community magazine 2021 FALL ISSUE
PUBLISHERS
Meredith & Scott Tredeau 770-788-6795 info@thenewtoncommunity.com
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DIRECTOR OF SALES
Maree Cronan 770-530-7837 sales@thenewtoncommunity.com
FEATURES 6 The Power of Multiplication 10 Outside-the-Box Outreach 14 View From the Top
EDITOR
Brian Knapp PHOTOGRAPHERS
Abby Dunson Michie Turpin CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
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HEALTH & WELLNESS
SPORTS & RECREATION
22 Stewards of the Land 30 Safe Space
36 An Unexpected Journey 40 Bathed in Red and Black
Kari Apted Chris Bridges Michelle Floyd Nat Harwell Jeff Perkins Gabriel Stovall Terri Webster ILLUSTRATOR
Scott Fuss The Newton Community Magazine is published quarterly. All contents are copyrighted by The Newton Community Magazine. Reproduction, in whole or part, without permission is prohibited. The Newton Community Magazine reserves liability in error to a printed correction.
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ARTS, EDUCATION & INNOVATION 46 In a Lead Role 50 When Life Hangs in the Balance
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LIVING
58 Stabilizing Force 62 A Man Called Yogi
On the Cover
SIMPLE PLEASURES by BRIAN KNAPP
The last 20-plus months have taught us all a lot about perspective. Things we held most dear suddenly took a back seat to talk of viral loads, case counts, death tolls, spike proteins, variants, mitigation, social distancing and various other hot-button topics associated with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. For some, this scourge has been a source of mere inconvenience; for others, it has forever altered life as they once knew it. Routines were either put on hold or thrown out the window altogether. COVID-19, the disease that has killed some 650,000 Americans and counting, continues to plague our economic, educational, political and spiritual engines, with no certain end in sight. Someday—whether this year, in 2022 or at an unknown date in the future—this pandemic, like all others before it, will recede and slowly but surely allow us to
reclaim a semblance of normalcy. We are afforded tastes here and there that remind us that our traditions still matter. Simple pleasures we once took for granted, like taking our kids out to Trick-or-Treat on Halloween in masks they chose to wear, have taken on greater importance now that we have experienced life without them. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are indeed part of the fabric that holds us together. Not all of this time has been for naught. It has reminded us to keep our focus where it belongs: on Jesus and the cross. We must cling to the hope we have in Him, especially as we come to the realization that true hope exists nowhere else in this world. Trials have their purpose. As C.S. Lewis once said, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains; it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”
PUBLISHERS’ NOTE
We’ve been struggling with uncertainties lately. They usually just come from change: Our oldest started high school, and jobs changed. We know that change and uncertainty are the only constants in life, so we’ve been looking for ways to increase our capacity for dealing with them. We received some wise counsel from a friend this summer: Do one thing every day that makes you uncomfortable. Whether it’s something you don’t want to do, something you’re afraid to do, or something you don’t think you do, “if it makes you uncomfortable,” she said, “do it.” In the beginning, it was tough. As easy as it would’ve been to stop, we kept going. Miraculously, difficult things became easier. When we realize it feels good to go beyond what we assume we’re capable of, it makes us want to do it again. It builds our endurance and tolerance for being uncomfortable. Our experience this summer helped us recognize the wisdom of doing things that make us uncomfortable. Deliberately making small changes in our habits and routines helps prepare us for the big changes when they come. The stories in this issue of The Newton Community Magazine are about people who stepped outside their comfort zones and experienced or accomplished the unexpected—people who discovered they were capable of more than they thought. Maybe we all are. Let’s get comfortable being uncomfortable and find out. May God bless and keep you. Scott and Meredith Tredeau
2021 Fall Issue 5
F E AT U R E S
THE POWER OF MULTIPLICATION A chance meeting while she awaited a ‘Dancing with the Stars’ taping in California prompted Sherry Lowery to seek out Loy Turner in hopes of forming a Newton County chapter with the 100 Women Who Care Alliance. Nothing short of eye-opening, the results have changed the math for a number of area nonprofits. by KARI APTED Question: What do you get when you multiply two friends, one mission and generous amounts of wine? Answer: 100 Women of Newton County—and $10,000. This unusual equation is the result of Newton County residents Sherry Lowery and Loy Turner coming together in an ingenious way to help local nonprofits. Inspired by the international group 100 Women Who Care Alliance, the Newton County chapter has been together since 2018. Twice a year, group members meet in person, each with $100 in hand. The money is then pooled and the members vote on two local nonprofits with which to share the donations. “Let’s say you have $100 set aside for charitable giving,” Lowery said. “Your $100 isn’t going to make a giant difference by itself, but $10,000? Giving collectively makes a huge difference to these charities.”
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Lowery first learned about 100WWC while standing in line to watch a live taping of the hit television show “Dancing with the Stars” in California. “My sister Judy is a DWTS fanatic. Out of the blue, she got tickets and her husband begged her to not make him go,” she said. “He flew us out to California, first class. It turns out that the tickets weren’t guaranteed admission. They were actually tickets to wait in line to maybe get in to see the show. We got there at 8 a.m. and stood there for hours in our evening clothes, right beside a six-lane highway. We were numbers nine and 10. The ladies behind us were from Arizona, and since I like to talk, we got to know them as we waited.” A stranger Lowery met, Kim Tarnopolski, shared that she manages two Arizona chapters of 100WWC. When Lowery heard what the group was about, something clicked.
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“It’s such a simple concept. I always go back to that. How did nobody think of this before? It’s just so easy compared to what it was like working on other fundraisers in the past.” Loy Turner
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“I thought, ‘I can do that. I can do that in Newton,’” she said, “but then it took me about two years to get it started. I’d come off two boards I’d been on and thought I had some free time.” Lowery has been an early childhood education instructor at Georgia Piedmont Technical College since 2003. She has served on the Rockdale Career Academy board, the Make-A-Wish Foundation and many other boards through the years. “I don’t have kids, so I can be involved in a lot of things,” she said. “I like to stay super-busy; it’s what I find most fulfilling. I say that I like to put my little fingers in lots of different pots.” When considering who would be a strong candidate to help her launch the local chapter of 100WWC, Lowery immediately thought of Turner. “She and I would run into each other all the time at different events,” Lowery said. “We always said we needed to get together but didn’t. I’m pretty sure she didn’t even know my name, but I knew that she knew everybody, so she was the first person I had to go to with my plan.”
Turner, a lifelong Newton County resident, does indeed have a vast social network. The mother of three works as the volunteer coordinator at Longleaf Hospice and has served with many local organizations through the years. Turner was eager and well-prepared to help Lowery launch a new way of giving back to their beloved community. “It’s such a simple concept,” Turner said. “I always go back to that. How did nobody think of this before? It’s just so easy compared to what it was like working on other fundraisers in the past.” Simplicity extends to the twice-annual meetings, which only last an hour each. Every member has the opportunity to nominate a charity before the meeting, and Lowery and Turner verify the charity’s 501c3 status with the Internal Revenue Service. “It has to be a verifiable 501c3,” Turner said, “and we don’t do the big charities. It’s not that we have anything against them, but the little nonprofits really need us. Our donations can be budget-making for these smaller Newton County charities. It’s also good for them because they also receive exposure simply by being nominated.” Meetings are held at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Covington. Doors open at 6 p.m. The women enjoy wine, snacks and socializing before the meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. The nonprofits’ names are put into a hat, and three are randomly drawn. The women who nominated those three charities give a brief speech about their organization and why they nominated it. Then the members vote. The two charities with the most votes are named as grant recipients, and the night’s gifts are divided between them. The third charity’s name goes back into the hat as a possible grant contender at the next meeting. By 7:30 p.m., everyone is headed home. The following day, Lowery and Turner visit the chosen charities and present them with a check. “They’re so appreciative,” Turner said. “It’s found money for them. It’s like someone walking up to you and giving you $5,000 out of the blue.” Lowery agrees. “They’re all really, really grateful,” she said. “When we run into people in Newton County that we’ve granted money to, you just hear the best stories.” Teenage girls are also encouraged to join 100WWC meetings but are only asked to bring a $50 contribution. Because each vote is attached to a $100 donation, teen members’ votes count as half a vote. The Newton County chapter of 100WWC currently boasts 89 members. While the group’s current goal is to reach 100 members, Lowery and Turner have much bigger long-term plans. “We would love to grow over 100 members,” Lowery said. “We’d also like to see someone start a 100 Men of Newton County group. The more people we have, the bigger grants we can give. Great things can happen.” Turner seconded the desire to bring in others. “We’re a giving circle—that’s our bottom line,” she said. “New members are always welcome. We really have a lot of fun. We’ve never had a bad time. We want to be the group that everyone wants to join.”
For more on the 100 Women of Newton County, visit 100WWCNewtonCounty.org. Membership is free, and applications are available on the website. The group’s next meeting is scheduled for Oct. 21 at the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, located at 4140 Clark Street in Covington. 100 WOMEN OF NEWTON COUNTY GRANT RECIPIENTS INCLUDE: • Special Olympics Georgia Masters Bowling • Newton County Boys and Girls Club • Covington Police Who Care • Southern Heartland Arts, Inc. • Covington First United Methodist Church Food Pantry • Willing Helpers • Newton County Education Foundation 2021 Fall Issue 9
F E AT U R E S
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OUTSIDE-THE-BOX OUTREACH The Taylor Made Foundation extends its arms to the less fortunate through the vision and determination of its founder, who emerged from homelessness and domestic abuse with the desire to help others rise above circumstances that are often out of their control. by TERRI WEBSTER Most people could not imagine being homeless at the age of 17, but that was Darnell Taylor’s reality. She never thought she would have to rely on friends while moving from house to house and trying to complete high school. Ordinary seniors look forward to the prom, graduation and preparing for college. Not Taylor. While homeless in New York, Taylor lived in survival mode. She did not attend her senior prom and almost missed graduation. Despite all the obstacles, Taylor received her high school diploma in 1986. She moved in with her boyfriend soon after and started college. Vulnerable and without another support system in place, she suffered through domestic abuse. When she was five months pregnant with her first daughter, her boyfriend kicked her in the midsection and caused her to fall down a flight of stairs. “When I got up, I ran and ran and ran,” Taylor said, “and I never went back.” Even in the middle of unspeakable hardships, she never lost her desire to help others. “Community service
has always been in my heart,” Taylor said. “It’s always been a part of me.” With the help of her mother and best friend, she managed to resettle and complete her college degree through an online program with DeVry University. Taylor graduated summa cum laude, with a 3.94 GPA. She accepted a job working in the mailroom with the Department of Justice and moved into a place of her own. Thirty-three years later, Taylor now works as an information technology specialist with the DOJ. She made Covington her home in 2009. “Every time I came to visit my mom and brother who lived here,” Taylor said, “it felt like home and I never wanted to leave.” As she continued to work and focused on raising her daughters, struggling families and young women gravitated towards Taylor for counsel and support. Her deepest valleys were soon transformed into the highest of highs, as she utilized her past
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experiences to assist those in similar situations. Taylor sought ways to help others and even used her personal finances to cover the needs of homeless students, women trapped in cycles of domestic abuse and at-risk families. “My dream to help people started getting bigger while my budget grew shorter,” she said. “Finally, someone suggested I start a non-profit.” With the support of a growing team of volunteers, Taylor began her search for others who shared the same passions. They developed a board of directors, and from this small group of like-minded people, the Taylor Made Foundation was born. A community-based 501c3 non-profit organization, it commits to serving homeless youth and families in need while helping them become independent and permanently housed. Events and projects are tailored to meet the unique and varying needs of those involved. “Deck the Halls”—the first event organized by the Taylor Made Foundation—focused on the Benton House, an assisted living and resident nursing facility. Volunteers sang Christmas carols, built gingerbread houses with elderly residents and made wreaths for their doors. Families were blown away by the response of their loved ones. Word spread, giving rise to more opportunities. One of Taylor’s favorite projects was “Once Upon a Prom,” which was spawned by the harsh reality of not being able to attend her senior prom. It offered participants the prom-shopping experience, along with the opportunity to get their hair, nails
and makeup done. They wore dresses, shoes and jewelry. Due to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, proms were canceled, so the Taylor Made Foundation team held an event at Turner Lake Park. “It was beautiful,” Taylor said. “We worked with girls from homeless shelters and foster care. It was so humbling, and we felt so happy to be able to put this on.” The latest mission from the foundation sprang into existence in the spring. “For My Dorm” provided graduating high school seniors who were either facing housing insecurity, in foster care or from low-income families with all the essential items needed to settle into their college dorms. The foundation received donations that included bedding, kitchenware and other necessities. In fact, organizers were able to give every student a microwave and a television. One student in the program who had earned a 4.0 GPA was rewarded with a MacBook Air and earphones. The bulk of the funding for the project was provided by the community and private donors. “Stuff just showed up at my door,” Taylor said. “We’re able to do all that we do because the community comes together. We’re most grateful for all the support. At the end of the ‘For My Dorm’ event, parents were crying, students were crying. My heart is still full from that event.” Next on the Taylor Made team’s to-do list: developing an 11-month education component to its program. The curriculum will include teaching financial literacy, banking, checking, preparation for college, how to apply for scholarships and more. The foundation plans to offer follow-up counseling to ensure recipients have all the tools they require. “It felt like we were giving them stuff and then sending them on their way unprepared [and without] the life skills needed to continue to be successful,” Taylor said. “We want to be able to have success stories. We want them to have their own success stories.” Taylor draws her inspiration from above. “I always pray for direction and look for confirmation,” she said. “God shows up in ways I did not ever think of. My story is my testimony. It’s what drives me to do what I do today. My reward has always been to see other people happy, to see them smile.” Taylor plans to retire from the DOJ in 2022 so she can put all of her focus on the foundation. “This is my purpose,” she said, “and I want to give it my 100% attention.” For more on the Taylor Made Foundation and its projects, or if you wish to make a donation or learn about volunteer opportunities, visit TaylorMade Foundation.com. You can also reach the foundation via email at info@taylormadefoundation.com or by phone at 470-499-4628.
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(L TO R) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DARNELL TAYLOR AND BOARD MEMBERS JAMES RICHARDON JR., LATOYA SAMUEL, ROBERT PIERCE (BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT FROM PHOTO) NATALIE FERGUSON, STEFFAN ROBERTS, JODI-ANN SALTERS, GENESIS COOPER, BRIANNI TAYLOR, LA’NISSA ROZIER, SHAQUANA SUTTON
“My dream to help people started getting bigger while my budget grew shorter. Finally, someone suggested I start a non-profit.” Darnell Taylor
2021 Fall Issue 13
F E AT U R E S
VIEW FROM THE TOP Parker Wyatt and Izzy Fleetwood undertook a small Bible study that quickly evolved into a fledgling evangelistic ministry at a parking garage in downtown Covington. Teens and college-aged students now flock there to worship, connect with others and hear the Word of God. by GABRIEL STOVALL
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2021 Fall Issue 15
F E AT U R E S
What began as an opportunity for Parker Wyatt and Izzy Fleetwood to share fellowship and camaraderie with friends around Biblical encouragement has turned into something neither of them could have ever imagined. They call it The Top, and it has quickly become a go-to spot for teens and college-aged students in and around Newton County to worship, connect with others and hear the Word of God. Throughout the summer, more than 100 students have gathered together on the top level of the First Baptist Church of Covington parking garage—hence the name of the ministry— to grow with each other and in Christ. It is not “church,” per se, at least not in the traditional sense, but it is a growing collective of young people chasing after God. The way it quickly morphed from a casual gathering of friends to a full-fledged evangelistic ministry can only be attributed to divine intervention, according to those involved. It started with
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Wyatt and Fleetwood meeting with about 20 friends while they were home from college in December. They shared a Bible lesson together, and the connection was so strong that they knew everyone involved wanted more. “After that Bible study,” Wyatt said, “Izzy and I were like, ‘Hey, what if we did this college student gathering on a larger scale and brought the entire community together, instead of just huddling up in a small group.” There was no hesitation from the small group of friends, so plans for a new, larger outreach began. “Because we knew we wanted to open this up to the entire community, we really wanted to figure out a central location,” Fleetwood said. “We didn’t want it to just be something that was a branch out of one particular church but rather a gathering of many churches, many college students, teens, high schoolers, young adults, all over. We wanted a location to reflect that.”
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“It’s just been so cool to see the Lord grow this seed that He placed in our heart. We want to be right here to continue to work and do the things we know He’s called us to do.” Parker Wyatt They chose the top level of the parking deck—a place that already carried some familiarity among youth and students. “We’d been there multiple times before just to hang out with others,” Wyatt said. “It wasn’t anything strange for us or our friends to say to our parents, ‘Hey, I’m going to go to The Top to hang out for a while.’” Another positive aspect of this experience for the college couple: Their individual churches—Fleetwood attends First Baptist and Wyatt attends Church 213, where his father pastors—have remained supportive without trying seize the reigns of the fledgling ministry. Wyatt and Fleetwood prefer to leave it in God’s hands. “We’ve actually had other churches that want to collaborate with us or partner with us,” Fleetwood said. “We don’t mind working with others, but there’s a big difference in wanting to partner and wanting to collaborate. Parker and I didn’t want
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any collaboration or partnership that could be too overbearing and make this become just another branch of a particular church. We’re really protective of that. We want this space and ministry to operate at the purest form possible based on how God showed it to us.” They believe that simple approach was part of what drew people in the first place. The Top started with a meeting on June 6 and welcomed more than 150 attendees. “We were a little nervous with it,” Wyatt said. “We were setting up chairs and preparing, but we didn’t know how many people to expect.” From there, gatherings took place every Sunday night through Aug. 8, right before school headed back into session for many college students. The services featured music from a worship band, including an original song called “The Top.” It was written by Wyatt and Fleetwood and served as a theme. Wyatt considers The Top a mixture of evangelistic outreach—trying to connect with people who do not yet have a relationship with Christ—and an opportunity to help people already in the faith grow closer to Him. “Because of the nature of it and because we’re pretty much all students,” Wyatt said, “we don’t really have the time to do a lot of discipling.” Wyatt and Fleetwood indicated that discipling could be an area where others fill in the gaps alongside The Top. “This is where churches can come in,” Fleetwood said, “[with] discipleship counselors, maybe some financial help.” Wyatt agreed. “We don’t have the time to know every person and enter that discipleship phase, so we definitely want to see people who get saved here find places and churches across the area they can go to grow in their faith.” Thus far, the ministry has exceeded their hopes. Several students surrendered their lives to Christ during the first meeting. “It was so amazing to see because it was hard for expectations to be set,” Fleetwood said. “Ultimately, we want to see people come to know Jesus, and we hope others can help in that way.” Typically, either Wyatt or Fleetwood shares a message at The Top. She provided the first—a reminder to the 150-plus in attendance that Christ invites us to come as we are but has the power to transform us for His glory. Her message falls in line with the tone that was set from the beginning. It harkened back to the initial Bible study over Christmas break, when Wyatt
walked the group through the Book of James, comparing and contrasting real faith and a real relationship with Christ to traditional religion. “We live in a society that talks about and glorifies what you do and the actions and works you do,” Wyatt said. “That isn’t accurate with the Bible. There, we see that our faith and our works go hand in hand. We want to encourage people to own their faith in Jesus and put it into action as they grow in Him.” One of The Top’s more unique elements is the reality that its leaders basically find themselves in the same age bracket as those who attend. Wyatt and Fleetwood, a young college couple, are learning to navigate life while enjoying the journey of discovering how to grow closer to each other and to God. Now that The Top has spread its wings, Wyatt and Fleetwood have strengthened their commitment to the ministry. They decided to leave Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville and continue their education through Valdosta State University’s online program. “We decided to finish our degrees online so that we can remain in the Covington area and keep pouring into our community,” Wyatt said. “It’s just been so cool to see the Lord grow this seed that He placed in our heart. We want to be right here to continue to work and do the things we know He’s called us to do.” 2021 Fall Issue 19
H E A LT H & W E L L N E S S
Stewards of the
Land Crystal Organic Farm sits on roughly 40 acres in Newborn and specializes in fruit, vegetable, flower and medicinal herb production as one of the oldest operations of its kind in the region. by MICHELLE FLOYD The land of an Austrian mother who moved her family to the United States from Belgium in the 1980s continues to cultivate food for current and future generations. Helen Dumba purchased a 175-acre dairy farm in Newborn and grew organic food for herself and her four teenaged children, one of whom runs a farm on the same property today. Nicolas Donck bought the land from his mother in 1993 and opened Crystal Organic Farm—one of the oldest operations of its kind in the region. He recalls his mother growing their garden on roughly half an acre. When Donck and his siblings reached adulthood and moved away, it became too much for her to tend alone. “That’s when the farm was born,” said Donck, who named the farm for the abundance of quartz crystals found in the soil. “It started really small.” Crystal Organic Farm now rests on roughly 40 acres, includes 28 high-tunnel greenhouses and specializes in fruit, vegetable, flower and medicinal herb production. High-tunnel growing has made the farm more productive by allowing those who run
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it to have increased control over temperature, weed pressure and watering. Donck and partner Jeni Jarrard have transformed the site into a year-round operation. “We never stop,” Jarrard said. “There’s always food to grow.” The farm employs four full-time and four part-time employees, participates in the Natural Resources Conservation Service and remains involved in university crop studies around the Southeast. It also grows heirloom seeds for national companies and prides itself on being active in the community. Crystal Organic Farm donates any excess food it produces to local churches and foodbanks in and around Newton County. The farm sells some 75% of its produce to Fresh Harvest, which delivers local organic products to Atlanta-area customers. It also counts Garnish & Gather, a meal kit and grocery delivery service, as one of its customers. “We grow for production, but the main thing is we grow for taste,” Donck said. “Now, you have to eat three heads of broccoli to get the same nutritional value that you did 40 years ago because the nutritional value in the soil has been depleted. Our main thing is to take care of the soil by using different organic practices. The soil is a living organism like the human body, so if it gets sick, it’s more susceptible to diseases and pests and won’t produce healthy plants or nutrient-dense food.”
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“Our main thing is to take care of the soil by using different organic practices. The soil is a living organism like the human body, so if it gets sick, it’s more susceptible to diseases and pests and won’t produce healthy plants or nutrient-dense food.” Crystal Organic Farm Owner Nicolas Donck
Crystal Organic Farm received the Certified Organic designation from the United States Department of Agriculture in 1996. USDA-certified organic farms are required to keep detailed records on every aspect of their operation, and they are not permitted to use synthetic fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides. Only products approved by the organic certifying agency can be used on the farm. “We grew up eating organic food, and when I had it as a garden, it was always organic but not certified,” Donck said. “It’s important to be Certified Organic because accurate records are kept and farmers are held accountable for how their food is grown. Customers can be reassured that their produce is grown under the highest standards when compared to big agriculture that is not as strictly regulated.” “It’s very important to have the strictest rules,” he added. “The term ‘organic’ is being washed down. We feel like we are above that name because we really do more than the minimum.” The farm also holds the distinction as the second of its kind in Georgia to earn certification from the Real Organic Project— a grassroots, farmer-owned organization that seeks a return to original organic farming methods. It examines the holistic vision of an operation, from animal welfare and employee working conditions to the farming practices it uses.
While in the past Crystal Organic Farm tailored many of its sales efforts to a farmer’s market and restaurants in and around Atlanta, the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020 led Donck and Jarrard to focus closer to home through their Online Farm Store. Products available to the public include foods grown on the farm, like seasonal fruits and vegetables, along with flowers, some 25 varieties of medicinal herbs and items from other local vendors, featuring everything from grass-fed beef and honey to eggs, tea, ghee and granola. “It’s been good and successful,” Jarrard said. “Part of our mission is to offer good food to the local community, so it doesn’t always make sense to grow food and take it an hour away when we can commit to having it remain local.” For more information, visit Crystal Organic Farm online at CrystalOrganicFarm.com. Donck and Jarrard encourage those in need or those who know families in need to contact them regarding a free food box. In a mission to support the health and well-being of those around them, they also offer complimentary phone consultations for farm-andgarden services and personal wellness needs. 2021 Fall Issue 25
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“We cannot relive yesterday. It is forever gone. We cannot live tomorrow, for it has yet to arrive. We can only live today.” Mansfield Baptist Church Senior Pastor Jeff Perkins
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GRACE & TRUTH
A Day of Utmost Importance There can be no time like the present—a gift granted by God that gives all people the opportunity to avoid the regrets of yesterday or the worries of tomorrow. by JEFF PERKINS Today is a special day. Today is the only day we can live. We cannot relive yesterday. It is forever gone. We cannot live tomorrow, for it has yet to arrive. We can only live today. When we focus on yesterday, our mistakes and regrets tend to become burdens that weigh us down. When we focus on tomorrow, worry consumes us and drives us toward despair. God has given us today, and I think that is exactly what He wants us to do: Live today. What does God want to do with today? For those who have yet to respond in faith to the gift of life that Jesus offers through salvation, God has given you today to respond. As Paul writes to the church in Corinth, he quotes Isaiah and says: “For he says: ‘At an acceptable time I listened to you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’ See, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation!” (2 Corinthians 6:2). God has given you the opportunity today to receive the eternity-changing gift of salvation. You did not do it yesterday. You may not see tomorrow. God has given you today to respond in faith to Christ. For those who are followers of Jesus, God has given you today to rest in Him. The writer of Hebrews speaks of a “Sabbath rest” into which God’s people can enter. “Let us, then, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall into the same pattern of disobedience” (Hebrews 4:11). When can we enter that rest? Today. We can rest from our labor of trying to earn
salvation, because Christ has done everything needed to make us right with the Father. We can rest from carrying around all our regrets from yesterday. We can rest today. Many people fall into the trap of worry. So often, worry is concern for things in tomorrows that cannot be changed today. Jesus was very clear in His teaching in the Sermon on the Mount: “‘Therefore I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear.’” (Matthew 6:25). Worry is living our tomorrows early when nothing can be done to alter tomorrow. Jesus goes on to say that God takes care of the birds with food and the flowers with clothes. He will take care of you, too. Jesus says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.” (Matthew 6:33). Rather than worry, Jesus says to seek God and what He has for you. When? Today. Today is the day of salvation. Today we can rest in Christ from our yesterdays. Today we can seek God and trust Him with our tomorrows. Today is the most important day ever. Let not regret nor worry rob you of living life today. Jeff Perkins is the senior pastor at Mansfield Baptist Church in Mansfield. Visit mbclife.org to learn more.
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H E A LT H & W E L L N E S S
S A F E S PA C E The Landing at Celebrate Recovery offers middle- and high schoolaged children a secure, Christ-centered environment in which to express themselves, free of the judgment and pressures that often await them in other settings. by KARI APTED While teenagers commonly complain about having nowhere to go and nothing to do, Social Circle High School sophomore Macie Corley has set plans every Thursday night. In fact, she has had this appointment on her calendar every week since she was in the fourth grade. What has drawn the 16-year-old to Eastridge Church at 7 p.m. every Thursday for so long? The Landing: a warm, inviting gathering with other young people seeking support for a variety of issues. The Landing is the student ministry of Eastridge’s Celebrate Recovery® group for adults. Despite its rehab-sounding name, Celebrate Recovery—or “CR,” as its members call it—is not a traditional treatment program, and despite its location, it is not a typical church service either. Although Corley is a member of Eastridge Church and loves her involvement there, she is quick to tell others that going to a Celebrate Recovery meeting is a completely different experience. “CR is not like going to Sunday church—it’s not the same thing at all—and it’s not a rehabilitation program,” she said. “I don’t want people to think that, either.” Celebrate Recovery is a Christ-centered 12-step program that has helped people since 1991 to overcome dependency on alcohol, drugs, tobacco and other addictive substances. The group also assists family members of those with addiction or mental health issues, or as CR calls them: hurts, hang-ups
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and habits. For example, adult groups are dedicated to those dealing with co-dependent relationships, abuse, depression, anxiety and anger, just to mention a few. Celebrate Recovery is designed to minister to the whole family. While The Landing provides support for middle and high schoolers, Celebration Place serves kids from kindergarten through fifth grade. Corley’s stepmother, Jamie, is the director of Celebration Place at Eastridge and her father, Jason, helps lead the kids’ program. All groups utilize the same Bible-focused curriculum used by thousands of CR groups around the world. Lessons often refer to the Beatitudes, the blessings about which Jesus taught during the Sermon on the Mount. The Serenity Prayer is recited each week. Even so, Corley emphasizes that you do not have to be a Christian to attend CR meetings. “It’s Christ-centered, and there are certain guidelines the leaders go over, like not using the Lord’s name in vain, but everybody is welcome,” Macie said. “There are plenty of people who come who aren’t Christians. We listen to everyone and treat everyone with respect.” First-time visitors can expect a CR meeting to begin with worship music, followed by a brief talk or a testimony. There is also a group for newcomers where they learn how CR works and get answers to their questions. Then the adults and students separate into small groups. The adults can choose
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H E A LT H & W E L L N E S S
from topic-themed groups for substance abuse, eating disorders, anxiety and more. The Landing students are divided by gender into middle-school and high-school groups. “I like that the youth group is separated by gender,” Macie said. “I feel safer that way. I wouldn’t want to talk about certain issues I have in a mixed group. It’s not that I’m embarrassed, but I feel like females can relate to me better.” According to Macie, after they divide into smaller groups, the leaders share a lesson related to the topic of the day. Each participant has five uninterrupted minutes to share his or current concerns with peers. It is a time to be heard without judgment or receiving unsolicited advice—an opportunity that can be difficult to find in other settings. “You take five minutes to get whatever’s bothering you off your chest. The other people don’t chime in and tell you what to do,” Macie said. “Nobody is trying to tell you what to do unless you specifically ask for help.” The Landing considers anonymity and confidentiality basic requirements for participation. What is shared in the group remains in the group. The only exception is when someone threatens to harm themselves or other people. In that scenario, the small group leader is obligated to report it to the CR ministry leader. After each student has the opportunity to talk, the group prays together. Then all the small groups reconnect for a time of fellowship. “We have free time,” Macie said, “where we go out into the sanctuary and play games or just talk.” An outspoken proponent of the Celebrate Recovery program, Jamie is grateful for the influence it has had on Macie’s life. “I’m so thankful for the life skills Macie has learned through her time at Celebrate Recovery,” she said. “I love that The Landing is fun and provides her a safe place to share and identify her feelings. Macie is a great kid. She is respectful, kind, hardworking, fun and an overall outstanding young lady. Her dad and I attribute a great deal of her maturity to the things she has learned through this powerful ministry.” While Macie’s parents applaud The Landing for instilling strong values in their daughter, she approaches her own commitment to the program with resolve. “I’ve never regretted going,” she said. “Even if I kind of didn’t want to go, every time it’s over, I never regret that I went.” Macie’s friends tend to echo her experience: “People will say, ‘I didn’t want to come,’ but afterwards, they’re like, ‘I’m so glad I did.’” For information on Celebrate Recovery, visit Eastridge.Church/Celebrate-Recovery.
“It’s Christ-centered, and there are certain guidelines the leaders go over, like not using the Lord’s name in vain, but everybody is welcome. There are plenty of people who come who aren’t Christians. We listen to everyone and treat everyone with respect.” Macie Corley
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S P O R T S & R E C R E AT I O N
A N U N E X P E C T E D J O U R N E Y Jimmy Birdsong was an overweight computer salesman for IBM before he returned to his roots more than two decades ago. His experience, knowledge and ability to relate to others have made him a sought-after personal trainer for athletes of all ages and skill levels. by CHRIS BRIDGES Life can make for some interesting twists and turns. Jimmy Birdsong can testify to as much. A standout athlete in high school and college, he never envisioned himself as a personal trainer helping student-athletes of all ages, as well as those who have long ago retired from competition. However, as 2021 nears its end, that describes the road Birdsong has traveled longer than even he could have imagined once upon a time. “After college, I was selling computers for IBM,” he said. “Quite frankly, I was overweight and decided to go work with a personal trainer from a well-known national chain of gyms. We started working out and training together, and I liked it.” That spark ignited a passion in Birdsong which has continued to grow through the years, earning him the respect and admiration of many. “Jimmy is one of the hardest workers I know,” said Luke Allen, a hitting instructor at Diamond Sports Academy in Covington who spent parts of two seasons in the major leagues with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Colorado Rockies. “His dedication to helping people just goes through the roof.”
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Birdsong’s journey can be traced back to Sparta, where he stood out on the track team at Hancock County High School, competing in the 4x100-meter relay, the shot put and the discus. However, football was his true love, and Birdsong put his natural athletic abilities to use on the gridiron. He was an All-City, All-Region and All-State selection in 1983. Birdsong always took a hard-nosed approach to the sport and recalls his love of 3-on-1 drills, viewing them as the ultimate challenge of toughness and determination. His attitude and work ethic eventually pointed him to Morehouse College in Atlanta. Once his playing days were over, Birdsong spent 12 years working for IBM and then changed course. He made his way to Newton County in 2000 and started a job at the Covington Athletic Center, his position ultimately paving the way for his entry into personal training. The skills and knowledge Birdsong brings to the table have taken him to various gyms and led to opportunities to work with entire stables of athletes, including the baseball and fastpitch softball teams at Eastside High School. To incorporate routines
“When I first opened my gym, the demographics said don’t do it, but once I got started and saw I was having an impact on local players, then I knew it was worth it.” Jimmy Birdsong 2021 Fall Issue 37
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that would maximize the experience for high school players, Birdsong sought out Allen and others—including former Georgia Tech star Andy Mitchell, who spent 10 seasons pitching in the Baltimore Orioles farm system—to learn more about their training methods associated with softball and baseball. The result was the formulation of a six-month training schedule that has helped numerous players in their transition to the collegiate level. Birdsong now assists athletes in a variety of sports. “For me, it’s always been about helping kids and the community,” he said. “The community has always been very helpful. The Newton County Recreation Commission told me if I needed a field to use then it would be available.” The path upon which Birdsong has run for decades was not always smooth, especially in the beginning. Challenges were everywhere. “When I first opened my gym, the demographics said don’t do it,” Birdsong said, “but once I got started and saw I was having an impact on local players, then I knew it was worth it. It’s about being able to help them. It goes beyond training. I like to teach life lessons, and the young people are learning those lessons through athletics.”
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His efforts extend past getting stronger, running faster and jumping higher. “We teach them to be courteous and to be on time,” Birdsong said. “I knew there was a ton of quality athletes here in Newton County. I wanted to help give them that same chance to play in college. When you work with a kid and they later get drafted, it is a great feeling.” Birdsong has designs on putting another mile marker on his road, as he looks at opening a new gym. He already has a location in mind. “I try to build a foundation,” he said. “It’s similar to building a house. The larger the structure, the better foundation you need.”
Michael Wilson, who coaches football and girls’ basketball at Piedmont Academy in Monticello, was long ago impressed by Birdsong. “I first got to know Jimmy outside of his personal training job, and the first thing I noticed about him was his energy,” Wilson said. “He was always upbeat and high energy. He is as good a guy as I’ve met. He doesn’t need to meet someone more than once to remember their name and whatever you all talked about when you met. I’ve met a lot of coaches and officials over the years who know him from as far back as high school, and nobody has anything bad to say about him. That just speaks volumes about a man to me.”
S P O R T S & R E C R E AT I O N
Bathed in Red and Black Sanford Stadium, a 93,000-seat shrine to college football in the south, rests at the epicenter of University of Georgia fandom. Though the man whose name it bears was born in Covington a little more than six years after The Civil War concluded, his contributions continue to echo from one generation of Bulldog to the next. by BRIAN KNAPP Kole Cotton was 7 years old the first time he laid eyes on Sanford Stadium in person. The date was Oct. 7, 2000, and the Georgia Bulldogs were set to do battle with Tennessee—an opponent they had not beaten in more than a decade. Cotton remembers it like it was yesterday. The sounds. The smells. The pageantry. Most of all, he recalls being greeted by a pulsing red wave, as 86,520 fans poured into one of the nation’s foremost shrines to college football. “I could not get over how cool it was that I was a real fan of something,” said Cotton, a 2012 graduate of Eastside High School who turned 28 in July. “Our seats were on the south side of the stadium on the 50-yard line, about half way up the lower level. When we got to our aisle and I took a couple steps in and saw that power G on the middle of the field, I was mesmerized. The feelings that came over me in that moment I will never be able to re-create.” “The size of the stadium was like nothing I had ever seen,” he added. “I could not get over how big it was. On top of that, the sea of red throughout the stadium was so vibrant. It looked like someone had just taken a big red paint brush and painted the whole thing.” The Bulldogs defeated Tennessee 21–10 behind two rushing touchdowns from Jasper Sanks. Afterwards, thousands of Georgia fans spilled onto the field and tore down the goalposts to celebrate their team’s first win over the Volunteers since 1988. “I didn’t know fans being on the field was a big deal until my dad said, ‘Pay attention to this. You’ll probably never see it again,” Cotton said. “I started taking mental notes of the stadium. I noticed all the flashes still going off in the stands from people’s cameras.” The once-pristine Chinese privets that ringed the field paid a price, too. The famed hedges had not
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been spared. “When we made our way to the southwest tunnel to leave, I noticed these bushes were all torn up,” Cotton said. “I thought about the bushes in front of our house and thought, ‘Dad would kill me if I messed up our bushes.’ About that time, I saw my dad walk up to the bush and pull five or six pieces off. I thought he was going crazy. He walked back over to me and my brother and handed us each a piece and said, ‘Y’all got a piece of the hedges.’” Cotton kept the small piece of broken hedge on his dresser for years, the memento serving as a constant reminder of an unbreakable bond he was forming with the Georgia football program. His story, in some shape or form, likely mirrors those of so many others in this state. At the epicenter of their fandom sits Sanford Stadium, which can now seat more than 93,000 people. However, its deep-rooted local ties are known only to the most ardent UGA supporters.
“When we got to our aisle and I took a couple steps in and saw that power G on the middle of the field, I was mesmerized. The feelings that came over me in that moment I will never be able to re-create.” Kole Cotton
Steadman Vincent Sanford was born in Covington on Aug. 24, 1871 and died on Sept. 15, 1945. The impact he made in those 74-plus years are immeasurable. Sanford accepted a position as an English literature professor at the University of Georgia in 1903, became the faculty advisor to the athletics committee and, in 1911, was instrumental in the decision to relocate the school’s football facilities to a central location on campus. It was named Sanford Field. However, it was too small to accommodate the large crowds that were swarming to rivalry games, most notably Georgia Tech—a fact that forced the two teams to move the game to Grant Field in Atlanta every year. The reality did not sit well with Sanford. After a 12–0 loss to the Yellow Jackets in 1927, he undertook the task of constructing a more appropriate venue in Athens, and a year later, ground was broken on Sanford Stadium. It opened with a seating capacity of 30,000—equal to that of Grant Field—on Oct. 12, 1929 and forever altered the landscape of college football. Subsequent expansions have more than tripled its size.
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S P O R T S & R E C R E AT I O N LARRY MUNSON
Micah Lacey, the youth pastor at Crossroads Baptist Church in Social Circle, graduated from Georgia in 2016. He attended every home game while he was a student and continues his unwavering support of the school and its football program alongside his father, a season-ticket holder. Vivid memories are ingrained in Lacey. “When you’re a student, you’re likely to walk past Sanford Stadium every single day of the week, and that just adds to the anticipation of those six or seven home games,” he said. “It’s crazy to think that there’s almost 360 other days out of the year, but those six or seven Saturdays seem to be as significant as the rest of them combined. It’s more than just going to watch a football team play. It’s your school, your classmates, and it’s something that you’re a part of and that’s a part of you and always will be.” Lacey was 13 when he attended the famous “blackout” game against Auburn on Nov. 10, 2007. Georgia bludgeoned the archrival Tigers in a 45–20 rout, the emotional win spearheaded by 101 yards rushing and two touchdowns from Knowshon Moreno and a pair of touchdown passes from Matthew Stafford. The blackout had been orchestrated by then-head coach Mark Richt.
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“He had communicated to the fans during the week leading up that the seniors were asking everybody coming to the game to wear all black, versus the normal sea of red you see at most home games,” Lacey said. “Georgia had never worn or even displayed black jerseys prior to that game, and they came out in warmups touting our traditional home reds. However, when they came through the tunnel to run through the banner—I’ll never forget how it seemed like forever that they held those gates closed—the Dawgs busted out in the cleanest black jerseys you’ve ever seen. The stadium absolutely lost it.”
Beyond all the iconic victories and legendary players Sanford Stadium has hosted in 82 remarkable years of existence, its true significance can be measured by the bridges it has built from one generation to the next. Lacey can envision a day in the nottoo-distant future when he passes down his love for the University of Georgia to a son or daughter of his own. “It’s a whole family experience that we can always connect on and remember,” he said. “I pray that one day I’ll get to do the same with my children.”
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IN A LEAD ROLE
Elected to the highest office in the Future Farmers of America in 2020, Doster Harper points to a science fair project during his sophomore year in high school as the starting line for what has been a whirlwind adventure as the organization’s national president. by CHRIS BRIDGES
Doster Harper admits he never expected the Future Farmers of America to play such a significant role in his young life. Currently a student at the University of Georgia, the Covington native first linked arms with the nationally known organization by accident. “I did not grow up on a farm,” Harper said. “I actually grew up in a subdivision in Covington. During my freshman year of high school, I was in ag education and was an FFA member, but I really did not get involved in it fully until the next school year.” Through the encouragement of high school agriculture teacher Dr. Marcus Pollard and others, Harper became more and more involved. Today, he finds himself at the pinnacle of the organization, serving as the national FFA president for 2020–21. Because of the time-consuming nature of his position, Harper has taken off a year from college as he travels the country attending conferences and other FFA-related functions. It has been a whirlwind, but Harper would not trade the experience for anything.
Harper, who majors in agriscience and environmental systems at Georgia, was in FFA all four years of high school. He took one class a day at Eastside, then moved to the Newton College and Career Academy, which has its own FFA chapter. All of his agriculture-related classes were at the career academy. His involvement in the Future Farmers of America started with the study of bees and a science fair project for a chemistry class. By the end of the school year, Pollard had encouraged Harper to enter the project in an FFA competition. He traveled to the state convention as a sophomore, even though he was not overly excited about doing so. “Dr. Pollard had done a lot for me, so I decided to return the favor by competing,” Harper said. “As it turned out, I had a blast at the convention. It was the first time I put on a blue jacket. On the way home, two officers encouraged me to run for office, and I was elected treasurer of my high school chapter.” 2021 Fall Issue 47
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“I lacked confidence when I was younger. I never saw that much potential in myself, but my teachers and fellow FFA members pushed me to go further.” Future Farmers of America National President Doster Harper
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By the time he was a senior at NCCA, Harper had been elected chapter president. His climb on the FFA leadership ladder continued during his freshman year at Georgia, where he was chosen for a state office. “I just continued to become more and more involved by that point,” Harper said. “I had no idea this would go as far as it has. It was really one small step at a time. I have always had a ton of encouragement every step of the way.” He admits that not long ago he never could have imagined being in this position, which affords him the opportunity to travel the country and speak to large groups. National officers are called upon to deliver keynote speeches at conferences. “I lacked confidence when I was younger,” Harper said. “I never saw that much potential in myself, but my teachers and fellow FFA members pushed me to go further. They just kept encouraging me. My ag teacher was always one step ahead of me, and he always pushed me. When I told him I was thinking about running for national office, he was not surprised.”
Harper’s success has not surprised Andy Paul, a fellow Georgian who was selected as national FFA president in 2014. “From the moment I met him, he had one of the strongest characters of anyone you could meet,” Paul said. “He was always encouraging his teammates or leading by example. He is someone who is always making sure the job gets done. He really takes pride in showing them what a strong man of faith and character he is. He has made such a positive impact on students this past year.” Harper’s one-year term as national FFA president runs through October. He admits it has been challenging to deal with the busy schedule while navigating the coronavirus pandemic. Harper’s role as national FFA president has taken him to multiple states, including Arizona, North Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio and West Virginia. “All of the national officers on our team have been great,” Harper said. “We spent the year with FFA members virtually and in-person. We simply look to inspire, motivate and encourage personal growth in themselves as leaders. Our job is really being with FFA members and helping them achieve success in whatever way we can.” Harper has handled the magnitude of the role in stride, drawing praise from predecessors in whose footsteps he has followed.
“He has exceeded all of our expectations,” Paul said. “If national FFA didn’t pick him, they would have really missed out on someone who is a special leader.” Harper has reached the top of the mountain in terms of serving the Future Farmers of America, but once his term as national president ends, so, too, will his FFA duties. “This will be it for me,” he said. “I am fortunate to still be involved. Most are only active during their high school careers. Beyond holding national office, there is no additional office one can serve in. Whenever I retire from national office, that will be the final time in a blue jacket as an active member. I will be part of the national FFA alumni and supporters to help give back, but there will be no more active competitions.” After he graduates from college, Harper plans to join the United States Army. He currently serves as a member of the Army Reserve Officers Training Corps chapter at the University of Georgia. “That will be my career for at least the four years after college,” Harper said. “After that, I will look at things and see if I want it to be a long-term career or work in the agriculture industry in some way. I know I am passionate about researching in agricultural science. It might be doing research at a university or even going back to the classroom to be a teacher and FFA advisor.”
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WHEN LIFE HANGS IN THE BALANCE
Nurse Mercy Aguilar taught the Heimlich maneuver to her 11-year-old nephew, never imagining he would have to spring into action when he witnessed a classmate choking inside the Liberty Middle School cafeteria. by TERRI WEBSTER
It was by all indications an ordinary day in May inside the cafeteria at Liberty Middle School. Sixth-grader Christian Swope was eating lunch with friends, just as he had done every other day during the 2020–21 school year. The usual chatter filled the lunchroom when Swope, 11, noticed a fellow student choking nearby. He immediately recognized the seriousness of the situation and sprang into action with an unbridled bravery that belied his young age. Swope recalled what his aunt, Mercy Aguilar, had taught him about using certain skills to save someone else’s life in an emergency. He moved behind the student, wrapped his arms around his waist and did as he had been instructed. The Heimlich maneuver—invented in 1974 by Dr. Henry Heimlich, a thoracic surgeon and medical researcher who graduated from Cornell University—dislodged the food and
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prevented the scene from becoming far more dire. The school phoned Aguilar soon after and informed her of her nephew’s heroic deed. “I was flabbergasted,” she said. “I thought to myself, ‘You mean he was paying attention to what I taught him?’ When he came home from school that day, I said to him, ‘You actually used it?’” Christian was nonchalant about the incident and his quick reactions. “He was choking,” he told his aunt, “and I just jumped in.” Aguilar beamed with pride. “I think he really surprised himself,” she said. “After the fact, I think it was surreal for him, and he couldn’t believe he actually did it.” Swope came to live with his aunt and uncle at the age of 4. The couple took him in once his prospects for a good life turned bleak, so he has become more like a son than a nephew. Aguilar describes him as outgoing and generous. “Christian loves to play
“Christian loves people. He loves to play and be the center of attention, but he will also put himself out for other people.” Mercy Aguilar
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and is really an extrovert,” she said. “He has a little bit of ADHD, so we have to set guidelines for him to stay focused.” Aguilar recalls a time when Swope bought her a birthday present. Upon thoughtful reflection, she realized he had spent the last $5 he had in his possession on her. “Christian loves people,” Aguilar said. “He loves to play and be the center of attention, but he will also put himself out for other people.” Aguilar pointed to personal experience for why she decided to teach the Heimlich maneuver to Swope and her two biological sons. She wanted to give them the tools necessary to save another person’s life if they ever found themselves in a situation where someone was choking or could not breathe. Aguilar remembers an incident that happened when she was a teenager. It sticks with her to this day. She lived in West Africa at the time and happened to be at the beach. “I witnessed a man drowning,” she said. “It was very traumatic, and I’ll never forget it.” Upon moving to the United States, Aguilar made the decision to study to become a nurse. That, of course, led to her obtaining the skills needed to perform the Heimlich maneuver. Because of what she had witnessed on the beach in West Africa many years ago, the need to pass on those skills to her nephew and two sons weighed heavily on her heart. “If I’d had this skill,” she said, “I might could have helped save the drowning victim that day.” Aguilar picked a day and brought all three boys together in the same room. She used a skeleton model and began educating them on how to perform the Heimlich properly to save a choking victim. “I tried to be very descriptive and make it interesting for them,” Aguilar said. “I also made it child-friendly and tried to keep it on their level. They were very engaged. I made them practice on each other to make sure they did it correctly.” Aguilar shared the story about the drowning she had witnessed in her youth, never dreaming one of them would actually utilize the Heimlich maneuver so soon after she taught it to them. “I just wanted them to know the importance of being able to save a life,” she said. “I’m still shocked.”
ADVERTORIAL
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CELEBRATING 20 OFYEARS SERVICE Brian and Paulette Simpson started High Priority Plumbing 20 years ago, working out of their home garage. Several moves and 40 plus employees later, High Priority Plumbing has maintained the same culture - We are family. Brian and Paulette have created an environment in which employees can learn and grow. “I’ve never worked at a place that is this honest, this caring, and this close,” says Dakota, who started as a Helper nine years ago and now is a Supervisor leading a team of technicians. Their sense of honesty and empathy carries over to everyone they serve. The expectation is not only to provide exceptional work, but to also make each customer feel like family. Today, High Priority Plumbing offers a wide range of commercial and residential plumbing services for clients in Metro Atlanta and surrounding areas. In 2020, Brian and Paulette opened a Septic Division as well as an Underground Services Division to meet the communities’ growing plumbing needs.
Brian and Paulette recognize the importance of getting involved and giving back to the communities they serve. High Priority Plumbing has recently partnered with the Newton County Chamber of Commerce on a campaign focused on saving small businesses. When asked what drives and motivates them, Brian and Paulette humbly say that they have a passion for helping others. For Commercial and Residential Plumbing needs, contact High Priority Plumbing and Services at 770-860-8110 or visit our website HighPriorityPlumbing.com. You can also check us out at Facebook.com/HighPriorityPlumbing.
“Twenty years ago we started with one goal, provide honest, trustworthy plumbing services to our neighbors and friends. Almost 50 employees later we are proud to offer the same service to our local community.” Paulette Simpson 2021 Fall Issue 57
LIVING
Stabilizing Force The Salvation Army Service Center in Covington rose out of an anonymous donation a quarter century ago and remains a beacon for charitable hearts and the less fortunate. by MICHELLE FLOYD It started as a gift from an anonymous donor 25-plus years ago and has grown into a philanthropic staple in Newton County. The Salvation Army Service Center on Washington Street in Covington opened in 1996, a year after the donation was received. “They wanted it to be built with no debt, [for the Salvation Army] to have a building and also be able to give to others,” said Wanda Reagan, who has served on the organization’s local advisory board for 32 years. Because of the aforementioned contribution, the center has enjoyed the freedom to focus on lifting up the community. Once every 12 months, Newton County residents can secure assistance, financial or otherwise, from the Salvation Army. Those in need can contact the center if they are seeking help paying their rent or mortgage or if they want to receive vouchers for clothing from the retail shop. “We see it all—people who have lost their jobs or who have medical issues and may be out of work,” said Kelli Packer, who has worked as a case manager for the Covington center since 2019. “We’re here to be able to help them when those times come.” The center also houses a small food pantry. Local schools hold canned food drives to donate nonperishable items, and private donations are accepted, as well. Packer revealed that residents in need can visit the panty once every three months but indicated the center would not turn away someone if they were without food.
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“I tell them if they need it, just come get it,” she said. “It’s not huge, but it’s here.” In addition to private donations and sales from items inside the store, the center receives financial support through FEMA’s Emergency Food and Shelter Program and the Salvation Army’s Project SHARE. Donations made online or through another company will be routed back to the billing or designated zip code to ensure they reach the local community. Proceeds from clothing and household items sold at the store go directly to supporting those in the area who fall into financial hardship. Jody Carver, a service extension representative who covers metro Atlanta Salvation Army locations, admits there has been a shift in how the public donates.
“We see it all—people who have lost their jobs or who have medical issues and may be out of work. We’re here to be able to help them when those times come.” Kelli Packer
(L TO R) LEVI KOBEL AND SHEILA BLACKWELL
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“We don’t see checks or even a lot of cash anymore; it’s all moving online,” said Carver, who worked at the Covington center for more than a decade before moving to a regional position four years ago. “You lose that personal touch, but the idea is to still get people sustainable.” While needs have not changed much over the years, the same cannot be said for the costs. “Where $300 might would have got them by before,” Carver said, “it might be $2,000 now.” A few full- and part-time employees run the Covington center, along with volunteers. Besides assisting those in need, the staff also collects food for the pantry and clothing and household items to sort in the warehouse before they can be displayed and sold in the store. The Salvation Army has not been immune to the issues impacting the rest of society, namely the coronavirus pandemic. “We’re still here doing most of the same things,” said Levi Koebel, director of the Covington service center. “People have been slow to come back out and retail sales and donations have been a lot slower, but we’re doing the best we can.” Beyond the day-to-day operation of the service center, the Salvation Army needs bell ringers for its Red Kettle campaign, which runs from Thanksgiving to Christmas. The monies raised through the campaign—it remains the organization’s single biggest fundraiser—go back into the local community. Carver volunteered for the Salvation Army while she was in high school and encourages individuals or groups to volunteer for time slots to collect money outside of area stores. “If you don’t have the money,” Carver said, “you can always give your time.” Carver enjoys serving with her husband—her mother and mother-in-law have also worked for the Salvation Army— and two sons, ages 12 and 15. “I always take my family to ring bells at different locations,” she said. It allows her to feel connected to the community and gives her a chance to hear stories from others who have been impacted by the organization. From receiving local donations to having a disaster response team assist in an emergency, Carver tends to meet somebody new when she volunteers around the holidays. “Every day is a different mission,” she said. “I enjoy the ability to serve in a faith-based organization freely while helping others.” For information on the Salvation Army’s Covington satellite, visit SalvationArmyGeorgia.org/Covington or call 770-786-2107. To donate gently used items like clothing, furniture, appliances, toys, tools and books, visit the donation center at 5193 Washington Street SW, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
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A MAN CALLED
‘YOGI’ Many who have met Gary Wilkerson view him as a treasure, whether they remember him as a star athlete at Newton High School in the 1960s, an umpire who officiated two Dixie Boys World Series in the 1990s or a devoted family man who made his community a better place by his mere presence there. by NAT HARWELL The Georgia Southern University baseball team opened its season against Tennessee in February. While seated in the company of Statesboro-Bulloch County Parks and Recreation employees, I was asked if I knew a Gary Wilkerson. As I scratched my thinning hair in an attempt to jog my memory, the lightbulb switched on. Few people use the name Gary Wilkerson because everyone knows him as “Yogi.” Newcomers to Newton County, especially those with kids who are starting to play sports, would be wise to learn a little about its history. Some of our athletes have made it to the highest levels: Tim Hyers and Luke Allen in MLB, Ashton Hagans in the NBA and Jake Reed, Dale Carter and Sheldon Rankins in the NFL, to name a few. You also want to familiarize yourself with Ronald Bradley, a legendary basketball coach who established a national record by winning 129 consecutive home games inside the gym that still stands on Newton Drive, across the street from the Covington Family YMCA.
One of Bradley’s players was a kid from Porterdale named Gary Wilkerson. His parents, Ellison and Kathryn, worked at the Bibb Manufacturing Company’s mill on the Yellow River for 35 years. Gary was born at Porterdale Hospital on Poplar Street—the only hospital in Newton County until 1955. He grew up with brother, Mickey, and two stepsiblings: Virginia and Lanier Patterson. Bibb installed former New York Yankees farmhand Billy “B.C.” Crowell as its athletic director, and he opened the Porterdale Gym to local kids, so long as they left it as they found it. After seeing Gary play basketball, Crowell nicknamed him “Yogi,” and a local legend was born. By the time Yogi reached high school, Milton McLaney had fashioned Newton into a highly ranked football team. As a sophomore, Wilkerson was nearly a grown man already at 6-foot-4, 210 pounds and started at offensive tackle. In 1966, Chamblee was ranked No. 1 in Class AAA—the largest classification in the state at the time—and Newton was ranked No. 1 in Class AA. They kicked off the season with much hype from the Atlanta Journal and Atlanta Constitution, the two newspapers that later merged to form the Atlanta JournalConstitution. Coaches from several major colleges attended the game to scout Ronnie Kitchens, Chamblee’s 260-pound defensive end. Despite being outweighed, Yogi handled the 2021 Fall Issue 63
LIVING
highly regarded prospect so well that, a few weeks later, a letter arrived from the University of Tennessee. Yogi was not familiar with the terminology, so he took the letter to one of Newton County’s most respected educators, Dr. Joe Croom. After reading it, Croom extended his hand. “Congratulations Yogi,” he said, “you’ve been awarded a full grant-in-aid to play football in Knoxville for the Volunteers.” However, there was still much to be done on the gridiron and the hardwood. Bradley had won a state championship in 1964, and Yogi’s Rams won a region title and finished as the state runners-up in 1966 behind the efforts of defensive genius Wayne Hall and sharpshooting guard Bob Richardson. Wilkerson was a
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force under the bucket. As a senior, he pulled down 454 rebounds and averaged nearly 14 points per game. He had gone head-to-head with some of the greatest high school athletes in Georgia, including Ron Blomberg—the man who became the first designated hitter in Major League Baseball history. From there, Yogi was off to Knoxville to play football for Tennessee. The Volunteers went 9–1 during the 1967 regular season and defeated Bear Bryant’s Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, before losing a nail-biter to Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl. However, Wilkerson was relegated to the freshmen team, as first-year students were prohibited from competing at the varsity level in that era. “We had beaten Georgia Tech’s freshmen,” Yogi said, “and I had the pleasure of sacking Atlanta’s hot shot, Charlie Dudish, who was Tech’s quarterback. However, the next week the varsity went to Alabama, and I came home, as we had no game. I’d been homesick the whole time I was in Knoxville, and while I was home, I just decided—and I still can’t explain why— that I didn’t want to go back. Eventually, I did get back up there to talk through it with the coaches. We all cried, but I knew in my heart I just wanted to go home.” Home held a forthcoming six-year obligation to the Air National Guard for Yogi, and the stint cured his homesickness. After the military, he settled in Newton County and worked for several companies through the years. He and his wife of 33 years, Jean, experienced living in the old Bibb mill for a time, as it had been converted into loft apartments. Right outside their unit, by happenstance of interior decoration, hung a huge photograph of mill workers, Yogi’s parents among them. Wilkerson’s contribution to athletics extended well into adulthood. He started umpiring baseball at the recreation level, even as he played his way into the United States Specialty Sports Association Hall of Fame as a member of some spectacular slow-pitch softball teams from in and around Newton County.
He was enshrined in 2016. It was my privilege in the 1990s to umpire alongside Yogi for several years, and I like to say that he taught me everything I know about umpiring. After all, he made the cut to officiate the Dixie Boys World Series in 1993 and 1995 at City Pond Park. “It was a thrill to call a World Series,” Yogi said, “and not many folks from around here remember, but current San Francisco catcher [and 2012 National League Most Valuable Player] Buster Posey played here in one of those series.” Who is Gary Wilkerson? A high school standout among many others who stood out. He played alongside Auburn University’s two-sport All-American Tim Christian, held his own against more widely touted opponents and recorded his first hole-in-one at what is now the Ashton Hills Golf Club. Husband. Father. Grandfather. Perhaps most remarkably, he has bravely and steadfastly battle medical issues that often sideline lesser mortals. Yes, in the spring I had to scratch my head and think about whether or not I knew a Gary Wilkerson, and in the end, I have to say I know no such person. For me, he will always be Yogi.
“I’d been homesick the whole time I was in Knoxville, and while I was home, I just decided— and I still can’t explain why—that I didn’t want to go back. Eventually, I did get back up there to talk through it with the coaches. We all cried, but I knew in my heart I just wanted to go home.” Gary “Yogi” Wilkerson
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