19

Enjoy arts and crafts, handmade goods, delicious food, live entertainment, kids’ activities, inflatables, pony rides and so much more. Bring the whole family for a fun-filled day celebrating the best of fall in Harris County.

PineMountain.org/events

BGCCV’s 45th Annual Upatoi Polo Cup SEPTEMBER 20

Benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Chattahoochee Valley, the annual Polo Cup is one of the area’s favorite family-friendly traditions. It features exciting polo, great food, activities for all ages and a day that makes a lasting impact on local youth.

BGC-ColsGA.org

Bluebelle’s Fall Kickoff Outdoor Market SEPTEMBER 26

Kicking off the fall season with 200+ indoor and outdoor vendors, local food trucks, fall sales and family fun.

Columbus Clingstones Final Home Series

CivicCenter.columbusga.gov

facebook.com/BluebelleColumbus

Uptown’s Fall Festival

The Clingstones will face off with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos for the last set of home games of the season at Synovus Park.

Syncopated Ladies at the RiverCenter SEPTEMBER 15

SEPTEMBER 1-6

Clingstones.com

Labor Day Weekend at Callaway Gardens VP

SEPTEMBER 4-6

Enjoy a full weekend of fun and relaxation with exclusive garden and beach access, Yacht Rock Schooner concert, K9s in Flight show, classic car show plus more entertainment and a festive fireworks display each night.

CallawayGardens.com

Columbus Academy for Lifelong Learning (CALL) Registration SEPTEMBER 9

Registration is open for the 2026/27 classes at the Elizabeth Bradley Turner Center at Columbus State University. Payment for class registration can be made with cash, check or Zelle.

ColumbusCALL.org

Founded by world-renowned sisters Chloé and Maud Arnold, this all-female tap sensation delivers a highvoltage performance filled with rhythmic precision and contemporary flair.

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Get ready for a full day of fall fun right in the heart of Uptown Columbus! There’s no need to travel outside the city to experience the magic of a traditional fall festival—Uptown is bringing all your favorite autumn activities to Woodruff Park for one amazing day.

RiverCenter.org

AlwaysUptown.com/fallfestival

Bids & Bubbly at Bibb Mill Event Center

Go Nuts Bike Racing

SEPTEMBER 17

Join House of Heroes Chattahoochee Valley for an unforgettable evening of celebration, community and purpose at the annual Bids & Bubbly fundraiser.

Guests will enjoy an elegant night featuring champagne, dinner, live entertainment and exciting silent and live auctions—all benefiting local veterans and first responders in need of critical home repairs.

HouseOfHeroesCVC.org

Dreamgirls at Springer Opera House SEPTEMBER 18-27

This electrifying Broadway musical follows the rise of a sensational girl group as they navigate the highs and heartbreaks of fame in the golden age of Motown.

SpringerOperaHouse.org

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SEPTEMBER 26

SEPTEMBER 26-27

Meet at the Phenix City Amphitheater for a day of fun, community and biking on Saturday and Standing Boy Trails on Sunday. Two full days of racing, food and live music. Adult and kids’ races will be held starting at 9 am.

GoNutsBiking.com

13th Annual Whitney M Young Jr. National Service Award Dinner SEPTEMBER 29

Join the Scouts as they honor Georgia State Representative Teddy Reese for his continued commitment to serving our community and empowering the next generation. This year’s celebration will also feature a special surprise honoree whose impact and service have helped shape the Chattahoochee Valley in a powerful way.

ChattahoocheeCouncilSA.org

VP = Valley Parent Family Fun Event

October

Gala in the Garden at Columbus Botanical Garden OCTOBER 1

An evening of chef curated selections, live music by The Bourbon Brothers and complimentary bar service at Columbus Botanical Garden.

ColumbusBotanicalGarden.org

John Crist Live!

OCTOBER 3

Combining sharp wit, tactfully-unhinged stand-up and viral sketches, John Crist is one of today’s most distinctive, fastest-rising comedic voices. With more than one billion video views and 8 million followers, Crist consistently ranks among Pollstar’s Top 10 Global Touring Comedians.

RiverCenter.org

CSO: Colleagues & Rivals: Boccherini & Mozart OCTOBER 3

The Columbus Symphony Orchestra explores the vibrant intersection of two classical masters in this captivating program. Experience the melodic ingenuity and competitive spirit of the 18th century through the refined works of Boccherini and Mozart.

Linwood Ramble OCTOBER 15

This year’s theme, Secretive Symbols in Plain Sight, delves into the intriguing iconography and hidden messages etched into the memorials of Linwood Cemetery. From floral motifs and sculpted hands to towering obelisks, participants will discover the rich narratives, spiritual convictions and historical customs woven into these cemetery landmarks.

LinwoodCemetery.org/linwood-ramble

Denim & Diamonds 2026 with Walker Hayes and Mark Wills at Columbus Civic Center OCTOBER 15

This year’s event features Walker Hayes with special guest Mark Wills, bringing high-energy performances to a night that means so much more than music all to benefit Columbus Hospice.

CivicCenter.columbusga.gov

Covenant at Springer Opera House OCTOBER 16-24

Two years after his sudden disappearance, struggling guitarist Johnny “Honeycomb” James returns to his small town a blues star, sparking rumors that he may have made a deal with the devil to attain his musical genius.

CSOGA.org

SpringerOperaHouse.org

MidTown Mingle

Gothic Masterpieces with Historic Westville at South Columbus Public Library

OCTOBER 7

Bringing neighbors together to celebrate community, enjoy local food, and bid on specialty auction items.

MidtownColumbusGA.org

History Craft Hour: “Saving Georgiana” with Historic Westville at Columbus Public Library OCTOBER 7

Join staff from Historic Westville Village to learn about visionary and founder Col. John Word West and his mission to save artifacts and architecture of “Georgiana”. Take inspiration from the Village structures and come create your own recycled papercraft village.

This program is free and open to the public.

CVLGA.org

ChattCo Rodeo

OCTOBER 9 & 10

Grab your cowboy hat and enjoy watching bareback riding, bull riding, steer wrestling, tie down roping, team roping and barrel races not to mention trick riders and rodeo clowns. A night of excitement and fun for rodeo fans of all ages.

ChattCoRodeo.com

Waverly Hall WA-HA OCTOBER 9 & 10

Waverly Hall presents the annual music and truck festival with live music all day, artisan crafters, kid’s activities, celebrity appearances and a car show from 10 am. to 1 pm.

WaverlyHallGa.gov

Warm Springs Harvest Hoe Down OCTOBER 10 & 11

Enjoy local artisans, Live music, sweet treats and kidfriendly activities.

VP

OCTOBER 20

Scream on the Green at the Chattahoochee Promenade VP

OCTOBER 24

Uptown is bringing the Halloween magic with a kidfriendly movie under the stars, and guess what? YOU get to vote on which spooky movie they show.

AlwaysUptown.com/screen-on-the-green

Stewart Community Home 50th Anniversary Luncheon at St. Luke OCTOBER 27

Celebrating 50 years, the annual luncheon will feature Dr. Grant Scarborough of MercyMed delivering the keynote address. They will also raffle off a special handmade quilt.

StewartCommunityHome.com

The Grand Heist; a Roaring 20’s WhoDunIt Party at COMU OCTOBER 27

Step into the dazzling elegance of the 1920s for a night defined by signature cocktails, gourmet food and a captivating enigma. Guests are encouraged to wear their best vintage Jazz Age fashion while navigating the Museum to gather evidence and engage with a cast of suspicious figures.

COMUGA.org

Pine Mountain Halloween Block Party VP

OCTOBER 30

Enjoy pumpkin carving, scarecrows on the Man O War Trail, games, bounce houses, prizes for best costumes.

Teens are invited to paint their own Halloween masterpiece while learning about Victorian legends and local spooky lore. Historic Westville Village artists will lead a guided painting experience that allows everyone to learn the basics and get creative. .

PineMountain.org/events

CVLGA.org

Trick or treat around our historic structures, enjoy old time Halloween activities, make a holiday themed craft, and more! Tickets can be purchased the day of the event at the Thornton Visitor Center.

Paint the Town Pink 5K at Woodruff Park OCTOBER 23

Now in its 16th year, the annual Paint the Town Pink 5K Fun Walk/Run serves as a vital fundraiser for the West Central Georgia Cancer Coalition. This nonprofit event supports the Neighbors Helping Neighbors Cancer Assistance Fund.

Runsignup.com/Race/GA/Columbus/PaintTheTownPink

Harris County Airport Open House OCTOBER 24

Enjoy complimentary plane rides (waiver required), antique cars, static airplanes, inflatables, food, face painting, and military displays, and helicopter rides (available for purchase at $99 per person).

PineMountain.org/events

Pasafest

OCTOBER 24

PASAFEST is back for its 10th year under Columbus State University, bringing a full day of art, music, and Pasaquan magic. Explore a vibrant art market, join in drum circles, hear stories about St. EOM from Pasaquan Preservation Society members, wander through art installations and enjoy live performances

by John Kiran Fernandes and Jake Xerxes Fussell.

ColumbusState.edu/pasaquan

Halloween at Historic Westville Village VP

OCTOBER 31

Westville.org

November

36th Annual Fountain City Classic NOVEMBER 7

The Fort Valley State University Wildcats and Albany State University Golden Rams will meet on the historic turf of A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium for an electrifying celebration of HBCU football, sportsmanship and tradition.

FountainCityClassic.com

Steeplechase at Callaway NOVEMBER 7

Enjoy a full schedule of thoroughbred horse racing and other festivities including the Hat Contest and a parade of the Midland Foxhounds. The “Kids Corral” features activities such as face painting and bounce houses. Buy tickets in advance for best options.

SteeplechaseAtCallaway.com

Scan to submit your event, or see more events.

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2026

by Doug Gillett • photos by Ker-Fox Photography

Columbus & the Valley is proud to present this year’s Five Under 40 and Rising Stars honorees. Our panel of judges selected these remarkable young people in recognition of their exceptional leadership abilities in their respective professions and their contribution to the Chattahoochee Valley’s growth.

In conjunction with the Young Professionals of the Columbus and East Alabama Chamber of Commerce’s kick-off event, these recipients will be recognised at a reception in October. Take the opportunity to read their unique stories and their part in shaping a bright future for the Chattahoochee Valley.

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ASHLEY GINN Project Designer Studio BGP

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ome people don’t figure out what their true career passion is until well into adulthood. Ashley Ginn didn’t have that problem.

“When my parents got a new Gateway computer back in the early 2000s, it came with some CD software, and one of the CDs was a home builder program. And I would sit doing that for hours,” she remembers. Later, at Harris County High School, “there was an architecture design and drafting class, and I liked it, and I said, ‘I think this is what I want to do.’”

Today Ginn is a designer and project manager at Columbus architecture firm StudioBGP, but she says her most accurate job title might be “problem solver” or “placemaker.”

“When most people think of architecture, they think of buildings,” she explains. “But the way I would describe what I do is that I combine creativity and problem-solving to create spaces that capture our clients’ vision, but that are also functional, safe and that meet the needs of the client. It’s not just designing buildings—we are also ‘placemakers’ who kind of show clients how good design can enhance quality of life for their users.”

Though Ginn’s first job after graduating from Auburn was in Birmingham, she says she always had her sights on returning to the Chattahoochee Valley, which she did in 2015. “The city I grew up in was not the city I came back to—it was even better,” she says. “Having the opportunity to work with the movers and shakers of Columbus to transform and continue the momentum that Columbus has established is something I take

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pride in. It’s so cool getting to talk to the visionaries that have the funding to help bring their dreams to reality.”

The best part of that work, though, is that Columbus’ transformation hasn’t been restricted to luxury high-rises or niche projects that only a limited number of people get to enjoy, Ginn says. “So many things I’ve been able to be a part of are citywide projects that impact more than just one single user group. I’ve [worked on] the little ‘pocket park’ across from Kilwin’s downtown, we’re working on the Government Center downtown, Highside Market and I’ve helped the Dragonfly Trails with murals and painted spaces. The range of what you can do in this career is endless. It’s cool to be able to put my fingerprint on that.”

Ginn felt further connected to the community through her involvement in organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce, Young Professionals, the Junior League and Boys & Girls Clubs of the Chattahoochee Valley. She says one of her favorite weeks of the year is the

Junior League’s Little Black Dress Week, designed to raise awareness about the ways poverty restricts choices and advancement opportunities for women and families, and coordinated with National Diaper Need Awareness Week. “Diapers aren’t covered

by WICS or SNAP or any of those other government programs,” she explains. “If you don’t have diapers, you can’t take your kids to daycare, and if you can’t take them to daycare, you can’t work. You realize there are so many implications involved.”

That’s something Ginn has learned about firsthand as she’s raised a 2-year-old daughter with her husband John Wade— something she feels fortunate to be doing in Columbus.

“It’s a wonderful place to live, work and raise a family. It’s a unique place, because while it’s the second-largest city in Georgia, it feels like a small town,” she says. “What I found out about Columbus is it’s the people and the relationships you build here that make all the difference—I feel like everyone is connected in some way.”

MORE ABOUT

Ashley AGE

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EDUCATION

Auburn University FAMILY

Husband John Wade; Daughter Charlotte

Congratulations Ashley!

StudioBPG is incredibly proud of our own Ashley Ginn for being named one of Columbus and the Valley’s Five Under 40, a well deserved honor that celebrates her talent, dedication, and impact.

1365 Warren Williams Rd. 706.653.8142 studiobgp.com S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2 0 2 6

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FRANK G. LUMPKIN IV Economic Development Law Attorney Hall Booth Smith, P.C.

Captain and Judge Advocate U.S. Army Reserve

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nyone with Roman numerals after their name probably has some sizable shoes to fill, and Frank Lumpkin IV doesn’t deny it. He’s a direct descendant of the first chief justice of the Georgia Supreme Court; his paternal grandfather was a civic leader and philanthropist whose name adorns Columbus State University’s basketball arena; and his maternal grandfather was the longtime pastor of Edgewood Baptist Church, where over the course of his ministry he married, counseled, baptized, or brought to Christ countless people across Columbus. Between his two grandfathers, Lumpkin jokes, there was a time when everyone he’d meet knew him through one of these giants.

If you’ve driven on Lumpkin Road in Columbus or visited Lumpkin County, you have some idea how big an impact his family has made on Georgia history.

“I’m not going to lie, there definitely is some pressure” associated with being part of such a prolific family, Lumpkin says. “I would look at it, though, as to those who are given much, much is expected. I’ve been very fortunate to be raised by an amazing community in Columbus that made me who I am today. So it’s not about legacy, it’s about making Columbus a better place—because Columbus made me a better man.”

Though Lumpkin has followed in his ancestors’ footsteps by becoming an attorney, the way he’s chosen to make his most significant impact on the Chattahoochee Valley region is unlike anything a Lumpkin has attempted before: bringing a new Interstate highway to town.

Interstate 14 nicknamed the “14th Amendment Highway,” is a proposed limited-access corridor that, if fully realized, would run from Augusta, Georgia, all the way to west Texas. A portion of the highway has already been constructed in 18

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Killeen, Texas, and Lumpkin is determined to see it run through Columbus.

According to Lumpkin, the Interstate Highway System has increased the U.S. gross domestic product by trillions of dollars, with rural counties connected by Interstates enjoying GDP growth nearly 20 percent higher than the national average.

But he believes that Columbus’ location at the terminus of an Interstate spur (I-185), rather than on a major throughway such as I-85 or I-20, has kept the region from reaching its full potential. “People know Macon, people know Augusta because they’ve driven through them before,” he says. “I think it’s important for Georgia’s second-tier cities to be connected and not have to use Atlanta as the epicenter.”

If the Chattahoochee Valley had more direct access to other Deep South metro areas, as well as the Port of Savannah, Lumpkin says, it would attract “high-quality blue-collar jobs” and encourage “legacy employer” companies to keep their home offices in Columbus rather than relocating them to Atlanta.

A further potential benefit, he adds, might be the return of a deployable unit to Fort Benning. Though 100,000 soldiers train at Fort Benning each year, it’s not

their final destination. But access to I-14 could prompt the military to add units whose soldiers would stay long enough to put down roots. “There are plenty of good people who support all the training stationed at Benning¬—40,000 employees is nothing to sneeze at—so we need to preserve what we’ve got,” Lumpkin says.

“But we could grow what we’ve got if we had some deployable units.”

It’s not surprising that transportation would be a passion project for Lumpkin.

He’s a licensed private pilot, a rescue diver, and an experienced sailor who spent much of 2019 crewing a 119-foot schooner in the south Pacific; he’s also been to 74 countries, including several he visited on a yearlong Army deployment to the Middle East. But he says he always felt a pull back to his hometown—and a calling to make it the best it can be.

“On the one hand, I have an overwhelming sense that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be,” he says. “I believe God has placed me in Columbus, with the opportunities and responsibilities I have today, and I’m deeply content in that. At the same time, I’m not content with the state of our community or with simply accepting the status quo. I see challenges that

MORE ABOUT

Frank AGE

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EDUCATION

University of Georgia and University of Georgia School of Law FAMILY

Parents Frank III and Tamie Lumpkin affect veterans, young people, economic development, infrastructure, and civic engagement, and I feel a responsibility to help address them. Contentment, to me, doesn’t mean complacency. It means having confidence in where God has placed you while still feeling a responsibility—and a calling—to make that place better.”

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5U4

SHAKEA MILLER Founder & Dean

1 on 1 Technical & Theological College.

1 on 1 Staffing Agency and Fight for Our Children

I

n June 2018, hundreds of employees at the Masterbrand Cabinets plant in Auburn showed up for work to find the plant had suddenly shut down. That’s when 1 on 1 Staffing Agency, founded by Phenix City entrepreneur Shakea Miller less than a year before, leaped into action.

Miller’s firm placed 159 former Masterbrand employees in new jobs and helped more than 50 others get commercial driver’s license training and find jobs with trucking companies. At the same time, Miller’s nonprofit Fight For Our Children opened its food pantry to offer assistance to more than 200 displaced workers’ families. “As someone who has experienced financial hardship, I understood the panic that comes with not knowing how you’re going to pay your bills or feed your family,” she says. “Watching those individuals rebuild their lives was one of the proudest moments of my career.”

The eldest daughter of a single mom working multiple jobs while earning her college degree, Miller’s caregiving instincts were developed at an early age. So was her belief in the vital importance of education. At the same, time, her own nontraditional college journey, which was beset by “obstacle after obstacle,” showed her that “education isn’t one-size-fits-all.”

“Not everyone is meant to attend a traditional four-year university immediately after high school,” Miller explains. “Some people thrive in skilled trades. Others learn better through hands-on experiences. That’s why I advocate so passionately for workforce education. A certification earned in a matter of months or an associate degree earned in two years can completely transform someone’s life.”

That understanding was on Miller’s mind in 2019 as her staffing agency received an increasing number of requests for certified medical professionals—openings that there just weren’t enough qualified candidates to fill. Miller, herself a certified clinical medical assistant, decided 20

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to start a medical training program for CMAs and phlebotomists. “However, after researching the licensing requirements, curriculum development and startup costs, I realized I was already completing much of the work required to establish an educational institution,” she recalls. “Instead of thinking small, I decided to think bigger.”

Miller founded 1 on 1 Technical & Theological College in Phenix City that year.

Its curriculum grew steadily until it officially began offering associate’s degree programs in 2024—making Miller the first African American woman to open a post-secondary degree-granting college in Alabama.

Leading a college is challenging work, but Miller says graduation day is a priceless reward. “Some of our students are single parents or first-generation college students,” she explains. “I watch them earn certifications, secure employment, receive promotions, continue on to bachelor’s degree programs, nursing school or other advanced education.

“There is nothing more rewarding than receiving an e-mail months or years later from a former student saying they were promoted, earned another degree, became

a nurse, started their own business or purchased their first home. Those moments remind me that education doesn’t just change one life—it creates a ripple effect that impacts future generations.”

Dean, founder and entrepreneur aren’t the only hats Miller wears—the others include board secretary for the Junior League of Columbus, second vice president of the Phenix City–Russell County NAACP, and, of course, wife and mother. Her son graduated from high school when he was just 15 and has been taking online college courses with the hopes of attending the University of Alabama as a senior.

Miller credits the Chattahoochee Valley for nurturing his success—as well as her own. “I purchased my home in Phenix City because I wanted a place where my son could grow up surrounded by opportunity and strong community values. Over the years, I’ve built businesses here, founded nonprofits here, educated students here, and formed lifelong relationships here.

I’ve invested so much into this community because this community has invested in me.”

However, Miller doesn’t measure success by dollars, titles, or even college degrees:

MORE ABOUT

Shakea AGE

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EDUCATION

University of Phoenix FAMILY

Husband William; Son Jarvis Nixon “Success is measured by impact.”

“If people remember me not for the organizations I’ve founded or the awards I’ve received, but for the lives I’ve helped change, then I will consider my life’s work a success,” she says. “I believe we’re all blessed for a reason; my purpose is simply to use those blessings to open doors for others. And as long as God gives me the opportunity, that’s exactly what I’ll continue to do.”

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5U4

BRANTLEY PITTMAN Customer Success Manager FIS

B

rantley Pittman’s passport has gotten a workout over the past 20 years. In college, he did a semester abroad in Spain and returned the following year to do a State Department internship; his financial technology career at TSYS and its successor corporation FIS has taken him to Frankfurt, Santiago and Barcelona for extended periods; and he continues to make regular overseas trips for work.

But no matter where he goes, Pittman says that being able to return to his home base of Columbus is one of his life’s biggest blessings.

“I’ve been fortunate to travel pretty extensively and spend meaningful time in some incredible cities around the world, and I think that perspective has actually made me appreciate Columbus more,” says Pittman, currently a customer success manager at FIS. “There’s a level of accessibility here that’s unique. It’s large enough to have real economic, cultural and civic opportunities, but still small enough that you can find a way to be part of them.”

Though neither of his parents are from Columbus originally, Pittman says his family still has “pretty deep roots” in the Chattahoochee Valley thanks to his grandfather being stationed at Fort Benning. His mother stayed in the area to attend Columbus College, and his parents met while his dad was teaching at Smiths Station High School.

Still, with his appetite for international exploration whetted after his college experiences in Spain, Pittman says he “definitely viewed living in Columbus as temporary.” But after graduating from Auburn and starting his career at TSYS, it gradually dawned on him that Columbus truly offered the best of both worlds.

“I think what changed over time was realizing that staying in Columbus didn’t mean I had to give up any of those ambitions,” he explains.

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“I think at some point Columbus stopped feeling like the default and became a choice. I realized I could build the career I wanted, travel and experience the world, and still have a community and people I cared about here to come home to.”

Since starting at TSYS in 2012, Pittman’s job has steadily increased in scope and responsibility, and he’s now working for a Fortune 500 company making a global impact. But the client-facing nature of his job, and the importance of earning those clients’ trust, means he still relies on the values of integrity and relationshipbuilding that were instilled him from his very first day on the job.

“My clients don’t expect me to personally have every answer, but they do expect me to be honest with them, understand their business, bring the right people to the table and follow through on what I say I’m going to do,” Pittman says. “If you can consistently do those things, I think you earn the kind of trust that allows a client relationship to become a real partnership.”

Columbus, too, has changed considerably over the past 14 years, an evolution Pittman

counts himself fortunate to have witnessed.

“The Columbus of today feels very different from the Columbus I grew up in,” he reflects. “Whether it’s the transformation of Uptown and the riverfront, the growth of our arts and cultural community or the broader effort to attract and retain young talent, there’s a sense that the community is still actively figuring out what it wants to become. And I like that. There are certainly challenges and things we can do better, but in Columbus you don’t necessarily have to sit on the sidelines and wait for somebody else to address them. There are opportunities to get involved, build relationships and contribute.”

Pittman has taken advantage of those opportunities through efforts such as Leadership Columbus and the United Way’s Community Investment program, which have offered him the chance “to really understand Columbus beyond my own social and professional circles.”

It all adds up to a place that Pittman always manages to feel joy upon returning to—and not just because of the “excessive air conditioning, fountain Diet Coke and

MORE ABOUT

Brantley AGE

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EDUCATION

Auburn University FAMILY

Parents Buddy and Kathy Pittman ranch dressing” that he misses when he’s overseas.

“It’s not just the creature comforts, it’s definitely my friends and family,” he says.

“I love traveling—and I’m usually ready to start planning the next trip on my way home—but coming back always reminds me that so much of what makes Columbus home for me is really the people who are here.”

Some things are worth watching grow.

From then to now, Oakbridge has been proud to be part of the community that helped shape Frank Lumpkin, IV.

Congratulations to Frank, one of Columbus & the Valley’s 5 Under 40 Recipients.

Oakbridge Insurance Agency

Protecting what matters. Investing in what’s next. oakbridgeinsurance.com S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2 0 2 6

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5U4

CARRIE BETH WALLACE Founder & Editor-in-Chief

The Columbusite & Social Media Manager, Visit Columbus GA

C

arrie Beth Wallace was on her way out the door to sing the national anthem at a football game at her suburban Houston high school when she got a call from the choir director at—of all places—Columbus State University.

“I put my hand over the receiver and asked my mom, ‘Do you know where Columbus, Georgia, is?’ She said, ‘No, but keep talking!’”

Wallace not only took the time to locate Columbus, she soon paid a visit—and was so “blown away by the [community’s] obvious support for the arts” that the decision to attend CSU was an easy one. “I came on a scholarship that had somebody’s last name on it because the patron was so passionate about funding young artists. At most state schools you don’t see that.”

Though Wallace earned an honors degree in vocal performance, she decided she “did not want to live out of a suitcase” as an opera singer performing all over the country. But she wasn’t about to leave the arts behind. Today she’s the founder and editor-in-chief of The Columbusite (thecolumbusite.net), a website devoted to local arts, culture and everything that makes Columbus unique.

“Cities are a reflection of their people,” she says. “With The Columbusite, we define culture as anything that contributes to your sense of place. So we obviously cover the big traditional art forms, but also small businesses, chefs, we do a lot of food stories. We do a lot of person-of-interest stories—anyone who’s contributing to the culture of this city, that’s fair game for us.”

Wallace didn’t lay down her roots in Columbus expecting to create and run her own website. Her writing career started 24

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out at the Ledger-Enquirer, managing ToDo, the paper’s weekly arts magazine.

Unfortunately, in 2018 the L-E’s then owner, McClatchy Media Company, decided to cancel arts coverage at all of its 30+ newspapers. “They made a blanket decision nationwide: the arts don’t get clicks,” Wallace says, the frustration still evident in her voice.

But even if the national conglomerate didn’t value arts coverage, she was convinced that the local community still did. So she started The Columbusite, and lo and behold, it turns out the arts do get clicks. The site has grown consistently over the past six years, now getting 50,000 monthly visitors to its Instagram account alone.

“We’ve just built this thing that I never really intended to start because it came out of a need,” Wallace says. “We want to get people to engage with the best and most beautiful aspects of our community, instead of just dwelling in the hard parts of it. We will have hard conversations sometimes, but we want to make

Columbus and its people as beautiful as possible and show their worth. That’s really the heart of this endeavor.”

As the website has grown, so has Wallace’s leadership influence. Through the organizations that initially sponsored The Columbusite, she got connected with VisitColumbusGA, the city’s tourism marketing organization, and now serves as its social media manager. And in 2023, Mayor Skip Henderson appointed her the very first arts liaison to the Office of the Mayor.

Somehow, amidst all of these commitments, Wallace also finds time to volunteer as a music teacher at Truth Spring Academy. “It is my favorite day of the week,” she says. “These kids are teaching me more than I could ever teach them, and that school is a testament to Columbus leaning in as a community.

We are seeing multi-generational, multiethnic, multi-demographic engagement with the arts, and it is only gaining speed.

“I think that is an intentional thing here, and I’m so grateful to be a part of that.”

MORE ABOUT

Carrie Beth AGE

39

EDUCATION

Columbus State University FAMILY

Husband Ben; Children Wade and Mary Chamblee

Congratulations Carrie Beth Wallace!

COLUMBUS & THE VALLEY 2026 5 UNDER 40 We are so proud of you!

Wade and Adrianne Wallace and the whole Wallace Family

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RISING STARS 26

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DR. LAKEITA ARRINGTON-JUDKINS 38 PROFESSION

Suicide Crisis Responder, Veterans Affairs; Contributing Faculty, Walden University; Founder, Premier Associates Consulting EDUCATION

Auburn University, University of Southern California, Walden University FAMILY

Husband Patrick; Children Sydney and Ryan I am a doctoral-level social work educator, program professional and nonprofit consultant. I serve as adjunct faculty across multiple higher education institutions and am the founder of Premier Associates Consulting, a nonprofit consulting firm that helps organizations strengthen their operations, develop impactful programs, pursue funding opportunities and build sustainable strategies for growth.

I chose social work because of my passion for empowering individuals, strengthening communities and creating meaningful opportunities for positive change. My career allows me to combine education, leadership, advocacy, program development and community service to make a lasting impact. Through both my professional work and Premier Associates Consulting, I am committed to helping people and organizations reach their full potential.

SHANIQUA GARY-HILL

ARIC JACKSON

35

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PROFESSION

PROFESSION

Hospital HIPAA Officer, Piedmont Encompass Rehabilitation Hospital EDUCATION

Columbus Technical College, Western Governors University FAMILY

Vice President of Water Resources Operations, Columbus Water Works EDUCATION

Columbus Technical College, University of Georgia FAMILY

Husband Eric Jr; Daughters Aleyssia and Sarah

Parents Sandra and Ronnie Jackson

I help protect the confidentiality, accuracy and integrity of patients’ health information while supporting compliance and required reporting to CMS. This career is especially meaningful because I have been part of the department since our hospital was established. I helped build and develop the department before moving into leadership about a year later. With the continued help and guidance of my CEO, Kendra Sermarini, I have been able to grow professionally and further develop the department.

I originally graduated in Human Resources, but a friend introduced me to medical records, and I discovered a career I truly love. I furthered my education at Western Governors University while mentoring HIMs students through their professional interviews for the required Capstone. Recently, I earned my Register Health Information Administrator (RHIA) credential, another milestone in my journey.

I provide executive leadership for the people, resources and operations that ensure safe, reliable drinking water and responsible wastewater treatment for more than 250,000 people.

I chose this career because few professions have a more direct impact on the health, prosperity and quality of life of a community. Having the opportunity to serve the Columbus community and the people who call it home is both a privilege and a responsibility I take personally.

What motivates me most is serving others, leading a team dedicated to solving complex challenges, embracing innovation, protecting the Chattahoochee River watershed and building a stronger community for future generations. To me, water is more than a service—it is a public trust, a responsibility and a legacy.

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LaTRICE JOHNSON

HALEY RAMEY

36

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PROFESSION

PROFESSION

Nutrition Services Director, Georgia WIC Program (West Central Health District)

Executive Director, United Ways of Georgia

EDUCATION

University of South Carolina, Georgia State University

FAMILY

FAMILY

Auburn University, Columbus State University

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EDUCATION

Husband Wilbanks III; Son Wilbanks IV

Husband Zach; Son Dean

I oversee 18 clinics across 16 counties. I lead a team of nutrition professionals and customer service representatives who provide families with nutrition education, healthy food benefits, breastfeeding support and connections to essential community resources. I also serve as an adjunct applied nutrition professor at Columbus State University and a part-time registered dietitian for a telehealth company.

I chose dietetics and public health because I believe access to reliable information, nutritious foods and compassionate support can transform lives. This career allows me to combine my passion for helping others with my commitment to improving nutrition outcomes. Whether I am developing programs, mentoring staff and students or supporting families directly, my goal is to remove barriers and help individuals build healthier futures for themselves and their communities through nutrition.

From a young age, I knew I wanted to be in a helping profession. I’m a natural fixer, and I care deeply about people. In my own life, I’ve witnessed how the right “hand up” can change the trajectory of someone’s future and how easily people can fall through the cracks when that support isn’t there.

That belief has followed me through my education and more than a decade in the nonprofit sector. Today, as Executive Director of United Ways of Georgia, I have the privilege of unifying United Ways across our state to strengthen communities, expand opportunity and build pathways to prosperity.

Nearly half of Georgia households struggle to make ends meet. That statistic represents our neighbors, coworkers and friends. I believe where someone starts should never determine how far they can go, and I can’t imagine more meaningful work than helping change that.

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Congratulations, Haley Ramey!

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, UNITED WAYS OF GEORGIA

2026 COLUMBUS & THE VALLEY RISING STAR Haley’s leadership, passion, and commitment to strengthening communities make this recognition so well deserved. While she may be featured as a Rising Star in the Columbus and Valley region, we know she is a rising star across our entire state.

As Executive Director, Haley proudly represents all 29 local United Ways across Georgia, working to amplify their collective impact and advance the mission of United Way in communities throughout our state.

We are grateful for Haley’s leadership and excited to celebrate this well-deserved recognition. Congratulations, Haley — Georgia’s 29 United Ways are proud to have you leading the way!

United Ways of Georgia

Celebrating leadership. Strengthening communities.

Building a better Georgia together.

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Valley Business Insider

by Jansen Tidmore

Leadership Bridges Trust

E

very year, the Edelman Trust Institute asks a simple question of nearly 34,000 people across 28 countries: who do you actually trust?

The answers, gathered in the global Edelman Trust Barometer, cover business, government, media and nonprofits alike and over the past 20 years, those answers tell an interesting story. One of a world drifting from disagreement

Growing Insularity

Policy work is part of our everyday life at the Columbus Chamber, and I’ve happily worn the label of a fierce independent. In my experience, the best outcomes happen when people with different views sit down at the same table and work through complex challenges with a genuine desire for better outcomes. Nobody leaves completely satisfied, but nobody leaves feeling unheard either. Good policy, like most good things, takes patience and a willingness to do the hard work.

In a world of digital divide and echo chambers, we have grown hesitant, sometimes outright unwilling, to trust people who see the world differently than we do. When we are faced with different values, facts or cultures, fear often pushes us into isolated corners. In these spaces, our beliefs are merely echoed back to us rather than being challenged, making the honest conversations we truly need increasingly difficult to have. Communities stall. Opportunity shrinks. The places we count on for leadership go quiet. It’s easy to retreat into our own corners, but when we do, everyone loses a little bit of what holds us together.

their neighbors, their employers. That gives those of us in this community a real chance to help rebuild trust, one relationship at a time.

That’s exactly what Leadership Columbus has been doing for more than 30 years: bringing community leaders together to learn from one another and turning that learning into action. Our business community has walked hand in hand with Columbus, helping make it a wonderful place to live, work and play.

National and global tensions have a way of trickling down to the local level, but there’s real comfort in knowing our business community wants to lift Columbus above the noise and every resident has a seat at that table.

a good chance many of you reading this have been through this program, or one like it. You already know the value of a good, healthy disagreement, so consider this your nudge to put that skill back to work. We need you at the table, serving this community and bringing your honest, respectful views to the conversation.

In Summary

It’s never been easier to retreat into a little world that only confirms what we already believe. What we need now are people willing to step outside that comfort zone and pull up a chair where real solutions get worked out. So take a moment We Each Play a Role to cheer on the members in this year’s This year we’re welcoming a new class Leadership Columbus class, and if you of 39 Leadership Columbus participants. haven’t been through a program like this Over the course of the program, they’ll yourself, reach out and let us know—we’d learn more about themselves and their love to have you. Examining our own blind own blind spots, and, just as important, spots while broadening our perspective is Existing Employers how to welcome the person sitting one of the best investments we can make in Reinforcing Their Commitment across the table from them for dialogue. ourselves. As William “Bill” Turner writes Here’s the good news: through all those Different perspectives aren’t obstacles to in The Learning of Love: A Journey Toward years of surveys, one thing has stayed work around; they’re assets that lead to Servant Leadership: “Leadership is an remarkably steady. Business, specifically richer conversations, smarter policy and opportunity for service, not an opportunity local and small business, consistently earns better outcomes for everyone. It’s a small for power... and it must reach outside the the highest marks for competence and model for how we can tackle much bigger organization in many ways to create a ethics, across every group surveyed. People problems together. caring community and ultimately to build a trust what’s close to home: their coworkers, With nearly a thousand alumni, there’s better world.”

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Jansen Tidmore is the President and CEO of the Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce, a role he began in July 2025 after leading economic development organizations in Alabama, South Carolina and Colorado. A native of Dothan, Alabama, he holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s of Public Administration from Auburn University, and over his career has helped communities attract more than $12 billion in capital investment and create tens of thousands of jobs.

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Join us in welcoming & congratulating the

CLASS OF 2027

A program of the:

LEADERSHIP COLUMBUS DEVELOPS INFORMED, CONNECTED LEADERS WHO HELP SHAPE A THRIVING COLUMBUS.

Abigail Littleton The Leadership Institute at Columbus State University Assistant Director

Alexa Johnson Anderson Entersekt Customer Success Director

Alexis Gray

Columbus State University Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement

Althea McBride

St. Francis-Emory Healthcare Director of Marketing

Alvin Cavalier

i9 Sports Greater Columbus Owner

Brandon Tulloch Brantley French Brantley Pittman Brian Williams National Infantry Museum Foundation Director of Security

Frank Lumpkin IV Hall Booth Smith, PC Associate Attorney

VyStar Credit Union Principal Cybersecurity Engineer

Gabbi Harp

Chattahoochee Valley Libraries Operations Coordinator

Flint Energies Sr. Engineering Field Tech

Brodwyn and Associates Partner/ Doctor of Chiropractic

Leslie Traylor Maurdrice McNeill

LaGrange-Troup County Muscogee County School District Chamber of Commerce Principal Director of Member Experience

Ryan Gates Knox Pest Control Director of Sales

Liberty Utilities Operations Supervisor

Edward Hilts Twin Cedars Program Director

Jake Butterfield Jasmine Hargrove Jason Martinez

Joshua Ferguson Kenneth Calain Infovore Data Solutions Principal Consultant, Data & Analytics

FIS Total Issuing Solutions Customer Success Manager

Columbus Technical College High School Coordinator and Recruiter

Kim Weaver

Georgia Power Company Area Manager

Nate Wilkey

Columbus Department of Public Health EHS

Tressed, Inc. CEO

Kristen Holt

Nese Holloway Pinnacle Financial Partners Office Leader, SVP

Shanise Thomason Sheree Tolbert

Piedmont Columbus Regional, JBACC Executive Director, Oncology Services

Columbus Water Works Superintendent

Georgia Power Company Project Manager

Columbus Hospice of Georgia & Alabama Marketing Liaison

Emily Hollis

Columbus Chamber of Commerce Partnership Specialist

John Hamilton

St. Thomas Episcopal Church Associate Rector for Pastoral Care

Aflac Director of Account Admin

Ola Terrell

VisitColumbusGA Director of Sales

Bailey Bishop

Jonathan Badgett Cornerstone Foundation CEO

Kristen Norris LaKia Ashley-Taylor

Columbus Consolidated Government HR Director

Tonja Ray-Smith

Amber Gorman

Georgia Center for Opportunity Program Manager, BETTER WORK

Brookdale Senior Living Executive Director

Phillip White PW Benefits LLC President

Toyia Tucker Columbus City Council District 4 City Councilor

Rachel Bernstein

McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture Associate Interior Designer

Wilena McClain LifeLink of Georgia Education Specialist

by Elaine Clayton

photos courtesy of Columbus Botanical Gardens and Elaine Clayton.

In Living Color CELEBRATING THE CYCLE OF LIFE WITH LA CALAVERA CATRINA AT COLUMBUS BOTANICAL GARDEN

T

here may be no better place than a garden to celebrate the cycle of life and Columbus Botanical Garden is the ideal host for the exhibit, La Calavera Catrina (“The Elegant Skull”).

This vibrant installation commemorates the Mexican holiday known as Dia de los Muertos, “The Day of the Dead” and La Calavera Catrina is a brilliantly presented exhibit in honor of this distinctive Mexican observance.

The Day of the Dead, derived from ancient Aztec beliefs (later blended with Christian, especially Catholic concepts), embraces death as a continuation of life. Rather than somberly mourning the deceased, the fiesta honors souls of the departed by welcoming them to jubilantly join the living once again. Traditionally celebrated between October 31st through November 2nd, some rituals historically include building ofrendas (altars with offerings), holding vigils at candlelit gravesites, making calaveras (sugar skulls) and Day of the Dead bread or cake.

The four elements of earth, water, fire and wind are represented by the presence of food (earth), candles (fire), cups or vessels (water) and papel picado— intricately cut tissue paper flags (wind).

The garden has integrated many of these customs, rituals and symbols of the holiday throughout the exhibit, which opened for touring and programs this summer, having acquired (on loan) the Catrina sculptures from Denver Botanical Garden. The delightful artworks are in Columbus through November 9th and the garden has many more enriching events and interactive experiences for children and families upcoming. Columbus Botanical Garden’s Environmental Education Coordinator, Tabby Linnville has facilitated lively learning adventures for children, from Seed to Salsa in July to Family FriYAY programs, each with a different theme centering on the Catrina figures, with more on the schedule for autumn.

La Friducha, Artist

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The expert curators, horticulturalists and organizers at Columbus Botanical Garden say, “We chose this exhibit because botanical gardens are about more than plants—they’re about the connections between people, nature and culture. La Calavera Catrina gives us a unique opportunity to celebrate Mexican traditions while teaching about monarch butterflies, pollinators, native plants, art and the cycles of life that are reflected throughout nature.”

Visitors to the garden are invited to become a part of this artful installation by strolling beneath a fluttering of bright, multicolored, papel picado banners along a pathway called, “The Sea of Marigolds,” designed and planted especially for this exhibit.

Mexican marigolds, or cempasuchil, with their warm orange and red hues symbolize the sun and are believed to guide departed spirits back to the world of the living. Guests follow the pathway

Garbancera de José Guadalupe Posada

through the garden and are greeted by nine flamboyant female skeleton sculptures standing eight feet tall, each positioned thoughtfully within the open sweep of landscape known as The Terrace Gardens. These stylish, whimsical works of art were created by Mexican born, Los Angeles-based costume and set designer Ricardo Soltero. In a recent interview (paradisecoast. com) Soltero spoke of being inspired in his youth by the “color of our culture.” His ability to use color and form in a dramatic way springs from what he described as his passion born out of working on a play as a student at his performing arts high school.

His Catrina structures are mixed-media assemblages of painted fiberglass, wood, repurposed objects and fabric (with long metal spikes that secure them deeply into the ground under their glamorous formal gowns).

The extravagantly dressed Catrinas are works of art based on the original satirical etching La Calavera Garbancera by Mexican lithographer and printmaker Jose Guadalupe Posada. His clever parody focused on the Mexican upper class’s infatuation with European culture and materialism, in response to social-political corruption and economic inequality around the time of the Mexican Revolution in 1911.

Some years later, renowned Mexican muralist Diego Rivera created a full-scale version of Posada’s etched image and La Catrina was established as an icon, representing Mexican identity and cultural pride as well as social satire. It is in this light that garden explorers ramble from one sculpture to the other and gaze up at the towering figures, pausing beneath their elongated skeletal frames and wide, boney grins. Though such large-scale skeletons may seem somewhat daunting, they are strikingly dignified and the viewer is in on the irony as the Catrinas relentlessly urge observers to have a sense of humor, knowing that the fate of all, rich or poor is ultimately the same.

The artistry of the caricatures is a fun-loving memento mori (even hinting at a fascination with inevitable mortality, rather than thoughts of utter dread) so there is a pleasant and peaceful sense of harmony felt in their placement in the living galleries under the sky, amongst alluring clusters of many rare plants and flowers. Engaging, informative placards accompanying the sculptures (both in English and Spanish) describe some of the history, mythology and iconography of the Day of the Dead.

The Catrinas vivaciously depict significant Mexican women and themes, including artist Frida Kahlo, film actress Maria Felix and Mictecacihuatl, the Aztec Queen of the Underworld.

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ColumbusAndTheValley.com/issues 34

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La vendedora de frutas

“La Calavera Catrina is more than an art exhibit,” says Lauren Klingler, director of events at the Columbus Botanical Garden. “It’s an immersive celebration of culture, nature and creativity. One of the things that makes this experience so unique is the incredible work of our horticulture team, who designed custom plantings around each sculpture to complement its personality, colors and story. Their creativity helps each piece feel like it belongs in the garden, creating a novel experience that showcases both the artwork and the beauty of our landscapes.”

The horticulture team spent months planning, designing, seeding and growing thousands of edible and ornamental plants to present the Catrinas in the most optimal way. La Catrina Vendadora de Frutas is an example of this as she is surrounded by ornamental bananas, a variety of peppers (Purple Flash Peppers, Sedona Sun Hybrid, Explosive Ember Chili) as well as Indigo Cherry Drop Tomatoes, blueberries, zinnias, French and of course Mexican Marigolds. She holds a large basket full of earth’s bounty

and celebrates the abundance of nature and the importance of sharing it with others. This includes the touching gesture of providing an ofrenda filled with the favorite foods of departed loved ones.

(The garden’s offering to the community in August included inviting participants to taste some fruit and foods and then weave a basket to take home.)

La Friducha is a sculptural portrait of the acclaimed and inspiring Mexican painter, Frida Kahlo. La Friducha features Kahlo’s trademark eyebrows, hair and clothes (she wore colorful and traditionally Mexican attire) and holds a painter’s palette. Kahlo’s life story and art is iconographic making this Catrina a standout. She resides amongst black forest dahlias, bishops children dahlias, zydeco fire zinnias and salvia “Hot Lips,” a nectar fountain. There are sweet heart kisses verbena and cayenne fiesta blend peppers, too. Star and muse of Golden Age Mexican cinema, Maria Felix has her own Catrina as well. At her feet are variegated Joe Pye weed, leadwort, black and blue salvia (loved by hummingbirds!), butterfly bush, Texas

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Don’t Miss CATRINAS AFTER DARK

September 3rd, 10th and 17th An immersive evening experience set among the illuminated La Calavera Catrina sculptures.

As the sun sets, the garden transforms with candlelight, lanterns, soft music and glowing pathways that highlight the beauty and symbolism of the exhibit. Enjoy craft cocktails, delicious light bites and live music.

PAINT AND SIP

September 12th 9-11am Capture the beauty of nature through a guided painting session of seasonal blooms and butterflies with breakfast treats and coffee! Lead by artist Jade Tamaski.

HOMESCHOOL DISCOVERY DAY October 16th 10am-12pm

Experience the Meet La Catrina field trip program with other homeschool families!

Learn about Dia de los Muertos traditions and the monarch migration Go to ColumbusBotanicalGarden.org to get your tickets or to learn more.

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sage, purple heart and Mayan ruellia.

Designing the area for this Catrina presented unique challenges using blues and purple color schemes because there are not many, “true blue” flowering plants.

Everything was planted in the ground in May by staff and many volunteers, two months before the arrival of the sculptures. The plants needed time to thrive and mature in readiness of setting the stage for the artworks. Horticulture Manager Amarilys Alvarado-Velez says, “I really enjoyed the challenge of designing spaces to complement these beautiful sculptures and add to our guests’ experience in the garden.”

The exhibit is multi-faceted and creates a convivial atmosphere, evoking a wide spectrum of feeling from elation and lightheartedness to sensations of poignant tenderness and nostalgia.

Participants are cheerfully invited to take part in a scavenger hunt (and have a chance to win a prize!) yet also to, “Leave a Flower, Honor a Loved One” at one station, using radiantly colored tissue paper. With photographic instructions provided, creators are

encouraged to think of a loved one while crafting a flower and then attaching it onto a large contour cutout of a butterfly, functioning as an ofrenda.

The interactive aspects of the exhibit successfully affirm the garden’s intention to cultivate flowers, but nurture human connection, too. The exhibit is visually and emotionally powerful and balanced.

It is an exhilarating (yet gentle) tribute to The Day of the Dead, emphasizing the interplay between life and death in a natural and beautiful setting.

And let’s not forget that along with the nine sculptures placed throughout the living galleries, one fabulous Catrina stands inside the Adams Farmhouse. She is wearing a corset and long skirt and is made of painted papier-mâché, meant only for interior spaces.

Extolling the triumph of Columbus Botanical Garden’s stellar execution of an exhibit that boldly reminds us to consider death as a part of life and nothing to heavily grieve, garden goers will no doubt very much miss the dazzling presence of La Calavera Catrina sculptures and will mourn them once they’re gone.

Sow It Grows

by Brad Barnes

What’s Growing at Columbus Botanical Garden? $250,000 worth, and we’ve done even more this year.

Overton: The second project was the vegetable garden. We built an eight raisedbed addition to it through a grant that we received, which basically allowed us to double our production. At the beginning of this year, we built the greenhouse, which then allowed us to increase production more.

Tell me about the 3,000 pounds of fresh vegetables a year that is donated to Feeding the Valley.

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hen Andrew Ruhs was chosen as executive director of Columbus Botanical Garden last January, it wasn’t a head-scratcher for folks familiar with the 40-acre space, even if Ruhs’ background is in business analytics and not in horticulture. He hails from Michigan for crying out loud!

But he’s lived in the south for more than 20 years—in New Orleans before moving to Columbus. His wife is from here. He’s dabbled with plants for years and has a small farm at his home. And was serving as president of the Garden’s board before being named interim director before signing on for the job permanently for five years.

And honestly, a business-minded leader might be just what the place needs in the near term. He spent most of 2025 straightening the Garden’s organizational structure and equipping it with important, if outwardly dull, tools like software (“We didn’t have a file sharing system,” he says). He also hired a horticulture director, Brandon Coker.

Ruhs took his role alongside Carmen Overton, who, in October 2024, had become the Garden’s first development director in more than five years.

That infrastructure has let them hit the ground running in 2026. Or rather, get the earth-moving. The place is undergoing an unprecedented number of improvements and additions. I recently took a stroll with Ruhs and Overton to chat about, and see firsthand, some of the changes.

What improvements are you planning on tackling?

Ruhs: We’ve done so much this year in capital projects. When I first started, we completely gutted and replanted our rose garden. We planted about 130 roses. We basically ripped out everything but the boxwoods. We also redid the irrigation

system. We brought on Brandon Coker. He has a lot of commercial growing experience.

He came out of Young Harris and really kick-started the transformation of the grounds. In a little under two years, we have put in several new gardens. Between 2018 and 2025, we did $50,000-$100,000 of capital improvements. Last year, we did

Overton: The Garden also serves as an urban garden education source. We have people come out and learn how to go back and replicate that in their own yards and learning about water conservation.

We also are putting the finishing touches on a fern garden. Next, we are going to do an expansion of our beautiful camellia garden. I think it’s probably the best in the Southeast. The climate here is ideal for growing camellias. It’s the one thing that we have that a lot of other gardens don’t have.

It gives us a winter bloom. We got a grant last year to do an expansion, so we’re adding 250 more camellias and adding a gazebo.

That gives is added outdoor event space—if somebody wants to have a small wedding or a gathering or just have a place for people to come and sit.

On the business side of things, what are the challenges?

Ruhs: The big thing I noticed as I started to take over the garden, was really to get us financial sustainability. That’s my number one goal. We wouldn’t survive at all without generous donations, and we still have very good support, but, you know, don’t want to have to rely on donors. We are beginning to put lots of focus on revenue.

We’ve completely overhauled our public and private events team. Something that seems kind of silly that turned out to be a huge boon for us, is we bought our own tents.

Now we’re able to do more private events with them, and have nearly doubled our historical averages for private events this year. Our revenue in 2024 for the first six S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2 0 2 6

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PROVIDING LOVING AND COMPASSIONATE CARE FOR SENIORS WHO NEED ASSISTANCE WHILE MAINTAINING THEIR DIGNITY IN A CHRIST-LIKE ENVIRONMENT.

• Exercise Classes • Fun & Games • Men’s Fellowship & Ladies’ Tea • Local Outings • Medication Management • Chaplain on Staff • Three Chef Inspired Meals a Day • Housekeeping & Laundry Service • Transportation to Appointments • Tailored Care Plans

Call us to visit!

706-653-2000 7595 Moon Road

thegardensatcalvary.com

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months was right around $250,000. And this year it’s just shy of $650,000.

Overton: We got new back-of-the-house software last year, and part of that is our ticketing system. Now we can track where visitors come from. We have had a little bit of a challenge with building awareness in the community. The popularity of our annual holiday light show “Shine” has been a big help with that.

Even with that, 40 percent of the people are coming from outside of the area.

You want to be a little bit off the beaten path for the natural surroundings, but it makes you a little bit harder to find?

Overton: Thousands and thousands of people drive on Whittlesey Road every day and don’t know we’re on the other side.

With all the new outdoor spaces coming, and the Catrina display (see article on page 33), and the chicken coop that’s being converted into a little education center, you’ve got a lot happening!

Ruhs: It really feels like the Garden’s now on a new path. Our goal is to turn this into a very strong community asset—getting kids out here, community partnerships and the vegetable garden— and I think we’re at the cusp of really getting to that next level. The projects we have planned are going to be transformative.

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Brad Barnes was a journalist for 17 years and a marketing expert for 9 years before he and his wife, Jenn, started Dew Point Farm in MidTown Columbus in 2019. You can email him at info@dewpoint.farm, and he’ll get back to you after he’s washed his hands.

This special section highlights the vibrant local businesses that make our community unique. Each business plays a crucial role in shaping our area’s economy. By exploring this section, you’ll discover the faces behind some of our favorite companies and the many ways they help our community thrive.

Lou Lou’s Bistro + Foster’s Bar Hospitality isn’t just what’s on your plate.

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esley Ailsworth and her husband, Chef Scott, met on a blind date arranged by their mutual friend, Sarah Swift. It didn’t take long before the conversation turned toward dreams—big ones.

“From the beginning, we’ve been talking about doing this in one way or another,” Wesley said.

Scott spent his career in kitchens, while Wesley’s background was rooted in operations and design. Together, they realized they were the perfect team to build something special.

That something became Lou Lou’s Bistro + Foster’s Bar, a two-level restaurant and bar the couple felt deserved a new life.

They envisioned a place where people could celebrate milestones, enjoy a casual lunch, meet for date night or simply stop in because it felt familiar.

Scott’s menu blends classic dishes with Southern and coastal influences, while Wesley’s design approach focuses on creating a space that feels “welcoming, lived-in and personal,” she said. The result is a restaurant that feels both elevated and comfortable, fostering an experience that doesn’t sacrifice quality for approachability.

One of the most distinctive features of Lou

Lou’s is its two-in-one concept. The bistro sits downstairs, offering a relaxed setting for brunch, lunch or dinner. Upstairs, Foster’s Bar brings a completely different energy.

“We loved the opportunity to create two experiences under one roof,” Wesley said. “Lou Lou’s Bistro is designed for a relaxed meal.

Foster’s Bar has a completely different energy— it’s where you can meet friends for cocktails, hear live music or grab a drink after work. We think it gives people more reasons to come back because every visit can be a little different,” she said.

For Wesley, Lou Lou’s + Foster’s is more than a business venture. It’s a labor of love built on long days, unexpected challenges and the support of countless people who believed in their vision.

“When someone walks through our doors, we hope they don’t feel like they’re just visiting another restaurant,” she said. “We hope they feel like they’re part of what we’re building here.” Adv. —————————————————————————————————————————————————

Learn More

1350 13th St. • 706-243-1114 LouLousAndFosters.com S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2 0 2 6

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HOMETOWN BUSINESS

Servant Path Wealth Partners Helping Families Finish Well

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hat does faithful stewardship of financial resources look like? How does one create a lasting legacy which goes beyond an increased standard of living and larger balance sheet? These are questions the team at Servant Path Wealth Partners strives to help clients answer each day.

Joe Young and Ryne Stokes founded Servant Path Wealth Partners in February 2025 on the biblical principles of love, faith, family, community, generosity, stewardship, and servant leadership.

Between the two of them, Joe and Ryne have over 35 years of knowledge and experience helping clients plan their financial futures. Their firm is affiliated with LPL Financial, the nation’s largest independent broker-dealer.* This provides access to a deep pool of resources and capabilities they can extend to clients.

Servant Path Wealth Partners has a mission of empowering individuals and families to steward their wealth with purpose, honoring God and uplifting communities. Their goal is to reduce complexity and remove any anxiety or apprehension clients may have regarding their finances so that they can focus on the people and passions that matter most to them.

The firm’s guiding motto is Finish WellSM, inspired by the words of Jesus in Matthew 25:21: “Well done,

good and faithful servant! You have been faithful in a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”

This ideal of faithful stewardship is what they aspire to provide to their clients, and it’s what they want their clients to achieve when stewarding the resources entrusted to them.

Over the course of many years and thousands of client interactions, Joe and Ryne have developed and refined their proprietary Finish WellSM Process.

This process takes a panoramic view of client goals and circumstances and provides tailored solutions to pursue individual client needs.

They begin with an in-depth discussion about your family dynamics, your goals, your concerns, your values, and the experiences that have shaped your opinions and decisions on wealth and stewardship. Only after gaining that perspective do they begin building a customized strategy.

There are eight pillars in the Finish WellSM Process: Asset Management Risk Management Cash Flow and Income Planning Tax Planning Debt Management Charitable Planning Estate Planning Value-Added Services

*As reported by Financial Planning magazine, June 1996-2025, based on total revenue.

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These areas work together because finance is interconnected. An investment decision affects taxes. Retirement planning influences estate planning. Debt service impacts cash flow, etc.

Looking at each pillar individually often creates missed opportunities. Looking at them together creates a more cohesive plan.

Just as important as creating a plan is maintaining one. Life rarely follows a straight path.

Careers change. Markets fluctuate. Families grow.

Health changes. Tax laws evolve. Because of that, financial planning is not a one-time event. It is an ongoing process that works best when coordinated through a long-term relationship built on mutual respect and understanding. The team at Servant Path Wealth Partners walks alongside their clients through each season of life, making adjustments as circumstances change while keeping long-term goals firmly in view.

As CFP® professionals, Joe and Ryne are held to a fiduciary standard of care in all client interactions. That means they are committed to providing advice they believe is in their clients’ best interests. Ryne is also a Certified Kingdom Advisor, CKA®, demonstrating a commitment to integrating biblical wisdom in financial counsel.

Their team is further strengthened by the experience and care of Lori Land and Charity Keller, who play an essential role in serving clients and supporting the day-to-day operations of the firm. Together, the team is committed to delivering thoughtful and accurate advice as well as personalized care and attention in every client interaction.

The team views their financial advisory role as a calling and opportunity to serve a cause greater than themselves. Their understanding of stewardship reminds them that financial planning is ultimately about serving people, not simply managing wealth. This influences the culture of their firm, each conversation, each recommendation, and the way they seek to care for those who rely on them for guidance and advice.

Whether you are preparing for retirement, navigating a significant life transition, building a legacy for future generations, or simply looking for an experienced financial partner, the team at Servant Path Wealth Partners welcomes a conversation to determine if they may be a good fit to serve you and help you finish well. Adv. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————

Scan to Learn More 706-478-1435 • ServantPath.com @servantpathwealthpartners

Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC.

HOMETOWN BUSINESS

Valley Fir & Redwood Company More Than an Order Number

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alley Fir and Redwood Company has spent seven decades proving that a hometown business can thrive by putting people first.

In an industry often defined by simple transactions and large corporations, Valley Fir has built its reputation on the kind of relationships that last generations.

“Valley Fir is where quality materials, skilled craftsmanship and real conversation come together,” said Tripp Mitchell, who owns and manages the company alongside his sister, Jeanie McDonald. “We help people build things out of wood, whether that means supplying lumber for a new home, matching the trim in a hundred-year-old house, creating a custom piece or helping somebody figure out what they need for a Saturday project.”

Whether someone arrives with a sketch, a photo or just an idea they’re still trying to articulate, the team is ready to guide them. That personal touch is no accident. “You are not just an order number here,” Mitchell said.

“We want to understand what you are making and help you do it well.”

In an era of big-box stores and online ordering, that kind of attention is rare, and it’s why Valley Fir has remained a fixture in Columbus for 70 years.

Customer service is part of its foundation. The team encourages customers to bring whatever they have—a measurement, a sample, a rough sketch—and they’ll take it from there.

“You don’t have to know all the terminology or have everything figured

out,” Mitchell said. “We will ask questions, explain the options in plain language and help you find a good place to begin.” That willingness to collaborate has shaped one of Valley Fir’s proudest offerings–a custom millwork shop. “We enjoy the projects that require a little thought, creativity and a willingness to work through the details together,” Mitchell said.

The secret to Valley Fir’s longevity is trust. “For three generations, our family has tried to do what we say we are going to do: stand behind our work and treat people the way we would want to be treated,” he said.

Valley Fir hasn’t relied on tradition alone. The family has stayed committed to learning, growing and investing in the future, which has allowed the company to remain rooted in Columbus while constantly moving forward.

“We understand wood—how it behaves, how it should be prepared and what will work best for the job at hand,” Mitchell said. “That experience helps us guide customers toward choices they will still feel good about years from now.” Adv. ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Learn More

6945 Jamesson Way • 706-687-9542 • ValleyFir.com

La-Z-Boy of Columbus A Familiar Name.

A Local Family.

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ost people assume the La-Z-Boy showroom in Columbus is part of a national chain. While the brand is nationally recognized, the Columbus store has been locally owned and operated by the Evans family since 2002.

Over the past 24 years, the family has built a business rooted in something increasingly uncommon: local relationships. The people behind the business—from ownership to the showroom floor—live, work, and raise their families right here in the Chattahoochee Valley.

That local approach has helped shape a store that often surprises first-time visitors.

Many arrive expecting to see rows of traditional recliners. Instead, they discover beautifully designed living rooms, dining collections, home

décor, and complimentary interior design services that help bring an entire space together.

“We’ve always believed furniture is personal,” says Bryan Evans, owner of La-Z-Boy of Columbus.

“You're not just buying a recliner or a sofa. You’re choosing the place where your family gathers, where you relax after work, or where your grandkids climb up beside you. Helping people find the right fit for their home is what we’ve always enjoyed most.“ Being locally owned extends well beyond the showroom. The store maintains a local warehouse and dedicated service department, reflecting a

commitment to serving customers long after delivery day. While the furniture industry has changed dramatically over the years, one thing has remained the same: a commitment to treating customers like neighbors.

“At the end of the day, we’re not just representing a brand,“ Evans says. “We’re representing our family and our community.

That’s something we’ve never taken lightly.” Adv. ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Learn More

5555 Whittlesey Blvd. Bldg. 1 706-653-1070 • lzbcolumbus.com S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2 0 2 6

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HOMETOWN BUSINESS needs beneficiaries, aging parents, business ownership interests or complex real estate holdings,” Jowers said. “Trust services can also provide support when beneficiaries may not be prepared to manage significant assets on their own.”

When families lose a loved one, Blue Trust’s role becomes even more meaningful because estate settlement is a process filled with deadlines, legal requirements and administrative tasks, all while families are grieving.

“The most common feedback is relief,” Hett said. “During a period of grief, families are often overwhelmed by the administrative responsibilities that follow the loss of a loved one.”

Having experienced professionals coordinating that process allows families to focus on healing rather than paperwork. “The peace of mind that comes from knowing everything is being handled properly can be incredibly valuable,” Hett said.

Blue Trust advisors understand the values, priorities and unique challenges many local families face because they are part of the same community.

“Some of our most meaningful relationships have developed over many years,” Hett said, “and there’s a tremendous sense of fulfillment in watching families grow, navigate life transitions aspects of a person’s financial life, helping them and achieve the goals that matter most to them.” make decisions with confidence and intention.”

From a trust and estate perspective, those longThat philosophy is especially evident in the term relationships are especially powerful. firm’s trust and estate services, an area where “It’s an honor when someone entrusts us with families often face complicated responsibilities and helping carry out their wishes or preserve a legacy emotional decisions. they’ve spent a lifetime building,” Jowers said.

One of the biggest mistakes families make, “For me, being part of a hometown office means according to Brandi Hett, senior trust advisor we’re not just serving clients; we’re serving our serving the Personal Trust Division, is assuming a neighbors, friends and fellow community members. relative will know how to handle the administrative That connection makes the work incredibly and financial duties that come with being a trustee rewarding.” or executor.

As families grow and circumstances change, “Being named trustee or executor is a Blue Trust encourages clients to revisit their estate significant responsibility,” she said. “It requires plans regularly. “Life changes quickly,” Hett said. managing assets, working with professionals, filing “Marriage, divorce, retirement, grandchildren paperwork and often navigating emotional family or business transitions can all affect your plan. situations. Many people don’t realize how complex Review your documents regularly.” these roles can become.”

Estate planning is not about preparing for the That is why families turn to professional end of life, but protecting the people you care trustees who bring specialized knowledge in about throughout life. investment management, trust administration, tax “Don’t wait for the perfect time,” Carlson said. coordination and fiduciary responsibilities.

“Estate planning isn’t about preparing for the end “We can also remain available regardless of of life; it’s about protecting the people you care personal situations that might affect an individual about throughout life. The sooner you begin, the trustee, such as illness, relocation or other life more options you’ll have.” Adv. changes,” said Colleen Jowers, senior trust advisor ———————————————————————————————————————————————————— serving the Personal Trust Division.

Learn More Trust services become particularly valuable in 2045 Centre Stone Ct., Suite A certain life situations. “We frequently see benefits 770-280-6198 for families with blended family structures, special- BlueTrust.com/location/columbus-ga

Blue Trust Advisors Guiding Columbus Families with Wisdom, Stewardship & Purpose

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or more than 45 years, Blue Trust has helped individuals and families bring their faith and finances together, an approach that has shaped the firm’s identity since its founding in 1979. Blue Trust serves more than 11,500 clients nationwide, offering financial planning, investment management, trust and estate services, philanthropic consulting and business advisory support.

While Blue Trust serves clients across the country, the Columbus office maintains a distinctly hometown identity because agents see their clients not just in conference rooms but in church pews, school events and neighborhood gatherings.

That proximity shapes their work.

“When you’re serving friends, neighbors and families you know personally, the relationship becomes much more than a financial transaction,” said Chris Carlson, chief fiduciary officer and senior partner. “It’s a responsibility we take seriously, and it’s rewarding to help families make decisions that can positively impact generations to come.”

Blue Trust prioritizes stewardship, recognizing that resources have a purpose and should be managed with intention.

“Our job is to help clients make wise decisions about investing, planning, charitable giving, family goals and legacy planning,” Carlson said. “We work to create a coordinated strategy that integrates all 42

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HOMETOWN BUSINESS

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by E.L. Miller

THE STEWART COMMUNITY HOME

Celebrating 50 Years of Caring & Commitment

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ince its founding nearly 200 years volunteering to help. And Stewart noticed care” as her guiding star, Stewart founded ago, Columbus has been home to a pattern: what became The Stewart Community many notable names—Pemberton, “I ran across this in-between group just Home, a charity dedicated to providing safe Rainey, McCullers, Sherald and Levi to not getting cared for,” Stewart said in an old housing and services for disadvantaged name a few—but among those individuals interview. “They couldn’t get into a nursing adults with disabilities. who’ve given so much to the city, one name home or didn’t qualify, and many of them To date, The Stewart Community Home remains comparatively unknown—Sarah had no families. Medically or financially has helped thousands of individuals, Stewart. ineligible for nursing home care, too feeble providing stable housing, meals, Stewart was volunteering with the less to manage for themselves…these people medication administration, recreation and support. In recognition of that notable fortunate in Florida when she learned that had literally no place to go.” her estranged father was living in Georgia Finding her father in this situation shook milestone, the facility will celebrate “50 in pitiable squalor. He was elderly, sick, Stewart deeply, and she moved herself and Years of Caring and Commitment” at its undernourished and residing in a shack her family to Columbus, where she could 50th Anniversary Luncheon. better care for her father and others like The Luncheon will be held Oct. 27 at St. with no clean water.

Luke Church, and the public is cordially In many ways, his circumstances echoed him. News of Stewart’s efforts traveled invited. those of the people Stewart was already quickly, and in 1976, with “compassionate S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2 0 2 6

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Columbus’ Best Kept Secret

Jim Accordino, executive director of The Stewart Community Home, says the luncheon will be an opportunity to highlight the legacy of Stewart’s vision and leadership – a legacy, which, he says, isn’t lauded as often or as loudly as it should be.

“We’ve been here 50 years, but we’re still one of the ‘Best Kept Secrets’ in Columbus,” Accordino said.

A little over two years ago, Accordino, who moved to Columbus in 1983, numbered among those who’d never heard of the Stewart Community Home… that is until a friend approached him about service opportunities over a round of golf.

A dinner, a facility tour and a surprising realization that he’d “fallen in love” with the Home all led Accordino to one conclusion: “God put me in this chair.”

Upon accepting the executive director position, Accordino made it a mission to ensure that Stewart’s presence is felt—and, crucially, seen—throughout the Home that bears her name.

“When I got here, there were no pictures of her,” Accordino tells me. “She had a big heart. She was a visionary… One of the first things we did is get a bunch of pictures of her and put them all over the building.”

He gestures over my shoulder to a photo of a woman with kind eyes and a megawatt smile, which hangs on the wall in his office at the facility on 15th Street that formerly served as the Edwina Wood School.

During the Stewart Community Home tour that follows, I spot at least two more photos of Stewart; each silently surveying a room or hallway where residents and staff go about the day-to-day tasks of amiable communal living.

One resident watches an old Western on TV; a pair enjoy barbecue and lemonade in the cafeteria. Four or five people are aimlessly enjoying the beautiful sunshine from the home’s picnic grounds.

“ We care for those who cannot care for themselves. We offer folks a place to live, where they are cared for, they are fed… ” -Jim Accordino 46

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Executive Director, Jim Accordino

Founder, Sarah Stewart

“We care, here,” said Stephen Britton, a med room tech at the facility who is currently pursuing a degree at Columbus State University. “And we make sure [the residents] get what they need.”

In its 50 years of operations, The Stewart Community Home, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, has seen thousands of residents come through its doors. The facility offers both Mission and Measurable Impact transitional and permanent housing for Ms. Jerrie smiles widely as she says this. adults with documented disabilities who And she should; after all, she is the resident may be experiencing homelessness, housing who coined the phrase, which has become instability or difficulty living independently.

The Stewart Community Home’s official Residents receive safe housing, slogan. three daily meals, snacks, medication Ms. Jerrie is something of a cheerleader management, transportation assistance, for the facility. She’s lived here for several laundry and housekeeping services and years, and made many friends (and quite structured daily activities designed to build an impression!) along the way. life skills and stability.

“We’ve got a great staff,” she gushes. “Our In addition to providing for day-to-day residents are great to be around.” needs, the home also works closely with At this, she pauses, and looks hospitals, families, courts and mental mischievously at her barbecue buddy, health providers to ensure residents receive with whom she shares a close friendship continuity of care, so that individuals and a dorm-style room. Given her facial can reach their highest possible level of expression (and her previous sentence) independence.

I’m expecting what follows to be a tale of Residents are chosen through a a best-friend-squabble or a partners-incomprehensive application and screening crime misadventure, but she surprises me process, and the home has partnerships by ceding the mischief to sincerity. “To the with other service organizations, including end, we love each other and learn to forgive the Tuskegee Veterans Administration each other,” she says.

Medical Center in Tuskegee, AL that helps Love, it seems, is an ever-present theme house homeless veterans. Through that in The Stewart Community Home. It drove program, homeless veterans “stay with us Stewart to establish it, it’s the guidepost for from six to nine months, then they get a the staff, and residents and guests can’t help permanent voucher for rent for a year,” but feel it in the facility’s operations and Accordino explains. halls, which house up to 68 residents at a The Stewart Community Home serves many veterans. Ms. Jerrie is one. An Army time.

It’s a simple-but-moving tribute to a woman whose story has inspired and helped so many, and whose legacy of charity has now reached 50 years.

But for residents like “Ms. Jerrie”—one of the previously-mentioned barbecue-andlemonade pair—the facility is much more than a tribute. “This is our home,” she says.

veteran, she says she was “very, very sick” and “about to be out on the street,” when the Veteran’s Administration pointed her to The Stewart Community Home. That recommendation was a lifesaver for Ms. Jerrie, who says she hopes the word gets out to veterans and civilians alike who are struggling with similar situations.

“I would like to tell them that, especially if you have someone in need, that this is a place where you can bring them where they don’t have to worry about food or clothing or whatever,” she says.

Accordino expounds: “We care for those who cannot care for themselves. We offer folks a place to live, where they are cared for, they are fed… and we literally oversee every aspect of their life.

Many are formerly homeless. All have some form of disability.”

“I don’t know that there’s another personal care home like ours,” he continues. “People who come here, they can stay a week, they can stay a month, they can stay a year. We have one resident who has been here for 30 years.”

Legacy Luncheon

With this milestone anniversary, the luncheon offers the Columbus community an opportunity to recognize not only the organization’s longevity, but also the thousands of lives touched by The Stewart Home’s mission: “providing care and support for the disabled and homeless.”

The event will bring together residents, families, staff, volunteers, donors, community partners and members of the public who believe in the mission, including Keynote Speaker Dr. Grant Scarborough, founder of MercyMed of Columbus, whose talk is titled: “50 Years of Caring and Commitment”. Attendees can also enter a raffle for a chance to win a handmade quilt.

Billy Holbrook, chief development officer at MercyMed, said Scarborough will be speaking about loving one’s neighbor and advocacy-in-action, two principles from Biblical scripture that MercyMed and The Stewart Community Home both share.

“The Stewart Home advocates for those that have found themselves in the margins­—those that are struggling,” Holbrook said, and added, “Dr. Scarborough will also speak about innovation and gratitude. The Stewart Home is a leader in innovation; in addressing a felt need that’s met with excellence… Not every town has a place like this, so this is about acknowledging and saying ‘Thank you’ to the people who are making it happen.”

Accordino is excited for the luncheon, and said he hopes to see at least 300 guests attend. The event, he says, will serve two purposes: 1. Continuing the work and mission of The Stewart Community Home to “Do for the least of these,” and 2. To thank the Columbus community for its ongoing support.

“Without the loyal support of the citizens of Columbus, this place wouldn’t have made it for 50 years,” Accordino said. The Home does not receive any funding from federal, state or city agencies. Funding relies on corporate and family foundations alongside generous contributions from individuals, families and corporate grants. “We have to have the kindness and generosity of others. Without that we shrivel up and blow away.”

The luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m. on Oct. 27 and concludes at 1 p.m. at St. Luke Church on 2nd Ave. in Columbus. Tickets are $75, and sponsorships are available. Proceeds from the luncheon will go to ensuring The Stewart Community Home is able to maintain its operations, “Hopefully for another 50 years,” Accordino said.

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Coach Chris Grier

Teacher of the Year, and cheering when he landed top three for Muscogee County.

Those accolades, he says, testify to his teaching philosophy: that physical education is about more than “dressing out” and dodge ball; it’s about building life skills, enhancing lessons learned in the classroom and crucially, about building personal relationships.

“For many students, the gym becomes more than just a place for physical activity.

It becomes a place where they feel seen, supported and confident in themselves,” Grier explained. “I believe every child deserves opportunities to grow not only academically, but as individuals who understand the value of teamwork and resilience. We should all want our students to believe in their own potential.”

P.E. Class: More Than “Dressing Out” and Playing Dodge Ball

A Columbus native, Grier said his upbringing all-but-destined him for a career of coaching in an academic setting.

His mother, Michele, is the assistant principal at Columbus High School. Grier explained, “My entire life was spent at

by E.L. Miller the bleachers around me. home with an administrator, so I felt like I Grier turned bashful at his children’s hile the Muscogee Educational was unintentionally bred to be a teacher.”

Excellence Foundation (MEEF) was unreserved praise. He shrugged it off as And he was around age five when he if asking me to concede that many sons selecting their 2026 Teacher of the discovered that he was a gifted athlete. idolize their fathers. But his unspoken Year winner, Dawson Grier, 8, and Asher “I loved sports,” he reminisced. “Sports Grier, 5, were pretty sure they already knew “shrug argument” would be more helped me feel a sense of home—rack, pole the winner. After all, they'd brag about how convincing if the evidence hadn’t already vaulting, wrestling, baseball, cross country, come down so hard in his kids’ favor. awesome their dad/P.E. coach, Christian football. It was where I found my serenity Prior to winning the MEEF award, Grier and a space with like-minded people.”

“Chris” Grier, is to classmates, teachers, was already a standout teacher at Clubview faculty—anyone who would listen.

Grier played several sports at Columbus Elementary School where he was voted They even bragged to me as I sat on the High School and Columbus State their 2026 Teacher of Year and received the University, where he pursued degrees in bleachers in the Double Churches Middle Outstanding Teacher Award. Students and education and sports education. He also School gym to watch Coach Grier and the administrators at his previous post, Brewer has a master’s degree from the University team at i9 Sports coach kids aged 5-14 at Elementary School, also acknowledged summer camp. “He’s the best coach ever,” of North Georgia, a specialist degree Grier’s contributions, voting him their 2015 from Jacksonville State University and Asher and Dawson said, as they played on

Muscogee Educational Excellence Foundation’s Teacher of the Year

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is currently working on his doctorate at American College of Education.

Grier started teaching at Brewer Elementary in 2015. A first-year teacher and the only male teacher on staff, he faced unanticipated challenges, and said he is grateful every day for the students and staff he met and the lessons he learned.

“I learned so many things about how to be a good educator— how to be someone who listens, someone who helps, someone who answers the call of duty,” he said.

“Creating relationships with the students was one of the most valuable lessons I learned [at Brewer] because every student had a different story. You couldn’t treat them all the same. There was no blueprint.”

“Relationships” became the core of Grier’s teaching approach: relationships with the students, other teachers and faculty and staff. It’s through those relationships, he said, that you can build cross-curricular education plans that reinforce what students are learning in their traditional classrooms.

He used his approach to cross-curricular teaching recently when he heard that his second graders were studying the life

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cycles of frogs in science class. To augment their learning, he led them through a yoga session where they used their bodies to mimic the life cycles of a frog. Similarly, he invented games where students engage in various physical activities to “clean up the pond” to teach about pollution and its effects on the environment­—frogs included.

Students tracked their pond-cleaning success with bar graphs, figuring in mean, median and mode. In short, Grier’s students engaged in movement, science and math during a P.E. class.

The frog lesson, he said, is just one example of how physical education is an integral piece of growth and development.

“It teaches life lessons: how to be successful, how to learn from your mistakes, how to fail and fail forward. You learn to tackle challenges. Every failure makes you better.

And it’s okay to make mistakes,” he says.

They noted that Grier’s approach to teaching through “movement, teamwork, relationships and encouragement” while building “collaboration, structure, problem-solving and perseverance” are what made him a standout for the award.

“Chris understands that learning doesn’t just happen at a desk—it happens in movement, in teamwork and in the moments where students discover what they’re capable of,” said Marquette McKnight, MEEF administrator.

“As a physical education teacher, his classroom is the gym…But beyond the games and activities, he uses that space to reinforce and extend the learning happening throughout the entire school.

He partners with classroom teachers to support academic goals, helping students apply skills like teamwork, problemsolving and perseverance in ways that connect directly back to their learning.

MEEF’s Teacher of the Whether it’s reinforcing structure, focus Year Award or collaboration, his impact reaches far Grier was selected from 53 Teacher of the beyond the gym,” McKnight said.

Gina Davis, MEEF selection committee Year honorees representing the 53 schools member and 2022 Top Three Teacher of in the Muscogee County School District. the Year and 2023 Harvard Fellow, agreed.

The selection process is multi-tiered and consists of a lengthy questionnaire, an “His energy, leadership and genuine care interview with more than a dozen MEEF for students are felt the moment you walk committee members and an in-classroom into his classroom,” she said. observation day.

Grier’s face lit up when he recalled the On his observation day, he was doing day he learned he’d been selected as a top the afore-mentioned yogic life cycle of the three finalist. His personal goal when he frog. The lesson was a hit with both his applied had been to make the top ten. students and MEEF committee members.

It was March 27. It was field day. And

his birthday. When his students greeted him with a heroes’ welcome, Grier assumed it was for one of those two special occasions…until, “I turned around and here comes all these people, and they’re holding a massive cake, and that’s when they told me I’d made the top three,” he beams. “And then I had to go because I had to get right into field day,” he laughs.

He and his fellow nominees waited two months, for the MEEF gala in May, to learn who had taken the ultimate prize. When his name was announced, he was cheered by a sell-out crowd of more than 1,100 teachers and community leaders.

Grier said he was humbled at the announcement ceremony. “When they called my name, I saw the whole room stand up like in a stadium where we’d just scored a touchdown. It was unbelievable,” he said.

He used his acceptance speech to speak to his fellow Teacher of the Year nominees.

“I wanted to motivate the people in front of me. I wanted them to finish the year strong and remember their ‘why’—why they chose to be a teacher,” he said.

As for Grier, he says his ‘why’ for teaching has been amplified by his win.

“I’ve gotten a lot of publicity, a lot of recognition, a lot of praise, which I am extremely appreciative of,” he said. “And I appreciate the spotlight for my profession, because I am the only P.E. teacher who has ever won. [The win] helps to show that there is true value in physical education when it’s done correctly,” he says.

For his win, he received a framed certificate and a $5,000 honorarium. He will join the other top ten honorees in a professional development seminar next year at Harvard. To date, MEEF, a 501(c) (3) non-profit, has awarded more than $3.4 million to outstanding educators through initiatives including the Teacher of the Year program, Teaching Other Teachers and Technology for Teachers Grants Fund, Buntin Schools of Excellence and the Harvard Fellows program.

Next Steps

Chris Grier became MEEF’s Teacher of the Year in his 11th year of teaching. When asked if he plans to retire now, he tells me he probably will...in another 19 years or so.

In the meantime, Grier says he plans to continue his many coaching positions

Cake & Cards LIBRARY CARD SIGN-UP MONTH IS A PIECE OF CAKE!

Need a Library Card? Time to renew?

Stop by your local Library and treat yourself! In September, we’re serving up new and renewed Library Cards for Library Card Month—with FREE cake!

CAKE & CARDS SCHEDULE: SOUTH COLUMBUS PUBLIC LIBRARY Wednesday, September 2 | 10am-5:30pm PARKS MEMORIAL PUBLIC LIBRARY Wednesday, September 2 | 10am-6pm NORTH COLUMBUS PUBLIC LIBRARY Saturday, September 5 | 10am-4pm CUSSETA-CHATTAHOOCHEE PUBLIC LIBRARY Saturday, September 5 | 10am-2pm MARION COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY Saturday, September 12 | 10am-2pm MILDRED L. TERRY PUBLIC LIBRARY Tuesday, September 15 | 10am-8pm COLUMBUS PUBLIC LIBRARY Friday, September 25 | Noon-1pm

Learn more at cvlga.org. Valid photo ID, including proof of address required. While supplies last; one per person.

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during the school year which includes coaching the running club, eight flag football teams and assisting with the tennis team at Clubview Elementary and serving as head coach for the Columbus High School Girls Flag Football Team (a position he pioneered).

And while many teachers take summers off for some well-deserved rest, he keeps busy coaching the Columbus Flag Sharks, a girls travel flag football team. He also coaches with i9 Sports.

This summer at i9, he led campers through a variety of activities such as dodgeball, tag, tennis, ultimate frisbee, just to name a few. The kids learned the games, but Grier ensured they also learned ethics like respect, sportsmanship and teamwork.

“The Word of the Day is ‘Respect!’,” Grier calls to a rambunctious, running camper, who listened and rejoined his group. He acknowledged the compliance with positive reinforcement, and then moved on to instructions for the next activity.

“Every mistake is an opportunity to learn and to try it a different way next time,” he said.

Through teaching and coaching, Grier

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says he hopes his legacy will reflect the work of those teachers, coaches and mentors who helped to shape him.

“I always had someone in my corner who believed in me and was always there to help me out, so I want to continue to positively affect the people around me and instill in others the values that were instilled in

me—perseverance, resilience and to never give up. To always keep trying.”

Grier teaches and coaches year-round.

When he isn’t coaching, he says he enjoys spending time with his wife, McKenzie, and “fixing things at the house, doing carpentry work and going fishing with my boys.” VP

Mental Health MINUTE

by Dr. Britney Farmer

Back-to-School:

Helping Your Child Start Strong

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ack-to-school season is here, and I couldn’t be happier. While many children look forward to shopping for school supplies, picking out new clothes and meeting their teacher, others feel anxious about the transition. As parents, there are several things you can do before school starts to help your child adjust and begin the year successfully.

Getting Back on a Schedule

Summer often brings later bedtimes and slower mornings, but the school year requires an earlier schedule. Most children won’t be excited about the change, but allowing time to adjust is important. It typically takes about 10 days for the body’s internal clock to adapt to a new sleep routine.

Begin shifting bedtime about two weeks before school starts. Rather than making a dramatic change overnight, move bedtime earlier by 15 to 30 minutes every few days. Waking your child at the time they will need to get up for school also helps establish the new routine and naturally encourages an earlier bedtime.

If your child still takes summer naps, begin reducing or eliminating them so they can stay awake throughout the day. Keep them active with errands, outdoor play or household chores, and limit screen time before bed since electronics can make it harder to fall asleep.

Practice the entire morning routine before the first day of school. Have your child wake up on time, get dressed, complete their morning hygiene and eat breakfast before starting the day. This is also a great opportunity to encourage ageappropriate independence, such as setting out clothes the night before or preparing a simple breakfast.

School Anxiety

Many of my patients experience the “back-to-school jitters” and worry about fitting in socially or succeeding academically. It is important to recognize

the difference between normal nervousness and clinically significant anxiety.

It is perfectly normal for children to wonder who their teacher will be, whether their friends will still include them or how they will perform in class. These concerns are common, especially during years of transition.

Anxiety becomes more concerning when it begins interfering with daily life. Warning signs include refusing to attend school, frequent headaches or stomachaches, vomiting, declining grades, repeated emotional breakdowns before school or in severe cases, thoughts of selfharm or suicide.

If you notice these behaviors, begin by speaking with your child’s teacher and school staff to determine whether there are concerns in the classroom or social environment. If symptoms continue beyond the first few weeks of school, schedule an appointment with your child’s primary care provider. They can evaluate your child’s symptoms and determine whether counseling, school-based support, medication or a combination of treatments would be beneficial.

Major School Transitions

Starting a new school is exciting, but each transition brings unique challenges.

Starting Elementary School

For children coming from daycare or home-based care, elementary school may be their first experience with structured learning. Attend orientation or preview days so your child can become familiar with the classroom and teacher before the first day.

Talk about classroom expectations, including listening to the teacher, following directions and being respectful of classmates. Many schools also encourage independence by having students enter the building on their own during morning drop-off. While this can be difficult for parents, it helps children build confidence.

Maintaining open communication with your child’s teacher is one of the best ways to monitor both academic and social development throughout the year.

Transitioning to Middle School

Middle school brings greater independence, but it also comes with new academic and social pressures. Friendships change, peer comparisons become more common and students must learn to manage multiple teachers, changing classes and increased responsibility.

Children at this age need consistent encouragement to build healthy selfesteem and confidence. Parents can help by maintaining open conversations, supporting organizational skills and staying involved in their child’s school experience.

Transitioning to High School

Middle school brings greater independence, but it also comes with new academic and social pressures. Friendships change, peer comparisons become more common and students must learn to manage multiple teachers, changing classes and increased responsibility.

Children at this age need consistent encouragement to build healthy selfesteem and confidence. Parents can help by maintaining open conversations, supporting organizational skills and staying involved in their child’s school experience.

Final Thoughts

A successful school year starts long before the first bell rings. Establishing healthy routines, recognizing when anxiety may require additional support and preparing children for major school transitions can make a meaningful difference in their confidence and success.

I wish everyone a safe, healthy and successful school year. If you ever have concerns about your child’s physical or emotional well-being, don’t hesitate to talk with your pediatrician. Early intervention can make all the difference. VP

Dr. Britney Farmer is a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist originally from California currently living in Columbus and practicing for St. Francis Hospital Partners at The Bradley Center Campus. Dr. Farmer has a passion for children with mental health disorders, learning disabilities and autism.

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Lessons Learned To have your business featured here contact one of our sales reps: Margie Richardson Becky Kenimer

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706.575.7825

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MEDICINE in the VALLEY PA R T F I V E : H E A L I N G H I S T O R Y Over the last 250 years, medicine and the healthcare of the Chattahoochee Valley has evolved from basic frontier care into a pioneering modern healthcare network. Today, our region is a proven leader in patient care and medical research facilities. The following pages spotlight the lineage of our founding hospital; the natural, healing springs sought out by presidents, leaders in sports medicine and leaders in cancer research and treatment.

Follow along with C&V in 2026 for this series on America 250 where we focus on the skills and industries that were formative in the development of the United States of America and are still present in the Chattahoochee Valley.

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A Legacy of Change: The History of St. Francis-Emory Healthcare How a promise made in 1946 became one of Georgia’s most honored hospitals

by Althea McBride

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very great institution has an origin story. For St. Francis-Emory Healthcare, it began not with bricks and mortar, but with a community determined to solve a growing crisis.

In the years following World War II,

Columbus faced an urgent need for modern healthcare, and a coalition of civic leaders, physicians, clergy and residents refused to accept that nothing could be done. Their determination launched a fundraising campaign unlike anything the city had seen, brought the Sisters of St. Francis from Pennsylvania to Georgia and laid the foundation for a hospital that has served generations of families for more than 75 years. Today, St. Francis-Emory

Healthcare stands as one of the region’s leading medical centers, but its story remains rooted in a simple promise: that every person in the Chattahoochee Valley deserves exceptional care close to home.

A City in Need, A Bishop’s Challenge

By the mid-1940s, Columbus was a city under strain. Fort Benning helped carry the community through the Great Depression, but the war years brought a different kind of pressure. Tens of thousands of officers in training, along with the enlisted men and families who came with them, stretched the city’s roads, housing, sanitation and hospitals well past what they were built to handle. City Hospital, already reeling from wartime challenges, could not meet the moment alone.

A group of forward-looking citizens saw this coming. In 1944, they formed the Greater Columbus Committee, and through it, the Columbus Planning Association, built around a simple conviction. A city without quality healthcare would struggle to keep its people, let alone attract new business.

That same year, the Rev. Herman J. Deimel of Holy Family Catholic Church began writing to religious orders across the country, searching for nuns willing to come south and staff a hospital that did S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2 0 2 6

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not yet exist. He is thought to have been encouraged in this pursuit by two of his parishioners, Dr. Arthur N. Berry and Dr. Edward Storey, who helped assemble the coalition that would carry the idea forward.

It was that coalition, an intentionally ecumenical mix of Columbus citizens, who made the trip to Savannah in January 1946 to ask Bishop Gerald O’Hara for his support. Some in the group had made the same request in 1940 and been turned away. This time, the bishop offered a condition rather than a refusal. He required the group to raise $500,000, a formidable sum for a local economy still recovering from four years of war, and he would back the project. The group countered with a promise of their own. They would raise the money if he would help them find an order of nursing nuns willing to staff the hospital once it was built.

Both sides kept their word. The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, based in Millvale, Pennsylvania, agreed to take on what would become their first and only mission in the American South, drawing on a reputation built at St. Francis Hospital in Pittsburgh. Meanwhile, Columbus turned fundraising into something close to civic theater. Columbus embraced the campaign with remarkable enthusiasm.

Businesses, churches, civic organizations and neighborhood volunteers rallied behind the effort, while local newspapers tracked fundraising progress almost daily.

Donations arrived in denominations from a dime to $60,000. Combined with matching funds from the Sisters and federal hospital construction dollars, the campaign ultimately raised $1,565,000, more than three times the bishop’s original request.

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From Groundbreaking to Regional System

Within a year, that reticence had largely disappeared, replaced by word of mouth Ground broke on October 23, 1948, and about the quality of the nursing care and the despite the building material shortages complete absence of any effort to proselytize. slowing construction nationwide, a In 1955, the Bradley-Turner Foundation, skeleton frame stood by Valentine’s Day long influential in the area of mental health 1949. Sister Laurentine Harrington, a and counseling resources for the Columbus nationally respected hospital administrator, community, opened The Bradley Center. shaped the program plan that a Chicago The concept for the center was influenced by architectural firm translated into blueprints D. Abbott Turner’s friendship with the wellwith local architects coordinating the known preacher Norman Vincent Peale. work on the ground. On March 13, 1950, Over the following decades, The Bradley more than a thousand people, including Center expanded its facilities and programs, Governor Herman Talmadge, gathered to and in 1994, St. Francis Hospital acquired dedicate the five story, red brick hospital The Bradley Center, further strengthening named for St. Francis of Assisi. behavioral health services in the region.

A month later, on April 17, 1950, Dr. The decades that followed the opening Clarence C. Butler and Dr. Luther Wolff of St. Francis brought steady expansion. admitted the hospital’s first patients. Many The St. Francis Auxiliary, formed in 1958, Columbus residents, even built a fundraising tradition TOP: Community leaders those who had donated to around its Mardi Gras Ball that and hospital organizers. the campaign, waited to see would benefit the hospital’s broke ground in 1948 how the Sisters would treat School of Nursing for 55 years.

BELOW: The completed non-Catholics before fully The 1970s saw bed space original hospital was embracing the new institution. unveiled in 1950. double and cardiovascular

family,” Little has said of the hospital’s recent three Healthgrades distinctions, and Georgia’s top large hospitals recognition. “We appreciate the recognition, but what matters most is the positive impact we make on the lives of the people we serve.”

That leadership philosophy runs through the hospital’s physician ranks as well. Dr. George McCluskey III, Chief of Shoulder Surgery, has served St. Francis in multiple capacities over the years, including Chief of Staff, Chairman of the Physician Leadership Board and a seat on the hospital’s Board of Trustees. A graduate of the Medical Dr. George McCluskey III College of Georgia who completed fellowship training at Columbia University, Dr. McCluskey has In 1966, hospital surgery become a defining service line delivered more than 350 scientific presentations worldwide and leaders began planning under Dr. Philip Brewer, with Dr. Butler published over 30 articles and book chapters on shoulder and for a six-story addition that added 58 beds. overseeing roughly 150 open heart elbow disorders, work that has earned him leadership roles in national organizations including the American Shoulder and procedures a year by the decade’s end.

Elbow Surgeons and the American As healthcare reform reshaped the industry through the 1980s Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. and into the 1990s, the hospital’s board made the consequential His brother, Dr. Leland decision in 1993 not to renew its management agreement with the McCluskey, now serves as Chief of Millvale Sisters, choosing instead to align with a broader health Orthopaedic Surgery for St. Francis system as hospitals nationwide consolidated.

Hospital.

A Columbus native and That trajectory continued into the new century. St. Francis joined graduate of Vanderbilt University LifePoint Health in January 2016, then became part of a venture and the Medical College of Georgia, between LifePoint and Emory Healthcare in 2020. In December Dr. Leland McCluskey trained at 2021, the hospital became a founding member of ScionHealth, a Louisville, Kentucky based system operating more than 80 Tulane before completing a foot Dr. Leland McCluskey hospital campuses across 28 states. Today, St. Francis-Emory and ankle fellowship at the Medical Healthcare stands as the largest of ScionHealth’s community College of Wisconsin. In 2001, the brothers founded McCluskey hospitals, a 376-bed, two-campus regional system built on a Orthopaedic Surgery together, which became part of the St. foundation laid by citizens who refused to take no for an answer.

Francis Orthopaedic Institute in 2006. Beyond the operating room, Dr. Leland McCluskey has spent nearly two decades as a Leadership with a Long View medical missionary with World Medical Mission, donating weeks That foundation is carried forward today by CEO Bill Little, now of his time each year since 2004 to patients in Kenya, Honduras, in his second year leading a hospital with more than 2,000 associates Haiti, Nepal and Ecuador. and medical staff. Little arrived at St. Francis-Emory after nine years Cardiothoracic care at St. Francis as CEO of Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center in Hartsville, carries its own distinguished name in South Carolina, bringing with him a track record of hospital Dr. F. Curtis Bryan, a board-certified leadership grounded in community connection. Under his watch, surgeon with more than 25 years the hospital recruited more than 80 new providers in 2025 alone and of experience in heart valve repair, invested over $3 million in facility upgrades and medical technology coronary artery bypass grafting and aimed at expanding access to care across the Columbus area. the treatment of electrical heart Little’s leadership extends beyond the hospital’s walls. He sits on disorders. A cum laude graduate of the board of directors for the United Way of the Chattahoochee Emory University School of Medicine Dr. F. Curtis Bryan Valley and has previously served on the South Carolina Hospital who trained through Emory’s Association’s board of trustees affiliated hospitals and the Harvard Medical School Surgical and the Coker University board of Leadership Program, Dr. Bryan has been named a Castle Connolly trustees, a pattern of civic involvement Top Doctor in thoracic and cardiac surgery every year since 2018. that mirrors the ecumenical, community-driven spirit that built the A Hospital Still Earning Its Reputation hospital in the first place.

The recognitions have continued to accumulate. In June 2026, “Our focus is delivering the best Becker’s Hospital Review named St. Francis-Emory Healthcare care to the patients who entrust us to its list of 100 “Great Community Hospitals” nationwide, a with their health, many of whom distinction the publication reserves for institutions demonstrating are our friends, neighbors and clinical excellence and whole person care. The same year, the Bill Little

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hospital earned three Healthgrades distinctions for its cardiac services, including a Coronary Intervention Excellence Award, and was named among Georgia’s top large hospitals by Georgia Trend.

Perhaps most notably, on March 11, 2026, St. Francis-Emory Healthcare became the first hospital in Georgia designated as a Purple Heart Hospital by the Military Order of the Purple Heart, a recognition of its commitment to the region’s combatwounded veterans. The Joint Commission has certified the hospital’s advanced primary stroke care, total joint replacement and advanced perinatal care programs, while U.S. News & World Report has rated its care as high performing across six conditions, including heart failure, heart attack and kidney failure.

For a hospital that began as a bet by a group of citizens who believed their city deserved better, the string of honors reads less like a surprise and more like a continuation. The same qualities that convinced a reluctant bishop in 1946, community insistence, medical rigor

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and a refusal to settle for adequate, are the qualities still driving the hospital’s cardiovascular expansion, its investment in advanced imaging, and its chronic disease programs across the Chattahoochee Valley today.

Seventy-five years after the Sisters of St. Francis first arrived from Pennsylvania,

the hospital they built has grown into something they might not have imagined, a 376-bed regional system, part of one of the country’s largest hospital networks, still measuring itself by the same standard, whether the people who walk through its doors receive care worthy of the promise made on their behalf.

The Longevity of Pine Mountain’s

Liberty Bell Pool

by Bryan Banks

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f human beings are composed roughly of 60 percent water, then it should be unsurprising that we are called to submerge our bodies in water. Last summer, my family and I visited the Liberty Bell Swimming Pool in FDR State Park. Constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during the Great Depression, the pool is made up of Hollis quartzite fieldstones typical of the park, laid piece by piece and filled with cool waters fed by natural springs. One can’t help but reflect upon the forest surroundings and feel a sense of connectedness to nature unlike what one would experience in an indoor, chlorinated pool. And that is precisely its history.

Franklin D. Roosevelt contracted polio in 1921 at the age of 39.

In an effort to combat the effects of the disease, FDR made several trips to Warm Springs and Pine Mountain to what is now the state park that bears his name. In 1939, when passing by the site of the pool, he noted that it was shaped like the Liberty Bell, and so its name reflects that observation, like the surface of the water reflects the surrounding trees. One can imagine FDR staring into the pool with the idea that the Warm Springs that he had grown so fond of had given him liberty from his ailments. Almost like an ink blot test done by psychiatrists, the oblong shape of the pool may have morphed into the shape of a bell. According to a CCC report from 1935-6, the pool was further “reshaped” to accentuate and reinforce the president’s observation.

Sitting at the side of the pool, I thought of the number of people who had been sent to the area to soak up the natural waters. FDR benefited immensely from swimming. The buoyancy alleviated the strain on his muscles to the point that he could move his legs in ways he hadn’t been able to in years. In the three feet of water, he could stand unassisted; he could shift back and forth and work out muscles that had atrophied and severely reduced his mobility.

Beyond the very real physiological benefits of exercising in water, the psychological effects brought him bravado. Confidence was

President Franklin Roosevelt at his beloved Warm Springs

key, and he immediately wanted to share his experience and improved health with other polio patients. “Doc Roosevelt,” as he was known around the springs, was a term of endearment and indicative of his love for his fellow Americans. Certainly, later in life and after becoming president, the springs became more than just a place to work out his muscles. They became a place for him to fill his cup and escape the pressures of presidential politics.

It was common in the 19th century for doctors to prescribe wellness trips. Unplugging lowers cortisol levels and aids in recovery from burnout. Studies have linked regular vacations to reduced risk of heart disease. The cold waters of the Liberty Pool remind me of the polar plunges and ice baths that have become trendy. Reduced inflammation, improved hematological and endocrine function, fewer respiratory issues and help with mood disorders, are all benefits of cold-water swimming. There are real health benefits to swimming, but also in engaging with your S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2 0 2 6

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neighbors like FDR did with fellow polio patients.

My children jumped into the Liberty Pool and immediately noticed the cooler spring waters. Their shocked faces quickly washed away and were replaced by laughter and play. This reminded me of an observation by French sociologist,

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Émile Durkheim, who loved to talk about the collective effervescence of human communities. The word “effervescence” itself means to bubble as a gas escapes a liquid, much like the laughter of the children in the pool burst as they shot out of the water like so many little torpedoes, or the smiles on the faces of the adults

as they sunk into the water and felt its cool caress on their strained lower backs.

Durkheim used this word in the context of the idea of a “collective effervescence.” By this, he meant that when we get together socially and participate in activities, it provides another type of wellness.

In 1979, The Ledger-Enquirer ran a series of stories on the pools in the hopes of drawing support for their restoration. They noted that the “water once provided hope for many” who sought alleviation from their ailments. The “public once jammed warms springs pool,” but without public support for their upkeep, they had fallen into disrepair over the years. So just as we are reminded that water gives us life, it’s also important, as FDR understood, we need to invest in our pools, too. Next time you visit a local pool, or maybe even the Liberty Pool in FDR park, take a moment to soak it all in. Feel the water lift you up, alleviate your pains, play a game of chicken with friends and know that the water plays an important part in your very being.

Embrace the 60 percent of you that is made up of water.

A Legacy

IN GRANITE

ROGER AND BLAIR BROWN BECOME ONLY THE SECOND FATHER AND SON TO BE INDUCTED INTO THE U.S. ARMY RANGER HALL OF FAME AT FORT BENNING

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n June 24, Blair Brown stepped upon on a stage he never expected to occupy.

Before him sat a crowd of U. S. Army Rangers, men and women who had endured the crucible of Ranger School, been deployed across continents and proudly wore their Ranger tabs into combat.

Blair was not an Army Ranger. He did not serve in the military. He was being inducted as an honorary member into the Ranger Hall of Fame for his work with the National Ranger Memorial Foundation (NRMF).

He shared the stage with 11 soldiers whose service spanned from World War II through modern operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. The 2026 class included General Daniel B. Allyn, who led the night combat parachute assault to seize Torrijos Airport during Operation Just Cause in Panama, and General Richard D. Clarke who had nearly four decades of service through multiple combat deployments—Desert Storm, Joint Guardian, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Inherent Resolve and New Dawn.

Colonel Larry Perino was platoon leader with B Company 3rd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment during the Battle of Mogadishu—widely known from the movie Black Hawk Down—and

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by Brett Buckner

Sergeant First Class Matthew Rierson, who was awarded a Silver Star posthumously for his bravery and leadership during combat missions in Mogadishu.

“I recognize, to be honest, that I’m being inducted as an honorary member,” Blair said in his acceptance speech. “These folks on the stage did it the hard way.”

Folks, like his father, Roger Brown, who was in the audience.

Roger Brown is an 81‑year‑old retired major, a three‑tour Vietnam veteran who was shot in the line of duty. He was an instructor at Fort Benning’s Ranger School and a plank holder (original member who served in the unit when it was first formed) of the first Ranger Battalion.

Roger was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004.

Now, 22 years later, they are only the second father and son in the hall’s history, following Lieutenant General (Ret.) David E. Grange Jr. — the namesake of the Army’s annual Best Ranger Competition and a charter member of the hall—and his son, Major General (Ret.) David L. Grange.

“I’m so proud,” Roger said of his son. “Just so very proud of what he’s done for the Rangers.

He’s brought honor to us all.”

Most Extraordinary Service

Blair grew up in the shadow of Ranger excellence.

Major General Kenneth Leuer, Roger Brown’s former commander, asked Blair to take over as executive director of the NRMF. At first, Blair said no.

But Leuer insisted. He invited Blair to lunch at the officers’ club to meet the board. The first person Blair met was Colonel Ralph Puckett, a Medal of Honor recipient and one of the most revered Rangers in history.

Puckett looked at Blair and said, “We’re going to give you the checkbook, but if anything ever comes up missing, we don’t prosecute. We’re Rangers. We come find you.”

Blair eventually took the job.

“I’ve never balanced a checkbook so carefully in my life,” he joked.

Over the next decade, while serving first as vice president then executive director, Blair became the face of the foundation, raising money, maintaining the National Ranger Memorial at Fort Benning, supporting Ranger families and representing the organization at graduation ceremonies.

Still, his induction into the hall of fame came as a shock. All he was told beforehand was that he’d soon learn “how much he means to the Ranger community.”

Blair’s Hall of Fame citation reads: “Under his leadership, the foundation expanded donor engagement, deepened relationships across the active-duty and

2004 Ranger Hall of Fame inductee, Major (Ret.) Roger Brown, with his son and new Ranger Hall of Fame inductee, Blair Brown

veteran Ranger community and advanced long-term sustainment efforts to ensure the Memorial remains a place of honor for future generations.”

Established in 1992, the Ranger Hall of Fame honors those who have “demonstrated extraordinary valor, leadership and an enduring commitment to the Ranger Creed,” according to a statement announcing the class of 2026.

Inductees are selected through an impartial process representing Ranger units and associations across every era of Ranger history. Each nominee undergoes a thorough review by the selection board to ensure that only “the most extraordinary” contributions are recognized.

Blair’s name is engraved on the wall of the National Ranger Monument joining the 517 Rangers inducted before him, including his father, Roger Brown.

“This lets me pay homage to his service and everything that he stood for,” Brown. “I don’t have the words to describe how that feels.”

‘My hero’

The National Ranger Monument began as a sketch on a napkin drawn by two anonymous Rangers in a mess hall. Standing adjacent to the Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Benning, the memorial is built to last. For Rangers, that permanence matters.

“Their name is going to be forever in granite at the most prominent memorial that the Ranger community has,” Blair said.

For Blair, it is a place to honor the father he calls “my hero.”

Roger Brown joined the Army at 17, went to jump school at Fort Benning, and was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division.

In 1963, he attended a brutal three‑week pre‑Ranger course at Fort Campbell, Tennessee.

“There were 70 who started and 17 graduated,” Roger said.

“I was 15th in the class. That didn’t hurt my feelings at all. I graduated. That’s what mattered.”

As the Vietnam War escalated, Roger reenlisted and was deployed with the 173rd Airborne Brigade. He served alongside American, Australian and New Zealand units. His Ranger School TAC officer recognized him and selected him for a Long-Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP) unit, elite teams that operated behind enemy lines.

He survived the tour, returned home, then was deployed again with the 101st. During his second tour, he was shot and spent time at hospitals in Japan and San Francisco. After recovering, he became an instructor at the Ranger School. Roger returned to Vietnam for a third tour, assigned to November Company Rangers, the same company he helped form a few years earlier.

After Vietnam, he returned to Fort Benning as a platoon sergeant, then he attended Officer Candidate School and was an honor graduate, helping establish the first Ranger Battalion in 1974.

Through it all, one thing remained constant.

“A lot of times I’d just look at that Ranger tab,” Roger said. “It just makes you keep going. No matter what. Keep going. That worked throughout my whole life.”

After retirement, Roger and his family settled in Columbus.

He founded the Columbus-based All-American Recycling in the 1980s. Blair joined the business before Roger retired and All American was sold in 2018. Though Blair stayed on for several

2004 Ranger Hall of Fame inductee, Major (Ret.) Roger Brown

years before becoming NRMF’s executive director.

“Columbus always felt like home,” Roger said. “Looking back, it just seemed right.”

A Father’s Sorrow

The monument is where Rangers gather for change‑of‑command ceremonies,

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retirements, Order of St. Maurice awards and moments of remembrance.

“It’s a very prominent monument at Fort Benning, and it is pretty much the hub of the Ranger community,” Blair said. “It holds a lot of value.”

The walkway alone contains more than 7,000 engraved granite stones. The stones are uniform—no military ranks, nothing to distinguish between a private and a four‑star general.

“This is a memorial that honors Rangers in their service,” Blair said. “We don’t really put anybody over anybody else.”

The stones are not reserved for the deceased. Anyone who is a graduate of the Ranger School, served in an operational Ranger unit or were attached to a Ranger Unit during combat operations is eligible.

The memorial also includes era markers, detailing Ranger history from Vietnam to Grenada, Panama to the Gulf War and beyond.

One of Blair’s most emotional experiences came in late 2025, after Ranger PFC Jake Chandler died in an off-duty skydiving accident. Chandler had recently graduated from Ranger School having

joined the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. His father, Jared, a former Green Beret, was devastated.

Blair reached out immediately.

“I said, ‘Sir, I’m very sorry for your loss.

We want to get him a stone,’” Blair said.

Chandler’s father asked if he could see the stone before a memorial service by First Ranger Battalion at Fort Stewart near Savannah. Blair didn’t hesitate. When the family arrived, it was pouring rain.

“They got there a few minutes before us,” Blair said. “We walked out and they’re all around the stone. It was very moving, very emotional.”

Blair and the chaplain for the 75th Ranger Regiment prayed with the family, and helped Jared Chandler make a charcoal sketch of the engraving despite the rain soaking the paper.

“The saddest thing is that he didn’t want to leave,” Blair said. “We were out there for maybe two hours.”

Finally, Blair approached the grieving father.

“Mr. Chandler,” he said, “Your son is out here with his brothers.”

This gave the father the strength to

The 2026 Ranger Hall of Fame ceremony

VENDORS THE 2026 RANGER HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES: walk away. Moments like this reveal the true purpose of the memorial and the foundation as a whole, to not only honor Rangers, but hold their families up when grief becomes too heavy to carry alone.

“I didn’t really prepare for that,” Blair said. “I knew it was a loss, but until you see it firsthand, this kid meant everything to that family. We sat there, we prayed with the family for a long time and just hugged on them, loved on him right out in the rain.”

‘It changes lives’

Among its core goals, the NRMF provides college scholarships for Rangers and their families. This year the foundation awarded 101 recipients through the Kenneth C. Leuer/Joseph S. Stringham NRMF Scholarship Endowment, totaling $180,000 —the most in program history— totaling more than $1.1 million since it was established in1994.

The scholarships support students at university ranging from Columbus State to Troy, Harvard to Cornell.

“They’re all over the country,” Blair said.

“Wherever Rangers or their families are, scholarships are available.”

Blair witnessed firsthand what this opportunity can mean. He remembers one Ranger in particular, a recent graduate in his mid‑20s. who approached him after a ceremony.

“He zeroed in on the college scholarships,” Blair said. “He basically opened up his heart. He’d just gone through a bad divorce and told me, ‘I’ve got two young children.” So, you’re saying that because I got this Ranger tab, I’m eligible?

My kids are eligible?’”

Blair told him yes, anyone related to him was eligible.

“That meant the world to that guy,” she said, “because it changes lives.”

Stories like those are why Blair spends

• GEN Daniel B. Allyn • GEN Stephen J. Townsend • GEN Richard D. Clarke • MG Clarence KK Chinn • COL Larry Perino • MAJ Douglas Phillipone • SGM Colin M. Boley • CSM Walter E. Rakow • SFC Matt L. Rierson • Peter Dencker • Mr. Blair Brown (Honorary) • Mrs. Candyss Bryant (Honorary)

his days traveling, meeting with corporate sponsors and raising money for the foundation.

“I’ve always had the greatest and utmost respect for these folks,” he said. “I’m nervous around some of these guys.”

The Ranger Memorial Foundation is not a membership group. It doesn’t vote on Hall of Fame inductees. It doesn’t determine who receives honors or awards.

Its purpose is to preserve the legacy of Rangers. It supports their families. It ensures their names, stories and sacrifices are never forgotten.

The memorial pathway stones, the era markers and the Hall of Fame wall are physical reminders of a community bound by shared hardship and uncommon excellence.

The scholarships, the outreach, the quiet moments with grieving families, these are the emotional threads that hold the community together.

Blair sees it every day.

“It’s a different mission,” he said. “It’s all about relationships. And it’s all for the community.”

Roger sees it, too. “[Rangers] are more or less like a family,” he said. “Those people that were there before me and after me … those are some real heroes.”

Get your copy at one of these Valley area locations!

Barnes & Noble Columbus Park Crossing 5555 Whittlesey Blvd.

Columbus, GA 31909 The Cat’s Meow 137 Main St. Pine Mountain, GA 31822 Columbus Bound Bookshop 1328 13th St. Columbus, GA 31901 Columbus Collective Museums 3218 Hamilton Rd. Columbus, GA 31904 Columbus Museum Gift Shop 1251 Wynnton Rd. Columbus, GA 31906 Dinglewood Pharmacy 939 Wynnton Rd. Columbus, GA 31906 Durham’s Pharmacy 1420 17th St. Columbus, GA 31901 Galleria Riverside 1658 Rollins Way Columbus, GA 31901 Judy Bug’s Books 1033 Broadway Columbus, GA 31901 Piedmont Columbus Regional Midtown Gift shop 710 Center St. Columbus, GA 31901 Piggly Wiggly 5850 Moon Rd., Columbus 4916 River Rd., Columbus 1359 13th St., Columbus Stadium Plaza, Phenix City St. Francis-Emory Healthcare Nancy Saunders Gift Shop 2122 Manchester Expy.

Columbus, GA 31904 Whitewater Express 1000 Bay Ave. Columbus, GA 31901

If your business would like to be a vendor, please email ContactUs@ColumbusAndTheValley.com S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2 0 2 6

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Recently Married?

Submit your photo to be featured in our Wedding Gallery in the January/February 2027 issue.

We will include weddings held between November 2025 through the end of November 2026.

Please send a high resolution photo

by December 1st and include:

SCAN TO SUBMIT

or email photos and info to jodi@columbusandthevalley.com

• Couple’s first and last names • Wedding venue and location • Photographer’s name • Your phone number or e-mail

All information must be included for your photo to be published.

We will publish as many Wedding Gallery photos as space allows.

Digital submissions must be high resolution at 300 dpi.

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Valley Scenes Send us photos of your community event or achievement! We will publish as many photos as quality and space permit. Please identify all subjects with a brief description of the event and the date and the photographers name. Email them to: ContactUs@ColumbusAndTheValley.com,

Mrs Jeanie Puckett alongside JROTC cadets from Spencer and Jordan High Schools.

Puckett Center Ribbon Cutting Ceremony photos by Emily Cummings Photography Community leaders, college officials, and industry partners gathered to celebrate the ribbon cutting of the COL (R) Ralph Puckett Workforce Development Center at Columbus Technical College. Completed in less than a year, the center creates new pathways for students to gain valuable skills, earn certifications, and connect with employers in high-growth fields including healthcare, manufacturing, technology, logistics, transportation, and skilled trades.

Dr. Jimmy Elder is greeted

by Sparky, the robotic dog.

(L-R) Kate Vogel, CTC Director of the Puckett Center; Malon Wickham, CTC Chair of the Board of Trustees; Mrs. Jeanie Puckett; Martha Ann Todd, CTC President; Shaun Roberts, CTC VECTR Foundation Chair; MG Colun Tuley, MCoE CG; Mark Peevy, Technical College System of Georgia Chief of Staff; Rev. Mike Powell, Pastor of Ashberry United Methodist Church

COL (Ret) Corey Woods with Columbus Technical College introduces MG Colun Tuley, MCoE CG to address the guests at the podium.

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1775 Society Gala photos by Joel & Mo Photo The annual 1775 Society Gala was held at the National Infantry Museum. The 1775 Society was named for the first Army formed in June 1775, and its mission is to honor soldiers of the past, present and future.

This year’s event celebrated the American Legacy, 250 Years in the Making. Over 400 guests enjoyed a cocktail reception, a silent and live auction, dinner and dancing. The funds raised support the operations of the National Infantry Museum Foundation.

Additionally, the foundation hosts the Gold Star families of the hero soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines who have fallen since 9/11. They are invited to the National Infantry Museum during the weekend of remembrance at the annual rededication of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial. This year’s event will be held on September 11-12.

John Shinkle, Vice Chairman of the 1775 Society addresses the attendees.

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BG (Ret) Pete Jones, President & CEO of the National Infantry Museum welcomes guests.

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Boys and Girls Club Mural photos courtesy of BGCCV The CLUB Teen Center was filled with creativity and community as Club teens joined local artist LaKendra Huckaby to reveal the vibrant new mural they created together this summer. Guests also enjoyed original canvases created by Club artists and celebrated the young people whose creativity brought the project to life. The mural project was made possible through the Women’s Creative Collective, which connects talented women in our community with opportunities to inspire, mentor, and support BGC-CV youth.

(L-R) Latori Crawford, LaTrivia Scott (Teen Center Director), Ava Riley, LaKendra Huckaby, Denise Huckaby, Ebony Dunbar, Jimmy White

Davidson Student Center Grand Re-Opening photo courtesy of CSU Columbus State University celebrated the grand reopening of the Davidson Student Center.

Based on their main campus the interior of the building underwent a $4.8 million, state-funded modernization. Community supporters and civic leaders joined more than 300 students and faculty members for the ceremony.

(L-R) State Rep. Teddy Reese, State Rep. and House Minority Leader Carolyn Hugley, State Rep. Debbie Buckner ’77 (back), retired CSU Vice President for Student Affairs Gina Sheeks, CSU President Stuart Rayfield, State Rep. Carmen Rice (back), CSU Student Government Association President Aniya Wilson, CSU’s Cody the Cougar mascot (back), CSU Chief Student Experience Officer Kim Scranage, State Rep. Vance Smith ’74 (back), CSU Assistant Dean of Students for Student Engagement Melissa Dempsey, and State Sen. Ed Harbison.

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Pictured Panda Express team members: (L-R) Jenny Huo; Sam Lin; Andrew Sykes; Sergio Velasquez; Soklay Bun; Patricia Santiago; Amaya Carter; Indiya Sharma; Audrey Station; David Fritts; Reaksmey Meas; GeChina Lequin; Becca Miller.Foundation Director, Children’s Miracle Network; LeighAnn DiCesaris, Manager of Major Gift Programs Also pictured Piedmont’s Partners in Education, Clubview Elementary students and McKynlei, Piedmont’s 2027 Children’s Miracle Network miracle kid.

Piedmont Panda Cares Opens New Playground photo by J.T. Fellows Bill and Olivia Amos Children’s Hospital leadership and Panda Express hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to dedicate its new Panda Cares® Center of Hope. Panda Express helped create the outdoor playground, giving patients and families a welcoming place to play, connect and experience joy during challenging medical journeys. The space promotes wholechild healing by supporting children’s mental, emotional, physical and spiritual well-being.

(L-R) CEO Scott Hill, Ifedamola Adeyemo, Nicole Lacey, Dorothy Kimbrough, Chasity Traywick and Emily Cook

Piedmont Awards photos courtesy of Piedmont Columbus Regional Piedmont Columbus Regional recently hosted its Promise 360 Annual Awards celebration, recognizing the hospital’s monthly winners from the past year and naming its two overall annual champions. Piedmont Columbus Midtown respiratory therapist Chasity Traywick and Piedmont Columbus Northside licensed practical nurse Nicole Lacey were named the annual champions.

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Proudly welcoming Dr. Pouria Farhadi this October!

ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS! Dr. Devon Paris

TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT: Call 706-322-6551

Dr. Awaz Yaseen

BUSINESS HOURS: Mon.-Thu. 8:00 am-5:00 pm Closed Fri.-Sun.

Owner Dentist

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Your hometown owned and operated dental office!

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500 Brookstone Centre Pkwy, Bldg 300 • 706-322-6551 78

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Libations

by Pat Daniel

Wine & Cheese: The Easiest Entertaining Trick

W

hen you’re trying to streamline a dinner or party you’re planning, an appetizer with cheese can be a godsend. Almost everyone loves cheese.

It’s a wonderful appetizer in so many forms and often is chosen because it is simply easy.

All you need to do is unwrap it, and put it on a cheese board with crackers. You then have a first course you can check off your list. It is very easy…or is it? While it is true that cheese does pair well with wine, not all wines pair well with all cheeses. Some basic knowledge will help you make these pairings so much more enjoyable.

White Wine & Cheese

Here are some classic pairings of white wine and cheese: sauvignon blanc, this includes Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume’, and goat cheese (aged or fresh.) The acidity in the wine brings out the fresh taste of the cheese and diminishes the tart, tangy flavor. Chardonnay pairs exquisitely with Brie as it does with any food with a rich buttery taste and texture. Crisp, fruity whites from Alsace or the Savoie region of France are a perfect match for fondue.

For egg dishes that contain cheese, such as a quiche or an omelet, an unoaked chardonnay or pinot blanc pair extremely well. Pinot grigio and other dry Italian and Spanish white wines pair well with salads and antipasto with cheese. German rieslings and dry wines from Alsace are good substitutes for sauvignon blanc with goat cheese or feta. Sheep’s milk cheeses, such as manchego, are delightful with the Southern French blends of roussanne, marsanne and viognier.

Avoid serving white wine with blue cheeses and aged cheeses, such as romano and parmigiano­reggiano.

On a side note, when serving white wines, all should be chilled before serving, but unoaked whites such as sauvignon blanc, riesling and pinot grigio should be served very cold. Heavily oaked chardonnays and more full-bodied whites,

such as a French white Burgundy, are best served after being chilled for approximately half an hour. Over chilling these wines diminishes their more nuanced flavors.

Rosé & Cheese

Rosé wine pairs much the same as most white wines with cheese. Dry, light rosés from Provence, other southern regions in France and from northern Spain pair with provolone, havarti and mozzarella. More fullbodied rosés made from malbec, cabernet and syrah pair with the same cheeses as light red wines.

Red Wine & Cheese

Be very careful serving red wine with cheese! If you choose the wrong one, the flavors are horrible together. On the other hand, with the right cheese, the flavors will surprise you. Shavings of parmigianoreggiano with a good cabernet sauvignon or merlot is a sublime pairing. Other classic pairings include asiago, pecorino, aged Gouda and aged Monterey jack with cabernet sauvignon, merlot or cabernet franc. Red wines also pair well with sheep’s milk cheeses, milder cheddars and provolone picante. Other red wines that pair well with these cheeses are aged tempranillo-based reds, such as Rioja Reserva, grenache-based reds such as a Spanish garnacha or a Rhone blend, and a fruity red, such as a carmenere or a Chilean merlot or pinot noir. Red wine is easier to serve with cooked cheese dishes if the dish includes some red wine friendly ingredients such as beef, lamb or mushrooms. Avoid serving red wine with exceedingly pungent cheeses such as gorgonzola and Roquefort.

The exception to this rule is that a cabernet sauvignon is wonderful with a steak or burger topped with melted blue cheese.

Champagne & Cheese

Do not be afraid to serve Champagne

with cheese. The bubbles and acidity in Champagne pair beautifully with foods with high fat content such as triple-creme Brie or a Brie with truffles. The “umami” flavor of the truffles are perfect with the biscuit flavor in a vintage Champagne. Other cheeses that pair nicely with Champagne are fresh goat’s milk cheese, edam from Holland and chaource from Champagne.

Sweet Wine & Cheese

Sweet wines are marvelous with cheese and are often served with a cheese course after a main course. Sauternes are beautiful with almost any cheese. Avoid serving fresh goats’ milk cheeses and delicately flavored cheeses with sweet wines. Blue cheeses such as stilton, fourme d’ ambert, Gorgonzola or Roquefort are phenomenal with port, but are also lovely with other sweet red wines such as Banyuls or Maury.

Cheese pairings are like everything else having to do with wine, it is all a matter of chaste and personal preference. Try some of these combinations that are new to you and decide which ones are your favorites!

Remember to drink what you love with the foods you love.

————————————————————— Pat Daniel is the owner of Uptown Wine & Spirits in Uptown Columbus.

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FOOD & DRINK GUIDE

UPTOWN VIETNAM CUISINE

Our authentic, traditional Vietnamese dishes are both delicious and healthy and feature fresh ingredients and a variety of flavorful spices.

Dine-in, carry-out and party trays available, and a 10% military discount.

UptownVietnamCuisine.com M-F 10:30AM-3PM & 5-9PM, Sa 11AM-9PM, Closed Sunday 1250 Broadway, 706.576.9922

FOUNTAIN CITY COFFEE

M-Th 11AM-9PM, F-Sa 11AM-10PM, Su 11AM-9PM 6100 Veterans Pkwy. • 706.322.4602

COUNTRY’S BARBECUE

If you’re in the mood for anything from drip coffee to an iced Libbarace, come to Fountain City Coffee to support some locally roasted excellence.

FountainCityCoffee.com

Real barbecue slow cooked over hickory and oak. Casual dress, takeout, catering, kids’ menu, three Columbus locations.

CountrysBarbecue.com

M-F 7AM-7PM, Sa-Su 8AM-7PM 1007 Broadway, 706.494.6659

Open 7 days a week 11AM-10PM The Original: 3137 Mercury Dr., 706.563.7604 Country’s on Broad: 1329 Broadway, 706.596.8910 Country’s North: 6298 Veterans Pkwy., 706.660.1415

RUTH ANN’S RESTAURANT

WASABI JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE & SUSHI BAR

W-Su 6:30AM-2PM 940 Veterans Pkwy., 706.221.2154

Su-Th 11AM-9PM, F-Sa 11AM-10PM 1080 Manchester Expy. • 706.642.0888

A Columbus tradition for families, friends and great food. Ruth Ann’s offers authentic Southern style lunches, and breakfast is served all day.

RuthAnnsRestaurant.com

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MELLOW MUSHROOM

The combination of a great menu, hand-tossed dough, fresh ingredients and friendly service makes Mellow Mushroom a must when you have a taste for pizza. Come for a family-friendly dinner or join your friends in our comfortable neighborhood bar.

MellowMushroom.com

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Traditional Japanese cuisine with hibachi grill tops and fresh sushi.

Come and try our flavorful and fresh ingredients.

WasabiJapaneseColumbus.kwickmenu.com

BIG MAMA VIETNAM KITCHEN

Big Mama’s is proud to serve you fresh, homemade food made with local ingredients that you are sure to love. Our specialty involves healthy cuisine with plenty of fresh vegetables and a variety of flavorful spices.

BigMamaVietnamKitchen.com Tu-F 11AM-3PM, 5PM-9PM, Sa-Su 11AM-9PM, Closed Monday 5300 Sidney Simons Blvd., Unit 14

SPEAKEASY

A local favorite sering great, homemade food and drinks in a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. Home of the Camel Rider.

SpeakeasyColumbus.com Su-Th 11AM-8PM, F-Sa 11AM-9PM 3132 Mercury Dr., 706.561.0411

SPOTLIGHT YOUR BUSINESS HERE! Does your place serve up a signature dish or cocktail? Maybe a break time smoothie or coffee?

Show the Chattahoochee Valley what you offer!

Contact Becky Kenimer at 706-289-8338 or Margie Richardson at 706-575-7825 to be included in our next issue.

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Conversations on the Couch

by Campbell Baker

with Brooke Neville EXECUTIVE DIREC TOR , STEEPLECHASE AT CALL AWAY

Neville has built a reputation for strong leadership and a passion for serving her community. From being the executive director of the Wynn House, to her current position, each step has prepared her for new opportunities and challenges. She has hit the ground running at her current role working to foster community partnerships and continue the tradition of excellence of Steeplechase at Callaway.

How did you find your way to Columbus?

My husband moved here a few years ago for a job at Fort Benning, and I immediately got a job as the executive director of the Wynn House. I was doing all of their nonprofit, taking other nonprofit efforts, wedding planning, organizing luncheons and baby showers. I started with Steeplechase last year in March, so this is my second year. I was learning the ropes last year, and hopefully, we’re improving this year.

it. I’m just focusing on improving. It’s been great because it was honestly a very big challenge at first. It’s funny because the executive committee that hired me knew I actually had never even been to Steeplechase before. They also knew I was not a horse person, but I have become one now. After over a year in this role, I have a much better grasp of what’s been happening on-site for the last 40 years—it’s more than just hearing about it, I’ve actually seen how the community comes together. Now that I fully understand how everything fits together, I’m focused on making our operations more efficient and ensuring our volunteers stay excited about coming back year after year.

Anne Smith. Once that person is chosen, they shadow the current race director and begin thinking about their vision for the event, including who their artist will be. The artist selection is really based on the race director’s personal taste, relationships and the overall feeling they want the event to have. It comes down to their vision. This year, she chose Austin Williams because his work aligned perfectly. She wanted a more equestrian-inspired theme.

Every year, the artwork reflects the race director’s personal style and the overall atmosphere they want to create.

That same vision carries into the event décor, especially inside the Guarantor Tent, where guests can really see the theme come to life.

bar and a large TV showing college football right near the Kids Corral—a great reminder that this event is open to everyone!

What would you tell people to expect from this event if they’ve never been before?

I would say, wake up on race day— November 7th, throw your crew in the car(even in your pajamas), What is Steeplechase at and come out. The gates open at Callaway?

9 a.m. If you are a planner, you Steeplechase at Callaway is a truly can buy your tickets anytime at unique experience. Held annually in SteeplechaseatCallaway.com. If not, November in Pine Mountain, there is When you’re talking about challenges, you can still buy tickets on race day no other steeplechase event like it in making sure the community on-site, and still have an incredible Georgia. It combines the excitement recognizes that this is an event for experience. You can choose where of a horse race with Southern our beneficiaries is important. We’re you want to be, whether that’s the traditions, similar in spirit to the doing great things like supporting The Reserve Rail or a Terrace Box, and Kentucky Derby, but with the added Springer and campers at their academy What can guests expect spend the day exploring everything from the overall experience? the event has to offer. You can plan impact of being a nonprofit event and helping to bring national touring where proceeds support important shows to the RiverCenter. That’s what Of course, we’re here for the main your day, find your favorite spots community arts organizations. buying a ticket means. You’re getting a event—racing, but it truly is an event for and start thinking ahead for the Since 1985, we’ve donated over $4.4 great day with your family and friends all ages. Guests will have access to our 2027 Steeplechase. million. Our six beneficiaries include while benefitting the community. new Pinnacle Pavilion, which features the Columbus Museum, Columbus a cash bar, the silent auction, vendors, There will also be a silent auction, so What are the raffle prizes bring extra money to support that.

Symphony Orchestra, RiverCenter and our Steeplechase store offering this year?

The event schedule will be available for the Performing Arts, Springer souvenirs only available on race day! online, and we encourage everyone We have three prize tiers this year, Opera House, Historic Columbus and What are some of the to support our local and regional which we’ve never had. There’s a Callaway Gardens. vendors, artists and partners who biggest improvements this $5000 cash prize for first place, Our patrons get a full day with will be there showcasing their work. year? beneficiary basket for second place, friends, family or coworkers while There are going to be some really with each beneficiary donating a One of the biggest improvements is supporting organizations that matter exciting items that people will enjoy. great gift towards this basket, and a what happens between races. Last year, to the community. Once someone Steeplechase 2026 custom scarf and At the end of the day, while there feedback noted there wasn’t enough attends, they usually understand frame art from Austin Williams, our is so much to see and do, the happening during the 45-minute gaps, why people keep coming back. It’s race artist for third place. Every year true stars of the show are the so we’re restructuring the schedule. a unique experience that combines the race director chooses the race thoroughbred horses. Nothing Guests can watch activities on the competition, hospitality, tradition and artist that dictates the campaign of compares to the feeling of seeing Jumbotron—including the hat contest community impact. the year. We’re excited about this new those incredible athletes run right and a few surprises I’m not ready to change for the raffle.

What have been your in front of you. If you’ve never reveal just yet! We’ve also looked at biggest challenges, or the experienced it, it’s truly a bucket-list ways to make the infield experience What goes into finding a most rewarding things that race director and choosing moment. The sound, the excitement, better for families by adding the the crowd cheering and then have come out of this year Infield Family Package, which includes the official art? hearing the bugler call them to the leading up to Steeplechase?

2 tickets and 2 Kids Corral passes Each year, the race director is selected start. That’s the show. We’re there (remember, kids 12 and under are free!).

I think having the first year under by the Steeplechase Executive for the horses, and a good time with my belt and not trying to learn all of Committee. This year’s director is Leigh Plus, the Infield Pavilion will feature a our community.

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CO LU M B U S A N DT H E VA L L E Y.CO M

Get Involved with Keep Columbus Beautiful Commission!

KCBC MAYOR’S GOLF TOURNAMENT September 25

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Bull Creek Golf Course

Join us as we celebrate the 32nd Annual Help the Hooch Cleanup, one of the Chattahoochee Valley’s largest environmental stewardship events. Volunteer to remove litter and debris from local roadways, parks, neighborhoods, schools, businesses, and waterways.

Friday, VOLUNTEER October 2 FREE!

School & Campus Cleanup

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WATERSHED FESTIVAL

October 3 11 AM - 2 PM Synovus Park

Saturday October 3

VOLUNTEER

Tri Community Cleanup & Watershed Festival

This fun-filled event is open to the public and recognizes our incredible volunteers.

Live Entertainment • Community Vendors Children’s Activities • Food & Refreshments Environmental Education • Giveaways

Also bring your gently used shoes to donate HAZARDOUS HOUSEHOLD to our 2026 KCBC Shoe Recycle Campaign!

WASTE RECYCLE EVENT Safely and conveniently dispose of approved hazardous items, including: October 10 • Paints

8 AM - 12 PM Recycling Center 8001 Pine Grove Way

• Pesticides • Motor Oil • Computers • Light bulbs

For more information about these events and other KCBC programs, email kcbc1987@columbusga.org, call us at 706-225-4008, visit our website, or follow us on social media for the latest event updates, volunteer opportunities, and sponsorship information.

• Car Batteries • Automotive fluids • Cleaning Products • Other miscellaneous household materials

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