LIVING
S e r va n t ’ s
H e a r t
Loy Summers’ tireless work with the Covington Garden Club spans 14 presidencies, from Harry Truman to Joe Biden. The legacy of beautification she began back in 1952 will echo into future generations thanks to her unwavering passion and commitment. by JOHN BABYLON What do seven decades of contribution, community and connection look like? The answer can be found in Loy Summers, whose Newton County roots can be traced all the way back to before the American Revolution. Born on a farm two miles south of Mansfield, she credits her time there for the lifelong passion she developed for growing things. When Summers was asked to join the Covington Garden Club in 1952, she did so with a quiet humility. She admits she was “flattered” to even be considered, though joining the club would prove to be the first seeds sown in a long life of service to her community. The Covington Garden Club dedicates itself to social interaction and the beautification of Covington’s many parks and public areas. It sparked Summers’ passion for the work. When asked about her tireless dedication to the cause, she responded like only she could: “It never occurred to me to quit.” Gardening was a sanctuary—a deeply spiritual pursuit through which she found harmony with nature and God. Using her
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passion to contribute to the community she calls home was a bonus. Summers sees it as an “investment of the soul” and a way for her to leave something behind to future generations. “You have to have faith,” she said, “that someone is going to see it.” Summers’ contributions extend far beyond her own garden. She has been afforded the opportunity to work on many projects in which she took particular pride, not the least of which is Memorial Gardens in Academy Springs Park—just a few blocks from her home. However, her proudest moment was when she received the Certificate of Merit from the Garden Club of Georgia. Summers admits she was never motivated by such achievements but was grateful for the recognition and the experience. The Covington Garden Club graced her with other opportunities to contribute to her hometown in ways she never imagined, like arranging flowers for local churches and sitting on the club’s tree board, which is responsible for the planting and arranging of trees in Covington’s public parks.