Liberty County Magazine 2018

Liberty County The Power Couple

Brigitte & Jimmy Shanken have quietly helped transform the landscape of Liberty County.

The USO

Strengthening America’s military members through their service to the nation

Jennifer Cardella

The quintessential southern woman & how local connections matter

Yum!

Liberty County has fantastic restaurants to warm your soul with delicious food.

Deborah Robinson A teacher who genuinely loves to educate others and the history behind Dorchester Academy

THE OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PUBLICATION OF LIBERTY COUNTY

Personal. Professional. Proven.

J. Noel Osteen Billy N. Jones Linnie L. Darden, III* L. Kelly Davis Richard E. Braun, Jr. Carl R. Varnedoe Luke R. Moses

Concentrating in personal injury cases including: • 18 Wheeler Wrecks

• Premises Liability

• Car Accidents

• Product Liability

• Wrongful Death

Largest Established Real Estate Practice Serving Liberty County and Surrounding Areas Member GA & CA Bar

206 East Court Street • P.O. Box 800 Hinesville, GA 31310

912-876-0111

608 Oglethorpe Highway Hinesville, GA 31313

912-876-0888

www.jojlaw.com LIBERTY COUNTY MAGAZINE

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Yum!

Liberty County has fantastic restaurants to warm your soul with delicious food.

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The Power Couple

Brigitte & Jimmy Shanken have quietly helped transform the landscape of Liberty County.

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18 About the Cover The cover photo is of Deborah Robinson. Read all about her passion for Dorechester Academy on Page 48.

Photography: Joanna Ng Photography

Jennifer Cardella

The quintessential southern woman & how local connections matter

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The USO

Strengthening America’s military members through their service to the nation

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Deborah Robinson

A teacher who genuinely loves to educate others & the history behind Dorchester Academy

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• WE ARE VERY HONORED TO BE VOTED BEST OF LIBERTY OF 2018 •

Thank You ff

e Privilege to Serve.

Full Service law Firm Handling Matters in: • Medical Malpractice and TORT Claims • Wrongful Death, Serious Personal Injury and Truck Wrecks • Criminal Law - Federal and State, DUIs and Traffic Offenses • Domestic Law - Divorces, Custody, Adoptions and Family Law • Real Estate - Residential and Commercial • Trusts, Estates, Wills, and Probate • Military Law - Court Martials, Article 15 and Administrative Chapter Separations

We greatly appreciate the opportunity to provide legal service to the citizens of Liberty County.

128 S. Main St., Hinesville • 912-369-4529 | 348 E. Cypress St., Ludowici • 912-302-4140 | 10221 Ford Ave, Ste. 4, Richmond Hill • 912-459-2200

Attorneys Licensed in GA, FL, IA, CA, and HI www.coastallawyers.com LIBERTY COUNTY MAGAZINE

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58 Lasting Legacies

Liberty County businesses that have served our community for years

74 The Road Less Traveled

Explore and discover this sweet land of Liberty and the people who have helped it thrive.

88 Membership Directory in every issue

A complete Liberty County Chamber membership list in alphabetical order

74 PUBLISHER Liberty County Chamber of Commerce CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Leah Poole CREATIVE / DESIGN Elizabeth Beasley, Russ Hutto, Stephanie Williams PHOTOGRAPHERS Bobby Cary Photography, Joanna Ng Photography, John Henderson, Leah Poole, Ralph Daniels, Tara Ruby Photography, Tammy Lee Bradley SALES Mary Prince, Valerie Forrester, Carol Stone

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Erin Johnson, Leah Poole, Meagan Upole

Visit Soror Finds for Liberty County’s Premier Shopping Experience

912.656.1367

www.sororfinds.com 150 Butler Ave. Suite D-1 Midway, GA 31320

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FROM THE PUBLISHER Whether you’ve lived in Liberty County for a day or a lifetime, we’re excited you are here!

We guarantee that our unique perspective on the community, presented here in our Membership Directory and Magazine will offer you an intriguing and engaging perspective on a place we love. Whether it’s our cover story featuring Deborah Robinson and the history of Dorchester Academy and its place on the US Civil Rights Trail or the restaurant story by Catie Fanucci, we guarantee that you will learn something new and possibly fall in love with this wonderful place all over again.

We have also given you some truly noteworthy and astoundingly beautiful photography courtesy of Ng Photography, Tara Ruby Photography and several local amateur photographers. And of course some great photos from our fabulous staff!

Liberty County is rich in both history and culture, with three signers of the Declaration of Independence, a Revolutionary War fort with the original earthen works, Dorchester Academy where Civil Rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. came to plan important marches like the ones that took place in Selma, AL and so much more. We have the original rice dikes at Leconte Woodmanston Plantation, beautiful camellia gardens in the historic district of Allenhurst and one of the most picturesque coastlines on the eastern seaboard.

Those of us who are native to the county are fond of telling newcomers and old timers alike that there is always something to do, something new to see or explore, however, these adventures that await you will take a little searching on your part, and the Chamber/ CVB is an excellent place to start mapping out your trek! With an active website at www.libertycounty.org, several Facebook pages and Twitter where we are @ExploreLiberty, there are many ways to get plugged in and get active!

We are also home to the 3rd ID and Fort Stewart, the largest military installation east of the Mississippi River, with 20,000+ soldiers in residence at any given moment. Formed as Camp Stewart during the advent of World War II, soldiers from our military installation have fought in every major conflict since. Our pride and commitment to making our soldiers and their families at home is rock solid, much like their go to phrase “Rock of the Marne!”

And finally, this publication would not have been possible without the dedication of the Chamber staff: Mary Prince, Valerie Forrester, Catie Fanucci, Andrea Conyers and Carol Stone, you guys are the best!

Leah Poole

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CEO

LIBERTY 401 South Main Street, Hinesville Georgia • 912-877-6600 Sales@Realty-Exec.com • www.HinesvilleHouses.com LIBERTY COUNTY MAGAZINE

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by Catie Fanucci photography by Tara Ruby Photography & Staff Photos

The South is known for its warm hospitality, laid back attitudes and best of all, food! So it should come as no surprise that Liberty County has a wealth of fantastic restaurants that warm your soul with delicious food, incredible atmosphere and phenomenal staff.

We have everything from barbeque and comfort food to fresh caught seafood and Caribbean cuisine.

Whether you are new to the area or looking to try something different, you will find many options right here in Liberty County.

Why the variety of food you ask? Well because we are proudly home to Fort Stewart, the largest military installation east of the Mississippi River and the 3rd Infantry Division! And with that huge volume of soldiers and family members comes people from all walks of life.

We have huge Korean and Samoan populations in Liberty County, as well as German and Hispanic. Being a melting pot is not a bad thing at all since it means we get a wide variety of food options!

Barbeque is always a subject for debate, especially in the South, as each state or region boasts having the best barbeque around, but we know that we have the best barbeque with two amazing establishments on each end of the county. The Smokin’ Pig, on the east side of the county in Midway just off Interstate 95 features plates filled with house smoked meats, staple sides and a variety of in-house barbeque sauces. And their macaroni and cheese y’all! Just yum!

And not to be outdone, Sho’ Nuff Smokin Good BBQ is well known around the county as you can not only find their smoker at their restaurant at the west end of Hinesville but also around the county at various events. Sho’ Nuff serves up smoked wings, ribs, turkey legs and even offers special orders for whole Boston butts and slabs of ribs. In 2017, South Magazine, named Jonathan Garrett, owner, as two of only 10 of the Greatest Chefs of the South! Be sure to keep your napkin close when visiting these two local gems!

Being that Liberty County is a coastal county, we could not go without mentioning a place to get fresh caught seafood! The Sunbury Crab Company offers breathtaking views, as well as an incredible menu filled

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with fresh-from-the-net options. Everyday Blue Crab is pulled from the company’s traps to ensure frozen crab never touches a plate and is the restaurant’s well-deserved claim to fame. Did we mention that they made Coastal Living Magazine’s list of Top 10 Best Seafood Dives of all Time!

Well they did! In 2017, South Magazine, named Joe Maley, lead chef at the restaurant as two of only 10 of the Greatest Chefs of the South! Whether you choose to arrive by car or park your boat at the spacious dock, make sure you do not miss this local favorite.

True Southern food is something that can spark memories for a lot of people, as you imagine sitting at a table on Sunday afternoon surrounded by family and food, which is why people call it comfort food. Even if you were not raised here in the South, you can still find comfort in the food found at both Izola’s Country Café and Margie’s Southern Cooking. Izola’s is a local favorite that is just as warm and inviting as your granny’s dining room and with a menu that features classic options like collards, mac n’ cheese, black eyed peas and squash casserole. Izola’s is also a fantastic option for breakfast and a great place to start your day!

Another local comfort food favorite is hard to miss as it is a bright yellow food trailer with big red letters that read Margie’s Southern Cooking that is permanently parked in Walthourville on Shaw Road. Margie’s Southern Cooking offers a variety of options, but you can always grab a plate of her famous fried chicken or pork chops. Ms. Margie is serving up soul warming food and smiles for breakfast, lunch and dinner so you always have an option for some good, down home cooking. And Margie’s also made the Explore Georgia Culinary Guide in 2017 for Best Food Truck! The food truck business was established when Margie Richardson decided to follow her dreams as she realized her retirement was drawing near. A veteran of the restaurant world, 12

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Richardson has definitely seen her dream come true. Some menu favorites of Margie’s Southern Cooking are ox tail, collard greens, candied yams, cornbread, rice and gravy. Do not forget to save room for dessert in either of these places as no true Southern meal is complete without something sweet!

One of the largest benefits of having our melting pot of a community is the opportunity for locals to experience new things like food from around the world! If you have never experienced the flavorful cuisine of the Caribbean – head over to Good 2 Go where you can find a menu filled with spice and flavor. You will find options that have familiar names but the spices used take these foods to the next level!

The Caribbean countries are filled with bright colors, friendly people and breath-taking beauty, so stepping into Good 2 Go is like being transported instantly. This oasis in the middle of Hinesville is a must see and taste!

If you’re looking for something from the other side of the pond, head to downtown Hinesville and grab a table or bar stool at Zum Rosenhof German Restaurant. Not only will you find authentic German meals - you will also find German antiques, memorabilia, scenery painted on the walls and waitstaff dressed to impress in traditional German attire. Behind the bar you will spot shelves of the infamous glass boots that you can get filled to the brim with German beer to go along with your schnitzel and potato salad. Make sure to pop into the German grocer next door where you can find imported German favorites like Kinder chocolate bars, Haribo gummy bear, bratwurst, bottled beer and so much more!

Another great option for international food is Rodeo Mexican Restaurant and definitely a local go-to. Most have been frequenting this spot long enough to know the manager and staff by first name and vice versa. When you walk in the door you will be immersed in rich Mexican culture from the décor, to a menu full of authentic dishes, and leave full and satisfied. Add in happy hour, daily food specials and topnotch staff and you have all the reasons to come back again and again.

In the end, whether you choose something familiar or venture out to try new things, there is never a shortage of options right here in Liberty County! LCM

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The mission of the Liberty County School System is to provide all students an education which promotes excellence, good citizenship, and a love of learning.

All students will receive a high quality education providing them the knowledge and skills to be successful, contributing m e m b e r s o f a g l o b a l s o c i e t y.

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Website & App

www.liberty.k12.ga.us

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L iberty & Serving

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POWER COUPLE: Jimmy & Brigette Shanken

the

written by Leah Poole photography by Joanna Ng Photography

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When you think about a power couple, Jimmy and Brigitte Shanken immediately come to mind. This dynamic duo has quietly helped transform the landscape of Liberty County, moving and shaking behind-the-scenes to create synergy and energy in our commercial and residential real estate, as well as doing a lot in the non-profit sector that most probably do not realize.

Married 11 years this November they met by happenstance and really as a product of their chosen professions. Jimmy sold Brigitte a house believe-it-or-not! Listening to a friend of hers, Brigitte contacted Jimmy to help her when she decided to buy in the Hinesville area and the rest as they say is history!

Again, if you’ve never met them, I do not doubt that you have seen that big box truck driving around Liberty County with their smiling faces on it. The moving truck has a hilarious backstory as when she was trying to move into her new home, purchased from Jimmy, Brigitte needed help moving. Jimmy offered to park his horse trailer in her front yard and allow her to use it to move from one house to another. Brigitte could not imagine putting her furniture and other house items in a horse trailer but accepted his offer. Three years later when she got her real estate license, and they were married Brigitte insisted that they purchase an old moving truck to lend to their clients when they moved.

“Buying a house is already a lot of expense, if this was one small thing we could do to help pay it forward then it was worth it,” she said.

Helping to pay that debt forward is a huge motto with the Shanken’s.

They feel that to get where you are going you have to see how others got there but never forget where you came from.

Born in Guatemala but raised in Spain and Panama, Brigitte, an avid home chef, is rarely seen without her camera. An amateur photographer, she can recall getting her first camera at the age of 15. And she has lots of opportunities to take photographs. The couple travels a lot, mostly due to civic commitments and visiting family. They of course travel to Panama at least once per year, but have also been to Spain, Mexico, Cuba and numerous places stateside in the last several years.

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This dynamic duo has quietly helped transform the landscape of Liberty County, behind-thescenes in commercial and residential real estate, as well as doing a lot in the non-profit sector.

Brigitte even spent time in 2018 in India as part of a delegation of Rotarians from Georgia. “This experience meant so much. To be able to see the impact of Rotary and knowing that I have served as the Assistant District Governor for 3 years now, makes me even more proud to be a part of this organization that prides ‘service above self’,” she said.

As a Red Cross volunteer for the last 40 years and someone who has visited 40 countries Brigitte does not wait for opportunity to come to her, she creates the chances to be involved.

Did I mention they also work? They are licensed residential and commercial Realtors ® and also certified international property specialists. The Shanken Team, as they call their company, recently won the International President’s Team award, the Commercial President’s Achievement of Excellence award from Coldwell Banker International and the Distinguished Sales Society from the Hinesville Area Board of Realtors ®. As Associate Brokers at local firm Coldwell Banker Holtzman, Realtors ® Jimmy and Brigitte work every day to provide a superior level of informed and professional real estate services.

As a Past President of the Hinesville Area Board of Realtors and the 2013 Chairman of the Georgia Association of Realtors Commercial Alliance, Jimmy has also served 20

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as a Director for the Savannah/Hilton Head RCA and on the Georgia Association of Realtors Legislative Affairs, Brokers Council, Global Alliance and Professional Standards committees.

As real estate advisor to over 200 individuals throughout their careers, Jimmy and Brigitte have a huge amount of market name recognition and are often called upon to consult with both the media and local government officials as subject matter experts in relation to current market conditions and trends. Both have graduated from Leadership Liberty and in 2009 and 2012 Jimmy was awarded the Small Business Leader of the Year Award by the Liberty County Chamber of Commerce. He also serves on the Executive Board of Directors for the Liberty County Chamber.

He attributes much of his work ethic to his military service in the US Army where he was inducted into two elite organizations, the Sergeant Morales Club and the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club. Jimmy also served as the 2013 and 2014 President of the Hinesville/Fort Stewart Shrine Club and both volunteer extensively throughout the Liberty County community. As a 32° Scottish Rite Mason, Shriner and Past Master of Hinesville Lodge 271 F&AM, Jimmy also serves as the Rite Care Chairman for the Scottish Rite Valley of Savannah.

Jimmy &ette Br i g

A native of Charleston, South Carolina, Jimmy worked in the restaurant industry for 20 years! He was also a goat farmer at one point believe it or not! And one of his proudest moments lately is being named the President Elect of the Savannah Commercial Board of Realtors ®.

With four children and three grand children spread from here to Pennsylvania, the Shanken’s are always busy and involved in making sure their family stays centered and grounded. They learned these values from their parents in addition to strict work ethics. Brigitte’s parents are both retired physicians formerly in the US Army and Jimmy’s grandfather served in the Air Force. They are also proud to say that all four of their children graduated from Liberty County Schools.

“We are very blessed. We have received so much than we can every repay, but we try every day to live life to its fullest and make our community better,” said Brigitte.

So while this power couple is certainly always on the move and they exemplify professionalism in their industry, they also fit together link yin and yang, each complimenting the others weakness and filling in the blanks when necessary.

Here’s to wishing you many more years of happiness and success! LCM

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reason No. 1187 historic treasures. amazing sunsets. fresh seafood. explore liberty. www.libertycounty.org

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www.landscapehinesville.com 462 Elim Church Rd. NE • Ludowici, GA 31316 LIBERTY COUNTY MAGAZINE

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by Meagan Upole edited/contributed to by Leah Poole photography by Joanna Ng Photography

Jennifer

Cardella

The way Jennifer interacts with those around her, the way she keeps her home, & the beliefs she holds dear have all been shaped by this beautiful area in one way or another.

Jennifer Cardella is the quintessential southern woman—wife, stay-at-home mother of three, member of the PTO, a children’s worship leader in her church, well-traveled and active in the community. Her home and family photos appear to have jumped straight out of a magazine, and she’s someone who seems to know everyone in town.

We knew a lot of that before we sat down to speak with her, and we still weren’t prepared for the woman who welcomed us into her home.

She immediately made us feel welcome and comfortable. That same picture-perfect woman also looked completely comfortable curled up in an oversized chair in her sunroom as she did standing on the stoop of her gorgeous home.

She was quick to explain that she is, “just a mom” and her modesty was entirely sincere. The only woman in a house of boys, she said she stays busy taking care of her kids and keeping the house clean. She said, “I’m just trying to raise kind gentlemen.” Her sons Matthew (9), John (5) and Mark (2), along with her dogs Luke, Fran and Nelly, and her husband Matt do get the bulk of her attention each day, but after talking to her for a while, you quickly realize there is much more to this proud Liberty County local.

As Cardella told us about her life and family, it became obvious she truly loves the area she calls home. You can see her excitement and the pride in her face as she tells you about how her family line can be traced back to the 1700s and many of those ancestors lived in this area as well. The way she interacts with those around her, the way she keeps her home, and the beliefs she holds dear have all been shaped by this beautiful area in one way or another. In truth, she attributes most of the good in her life to being from this lovely coastal community.

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Small-town connections are one of Jennifer’s favorite parts of Liberty County.

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She grew up near Main Street in downtown Hinesville, walking each day to Hinesville Middle School from her home, playing softball on the same fields in James Brown Park where she now takes her children to play soccer. She is wistful as she explains that her son is best friends with the granddaughter of her grandmother’s best friend. “Four generations,” she said. Four generations separate the two pairs of friends, and watching the older woman on the sidelines cheering on their legacies together is a touching thing to imagine.

Her husband Matt may not be from Liberty County originally, he hails from Camilla, Georgia, but Hinesville is the place where they met. She laughs as she tells the story, and describes it as the perfect example of what makes a small town different. Her father passed away right before she began student teaching, and she had to come home from college to help handle his estate. Matt was the Edward Jones representative who helped with the process, and she was immediately impressed by him.

Despite that, she only met with him to discuss professional concerns. She stresses that she did, “have a crush on him,” but she never acted on it. For his part according to Jennifer, Matt was kind, helpful and professional. He did his job well, and they met several times to discuss financial matters. Months later she was discussing her upcoming decision about what to do when she finished college with her neighbor. She mentioned she had a crush on Matt, and surprisingly her neighbor knew his assistant.

Despite her protests her neighbor called, had the assistant tell her whether he was single or not, and the two plotted to set them up. Later that same day, she got a call from Matt asking her to go out on a date with him. The rest, as they say, is history. She laughs as she says, “Don’t you just love small towns?”

Those small-town connections are one of her favorite parts of Liberty County.

She talks about how she knows people around town and even though she doesn’t see them often, they recognize her when she comes in. She still sees people from her childhood, or who knew her father. She said, “Not everybody lives in a town where you have that kind of history and those kinds of connections… That means something to me.” Even her home built in 1968 by Mr. Olin Fraser, is a piece of Liberty County history. She loves that she knows his children, and that his great-grandchildren are friends with her boys. She says it’s so much fun to have Mr. Fraser’s family and other

members of the community come over and tell them stories about their home.

Those small-town connections showed themselves again when we asked several local boutique owners to outfit Cardella for the photoshoot. All three are owned by incredible business women, and they all turned out to be familiar with Cardella before we called them.

Two went to high school with her and the other knew her husband through Edward Jones.

The fact Hinesville has grown so much in recent years but still manages to retain that small-town feel and charm is part of what Staci Chapman, owner of the newest boutique in downtown Hinesville, Emma Janes, loves most about her hometown (where she attended high school with Cardella). Her boutique offers clothing, gifts, jewelry, monogramming and much more, and she’s excited to be right in the middle of downtown. She said she loves being able to go around town and always run into someone she knows.

Chapman said she’s also thankful for how kind and supportive the community is, especially downtown. She said, “Everybody here is amazing.” She has received offers of assistance and advice from many of the other business owners downtown, and she said a day rarely goes by when one of them doesn’t stop in to see how things are going. She said the boutique is a life-long dream of hers, and she’s thrilled to be opening it here in a city she loves so much.

Chapman is especially thankful for her friend Rhonda Thomas, who happens to be the co-owner of Molly Maxine, the other downtown boutique owner who provided clothing for Cardella. She also went to high school with Chapman and Cardella. Thomas left Hinesville to attend Georgia Southern, then lived there for several years before she returned in 2013 to raise her daughter around her family members who were still in Hinesville. When she returned, she said she noticed a need for somewhere like Molly Maxine, which offers Merle Norman cosmetics and a wide selection of clothing and jewelry.

Attracted to the same small town and community-driven feel of the area, Rhonda, her sister Kim and their mother Cathy developed the idea for Molly Maxine. Rhonda LIBERTY COUNTY MAGAZINE

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explained there is no real person named Molly involved, but the store is instead named after her childhood doll. She said she loves how much support the business has received from other business owners, local residents and the military community. She said she’s seen the community grow and change over the years but that small-town feel is still there.

Just a few miles away, our third boutique Charming Chics is located on General Screven Way. Owner, Josie Morrison has a location in Hinesville and another in Richmond Hill with co-owner Bonnita Morrison. Another local lady with a love for fashion, Morrison had met Cardella through Edward Jones. Morrison may not have been born in Hinesville, but she’s been in the area since she was eight years old, and she too adores it and seeks to share the fashion she loves with the people of our community.

Morrison said she focuses on choosing clothes and jewelry people can’t find other places in the area, and she even offers hand-made one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry too.

Morrison said, “fashion is our passion” at Charming Chics, and she wants all of her customers to come in and let her help them, “experience life in style.” Most importantly however, Morrison said she wants to help women love themselves. She said she thinks there are a lot of women in the world who don’t like who they are, and she wants to help them overcome that.

Her boutique has been open for about two and a half years, and she wants to continue to serve the community by 32

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offering kindness and beauty to all who visit her. Morrison says sometimes the women who come in to shop laugh because she gets so excited about the clothes she sells and what she does, but she believes a compliment on your outfit can really make your day. Her goal is to bring more kindness into the world, and she believes we can all benefit from a bit more of it in our lives. Who can argue with that?

After examining the connections and realizing the small-town feel of the area is what convinced all four of these women to build their adult lives in Liberty County, perhaps it is not so surprising they all knew each other long before this article and photoshoot. When asked what she would say to someone considering moving to the area Cardella said, “I feel like some people have the misconception that this is an impersonal place because people think of it as being a transient community.

But we have the best people ever and those are the Liberty County people.”

She goes on to add, “I would just say to give us locals a shot, because they are just fantastic people, and there are so many great things to do and be a part of here. You just have to figure out this is a town with people and not just a stop on the map.” LCM

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The Liberty County Solid Waste Authority collects residential recyclables at the seven convenience centers located in rural Liberty County. LCSWA also operates two recylcing centers in Hinesville and one recycling center in Riceboro.

• 344 Fort Morris Road (East End Convenience Center) • 50 Isle of Wight Road (Midway Area, US84 & Isle of Wight Road) • 619 JV Road (West Side of Hinesville) • 64 Left Field Road (US 84 at Miller Park Recreation Area) • 836 Limerick Road (Old Landdll Entrance near lake George) • 156 Pate RogersRoad (Fleming Area, behind “Short Cut” Convenience Store) • 25 South Dairy Road (SR 196 West, South of Gumbranch • 129 Sandy Run Road (Off US 84, at the Enmark Station) • 941 E.G. Miles Parkway (SR 196 West, at the Training Center) • 4000 South Coastal Highway (US 17 just North of Riceboro)

• Plastics #1 - Plastic water and beverage bottles • Plastics #2 - Water and milk jugs • Mixed Plastics #3 thru #7 All other plastic items with the recyclable symbols 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 • Aluminum - Aluminum beverage cans • Cardboard - Corrugated cardboard boxes • Steel or Tin Cans - Food and soup cans • Mixed, Paper, Newspaper & Magazines - Regular paper, junk mail, paper board items (like cereal boxes), newspaper (including all the inserts inside), and magazines • Glass - Bottles - Beverage and food containers Recycling services available for businesses by contacting LCSWA at 912-884-5353. The recycling centers listed above are for residential recycling only.

Household hazardous waste items (light bulbs, batteries, ink cartiridges, motor oil, etc.) are collected quarterly at the: Keep Liberty Beautiful Recycle It! Fairs. Email: klcb@libertycountyga.com to receive recycling event announcements by email or visit keeplibertybeautiful.org.

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written by Meagan Upole edited by Leah Poole photography by Tara Ruby Photography

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While you have probably heard of the USO, which has been around for almost 77 years, it is doubtful you realize the extent of what they do for our soldiers and their families.

We spoke with Regina Wages, the Director of the USO Fort Stewart/HAAF to discuss just that, and even we were surprised at just how many projects, programs and events they organize every year.

The USO on Fort Stewart opened in February of 2018, and is one of more than 200 locations world-wide, but it is the first USO on any military installation in the entire state of Georgia. According to Wages the, “facility is 14,000 square feet and is outfitted with complimentary wireless internet, snacks, drinks, a teaching kitchen, a big screen movie room with comfy recliners, laptops with CAC reading capability, printing, 7 large TV’s with cable and movies options, a game room with Xbox Ones, PS4s, foosball, air hockey and old school arcade machines.” She said the USO has to “continuously adapt” to make sure they meet the needs of our men and women in uniform and their families. They want our soldiers to be able to focus entirely on their mission, knowing the USO is there to meet those needs as they arise.

The USO is probably most well-known for providing entertainment such as celebrity visits or stage shows to soldiers who are overseas, but the services provided, both abroad and at home, go far beyond just entertainment. While they do offer opportunities for families and soldiers to watch movies, play games, and attend fun events such as trivia or themed dinners, it is not just about having a good time. It is about connecting people to their families, even when part of that family is across the world. It is about connecting families to others who are experiencing similar things, allowing them to support one another while their loved ones are deployed.

It is about having a safe place for soldiers and their families to unwind a bit, whether they are here at home or out in the field.

The USO strengthens America’s military service members by keeping them connected to family, home & country, through their service to the nation.

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The USO is a non-profit.

They have to generate the revenue to do all of their projects by reaching out to businesses and corporate sponsors to generate funding.

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The United Through Reading program is a perfect example of what the USO does. The program is a simple but powerful one in which deployed service members are recorded reading a book aloud as they would to their child. The video, and in most cases the book, are then packaged and mailed to the child back home. This lets them have their overseas parent “read� to them whenever they want while they follow along. The program has been around for 28 years, and families have reported feeling less stress and anxiety, feeling more connected to their loved ones, feeling like parenting responsibility is shared despite the distance and an increase in the love of reading and books in their children. It really is a beautiful idea, and the USO makes it a reality.

USO centers also offer opportunities for soldiers to connect directly with their families using phone and video calls. Some are deployed in areas where, without the USO, soldiers could not possibly contact their loved ones back home, so this alone is an invaluable resource for those service members. They even help them record virtual hugs or high fives, so they can connect with their families more often, even when the time differences may make doing so tough.

The USO also connects service members and their families to the local communities. For those who are military or military

dependent, moving frequently is expected but not easy. The USO offers help and information to help navigate a new base. According to Wages, many service members and their family members rarely leave the base once they arrive, if at all. Some just never feel the need to do so, but many do not venture out because they are unfamiliar with the area and uncomfortable doing so. The USO seeks to change that, offering information about the geography and culture of their new home and arranging programming which allows military members and dependents the opportunity to explore and connect with the surrounding community.

Transition programs are another big part of what the USO does for our soldiers. When soldiers come back from deployment, it can be tough to transition back to life on the base. The USO is there when they arrive, offering a variety of services to make the transition easier. But not all service members will redeploy right away, or at all. Some will want to visit family before they deploy again, some will need assistance transitioning into retirement, others will not be retiring but still need help transitioning to permanent civilian life. Those latter will need help writing a resume, finding a job and settling into a life off the base. The USO is there to help them, too.

In order to better serve transitioning service members and their family members, the USO Fort Stewart has developed a new program called Pathfinder Transition Services. The program offers a variety of services for active-military members, retiring members and their family members to help them navigate common types of challenges they encounter most often: employment, education, VA

benefits, wellness, financial, legal, housing, volunteerism and family programs. Whatever they may need, the USO is dedicated to helping soldiers and their family members develop a plan to reach their goals, then finding the resources they need to help them do so.

Wages herself has been with the USO for nine years, having been northeast Afganistan for seven and a half years and now at Ft. Stewart. Very passionate about building the facility, even though it was an incredibly tough undertaking, it is the 2nd largest in the country. She said that when she was in Afghanistan seeing a smile on a soldier’s face was the best part of her day, “You just felt good about providing the comforts of home.�

Another little know tidbit about the USO is that they are in fact a non-profit. They have to generate the revenue to do all of these projects by reaching out to businesses and corporate sponsors to generate funding. If you want to get involved be sure to give them a call at 912.332.5881. LCM

Call

912.332.5881

to get involved!

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CITY OF GEORGIA

Welcce to my hhe, the City of Midway, a small historic town nestled in southeast Georgia. Since it was chartered in 1925, Midway has continued to grow as it cultivated a rich history and preserved its natural resources.

A city with a population of 2,121, Midway has something for everyone!

A growing city with a

hhettn feel.

If you are a history buff, Midway Congregational Church and Cemetery, Midway Colonial Museum, Dorchester Academy and the Museum of African-American History are places to visit. Ancient live oaks and Spanish moss form beautiful canopies on the drive down Martin Road. For nature lovers, Cay Creek Wetlands Interpretive Center and boardwalk provide a unique opportunity to observe, study and appreciate the diversity of species and animals that inhabit the wetlands.

The City serves as home for the Liberty County Industrial Authority’s industrial park, the Midway-Riceboro Branch of Live Oak Public Library, several day care centers, Liberty Elementary and Midway Middle School.

If you are searching for a day or weekend of fun, Midway is the ideal place for you. While in Midway, I invite you to shop at our retail stores and dine in one of our many restaurants and sandwich shops. We are conveniently located off of Interstate 95 and provide easy access to two major airports at Savannah-Hilton Head International and Jacksonville International.

Midway is a great place to call home or start a business, and we look forward to seeing you soon!

Levern Clancy, Jr., Mayor

“We are dedicated to enhancing, improving, and lengthening the lives of pets by delivering the highest highe quality of veterinary medicine focused on the entire patient.”

Mon - Fri: 8am - 6pm • Sat: 10am - 2pm 1094 E. Oglethorpe HWY - Hinesville, GA 31313

Teyah Oshetski, DVM • Brynn Davis, DVM

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912.876.3357 libertyveterinary.com

H

Liberty County is not only blessed with an abundance of southern beauty, charm, and history, but it is blessed with being home to Fort Stewart and the soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Division.

The fact that Liberty County is rich with recreational opportunities, industrial parks for industry, a regional airport, and great schools that include two colleges, is only part of what makes Liberty County such a great place to live.

Come visit us and see why so many have discovered that Liberty County is a place to live for a lifetime.

Liberty County Board of Commissioners Pat Bowen ~ District 4 • Marion Stevens, Sr. ~ District 1 • Gary Gilliard ~ District 5 • Donald L. Lovette ~ Chairman • Connie Thrift ~ District 3 • Eddie J. Walden ~ District 6 • Justin Frasier ~ District 2

www.libertycountyga.com

LCRD ANNUAL CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Summer Programs include Day Camp, aquatics programs, sports camps, fitness, and instructional programs. Taekwondo, Ju-Jitsu, and Piano Lessons are yearround instructional programs.

Check out the many parks and recreational facilities located throughout the county at: www.lcrd.net.

CHARLES SHUMAN RECREATION CENTER ••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Located in James Brown Park and open for use by the general public Wednesday-Friday from 6-10pm, and Saturday & Sunday from 2-10pm. Call 877-7557 for more information about renting facility.

LIBERTY COUNTY COMMUNITY COMPLEX ••••••••••••••••••••••••• Located on Highway 84 in Midway and includes the Midway Pool, a

LCRD PROGRAMS

PROGRAM

After School Program Football FB Cheerleading Fall Soccer Basketball BKB Cheerleading Adult Basketball Adult Flag Football Track & Field Volleyball Spring Soccer Adult Soccer Baseball Softball Adult Softball Summer Programs

AGE

REGISTRATION

START/END

K-5 7-12 7-12 4-17 7 & up 7-12 18 & up 16 & up 7-14 10 & up 4-14 16 & up 4-14 4-17 16 & up 4-17

July August August August November November November November February February February February march March March May - July

Aug-May Sept-Nov Sept-Nov Aug-Oct Dec-Feb Dec-Feb Dec-Feb Jan-Feb Mar-Apr Mar-Apr Mar-Apr Mar-Apr Apr-June Apr-June Apr-July June-Aug

playground, Multi-Purpose Room for classes, and an auditorium for large gatherings. All or portions of this facility may be rented for special events. Call 884-3500 for additional information.

RICEBORO YOUTH CENTER ••••••••••••••••• Located on Hwy. 17 next to the fire station in Riceboro. All or portions of this facility may be rented for special events. Call 884-5040 for additional information.

ON-LINE REGISTRATION Online registration and additional information is available at

www.lcrd.net

876-5359 or 448-LCRD (5273) email: lcrd@coastalnow.net Open 10am - 6pm Monday - Friday

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Lunch & Dinnn

Breakfast Buffet

Mon - Fri: 10:30 am - 8 pm Sat: 12 pm - 8 pm Sun: 11 am - 4 pm

Mon - Fri: 6:00 am - 10:30 am Sat: 7 am - 12 pm Sun: 8:30 am - 12 pm

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MENU LINE: (912) 463.4709 • 809 Willowbrook Dr • Hinesville, GA 31313 • Behind Burger King

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Join us at the Y!

LIBERTY COUNTY/ ARMED SERVICES YMCA 201 Mary lou Dr. Hinesville, GA 31313 912.368.9622 46

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ymcaofcoastalga.org

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VEHICLE, RV, & BOAT STORAGE

912.408.7878 Mon-Fri: 8:30am-5:30pm | Sat: 8:30am-3pm

www.AllAmericanStorageUhaul.com LIBERTY COUNTY MAGAZINE

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h a Deboor on s n i Rb DORCHESTER ACADEMY

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There is just something about the way a teacher, one who genuinely loves to educate others, tells a story.

written by Erin Johnson edited/contributed to by Leah Poole photography by Joanna Ng Photography & Staff Photos

If you’ve ever been to Dorchester Academy you might have had the opportunity to have Deborah Robinson give you a tour. It was over a year ago that I first heard from Ms. Robinson, during my visit to the historic school with my Leadership Liberty class. Instantly I could detect she was a school teacher, being the child of a teacher myself. There is just something about the way a teacher, one who genuinely loves to educate others, tells a story. If I remember correctly, I along with a few others missed the end of the tour because we stayed to listen to her speak.

She is a vital member of the historic school’s mission and can tell its story so well you won’t want to leave. Her hope is for the school to continue to grow so generations from now its story can still be shared.

Aside from her role in our community, Ms. Robinson is woman worth meeting. A storyteller at heart and lover of Jesus Christ, she sat down with me after her Bible study one Wednesday to tell me her story and how she came to have such an important role at Dorchester Academy.

Her story starts in Boley, Oklahoma, one of the largest African American towns in the early 1900s. Here she lived amongst her family, including her grandmother who owned and operated a rooming house and store. Robinson went to school in Boley, learning the sciences, foreign languages and her true love, music.

It was that love of music that she wanted to pursue into college, where her older brother helped her tremendously. He, a soldier in the Army, gave Robinson $1000 that would pay for her first three years of education at Dillard University in New Orleans. Her father leased his farm to pay for the remaining year. I am not quite sure which part of this story baffles me the most, the fact that her brother saw the importance of her education so young, or the fact that 3 years of college only cost $1000.

Following college she made her way to Liberty County in 1955, after graduating with her bachelor’s degree. Robinson made it to southeast Georgia by train which stopped in Jesup in the wee hours of the morning. Being a few towns over from Hinesville, she was told she would have to wait several hours at the train station before a bus would arrive to take her.

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While this was not ideal she was instead offered a ride along with a baker who would be delivering bread to Fort Stewart before dawn. They drove his route delivering the bread together, and then that gentleman found another stranger who could direct them to Robinson’s employer. That is right fellow millennials, no Uber or cellphones to help her make her way. She came to Liberty County with the help of kind strangers that were looking out for one another. While this concept might be a little foreign to most of us, I think the sense of community and looking out for each other still stands true in Liberty County today.

Robinson came to Liberty County to be a music teacher for Liberty Elementary & High School, which would later become Liberty Elementary solely and is now the East End Community Complex. She was a fantastic teacher that still considers her students her children. In addition to teaching music and piano at the school, she organized a superior rated choir that would go on to be top in the state among African American schools performing at Savannah State University.

A piano room was added onto her home to allow Robinson to teach lessons to those interested beyond the scope of school curriculum.

While her days were spent with her children at school, she often spent evenings and any free time at Dorchester Academy. The school was in much need of repair by the time of her arrival, and she was there to lend a hand where she could, even giving the first guided tours to visitors.

At this point in its history, Dorchester Academy was the headquarters for the Citizenship Education Program operated by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. It was also a time when Civil Rights activist, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would visit. Dorchester Academy being a place he could meet with other activists and plan. He was often seen playing kickball in the field next to Dorchester Academy along Hwy 84 or playing basketball in the gymnasium at Liberty 50

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Located on the Georgia coast in the town of Midway is the historic Dorchester Academy, Deborah’s passion.

She still volunteers and gives tours for the Academy to, “keep her mind young.”

Elementary & High School. Word spread quickly when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. came to town. The opportunity to see him was one many did not get to have.

While teaching one day, Robinson was notified that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was in fact in town and would be speaking shortly. On this day, Robinson left school to go hear King’s speech at Dorchester Academy. He signed her program and even shook her hand she recalls vividly.

After 9 years, Robinson left Liberty County schools and joined the staff on Fort Stewart as the first teacher of color.

She taught music at Diamond Elementary, and was even the designer of the classroom. She later moved to Britton Elementary. Her total time as a teacher on Fort Stewart was

RIGHT: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. playing ball on grounds of Dorchester Academy, circa 1961-1963 (source unknown)

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25 years. There she fully embraced the military families and all they brought with them. Her students would put on special events to celebrate the cultures and religions they came from or had visited all over the world. She would later go on to teach in Iceland for a few years before retiring and returning home to Midway.

She still volunteers and gives tours for Dorchester Academy to, “keep her mind young.” At 88 years old, I would say she’s doing pretty well.

Located on the Georgia coast in the town of Midway is the historic Dorchester Academy, Robinson’s passion.

Believe it or not, this impressive center for education started as a one-room school house. William Golden, a freed slave established Golden’s School for African American students on property deeded to him in Midway in 1866. Several years later when Reverend Floyd Snelson, an African American Congregational missionary, arrived in Liberty County for missionary work he discovered the school and saw that it was at risk.

Reverend Snelson wrote to the American Missionary Association asking for funds to breathe new life into the school, allowing the two men to enlarge not only the physical building but also the scope of academia offered by its teachers. In 1872 Dorchester Academy was established.

Complete with a large farm on campus, the boarding school was quickly independent and able to offer more to its students. Many students walked miles to attend the sixmonth school year at Dorchester Academy. The students and staff raised their own food, as well as selling livestock, eggs and chickens to pay for school operating costs. In addition to standard subjects and farm living, students were trained in fields they would most likely work in upon graduation making for a rich education.

By 1917 the school was fully accredited and had 300 students enrolled. Dorchester Academy was in fact the first school in the county to graduate a 12th grade. Prior to that point, no school in Georgia went beyond 11th grade. And a few years later in 1934, the entire senior class was accepted to college. The school was classified as a Group I Georgia accredited high school, establishing it as one of the, “best schools in teaching staff, equipment or laboratory, library and building, and three fourths of the academic teachers holding degrees.”

Dorchester Academy was closed for academic learning in 1940 after Liberty County established the Liberty County Training School for African 52

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American students. Already a pillar in the community, the school became home to the Dorchester Cooperative Center.

The space that once was a center for learning became a place of community development, political and social change.

Nearly 20 years later Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other key figures in the civil rights movement including Dr. Ralph Abernathy, Andrew Young and Dr. Fred Shuttlesworth, prepared for “Project C” at historic Dorchester Academy.

Project C would be later memorialized as the infamous Birmingham March, one of the first major victories in the Civil Rights Movement.

The spirit of the school still lives through the Dorchester Improvement Association. Every year on Juneteenth, the organization hosts the Annual Walk to Dorchester commemorating those students who walked miles in the name of education all those years before us. One of those students being the grandmother of current Riceboro mayor, Bill Austin.

Dorchester Academy is now a National Landmark and serves as an African-American history museum and community center and is in the process of developing a community educational and research center. They are also the only site on the Georgia coast to be named to the prestigious US Civil Rights Trail in 2018. They were also made a part of the Footsteps to MLK Jr. Trail as well. LCM

Flemington CITY OF

Mayor Paul Hawkins Mayor Pro Tem Palmer Dasher Council Members: David Edwards, Rene Harwell, Gail Evans, Donnie Smith, Keith Moran

Preserving Our Heritage Shaping Our Future

156 Old Sunbury Road Flemington, Georgia 31313

Ricebbo CITY OF

www.cityofriceboro.com LIBERTY COUNTY MAGAZINE

53

A

912.877.3223

To develop and administer policies and programs which promote wholesom progressive a wholesome, environment, reecting the traditional values of our heritage while embracing a dynamic vision of our future.

imagine. dream. inspire.

CONCERTS FESTIVALS ART CLASSES & MORE. www.hinesvillearts.com find us on facebook!

CHICK-FIL-A HINESVILLE 877 W OGLETHORPE HWY HINESVILLE, GEORGIA 31313 (912) 877-6631 WWW.CFAHINESVILLE.COM

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LIBERTY COUNTY MAGAZINE

Earn a college degree right here in Liberty County.

Columbia College strives to make a college degree accessible to all Liberty County residents.

Apply now at Apply.CCIS.edu or call (877) 999-9876.

Membership Open to All Liberty County Residents (Also Bryan, Bulloch, Chatham & Effingham)

Mortgage Loans • Auto Loans • Personal Loans PROUDLY SERVING Visa Credit Cards • Internet & Mobile Banking THE MILITARY WITH Hinesville Branch LOCATIONS ON FORT 601 West Oglethorpe • (912) 368-2477 STEWART AND HUNTER www.geovistacu.com ARMY AIRFIELD Federally Insured by NCUA

Additional Locations: Fort Stewart, Hunter AAF, Richmond Hill, Pooler, Rincon, Statesboro

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GEORGIA SOUTHERN offers exciting educational opportunities at our Liberty Campus in Hinesville. Local students, especially those affiliated with the military, can take advantage of a nationally recognized university — with additional locations in Savannah and Statesboro — in their own backyard. Georgia Southern was named — for the sixth year in a row — a Military Friendly School® by G.I. Jobs magazine for its service to America’s veterans, active-duty troops and their families.

GeorgiaSouthern.edu 56

LIBERTY COUNTY MAGAZINE

STATESBORO • SAVANNAH • HINESVILLE • ONLINE

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• Research shows that people receiving hospice care can live longer than similar people who do not opt for hospice.

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730 E. General Stewart Way • Hinesville, GA 31313 • 912.977.4733 • 912.368.4300 • www.FortStewartHomeFinder.com LIBERTY COUNTY MAGAZINE

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by Meagan Upole / edited/contributed by Leah Poole / photography by Joanna Ng Photography & Staff Photos

Lasting Legacies Starting your own business is tough and so is keeping it open. We work with a lot of business owners to help them have their best chance at success but ultimately, it is up to the business owner to build a company that can last. In Liberty County we have several businesses that have served our community for many years and managed to build lasting legacies. We spoke to them to try and find out what has helped them thrive.

PC Simonton & Associates, Inc.

In sitting down with Marcus Sack and Matthew Barrow, Vice Presidents of P.C. Simonton & Associates, Inc. to find out what has helped the company stay around for almost 40 years, there were lots of stories to tell. It all started in 1980 with two employees, Paul Simonton and his wife Becky, providing consulting engineering services for Atlanta metro and surrounding areas.

How does a successful engineering practice in Atlanta end up in Liberty County? Simonton assisted several different companies in South Georgia with various projects and soon realized the need in the area was extensive. Why choose Hinesville? Barrow and Sack said the people of Liberty County had a lot to do with the choice. Simonton enjoyed working with them, and he welcomed the opportunity to move to a smaller area where he could focus on continuing to build those professional and personal relationships.

They have been growing and expanding since then, and they now have additional offices in Greensboro and Rincon.

The home-base is still right here in Hinesville though, and they like it that way. Sack attributes their success to their understanding of the community’s needs, “Being there in the beginning of the real growth pattern, understanding the needs of this specific community, and being able to deliver specifically to those needs has a lot to do with it.”

They also believe their attention to detail and communication with their clients is of utmost importance. It is all about personalized service at P.C. Simonton. Barrow said, “We don’t just hand down a copy of a project from here 58

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or wherever, it is not a cookie-cutter approach. Our services are tailored specifically to the needs of the client. And every client has different needs and challenges. And as a result of that, it’s been pretty successful.”

Serving as the City Engineer for Hinesville, they provide a multitude of services, many of which you don’t even realize you’re familiar with. Sack explained, “A lot of the stuff we do doesn’t have that ‘wow’ factor where people see it and say ‘man that is some awesome stuff right there’.”

And they do not just work from 9 to 5, either. During Hurricane Matthew when everyone had to evacuate, Sack got a phone call at 4:00 am that the Hinesville sewer pump station, which handles about 70-75% of the city’s wastewater, was no longer functioning and to make matters worse, the back-up generator was not working either. After finding a generator in Atlanta, Barrow and his family picked up the generator and headed back to Hinesville to help. The Georgia State Patrol had to escort them through the most dangerous areas as they headed back, but through their efforts and those of the City of Hinesville, the generator was up and running only 12 hours after the initial call. Barrow said that is just one example of what they do for their community, and he thinks it is all due to how much they love this place they call home.

Barrow said, “It’s a privilege and a responsibility to have an opportunity to contribute to the needs of the community where we all [our team and company] live, work and play.

We don’t just deliver a project and put it in the mail and say

Even if you are not a business owner you can still benefit from getting out in the community and supporting local people, businesses and non-profits.

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here it is. We’re all, in a way, beneficiaries. So we’re committed to that… We take a little different approach than some people because we are here for the long haul. We have to. If something goes wrong, it’s all us.

We don’t go away. We’re still here to deal with it.”

It would be impossible to list all of their contributions to the community, but Bryant Commons Park is a project they are particularly proud of. They used the project as an opportunity to solve several environmental concerns as well as provide community greenspace. Not many know that it was chosen as the state 2017 PISCES Project by the EPA. This prestigious award was given to them for their work in helping to improve the water quality in Peacock Creek and other nearby bodies of water by using the lake at Bryant Commons to retain and treat stormwater runoff from downtown Hinesville.

As the business is almost 40 years old, P.C. Simonton is looking forward. They are preparing for the future, and in addition to working with Hinesville, they are also proud to work with the county, Riceboro and Flemington. “Our mission is to be as efficient as possible, create the best set of construction plans possible, provide excellent customer service and just general engineering services to our clients,” said Sack.

McDonalds

McDonald’s is an internationally recognized brand, and the restaurants dot the globe. What you may not realize, however, is that each location is locally owned and operated. Here in Liberty County, Ashley Dodd is the second generation in her family to own locations on Highway 84, Highway 196 and inside the Walmart Supercenter. Her father, Gary Dodd, opened the original location here, and that 41 year-long family legacy is incredibly important to her.

Dodd attributes her success in business to her father who came from Detroit, Michigan. He started working at a McDonald’s there at 14 and worked his way up in the company until he had enough money to buy his own franchise. McDonald’s offered him locations in Michigan, Chicago and Hinesville, and in 1977 he moved south. Dodd said her father had always loved the South, its traditions and strength, and he saw that in Hinesville. He could not move his family down right away, so he lived in a trailer in Allenhurst while 60

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he opened the new location, missing the birth of his third son as he did so.

Dodd said her father’s love of this community started early, and he served it from the beginning. When the trailer park he was living in flooded due to high rain volumes, he knew people would still need to eat, so he had someone pick him up in a boat and take him to a friend’s waiting truck just outside of the flooded area so he could still go open the restaurant. She said that dedication is the foundation for her life.

Having worked at McDonald’s all her life, Dodd finished college and was accepted into the company’s Next Generation Program. She was approved shortly after her father passed away in 2013. “I’m here, and I have big shoes to fill,” she said. Dodd did not have her father there to help her like many of the others, so she has a different outlook on what it means to lead her business, so she often speaks to those in the Next Generation Program. She tells them, “Remember where you came from and where the brand came from. Like Ray Crock, Fred Turner, the people who are pillars of McDonalds and what we stand for. I just always remember who my dad was and what he instilled in me, and what he did for the community.”

Dodd pointed out that a lot of businesses do community outreach and service, but people often think McDonald’s does not do that in their local communities. She is working to change that perception. Like her father before her, she is incredibly active in and supportive of the community. The tuition assistance program is something she is especially proud to share with people. While other restaurants may offer the current specials or some snappy slogan on their sign out front, hers proudly declares, “We offer tuition assistance,” instead. She wants her employees to not only love their current job, but to get an education and continue to grow and evolve as they work with her. She is also the Past President of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Coastal Empire.

She said she feels it is important to remember that the people behind the counter are her customers too, and to realize that sometimes McDonald’s is a person’s first job and there is a responsibility to help employees succeed.

One way she does that is through McDonald’s Archways to Opportunity program. It offers free advising and classes to employees, and even offers a high school diploma and ESL program for those who need it. Now immediate family members of employees can use the free diploma and advisement programs.

Dodd said one of her biggest challenges is reputation.

To her, “The McDonald’s Arches, represent the American Dream. Ray Kroc started a business in his 50s and now they are nationwide and across the globe. Like my Father, he worked his way up and became an owner/operator.” She

wants those in the “next generation,” starting a career with McDonald’s to remember where they came from and what their parents went through to work their way up the ladder of success. “We have a responsibility to our parents and to the brand to make the arches shine brighter. McDonald’s should be better with every generation,” she said. The thought that McDonald’s is just a “first time job” is a thing of the past, according to Dodd, this really can be a career and it’s one she is eager to share with those who are looking to learn and do big things!

Like her father before her, Dodd said she follows what she calls “POP.” It means, “Put people first, and then operations and the profit will come later.” She said you help everybody. She pointed out Angie, the store manager who worked in the restaurant when she was little, and Wanda, who was her store manager when she worked there in high school.

Having people like them who were there when she was young and worked with her father are what makes her staff special.

She says they are family. “One of the things making us expand and grow is changing with the times. I feel like at my age, I know I have some of him, the old-school. And I have a lot of new-school. I’m able to bridge those and adapt and change and use technology to have a better experience for those on both sides of the counter.

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Liberty Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram

Liberty Chrysler has been in the area since 1988, starting in a small building on Highway 84. In 1994, they moved to their current location next to the post office, and Chris Gorsuch, the General Manager, is proud to say they were there before Walmart and Lowes. They have also had the same owners since they opened, and he believes that is a very good thing.

Gorsuch said he started at the dealership in 1997, after serving in the military for eight years, primarily at Hunter Army Airfield. He left Hinesville for a few years, but he eventually returned, both to Hinesville and the dealership.

He said being prior military is a huge benefit for him and the business. It helps him understand the unique needs of his employees and the community a lot better. He said the entire business has the same understanding of how the base affects their business practices, since most of the employees were previously in the military or are military spouses.

He also said the dealership does its best to help out the community as much as possible. They love to support the local schools in Liberty County and the surrounding areas, especially their sports programs. In addition, they are big supporters of Fort Stewart/Hunter FMWR, offering discounts and support for soldiers and their families. They work with local recreation departments, the VFW, the Chamber and a plethora of others. Gorsuch believes they have a responsibility to support the community that supports their business.

Once inside the dealership, Gorsuch firmly believes that his employees are the reason people keep coming back to buy from them. He said they offer good pay plans and make internal processes in a way which keeps their employees happy. He said over all else they value honesty. He believes when everyone can trust one another and come to a place where they are happy to work, they want to stay and do their job as best they can. He used Bart Clark as an example. Clark has been there for 37 years, and was even working at the 62

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dealership before the current owners bought the business in 1988. Gorsuch said he’s one of the best people he knows and, “he’s kind of the foundation that’s kept us all together.”

Gorsuch is picky about who he hires, “I don’t hire a lot of people with car experience. I hire people with people experience. I don’t want us to be known as a car place. I want us to be known for Chris and Bart and Gadson and the people that have been with me a long time that really are in the customer business, not the car business.”

Gorsuch’s main goal has been the same since he became General Manager: to make sure the community knows they do not have to leave Hinesville to buy a great car at a reasonable price. He remembers being told when he was in the military you had to leave Hinesville if you wanted to buy a good car, and he has spent 20 years trying to change that perception. He wants local and military customers alike to know they can trust his dealership to take care of them and get them better prices and services than they could find elsewhere.

Liberty Cycle, Inc.

John Jenkinson, the current owner of Liberty Cycle, Inc. was only two years old when his parents, Kenneth and Patricia Jenkinson, first opened the business in 1985. Back then the business serviced motorcycles and ATVs, and the staff consisted of just his parents and one or two service technicians. Mr. Jenkinson ran the front end of the business,

working with customers, doing service and managing the staff. Mrs. Jenkinson handled all of the bookkeeping and taxes.

In 1993, Liberty Cycle, Inc. became a Polaris dealer and expanded their business to include sales and service of Polaris vehicles. John Jenkinson said the business has always focused on serving their customers, serving the community and providing financial stability for their family and their staff. Jenkinson said they were never trying to make a, “bucket of money.” They just wanted to earn a living and make sure the customers feel like they are, “treated well.”

Overall he attributes the long-term success of the company to that mindset.

It is hard to argue with that, especially since this year they have been able to move to a new and much-larger space.

Now located on Highway 196, they are busy moving into the new building, and even during the interview crews were busy painting, hanging signs and working to complete the move.

The new location offers a showroom, a much larger service area and room for a larger customer base and double the staff.

As his parents move toward full-time retirement and Jenkinson takes the leading role in the business, he is continuing to look toward the future and what he can do to help the community. Jenkinson knows he works in an industry which tends to be, “adrenaline driven” and “gungho.” Despite that he said there are also a lot of people who use the products who are focused on conservation and agriculture, such as farmers, land-owners and hunters. He said it is a, “strange dichotomy” and he is trying to ensure some of his vehicles are electric and eco-friendly. He is also trying to make sure the business itself is as eco-friendly as it can be. They try to minimize and repurpose waste as much as possible, and they reuse shipping containers too. Jenkinson said, “In a world where there is less and less importance put on the standards, I try to hold myself to a higher standard, and therefore the business.”

As far as customer service is concerned, John said his theater background has been a huge benefit. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts from the University of Georgia. He said it has taught him a lot about human interaction and how to really make an impact on someone emotionally, and that directly translates to providing a positive customer experience. He said customers can tell when you are just trying to sell something and that you are not really engaged and listening to what they are saying and what they need.

He said when you give customers a positive experience, they do want to support your business, but they also take that positive experience back out into the community. He said it is about going the extra mile and treating people according to the Golden Rule.

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Coastal Drug Company

Moving forward, John wants everyone to know he is dedicated to reinvesting in the community. Ultimately once he has the business up and running at the new location he wants to shift his attention to supporting the arts in Liberty County. Specifically, he is hoping the increased business will allow him to support community theater both through the donation of his time and proceeds. As far as business is concerned, he said he sees the big boom in commercial businesses entering the community. He is excited to see the growth and wants the community to know the new location will be able to provide the increased inventory and service his growing customer-base needs; however, he stresses the quality of service will not suffer.

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Originally Discount Drug Company, the original pharmacy was opened in 1978 by Lon Lewis. At the time Lewis also had a pharmacy in Brunswick and decided he wanted to focus on that business. Glenn Fox was approached to take over the Hinesville location, and he agreed to do so in August of 1979. Since then, Fox has owned and operated the pharmacy located in Midway, Georgia.

Looking to move into retirement Fox recently decided to sell the business and take a smaller role in the day-to-day operations. He said he wanted to find someone who had his, “kind of ideas” to buy the business, and he finally found what he was looking for in a group of young entrepreneurs, Pete Nagel, Ben Ross and Chris Griner. Fox sold the company in May of this year, but has remained on staff to help with the transition, as well as continue to work as the pharmacist a day or two a week. The enterprising new owners buy local pharmacies for sale then work to keep them open and serving their communities. While all three work as a team, Pete Nagel, originally from Metter, Georgia, is the one who is on-site in Midway to run the business. The other two partners focus instead on their locations in Statesboro and Sylvania.

Nagel said it took about nine months to transfer the business over to he and his partners and it has been a great experience so far. When asked why the business has been so successful over the years Fox said, “customer service.”

Expanding on Fox’s answer, Nagel added that big box companies sacrifice patient care for money. Rather than focusing on profits Nagel believes Coastal Drug Company has been and will continue to be, successful because it focuses instead on customer care and patient satisfaction. He believes independent pharmacies do this well, and his will continue to provide excellent care for the next 40 years.

Fox explained he used to live and work in Atlanta, but he hated the traffic and the crowded area. He said he wanted a more laid-back atmosphere, and he already knew a few people in Liberty County when he got the offer to move here.

He said he loves that he has customers who have become lifelong friends, and he loves the area. He believes Nagel feels the same.

Nagel agreed. He said in coming from a small town he believes, “Independent small businesses are crucial to small towns and that’s what makes them thrive.” He believes Midway deserves a local pharmacy completely dedicated to serving them. He said they are going to, “do whatever they can do to help you” when you come to see them, even if it is doing something as simple as helping you find a coupon.

In addition to the help they provide in the store, he understands people have unique needs in the community. The pharmacy offers delivery for those who cannot come pick

up their medications. Fox explained how many people in the Midway area do not have transportation to the pharmacy and cannot afford to pay someone to bring them to get their medication. Nagel said the free delivery is crucial since some people would not be able to take their medications without it.

The services do not end there though. While Fox plans to retire, Nagel is preparing to grow the business and offer additional services. They are working to implement a free vitamin program for children and adults and to offer vaccinations. They will also offer individual patient packing for customers who take a lot of medications throughout the day. This means people can have their medications sorted into pouches based on when they take them, and it keeps the patient from accidentally skipping doses or taking things at the wrong time.

Nagel and Fox understand Midway has a unique population and therefore unique needs. Nagel said they are doing whatever they can to ensure people are taking their medications. “If I can’t help you, I know someone who can,” he said.

While their services are changing and growing, their dedication to customer service and their ideals are going to

remain the same. Fox said they will still be here to answer questions, even if those questions are not necessarily about medication. While Nagel, and sometimes Fox, are there to help you with whatever you need, the first person you will see when you enter is likely to be Terrie Sherrod. She is at the front counter where she has been for over 20 years, and she greets each customer with a friendly and welcoming smile.

Nagel and his staff are always hard at work and they are proud to be serving not only Midway, but all of Liberty County. They offer their free delivery services to all customers from Richmond Hill to Hinesville, and Nagel explained they are dedicated to providing services to their customers which they cannot find elsewhere. After explaining their plans for the future, he just smiled and added, “We’re here for whatever life brings you.”

What Does It Take to Stick Around?

A few common threads appeared throughout the interviews, and although we realize a lot of factors determine whether or not a business will be successful, there is definitely a pattern. All of these local businesses focus their efforts not on sales and profits, but instead on customer service and community support. They look at the people they are serving, listen to their needs, and do their best to provide services in a way that is genuine and tailored to those needs.

We all want to feel heard and cared for by the people around us, so it is no surprise we want to feel that way when we go to purchase something as well.

Even if you are not a business owner you can still benefit from getting out in the community and supporting local people, businesses and non-profits. After all we could all benefit from putting people first. LCM LIBERTY COUNTY MAGAZINE

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Wreaths for Warriors Walk, Inc. honors the Soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Division who have fallen supporting operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Please make plans to attend the 12th Annual Wreath Ceremony at noon on the 3rd Saturday in December.

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A ROAD LESS

photography by Joanna Ng Photography, CameraKoala Photography & Staff Photos

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Explore & discover this sweet land of Liberty & the people who have helped it thrive.

For those familiar with poetry I invite you to recall Robert Frost’s The Road Not Taken. The popular ending lines of the poem are “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I - I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” Just a step off the beaten path of Interstate 95 takes the traveler through history as they traverse Liberty County. The roads through this beautiful area don’t have as many occupants as the busy interstate, but they lead to treasures you could not possibly find at an interstate exit or on a billboard. Local roads offer many different paths through the area, and each one will take you on a unique adventure.

The wandering roads of Liberty County all began as dirt paths summoning the early residents of our country to their future home. The coastal county was originally composed of the Colonial parishes of St. John, St. James and St. Andrew.

Liberty County’s official birth date is February 5, 1777, less than a year after Button Gwinnett and Dr. Lyman Hall acted as the community’s representatives at the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Preserving the spirit of independence and freedom, cultural and historical sites are found throughout the county. Visit each fascinating place at your leisure, and you’ll be greeted with smiling faces and warm accents. Discover the stories of our historical and cultural sites, and you’ll be amazed at how each connects to the other, weaving the amazing tapestry of our community’s past.

The historic Highway 17, originally part of the Dixie Highway system and now the newest “Georgia Grown Trail”, leads modern day visitors to places of interest.

Entering the county from the North will bring you to the Midway Museum. Georgia’s first Colonial museum holds relics gathered from ancestors who devoted their lives to the betterment of Liberty County.

If you cross the street, you’ll find the Midway Cemetery, mostly known for the large obelisk structure at its center dedicated to Liberty County’s famous Generals James Screven and Daniel Stewart. The monument was erected in 1915, and the Generals are laid to rest just a few steps away.

Less famous, yet no less important, tombstones stand throughout the cemetery as well. Time has crumbled and faded some, but if you take the time to read the inscriptions on the tombstones you’ll realize how precious and fleeting life was in those days. Many children are buried there, as evidenced by brief life dates carved on the stones. Some include beautiful bible verses or phrases that were surely offerings LIBERTY COUNTY MAGAZINE

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of comfort to their grieving parents. The beautiful Midway Church, which was built for the second time in 1792 after the first was burned

by British troops, stands watch over the cemetery.

Further along Highway 17, near the southern border of Liberty County, lies the Geechee Kunda Cultural Center in Riceboro. Here you’ll meet owners Jim and Pat Bacote, whose hearts and souls provide the feelings of warmth and hospitality you’ll experience there. This couple and their Geechee community work continuously to preserve and perpetuate the Gullah-Geechee culture. African masks, artwork, instruments and sweetgrass baskets are displayed everywhere, alongside tools of the slave trade. The pieces have their own stories to tell, stretching from the bonds of slavery to the elation of freedom.

“Liberty County is my connection to my ancestral past, which means everything to me,” said Jim Bacote.

“The most important aspect of my work relates to the fact that positive social change results from accurate historical context.”

Geechee Kunda celebrates and shares this culture through two annual festivals, The Sugarcane Harvest and The Gathering. Both provide an experience like no other, with storytellers, dancers singers and local cuisine.

Geechee Kunda’s incredible events have even moved some to bequeath their finances to see its mission completed.

“Recently a visitor from Oregon wrote to us about her decision to will a substantial investment to Geechee Kunda for use at our discretion. We wished her healthy, productive longevity but we were touched and inspired by the stranger’s understanding and being touched by our mission,” said Bacote.

The Bacotes continue their work and strive to tell the stories of the Gullah-Geechee people by offering education, peace and harmony.

Not far from Geechee Kunda lies a path filled with stories of faith and religion—The Historic Baptismal Trail. For almost 100 years, as early as the 1840s, this site was an active holy place for the ancestors of the local Geechee communities. Oral and written church history from descendants of the First African Baptist Church indicate this was the location of many ritual Christian baptisms performed by the leaders of a congregation of enslaved people. These early baptisms were carried out in affiliation with the White North Newport Church, and after the white congregation moved to Walthourville in 1854, the enslaved Africans renamed the church the First African Baptist Church and continued the ritual baptisms until the early 1940s.

Today, a dirt path lined with pine trees and interpretive signage leads you to a boardwalk overlooking the baptismal pool. The stillness

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Preserving the spirit of independence and freedom, cultural and historical sites are found throughout the county.

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and reverence are palpable as your gaze wanders from the dark waters to the intense green of the towering trees, the gaps between them giving you a glimpse of the blue heavens above. It is truly a transcendental spot for reflection, meditation and contemplation.

Crossing Highway 17 is the eastern portion of Oglethorpe Highway, and travelers heading along this road in either direction will be welcomed by more of Liberty County’s rich history. The eastern route leads visitors toward the historic town of Sunbury and the coast, and many travelers may follow paths which were once used by soldiers and freed slaves alike.

Revolutionary War history comes alive for visitors at the Fort Morris State Historic Site. The once bustling port town of Sunbury was the original county seat, and Ft. Morris did its part to defend the coastal community from invading British Naval forces. Each year the fort celebrates Col. John McIntosh, whose response to the British’s demand of surrender was a resounding “Come and take it!” Costumed interpreters muster their weapons, shattering the quiet with musket and cannon fire demonstrations. Campfires glow as colonial style food is cooked over an open flame, and the clanging hammer of the blacksmith can be heard in the background.

Liberty County’s barrier island, St. Catherines, can also be seen from Ft. Morris, and the grand vista over the Midway River is one that has not changed in hundreds of years.

Fort Morris serves as a retreat for bird watchers as well. Painted buntings, goldfinches, wood storks, great egrets and pileated woodpeckers have made their nests in the area, but there is a plethora of other species to be found there.

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A few miles further and many decades later, following the Civil War, the nearby Seabrook Village community was established through federal land grants made possible by General William T. Sherman’s Field Order 15 (1865), a policy that came to be known as “forty-acres-and-a-mule.” Here freedmen settled as landowners, many on the same lands they had once worked as slaves. Armed with little but their newly found freedom, a plot of land and their determination to build a brighter future for themselves and their families, the freedmen of Seabrook carved out their place in Liberty County’s history.

Seabrook Village’s motto is “makin’ do” and that’s exactly what the houses, the one-room schoolhouse, and the corncrib you’ll find there represent. The folks who lived there “made do” with the materials and resources available, and their ingenuity is obvious in the remaining artifacts. The most important building on the site is the one-room schoolhouse, which finally granted African-American children in the area the freedom to learn.

“Seabrook Village to me, is a jewel,” said Director Florence Roberts. “I feel so strongly about Seabrook Village. My grandmother and several aunts taught in the one-room schoolhouse. AfricanAmericans wanted their children to be able to read, write and count, because that was kept from them.

They wanted better for their children.”

Roberts was involved with Seabrook Village from its inception until her retirement in 2017, and she will be quick to tell you that the first generation of Seabrook Village was grateful for the little they had. Currently, the site especially encourages school

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groups to visit. Groups of children are able to churn butter, grind corn into cornmeal and wash clothes on a washing board. Though it may be tough work, the children are enthralled by the experience.

“It’s an educational experience, and I think it means a lot to the county,” said Roberts.

While Seabrook Village holds the history of some of Liberty County’s first freed slaves, travelling west along Oglethorpe Highway brings you to Dorchester Academy in the city of Midway. There, the African American boys’ dormitory takes you forward in history to the Civil Rights movement. It was here that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stayed while planning “Project C”, and there’s a sense of awe when you enter his room. The furniture is sparse—two twin beds, a desk, a chair and a small separate room with a 1960’s TV and vintage chair. The room has been preserved as it was after Dr. King’s departure, and his pioneering spirit remains.

The museum in front of Dorchester Academy houses information and artifacts from the past, and there are numerous stories to be told, from the teachers and students.

According to the Dorchester Improvement Association, Dorchester Academy’s first gift to freed slaves was the freedom of the mind. Many minorities were educated here, enabling them to pass the tests required to vote during this time. Although it is designated as a National Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Dorchester Academy remains a hidden gem of the Civil Rights Movement.

It’s relatively remote location and unassuming facade may be part of why it was chosen by Dr. King and others, since it gave them the freedom to plan and take some respite from their daily struggles. Whatever may have drawn them to it, the stories of their time at Dorchester Academy are just waiting to be retold to those who visit.

The roads of Liberty County crisscross and wander as they lead their travelers throughout history.

Some places in Liberty County combine history with a bit of lightheartedness. The Independent Telecommunications Pioneer Association Museum, lead by Executive Director Alissa Moss, works to preserve the telecommunications history and share it with the community. ITPA provides visitors the opportunity to discover the technology of a bygone era, and is also dedicated to community service. They are proud to support Wounded Warriors as well as research for finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.

“Who would have thought that old telephones and telephone artifacts could build friendships with people you never thought possible,” asked Executive Director Alissa Moss. “Boy was I lucky when I met a charismatic lady 80

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who was carrying her house plant around in celebration of National Take Your House Plant to Work Day. We all know her as Mrs. Charm; my kids call her the lady that celebrates every day. Mrs. Charm has a way of visiting our museum and turning old telephones into an exciting learning opportunity.

Her eyes light up with excitement as she dials the old rotary phone and hears the clickety-clack of the step switch dialing a call or as she turns the crank on an old magneto and hears the ring that takes you back to the old days.”

Moss says ITPA welcomes everyone to come visit the museum, and she encourages them to see it through the eyes of Mrs. Charm, “because life is more fulfilling when you are having fun.”

For some, nature is their true calling and their path will always lead them to the outdoors. In Liberty County, you can lose yourself in the surrounding coastal areas and ancient oaks framed by Spanish moss. Picturesque locations are dotted throughout the community, and sites like Cay Creek Wetlands Interpretive Center offer relief from the metropolis.

Wherever you are, nature hums as you are immersed in the salty air and coastal breezes. Locations for kayaking and fishing are found scattered along many roads in Liberty County, and being on the water allows you to relax as you float along beneath a beautiful sun-lit sky.

Both its history and future lie along the roads that wander through Liberty County. They serve to connect the many incredible stories of people who lived long ago and the descendants who carry on their spirit. Take the road less traveled. Explore and discover this sweet land of Liberty and the people who have helped it thrive.

Life is short. Take the dirt road, get your feet wet and explore Liberty County!

To learn more about Liberty County’s history and attractions or to plan your next trip to our coastal hideaway, visit www.libertycounty.org or call 912-368-3580. LCM

Discovering Liberty County’s Tea History We recently held a tea party of sorts at the Liberty County Chamber and Convention and Visitors Bureau offices. It wasn’t formal, and we didn’t use good china or cloth napkins. We did get to taste eight different teas to narrow the selection for a Liberty County tea blend. Of course, none of us are expert tea-tasters but we are from the south and that gives us credit right there.

There were black teas, fruity teas and nutty teas and in the end, we narrowed it down to three. There will be another round of tea tasting soon to select the final blend to reflect Liberty County and the rich history of would-be tea plantations.

Many a southerner grew up on sweet iced tea and its ability to quench thirst and the soul simultaneously. The best kind of tea as any local can tell you is a strong blend with just the right amount of sugar served over ice. No nonsense and no fuss, no muss. Tea that refreshes the body and mind. Yep, we’re passionate about tea in the south. What better way to wile away the sticky, steaming, languid summers than a tall frosty glass of iced tea?

Here in Liberty County, the soil is perfect for tea and if it hadn’t been for a financial deal that fell through to South Carolina, Liberty County would have been producing tea for the states in the 1800s.

It all goes back to Riceboro and the first tea plants introduced there by William Jones and his daughter, Rosa Jones Screven. A Scottish venture capitalist named John Jackson visited Liberty County to inspect the tea crop.

The specimens he sent to the Department of Agriculture were deemed equal to the best raised in India or China.

A $30,000 appropriation to establish a government sponsored tea project in Liberty County was secured but the political tides turned and the project went to South Carolina. Jackson had no choice but to follow the money and go to Summerville, South Carolina to tend to the crops.

After a year of cultivation, he was convinced South Carolina’s soil was wrong and Liberty County was the best choice to grow a perfect tea crop. Unfortunately, since the tea didn’t take in South Carolina, the government funding was relinquished and Jackson had to abandon his tea aspirations.

He did move back to Liberty County and became a resident until his death. He tried to secure financial backing for tea cultivation in the area but was unsuccessful. Remains of the old tea fields near Riceboro could still be found as late as 1900. Local residents picked the leaves when they were tender, dried them in the sun and brewed their own special blend of Liberty County tea.

Tea plants cultivated by Jackson are no longer in existence in Liberty County but the soil in these parts holds the memory of his dream. The blended culture and history of our lovely Liberty County awaits discovery.

In the near future, if you visit us in Liberty County, chances are we’ll offer you our own blend of tea, specially selected to capture the flavor of local culture.

The tea blend chosen by our local residents will be something you can take home with you, as a palatable souvenir of your trip. LCM

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Liberty County HISTORICAL SITES

Dorchester Academy & Museum of African-American History

Where: 8787 East Oglethorpe Highway, Midway When: Saturday-Sunday 2 p.m.-4 p.m. & Tuesday-Friday 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Contact: 912-884-2347 or www.dorchesteracademyia.org Admission: No fee; donations are welcome The former school, which was founded by the American Missionary Society soon after the Civil War to educate African-Americans, was named one of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Sites by the National Trust for Historic Preservation a few years ago. The Academy operated until 1940 and then became a cooperative to help area residents with farming, economic and household issues. Its most recent historical role was as a site for civil rights movements.

The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. planned his campaign to integrate Birmingham during meetings there is the mid1960s.

The Dorchester Improvement Association is spearheading the effort to restore Dorchester Academy to its past glory and conducts annual fundraisers, the biggest of which is the annual Walk to Dorchester, usually held in mid-June. The walk retraces the average distance students had to walk to attend the school.

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Dorchester Village Civic Center

Where: 1804 Islands Highway, Midway When: Available year-round for rental on occasions such as banquets, weddings and/or receptions, family reunions, business and club meetings, birthday parties, conferences and other events.

Contact: 912-884-3342 or www.dvciviccenter.org Cost: Rental fees vary This recently restored 1938 school-house is located off of I-95. It features 7,400 square feet, including an auditorim, five classrooms, a full kitchen and an outdoor pavilion.

The schoolhouse, originally built in 1927, consolidated the schools at Sunbury, Colonel’s Island, Riceboro and Jackson Chapel. That building burned and the school was rebuilt in 1938. It served grades one through seven until 1951, when it was closed. On Feb. 4, 1958, the Liberty County Board of Education sold the property for $10 to the nonprofit Dorchester Civic Center, Inc. Over the years the building fell into a state of disrepair and was closed due to the hazardous conditions.

In 2008, Dorchester Civic Center, Inc. reactivated and began an effort to restore the historic building so it could again become a vital part of the community. The renovation was completed in 2010.

Midway Museum

Seabrook Village

Where: 660 Trade Hill Road, Midway When: Tuesday & Thursday, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Contact: 912-884-7008 or www.seabrookvillagefoundation.org Seabrook Village is an African-American living history museum. The Seabrook community was established through federal land grants made possible by Gen. William T. Sherman’s Field Order 15 in 1865, a policy that came to be known as “40 acres and a mule.”

The village, which features eight turn-of-the-century buildings, is dedicated to the authentic portrayal of rural African-American culture from 1865-1930. The interactive historic site includes a one-room schoolhouse and demonstrations of meal grinding, hand-hewn furniture and washing clothes on a scrub board. The village is run by a foundation of community members.

Fort Morris

Where: 2559 Fort Morris Road, Midway When: Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Contact: 912-884-5999 or www.gastateparks.org/fortmorris Admission: $1.00-$4.50 per person; group rates are available with advance notice When the continental Congress convened in 1776, the delegates recognized the importance of a fort to protect Georgia’s coast from the English navy. A low bluff on the Midway River near the seaport of Sunbury was fortified and garrisoned by 200 patriots. The fort protected Georgia during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.

Today, visitors can stand within the earthworks from the War of 1812 and view scenic St. Catherines Sound. In the museum, exhibits describe the once bustling colonial port at Sunbury that was larger than Savannah.

Where: 491 N. Coastal Highway 17, Midway When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday Contact: 912-884-5837 or www.themidwaymuseum.org Admission: $10 adults, $5 children, $8 seniors & military, free admission for children under 5, prearranged group rates available Patterned after a raised, cottage-style house typical in the 18th century, the museum is a replica but holds authentic pieces and a wealth of information. The museum was built in 1957 and has been gathering artifacts, documents, pictures and furnishings since then. Several special days are held at the museum each year, including the annual Christmas tea.

In late 2009, a new collection opened featuring documents and household items from the Charles Colcock Jones family, whose letters became the basis for ‘The Children of Pride,” a compilation about life on Southern plantations in the mid-1800s. Next door to the museum is the Midway Congregational Church, built in 1792. The church is a classic example of a colonial house of worship with neither electricity nor plumbing.

The nearby cemetery was established in the 1700s

by Puritan settlers. Many famous Liberty Countians are buried there. About 300 of the 1,200 graves still bear their original markers, while others crumbled or were destroyed

by Northern troops who used the cemetery as a cattle pen during the Civil War.

Geechee Kunda Cultural Arts Center & Museum

Where: 622 Ways Temple Road, Riceboro When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday Contact: 912-884-4440 or www.geecheekunda.com Admission: No fee; donations accepted Geechee Kunda is located on lands where the rice, cotton and indigo producing Retreat Plantation once stood. The center was created as a means of contributing to efforts to preserve and perpetuate the knowledge of important Africa cultural elements in the United States.

In addition to permanent and rotating exhibits, the center’s year-round activities include classes, workshops, demonstrations and lectures covering a broad spectrum of subjects that allow visitors to explore various aspects of continental and diaspora African culture. Exhibits feature artifacts from Africa and this area, some dating back to the 1700s, including authentic slavery artifacts, Geechee relics and Jim Crow-era memorabilia. The center also has a gallery and gift shop that stocks merchandise such as books, textiles, artifacts and crafts.

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Old Liberty County Jail

Independent Telecommunications Pioneer Association National Office & Museum

Where: 438 W. Oglethorpe Hwy., Hinesville When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday Contact: 912-408-4872 or www.nationalitpa.com Admission: No fee; donations are welcome The museum consists of a vast collection of telephones and telephone equipment from throughout history. Children and adults alike will find it fascinating to see how the telephone evolved from the solid wood, wall mounted, hand cranked, operator directed, simplistic designs of the past to today’s pocket sized, touch-screen, cellular phones. The ITPA Museum is located at Bryant Commons, a beautiful 150acre property, located in the heart of Hinesville, which was once the homestead of the former Senator Glenn E. Bryant and his wife Mrs. Bryant. The Bryant family envisioned the property as a “passive park” for the community to enjoy.

Through a joint venture with the Bryant Family Foundation and the City of Hinesville, plans for Bryant Commons were developed and it currently features an outdoor amphitheater, 15-acre pond, and a developing Veterans Memorial.

Where: 302 N. Main Street, Hinesville When: 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Tuesday & Friday Contact: 912-877-4332 or www.hinesvilledowntown.com Admission: No fee In October 1892, the brick jail was completed on what was at that time, the south end of Hinesville and replaced a one story wood jail. The site and date of construction of the first jail are unknown. The architect is unknown but the contractor was a man by the name of Mr. Parkhill. The architecture of the jail is typical of penal facilities of that time period in towns of similar size in the southeast. The jail was used until 1970, when a new regional prison facility was completed. The jail was auctioned off and purchased by the Liberty County Historical Society for the sum of $4,500.

According to restoration documentation, “The Old Liberty Jail is a significant example of a late 19th century jail for an agricultural county and a small, but growing, community in Georgia. It is one of the earliest brick structures in Hinesville and probably Liberty County.” It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.

Historic Baptismal Trail

Where: 8808 E. B. Cooper Highway in Riceboro When: 8 a.m.-5.p.m. Monday-Friday & Saturday-Sunday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (hours are subject to change) Contact: 912-884-2986 or www.cityofriceboro.com Admission: No Fee For almost 100 years this site was an active holy place where the ancestors of the local Geechee communities baptized new members into their faith. Oral and written church history from the surviving descendants of the First African Baptist Church indicate that as early as the 1840s this site was used as a place where the ritual Christian baptism was performed by leaders of a congregation of enslaved people. These early baptisms were carried out in affiliation with the White North Newport Church. After the white congregation moved to Walthourville in 1854, the enslaved Africans renamed the church the First African Baptist Church and continued the practice of the ritual baptisms at the site until the early 1940s.

The site features a boardwalk, benches and picnic tables as well as interpretive signage regarding the surrounding natural habitat and the historical significance of the site. It is open daily to the public for self-guided tours.

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Let’s Make Boiled Peanuts By: Leah Poole

Definitely a southern staple, boiled peanuts are a part of life in Liberty County as well. There are tons of roadside stands that pop up this time of year selling peanuts so take a Sunday drive & explore. For someone who has never had a boiled peanut just a quick education, peanuts are actually part of the legume family but when boiled have more a potato-like texture.

We’ve been hearing local people talk for weeks “waiting for peanuts to come in” so that they could start making these little bits of salty yumminess to keep in the fridge all summer long. Peanuts are typically harvested in July/August depending on the weather, when temperatures stay 95 degrees or higher during the day and do not get lower than 70 degrees at night.

The best boiled peanuts are made from raw or what is called “green” peanuts. If you choose to make them at other times of year you will have to use dry or roasted peanuts which just aren’t the same. And the dried ones take a lot longer to cook.

Here’s our recipe: He 2 lb of green peanuts Kosher salt Water Directions: In a large stock pot with a lid mix a gallon of water for every cup of Kosher salt. You Di want the peanuts to be covered by at least 2 inches of water. Wash the peanuts well in cold water.

Place peanuts in the pot & bring to a boil on the stove. Keep the pot at a boil (but not boiled over) for 1.5 hours, stir every once in a while just to move the peanuts floating on the top down into the bring. At that point check the doneness of the peanuts. If they have reached your desired tenderness remove from heat (don’t rinse) and enjoy! If you want them to be more tender then just wait and boil them longer.

You can store the uncooked green peanuts in the fridge up to 4 days. Boiled peanuts can be good up to 10 days in the fridge, if they last that long! Or you can always stop by and see us at the Bacon Fraser house and see if we have any sittin’ in the fridge!

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A Plus Realty, La Fonya Hughes, Realtor ® ...................... 70 A Plus Realty, Kathy Villafane, Realtor ® ......................... 70 All American Storage ........................................................ 47 Ameris Bank .................................................................... 27 Arnold & Stafford .............................................................. 5 Atlanta Area CASA ............................................................ 69 CA Sittle .......................................................................... 25 Canoochee EMC ............................................................... 68 Chick fil A Hinesville ......................................................... 54 City of Flemington ........................................................... 53 City of Hinesville ............................................................. 22 City of Midway ................................................................ 42 City of Riceboro ............................................................... 53 Coastal Courier ............................................................ 16-17 Coldwell Banker Holtzman, Realtors ................................... 3 Columbia College ............................................................ 55 Dee’s Electrical ................................................................ 67 Dryden Enterprises ..................................................... 44-45 Elite Roofing and Consulting Service .......... Inside Back Cover Farmhouse Restaurant .................................................... 66 Fort Stewart/Hunter Army Airfield FMWR ............. Back Cover Georgia Dermatology ...................................................... 67 Georgia Hospice Care ....................................................... 57 Georgia Southern University ............................................ 56 GeoVista .......................................................................... 55 Hinesville Area Arts Council .............................................. 54 Hinesville Downtown Development Authority .................... 23 Hinesville Housing Authority ............................................ 34 Holtzman Real Estate Services .......................................... 47 Horizon Staffing .............................................................. 68

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

Advertisers Interstate Credit Union ..................................................... 71 Izola’s Country Café ......................................................... 46 Jimmy John’s .................................................................. 56 Jody Smiley Landscaping ................................................. 70 Jones, Osteen, Jones .......................................................... 1 Keep Liberty Beautiful ..................................................... 66 Liberty County Board of Commissioners ............................ 43 Liberty County CVB ........................................................... 24 Liberty County Recreation Department ............................. 43 Liberty County School System ........................................... 14 Liberty County Solid Waste ............................................... 35 Liberty Regional Medical Center ................. Inside Front Cover Liberty Veterinary Clinic .................................................. 42 McDonalds ...................................................................... 67 NG Photography .............................................................. 26 Optim Healthcare ............................................................. 15 Pam Lovette, Realtor ® ................................................... 69 PC Simonton .................................................................... 68 Realty Executives Liberty .................................................... 9 Reliable Appliance Repair ................................................. 67 Shell House ..................................................................... 33 SororFinds ......................................................................... 7 South Georgia Bank ......................................................... 69 State Farm - Melissa Carter Ray ........................................ 69 Tara Ruby Photography ...................................................... 2 The Shanken Team ........................................................... 57 Wreaths for Warriors Walk ............................................... 68 Yates Astro ...................................................................... 70 YMCA .............................................................................. 46

Please thank these advertisers for making this publication possible!

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MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY

2 Men and a Truck (912) 966-0600 121 Eason Drive http://www.facebook.com/twomenandatrucksavannah 24Seven Family Fitness and Tanning Center (912)370-1000 1112 West Oglethorpe Hwy http://24sevenfamilyfitness.com/ 520 Wings (912) 332-5182 730 East Oglethorpe Hwy http://www.520wings.com 5Linx-Timothy Scott (912)610-2286 http://www.5linx.net/L730138

A Plus Realty Group (912)463-4409 445 EG Miles Parkway #108 http://www.buyorsellinhinesville.com A.C. White Transfer & Storage Co. (912)368-9373 250 Hardman Road http://www.acwhite.com ABC Plumbing (912)876-2920 128 McDonald Drive http://www.abcplumbinghinesville.com Air Evac Lifeteam (912)530-7522 148 Peachtree Street http://www.amcnrep.com Aire Serv Heating & Air (912)876-8411 220 N. Maple Drive http://coolesthvac.com

All American Storage & U-Haul (912) 408-7878 1146 E.G. Miles Pkwy Suite 101 http://allamericanstorageuhaul.com

Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar (912) 369-4909 1492 E. Oglethorpe Hwy http://www.Applebees.com

All Ways Feet of Georgia (912) 876-8637 127 Mac Arthur Drive

Ardyss Independent Distribution / Rottweiler Vending` (912) 492-6401 http://www.ardysslife.com/kbell

Arline & Wiggins, CPAs, LLC (912) 265-1020 110 E MLK Jr Drive Suite 2A http://www.arlinewiggins.com

Allied Medical Training Centers (912)877-7773 445 E.G. Miles Pkwy #104 http://www.MEDAMTC.com Allstate Insurance Andy Bennett (912) 368-0432 820 W Oglethorpe Hwy https://agents.allstate.com/andy-bennetthinesville-ga.html

American Cancer Society (912) 355-1378 4849 Paulsen Street Suite 102 http://www.cancer.org

American Fence and Feed (912) 876-8721 5826 W. Oglethorpe Hwy Suite B http://www.americanfenceandfeed.com American Red Cross (912) 651-5300 41 Park of Commerce Way Building 200 http://www.redcross.org/ga/savannah Ameris Bank (912) 408-2173 101 West Hendry Street https://www.amerisbank.com

Ankle and Foot Associates, LLC (912) 432-7236 481 E.G. Miles Pkwy Suite c https://www.anklesandfeet.com/hinesville-ga-podiatrist

Arnold & Stafford (912) 369-4529 128 S. Main St. http://www.coastallawyers.com

Arrowood Environmental Group, Inc. (912) 920-2895 10 Rose Hill Dr http://www.arrowoodenv.com

AT&T Georgia (912) 877-3388 552 West Oglethorpe Hwy http://www.att.com Atlantic Area C.A.S.A. (912) 876-3816 1113 E. Oglethorpe Hwy. http://www.atlanticcasa.org

AUSA- Marne Chapter (912) 977-1077 120 Ali Ave http://www.ausa.org/sites/chapters/ CoastalEmpireChapter

Automated Business Resources (912) 527-7777 15 Chatham Center, South Drive http://www.abr1.com Axiom Insurance Agency (912) 876-8923 439 W General Screven Way http://www.axiom-insurance.com

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Beta Gamma Gamma Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity PO Box 3339 http://www.betagammagammaques.com

Canoochee EMC 1-800-342-0134 342 E. Brazell St http://www.canoocheeemc.com/

Balbo & Gregg, Attorneys at Law, P.C. (912) 876-6666 410 A General Screven Way http://www.balbogregg.com

BMC- Truss Mart (912) 884-4094 170 Elan Court http://www.buildwithbmc.com

Bone & Joint Institute of South Georgia (912) 427-0800 475 South Main Street Suite A http://www.bjisg.com

Carpathia Paws 1618 Airport Rd http://carpathiapaws.com

Century 21 Action Realty (912) 368-2100 123 General Screven Way http://www.century21-actionrealty.com

CenturyLink (912) 408-1240 100 Ryon Ave. http://www.centurylink.net

Baldinos (912) 368-8093 456 General Screven Way http://www.baldinos.us/

Barberitos (912) 368-0325 863 W Oglethorpe Hwy Suite 260 http://www.barberitos.com Barry S. Chapman & Associates LLC (912) 532-6767 1146 EG Miles Parkway Suite 205 http://www.barrychapmancounseling.com Bee’s Creations (912) 368-4774 229 W. General Screven Way, Suite 14 http://www.beescreations.net

Believing in the Nuyu- Eugene Johnson (912) 320-4397 116 Patriots Trail http://www.believinginthenuyu.org/

BeSeen Outdoor Advertising (912) 289-2235 2001 Cook Street http://www.beseenoutdoor.com/ Best Care Home Health (912) 368-5477 229 W. General Screven Way, Suite E http://bestcarehealthcenter.com

Best of the Best Custom Cleaning LLC (912) 532-6445 https://www.facebook.com/bestofthebestcustomcleaning/

Boost by Design (912) 235-6778 111 East Mills Avenue http://boostbydesign.com Bootleggers Package Store (912) 332-1809 5826 W. Oglethorpe Hwy Suite A http://www.facebook.com/bootleggerspackagestore Bradwell Institute (912) 876-6121 100 Pafford St. http://bradwellinstitute.org/ Brian Maike, REALTOR (912) 271-7281 730 General Stewart Way http://www.brianmaikerealtor.com

MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY

Badcock Furniture (912) 368-9229 104 Sandy Run Drive http://www.badcock.com

Charming Chics Boutique (912) 877-0741 229 General Screven way Suite N-2 http://www.charmingchicsboutique.com

Chatham Pkwy Subaru 1-888-862-7058 7 Park of Commerce Way http://www.cpsubaru.com

Chemtall / SNF Holding Company (912) 884-3366 One Chemical Plant Road http://www.snfinc.com

Cherokee Rose Country Club (912) 876-5503 Brigitte Cabeza-Shanken, 225 Cherokee Trail CIPS,RSPS,AHWD,Realtor, Associate Broker https://www.facebook.com/CherokeeRo(912) 222-8279 seCountryClub1 https://www.coldwellbanker.com/agents/ BRIGITTE-CABEZA-SHANKENChi Pi Beta of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc

(912) 492-6828 C.A. Sittle, Inc. http://www.chipizeta.org (912) 667-3014

1102 Ruben Wells Road Chick-Fil-A Hinesville http://landscapehinesville.com (912) 877-6631

877 West Oglethorpe Highway

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MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY

City of Flemington (912) 877-3223 156 Old Sunbury Road http://cityofflemington.org/

City of Hinesville (912) 876-3564 115 East M. L. King, Jr. Drive http://www.cityofhinesville.org

City of Midway (912) 884-3344 150 Butler St, Suite D6 http://www.historicmidway.com

Coastal Courier (912) 876-0156 125 South Main St. Suite A http://coastalcourier.com

Coastal Solar Power Company (912) 332-1109 229 West General Screven Way Suite N 1 http://www.coastalsolar.com

Coastal Drug Company (912) 884-9255 204 Butler Ave

Coldwell Banker Holtzman Realtors (912) 368-4300 730 General Stewart Way http://www.coldwellbankerholtzman.com

Coastal Electric Cooperative (912) 884-3311 Columbia College 1265 South Coastal Highway 17 (912) 877-3406 http://www.coastalemc.com 100 Knowledge Drive, Suite 147

http://www.ccis.edu/nationwide/ftstewCoastal Endodontics art.aspx (912) 463-4405 City of Riceboro 111 East Mills Avenue (912) 884-2986 Connection Church http://www.coastalendo.net 4614 S. Coastal Highway (912) 368-6121

http://www.cityofriceboro.org 116 Patriots Trail Coastal Family Counseling, LLC

http://www.connectionchurch.com/ (912) 335-4992 City of Walthourville 21 Isle of Wight Rd Suite E (912) 368-7501 Crew Contracting http://www.coastalfamilycounseling.com/ (912) 980-8703 222 Busbee Rd. http://cityofwalthourville.com/

Coastal Georgia Area Community Action CYNTECHS

Authority Inc Classy Ladies Social Club (912) 785-0975 (912) 264-3281 (912) 610-4860 http://www.cyntechs.com 1 Community Action Drive Suite A 950 Bridlepath Court

http://www.facebook.com/ClassyladiesSC Dagmar Madden, Realtor Coastal Home Care, Inc. (912) 572-6005 (912) 332-7327 Clayton Homes of Hinesville 730 General Stewart Way 531 South Main Street (912) 333-9100 https://www.coldwellbankerrealestate. http://www.coastalhomecare.us 1207 W Oglethorpe Hwy com/ http://www.claytonhomesofhinesville.com Coastal Massage Clinic

Darsey, Black & Associates (912) 570-9898 Climate Controlled Storage (912) 876-4010 21 Isle of Wight Rd #E (912) 876-4999 101 E Memorial Drive Unit B 229 West General Screven Way Suite M4 http://www.massagebook.com/coastal- http://www.darseyblackandassociates.com massageclinic http://www.hinesvillestorage.com

Davidson Estate Properties Coastal Area District Development Authority Coastal Pawn (912) 369-7902 (912) 877-6232 (912) 261-2500 290 W. General Screven Way 501 Gloucester Street, Ste. 201 https://www.facebook.com/coastalpawnhttp://www.cadda-sba.org/ hinesville

Coastal Cooling LLC (912) 977-0222 http://www.coastalcoolingllc.com/

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Dee’s Electrical (912) 369-2887 1329 W. Oglethorpe Hwy

Denmark Rentals Apartments and Homes / Lawrence Hammock Rentals, LLC (912) 876-2300 P.O Box 777

Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center Of GA (912) 369-7546 510 E. Oglethorpe Hwy http://www.gaderm.com/

Dove Mortgage Inc. (912) 369-8296 617 Windhaven Drive http://www.dovemortgageinc.com Dryden Properties / Enterprises (912) 368-6105 310 South Main Street http://www.dryden-homes.com Dunham Farms (912) 880-4500 http://www.dunhamfarms.com/

Ease the Pain Massage Clinic (912) 980-6205 103 Ryon Ave. Suite D http://www.etpmclinic.com

East Liberty County American Legion Disabled American Veterans Chapter #46 Post 321 (912) 368-2546 (912) 980-5204 1113 E. Oglethorpe Hwy http://americanlegionmidwaypost321.com http://www.davmembersportal.org/chap- ters/ga/46/default.aspx Econo Lodge

(912) 368-2275 Diversity Health Center 726 E. Oglethorpe Highway (912) 877-2227 http://www.hotelinhinesville.com 303 Fraser Dr.

http://diversityhc.org/ Edward Jones

(912) 369-4850 Doodles Billiards 322 North Main Street (912) 369-2211 http://www.edwardjones.com 105 West General Screven Way http://www.facebook.com/doodlesbilELAN Technology liards (912) 880-3526 169 Elan Court Dorchester Improvement Association http://www.elantechnology.com (912) 369-3407 8787 E Oglethorpe Hwy Eleven Black Men http://dorchesteracademyia.org/ (912) 376-9146

220 Norman Street Dorchester Village Civic Center

(912) 884-3342 Elite Concrete 1804 Islands Highway (912) 368-0448 http://dvciviccenter.org/ 7091 U.S. Hwy 84 East http://eliteconcrete.biz

MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY

De Dios es el Poder (912) 877-0146 49 N. Bypass Road https://sites.google.com/site/iglesiadediosdedioseselpoder

Elite Roofing & Consulting Service (912) 447-3339 http://www.eroofcs.com Elizabeth Beasley Design elizabethbeasleydesign@gmail.com

Emma Jane’s (912)332-7683 106 Commerce Street https://www.facebook.com/emmajanesboutique/ ERA Southeast Coastal Real Estate (912) 876-3538 139 Ryon Ave http://www.erageorgia.com ESG Operations, Inc (912) 876-8216 613 EG Miles Pkwy http://www.esginc.net

Extreme Audio of Hinesville (912) 876-2228 104 B W General Screven Way

Fairfield Inn & Suites (912) 876-2003 1494 E. Oglethorpe Hwy http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/ savhv-fairfield-inn-and-suites-hinesville-fortstewart/ Fang’s Island 521 B W Oglethorpe Hwy https://www.facebook.com/Fangs-Island

Farmer’s Natural Foods (912) 368-7803 754 E.G. Miles Pkwy http://www.farmersnaturalfoods.com/

Farmhouse Restaurant and Catering (912) 654-1456 3152 Hwy 301 S. http://www.thefarmhouse301.com/

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MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY

First Command (912) 391-1049 110 E. MLK Jr. Drive Suite B http://www.firstcommand.com

First Presbyterian Christian Academy (912) 876-0441 308 East Court Street http://www.fpcahinesville.com

FirstPage Marketing (912) 239-5740 35 Barnard Street http://www.firstpagelife.com

Georgia Department of Labor (912) 370-2595 740 General Stewart Way, Suite 202 http://www.dol.state.ga.us

Flemington Presbyterian Church (912) 876-2706 750 Old Sunbury Rd https://www.facebook.com/FlemingtonPC/

Flemington Veterinary Hospital (912) 368-3226 3263 E. Oglethorpe Hwy http://www.flemingtonvet.com/

Florabelle Flowers & Gifts (912) 332-5345 315 W General Screven Way http://hinesvillageflorist.com

Georgia Power Company (888) 660-5890 923 W. Oglethorpe Hwy http://www.Georgiapower.com

Georgia Southern University (912) 877-1906 175 W. Memorial Drive http://www.georgiasouthern.edu/

Georgia Transmission Corp.

(770) 270-7741 2100 East Exchange Place http://www.gatrans.com

Fort Stewart Family Homes (912) 408-2480 50 Austin Road http://www.fortstewartfamilyhomes.com

Fraser Center (912) 369-7777 203 Mary Lou Drive http://www.frasercenter.com

G & B’s Treasures (912) 877-5974 103 Ralph Quarterman Drive http://www.gnbtreasures.com

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Georgia Eye Institute of the Southeast, LLC (912) 368-2522 741 Weeping Willow Dr. Ste A http://www.gaeyeinstitute.com/

Georgia Hospice Care (912) 427-3202 141 South Macon Street http://www.georgiahospicecare.com

GeoVista Federal Credit Union (912) 368-2477 601 W. Oglethorpe Hwy http://www.geovistacu.com/

Gerber Collision & Glass (912) 415-9010 992 E Oglethorpe Hwy

Gibson Home Store (912) 876-6250 4118 East Oglethorpe Highway http://www.gibsonshomestore.com/ Global Pack & Ship-FedEx and DHL Authorized Ship Center (912) 332-7912 103 W General Screven Way Suite G

Gold & Silver Pawn (912) 876-6580 501-H General Screven Way http://goldandsilverpawnhinesville.com/

Golden & Associates CPA’s, LLC (912) 876-8279 769 East Oglethorpe Hwy http://www.goldencpa.com Good To Go (912) 369-3933 812 Elma G. Miles Parkway http://www.goodtogojamaicanrestaurant. com Goodwill Industries of the Coastal Empire (912) 876-7473 115 W. Hendry Street, Suite 18A http://www.goodwillsega.org

Gospel 94.9FM Radio (912) 320-4686 302 W. Memorial Drive http://www.gospel949.net Graceland Bounce (912) 856-6798 75 Marion Court http://www.gracelandbounce.com

Graddy & Associates Financial Group (912) 876-2130 101 A N. Main Street

Great Clips 863 W Oglethorpe Hwy Suite 250 http://www.greatclips.com Great Southern Exterminating (912) 876-5010 2900 Leroy Coffer Hwy http://www.great-southern-exterminating. com/ H&R Block (912) 876-3415 229 West General Screven Way Suite B-C http://www.hrblock.com

Hampton Island Club, LLC (912) 880-8800 1300 Retreat Road http://www.hamptonisland.com/

Happy Acres (912) 876-6881 1125 Kelly Dr. # 76 http://ilovehappyacres.com

Hinesville Area Arts Council (912) 368-4445 102 Commerce Street http://www.hinesvillearts.com/

Hinesville Area Board of Realtors (912) 368-4227 508 North Main Street Suite 19 http://www.hinesvillerealtors.com

Hinesville Downtown Development Authority (912) 877-4332 115 East M. L. King, Jr. Drive http://hinesvilledowntown.com/

MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY

H.E.R. Wellness Center, LLC (912) 358-2016 1763 Highway 196 W http://www.herwellnesscenterhinesville. com

Hinesville Smiles (912) 368-3333 101 East General Stewart Way http://www.hinesvillesmiles.com/ Hinesville Takeout Express (912) 235-0292 https://www.hinesvilletakeout.com/

Hobby Lobby (912) 368-2307 863 W Oglethorpe Hwy http://www.hobbylobby.com

Holiday Inn Express (912) 877-5611 Happy Inn & Suites at Happy Acres Hinesville Fence EBG, LLC 1388 East Oglethorpe Hwy (912) 876-6881 (912) 368-3314 http://www.hiexpress.com 1125 Kelly Dr. # 76 http://hinesvillefencega.com

http://www.happysuites.com

Holtzman Insurance Agency Hinesville Hot Rods & Auto Sales (912) 368-2600 Hargray Fiber (912) 877-1223 1146 E.G. Miles Pkwy, Suite 102 (877) 427-4729 920 EG Miles Parkway http://www.holtzmaninsurance.com http://www.hargray.com http://hinesvillehotrodsautosales.century-

linksite.net Holtzman Real Estate Services Harris Ace Hardware

(912) 876-8886 (912) 876-2147 Hinesville Housing Authority 1146 E.G. Miles Pkwy, Suite 104 1012 W. Oglethorpe Highway (912) 876-6561 http://www.holtzmanrealestate.com http://www.facebook.com/harrishardware 100 Regency Place

http://www.hinesvillehousingauthority.org Horizon Behavioral Health Heritage Bank (912) 785-2100 (912) 368-3332 Hinesville Lodge #271 F&AM 508 N. Main Street Suite A 300 South Main Street (912) 321-9381 http://www.horizon-behavioralhealth. http://www.the-heritage-bank.com 933B EG Miles Parkway com/ http://www.hinesvillelodge271.org Heritage Group

Horizon Staffing, Inc. (912) 408-6521 Hinesville Pharmacy (912) 355-5966 300 South Main Street (912) 876-8125 7722 Waters Avenue http://www.the-heritage-group.net 481 EG Miles Parkway, Suite A http://www.horizonstaffing.com

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hines- Hernandez Collision Center ville-Pharmacy Hospice Care of Georgia (912) 369-6398

(912) 335-5820 1070 W. Oglethorpe Hwy Hinesville Rotary 9998 Ford Avenue Suite 4 http://www.hernandezcollisioncenter.com (912) 401-1387 http://www.hospicecareofga.net

https://www.hinesvillerotary.org/ Hinesville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Hospice of South Georgia, Inc. Theta, Sorority, Inc. (912) 588-0080 (912) 876-3816 1625 Sunset Boulevard http://www.hinesvillealumnae.com http://hospicesoga.org/ LIBERTYLiberty COUNTY County MAGAZINE Magazine

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MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY

Hospice Savannah, Inc (912) 355-2289 1352 Eisenhower Drive http://www.hospicesavannahhelps.org/ Howard Family Dental (912) 368-6881 319 General Screven Way Suite H. http://www.howardfamilydental.com

Izola’s Country Cafe (912) 463-4709 809 Willowbrook Dr. Suite 106 https://www.facebook.com/IzolasCountryCafe

J M Allen Construction, INC. (912) 256-1743 441 Bell Road NE

Hugo Boss (912) 880-5200 270 Elan Court http://www.hugoboss.com

Humana Military (502) 318-5086 872 Harmon Ave Bldg 202 http://humana-military.com

Imprint Warehouse (912) 408-4001 101 Ryon Ave. http://www.iw-us.com

James E. Smith, Jr REALTOR (912) 877-7393 323 General Screven Way http://fortstewartrealty.com

JAS Joys Art Studio LLC (478) 319-8997 229 W General Screven Way Suite O http://www.jasjoysartstudio.com

JC Lewis Ford Hinesville (912) 876-3673 305 W Oglethorpe Highway http://www.jclewishinesville.com

Independent Telecommunications Pioneer Association & Telephone Museum (912) 408-4872 438 W. Oglethorpe Hwy. http://www.nationalitpa.com/

JC Vision and Associates, INC. (912) 877-4243 135-G East MLK Jr. Drive http://www.jcvision.com

Jennifer Driggers REALTOR (912) 368-4300 730 General Stewart Way

Jimmy John’s 110 W General Screven Way http://www.jimmyjohns.com

Interlinc Mortgage Services, LLC (912) 369-4000 210 N. Main Street https://www.interlincmortgage.com/

International Greetings USA (912) 884-9727 338 Industrial Boulevard http://www.igdesigngroup-americas.com Interstate Credit Union (912) 884-2754 11199 East Oglethorpe Highway http://www.iufcu.org

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Jimmy Shanken, REALTOR® (912) 977-4733 730 E. General Stewart Way http://www.fortstewarthomefinder.com

JK & T Tire & Auto (912) 368-3558 1528 Hwy 196 W http://www.jktautotire.com/

Jody Smiley Landscaping LLC (912) 977-3434 Joe Hudson Collision Center (912) 877-9273 3643 E Oglethorpe Hwy http://www.jhcc.com Jones Medical Equipment (912) 877-3202 481 E.G. Miles Parkway, Suite B https://www.facebook.com/jonesmedicalequipmenthinesvillega/

Jones, Osteen, Jones (912) 876-0111 206 E. Court St http://www.jojlaw.com/ Jordan Roberson, REALTOR (912) 977-6356 123 General Screven Way

June Jones, AVON- Independent Representative (912) 682-0433 https://youravon.com/mjunejones

K&M Xtreme Clean (912) 980-6605 873 Ruben Wells Road Kathy Villafane- REALTOR (912) 247-7967 445 EG Miles Parkway http://kathyvillafane.com

Keep Liberty County Beautiful (912) 880-4888 9397 E. Oglethorpe Hwy http://www.keeplibertybeautiful.org/

Kings of Steem, LLC (912) 655-5371 http://www.kingsofsteem.com L & D Cleaning and Floor Services (912) 429-1602

Liberty Co. Clinic of Chiropractic (912) 368-4002 211 East Memorial Drive http://libertyccc.com

Liberty Co. Convention & Visitors Bureau (912) 368-3580 208 E. Court Street http://www.libertycounty.org

Liberty Co. Development Authority LaQuinta Inn & Suites (912) 368-3356 (912) 369-3000 425 West Oglethorpe Highway 1740 E. Oglethorpe Hwy http://lcda.com http://www.LQ.com

Liberty Co. DFCS Leigh Smiley REALTOR (912) 370-2555 (912) 977-3401 112 West Oglethorpe HWY 730 E. General Stewart Way http://www.coldwellbankerholtzman.com http://dfcs.dhs.georgia.gov/liberty-countydfcs-office Lens Loft Liberty Co. EMA (912) 271-5747 (912) 368-2201 108 South Commerce 100 Liberty Street http://www.libertycountyga.com/ Lewis Portable Restrooms, Inc

(912) 424-2784 http://www.lewisportablerestrooms.com Liberty Co. Farm Bureau (912) 368-3370

562 E.G. Miles Parkway Liberty Cardiology http://www.gfb.org/contactus/default.asp (912) 927-3434

600 E. Oglethorpe Hwy Liberty Co. Health Department http://www.libertyregional.org (912) 876-2173

1113 E. Oglethorpe Hwy Liberty Chrysler Dodge Jeep, Inc. http://www.gachd.org/counties/lib(912) 876-5129 erty_county/ 750 West Oglethorpe Hwy. http://www.libertychryslerdodgejeep.com Liberty Co. High School (912) 876-4316 Liberty Co. Board of Commissioners 3216 East Oglethorpe Hwy. (912) 876-2164 http://www.liberty.k12.ga.us/LCHS/ 100 Main Street Suite 1320

http://www.libertycountyga.com Liberty Co. Recreation Department

(912) 876-5359 Liberty Co. Board of Education 607 E. Oglethorpe Hwy (912) 876-2161 http://lcrd.net 200 Bradwell Street http://www.liberty.k12.ga.us/

MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY

La Maison Du Caniche Inc. (912) 876-5165 988 Pineland Avenue http://www.lamaisonducaniche.com

Lady J’s Catering (912) 617-6576 933 Highland Drive http://www.facebook.com/LadyJs37

Liberty Co. Republican Party (912) 271-1702 539 Sunshine Lake Road https://www.facebook.com/Liberty-County-Georgia-Republican-Party Liberty College & Career Academy (912) 876-4904 245 Dorsey Road http://schools.liberty.k12.ga.us/lcca/

Liberty Consolidated Planning Commission (912) 408-2030 100 Main Street, Suite 7520 http://www.thelcpc.org

Liberty County ARC (912) 484-6320 http://www.libertycountyarc.org/missionvision/ Liberty County Board of Assessors (912) 876-3568 100 Main Street http://www.libertycountyga.com

Liberty County Coroner’s Office (912) 408-2101 100 South Main Street Suite 3700 http://www.libertycountyga.com Liberty County Neighborhood Center (912) 877-0056 800 Tupelo Trail http://www.seniorcitizens-inc.org Liberty County Sheriff’s Office (912) 876-2131 201 S. Main Street Suite 1300 http://libertyso.com

Liberty County Solid Waste Authority (912) 884-5353 100 North Main Street Suite 1510 http://www.libertycountysolidwaste.com/ recycling-convenience

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MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY

Liberty Cycle (912) 368-4441 936 EG Miles Parkway http://www.libertycyclehinesville.com Liberty Family Medicine (912) 876-5644 455 S Main Street Suite 104 Liberty Obstetrics & Gynecology (912) 877-2228 455 S. Main Street, Suite 202 http://www.cobgyn.net/

Liberty Pediatrics/ LRMC (912) 876-0250 455 S Main St. Suite 105 http://www.libertyregional.org/staff

Live Oak Church of God (912) 876-8769 296 Live Oak Church Rd. http://liveoakchurch.org

Live Oak Public Libraries (912) 368-4003 236 W. Memorial Drive http://www.liveoakpl.org Live Oak Villas (912) 880-0112 217 A Butler Ave http://www.fairwaymanagement.com

Magnolia Manor on the Coast (912) 756-4300 141 Timber Trail Road http://www.magnoliamanor.com

Magnum Pest Control (912) 977-6841 P.O. Box 2254 http://magnumpestsolutions.com Mainstage Systems, Inc (912) 432-2970 http://www.mainstagesystems.com

Marco’s Pizza (912) 368-3302 755 E Oglethorpe Hwy http://www.marcos.com

Margie’s Southern Cooking (912) 463-4864 1696 Shaw Road https://www.facebook.com/Margie-sSouthern-Cooking

Local Media Outdoor Inc (770) 535-6308 345 Green Street NW

Liberty Propane Longhorn Steakhouse (912) 408-3040 (912) 877-7181 4420 East Oglethorpe Hwy 825 W. Oglethorpe Hwy http://libertypropanega.com http://www.longhornsteakhouse.com

Liberty Regional EMS, Inc. Love-It-Productions, Inc. (912) 369-9420 (912) 368-7550 Marne Community & Spouses’ Club 474 South Main 109 Flat Shoal Ln. http://www.libertyregional.org/ https://www.facebook.com/Love-It-Produc- (678) 859-8005 http://www.marnecommunityclub.com

tions.com

Liberty Regional Medical Center Marshland Credit Union (912) 369-9400 Low Country Eyecare (912) 580-9822 462 E.G Miles Parkway (912) 877-2422 3650 Community Road http://www.libertyregional.org 465 E.G. Miles Parkway http://www.marshlandfcu.coop http://www.lowcountryeye.com

Liberty Veterinary Medical Center

Martin Insurance Agency, Inc. (912) 876-3357 Low Country Turf & Ornamental LLC (912) 876-5115 1094 E. Oglethorpe Hwy (912) 463-3396 206 North Main Street http://libertyvetclinic.com

http://www.martininsuranceagencyga.

Mach 1 Body Shop com/ Life United Pentecostal Church of Hinesville (912) 876-5500 (912) 368-4660 701 Courtland Drive McDonalds Restaurant 1301 Pipkin Road http://www.mach1bodyshop.com/ (912) 876-9301 http://www.lifeupc.org 321 Fraser Drive Magnolia Grove Medical Spa http://www.mcdonalds.com Lindy Blanchard, REALTOR (912) 559-6983

(912) 402-1222 144 West Cherry Street 730 General Stewart Way http://www.magnoliagrovemedicalspa.com http://www.itsyourhomeyourstory.com

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Milan Aire Group (912) 877-1262 202 E. General Stewart Way http://www.hsrealestateservices.com/ Molly Maxine Enterprises (912) 369-0160 122 South Main Street https://www.facebook.com/profile.

Moody Mortgage Corporation (912) 368-3980 119 E. Mills Avenue http://www.moodymortgage.com Muse Collision Inc. (912) 408-7246 14 Brights Lake Road http://www.musecollision.com Navy Federal Credit Union (888) 842-6328 730 S. Main St. http://www.navyfederal.org

Ng Photography (912) 271-5747 226 Old Sunbury Road http://www.Ng1photography.com Nikki Gaskin, REALTOR (912) 610-8304 730 General Stewart Way http://ftstewarthomesearch.com

Norman Realty & Management (912) 368-3433 139 Ryon Avenue http://www.rentfortstewart-hinesville.com

Nostalgic Towing & Sales LLC (800) 959-0306 12770 East Oglethorpe Hwy http://www.nostalgictowing.com

MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY

Midway Family Dental (912) 880-2288 1718 N. Coastal Hwy http://midwaydentist.com

Mike Reed Chevrolet (912) 876-2121 1559 East Oglethorpe Hwy. http://www.mikereedchevy.com/

Parkwood Podiatry Associates (912) 368-3036 600 E. Oglethorpe Hwy http://parkwoodpodiatryassociates.com

Nottingham Personal Care Home (912) 239-5408 307 York Lane https://nottinghampersonalcarehome. com/

Patriot Auto Sales & Title Pawn (912) 320-4454 845 E.G. Miles Parkway http://patriotautoshinesville.com/

Paul’s Art Studio Omni Financial (912) 977-2821 (912) 335-5320 114 Commerce Street 230 W General Screven Way Unit 110

https://www.omnimilitaryloans.com/loca- Pedrick & Company, LLC tion/hinesville-ga/ (912) 876-4697

103 Central Avenue One Stop Package http://www.pedrickcpa.com (912) 368-8066 760 E. Oglethorpe Hwy Perfect Portraits https://www.facebook.com/OneStopPack- (912) 306-5645 ageHinesville http://www.perfectportraits.org

Optim Medical Center Planet Fitness (912) 877-4400 (912) 221-4541 790 Veterans Pkwy, Suite 111 147 Hendry Street http://www.optimhealth.com http://www.planetfitness.com

Osteen Law Group Pleasant Grove AME Church (912) 877-2211 (912) 368-3266 101 Fraser St. 1450 W Oglethorpe Hwy http://osteenlaw.com/ https://pleasantgroveame.org/

P. C. Simonton & Associates, Inc. Point University (912) 368-5212 (912) 629-3856 309 N. Main St 55 Al Henderson Blvd http://www.pcsimonton.com http://www.point.edu

Pam Arthur-Lovett, REALTOR® Prime Care Medical Services (912) 977-4626 (912) 408-2000 401 South Main Street 514 A South Main Street http://www.pamlovett.com http://www.primecaremeds.com

Panera Bread Primerica (912) 448-0061 (912) 884-9409 1190 E. Oglethorpe Hwy 13053 E. Oglethorpe Hwy http://www.panerabread.com http://www.primerica.com/loriagnew

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MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY

Pro Feet (912) 368-2662 111 West Hendry Street http://www.facebook.com/profeetga

Purchasing Alliance Solutions 800-782-8254 1265 Minhinette Drive Suite 150 http://www.purchasingalliance.com

Quality Inn (912) 332-7461 1024 E. Oglethorpe Hwy http://www.choicehotels.com/georgia

Renaissance Park Senior Village (912) 448-0067 205 East Memorial Drive http://www.fairwaymanagement.com

Representative Al Williams (912) 368-4983 511-A Coverdell Legislative Office Build http://www.house.ga.gov/Representatives

Sam’s Club #4820 (912) 748-9210 15 Mill Creek Circle http://www.samsclub.com

Sanitary Plumbing (912) 876-3457 1574 E. Oglethorpe Hwy

Satin Sax Co. Richmond Hill City Center (912) 269-1013 (912) 445-0043 http://www.bernardrosemusic.com 520 Cedar Street

http://www.richmondhillcitycenter.com Savannah Car Rentals of Hinesville

(912) 370-1169 Ratcliffe & Smith, P.C. Rivers of Living Waters Outreach Ministries 1009 E Oglethorpe Hwy (912) 369-8000 (912) 429-6980 http://www.savannahcarrentals.com 103 N. Main St. 100 Regency Place

http://www.rolw.net Savannah Sand Company Rawls Realty Inc.

(912) 884-3702 790 Veteran’s Parkway Suite 112 Rodan and Fields Skincare 828 Rogers Pasture Rd. http://rawlsrealty.com (912) 492-6882 http://www.jahna.com

https://rtiner.myrandf.com

Reaching Milestones Savannah Technical College (912) 877-1405 Rodeo Mexican Restaurant (912) 408-3024 508 N Main Street Suite D (912) 877-2040 100 Technology Drive http://www.reachingmilestones.com 304 W. Oglethorpe Hwy. http://www.savannahtech.edu http://www.rodeomexican.com

Real Estate Resource Center of South

Scooba Shack II Georgia Rogers Tree Service (912) 656-3894 (912) 335-4544 (912) 884-2112 345 Lindquist Road Bldg. 71 445 EG Miles Parkway Suite 108 https://www.facebook.com/Rogers-Tree- http://facebook.com/divetheshack http://www.realestateresourcecenter.org Service

Score-Service Corps Of Retired Executives Realty Executives Liberty RTS Homes (912) 652-4335 (912) 877-6600 (912) 876-3363 111 East Liberty Street Suite103 401 South Main Street 116 S. Main St https://savannah.score.org/ http://www.realtyexecutivesliberty.com http://www.rts-homes.com

Second Chances Equine Rescue Recovery Place Russhell Rice, REALTOR (912) 385-8512 (912) 877-3600 (912) 271-5864 7663 Hwy 196 W 104 North Commerce Street 123 E General Screven Way http://www.scer-ga.org http://www.recoveryplace.org/ http://www.russhellrice.c21.com

Serenity Home Care Services Reliable Appliance Repair S E PrinTech (239) 738-8688 (912) 318-9742 (912) 654-3610 105 North Main Street Unit C http://www.reliableappliancerep.com 208 W. Rusten St. http://www.serenityhcservices.com

http://welovetoprint.com

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South Georgia Bank (912) 408-1051 737 South Main St. http://www.southgabank.com

MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY

SERVE LLC (912) 332-7503 110 N Commerce Street http://www.servellc.com

SERVPRO (912) 223-3841 1019 Commercial Dr http://www.servprowaycrosshinesvilledouglas.com/

Sheri Love, Aerialist (706) 573-6594 http://www.instagram.com/aerialsheri

Speros, Inc. (912) 368-8900 933 E.G. Miles Pkwy Suite 104 http://www.speros.com

St. Joseph’s/ Candler Immediate Care Center (912) 385-0801 780 E. Oglethorpe Highway http://www.getimmediatecare.com

Southeast Auto Service, LLC (912) 876-4280 104-B Carter Street http://www.southeastautoservice.com

Southeast GA Friends of Ft. Stewart & Hunter Stacy’s Florist (912) 408-6225 (912) 368-3343 http://friendsofftstewartandhunter.com/ 69 Old Sunbury Road http://www.stacysflorist.com Sho’ Nuff Smokin Good Barbecue Southeast Georgia Surgery

(912) 369-4663 (912) 876-5505 State Bank & Trust Company 4827 W 15th Street 455 S Main Street Suite 101 (912) 876-5050 http://www.facebook.com/ShoNuff 119 E. General Screven Way SmokinGoodBbq Southeastern Eye Center https://www.statebt.com/

(912) 876-1101

Skylark- Sexual Health and Care Clinic 345 Lindquist Bldg. 71 State Farm - Melissa Carter Ray Agency (912) 588-0010 http://southeasterneye.com/ (912) 368-6729 212 S. First Street Suite 6 119 Ryon Avenue http://helloskylark.com Southern Coast Properties http://www.hinesvilleinsurance.com

(912) 368-6322 Smile Doctors http://www.southerncoastpm.com State Farm Insurance - Adam Herndon 1-888-336-3374 730 General Stewart Way (912) 876-2159 111 W General Screven Way 790 Veterans Parkway, Ste 105 http://www.smiledoctors.com/douglasga/ Southern Comfort Heating & Air Co. http://www.adamherndon.com/ smile-doctors-welcome (912) 368-4822

http://www.southerncomfortga.com State Farm- Joseph Grant Smokin Pig The BBQ Joint

(912) 368-0073 (912) 756-7850 Southern Sweets Cafe & Bakery 101 E. Oglethorpe Hwy 3986 Hwy 17 (904) 977-3125 https://www.statefarm.com/agent/US/ http://www.smokinpigbbqjoint.com 112 Commerce St GA/Hinesville/Joseph-Grant

Society of the 3rd Infantry Division (Marne Spectrum Printing & Marketing, Inc Stewart Realty Chapter) (912) 897-7228 (912) 368-3700 (912) 271-5861 114 Wynngate Road 323 W. General Screven Way 158 Calvary Way http://www.spectrumasav.com http://fortstewartrealty.com http://www.society3rdid.org/

Spectrum Spine & Pain Care Stop N Stor Soror Finds (912) 450-6300 (912) 368-9196 Midway Mall Butler Avenue 229 General Screven Way Suite H! 746 EG Miles Pkwy http://www.sororfinds.com http://www.rowespineandpain.com/ http://www.store4@stopnstorstorage.com spectrum

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MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY

Strategic Biz Solutions Unlimited, Inc. (912) 368-3471 425 West Oglethorpe Highway http://www.strategicbiz.co Strike Hard CrossFit (912) 321-8545 1661 E. Oglethorpe Hwy Unit F http://www.strikehardcrossfit.com Surcheros Fresh Grill (912)332-1912 755 W Oglethorpe Hwy Suite 115 http://www.surcheros.com T.R. Long Engineering, P.C. (912) 368-5664 114 North Commerce St. http://www.trlongeng.com/

Tara Ruby Photography (912) 421-9197 http://www.tararuby.com Tattersall Village Apartments (912) 320-4788 501 Burke Dr. http://www.tattersallvillageapts.com

Taylors Creek Construction Company, LLC (912) 368-5015 8101 Elim Church Road NE #29

Tealiris Legacy Services, LLC (912) 318-4346 http://www.tealirislegacy.com The Law Office of Reginald C. Martin, LLC (912) 332-7199 400 N Main Street http://rcmartinlawgroup.com

The Liberty County Reentry Coalition, Inc (912) 877-5293 205 E. Court Street http://www.libertyreentry.org

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The Pines at Willowbrook Office (912) 877-2162 841 Willowbrook Drive http://www.dmacompanies.com/the-pinesat-willowbrook/ The Shell House Restaurant (912) 927-3280 8 Gateway Blvd West http://shellhouseseafoodsavannah.com/

The Tire Rack, Inc. (877) 353-5082 667 Sunbury Rd. http://www.tirerack.com

Thomas Hill Jewelers (912) 876-6036 110 E Martin Luther King Jr Dr Suite 1A http://www.thomashilljewelers.com T-Mobile (912) 877-6723 849 W Oglethorpe Hwy suite 120 http://www.tmobile.com

Tri-County Protective Shelter (912) 368-9200 Hotline http://tri-countyprotectiveagency.net/

Trinity EMS Billing & Consulting (844) 399-6379 1161 E Oglethorpe Hwy suite E http://www.temsconsultants.com UBOUNCE (912) 622-3832 http://www.ubounce.biz

Under the Chandelier Venue & Rentals LLC (912) 559-6923 1205 S US HWY 301

United Service Organization (912) 332-5881 1639 Gullick Avenue Bldg. 703 https://www.facebook.com/USOFortStewart/

United Way of Coastal Empire- Liberty County (912) 368-4282 135 E Martin Luther King Drive https://www.facebook.com/UWCELIBERTYCOUNTY Unlimited Taxes & More, Inc. (912) 369-9592 241-C West General Screven Way http://www.unlimitedtaxes.com

Vaden Nissan of Hinesville (912) 368-1680 1009 E Oglethorpe Hwy. http://vadennissanofhinesville.com Veterans of Foreign Wars (912)876-6602 931 Hwy 196 W https://www.facebook.com/pages/VFWPOST-6602 VIP Office Furniture & Supply (912) 877-5209 109 Central Avenue http://www.vipoffice.com

VIP Promotional Products (912) 877-5215 109 Central Avenue http://www.vippromoproducts.com VW & Co. (912) 980-8937 205 Oglethorpe Hwy http://www.unlimitedtaxes.com

Walmart Neighborhood Market #4519 (912) 255-6010 801-A East General Stewart Way

Walmart Neighborhood Market #4525 (912) 877-9810 1422 W. Oglethorpe Hwy Suite A http://www.walmart.com/store/4525

Wrap-It Signs (912) 876-9727 155 Dunleavy Road http://wrapitsigns.com

Wreaths for Warriors Walk (912) 977-0213 222 Magnolia Lane http://www.facebook.com/wreaths4warriorswalk

Xplosive Fitness (912) 480-0203 http://www.xplosivefitness.net

Wedgewood/Aspen Court Apartments (912) 368-2244 939 South Main Street http://www.wedgewood-aspencourt.com/

Weichert Realtors - Real Estate Professionals.

(912) 332-5194 201 E. General Stewart Way http://www.usrealtypro.com

White’s Service Center (912) 884-5566 369 N Coastal Hwy 17 https://www.facebook.com/Whitesservicecenter/

Xpress Signs (912) 369-6692 1301- A W. Oglethorpe Highway https://www.facebook.com/Xpress-Signs

XteriClean Pressure Washing (912) 492-8259 11 Kinlock Court http://www.xtericlean.com

Yates-Astro Termite & Pest Control (912) 876-5088 610 East Oglethorpe Hwy http://www.yates-astro.com/

Wise Tax Services (912) 321-3568 908 S Main St. Suite 104 https://www.wisetaxservices.com Woods Truck & Tractor (912) 884-2780 1648 Isle of Wight Road https://www.facebook.com/woodstruckandtractor/

WorkSource Coastal (912) 332-7908 7216 Skidaway Road suite A http://www.worksourcecoastal.org

MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY

Walmart Super Center (912) 369-3600 751 West Oglethorpe Hwy http://www.walmart.com

Waltrich Plastic Corp of GA (912) 368-9341 3005 Airport Road http://www.waltrich.com

Webster University- Ft. Stewart (912) 876-8080 100 Knowledge Dr. Suite 134 http://www.webster.edu/georgia

YMCA of Coastal GA (912) 368-9622 201 Mary Lou Drive http://www.ymcaofcoastalga.org/

Zaxby’s (912) 369-0266 403 East Oglethorpe HWY http://www.zaxbys.com Zoner’s Pizza, Wings and Waffles (912) 332-7733 103-D General Screven Way http://www/zonerspizza.com

To become a member of the Liberty County Chamber, call 912.368.4445

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Tree Spirits of Liberty County By: Erin Johnson

We’re at the point now where summer is slowly winding down, leave yourself a little time to explore your own surroundings before the hustle and bustle of fall arrives. Whether it’s where you live or a new place, get off the beaten path, grab adventure by the reigns and wander.

As you wander down Barrington Ferry Road after it turns into dirt just past the old Leconte Woodmanston plantation, you might be surprised to come upon a face peeking out from one of our Live Oak trees. Yep, you might actually see a face looking back at you while you’re doing some Sunday afternoon riding. And no, we’re not talking about the Keebler Elves. These faces are serene and majestic and unfortunately don’t make cookies! These are the Tree Spirits of Liberty County. They sit along the right-hand side of the road carved into two trees about 50 yards apart. We took a quick field trip out to see them and when I finally got a chance to get up close in person, only one thought came to mind: Ingebongies. I know now you’re thinking “What the heck is an Ingebongy?”

Well, when I was a little girl my brothers and I would visit my grandmother for the weekend. She had a great big house on a lot of property out in the boonies that she mostly used to ride her horses on, or take her dogs for a walk. I loved to visit her and tag along on these trips through the woods, not just for the horseback riding but also for the stories she’d tell us about her life growing up, how my mother was as a child and you guessed it, stories about the “Ingebongies.” The Ingebongies were spirits who lived in the trees and would only come out on certain occasions. I was very intrigued with this concept as a child, it couldn’t be very comfortable to live in a tree. And I was convinced if I lingered too long around any one particular tree the Ingebongies would snatch me away, never to be seen again.

Now I have no idea if these stories were an actual myth or if Ingebongies were my grandmother’s brainchild she used to add a little spice to our rides. I never have been a very talkative person. Whether it was fact or fiction, at 5 years old I was a true believer. I’m pretty sure everyone else knew they were just stories, but for me I knew every time something moved just outside my range of vision, it was an Ingebongy.I’ve never forgotten these stories so as I’m sure you can imagine the tree spirits in Liberty County immediately brought me right back to my childhood! Except this time, I wasn’t scared I would get snatched away.

(Mostly because I was in the truck, and I knew Leah and Delese wouldn’t let me get snatched away!)

We don’t know who carves these majestic faces or what the meaning is behind them, but they sure add a little mystery to a backroad we all love to wander down. Walk right up to it and you’ll see the amount of detail and precision in both faces. If you’ve ever tried to carve your name into a tree or wooden shed you know it’s pretty difficult to make it look nice, and yet the character and detail of these faces are a perfect example of rustic artwork.

Plan your next weekend around visiting these peculiar works of art and take in a bit of Liberty County on your ride. Bring the kids along and stop for a while at Briar Bay park at the playground. Maybe you’ll find a new Tree Spirit that has appeared recently or perhaps you’ll find another hidden gem. Explore Liberty!

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The Old Sunbury Road By: Clay Sikes

There is not much left of this old road, one of the oldest most historic in our state; once connecting the Port Town of Sunbury (and its 94 Port Vessels) to the States’ Capital in Milledgville. If this old road could talk, the stories it could tell, back to its origins as an Indian trail, to its most traveled times connecting Coastal settlers to the inland. Even in the modern era there are tall tales involving drug smugglers, adoring lovers, recreational hunters, and moonshine runners. The span and the history of this road are as rich as it gets in the USA; as this passageway connected Island and Coastal Indians with trade opportunities to tribes further today, non-indigenous flint rock arrowheads and other artifacts can be found on or near this north. Even toda road after a hard rain.

The routes we travel today often began with native Americans who searched the high ground, forged the streams, establishing the least difficult river passages. These trails transcended into much traveled roadways for settlers with horses and wagons, and yes, an occasional horseshoe or wagon part can still be found with today’s metal detecting technology. This road, known as ‘The Old Sunbury Road,’ is fronted by one of the nation’s oldest cemeteries, filled with names found in history books. Many are unaware that Sunbury is now known as a “Dead Town,” but once rivaled Savannah as the major seaport in this area. By all geological rights it should have been what Savannah became; after all, it is the deepest natural harbor east of the Mississippi. It has direct access to the ocean with its necessary winds, much shorter to get to from the high seas, while Savannah offered only a winding, often difficult silted river to navigate.

General James B. Vault, a former Ft. Stewart commander and military planner, and also a friend prior to his death, did his war college dissertation on ‘why’ such a natural harbor (Sunbury) was bypassed – his findings, though I never read it, were interesting! As the story goes, in the early days loyalty to the crown played a big role in how decisions were made. Apparently, St. John’s Parrish (later named Liberty County) held a dim view of Crown Rule, which may hold some truth as evidenced by the number of signers of the Declaration of Independence who lived here. Disloyalty to those in power meant a lack of favor from the powerful – in this case, the Crown. My how things have changed!

The historic markers at Sunbury will whet your appetite, as you will soon realize you are sitting on one of the most historic pieces of real estate ‘per square inch’ in this country. countr While the paved roads will allow you to easily find Sunbury (you must try Sunbury Crab Company if you go), it is that old dirt road you will want to leave by. It will eventually guide you back to Hwy 38; but take it, and take your imagination with you. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

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