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PUBLISHER’S THOUGHTS
Women of Influence Issue
PUBLISHER
Jan Southern Jan@JDelSURMarketing.com 912-318-8645
CLIENT SERVICES
Christie Wilson, Director of Advertising Christie@JDelSURMarketing.com
Kelsey Harrison, Account Executive Kelsey@JDelSURMarketing.com
OFFICE MANAGER
Chris Antonio
DESIGN
Laura Zielinski
DISTRIBUTION
Penny Redmond
Effingham Magazine is proudly produced by:
135 Goshen Rd Ext., Suite 251, Rincon, GA 31326 (912) 295-5406 EffinghamMagazine.com
J. DelSUR Marketing Group is the publisher of Effingham Magazine, Pooler Magazine and Bryan County Magazine in South Georgia. We are a full service marketing agency with products that include print, digital and social media marketing.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Write and tell us what you think. Effingham Magazine welcomes all letters to the editor. Please send letters to Jan Southern at Jan@JDelSURMarketing.com. Letters to the editor must have a phone number and name of contact. Phone numbers will not be published.
ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS
Effingham Magazine welcomes story ideas from our readers. If you have a story idea or photos to share, please submit ideas and material to Jan Southern at Jan@JDelSURMarketing.com. Stories or ideas for stories must be submitted by email. Only feature stories and photo essays about people, places or things in the Effingham area will be considered.
CIRCULATION: Effingham Magazine is published bi-monthly and distributed to hundreds of locations throughout the area, as well as mailed to thousands of homes. The full magazine is available online at EffinghamMagazine.com. Views expressed in editorial or advertising do not imply endorsement by J. DelSUR Marketing Group.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any manner without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited.
Being the publisher of Effingham Magazine has been a great joy over the years. One of my favorite parts is how we celebrate the heroes of everyday life; veterans, volunteers, artists, business owners, and more. I especially love our Women of Influence issues because women are the quiet (okay, sometimes loud) heroes of everyday life.
This issue of Effingham Magazine is dedicated to the women in our community who are doing remarkable things. They are leading, building, serving, creating, mentoring, nurturing, and showing up with courage in spaces where it isn’t always easy to stand.
You will read about women who were nominated by friends, colleagues, clients, and family members, women whose lives are impacting others in ways both visible and unseen. Their photos and words of encouragement are reminders that influence is not reserved for a select few. It belongs to women who choose excellence in the everyday.
Our cover story represents the pinnacle of what it means to be a woman of influence. Alisha Esselstein is one of those quiet heroes who has risen through the ranks of her industry, all while serving others.
We also hear again from Alycia Calderin in her column, Mom-ing Unfiltered, “What I’d Tell New Moms (That Nobody Told Me).” This column offers a different kind of leadership, one rooted in honesty. She writes to the exhausted, overwhelmed, unseen mother and reminds her: “You’re not failing. You’re becoming someone new.”
As you turn these pages, my hope is that you don’t simply admire these women. I hope you recognize yourself.
Whether you are building a business, raising children, serving in uniform, volunteering quietly, or leading in ways no one else sees, you are shaping this community. You are setting expectations for the next generation. You are expanding what is possible.
And that matters.
To every woman in our community, thank you for making our community stronger, wiser, kinder, and braver.
CEO/Publisher Effingham Magazine
Jan Southern
If you only met Alisha Esselstein in a courtroom, you might think you have her figured out. Confident. Direct. Unflinching. The kind of attorney who knows her file inside and out and doesn’t waste words.
But outside the courtroom, the powerhouse family law attorney is equally at ease swapping travel stories, planning ski trips, heading to a metal festival, or wrangling four children under the age of eight. And somewhere between rural Wisconsin and constitutional reform in Sri Lanka, Alisha built a life defined by adaptability, advocacy, and an unwavering belief that no one— especially children—should feel boxed in.
“I’m not so scary once you get to know me,” she said with a laugh. “I have a very stereotypical lawyer personality on the front, and so I think people are a little intimidated to approach me. You’ll realize right away I’m not that intimidating once I’m outside of the courtroom. I’m very approachable and very relaxed.”
Relaxed, perhaps. Ordinary? Not even close.
From a town of 800 to the world
Alisha grew up in southwest Wisconsin in a place so small she describes it simply: “It’s literally a village.”
About an hour south of Madison, her hometown had a population of roughly 800 people.
“The cows literally outnumber the people,” she says.
In communities like that, expectations often follow a predictable path: grow up, stay close, build a life much like the one you’ve always known. But she knew early on that her life would look different.
“That’s great for people who want to do that, but for me, I want to be able to see and experience new things,” she said.
She did far more than see them—she immersed herself in them. Over the years, Esselstein has lived in Kenya, Mexico, Sri Lanka, and London. She once spoke Swahili. She studied human rights at one of London’s top universities. She has litigated at a national level overseas and helped advocate for constitutional reforms in a country recovering from decades of civil war.
And, she has been chased by a rhino.
The Rhino, the Riot, and the Moving Train
Some people collect souvenirs. Alisha collects stories.
In Kenya, while on safari—not in a zoo, but on open terrain—a driver ventured too close to a rhino.
“The rhino started chasing directly at us,” she said. “We had to drive as fast as we could or we were going to get hit, which often means you get rolled over in your vehicle.”
In another moment abroad, she found herself halted in traffic during a political riot.
In Sri Lanka, she jumped onto a moving train—because that’s simply how you board when the cars are packed and the train doesn’t stop long.
Those experiences—along with navigating cultures, languages, and political landscapes— shaped her into someone remarkably adaptable.
“I can walk into really any situation, carry a conversation, do wild and crazy things,” she said. “I can walk into rural Georgia and have no problem, or into any other population town. All these different experiences mean I’m really adaptable to any challenges that come my way.”
That adaptability would serve her well when she returned to the United States and eventually settled in Georgia.
A decade in nonprofit and human rights work
Esselstein attended law school from 2015 to 2018, but her path to family law wasn’t linear.
In law school, she worked with human rights organizations in Sri Lanka and New York, focusing on gender-based violence—at a time when the term centered primarily on harms against women.
“At times of crisis and civil war—domestic violence, financial harm, psychological harm—it focused on females in the context of civil war,” she explained.
She spent roughly ten years in the nonprofit sector, including serving as a director at United Way of the Coastal Empire in Savannah.
Eventually, she joined a Savannah law firm specializing in international family law, a niche that dovetailed perfectly with her global background. International family law arises when families cross borders—when one parent is from another country, when relocation is at stake, or when there are fears of international parental kidnapping.
“We need to have a parenting plan that reflects those issues, as well as the Hague Convention,” she said, referring to the international treaty addressing child abduction.
After gaining experience, she realized she could build her own practice. She has been doing so for the past four years.
Finding Her Purpose in Family Law
When Alisha began law school, she didn’t know she would land in family law. But the consistency in her career has always been advocacy.
Today, her practice focuses on divorce, custody, modifications, and adoption. She also partners closely with agencies serving victims of domestic violence and serves as president and board chair of a local victim advocacy organization.
Many of her clients are women navigating some of the most painful chapters of their lives. But her deepest sense of purpose often centers on children.
Although she rarely meets the children involved in her cases, she feels deeply connected to them.
“It’s almost as if I know these children, because I’m advocating so much for their well-being through their custody,” she said. “If children are in unsafe situations, or if this parent is the better-suited parent, I know their upbringing is going to be stronger with that parent.”
Her favorite moments aren’t about dramatic courtroom victories. They’re about courage.
“My favorite cases are when my clients—often women—take the stand and don’t even stutter, aren’t even shaking, and tell their stories in such a brave, strong manner,” she says. “Even though I’m there advocating for them, they are the ones advocating for themselves.”
When she walks out of the courtroom knowing a child is in a safer, more stable environment, that’s when the exhaustion fades.
“At the end of the day, you feel fulfilled when you know you have those clients you feel strongly about and who are successful,” she says. “They can finally move forward with their life.”
The Art of Persuasion—From Sri Lanka to Georgia
One of Alisha’s unusual chapters involved working on constitutional reform in Sri Lanka following a decades-long civil war.
The conflict had left deep scars, including widespread violence against women. Advocates sought to ensure the country’s constitution reflected protections and realities for women in the aftermath.
As an outsider, she faced inherent challenges.
“I wasn’t successful on everything,” she acknowledges. “One, I was an outsider, so people aren’t going to listen to me all the time.”
Still, the skills she honed there mirror what she does daily in Georgia courtrooms.
“It comes down to what we’re taught in law school,” she says. “I tell the story, and I try to tell it in the most persuasive way for my clients.”
Whether advocating for constitutional language or for a mother seeking custody, the foundation is the same: clarity, empathy, and persuasive storytelling grounded in law.
“My favorite cases are when my clients— often women—take the stand and don’t even stutter, aren’t even shaking, and tell their stories in such a brave, strong manner.”
Motherhood and heavy metal festivals
If Alisha’s résumé suggests nonstop intensity, her personal life reveals a different dimension.
She is a mother of four children—ages eight, six, five, and three.
Between litigating cases, running her own firm, serving on a nonprofit board, and raising young children, her life is, in her words, “pretty busy.”
She travels frequently—sometimes overseas, though not yet with all four children.
“When you have four, that gets a little bit more complicated,” she said.
For now, family trips include Disney and mountain getaways. Where they go isn’t what is important—the important part is just to go and discover the world.
“I want to make sure that they know that they are not in a box,” she says of her children. “That they can do anything that they set their minds to.”
Growing up, some of her interests— like studying Swahili—were met with
confusion. People would tell her, “That’s not normal.”
But those “not normal” choices set her apart. “It’s not normal to litigate at a national level in Sri Lanka … for women’s safety,” she says. “But I did it. I was the only one at my law school to do things such as that.”
She wants her children to understand that there is no single prescribed path.
“They don’t have to go to the same university that I go to,” she said. “They don’t need to follow the same career,” she says. “There’s so many different avenues open to them.”
What’s Next?
For someone who has lived on four continents, argued international law, and built her own practice, the obvious question is: what’s next?
“That’s a big question,” she said after a pause. And one she wasn’t quite ready to answer.
From a village of 800 people to the halls of international reform, from safari scares to Georgia courtrooms, Alisha
Esselstein has built a life defined not by geography but by courage—her own and the courage she helps others find.
And if you find her intimidating at first? Give it a moment.
Once you get to know her, you might just discover that behind the formidable attorney is a woman who jumped onto a moving train, got chased by a rhino, and refuses to let anyone—especially a child— believe their world is small. ■
Alisha Esselstein,
Esq. 912-521-8519 | www.EsselsteinLaw.com 105 E. Jefferson St., Suite B, Springfield, GA
Unique gifts from your local pharmacy
Savannah Technical College Names Top 2026 Faculty and Student Leaders
Savannah Technical College (Savannah Tech) has announced its four top honorees for 2026, selecting a slate of student and faculty leaders who represent the highest standard of technical and adult education. The college named Javiera Scott as the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) winner, Stephanie Grant as the Rick Perkins Award (RPA) winner, Abimbola "BeBe" Ojelabi as the EAGLE delegate, and Dr. Cheryl Cale as the Adult Education Teacher of the Year.
These four individuals will represent the college at regional and statewide competitions, advocating for the critical role technical education plays in workforce development and economic mobility in the Coastal Empire.
Javiera Scott, the 2026 GOAL winner, was selected as the Student of the Year for her academic excellence and leadership potential. The GOAL program is the first of its kind in the nation and honors excellence in technical education. Scott will serve as a spokesperson for technical education, sharing her story of how handson training leads to high-demand careers. Stephanie Grant, Department Head and Instructor for Early Childhood Care and Education, was named the 2026 Rick Perkins Award winner. The award recognizes technical college instructors who make significant contributions to technical education through innovation and leadership. Grant will represent Savannah Technical College in the statewide competition for technical instructor of the year.
The college also celebrated excellence within its Adult Education department, which provides vital pathways for students seeking high school equivalency and literacy education.
Abimbola "BeBe" Ojelabi was named the 2026 EAGLE (Exceptional Adult Georgian in Literacy Education) delegate. This program celebrates adult learners who demonstrate superior achievement in adult education classes. Ojelabi was selected for her powerful ability to articulate the impact of literacy education on her life and career goals. She will
now advocate for adult education at the state level, representing the thousands of Georgians who utilize these programs to transform their futures.
Dr. Cheryl Cale was honored as the 2026 Adult Education Teacher of the Year. A 40-year veteran of education, Dr. Cale currently serves as an HSE Instructor and Instructional Lead at the Effingham Campus. Her colleagues selected her for her deep commitment to student success and her expertise in guiding adult learners through the challenges of earning their high school equivalency.
Dr. Cale’s career spans early childhood to higher education administration, bringing a wealth of experience to her classroom where she prepares students for the next step in their careers.
The selection of these four winners underscores Savannah Technical College’s commitment to servant leadership and its 10-Year Master Plan to expand access to workforce training. By honoring achievement at every level—from adult literacy to technical specialization—the college reinforces its mission as the region’s primary pipeline for skilled professionals in industries like healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and logistics.
About Savannah Technical College
A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, Savannah Technical College (Savannah Tech) is the premier provider of career-ready technical education in Coastal Georgia, offering a comprehensive range of nearly 150 market-driven programs, preparing students for highdemand careers including Aviation Technology, Cybersecurity, Health Sciences, Logistics & Supply Chain Management, Automation & Robotics, Information Technology, Culinary Arts, Public Services and more. With campuses in Chatham, Effingham, and Liberty Counties, Savannah Tech serves more than 13,000 credit and non-credit students with a variety of pathways to success, including dual enrollment programs for high school students and specialized support services for military veterans and their families. Beyond academics, Savannah Tech is an economic and community development partner, collaborating with industry leaders to provide customized training programs, assessment services, and continuing education opportunities. For more information, visit www.savannahtech.edu.
ALYCIA CALDERIN ,Coastal Contracting LLC
How long have you been in business? 10 years in business and 20 years in the industry.
What has been the most challenging in running your business? Balancing growth with presence—building and managing multiple businesses while also being deeply involved as a mother and community member.
What has been the most rewarding part of running your business? Creating stability and opportunity for my family while building something that positively impacts others.
What advice would you give other female entrepreneurs? You don’t have to do it perfectly to do it successfully. Build systems, ask for help, trust your instincts, and don’t wait for permission to take up space. Growth comes from consistency, not burnout.
Who are your greatest cheerleaders?
My husband and children, along with the community I serve—clients, readers, families, and fellow small business owners who consistently support and encourage my work.
SUSAN PADGETT, Chop Barbershop
How long have you been in business?
5 Years Owning Chop Pooler, 3 years owning Port Wentworth, 30 years in the industry.
What has been the most challenging in running your business? Finding employees to keep both shops running on a consistent basis.
What has been the most rewarding part of running your business? The relationships I’ve made with customers.
What advice would you give other female entrepreneurs? Doesn’t matter your age or where you are in life, do it! You will be tired, but do it.
Who are your greatest cheerleaders?
My daughter! My family in general, my Mom, Susan, Wife Alli - and my long term employees who have been with me since before Chop days like Joey Dasher!
MALLORY MEADOR, Hidden Gem Beauty Shop
How long have you been in business? One year in business and 3 years in the industry.
What has been the most challenging in running your business? People pleasing
What has been the most rewarding part of running your business? Making women feel beautiful and being their person to talk to.
What advice would you give other female entrepreneurs? Value your people and their time. Make them feel special.
Who are your greatest cheerleaders?
My boyfriend and daughter!
CAROL CIMO, My Saving Grace Boutique
How long have you been in business? 3 years in the business and 3 years in the industry.
What has been the most challenging in running your business? Starting up and building while working full time and juggling daily life and family.
What has been the most rewarding part of running your business? Giving me a sense of power and confidence.
What advice would you give other female entrepreneurs? Your people matter. Listen to them.
Who are your greatest cheerleaders? My husband and Mallory.
WENDY TURNER, GLOW
How long have you been in business? Approximately 20 years in the business and in the industry. What has been the most challenging in running your business? Engaging Volunteers
What has been the most rewarding part of running your business? Watching people realizing there is hope and seeing lives being changed.
What advice would you give other female entrepreneurs? Put others’ needs before your own.
Who are your greatest cheerleaders? The GLOW “family”—the girls and a couple of men—also volunteers—who have followed me and supported me and GLOW from the beginning.
JUSTYNE ALBRIGHT, FCS Equestrian Center
How long have you been in business? 10 years in business and 23 years in the industry.
What has been the most challenging in running your business? Over saturation of competition for clients, Covid-19, cost/inflation increases and lack of workforce.
What has been the most rewarding part of running your business? Watching clients grow and accomplish goals they set for themselves.
What advice would you give other female entrepreneurs? Find a good support system and even when your at your lowest never give up.
Who are your greatest cheerleaders? My husband and students.
CRISTY SEARS, Loaded on Laurel
How long have you been in business? 4 years in the business and 4 years in the industry. What has been the most challenging in running your business? Misperceptions of others.
What has been the most rewarding part of running your business? Helping the community and giving back.
What advice would you give other female entrepreneurs? Find the people who support you and really know you and stay true to yourself. You don’t need to change to be accepted. Just be you.
Who are your greatest cheerleaders? My husband,Gabby, my kids, Apryl, Amber and my loyal customers as well.
ALDEN STRANDBURG, Georgia Hi-Lo Trail & Hi-Lo SORBA
How long have you been in business? 7 years in business and 5 years in the industry.
What has been the most challenging in running your business? Organizing volunteers, staff and events in multiple communities while making sure communication flows to government leaders about our work and getting permissions from each government for our work.
What has been the most rewarding part of running your business? Seeing the positive impact of higher self esteem being made in the life of local kids across Chatham County, Effingham County, Bulloch County & beyond.
What advice would you give other female entrepreneurs? If you see something that needs to be built or changed - you can be the person to make it happen.
Who are your greatest cheerleaders? My family cheers me on along with coworkers and volunteers.
IVY EILERMAN, Owner of
13
Stars/The Railyard, Mortgage Lender/Branch Manager with Assurance Financial
How long have you been in business? 4 years for venue/ 24 years in lending.
What has been the most challenging in running your business? Figuring out how to do it!
What has been the most rewarding part of running your business? Helping people.
What advice would you give other female entrepreneurs? Just go for it!
Who are your greatest cheerleaders? My community!
Reddick & Pollett
Probate
Business
Corporate
Belinda Pollett
BELINDA
POLLET, Attorney at law and Managing
Member
of Belinda Pollett & Associates, LLC dba Reddick & Pollett Attorneys at Law.
How long have you been in business?
In the industry for more than 26 years. Became a practicing attorney in 2017.
What has been the most challenging in running your business? The most challenging part is keeping up with my self care while trying to be the best attorney for my clients.
What has been the most rewarding part of running your business?
The most rewarding part of my journey has been the people who have stepped up and showed up during this time of transition for me. It has been so encouraging to find people in this community who cheered me on without any expectations.
What advice would you give other female entrepreneurs?
My advice to any female entrepreneur would be to see your business as a calling. Remind yourself that you have a lot to give to others. Eventually critics will find someone else to criticize.
Who are your greatest cheerleaders?
My sons, Branden and Dillen Pollett as well as my friends Roni Edenfield, Terri Paulk, Penney Freyermuth Gray, Janet Dasher, Susie Villareal, and Kyshawna Morell and countless others.
REGINA CLONTZ, Effingham YMCA
How long have you been in business? 12 years in the business, 15 years in the industry.
What has been the most challenging in running your business? Learning how to say NO.
What has been the most rewarding part of running your business? Knowing that we are shaping a healthier community.
What advice would you give other female entrepreneurs? Be clear but kind.
Who are your greatest cheerleaders? My daughters.
ASHLEY BOYETTE , Ashley Boyette State Farm
How long have you been in business? 14 years in the business, 20 years in the industry.
What has been the most challenging in running your business?
I think the biggest challenge is finding people who share your vision and passion for what you do.
What has been the most rewarding part of running your business?
I find it very rewarding whenever I can help someone. I love meeting new people and protecting what is important to them and their family.
What advice would you give other female entrepreneurs? Never give up! No matter how many times you fall down, get back up and try again.
Who are your greatest cheerleaders?
My husband, sons, mother and this community.
SARA STEVENS, Gathered Moms Co. (as told by nominator)
How long have you been in business? 1.5 years in the business and in the industry.
What has been the most challenging in running your business? Sara leads a non-profit organization in which she intentionally blends fitness and faith, creating meaningful opportunities for spiritual growth, physical wellness, and genuine connection.
What has been the most rewarding part of running your business? By blending fitness, Bible study, and motherhood-focused gatherings, she helps women strengthen both their bodies and their faith while forming genuine connections.
What advice would you give other female entrepreneurs? They can do anything they put their minds to, and nothing is out of reach!
Who are your greatest cheerleaders? Her greatest cheerleaders are her husband, Tyler, and daughter Waverly, as well as the amazing community of moms around me.
JESSICA HONEYCUTT, Rincon Day Spa
How long have you been in business? 7 years in business and 25 years in the industry
What has been the most challenging in running your business? Marketing
What has been the most rewarding part of running your business? More clientele
What advice would you give other female entrepreneurs? Don’t give up
Who are your greatest cheerleaders?
Rebecka Hess
REBECKA HESS, Local Artist & Innovator - Hustler Entrepreneur
How long have you been in business? 5 years in the business and 20 years in the industry
What has been the most challenging in running your business? Balancing creative hands on production with overwhelming demands of marketing, sales, and places to be.
What has been the most rewarding part of running your business? Seeing the smiles, laughter and pure emotions from clients.
What advice would you give other female entrepreneurs? Start with what you have, and don’t wait for the “perfect” time.
Who are your greatest cheerleaders? My daughter, Kacey.
VERONICA DENISE STANFORD, Alexander Vee Ties and Things
How long have you been in business? 2 years in the business and 2 years in the industry.
What has been the most challenging in running your business? People trying to steal my ideas
What has been the most rewarding part of running your business? To see women wear my ties and feel good about themselves.
What advice would you give other female entrepreneurs? Go after your dream no matter how hard it may seem. God will take you places that you never dreamed that you could be.
Who are your greatest cheerleaders? Myself
YULIANTY KUSUMA, MD, FACP, Internal Medicine of Savannah
How long have you been in business? 13 years in business and 25 years in the industry.
What has been the most challenging in running your business? Navigating the best care for patients through the obstacles of insurance.
What has been the most rewarding part of running your business? Compassion and care for patients.
What advice would you give other female entrepreneurs? Never give up, no matter the obstacles.
Who are your greatest cheerleaders? My patients
“Friends. Sisters. Mothers. Professors. When women affirm women, it unlocks our power. It gives us permission to shine brighter.”
ELAINE WELTEROTH
Author, Journalist, Editor & Television Host
THREE WOMEN, ONE VISION: Reimagining Community Health in Rincon
Story by Gail Parsons | Photography by Leidy
Lester & Thomas Reimer
On any given weekday morning in Rincon, you might find a small group of residents line dancing in a city recreation building, laughing through missteps and learning the rhythm together. On another day, you might see neighbors gathering at a health fair, getting their blood pressure checked, or talking with local providers about nutrition, movement, or mental health. None of it looks flashy. All of it is intentional.
Behind those moments are three women who came to the same conclusion from different paths: if Rincon and Effingham County were going to become healthier, someone had to step forward and make it happen.
Healthy City 360 is the result of that decision. Founded and led by women with decades of combined experience in fitness, nonprofit leadership, and community service, the initiative is entirely volunteer-driven and built on one central belief—that education, access, and engagement can change the trajectory of a community’s health.
Building a citywide vision
For Regina Clontz, Rincon YMCA’s branch director, the idea behind Healthy City 360 began not with a program, but with a conversation.
“Last March, I was in a meeting at city hall with my boss and Mona Underwood,” Regina said. “And we just kind of discussed very briefly the opportunity to kind of reinvent Healthy Savannah, but do it with Rincon.”
That conversation quickly grew into something more intentional. With the YMCA long established in Rincon, Regina saw an opportunity to partner with community leaders.
“It made sense,” she said. “To partner with the city in a way in which allowed people to focus on health and wellness affordably. That was an easy connection for us.”
Regina helped shape Healthy City 360 around research into Blue Zones—regions of the world where people live longer, healthier lives.
“We researched what it meant to be a Blue Zone,” she said. “And our preliminary building blocks are centered around why people live longer in these areas, and what can we do in Rincon to promote a long, healthy life.”
Those principles—fresh food, walkability, daily movement, and community connection—became the framework for Healthy City 360.
A vision rooted in movement and education
Long before Mary Cain moved to Effingham County, Mary had already built and operated gyms across Georgia, guided by a belief that fitness should be about more than workouts.
“I grew up farming,” Mary said. “We always had a garden growing up, so it’s almost been ingrained from birth with me.”
After college, she discovered her passion for health, wellness, and fitness, eventually opening gyms in Macon and Columbus before relocating to Effingham County four years ago. When she and her husband made the move, they closed their Columbus gym and opened Empire Gym in Rincon.
“Every time we would come and visit, there was not a gym that we felt was community focused,” Mary said. “That was focused really on health and wellness of the community, investing in the community, like really being 100 percent about making changes here.”
“We researched what it meant to be a Blue Zone, and our preliminary building blocks are centered around why people live longer in these areas, and what can we do in Rincon to promote a long, healthy life.”
When she was invited to join the early conversations around Healthy City 360, the mission resonated immediately.
“I was over the moon, excited to be part of an organization that focuses on how we can improve this community,” she said.
Her long-term vision is ambitious but clear. “I want us to be in the top 10 healthiest cities in the state of Georgia,” she said. “I want to see our community have access to things that give them opportunities for physical fitness, opportunities for learning how to eat clean, access to clean and healthy, nutritious foods. I want to see our youth involved in it.”
To get there, Mary believes the work starts with education. “Part of our slogan is, ‘educate, empower, engage,’” she said.
Service at the center
Caren Blackwell came to Healthy City 360 with a lifetime of service behind her. With experience spanning more than five decades in teaching, instructing, and personal training, she has worked in YMCA programs, taught senior fitness, spin, yoga, Pilates, and water aerobics, and spent years in dentistry—another avenue, she said, to help people live healthier lives.
“I’ve always been somebody who wanted to help somebody,” Caren said. “It’s in my blood.”
That instinct guided her into the early planning stages of Healthy City 360, which began not in a boardroom, but around a kitchen table.
“We met in my house, and for about two months, we sat around my kitchen table looking at what we could do,” she said. “We came up with Healthy City 360, and we started forming a board.”
One of Caren’s priorities has been making sure cost is never a barrier.
“Everything that we do is free,” she said. “For people that can’t afford to go to the YMCA or Empire Gym, we want to give them opportunities.”
Those opportunities include free line dancing classes, Zumba sessions, walking groups, and plans to expand into pickleball and other low-cost activities that encourage movement and connection.
“Just get people motivated,” Caren said. “That’s always the hardest part.”
Her approach is personal. Much of her volunteer work extends beyond Healthy City 360—supporting Backpack Buddies, church mission programs, and community outreach efforts.
“I enjoy helping people, and it gives me joy when they’re having a good time and losing weight and helping them to have a healthy life,” she said.
Reaching the rest of the community will include bringing programming directly into neighborhoods and public spaces. Free classes at city facilities, movement-based events in parks, and plans for walking groups are designed to remove both financial and psychological barriers.
Another focus has been youth engagement. Mary pointed to efforts to implement school gardens as a way to introduce children to fresh foods early.
“That’ll reach the children that we wouldn’t normally reach at our community events,” she said.
Mental health access remains one of the most complex challenges.
“That’s probably one of our biggest hurdles,” Mary said. “The fitness and the nutrition aspect is going to be easier than really targeting the mental health wellness.”
Caren sees trust as central to that work. Her years of volunteering in churches, schools, and nonprofit spaces have taught her that information alone is not enough.
“A lot of people don’t see it on Facebook,” she said. “I want to start talking to some of the ministers and see if maybe we can go to the different churches and talk to the people and tell them what we’re doing.”
Regina believes those connections are what will ultimately sustain the initiative.
Opportunities include free line dancing classes, Zumba sessions, walking groups, and plans to expand into pickleball and other low-cost activities that encourage movement and connection.
A volunteer-driven effort
What unites Mary, Caren, and Regina is not only experience, but commitment. Healthy City 360 operates entirely through volunteers.
“Everybody that’s on Healthy City 360 is volunteering,” Mary said. “The reason they’re volunteering their time is because we believe in what this is going to offer for our community.”
Regina echoed that reality. “Most of us have full-time jobs,” she said. “This is something that we’re doing on top of already demanding schedules.”
Even the organization’s formal structure came together through persistence and shared belief.
“As of two months ago, we didn’t know where we were going to get the $250 to submit the 501(c)(3) application,” Regina said. “This is on the very ground floor.”
Today, Healthy City 360 has an official board that includes representatives from the city, the hospital system, United Way, county government, and the business community.
Expanding the circle
As Healthy City 360 has taken shape, its leaders have been intentional about reaching beyond the already healthconscious population. The challenge, they acknowledge, is meeting people where they are.
“A lot of the people that come to health fairs are already familiar with health and fitness,” Mary said.
“As we age, we tend to isolate ourselves,” she said. “And that is something that we really, really want to encourage people to come out, be together, and move together.”
Looking ahead
The work is far from finished. Effingham County continues to rank high in rates of diabetes and obesity, challenges the women acknowledge openly.
“Education, education, education,” Mary said. “That’s what it’s going to take.”
Upcoming events include quarterly health-focused gatherings, participation in large community festivals, and expanded movement-based programming designed to reach residents who might never walk into a gym.
For the women behind Healthy City 360, influence is not measured in titles or recognition, but in participation—in neighbors showing up, moving together, and learning together.
“If our community members are healthier,” Mary said, “life is better for everybody.”
For Mary, Caren, and Regina, influence is less about recognition and more about resilience—showing up consistently, building partnerships patiently, and trusting that small changes compound over time. Healthy City 360 may still be in its earliest stages, but its foundation is built on decades of experience, shared values, and an unshakable commitment to community. ■
For the women behind Healthy City 360, influence is not measured in titles or recognition, but in participation—in neighbors showing up, moving together, and learning together.
mom-ing UN FILTERED
Finding Magic in the Madness of Motherhood
What I’d Tell New Moms (That Nobody Told Me)
by Alycia Calderin
If I could sit across from you right now - hair unwashed, coffee gone cold, baby asleep on your chest - I wouldn’t tell you to soak it all in.
I wouldn’t say, “You’ll miss this.”
I wouldn’t tell you that this is the best time of your life.
What I would tell you is this:
You’re not failing. You’re becoming someone new, and that process is disorienting.
No one warned me that motherhood doesn’t arrive gently. It comes in waves, some beautiful, some suffocating, and sometimes all in the same hour. One minute you’re overwhelmed by love, the next you’re crying in the bathroom because you don’t recognize your own reflection anymore.
Both are normal.
I wish someone had told me that loving your baby instantly doesn’t mean loving motherhood instantly. That bond doesn’t cancel out exhaustion, loneliness, or the grief of losing who you used to be. You’re allowed to mourn her—even while holding the greatest thing you’ve ever made.
I wish someone had said that asking for help doesn’t make you weak. It makes you human. That you don’t need to prove you can do it all alone to earn the title “good mom.” Burnout isn’t a badge of honor. It’s a warning sign.
No one prepared me for how invisible moms can feel. How everyone asks about the baby, and no one asks about you. How your needs slip to the bottom of the list so quietly you don’t even notice it happening, until you’re empty.
So I’ll tell you this now: you still matter.
Your body isn’t ruined, it’s recovering. Your mind isn’t broken, it’s overloaded. And your heart isn’t cold, you’re just tired beyond words.
I wish someone had told me that it’s okay if you don’t enjoy every stage. Some seasons are survival. Some are growth. Some are just hard. And none of that makes you ungrateful.
You don’t need to cherish every moment. You just need to get through this one.
And one day, slowly, quietly, you’ll look up and realize you didn’t disappear. You changed. You softened and hardened in different places. You became stronger in ways you never asked for. You became a mother.
Not perfect.
Not glowing.
But real.
And that is more than enough.
All Roads Lead Home
Dr. Lauren Oglesby Finds Reward in
Story by Katrice Williams
Photograph by Thomas Reimer
Dr. Lauren Oglesby opened the doors to her medical practice, Magnolia Primary Care, on February 1, 2025.
“This is my dream. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” she says. For Lauren, it was a dream come true. She is a double board-certified doctor, specializing in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics.
Lauren is Springfield proud; she graduated as the valedictorian from Effingham High School in 2009 after enjoying a successful high school career that included participating in marching band right out on Rebel Field and various other activities. It was also in high school that Lauren began dating Clint Oglesby, whom she would later marry; the couple shares a three-year-old daughter and a four-month-old son.
Lauren had always dreamed of raising a family right in her hometown of Springfield, a community that had long captured her heart. For her, there was no place like home.
The Journey Begins
Following high school, Lauren attended Mercer University where she attained a Bachelor of Science Degree in International Health and Development with a minor in chemistry, graduating summa cum laude. She also earned her Doctor of Medicine there before completing residency through the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) in Memphis, Tennessee.
“I really wanted to be fully trained and be able to handle anything in primary care on my own in rural Georgia. From the very beginning in medical school, it was always going to be primary care, and it was always going to be Internal Medicine and Pediatrics because it was the most training I could get,” she says.
One of Lauren’s biggest inspirations has always been Dr. Joseph Ratchford of Effingham Medical Partners. Dr. Ratchford, a double board-certified specialist in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, was one of few physicians in the county when she was growing up. She feels that he has been a phenomenal mentor for her over the years.
“When I first went to medical school, he and I talked about me coming back to the county. I have a lot of respect for him. He blazed the trail in private practice. I am grateful for his mentorship through the years,” she says.
Home Again
Lauren knew that the county would benefit from having more physicians to help meet growing medical needs.
“We need more doctors in rural Georgia. I always wanted to come back to be a small-town doctor,” she says.
Lauren practiced in South Carolina for a couple of years. Still, she really wanted to come back home to build her own practice and help the people in her hometown. Since opening her practice last year, she has truly enjoyed serving her community.
“It is a blessing to be home. I’m very grateful. I couldn’t have done any of this alone. There are so many people that encouraged me and poured into me. It’s such an honor to now be able to give back to those same people,” she says.
“It is a blessing to be home. I’m very grateful. I couldn’t have done any of this alone. There are so many people that encouraged me and poured into me. It’s such an honor to now be able to give back to those same people.”
She chose to complete her residency in Memphis because it was the most challenging residency she could find and offered her the most optimal level of experience at the time.
Gratitude and Inspiration
Lauren doesn’t feel that she would ever trade her journey, even its many challenges, because it helped her get to the place she is today. She is grateful for all those individuals who were there for her through it all.
“It was a hard journey. Thankfully, I had a lot of good support from friends and family and many, many prayers. My dad always says that he prayed me through,” she says.
Lauren’s parents were always supportive of her ambitions and dreams. She was privileged to participate in mission trips beginning at a young age. She traveled to Peru at age 14; she later traveled to Africa at age 18.
“I saw the medical needs, and I really wanted to help. My parents encouraged me to keep exploring. It gave me confidence and a lot of great life experiences that expanded my horizons,” she says.
Lauren and Clint make up the team at Magnolia Primary Care, a fully private practice. Lauren can have a completely patient-centered focus, something that has always been important to her. Patients enjoy the oneon-one, personal care that is often rare these days.
Transparency and Reachability
“Our biggest mission in our practice is transparency. The medical system has gotten so complex; it’s hard to get straight answers. Everything we do is transparent – our prices, our policies. Our goal is to help you navigate through medical care when you don’t understand your bill, your insurance or you just want someone to help you,” she says.
Lauren wants her patients to know that they can actually reach her, their own doctor, to address their concerns without being lost in the day-to-day activities of a very busy or overextended practice. Patients appreciate that reachability.
Looking Ahead
Lauren is looking forward to the growth of her practice to help meet the medical needs of her community.
“I’m really excited to fill the patient panel, build relationships and see the growth.
Springfield was a wonderful place to grow up – quiet and just good people. I think that is what shaped me. It’s a wonderful feeling to give back to such good people. I’m excited to see where Springfield goes next, and I hope our practice goes with it. It’s so good to be home,” she says. ■
ASHLEY BOYETTE
FILLING UP PEOPLE WITH FOOD & KINDNESS
Food pantry coordinator
has a heart for
serving the less fortunate in Effingham County
Story by Stephen Prudhomme
If it weren’t for her son, Mrs. Bobbie Secich wouldn’t have moved to Effingham County. Tom McQuiston was a member of the Georgia Air National Guard 165th Airlift Wing and encouraged his mother to move to Southeast Georgia and escape the cold Ohio winters.
Not only did she gain more sunshine with the move, but the 80-year-old Guyton resident brightened the lives of countless county residents with a food ministry she heads up through her church.
Secich is the pantry coordinator for the Fillin Station. Operating out of the former Effingham County Middle School cafeteria, the Guyton Christian Church pantry provides food for less fortunate county residents Tuesdays and Thursdays of each week. The ministry relies on donations and the work of 40 volunteers, headed up by another volunteer, Secich.
“We have a lot of seniors and disabled people serving as volunteers,” said Secich, adding the volunteers include a dozen special needs students from Effingham County High School, who learn valuable job skills. “We also have former clients who wanted to give back. They’re all committed. I love that.”
One of those former clients is Robert Bisbee. When he lost his job as a mechanic two weeks before Christmas, the Guyton resident contacted Secich’s church for assistance and had his electric bill paid for two months. A grateful Bisbee asked if he could pay it forward somehow and was referred to the food pantry. He’s served as a volunteer for the past 10 years and marvels at the Secich’s commitment and drive.
“Mrs. Bobbie’s an amazing lady,” said Bisbee, 68. “It’s hard to believe she does it all her age. She does so much for the community that most people don’t realize. She’s a fearless lady who goes beyond the call of duty. She’s not a brow beater, but she’s firm and believes you should do your job if you’re there.”
The ageless and energetic Secich has headed up the pantry for seven years after serving as a volunteer since its inception in 2009. Retired as a bank branch manager in Ohio, Secich answered the call when former pastor David Grandgeorge and other church members started the food pantry at the former Standard Oil filling station in Guyton.
“I heard stories about people doing without,” Secich said. “Our bank in Ohio would adopt families at Christmas. We would adopt up to 15 families a year at our branch. I’ve been blessed and felt it was necessary to help less fortunate people in Effingham County.”
Secich said food and security is a big deal in this country. With the increased cost of living, more people are struggling to meet their basic needs. She noted that Georgia ranks among the top 10 states of people experiencing some lack of food at 14.9 percent.
“I see two to three families in one car due to transportation issues,” Secich said. “I see a lot of single parents. Eighty-six percent of food and insecurity is in the South and rural areas. We fit both parameters. We served 328 children in February. I want to make sure they get food. I don’t want any child to go to bed hungry.”
Other individuals and groups have followed Secich’s example of giving back. She noted how a local man donates 60 dozen eggs every month. “He has that giving spirit,” Secich said. There also are various churches and Boy Scout Troop 295 and Cub Scout Pack 295, with the latter donating 1,400 pounds of food. Last Thanksgiving and Christmas, Ken’s IGA donated over 2,200 pounds of food.
In 2025, according to Secich, the Fullin Station served 256,000 pounds of food to 11,567 individuals representing 4,083 families. In February, it handed out 20,432 pounds of food. Secich said Publix and Food Lion donate food and occasional cases of water, soda and other drinks.
County residents who have been vetted can pick up food once a month by using drive-thru service implemented during the pandemic and receive two bags of canned goods, a bag of meat, a bag of dry goods such as pasta, cereal and beans, and a bonus box featuring fresh fruits and vegetables, boxed cereal, bread, pastries and other available food items. The pantry is affiliated with the USDA and GNAP and purchases a large amount of food at Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia.
“We give out good food,” Secich said. “I won’t hand out anything I wouldn’t eat myself.”
Former Guyton mayor Russ Dean said the Fullin Station is one of his church’s primary ministries. He’s served as a volunteer and credits Secich with setting the tone for the food pantry.
“It’s all about Mrs. Bobbie,” Dean said. “She’s 80 years old and could run any business. I’ve never seen anyone who can raise so much hell. She has unbelievable motivational and organizational skills. It’s unbelievable what she can do at her age. She works 20 hours per week minimum. Really, Mrs. Bobbie should be paid for the amount of work she does.”
Dean describes Secich as a “rough and tumble gal” who expects people to do their part at the food pantry and will call them out if they slack off. “There’s not a meanness to it,” Dean said. “It’s out of love. Mrs. Bobbie sets a wonderful
example. She’s a den mother and someone to talk to. She listens and takes the time.”
Rev. Tyler Barnes has known Secich at Guyton Christian Church for about three years and said by the grace of God she has transformed a “5-gallon bucket and spring weight ministry” into a thriving and healthy service for the country and its residents.
“She brought organization, clarity, administration and savings and fosters a wonderful work environment at the Fillin Station,” said Barnes, the family ministry director at Guyton Christian Church. “This is also a place where community service hours can be served. Having done some myself, I can appreciate the care and compassion that she brings to those who choose to volunteer there. And knowing Mrs. Bobbie, not enough could be said about our volunteers and she would want them to be the feature of this article.”
If it weren’t for her son in the National Guard, Secich said, she wouldn’t have considered moving to Georgia, having lived in Pennsylvania and Ohio her entire life and not considering a relocation to the Southeast. God had other plans for her, however, and he used Secich’s son and the lure of milder winters to bring her to Georgia and Effingham County.
“By the grace of God and humanity I’m healthy,” said Secich, who does all of the food ordering for the pantry. “I enjoy it. It keeps me young serving humanity. It’s my need to serve. We’re all disciples of Christ in the church. We’re all disciples. If they’re hungry, we’ll feed them.”
Secich, who stresses kindness and building memories and friendships, said the pantry is her child. “I’ll do it until I can’t,” Secich said. “I might not be the coordinator, but I’ll do something.”
Woody MacKay attends Guyton Christian Church and serves as Secich’s second in command at the food pantry. He said their families are close. MacKay notes they have a lot of retired seniors working together to make a difference in the community and motivation and cooperation by all makes for a smooth operation. Secich provides that.
“Mrs. Bobbie does an excellent job running the Fillin Station, as we are all volunteers,” MacKay remarked. “She leads by example and does all of the jobs herself at some point.” ■
EFFINGHAM
Rincon First Responders Honored with Life Saving Awards
Keeping with the Irish theme, Effingham County Sheriff’s Office recently had a visit from the Irish Prison Guards1
Sheriff McDuffie officially welcomed and swore in a new Chaplain. Welcome to ECSO, Chaplain Ricky Stille
www.thowardreimer@smugmug.com
Driven by passion and powered by connection, Stella Corradino has carved out a remarkable presence in the automotive industry. With over seven years of experience at J.C. Lewis Ford Lincoln Mazda—and a 25-year history as a loyal customer—her journey is one defined by trust, relationships, and a deep understanding of what truly matters to clients.
“Helping people find the right vehicle isn’t just my job—it’s something I genuinely care about.”
A Relationship-First Approach
Stella’s success stems from her ability to genuinely connect. Fluent in five languages, she creates a seamless and inclusive experience for a diverse range of clients—ensuring every individual feels confident, understood, and valued. Her philosophy goes beyond selling vehicles. She is committed to helping each person find their perfect match, transforming the car-buying process into something exciting, personal, and stress-free.
Leading Through Mentorship
Beyond her work with clients, Stella is deeply invested in the success of those around her. She has trained and mentored colleagues who have gone on to thrive in the industry, fostering a culture of growth, collaboration, and excellence within the dealership.
STELLA CORRADINO
A Perspective That Sets Her Apart
What truly distinguishes Stella is her unique perspective—one shaped by decades of brand loyalty, hands-on experience, and an unwavering passion for helping others. Whether guiding a firsttime buyer or assisting a long-time client, she approaches every interaction with professionalism, care, and purpose.
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