2024 Spring Issue

community magazine 2024 SPRING ISSUE

PUBLISHERS

Meredith & Scott Tredeau 678-852-2715 info@thenewtoncommunity.com SALES

Heather Bowman 404-583-2179 bowmanh23@aol.com

FEATURE

Maree Taylor 770-530-7837 sales@thenewtoncommunity.com

8 Sister Act

EDITORS

Kari Apted Brian Knapp PHOTOGRAPHER

Michie Turpin

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

HEALTH & WELLNESS 18 Invisible Enemy 26 Community Lifelines

SPORTS & RECREATION 34 When the Fates Align 38 Head in the Game

Brince Benford Michelle Floyd Gabriel Stovall ILLUSTRATOR

Scott Fuss

THANK YOU

We would like to thank Sally Budd, Antiques & Stuff and Remi McRae’s Floral Design for their contrbutions to the 2024 spring cover of The NEWTON Community Magazine.

ARTS, EDUCATION & INNOVATION 44 Pointing the Way Home 48 In a Class by Herself

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LIVING

54 Servant’s Touch 58 Collect Call

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.

On the Cover

FROM FORGOTTEN TO FAMOUS

by WYATT AND MEREDITH TREDEAU Back during the days when toilet paper was known as the “newspaper,” the typewriter sat in a retail store for a long, long time until finally, one man came across the machine and decided he wanted it. This man owned the general store many people frequented when they wanted nails, planks and other essentials.

His plan was to resell it in his general store, but no one seemed to have a need for a fancy typewriter in the small town.

The store owner used it a few times to write letters to his family, but it was too much trouble, so he decided to stick with regular old pen and paper. He put the

typewriter back in the store on a top shelf where it was hard to see, and it was eventually forgotten about.

As the years passed, the typewriter witnessed a lot of changes. From its spot on the top shelf in the general store, the typewriter watched as people started using cars and planes, radios and TVs and eventually computers, cell phones and the Internet. Just when it seemed there was no way anyone would ever find a use for an old typewriter, someone picked it up, dusted it off and took its picture for the cover of a magazine.

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PUBLISHERS’ NOTE

I’ve been working on memorizing my first scripture, Psalm 23:3, which says, “The Lord guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake.”

The word “paths” stood out to me one night. It’s plural, not singular. I like that.

God’s paths for my life are many, and they’re often not straight. How boring would life be if my paths were straight and predictable? What if choosing to believe was only about getting to heaven and not enjoying the paths to get there? No thank you.

For me, saying I believed was hard.

My pride wouldn’t allow me to fall for such a far-fetched idea as Jesus being raised from the dead. However, at my rock bottom, I had nothing to lose. Even now, I can find myself questioning this event, but I choose to use this doubt as reason to seek God’s paths for my life.

God can handle my doubts and questions. He’s much bigger than any problems I will ever face. Most of the time, I really don’t understand God’s plan, and I’m OK with that. I have faith despite my lack of understanding. He does not expect me to understand everything. Wow, it’s freeing to say that.

I can breathe again.

In the end, the paths my life takes are for His name’s sake, not mine. (Another freeing breath.) For that, I’m grateful.

Have a great day today.

Scott Tredeau

2024 Spring Issue 7

F E AT U R E

Stories by Kari Apted.

SISTER ACT A sign at the entrance to Musulyn’s International Cuisine in Covington reads, ‘Welcome to Our Story.’ It invites guests to learn more about chef Carmenia Tyrus and her journey from nurse to restaurateur. A true immigrant American success story, Tyrus has now embarked on a new project to bring one of Georgia’s treasured icons back to life.

by KARI APTED

Sisters Carmenia Tyrus and Musulyn Morgan had a dream.

Born in Liberia, the siblings grew up in the United States and ended up together in Georgia as adults. Tyrus was a nurse by trade but had always loved to cook. She attended culinary school at Gwinnett Tech to brush up on specific skills, but she considers herself primarily a self-trained chef.

“I’ve always been very passionate about food,” Tyrus said, “and I shared that passion with my sister.”

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The two decided to save up to open a restaurant together after Tyrus paid off her car. It would have an international menu, including the traditional African foods they grew up eating. Their dream extended beyond an ordinary restaurant.

They also planned to offer catering, an event space and a gift shop. Morgan retired at the age of 49, ready to launch an exciting new business with her beloved little sister. However, she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer the very day she retired.

Because pancreatic cancer has few symptoms until it is well advanced, up to 80% of patients are already at late stages when diagnosed. Before Morgan succumbed to her illness, Tyrus vowed never to let their plans fade away.

“I promised her I would continue with our journey and our dreams,” Tyrus said. “I opened a catering business and named it after her.”

So it was that Musulyn’s Catering and Event Planning was born, and Tyrus began cooking for businesses, weddings and social events. She searched far and wide for the perfect place to expand her business but believes God had His own plans.

She eventually procured her current brick-and-mortar storefront on US 278 in Covington. Tyrus describes a visit to Musulyn’s International Restaurant as “an international fine dining experience” previously lacking in Newton County. “It’s a fusion

(L TO R) MAYA BROWN, CARMENIA TYRUS AND JORDAN BERRY

experience,” she said. “We have African, Caribbean, Mediterranean, Italian and American soul food cuisine. I can make just about any kind of dish or entrée.”

Tyrus’ culinary expertise shines in the elegant plating of her creations. Every entrée is artfully arranged and garnished— making even classic home-cooked staples like fried chicken feel sophisticated and refined. The African cuisine is perhaps the restaurant’s biggest draw and the food that brings the strongest remembrance of Musulyn to Tyrus’ mind.

“When I moved to Georgia, we became really close,” Tyrus said. “She’s the one who taught me how to make our traditional African foods.” Tyrus says she often hears how happy her customers are that they no longer have to drive to Atlanta to enjoy genuine African cuisine. “You couldn’t find African food here in Covington,” she said. Tyrus suggests coming in early or calling the restaurant to inquire about the day’s African menu before heading there, as “it always sells out fast.”

The restaurant’s offerings from the continent include Musulyn’s recipe for egusi soup, a nutty and savory West African stew.

Traditionally, it is made with made with ground melon seeds, palm oil, vegetables and a combination of beef and seafood. It is commonly served with a side of fufu, a soft cooked dough that can be made from cassava, plantains or yams. Guests are encouraged to eat with their hands by pinching off a piece of fufu and using it to scoop up the rich egusi soup. Cooked sweet potato greens provide a flavorful alternative to the usual southern side of collard greens. However, those who love collards need not worry—Tyrus makes those, too. Classic Southern soul food appears on the menu daily, featuring home-cooked sides like macaroni and cheese and candied yams.

“I think we have the best oxtails, the best catfish and the best fried chicken,” Tyrus said.

Although the restaurant’s popular International Night feature is on pause, Tyrus is considering returning to it soon. Once a 2024 Spring Issue 9

F E AT U R E

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The Genteel Rebirth of the Blue Willow Inn

by KARI APTED The Blue Willow Inn has served many purposes since it was built in 1917. It has been a private residence, church, social hall and restaurant. Closed in 2020 after the coronavirus pandemic exacerbated existing financial problems, the iconic restaurant has new ownership and a new chef vowing to keep most things the same.

Most longtime residents of Social Circle and surrounding cities have a Blue Willow Inn story. The majority of my trips to the neoclassic Greek Revival mansion were to socialize with my writers’ group. We were a bunch of sweet and sassy southern ladies—and a few gentlemen—with a shared affinity for the written word and the home cooking we grew up on. There was no better place to celebrate my 40th birthday than surrounded by my husband, children, sisters, parents and beloved grandmother, who’s now baking cornbread for Jesus.

During the Blue Willow Inn’s heyday in the late 1990s and early 2000s, up to 4,000 visitors strolled through its majestic front doors each week.

Famous guests included Louis Grizzard, Helen Mirren, Carroll O’Connor and former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl. It was not a problem to wait for a table because it meant we got to enjoy the sprawling front porch, where we glided in the white rocking chairs and wished our front gardens were as lovely as theirs.

So many of us were dismayed when we heard our beloved restaurant was a casualty of the pandemic. I dug online to find their recipe for fried green tomatoes with red tomato chutney so I could try to recreate it at home.

I succeeded—sort of. My concoction was good but certainly not BlueWillow-Inn good.

This could be the year that I, and everyone else with sweet Blue Willow Inn memories, can visit our lovely friend on North Cherokee Street again.

Chef Carmenia Tyrus and several investors are working to bring the restaurant back to life. Reopening an icon carries a lot of weight, but Tyrus believes she can rise to the challenge.

Already a community icon for the soul food dishes she serves at Musulyn’s International Cuisine in Covington, Tyrus sees this venture as an opportunity for more people to enjoy her classic Southern cuisine.

Tyrus plans to return to the southern buffet model that worked so well for the award-winning restaurant before.

Some recipes will be the same, while others will be Tyrus’ unique creations.

“When you read the comments on the Facebook page, you see that customers hope things won’t change,” Tyrus said. “I was fortunate to meet with the original owner, Billie Van Dyke,

and she was kind enough to leave me her recipes. I do plan on using them and keeping the same style to make the people happy.” She plans to keep both of her restaurants going and will be back and forth between the two.

“The Blue Willow Inn and Musulyn’s are two different concepts,” she said, explaining that there is strong demand for each establishment. Currently, she and the investors are in the process of obtaining permits, including building permits for renovation.

However, she insists that any changes will be cosmetic.

“The building itself is beautiful,” she said. “It just needs touch up, paint, landscaping—nothing major.”

One of Tyrus’ business partners continues to monitor the Blue Willow Inn’s Facebook page, and she suggests interested patrons visit it for news on the grand reopening. As for me, I will be checking it often and plan to be first in line for those fried green tomatoes.

2024 Spring Issue 11

F E AT U R E

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month, on Friday nights, Tyrus would invite a chef specializing in international cuisine to come to the restaurant and prepare a five- to seven-course meal. The ticketed event included signature cocktails from the featured country and an educational presentation highlighting that specific cuisine.

Tyrus’ unique menu offerings and fusion cooking style have made Musulyn’s one of Covington’s hidden gems. She was delighted when community excitement about her restaurant led to an invitation to join the ranks of over 800 locally owned independent restaurants and appear on “America’s Best Restaurants.” Filmed by a media company of the same name, these ABR Roadshow episodes are featured on their website and social media networks, including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. These Food Network-style features include an interview, a cooking demonstration and details about the establishment’s background. Tyrus had to decide what to cook for the cameras to prepare for the crew’s visit.

“They told me to cook my best dish, so I narrowed it down to things that would highlight our menu and draw people in.

I chose special dishes that I know people will be interested in trying,” she said. Tyrus did not divulge what dishes she chose to share with the crew, though taping has completed and the show will air later this year. “You’ll have to watch the show to find out. I’m glad we were featured so people can see what we have to offer.”

Patrons should also be on the lookout for the next restaurant to serve Tyrus’ signature Southern cuisine, as she will be the new chef at the famous Blue Willow Inn in Social Circle. Forced to close during the coronavirus pandemic, the iconic restaurant will serve its guests the Southern cuisine they remember, along with foods featuring Tyrus’ creative touch. The new owners are in the process of working with government agencies to obtain their food establishment permits. Tyrus suggests people follow the Blue Willow Inn’s Facebook page for updates on the reopening process.

Tyrus wishes her sister was still here to enjoy the restaurant’s success but finds peace and pride in knowing she has successfully fulfilled the duo’s dream.

“We have a lot to offer the community: fine dining, great customer service, delicious food,” she said. “I’d love for people to come by and enjoy the whole experience.”

“I’ve always been very passionate about food, and I shared that passion with my sister.”

Carmenia Tyrus

2024 Spring Issue 13

H E A LT H & W E L L N E S S

Stories by Kari Apted.

INVISIBLE ENEMY

An unwelcome visitor appeared to Angela Whitley with numbness and tingling when she was only 20 years old. More than two decades later, she advocates for those struggling with multiple sclerosis and other chronic illnesses, offering hope to those being confronted by similar diagnoses.

by KARI APTED

Spring mornings can be beautiful in Newton County, often bringing sparkling sunshine, warm temperatures and a chorus of happily chirping birds. However, for Angela Whitley, the dawn of each new day is tinged with struggles.

“Mornings are bad for me,” she said. “My balance is off and it can take 10 to 15 minutes to gain control and try to get going, but I make myself get up and do stuff. If I listened to my body, I wouldn’t get out of bed.”

Whitley was a young mother to baby daughter Elizabeth when she experienced her first signs of multiple sclerosis.

According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, MS is “an unpredictable disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain and between the brain and body.” It impacts the central nervous system, including the brain, optic nerves and spinal cord. No one knows the exact cause of MS, but various known triggers cause inflammation that damages myelin—the protective covering on nerve fibers that extend from the CNS to every part of the body. The damage interrupts communication to and from the brain.

Because the central nervous system controls everything we do, the impact of MS can be unpredictable and different for each

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person who suffers from the disease. Two hallmark symptoms— tingling and numbness—were Whitley’s earliest signs.

“When it started,” she said, “I had numbness and tingling in my hands and feet, fatigue and terrible headaches.”

Other common problems include mood changes, brain fog, memory loss, widespread pain and debilitating exhaustion.

Blindness and paralysis are also possible. Not only are the symptoms of MS varied, but they may be temporary, long-lasting or permanent. Often, pregnancy brings a welcome season of remission, as it did for Whitley when she was pregnant with her second child, son Dylan. Carpal tunnel pain was the only symptom she experienced during that time.

It has since become impossible to know what each day will bring. Unpredictability is the rule when living with MS. “You never know what you’re going to wake up to,” Whitley said.

“Literally, you could wake up unable to move your legs or arms.

You never know. There can be a lot of fear in that.” One of Whitley’s more unusual symptoms is facial paralysis, but it only occurs on the right side of her face. In another instance, she lost the ability to write with her dominant left hand and had to teach herself to write with her right. Chronic fatigue and bouts

(L TO R) DYLAN ERB, ANGELA WHITLEY, SCRAPPY, GREGG WHITLEY AND ELIZABETH ERB

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H E A LT H & W E L L N E S S

“If I listened to my body, I wouldn’t get out of bed.”

Angela Whitley

of depression are ongoing challenges for Whitley as she lives with MS. When her symptoms peak, sometimes a strong round of steroids can bring the condition under control.

“Steroids work because MS produces a lot of inflammation; it attacks the immune system. Steroids reduce the inflammation,” she said, “but sometimes you’re left with permanent damage after a relapse.”

MS has left Whitley with irreversible lesions on her spinal cord and brain. She is still able to work at her job as a special education paraprofessional at Flint Hill Elementary School, but a recent migraine made it impossible for her to go in that day. “I just had to take my rescue medication and stay in bed,” she said. Whitley firmly believes that staying active—even when she does not feel like doing so—plays a significant role in staying ahead of MS. “I think I’ve done well so far because I stay busy,” she said.

“I’ve heard other people say it’s important to exercise because if you don’t, your muscles will weaken.”

Her husband, Gregg, works as a contractor, and she often helps him with odd jobs in the evenings. His skills have proven to be a blessing at home, where he has been able to build modifications to improve accessibility for his better half.

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“Big stairs are a challenge,” she said. “At this point, I don’t need mobility aids, even though steps are hard. There have been times I’ve almost fallen, but I’ve been able to catch myself.”

Whitley remembers when she was first diagnosed with MS and visited the Shepherd’s Center, a neurorehabilitation center in Atlanta. “I was 22 the first time I went there,” she said. “I was so afraid, seeing all those people in wheelchairs and thinking I was looking at my future. I’m so grateful I’m still able to get around.” Whitley has been on various medications through the years but found that some drugs for MS result in troublesome side effects. For example, one exacerbated her feelings of depression.

“I started having more negative thoughts when I took it,” she said. “I’m not taking anything now.”

In addition to the love of her family, Whitley turns to her four dogs for support.

“We have a boxer, two chiweenies and a husky/pit mix,” she said. “My dogs are like therapy for me; they bring a lot of joy to my life. I’ve always loved animals.”

Whitley also credits her faith for providing the strength and positivity she needs to deal with her chronic illness. When she

gets down, she says that seeking God in those moments reminds her to be grateful for what she has. “I focus on the positive things around me, like sunrises and sunsets,” she said.

“Figure out what the positives are in your life and focus on those.” Whitley hopes such advice can help others newly diagnosed with MS. She also stresses the importance of finding a good neurologist, exploring new medication options and joining a support group.

“I follow several MS communities on Facebook,” she said.

“There is so much to share with one another, and they may know things you don’t know yet. Everybody needs someone to lean on.”

One difficulty of living with MS is that its challenges can be invisible to others.

“A lot of people see you and think you’re a normal person who isn’t struggling with anything,” she said. “Nobody really understands or knows how to deal with it. Then some judge you for having a handicapped tag and not looking handicapped. I wish people would stop judging what they don’t know, just going by the visuals. We need to embrace and love each other instead.”

H E A LT H & W E L L N E S S

More from Grace & Truth.

GRACE & TRUTH

Understanding the Great Commission

Only a sufficiently trained and prepared church can fulfill the commands of Jesus Christ that were outlined in the Book of Matthew.

by BRINCE C. BENFORD SR.

When the Body of Christ continues the work outlined for us in Matthew 28:16–20, better known as the Great Commission, we can then become the true light of this community. We have been instructed to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world. However, we have to truly study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.

In today’s time, the church can only be strengthened by being obedient to the will of God. In Matthew 28:18, Jesus has been given power of attorney to commission the Body of Christ. Our Lord chose the path of obedience unto death. The charge to His church has a ubiquitous ring. The four-fold commission is housed in Verses 19–20: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

Go, teach, baptize and teach. Remember, the Scripture has to be kept in context. Jesus gave the charge to disciples that He had trained for approximately three and a half years. The first “go” is actually the last part of the charge. Oftentimes, we go out in our communities for the task at hand. The church should

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never do more harm than good. Only those who know how to rightly divide the Word of Truth should go. You will notice the words “teach” and “teaching” in the verses have different meanings in Greek. The word “teach” in Verse 19 means to enroll as a pupil; the word “teaching” in Verse 20 means that the pupil has now become a teacher. The idea in the text is that the enrolled student has now become a teacher of the Word of God and knows how to rightly divide the Word of Truth. The order for us to carry out the Great Commission is teach, baptize, teaching and then go ye.

I am a firm believer that the church is more impactful in our community when we have been adequately trained in the Word of God. Can you imagine if everyone in the church knew how to teach the Word of God? At Present Glory Missionary Baptist Church, we mandate that all members in the Body of Christ learn. The Word of God is our sword. Learn to use it properly.

Remember, Jesus loves us. His death, burial and resurrection prove His love. The blood of Christ has not lost its power.

Rev. Dr. Brince C. Benford Sr. is the pastor of Present Glory Missionary Baptist Church in Covington. For more information, visit www.presentglory.org.

“The Word of God is our sword.

Learn to use it properly.”

Brince C. Benford Sr.

2024 Spring Issue 23

H E A LT H & W E L L N E S S

“Once you get a taste of this job, you either like it or you don’t. No other job compares to what we deal with. It’s almost like an addiction.”

Kei’Ana Sims (L TO R) HILLARY WILDER, KRISTA HIPPS AND KEI’ANA SIMS

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COMMUNITY

Stories by Kari Apted.

LIFELINES 911 dispatchers are an often overlooked but vital part of any first-responder department. With an incredibly stressful work environment and the ability to multitask at levels few ever master, they hold the keys to delivering help where needed.

by KARI APTED

Do not let the friendly voices at the other end of the line fool you when you call the Covington-Newton 911 Center. These dispatchers can get tough when situations call for it. Working under the leadership of director Trudy Henry, dispatchers Kei’Ana Sims, Krista Hipps and Hillary Wilder agree that theirs is a career intended for only a select few.

“My brother is a Newton County Sheriff’s deputy, and he thought he would try working as a dispatcher. He left after two months, saying he didn’t know how we did it,” Sims said with a laugh. She now serves as a team leader and considers herself a “dispatch baby” because her mother was also a dispatcher. “Once you get a taste of this job, you either like it or you don’t. No other job compares to what we deal with. It’s almost like an addiction.”

Hipps echoes her colleague’s sentiments.

“I kind of fell into the job in 2004. I thought I’d go see what this is all about,” she said, adding that good dispatchers often possess a morbid sense of humor and innate toughness. “I’ve tried working other jobs since, but everywhere else is boring in comparison and I always come back. We’re like a family— a dysfunctional one.”

Wilder recently celebrated 10 years at Covington-Newton 911.

“I’ve been around radios all my life,” she said. “My dad, Burt Cram, had a radio business and maintained the county’s radio systems for years.” Wilder finds that her degree in criminal justice has helped her perform her role in law enforcement, but she considers multitasking her primary strength. “One minute, you’re on the phone with a husband and wife fighting over the remote control; the next call is from someone who wants their body to

be found after they [commit suicide].” Wilder said. “The next call is a mother who can’t get her child to wake up, and then you’re managing a cop on a chase. The variety makes it interesting.”

All dispatchers at the Covington-Newton County 911 center are trained through the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials, often described as “the honors program” of dispatcher training. The center is also accredited through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement. This voluntary process signifies the agency meets internationally accepted best practices for 911 communication centers.

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H E A LT H & W E L L N E S S

Adhering to higher standards keeps only the best dispatchers on staff. Dispatchers work 12-hour shifts around the clock with no designated breaks. Little room exists for upward mobility. The job is so stressful that the center adopted an emotional support dog, a goldendoodle named Annie. Because of the high employee turnover rate, it is viewed as a gift when employees remain long enough to form a tight-knit team. Sims, Hipps and Wilder have learned how to assist each other without being asked.

“If you’re on the radio and hear that another dispatcher needs an ambulance, you make that call for them,” Sims said. “You not only focus on your own screen; you hear the whole room.

If you sense another dispatcher is struggling, you help them out.”

The dispatchers have learned to work around one another’s strengths and weaknesses. Sims admits she can get squeamish

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when children are involved in an emergency, while Wilder concedes she struggles with animals. Both women credit Hipps’ years on the job with having given her the expertise to handle unusual circumstances, such as when a small plane crashed in the General Mills parking lot in 2022. “I’ve learned how to dig out the relevant information,” Hipps said. Sims expounded upon the sentiment. “We are paid to be nosy,” she said, “but sometimes people fight against telling us stuff, so that’s when we have to take on that commanding tone and be firm. We have to know how to send the right kind of help, and our questions aren’t delaying help. Most of the time, they’re already on the way.”

Hipps made sure to note that a dispatcher’s job differs from what is often portrayed on TV. “You’d be surprised by how many people don’t know their own address,” she said. “We at least need a cross street. Your cell phone does not pinpoint exactly where you are.”

Wilder estimates that around 80 to 90% of incoming calls do not involve life-threatening situations. “Of course, you should call in a true emergency, but don’t lie, saying someone has a gun or a knife, thinking help will arrive quicker,” she said. Hipps added that most people believe they will get preferential treatment if they arrive at the hospital in an ambulance. “It’s not true,” she said. “You’ll be triaged like everyone else. We manage a lot: phones, dispatch, EMS, fire, admin and 911 lines for the county and the city. We have a duty to the public to make sure every call is answered.”

S P O R T S & R E C R E AT I O N

Stories by Brian Knapp.

WHEN THE FATES ALIGN Ben Reaves Jr. once starred on the gridiron at Newton High School but always believed he was meant to coach. Now at the controls of the powerhouse Milton program, the 38-year-old father of two has established himself as one of the bright young minds in the sport.

by BRIAN KNAPP

Those who believe in destiny could certainly point at Ben Reaves Jr. as potential evidence. As the son of a longtime coach, he was not introduced to football so much as he was born into it. He grew up to become a standout wide receiver at Newton High School—where he developed under his father, Ben Reaves Sr., before graduating in 2004—and moved on to the University of Georgia as a preferred walk-on before concussions ended his playing career in 2005.

It was not the exit he foresaw, but he picked up the headset almost as soon as he put away the pads. The transition could not have been more natural.

“From the time I was old enough to walk, I started going to football practices with my dad,” Reaves Jr. said. “Outside of my four years at UGA, the birth of my two sons and one bad case of the flu, I don’t think I’ve ever missed a high school football practice, so for me, there’s never been a question or thought of doing anything else. Coaching is not just what I grew up knowing, but it’s what I’ve always loved and deep down always felt it was what I was destined to do.”

Reaves Jr. spent one season as a student assistant at Georgia, then cut his teeth as part of high school staffs at Collins Hill in Suwanee, Berrien County in Nashville and Bay Shore in Bradenton, Florida. In time, he emerged as one of the brightest young minds in the game. Reaves Jr. in 2017 accepted an offer to become the offensive coordinator at Milton High School, where head coach Adam Clack was tasked with waking a sleeping giant. From 1950 to 2016, the Eagles won just three region titles and three playoff games. In five years under Clack,

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(L TO R) CALEB REAVES AND BEN REAVES JR.

Milton captured four region championships and its first state title in 2018. When he departed his post in 2022, Reaves Jr. was tabbed as his successor. The married 38-year-old father of two now finds himself behind the wheel at one of the most successful and prestigious football programs in the state. It has proven to be an ideal fit for both parties.

“The words community and family are interchangeable at Milton,” Reaves Jr. said. “The bonds and the closeness of everyone is undeniable. If you are an Eagle, you always feel loved, welcomed and at home. I like to think our football program feels the same way, but that love and connection starts with the community and naturally trickles into our locker rooms.”

Reaves Jr. has built on what Clack started by following a simple but effective approach.

“Coach to your teams strengths, design schemes to your players strengths, and design and make calls that give your best athletes the most opportunities to take over a game,” he said. “I want to be multiple on offense, I want to be sound but fearless on defense and I want to use special teams as a weapon to change the game and steal points and possessions. After each season, you wipe every board clean, re-evaluate everything and design a new philosophy and scheme for the next year’s team, because they’re all different and no two teams will ever be the same.”

Virtually everything has gone according to plan thus far.

The Eagles have compiled a 23–6 record under Reaves Jr. while claiming back-to-back Region 6-AAAAAAA championships. He led Milton to its second state title in December. The Eagles won their final 10 games, finished the season 13–2 and took down 2024 Spring Issue 35

S P O R T S & R E C R E AT I O N

“We made memories this season that you cannot put a price tag on and memories I’ll cherish for as long as I live.”

Ben Reaves Jr.

undefeated Walton 31–21 in the Class AAAAAAA state final at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. When Reaves Jr. approached the temporary stage to accept the state championship trophy, memories and emotions overwhelmed him. It was the culmination of years of hard work, success and failure, trial and error.

“Complete satisfaction, not just for myself but for the entire program, school and community,” Reaves Jr. said. “Everyone poured everything they had into our season, and to see everyone get rewarded was a more than satisfying feeling. I also felt a ton of relief. I knew we had what it took to win, and I was very vocal about that all season, so to see it happen and play out the way it did definitely brought me relief that what I had been saying and preaching all year wasn’t just a dream but a reality and a fact.”

As Reaves Jr. celebrated the crowning achievement of his own coaching career, thoughts turned back to his father—the man who set him on his current path all those years ago.

“He’s been the biggest influence, by far the most supportive influence and definitely the original influence that hooked me into the profession,” he said. “I probably wouldn’t be a coach if he wasn’t a coach. If he were a carpenter, I’d probably be a carpenter right now. That’s how much he’s meant to me and how much he’s always influenced who I am. To see how his players—and even coaches—always loved him, looked up to him, trusted his every

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move and always came back to see him or check in … those are all things I’ve always hoped to be as a coach and reasons why much of what I do and who I am even today is modeled after him.”

Reaves Jr. was also humbled by the reality that the man he admires most was a breath away from not being there to witness it all. An assistant football coach and physical education teacher at Social Circle High School, Reaves Sr. suffered a near-fatal brain bleed in June. It required a 28-day stay in the neuro intensive care unit, along with countless tests and follow-up procedures. Outside of a few minor setbacks, he appears to be on the road to recovery from a frightening episode that threatened to claim his life. Reaves Jr. credits his assistants—including Caleb Reaves, his younger brother and wide receivers coach— with helping him keep the Milton ship afloat.

“I have a great coaching staff and support system around me that I was able to rely on at every turn,” he said. “I couldn’t have

done it without them. Plus, it just gave me more of a reason to honor him and make him proud on the platform he first showed to me.”

With the benefit of hindsight, Reaves Jr. carries a different perspective on the situation.

“In all honestly, I view it somewhat as a blessing in disguise,” he said. “Since he was no longer able to coach with the Social Circle football team, the only game of mine he missed was when we traveled down to Miami. With the other 14, he got to tell my brother and I good luck before every game, chat with us at the end and chase his four grandchildren around the field. He was there when the clock hit zero and Caleb and I both became state champions on the same team. We made memories this season that you cannot put a price tag on and memories I’ll cherish for as long as I live.”

PHOTO CREDIT: JSM PRODUCTIONS

VISIT US ONLINE

S P O R T S & R E C R E AT I O N

Stories by Gabriel Stovall.

HEAD IN THE GAME Brain surgery forced New Jersey native Anthony Vargas to give up one of the two sports he loves and confront his own mortality at a young age. Now a second-year student at Oxford College, he remains determined to use those life-altering experiences and his innovative drive to benefit others.

by GABRIEL STOVALL

Anthony Vargas will be the first to acknowledge that he has had plenty of opportunities to feel sorry for himself, fold up his proverbial tent and quit. He just chooses not to do so. Now, the second-year Oxford College student uses one of the very issues that could have fed a desire to throw in the towel to instead bring hope and help to others. It serves as the impetus behind Vargas’ start-up company: Safe Squeeze Head Gear.

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“I want to create solutions for people recovering from brain injury [and] for athletes who want to stay on the forefront of preventing concussions and brain injuries,” he said. “I want to make opportunities that keep people from worrying about finding quality head gear when they need it.”

Back in 2010, Vargas needed it. That was when the Patterson, New Jersey, native realized he would have to undergo surgery to remove a mass from his brain. It started innocently enough with a few pesky headaches, but over the course of eight years, they turned into excruciating migraines.

“Some days, it would be so painful I’d be screaming through my pillow in bed,” Vargas said. “It all culminated with seizures and me losing control of my left hand. I went to my pediatrician, and they looked at me, did some tests and realized something was really off with me.”

Two MRIs showed an arachnoid cyst the size of a small lemon resting on the motor cortex of his brain. “That’s the part that affects movement,” Vargas said, “which is ironic because of the fact that I was an athlete.” He grew up playing football and basketball, and his skills on the basketball court were impressive enough that Pioneer Academy, a school in nearby Wayne, New Jersey, recruited him to help start its program. “That was my sophomore year of high school,” Vargas said. After high school, Vargas arrived at Oxford College to major in psychology, with a minor in media production, as part of the physician’s assistant track. He has also been able to extend his athletic career, averaging 9.4 points and five rebounds per game as a guard for the Oxford men’s basketball team. More than the action on the

“Ever since those three days in the hospital, I just learned how to live life with more gratitude in everything.”

Anthony Vargas

S P O R T S & R E C R E AT I O N

court, however, Vargas takes pride in being able to use athletics to be a more meaningful part of the Newton County community at large.

“Being an athlete at Oxford, specifically compared to high school and AAU ball, it’s so much more involved off the court,” Vargas said. “It really requires an aspect of leadership that translates to community. Here at college, you’re less of an athlete and more of a community member.”

As satisfying as the duality of his role as a student-athlete has become, Vargas remembers a time, not too long ago, when it all felt like it might never happen. Vargas describes the time of his brain surgery as the most stressful and scary season of his life, as well as the most beneficial.

“Being 12, turning 13, that’s just such a young age for something so visceral to happen for me,” he said. “After the surgery, I was in the hospital for three days. I got a lot older through those three days in the hospital. I began thinking through things that are bigger than athletics, even at that age.

It prepared me for the other things that I’ve been able to do.”

Piloting Safe Squeeze Head Gear stands at the forefront of his efforts. It was born out of what he and his family dealt with trying to find the right kind of head protection that could keep him involved in at least one of the sports he loved.

“I wasn’t able to play football anymore after that, but I was still able to play basketball,” he said. “Our family did a lot of research to find a way to get me something that could me back on the court. We settled with a rugby helmet, and it was good, but I think it could’ve been better.”

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Vargas admits the uncertainty of how his career would continue and the concerns of any later aftereffects from surgery took a toll on his psyche. He has undergone several other medical procedures over the years, including hip surgeries. While they contributed to Vargas’ frustrations, faith and family kept him steadfast.

“I realized how much it really does take a village,” Vargas said. “I had my parents and four siblings, as well. During the morning of my surgery, I had my whole family around me, and people who couldn’t be with me were on FaceTime wishing me well. Family’s definitely been a driving force for me.”

So, too, has his relationship with God. Vargas concedes that even with his family and friends being constantly by his side, his spirituality made all the difference. “I think it all comes from my faith in Jesus,” he said. “In fact, I know it does.” Vargas teaches Bible studies on Oxford’s campus, and he credits the difficulties he has overcome as catalysts for helping him discover how to learn and live God’s love. “I put a form of love—God’s agape, selfless, limitless love—in my Bible studies at Oxford,” he said. “I think my family showing me that kind of love, as well as me defining that for myself and knowing it comes from my Creator, it all helps me do all the things I’m doing.” Between basketball, his studies in the classroom, starting a business and trying to find his way into the real estate sector in metro Atlanta, Vargas stays busy.

While chatting about his experiences, he was balancing the business pitch, a chemistry midterm and a Thursday afternoon flight back to his native New Jersey.

While some have expressed concern about his doing too much, Vargas points to the life lessons brain surgery taught him.

“Ever since those three days in the hospital, I just learned how to live life with more gratitude in everything,” he said.

“I looked at people differently. I played the sport I was still able to play differently. I recognized how precious it was to be on the court. I remember when I got out of the hospital and went outside, it was like I heard the birds differently; the sun on my skin felt different; the air was different. I realized how much I needed to enjoy and make the most out of life.”

Vargas knows life will throw more difficulties at him, but he believes his newfound perspective can keep him content and grateful while also allowing him to make a lasting impact on others.

“I’m busy, busy, busy, but I love everything I do here,” he said, “and as I continue to do what I love, I’m always meeting other people who see that light in me. For me, that’s what gives me the joy to get through the hard stuff.”

A R T S , E D U C AT I O N & I N N O VAT I O N

(L TO R) KAYLIE LACHANCE, BEAU STEPHENS, TESSA HALL, JESSICA HEMBREE, HAILEY NIXON AND CALEB HEMBREE

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POINTING

Stories by Kari Apted.

t he w ay

HOME

Published author and educator Jessica Hembree never intended to homeschool her children. However, a first-grade bully and a ‘Field of Dreams’ moment launched the mother of three into her role as one of the state’s leading home education experts.

by KARI APTED

Jessica Hembree, for a homeschooling parent, spends a lot of time away from her house. In any given week, she can be found teaching at Summit Academy in Conyers or serving as an ambassador for the nation’s largest homeschool advocacy organization: the Home School Legal Defense Association. Her family faithfully attends church every Wednesday and Sunday.

However, being home does not mean rest for this busy mother of three. She is either teaching students at her in-home Eagle Academy, making quilts or embroidery for her home-based business or educating her two youngest children.

The word “home” means a lot to Hembree.

“Growing up, we moved around a lot,” she said. “My father had several issues that made it hard to keep a job. He was an alcoholic, and mental illness was involved. There were a lot of low-income situations. My sister Jennifer and I joked that if we weren’t visiting my father in jail, he was just drunk at home.”

Hembree admits it was difficult to watch her mother, Lori, pick up the slack while dealing with domestic abuse. It led Lori to begin drinking herself.

“So then we had two alcoholic parents at home,” Hembree said, “but when I was 11, Mom finally got the courage to walk out.”

While her father was at work, they loaded a U-Haul and drove from Kansas to Montana, Lori’s home state. After spending

two months in a shelter, Lori managed to find housing. She worked three jobs while attending college to improve her daughters’ lives. She also worked hard to overcome her drinking problem.

“It was a struggle,” Hembree said. “We were always just getting by, but my mom is an amazingly strong woman and a definite inspiration to me. One of the coolest things is that my mom graduated college the same year I graduated from high school.”

Hembree also credits her mom for her wide range of life skills.

“She’s why I know how to sew, how to can, how to change a tire, all of those things.”

While attending college in Montana, Hembree met her future husband, Bryan, an airman at nearby Malmstrom Air Force Base. They wed and soon learned they were expecting their first child. Hembree had to withdraw from college due to severe morning sickness. When their daughter, Ayla, was 9 months old, Bryan received a job offer from his family in Covington, and they decided to move to Georgia.

“At that point, I’d been in Montana for eight years—the longest I’d ever lived in one place,” Hembree said. “We rented a pull-behind U-Haul, filled it with clothes and the baby’s stuff and moved 2,000 miles. We only took two pieces of furniture that my grandfather had made.”

“We must’ve tried six, seven, eight options before we found our groove. What worked for one child didn’t work for the other.”

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A R T S , E D U C AT I O N & I N N O VAT I O N

The family settled in and Hembree began working online on her education degree. Ayla was an avid learner, and the Hembrees were soon expecting another child, Zachary. While discussing preschool options, the topic of homeschooling arose.

“I was a public-school kid,” Hembree said. “Bryan went to private and Christian schools. He knew about homeschooling, but I didn’t.” After obtaining her degree, Hembree planned to teach pre-K or kindergarten in the public school system.

However, when Ayla began attending public school, the situation changed.

“She had problems with a bully, and it made things miserable for her. The first year with the bully wasn’t good, but her teacher helped her work through it. In the second year, the bully was in her class. Ayla actually became physically ill in the mornings,” Hembree said. That was when something clicked.

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“I realized I have a degree that says I’m qualified to teach other people’s kids. Why don’t I just teach my own?” By then, Hembree’s third child, Caleb, had been born, and they decided to give homeschooling a try. “I was so nervous,” Hembree said. “I couldn’t find people to talk to and wasn’t sure what I was doing, so I signed the kids up for Connections Academy—an online public school—and spent that year doing research. I looked into every homeschooling method, curriculum, co-op, everything.”

Ayla and Zachary spent two years learning at home with Connections Academy. By then, Hembree had met some homeschooling friends and felt more confident. She felt ready to try teaching them on her own, but new challenges ensued.

“We must’ve tried six, seven, eight options before we found our groove,” Hembree said. “What worked for one child didn’t work for the other. The third year was the point that I wanted

to connect with more homeschoolers, but we weren’t really looking for classes. We just wanted other families to do fun activities with.”

Hembree revealed she had a “Field of Dreams” moment: If no one offered what she was looking for, she would have to make it herself. In November 2015, she created the Newton County Homeschool Co-op group on Facebook. They started with just five families, scheduling field trips and park outings.

By the end of that year, the group had grown to 100 families.

“Now, nine years later, we have almost 1,400 families,” Hembree said. The group even hosts a summer back-to-school expo and a high school graduation ceremony each spring. “It’s crazy to see how far we’ve come. I couldn’t take five families and turn it into 1,400, but God can.”

When an affordable co-op her children attended decided to close, Hembree, who had been teaching there, opened her little house so the dozen or so students could complete the semester.

“The parents started asking what we were teaching next year and knew how much I loved their kids and teaching,” she said, “so we did it—a whole school year at my house.

Later, we moved to a bigger house, where we could teach in different rooms simultaneously, and that’s when we officially made it Eagle Academy. Now I have three instructors teaching twice a week at my house.”

Schoolhouse Teachers is an online curriculum of which Hembree has grown fond. She serves in their ambassador program, and they recently published her forensic science curriculum.

“I shared that I had started college pursuing a degree in forensics with a minor in psychology and had already been teaching forensics for four years,” Hembree said. “They gave me six months to completely develop the text, worksheets, quizzes, labs and tests. By the grace of God, I managed to pull it all together.”

After learning that the HSLDA was looking for people in each state to talk to new families face-to-face about homeschooling, Hembree applied.

“I was actually already doing that,” she said. “For years, I’d been mentoring new homeschooling families. Everyone wants to know, ‘How do I do it?’” Hembree first suggests parents learn the state’s requirements for homeschooling. Next, they must get to know their children’s learning styles. “There are thousands of options for curriculum, and a book learner won’t do well online,” she said. “A child who does well in the classroom may need co-op classes.” Hembree also asks families to remain adaptable. “If you’re looking for education alternatives, there are many options,” she said. “You can always find someone willing to sit down and talk with you to help you find your way. Some of us are trying our best to make sure that finding these people is easier than when we first started.”

A R T S , E D U C AT I O N & I N N O VAT I O N

Stories by Gabriel Stovall.

IN A CLASS

BY HERSELF

Faith, humility and the drive to see her students succeed in the classroom and beyond provide Dr. Cecily Gunter with all the motivation she needs. The Newton County School System ‘Teacher of the Year’ for 2023–24 takes whatever recognition she receives in stride.

by GABRIEL STOVALL Dr. Cecily Gunter was named the Newton County School System “Teacher of the Year” for 2023–24 in September, but she still has not gotten used to wearing the recognition. In fact, more than half a year later, she continues to use words like “surreal” to describe it all.

“I’m still trying to wrap my head around it,” Gunter said. “I’ve been blessed to work with a lot of really great teachers in Newton County for the last 12 years, and to be selected as ‘Teacher of the Year’ for the county when I know so many others who could have easily been selected, yeah, it’s very surreal.”

Perhaps overriding humility was why Gunter attended the recognition ceremony without any pre-conceived notion that she would walk away with top honors.

“I remember being at the ceremony and listening to them read a portion of the winning teacher’s essay,” Gunter said. “I remember thinking, ‘Wow, that sounds really good,’ but I didn’t even recognize it was my essay at first. When they called my name, it really is like one of those out-of-body experiences.

I didn’t think about any of this happening for me.”

Considering where Gunter started, hers was an unlikely rise.

“Growing up, I never wanted to be a teacher,” she said.

“I wanted to go to vet school and be a veterinarian, so I went

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to [the University of Georgia] to major in animal health. Then, three years in, I realized, ‘I don’t want to do that.’”

From there, Gunter describes her path as one that included a good dose of divine intervention. When the idea of getting into an agricultural program of study came to her, navigating it felt like trying to learn a new language.

“Ag programs, [Future Farmers of America] and all of that was so new to me,” she said, “but I looked into it and realized all of the classes that I had taken before transferred perfectly. I don’t think any other major I could’ve chosen would have lined up my transfer credits so well. That was really my first God moment, where it was like, ‘This is what you need to be doing.’”

Gunter grew up in the Conyers and Covington area, and unlike some who want to get a taste of life far away from where they were raised, she had no qualms about staying close to home. After earning a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education from Georgia in 2012, she realized the old “there’s no place like home” adage resonated with her. It was how she ended up spending her first five years in the classroom at Alcovy High School before moving to the Newton College & Career Academy, even after completing a master’s degree in agricultural leadership and a doctorate in P-20 education and community

(L TO R) DR. CECILY GUNTER, LAWSON WITCHER, HALEY JARRELL, ELLA JARELL, AMBER WOODS, PAISLEY TOMBERLIN, KARLY MITCHAM, HAYDEN MILLER, JARENTEZ HORTON, KAITLYN COX, KATELYNN O’BRIEN, DESTINY POWERS, SUMMERRAI MITCHCHELL, TRINTIE GREITMAN AND KENNEDY WEBB

“When they called my name, it really is like one of those out-of-body experiences. I didn’t think about any of this happening for me.”

Cecily Gunter

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A R T S , E D U C AT I O N & I N N O VAT I O N

leadership from Murray State University. Gunter enjoys the challenging nature of her job. As an agricultural education teacher and FFA advisor, she revealed that her days often begin as early as 8 a.m. “On an easy day,” she finishes by 6 p.m.

“If we have competition or some other activities or events happening, it’s longer,” she said. “Sometimes, I won’t get back home until 9:30 or 10 p.m.”

No one should think “regular classroom” when imagining a day in Gunter’s life. The NCCA operates a full farm on campus, complete with cows, goats, sheep, pigs and chickens. Gunter typically starts by checking on the farm and monitoring the breeding programs, with its population of lambs, goats and cows. Sometimes, a “good plan for inside” gets thwarted by the pressing needs of the animals.

“You can get to school and realize an animal is close to labor, and you’ll have to completely adjust,” Gunter said, “or you’ll have a sick animal and you have to handle that on the spot.

All of my classes are hands-on, and I try to make the learning experience as engaging as I can.”

That means intentionally working to learn her students.

“I take pride in knowing my kids one on one,” she said. “If I get to know a student loves cows, I make sure that’s the area they work in.”

Once students go home, Gunter’s attention often turns to contest preparation, meetings with the FFA officer team and an adult component of the ag program, such as Young Farmers of America, that she has a hand in hosting. She admits it can be tough to manage, but working alongside Newton County Young Farmer Advisor Marcus Pollard and his wife, Catrina—they came to Newton County to teach a year after Gunter—eases some of the burden. Gunter points to the close bond she has built with the Pollards.

“You get to work with your friends,” she said, “so even if you’re having just the hardest or longest day imaginable, you’re still hanging out with your friends at the end of it. We get along; our families are friends. That helps, because it takes a village, and I believe Newton County’s blessed with some of the best ag teachers in the nation, and I feel lucky to be a part of that team.”

Additional God moments greet Gunter almost daily and serve to keep her grounded.

“The best part of my testimony is that every time I start questioning if I’m supposed to be doing what I’m doing, God always answers in a big way,” she said. “It can be little things from seeing a student getting a job they wanted or kids getting into their dream college. Covington is big but also still a small town, so I can go to grocery stores and see former students and their families. Seeing them working in the industry, at our feed store, at the farm bureau office, just seeing them grow up and being successful, is proof of where I should be.”

After 12 years, Gunter still feels fulfilled by the work she does every day. She has no plans to take her talents elsewhere.

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(L TO R) DR. CECILY GUNTER AND ALLIE MARKS

“People ask that all the time: What’s next for me?” she said.

“Right now, I’m very content and very happy with where I am, but one of the biggest mistakes we make is to have a plan and not give room for God to come in and mess it up for you. If I ever feel like I’m in a place where I’m not reaching my full potential or living for a greater purpose, then I may look for something different, but I don’t see that happening anytime soon. I’m blessed to be where I am, and I never want to take any of that for granted.”

(L TO R) LAWSON WITCHER AND DR. CECILY GUNTER

LIVING

Stories by Michelle Floyd.

S E R VA N T ’ S TOUCH Gary Stevenson has spent decades devoted to helping others.

Retired from the military, he now finds purpose in improving lives for local children and teens by serving as a Court Appointed Special Advocate and working with other like-minded organizations.

by MICHELLE FLOYD

Growing up with six siblings—and being placed right in the middle—Gary Stevenson was always helping someone with something or receiving assistance himself.

“Being from a big-family atmosphere led to my desire to help others,” he said.

Whenever he finds time away from work in the emergency management department at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, the retired Army sergeant can be found passing out food to those in need, delivering school supplies to students or advocating for kids in the foster care system.

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“I’m inherently a giver,” Stevenson said. “I want people’s lives to be better. God has blessed me to be a blessing, and I always want to help someone, no matter what.”

As Stevenson grew up in Virginia, one could often find him being helpful by cutting grass or blowing snow. Later, while serving for 24 years in the United States Army, he volunteered with organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters of America to mentor students and take them out on the weekends to give their parents a break. Recently, Stevenson began serving with the Men In Touch organization through Newton County School System’s Rise Academy, which aids in getting needed supplies to students. The organization also held a necktie drive for students to wear to job interviews.

“I love Covington and Newton County, and I love serving my community,” said Stevenson, who has lived here since 2004. “I want to add to my community, and I want everyone to be well.”

The man with a servant’s heart focuses much of his involvement on Alcovy CASA, a nonprofit organization that improves the lives of foster children in Newton and Walton counties.

Stevenson has volunteered as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for about 17 years, as his interest was sparked after reading of a young girl in foster care who was dying while he was serving a tour in Germany. “It saddened me,” Stevenson said. When he returned to Georgia, he looked up how to volunteer with the Division of Family and Children Services

2024 Spring Issue 55

LIVING

(L TO R) LINDSAY DYCUS, ALCOVY CASA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND GARY STEVENSON

“I’m inherently a giver. I want people’s lives to be better.”

Gary Stevenson

and came across Alcovy CASA. Once Stevenson gets assigned to a case, he meets with the child at least once a month to give advice or just to provide support, along with checking on court and other records. Other Alcovy CASA responsibilities include reporting to judges, as necessary, and sometimes attending sporting or other special events.

“We’re a voice for kids. We’re an advocate for them,” said Stevenson, who has worked with approximately 12 cases over the years. “[DFCS] caseworkers have a big load, so this is like a safety net for DFCS so things don’t fall through the cracks.”

Generally, Alcovy CASA volunteers work with children whose ages range from infancy to 17 years old, and some may be assigned to work with one child for several years. They provide representation in the courtroom and the community.

“The goal is to meet them where they are. I want them to try to have a sense of normalcy,” said Stevenson, who offers children talks about everything from faith to general advice. “I’m not getting paid for this. I want their lives to be better. They are not getting a hand out but a hand up.”

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Sharon Gustafson, Newton County Advocate Coordinator at Alcovy CASA, appreciates how Stevenson takes an honest and straightforward approach with his assigned children, all while remaining compassionate and relatable.

“Gary’s heart for children in foster care is evident by the impact that he has had on the lives of the young men in foster care for whom he has advocated,” she said, adding that children with a Alcovy CASA volunteer generally spend less time in foster care. “It is a privilege to have Gary as a part of our Alcovy CASA program.”

Stevenson plans to retire soon but will continue to volunteer at various organizations. He also hopes to get more men of color involved in Alcovy CASA and remains dedicated to helping his son, Malcolm, a student at Kennesaw State University, find his way into more volunteer work.

“I want to show him the gift and how to give back to this world,” Stevenson said. “You have to have a desire to help.”

For more information or to volunteer with Alcovy CASA, visit www.alcovycasa.org.

LIVING

Stories by Michelle Floyd.

A shared interest in rare coins between Adam and Avery McGee has strengthened the bond between father and son, all while building a bridge from one generation to the next.

by MICHELLE FLOYD

The next time you get some change back at a store, you might want to pay closer attention to the coins in your hand.

A valuable one may be among them.

Newton County teenager Avery McGee has seen coins at area shows sell for upwards of $1,000 and read about others that are worth even more. It serves as one of the reasons he started collecting coins a couple of years ago.

“They can increase in value,” the homeschooler said.

His father, Adam McGee, had a coin collection growing up, and even Avery’s grandmother had a few coins that retained some value over the years.

“You have to get the next generation into them or it will fade out,” Adam said.

Some children start collecting state quarters to fill up commemorative books, while others may be more interested in foreign money from other countries. Avery was drawn to rare items called error coins, which contain some type of mistake on them, such as a defected die or mint process issues.

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2024 Spring Issue 59

LIVING

“The good thing about coin collecting is that you can do it at any level, price range and however fast you want to do it.”

Lindsey L. Goff “I mostly keep all of the ones I get,” Avery said.

Ever since he found some rare coins in a local antique store one day, Avery decided he wanted to start collecting them. His interest was piqued. Now, Avery reads about coins, watches videos on them and even travels to shows across the state with his father and friends. Plus, he attends the Rockdale Coin Club meeting each month. He also holds membership in the Georgia Numismatic Association and the American Numismatic Association.

“Avery has taught me more about coins in the last two years than I’ve learned any time before,” Adam said. “The best thing about coin collecting for me is that it is something that we can do together.”

The two have traveled to coin shows at convention centers in Marietta, Augusta, Dalton and Perry. They have even met fellow young coin collectors at First Baptist Church of Covington and others who have traveled to shows with them.

“The whole day you can look at coins,” Avery said. “Some of [the dealers] show me things or give me things.”

Adam—who helps Avery find magazines, books and other media on collecting—notes that the knowledge his son has gained in a few short years often impresses the dealers at coin shows.

“Avery just doesn’t collect coins; he can immerse himself in them to learn all he can,” Adam said. “Whatever he does, he goes all-in on.”

Avery, whose favorite subjects in school are math and history, revealed that only a few dealers carry error coins since they are so rare. Nevertheless, he still enjoys attending shows to see what else may be out there.

“We spend each trip as a time with just us two [where] we can talk about anything on the way and coins while we are there,” Adam said. “His excitement of seeing something new and the decisions he makes at shows is what keeps me driving to the next.”

In addition to traveling hundreds of miles to shows, the two also usually attend Rockdale Coin Club meetings the fourth Monday of every month at Rockdale Baptist Church in Conyers. There, upwards of 50 area residents meet to discuss various topics, trade and sell coins and enjoy a common interest in collecting.

“We have a moderate number of young collectors, and they are usually very enthusiastic about it,” said Lindsey L. Goff, co-founder of the club and owner of Mr. Coin in Conyers.

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“The good thing about coin collecting is that you can do it at any level, price range and however fast you want to do it.”

Goff, who has now known the McGee family for a few years, sees some collectors weekly and others more sporadically.

“In general, coin collecting is in decline,” said Goff, who has been a dealer since 1992 and previously ran the Silver Eagle Coins & Collectibles in Conyers. Coin collectors tend to be male and more advanced in age, but he still enjoys introducing new collectors, especially children, to the world. “There are all different levels of collecting,” Goff said, “and there are a number of different ways you can pursue it.”

Goff suggests that kids or even adults who are interested in starting a collection should go to their local shop to browse around and let relatives know they are interested in coins.

“Coins are usually held on to and passed along to generations,” said Goff, who points to the art and special care involved with collecting. He recalls that most children start off interested in foreign coins but then move on to various avenues as they get older, just as Avery did with error coins. “With his intensity and interest and his growth curve, I really expect he is going to be one of the great budding numismatists of the younger generation,” Goff said. “He’s very involved and learning a lot, progressing rapidly. He’s a sharp young guy.”

For more information, visit the Georgia Numismatic Association at www.gamoney.org or Mr. Coin at www.mistercoinconyers.com.

LIVING

What else is cooking?

W H AT ’ S CO O K I N G

Ebony’s Pizza at Home

by EBONY GARCIA

There’s a sign in my kitchen that says, “The best memories are made around the table.” I’m a payroll and human resources manager—and I love my job—but now, at 36, I would’ve loved to have gone to culinary school. I didn’t always enjoy cooking because my perfectionism got in the way. I would get stressed because I wanted everything to be perfect. However, since I became a believer in Jesus Christ, He set me free from those distractions.

Cooking now means fun and fellowship. I never follow a recipe; I just dive in. I often invite friends and family over to cook together, and those who don’t want to cook just watch. I see it as communion, a joy we get to share as we get to know each other on a more personal level. For me, cooking is a service to the Lord, but it’s also an adventure. Everybody likes food—and most everyone likes pizza. This is one of my favorite things to make when my friends and family commune together in my kitchen:

“I often invite friends and family over to cook together, and those who don’t want to cook just watch.

I see it as communion, a joy we get to share as we get to know each other on a more personal level.”

Ebony Garcia

64 The NEWTON Community Magazine

DIRECTIONS 1. Heat oven to 375 degrees.

2. For the crust, use Specially Selected mini naan flatbreads.

You can find these at Aldi.

3. For the sauce, whisk a six-ounce can of tomato paste into 12 ounces of your favorite pre-made marinara sauce. I love to use Rao’s Homemade marinara.

4. Spread a layer of sauce on each piece of naan flatbread.

5. Grate two cups of mozzarella cheese. I prefer to hand-grate cheese from a block, but you can use pre-shredded cheese to save time. Sprinkle about half of the cheese evenly on top of the sauce.

6. The toppings are the best part. You are not limited; Use whatever your family or friends like, and allow each person to build their own pizza as you cook together. My favorites include chopped fresh green, red, yellow and orange peppers, diced onions and sliced or diced baby portabella mushrooms.

You will need about one cup of each vegetable. Other options include diced ham, pineapple, pepperoni slices and finely chopped bacon or bacon bits. Sliced Campari tomatoes, fresh sliced mozzarella and fresh basil are also delicious.

7. Lightly sprinkle additional mozzarella and/or parmesan cheese on top.

8. Bake at 375 degrees for 13–15 minutes.

9. Let cool for five minutes and enjoy.

2024 Spring Issue 65