S
trength upport uccess
A 2021 publication of the Cordele Dispatch
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Cordele
CRISP COUNTY SCHOOLS
Learning Today…Graduating Future Leaders Tomorrow
CRISP COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL
Cordele
PLAN YOUR LAKESIDE GETAWAY TO
Lake Blackshear Resort & Golf Club
From family summer vacations to romantic weekend escapes, Lake Blackshear Resort & Golf Club is the perfect location of your next lakeside getaway. Seasonal packages available online to help
you maximize your stay.
Visit www.lakeblackshearresort.com or call (229) 276-1004 to book your next trip.
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trength upport uccess
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Here are the stories of some of our home owned businesses Pages 6-7
Cape Insurance
10-11
GTC Studio
14-15
Evans Outdoors
18-19
Wells Hardware
22-23
Akin Insurance
26-27
Ellis Bros. Pecans
28-29
Mike Fraser’s Auto Repair
32-33
Forbes Drugs
36-37
Frazier & Son Funeral Home
40-41
Mashburn & Fitzgerald
42-43
Coes Funeral Home
46-47
Stripling’s
The contents of this magazine brought to you by:
CORDELE DISPATCH PUBLISHER: CHRISTINE LEWIS MANAGING EDITOR: NEIL MCGAHEE ADVERTISING CONSULTANT: VALORIE BUNDRICK GENERAL ASSISGNMENT REPORTER: GABE JORDAN
DOWNTOWN BUSINESS ORGANIZATION
Cordele
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CORDELE MAIN STREET CORDELE, GA 229-276-2902 Monica Mitchell, Dir. TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
1329 E. Union St. • P.O. Box 455 Vienna, GA 31092 229.268.4812 capeinsuranceservices@gmail.com
Even the biggest goals start with simple steps COUNTRY Financial® helps you take simple steps today with personalized insurance and financial services that can have a big impact on your family’s future. When you’re ready to start, we’re ready to help.
Catheri CATHERINE WHIDDON CATHERINE WHIDDON Agent
FinancialFinancial Representative Representative 701 Stewart 701 Stewart Ave, PO Ave, Box 528 701 Stewart PO Box 528 Cordele, Ge Cordele,Cordele, GA 31015GA 31015 catherine.w catherine.whiddon@countryfinancial.com catherine.whiddon@countryfinancial.com
(229)273-7 (229)273-7669 (229)273-7669
#TakeSimpleSteps
0817-501HC-18278-1/16/2018
6 6 C o rCdoerldee l e
CAPE INSURANCE By Neil B. McGahee Managing Editor
hirty years ago, Sandra and Ronnie Cape opened Cape Insurance Company in Vienna. “I had been in the insurance business,” said co-owner Sandra Cape. “So I could write nearly every kind of insurance policy there is auto, life, home, commercial, all property and casualty and home, crop, everything but health, we don’t touch health. Health is just too much trouble. “We are an independent agency so we can shop for the best policies with the best prices. There’s no such thing as cheap insurance, so we take care of our customers. We get the most coverage at the best price”, said Cape. Cape also said the company writes a lot of crop insurance policies, which protects farmers against the loss of crops as a result of extreme weather, like floods, hail or drought, or the loss of revenue due to fluctuation in the agricultural commodity market. Under the terms of the policy, the farmer agrees to insure all eligible acreage of a crop planted in a particular county. This choice is made county-by-county and crop-by-crop. T
The insurance provider agrees to indemnify or protect the insured farmer against losses that occur during the crop year. In most cases, the insurance company covers a loss of yield exceeding a deductible amount. “It’s based on the yield and price”, Cape said. “Say a farmer has an 800-pound yield. You have to choose a level of coverage and say he chose 70-percent coverage, and then he has a 560-pound guarantee. At 70 percent, he would have been paid $392 an acre.” Cape said a long time ago they insured lots of tobacco until it fell into disfavor. Now she thinks that medical grade Cannabis may be the next hot crop. After more than 40 years in the business, Cape said she sometimes thinks of retirement. “I say I’m going to back off, I’m going to back off and let Paige and Tracy run the place,” she said. “They are wonderful, actually everyone is wonderful. But then I think, I love coming to work because I love seeing everyone.”
C oCrodredl e l 7 e 7
Left to Right: Sandra Cape, Ronnie Cape, Casey M. Chancy, Tracy Chancy, Paige Taunton
88 CCoorrddeellee
we give you peace of mind, which gives us peace of mind. simple human sense
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AMERICUS CAMPUS
900 South GA Tech Pkwy Americus, Georgia 31709
809-B East 11th Avenue Cordele, GA 31015 Ph 229-273-4536 Fax 229-273-6354
Community College in Georgia 2020 & 2021 Survey by niche.com
Two Years in a Row!
CRISP COUNTY CENTER 402 North Midway Road Cordele, Georgia 31015
www.southgatech.edu 800.928.0283
APPLY ONLINE TODAY As set forth in its student catalog, South Georgia Technical College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, gender, religion, disability, age, political affiliation or belief, genetic information, veteran status, or citizenship status (except in those special circumstances permitted or mandated by law). The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Title IX Coordinator, Eulish Kinchens, 229.931.2249 or ekinchens@southgatech.edu; or the Section 504/ADA Coordinator, Jennifer Robinson, 229.931.2595 or jennifer.robinson@southgatech.edu.
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Cordele
GTC STUDIO & HEALTH FOOD CENTER
by Neil B. McGahee
A boy, maybe 7 years old just couldn’t quit talking as Master Arthur Jackson instructed another in the martial art of Tae Kwon Do. Jackson quickly banished him from the Dojang. Jackson insists on discipline and the resulting punishment can be swift. “Discipline teaches you to make better choices,” Jackson said. “Without discipline, martial arts is just a waste of time.” Arthur Jackson, a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, has taught, by his reckoning, “thousands of students,” at his school at 107 W. 11th Ave. “I got interested in it when my dad, a military man, was stationed at a base in Nebraska,” he said. “They had a martial arts club and I began studying it. After my father retired and moved back to Albany, I found Master Young Sil Seo and studied under him until I won my black belt.” Jackson opened a school in Cordele in 1978 at several locations, including the old Suwanee Hotel until the hotel was sold and he moved to its present location on 11th Avenue. “Cordele was quite different then,” he said. “It was a vibrant downtown back then.”
In 42 years of teaching Tae Kwon Do, he has seen some familiar faces. “I’m in my third generation of families, fathers, sons and a grandson,” he said. “The majority attain the green or blue belt, then the hard work comes. Jackson said his youngest student was 4 years old and his oldest was 65 when she started. “She made it to the red belt — that’s one away from a black belt — but she had to stop due to health reasons.” He said. Jackson also teaches tai chi, which helps older students deal with breathing and balance. “Martial arts is not a toy, he said. “It requires discipline, concentration and respect, and with this pandemic going on, we have to instill resilience.” Jackson said some kids come in just wanting to hurt someone. “You let them know that by using martial arts you can seriously hurt someone,” he said.“With Tae Kwon Do, you are either in or out. You can’t be in the middle of the road and you can’t be too far on the side of the road. “You are either gonna do it the right way
Cordele
or the wrong way. It’s a choice. If you hurt a person a conscience. teach them better choices through discipline. Jackson said he didn’t really advise clients about healthy foods or additives, but in some cases he makes an exception. “If a kid with ADHD signs up for classes, I try to talk to mom and ask her not to feed them
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sugar,” he said.” They will come in here bouncing off the walls, and what can you do? “Nothing.” The martial arts gives a person a feeling of inner peace.,”Jackson said. “You walk in these doors and you can pretty much leave the world outside.”
Tae Kwon Do black belt Arthur Jackson has taught the martial art to children as young as four.
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Crisp Academy
get ready for the big leagues ƒ
“Home of the Wildcats”
A faith based nondenominational, collegeprep independent day school serving K-3-12 grade students from Crisp, Dooly, Sumter, Turner, Worth and Wilcox Counties. Emphasis on Christian values taught through Bible instruction, daily devotions, prayer and Pledge of Allegiance.
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38 C-E FS 40
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PROTECH SECURITY GROUP On Alert(229) 276-1222 1234 Washington Street GA SecurityCordele, Somersville Heights 000-000-0000 protechinc@bellsouth.net www.namewebsite.com Solutions Contact Cary Purvis
229-273-1692
“We Service What We Sell” •991 Hwy 280 West • Cordele All prices are DSRP at participating dealers while supplies last. †The actual listed guide bar length may vary from the effective cutting length based on which powerhead it is installed on. Check out these reviews and others on the product pages at STIHLdealers.com. ©2021 STIHL
Mike Fraser’s Auto Repair Then
C o r d e l e 13 C o r d e l e 13
Now
Established 1980
Mike and Renee Fraser are the owners of Mike Fraser’s Auto Repair. The family business is now located at 1204 South 7th Street in Cordele where it moved in October of 2010. Early in the 1980’s, Mike and Renee Fraser had a service station on 7th Street North. Later they moved into the old Benson Buick place. Realizing they needed more space, they moved to the 9th Avenue location (shown above). Then in October of 2010 the old Rooney Bowen Chevrolet building became available and the Fraser’s moved there with more space and better ability to meet their customers’ needs. Mike Fraser’s Auto Repair specializes in oil changes, tune-ups, starters, alternators, engine, trasmission, and all minor and major mechanical repairs. They have a 24 hour wrecker service and the capability to tow light, medium and heavy duty vehicles. They also do tires and front end alignments. They have a computer available so that they can analyze problems of the newer cars they ser-vice and repair. Mike Fraser’s Auto Repair is now celebrating 40 years in business.
Call 273-6098 6RXWK WK 6WUHHW ¬&RUGHOH *$ +RXU 7RZLQJ
21. CENTURY 21 Marlene Kimball
Smith Branch & Pope
Call Marlene at 229-938-4727 or visit www.nest2rest.com
315 W. 12th Ave. • Cordele, GA 229-273-2500 www.harrisequip.com
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EVANS OUTDOORS Gabe Jordan Dispatch Reporter In July of last year, at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, a third generation quietly took ownership of Evans Outdoors, a popular family businesses in Cordele. Doug Evans took over the business in the early 80s after his father, Lewis, stepped down for health reasons. Lewis Evans acquired the business when it was located in a Quonset hut on North 7th Street. Now, Doug’s nephew Wes Jenkins – Lewis’ grandson – owns and operates Evans Outdoors, and he credits his grandfather and uncle with instilling the values of hard work and customer service in him and setting the company on track for its longterm success. Jenkins says he has only one regret. “COVID kept us from having any kind of retirement celebration for Doug, and I hated that, because he deserves the recognition,” Jenkins said. Jenkins explained that Doug’s vision and strong work ethic grew the business from a modest dealer and servicer of lawn equipment and chainsaws into a popular retail destination for fishermen, hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts. And Jenkins hopes to emulate his uncle’s approach to business. “Doug has always been a mentor to me,” Jenkins said. “He’s been very good to me, and I’m very grateful he had the insight to expand the business the way he has.”
Jenkins’ grandfather also made a mark on the second-generation and now third-generation of owners. “Granddaddy was very active in his grandchildren’s lives, and he was a good businessman,” Jenkins said. “You could see a lot of him in Doug, and both of them taught me that as long as you tell the truth and do what you say you’re going to do, then you’ll never have to look back.” The first two generations of Evans Outdoors owners also taught Jenkins the value of customer service. “We’ve always tried to have customer service at the heart of our business,” Jenkins said, “and no matter what we do in the future we’re going to always have customer service at the top of the list.” Jenkins’ grandfather and uncle began teaching him those values when he was just a boy. Jenkins began working at the Quonset hut location at around age 10. He swept the floors, cleaned the bathrooms, and fetched and put away tools. He also learned how good service leads to good sales, too. Jenkins said when he was 14 years old or so, he was given an older bike that was in disrepair. He cleaned and serviced the bike and got it into good working order. “I sold that bike to a logger’s son for $15,” Jenkins said with a laugh. “That was a pretty big sale for me.” Now Jenkins is running the entire business, and he’s ready to take the next step in Evans Outdoors’ evolution.
Cordele
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Company founder Lewis Evans (left) poses with his wife Jean at a sales event in the 1980s. Evans was a popular dealer of Snapper lawn and garden equipment when the company was located at its original home on N. 7th St. He passed away in 2008; his wife passed away in 2016.
Doug Evans poses with his wife Jane during the 1998 grand opening of Evans Outdoors’ current location at 991 U.S. 280, just across the highway from Norbord. Doug expanded the business’ retail line substantially without sacrificing customer service.
Third-generation owner Wes Jenkins stands behind a workbench at Evans Outdoors’ location on U.S. 280 across from Norbord. Jenkins began helping out at the original location on N. 7th St. at around age 10. He swept up, fetched and put away tools, and cleaned the bathrooms.
The original location of Evans Outdoors was this Quonset hut located at 612 N. 7th St. just north of the Crisp County Courthouse. Lewis Evans bought the business from H. Ross Rogers in 1964, rechristened it Evans Power Equipment, and the history of what is now known as Evans Outdoors began.
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Cordele
ARABI PEANUT COMPANY
Arabi, GA 229.271.2719
Cordele Housing Authority Sunset Homes before
Sunset Homes after
“We provide affordable housing for low income and physically challenged individuals.” 401 S.10th St. • Cordele 229-273-3938
SAY WHEN.
Ready to grow? We’re here. Your business is a crucial part of the local economy, which we are constantly working hard to help strengthen. From start up expenses to expansion costs, at Colony Bank our team of commercial lenders have the experience and savvy to offer real value to your business. We pride ourselves in being more than just your banker. We are your partner. When you’re ready... just say when. We will be right here with you.
Member FDIC |
1031 E. 24th Ave | Cordele 229.271.2100 colony.bank
Equal Housing Lender
Cordele
17
Your Community-Owned Electric Utility is at Your Service Main Office
Engineering & Operations
202 S. 7th St.
1611 N. 2nd St.
273-3811
273-3811
Generating Plant
Customer Service
273-3811
273-3811
961 Power Dam Rd.
Billing Info.
Crisp County Power Commission John Pridgen, Chairman Ray Hughes, Vice Chairman Russell Slade, Commissioner James R. “Dickie” Dowdy, III, Commissioner Sam Farrow, Jr. Commissioner Larry Felton, Commissioner Mark Crenshaw, Commissioner James Nance, Commissioner Alissa Wilkerson, Commissioner Michael Ivey, General Manager
202 South 7th Street, Cordele, GA 31015 Trouble / Outages (229)273-3811
John Wiggins, City Commission Chairman Royce Reeves • Wesley Rainey Vesta Beal Shephard • Jeanie Bartee Roland McCarthy, City Manager
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Cordele
WELLS HARDWARE & SUPPLY By Neil B. McGahee Managing Editor
T
he first thing you notice when entering Wells Hardware is the smell, the sweet duskiness of old hardwood floors mingled with that of new tools and implements that can’t be found in the big-box stores. Charles A. “Chip” Wells Jr., a fourth generation family member operates the historic store. “Alexander Dan Wells, IV, was born in Crawford County in 1846 and later moved to Montezuma,” he said. “In the late 1890s, in search of a prosperous future, he moved his family to Dooly County and bought farm land in the Drayton community.”
Wells also went into business with the Hutchison Lumber and Supply Company headquartered in Cordele on present-day Wall Street. In the 1920’s, he established Wells Hardware Company. It was operated by his sons, Willie and A.S. Wells, Jr. In 1924, Alexander was forced to retire due to ill health and advancing years and he and his son, A.S. Wells, Jr. relocated to Wells Plantation and operated a general store, a sawmill and a cotton gin. “When my dad Charles Wells, Sr. came back from the war, he helped my grandfather run the gin and the sawmill and the farm in Drayton. The hardware store was sort of a continuation of the commissary at the farm where the
sharecroppers would come and get their goods for the season and split the proceeds at the end of the year. At some point my grandfather moved back to town and my dad helped him run the store. Then my dad got a small business loan and bought out my grandfather.” Wells said he joined the family business after graduating from the University of Georgia. But he will probably be the last family member to own the store. “I have two daughters and neither one wants to take over the business,” he said. “I told our team that we will keep going as long as they want to.”
Cordele
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Wells grandfather A.J.Wells, Sr. and his great uncle Willie Wells worked in the store in 1906.
Chip Wells is the fourth generation to run the hardware store
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Cordele
Call 229-276-2286 now for an appointment!
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Robert Bartosh, MD Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon
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Cordele
El Girasol MEXICAN RESTAURANT
HOURS: Monday-Thursday 11am to 9pm Friday & Saturday 11am to 10pm
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Putting you first made us #1. Making you our #1 priority is what’s made State Farm® #1* in auto insurance. I’m here to listen to your needs and to help life go right. CALL ME TODAY. *Based on written premium as reported by SNL Financial 2014.
102 E. 14th Ave Cordele • 229.271.0193
Mike Browning, Agent 719 E 16th Avenue Cordele, GA 31015 Bus: 229-273-4453 www.mikebrowning.com State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company State Farm Indemnity Company Bloomington, IL 1601916
State Farm County Mutual Insurance Company of Texas Dallas, TX
Mike Fraser’s Auto Repair Then
Now
Established 1980
FRESHEN UP FOR SPRING!
Mike and Renee Fraser are the owners of Mike Fraser’s Auto Repair. The family business is now located at 1204 South 7th Street in Cordele where it moved in October of 2010. Early in the 1980’s, Mike and Renee Fraser had a service station on 7th Street North. Later they moved into the old Benson Buick place. Realizing they needed more space, they moved to the 9th Avenue location (shown above). Then in October of 2010 the old Rooney Bowen Chevrolet BOTOX • PHOTOREJUVENATION building became available and the Fraser’s moved there with more space and LASER • FILLERS • JEUVEAU betterHAIR abilityREMOVAL to meet their customers’ needs. PCAMike SKINCARE • CHEMICAL PEELS specializes • HCG Fraser’s Auto Repair in oil changes, tune-ups, DERMAPLANING • MICRONEEDLING starters, alternators, engine, trasmission, and all minor and major LIPOTROPIC INJECTIONS mechanical repairs. They have a 24 hour wrecker service and the capability to tow light, medium and heavy duty vehicles. They also do tires and front end alignments. They have a computer available so that they can analyze problems of the newer cars they ser-vice and repair. Mike Fraser’s Auto Repair is now celebrating 40 years in about business. Call today to learn more our services and let us customize a plan for you!
Call 273-6098
1329 5th Street, EXT. - Cordele 229-273-9050 6RXWK WK 6WUHHW ¬&RUGHOH *$ • www.CrispRegional.org
+RXU 7RZLQJ
Marcy Christmas, FNP-BC, Carmen Sims
GOOD NEWS EDITION
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Cordele
AKIN INSURANCE AGENCY By Neil B. McGahee Managing Editor The spreading Live Oak tree has adorned the window at the corner of Union Street and Third Avenue in Vienna since 1954, when Edith Akin founded the Akin Insurance agency. “That was three generations ago,” said Shan Akin, Edith’s grandson. “She started the company in 1954 and her son, my dad, Shannon joined in 1964, then bought it from her in 1967. He has been pretty much retired for the last 10 years.” But there almost wasn’t a third generation. “I came in in 1991 and stayed until 1993,” he said. “It wasn’t what I wanted to do. I didn’t want to be in an office. I farmed about 3,500 acres of cotton, peanuts and soybeans. Then I came back to the company in November 2008.” Looking back, he thinks that he probably was groomed for the job since he was a child. “I wanted to farm,” he said. “I just wasn’t cut out for that type of work then. I wanted to be outside. This type of work demands that you pay a lot of attention to details and you need to focus and that was hard for me at that age. ”
But dad had other ideas. “Look, you need to come back to the agency,” he told me. “I’m semi-retired and I don’t want to get back in the day-to-day, so you need to come back or I need to sell it.” The third generation came back to the fold and has been there ever since. Akin isn’t so sure about the fourth generation’s future with the business. “You know, that’s hard for me to answer,” he said. “I want my daughters to go off and see the world and if after they do that, they decide they want to come back, that’s one thing, but I don’t want to put expectations on them that they’re supposed to do that.” Of course, running a small-town agency has its own set of demands as well as rewards. “The State Farms and Farm Bureaus and Cotton States are captives and represent that particular company,” he said. “We have contracts with a lot of different carriers so that gives us an advantage to shop around for the best insurance for our clients.”
CORDELE
Shan Akin came into the family insurance business after first trying farming
We want to hear from you! Cordele dispatCh Catch a huge fish? Grow a beautiful garden? Take a great local photo? Have an interesting personal story? Who is your local hero? Have an unique talent for the arts? Proud grandparent? Local interest?
Cordele Dispatch
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IES STOR YOUR N TOW YOUR R PAPE EWS N R YOU
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CORDELE
Magazine
Crisp, Dooly, Wilcox Edition
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SH PPER
P.O. Box 1058 • Cordele, GA 31010 • 229-273-2277 • FAX 229-273-0067
Tell us about it! Email: Chris.lewis@cordeledispatch.com Or stop by the office: 306 West 13th Avenue Monday-Friday 8am-5pm (229)273-2277
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Cordele
DAN ADAMS FLOOR COVERING Sales & Installation Carpet, Vinyl, Hardwood, VC Tile, Ceramic, Carpet Cleaning, Wood Floor Refinishing, Bathroom Remodeling SHOP AT HOME! 229-273-8027 229-322-9192 Cell Call for appointment
5075 Hawpond Road Ashburn, GA 229.273.1887
www.calhounproduce.com
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1411 E. Union Vienna, GA 229-268-2311
1121 Borum St. Unadilla, GA 478-627-3094
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CORDELE CONCRETE City of Vienna 229.268.4744 | Vienna, Georgia 31092 Recognized as “City of Excellence” from Georgia Trend Magazine and the Georgia Municipal Association
131 W. 9TH AVE CORDELE, GA 229-273-1361
Cordele
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LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED Let us handle all of your Home Pest Control Needs
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When right away is as long as you can wait!
Culpepper Wade Oil Inc. 415 W. 6th Ave • Cordele • 273-2177
Denise Silcox, Realtor 229-322-3005
People you Trust . . . Service you deserve!
FRAZIER & SON FUNERAL HOME &5(0$7,21 6(59,&(6
106 N. 7th St., Suite K, Cordele, GA (229) 276-2466
Serving families for half a century
Perfection in Every Cut! Grinder’s Meat Company
1016 Fourth Ave. Rochelle • 365-2226
Free Estimates Licensed & Insured Since 1991 Insurance Claims Welcome
401 S. Pecan St Coredele
229-513-2205 1159 US Hwy. 280 W., Cordele, GA 31015, 229-273-4111
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Cordele
ELLIS BROTHERS PECANS On any given day, the store is packed with cars from every state and some countries. Customers stand in sometimes, long lines to bring Ellis Brothers Pecans have been a Dooly County home pecans prepared in every conceivable way. institution since 1944 when Randy Ellis left “Today we pack and ship year round,” Ellis Crisp County and moved to Dooly. said. “Orders come from all 50 states but the Soon those ubiquitous signs proclaiming bulk of our orders come from the northeast them “crazy for selling this cheap,” lined the highways drawing Florida-bound Yankee tour- and the Great Lakes area. We sell a little more than a million pounds just in the retail store. ists by the car loads. ”By far, the favorite is the Desirable.” But pecans weren’t the only reason the In 2010, China started buying and busielder Ellis came to Dooly. “Our grandfather was a row crop farmer,” ness really took off. “That paved the way for our kids to join Keith Ellis said. “When he bought this farm, the business,” he said. there were pecan trees already on it. When Unlike many small businesses, there is a my father, Elliot, came back to the farm from Madison, Ga. He had more interest in pecans. long line of Ellis’ offspring waiting their turn “He actually built the store and started the to follow in the footsteps of their parents and retail end of the business. That was when Ellis grandparents. “All of us have worked in the business,” he Bros. Pecans evolved. People said no one would drive a mile off I-75 to buy something, but they said. “We worked in it as it developed. We were Ellis brothers working in Ellis Brothers. were wrong.” “Now they all start working the register The company started doing business in a in the retail shop when they are teenagers, so small house. they can get an early start in the business.” “At first, we weren’t growing enough for what the needs were, so we had to go out and buy local pecans,” By Neil McGahee Managing Editor
Cordele
Ellis family, front row (l-r) Lucille, Kate Jones, Stephen, back row (l-r) Slade, Brad, Keith Ellis.
The quirky signs help lure customers, although the store is a mile off the interstate
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Neil McGahee / Cordele Dispatch
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Cordele
MIKE FRASER’S AUTO REPAIR “You don’t have nearly as many problems with engines and transmissions,” he said. A lot of that is because they have slowed the rpm’s down.” Mike Fraser says he only knows two things Fraser said he averages about 25-30 about cars — “mechanickin”and towin’ — and customers a week. the two have served him well. Fraser met his wife, Renee, when they “In 1970s I worked for Benson Buick,” he were still in high school and working at Bee said. “It was up in the middle of downtown where the television station is now. I left Ben- Lees, a roadside store similar to Stuckey’s. They have celebrated 48 anniversaries together. son in 1979 and I opened up where Master Fraser said the biggest change in the auto Transmission is now. I ended up going back to Benson but it was sold to the Hurts. We worked repair business is computers and electronics. “It happened so fast that many mechanon Opals, Buicks, GMC trucks and American ics were caught unprepared,” he said. “You Motors products. have to stay up with the latest programming or Then in 2010 he and his wife, Renee, you will fall behind real fast. The mechanical bought the building that had housed Rooney Bowen’s Chevrolet dealership. He handles the parts of the engine and transmission haven’t changed that much, but to work on cars today, repairs while she handles the books. you have to be a combination of a mechanic “Mechanickin,” seems to come naturally. When he was 7-years-old, he could be found in and an electrical engineer.” “People ask me when I’m going to retire, his back yard taking a lawn mower apart and but as long as my health is good, I plan to keep putting it back together. “Pretty soon, I was repairing all the neigh- on.” bor’s lawn mowers,” he said. Fraser said his most common repairs are regular maintenance and mechanical problems like water pump, brakes and starters. by Neil B. McGahee Managing Editor
Cordele
Mike and Renee Fraser have been in their current place of business since 2010.
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Hughes & Wright Funeral Home
GOOD LUCK TEAMS AND COACHES 1010 East 8th Avenue Cordele, GA 229.273.0012 www.hughesandwright.com
Rick Weidner, DVM VETERINARY CLINIC
Quality care that’s affordable since 1976
104 E. 23rd Ave. • Cordele • 273-1392
MIDDLE GEORGIA EMC
P.O. Box 190 | Vienna, Ga 229-268-2671
REALTY COMPANY Serving Southwest Georgia for over 70 years! 807 E 16th Ave. Cordele, GA 31015
PAVO
ENTERPRISES, INC. Custom Golf Carts & Electric Vehicles
1218 Hwy. 280 West • Cordele, GA BUDDY LEWIS • 229-271-9181
229-273-4132 www.nationalrealty-cordele.com
NORTHERN HEIGHTS BAPTIST CHURCH
1102 EAST 8TH AVE. CORDELE, GA 229-273-1544 Rev. Max Rodgers, Pastor
Come Worship with Us!
Cordele
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Call for an Appointment Today
Exceptional Care CLOSE TO HOME
Vince Culpepper, MD, FACS Board Certified General Surgery
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At Crisp Regional, advancing medicine to better serve you is at the heart of our general surgery services. We offer trusted, advanced and effective treatment options in a large variety of surgery needs for children and adults. SPECIALIZING IN ROBOTIC SURGERY WITH THE DA VINCI SURGICAL SYSTEM 1329 N. 5th St. Ext., Cordele • 229-273-9050 • www.CrispRegional.org
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Cordele
FORBES DRUGS By Neil B. McGahee Managing Editor Four generations of the Forbes family have filled prescriptions in Vienna. But the fourth may be the last. Dr. Joseph Forbes moved from Washington County to Dooly County in 1861 and started a medical practice. Around 1890, his son, Beauregard Franklin “Beaurie” Forbes opened an apothecary on the square in Vienna where it is still located. Since then, four generations of his family has taken the helm of Forbes Drug Store. It’s not the store it was in its heyday, the 1950s and 1960s. The front half is a relic from days gone by; dusty racks filled with equally dusty greeting cards and over the counter items like Geritol and Carter’s Little Liver Pills. The white marble soda fountain and lunch counter and the little iron tables and chairs are long gone. Even if you know what a “welfare” is — hint: think Cherry Coke — you would be hard pressed to find anyone who could mix one. After Beaurie Forbes passed away, his son Joseph Forbes and his daughter Alice Forbes took over and owned it until 1986 when his son Franklin Forbes Morgan, Sr, and his sons
Frank Jr. and Steve Morgan bought it. “We bought the store from Alice Forbes in 1986,” Frank said. “It has been good to all of us. Just about every member — at least eight — of the Forbes family is a pharmacist and except for one miscreant that went to Mercer, all graduated from the University of Georgia’s pharmacy school. “There’s a joke in the pharmacy school,” Steve said. “That says we were among the few families that could have a family reunion and a drug convention at the same time.” But Frank Jr. and Steve are both in their 60’s and the realization that a Forbes may not own the store after their retirement is a sobering thought. “Some days I wish it [retirement] had happened yesterday,” Frank said wistfully. “And other days I don’t really know when I want to quit. “We don’t anticipate that any of our children will be coming back to Vienna, so I guess at some point it will be put up for sale.” By the way, a “Welfare” was a Coca-Cola with a squirt of cherry or vanilla flavoring. It got its name from employees of the “Welfare Office,” who stopped to take a break.
Cordele
Brothers Steve and Frank Morgan are the fourth generation of the Forbes family to own the drug store.
Joe Forbes owned the store until he retired in 1986
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Neil McGahee / Cordele Dispatch
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Thank you to everyone at Crisp Regional Hospital for your sacrifice, hard work and dedication over the past year!
You are all
HEROES!
FACES OF COVID HEROES!
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TAE KWON DO
Resilience and mental well being a must for the new norm!
SIGN UP TODAY! Arthur Jackson, Master Instructor GTC Studio Center
107 W. 11th Avenue • 229-273-5671
L&W Bonding Company 1207 S. 7th St.• P.O. Box 712 Cordele, GA 31010
Lois W. Sims (1923-2017) William F. Sims (1919-2009) Cary Purvis Jeffrey Hunt
Day or Night 229-273-1965 Fax 229-273-5900
Termites Mosquitoes Fire Ants & More
1027 Old Hatley Road Cordele, GA
229-273-1310
www.NationalTermiteOnline.com Brake Rotors • Drums • Heads • Blocks Manifolds Hoses • Engines
“Starters and Alternators for Anything that Cranks”
PEI AUTOMOTIVE MACHINE SHOP
1218 Hwy. 280 W. • Cordele, GA 31015 BUDDY LEWIS “Where Quality Comes First” 229.271.9181 • Fax: 229.271.9164
PITTS GIN, LLP
PHILLIPS APPLIANCE Great Brands, Low Prices, Nice Folks™
409 S. Pecan St / Cordele, GA / 229-273-3057 phillipsappliancecordele.com Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8:30am-6:00pm, Sat. 9:00am-3:00pm
P.O. Box 219 • Pitts, GA 229-648-6312 pittsgin@gmail.com
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FRAZIER & SON FUNERAL HOME
by Neil B. McGahee Managing Editor
draped casket and descended down a long, red ramp to a limousine,” he said. “The Georgia State Patrol, the Patriot Guard Riders, and the rest of the procession escorted Corporal Sutton down Interstate Highway 75 then turned onto U.S. Highway 280, for the final leg to Rochelle. “When we got to Dooly County, the overpasses were filled with people,” he said. “From the Dooly line and along 280, all the way to Rochelle, people came to honor his return.” As the casket arrived at Frazier and Son, a bagpiper played “Amazing Grace” was played then again as Sutton was escorted to his final resting place at Morningside Cemetery . “It was such an honor for us to be entrusted to bring Corporal Sutton back to his final resting place.,” Frazier said. “There was an option for him to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery, but the family, knowing the strong hope of his mother that he return home, made the decision to bring him back home.” Frazier said he is nearing what would be retirement age for most folks, but he isn’t ready to stop working just yet. Till then, Dale and Patricia Frazier will be there when Wilcox needs them.
Frazier Funeral Home in Rochelle has occupied more than a spot at Hill Street and Fourth Ave.; It occupies part of the community’s soul. “The business was begun in 1930 as Dorsey Funeral Home,” said current owner Dale Frazier. “And Jimmy Jamerson bought it in 1957, then my daddy bought it in 1967.” Originally from Rome, Ga., Frazier moved to Rochelle in 1967 to work with his father at the funeral home. It is a family affair with Frazier handling the mortuary side and his wife, Patricia taking care of the business end. Frazier said they handle about 80 funerals a year but when asked if any one service was really memorable, he is quick to answer “We handled the return and burial of Cpl. Leroy Sutton,” he said. “He was listed as missing in action in the Korean War and in 2017, his remains were found.” Frazier said he was waiting at HartsfieldJackson International Airport as the plane carrying Cpl. Sutton’s remains landed. “Members of the Georgia Army National Guard serving as pallbearers carried the flag- .
Cordele
The business was begun in 1930 as Dorsey Funeral Home.
Dale and Patricia Frazier have owned the funeral home since 1967.
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40 C o r d e l e WE’RE HERE WHEN YOU NEED US!
Rainey Family Funeral Services, Inc. 1415 E. 24th Ave. • Cordele (229)273-2231
Hospice Care Providing compassionate and dignified end-of-life care, comfort and support to patients and their families. Available today to provide you with help to cope and find comfort at this difficult time. We are available 24 hours a day. While we accept all types of insurance, Reflections provides quality Hospice Care regardless of ability to pay.
Rainey Family Funeral Services, formerly Dekle Funeral Home, was founded in 1889 in the rear of the Dekle Hardware Company at the corner of 12th Ave., and 7th St. by the late George L. Dekle and R.L. Dekle. The funeral home was later moved to 205 E. 12th Ave. After the death of R.L. Dekle, J.D. Rainey, Sr. and T.L. Croft assumed ownership in 1953 and built a new building at the corner of nd 3rd St. and 17th Ave. t In 1964, J.D. (Jimmy) Rainey, Jr., joined the business and in 1966, J.D. Rainey, Sr. acquired 66, sole . ownership. In 1992, J.D. Rainey, Sr. semi-retired y and passed ownership along to his son Jimmy. Wesley Rainey, Jimmy’s son, joined the company in the year 2000 making him the 205 E. 12th Ave. location third generation funeral director in the family. At present, J.D. Rainey, Jr., Wesley Rainey, and Anthony Blanchard are full time licensed funeral directors and embalmers. In October of 2002, the business changed its name to Rainey Family Funeral Services, Inc. and moved to its present location at 1415 E. 24th Ave. We are proud to be a full service, family-owned funeral home and proud to have been in operation for over 100 years. We will continue to serve our community with dignity and respect.
GA LIC# 040-063-H
Since 1889
Glen Eagle Healthcare & Rehab
206 Main Street East Abbeville, GA 31001
Now Accepting Referrals! Call us today at (229) 635-4085! Fax: (229) 635-4086
We accept: Medicare, Manage Care, Medicaid, Private Pay Find us on Facebook to see what our community is all about!
Cordele
Small Businesses make a BIG Investment in WIlcox County Schools Wilcox County School System wants to thank small businesses in our county and in surrounding counties for their endless support of our schools. Local businesses support our schools in numerous ways. •Thank you for making sure our kids have a sponsor for their sports teams, FFA, 4-H, Beta Club, Patriots for Christ Club, and other events. •Thank you for the donations to our PASS program and Family Engagement events. •Thank you for always buying items from our fundraisers. •Thank you for providing your delicious food items, professional services, or unique gift ideas to celebrate our staff and students. •Thank you for purchasing advertisements for yearbook and athletic programs. •Thank you for employing members of our community, including our work based learning students. •Thank you for allowing us an opportunity to shop and dine close to home. •Thank you for the money you contribute to our tax base. There are so many things our small business partners provide to our school system and to our community at large. Wilcox County Schools loves our small business partners! THANK YOU for your continued support and remember to shop local.
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Cordele
MASHBURN & FITZGERALD housewares were on one side of the store and hardware was on the other. In the middle of the store they ran their own bank. Upstairs The elegant old brick building towers over the small Georgia town of Rochelle. Built in were furniture and coffins.” 1890 by Samuel Fitzgerald and Henry MashYou heard it right, coffins. burn, the general store is now in the hands of “Well, things were different back then,” Brown said. “You couldn’t just hop in your car Fitzgerald’s’ great grandson, Royal Brown. and drive to the nearest store.” “My granddad, Henry Fitzgerald took it over from Samuel, his dad, then my mother, “Back then they sold firearms and amBetty Brown ran it up until I took over,” Royal munition too,” he said. “ We don’t sell guns anymore and very little ammunition. Like I Brown said. “Four generations of my family said, they sold a little bit of everything.” has owned it at one time or another.” Brown said he remembers playing in the In the store’s infancy, another Rochelle man, Henry Mashburn partnered with Fitzger- store as his mother worked. “There were all kinds of things for a ald in an 1890s version of a WalMart Superlittle kid to play with,” he said. “My mother, center. “It was a true general store,” Brown said. she’s now 100 years old, worked here regu“They sold just about everything. Clothes and larly until she retired a few years ago.” By Neil B. McGahee
Cordele
Once the store had its own bank. The barred area now houses the business office.
The Mashburn & Fitzgerald store dominates the town of Rochelle.
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COES FUNERAL HOME ence. When I am working on something, ʻI can hear his voice saying do this or do that. “We have really been blessed to have a faithful staff. Some of them have been here In 1983, Alvie Coes Jr, was working for a since it was established. We have about 7 to10 funeral home in Jeffersonville, Ga. when he volunteers — some are members of our famdecided it was time to come home to Dooly ily.” County. Coes III and Alvita credit their success to He bought a building that, depending on their parents who taught them to watch spendwho you ask, was either an old bar or a baring very carefully, while caring for the family beque place situated on U.S. Highway 41 in Unadilla and founded Coes Funeral Home. His that has entrusted the care of their loved one son, Alvie Coes III, earned a degree in Mortu- on their final journey. “We know our responsibility to our comary Science from Ogeechee Technical College munity,” Alvita said. “The passing of a loved and joined his dad in the funeral business. one marks one of the greatest losses a person Some folks are surprised to learn that can experience. Coes III and his sister, Alvita must work sec“We try to take a friendly and personal ond jobs to stay afloat. Coes III is the dean of approach for our clients. Some people want a Engineering and Industrtial Technologies at Piedmont Technical College in Greenwood, S.C. traditional service and others want individual and Alvita teaches American Government and things like having the hearse drive past that person’s favorite place one final time. History at Dooly County High School. Whatever they want, we try to make it “We did roughly 75-80 services last year,” Alvie said. “Usually we average 50 or 60 ser- happen.” vices a year. We had more this year due to the COVID pandemic. “We’re just continuing our parent’s dream,” sister said. “I often feel their presBy Neil B. McGahee Managing Editor
Cordele
Alvie Coes III and his sister Alvita own Alvie Coes Funeral Home in Unadilla.
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City of Unadilla MAYOR:
Myron Mixon
MAYOR PRO TEM: Meredith Lester
COUNCILMEN:
Tyrone Adkinson, Dexter Whittaker, Lurry Brown, Chester Thomas and Justin Bridges
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ii:� 7� 1(/o,zU 7� (3hu4t!
You Are Invited to Worship with Us! Sunday Worship- times 9:30am & 11:00am Wednesday Evening Bible Study-7:00 p.m. Plus Many More Special Events! Follow Us on Facebook! @PeniaBaptistchurch Penia Baptist Church, 3738 Old Penia Road Cordele, Ga. 31015. Ph. (229) 273-5146
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Complete Accounting Services & Tax Return Preparation Peggie Morris, Owner
702 Stewart Avenue • Cordele
229.273.4964
• Commercial • Industrial • • Residential •
David Wildes Office: 229-276-0185
Electrical Contracting and Maintenance Licensed GA Non-Restricted #EN211460
Handling all your automobile needs Under New Ownership
Chris Jackson
600 West Union Street • Vienna
229.268.5061
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STRIPLING’S GENERAL STORE much pride in the company and our employees. I know where we’ve come from and what we’ve accomplished, and it’s been astounding.” Stripling’s started off as a small sausage James Stripling probably never thought that kitchen in the early 20th century in Warwick, his sausage recipe would become a brand-name treat that’s renowned not just in the Crisp County Ga., just a few miles into Worth County on what area, but across the entire state of Georgia. is now Hwy. 300. James formally incorporated the business in 1964, and the company has blosBut Stripling’s 57-year-old recipe is just that, somed into a popular grocery and general store and the company James officially founded in with three locations, including two in Crisp County, 1964 has since grown into a favorite destinaowned by James’ nephew Ricky Hardin, who is tion for local shoppers and tourists alike. His great-niece, Ashley Hardin Goss, says it’s not just also Goss’ father. Two other locations are owned because of the foundation laid by her great-uncle by franchisees, and a third franchisee recently James, but also because of the hard work of Strip- broke ground on a location in Tifton. The company also runs a USDA-certified hog slaughterhouse ling’s many loyal employees over the years. “I don’t think he had any idea that his sausage in Moultrie. recipe would be so popular,” Goss said. “I have so Goss says the company prides itself on practicing what she calls “the lost art of sausage making.” Like James did so many decades ago, Stripling’s continues to use whole-hog meat – not scraps like national processors often use – fresh from the slaughterhouse. “We want people to know that we still do everything the same way, even as we’ve gone from five employees to 200 in all locations,” Goss said. “We have James Stripling and customers at the orginal location of Stripling’s employees who have been working Gabe Jordan Dispatch Reporter
Cordele
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Front of their Hwy. 300 location in Cordele.
for us for 30 years and they’ve been an integral part of our success and we’ll never take that for granted.” Now Stripling’s is known for far more than its sausage. Walk into any Stripling’s location, and you’ll get the feeling of walking into a niche boutique that proffers specialty homemade sweets, sauces, and seasonings in addition to household staples and high-quality meats, including their popular ready-to-eat sausage dogs. But Stripling’s evolution from a humble sausage kitchen to a popular franchise took some time. The first step was moving from the sausage kitchen near Warwick to a location inside Crisp County on Hwy. 300. Perhaps the most recognizJames Stripling able milestone was when the company began branding itself with the now-well known slogan, “You never sausage a place.” Goss said a family to get his royalty check,” Goss chuckled. In 1996 the business opened its second location, friend came up with idea in the 1990s. “He still teases us and asks when he’s going also in Crisp County on U.S. 280 across from
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Cordele
STRIPLINGS GENERAL STORE
Ashley Hardin Goss and Lindsay Hardin Land in front of their lemonade stand.
Ricky Hardin and his dad Jack Hardin.
Georgia Veterans State Park’s main entrance. The family acquired the USDA plant in Moultrie in 2005 and began a mail-order business. That same year they moved the location on Hwy. 300 into a new facility a few yards up the road. Three years later, Stripling’s stepped into the world of franchising. Goss said it took two years of work with a law firm that specializes in developing a privately owned business into a franchise opportunity for other investors and entrepreneurs. In the meantime, the family opened a location in Bogart, Ga., which Goss said is popular with UGA fans traveling to nearby Athens. Stripling’s first franchise location opened in Perry in 2018. Shortly afterward, a franchisee in Brunswick
began working on building a Stripling’s location. The grand opening for the Brunswick store is just a few days away. In March, the company’s third franchise location broke ground in Tifton. That facility will be built on U.S. 41 near I-75, Hwy. 82, and Hwy. 319 – a central location that will serve both neighbors and travelers. The business’ growth has made Stripling’s a household name in Cordele, so much so that James Stripling’s family should consider changing the company’s slogan to, “You never sausage a success story.”
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Piggly Wiggly of Vienna Hours: Mon-Sat 7:30am-7:00pm Sunday 7:30am - 6:00 pm 207 3rd Street • Vienna 229-268-2911
WCSB
Wilcox County State Bank Irwin County State Bank Milan State Bank Abbeville Rochelle
Ocilla
New Home Construction, Interior & Exterior Painting Roofs (Metal & Shingle), Room Additions, Storage Buildings, Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeling, Hardwood & Ceramic Floors, All Types of Remodeling Virgil Schofill • Licensed & Insured Christian Owned Business
257 Smokehouse Road, Cordele
229-273-5291 or 229-322-5675
Celebrating 50 years! Walls Factory Outlet 3730 Hwy. 280 E. • Cordele • 273-5299 (I-75, Exit 101 • 4 miles East on Highway 280)
Milan
(229)467-2511 (229)365-2285 (229)468-5104 (229)362-4545
www.WilcoxCountyStateBank.com
Mon.-Sat. 9am-6pm; Closed Sunday
Leading the way outdoors!
For all your buying and selling needs!
Rhonda Arnett Realtor
Mobile: 229.406-3985 rhondaarnett@gmail.com
Century 21 Smith Branch & Pope
Men's, Ladies Childrens
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Mission Statement: The Cordele-Crisp Chamber of Commerce is here to: Promote and support our member businesses, strengthen the community through tourism development, and enhance the quality of life for all our citizens.
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Bojangles Crisp Regional Pharmacy Crisp County Middle School Ellianos Coffee
• • • •
Helena Industries Love’s Travel Center New Welcome Signs Railway Park & Train Viewing Platform … and more
Crisp Harvest Festival—over 1000 in attendance • Hot Air Balloon Events Dark Forest Haunted Trail— over 1500 • Softball Tournaments Christmas In Crisp—over 300 in attendance • Fishing Tournaments Christmas in the Pines— over 1500 in attendance Crisp Motorsports Park GA Spring Nationals — over 3,000 in attendance— 100 racing teams
• • • • •
• • • • • •
• • • • •
City/County Map Chamber Smart Program Leadership Crisp Sponsored Leadership Crisp Promoted the Farmers Market through Save the Market Campaign Continued to support the ag community, including Farmers Market, Watermelon Days Festival, and Georgia Grown
Anti-litter task force Clean Cordele Business—Recognizing a clean business monthly Contracted with local Chamber member to pick up litter on all streets in the City Educating the community Partnered with City, County & Waste Management to provide dumpsters
