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ST. THOMAS EPISCOPAL CHURCH | WEDDING REGISTRY GUIDE | STATE PARK SPRING GETAWAYS

SPRING 2018

The First & Finest

www.thomasvillemagazine.com

Every epic

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Volume 15, Issue 1

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Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018 4

He spent his life giving back to the community he loved.

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229.226.1035 Thomasville 229.377.1392 Cairo 229.416.4457 Bainbridge www.southgaspineandjoint.com

• FOUNDER John D. “Jack” Kelly March 15, 1931 - July 8, 2015 • PRESIDENT + PUBLISHER Christy Layfield

| crlayfield@gmail.com

• ASSOCIATE EDITOR + COPY EDITOR Teresa Williams • ADVERTISING SALES Laura Pike • CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Sydni Barwick | Chuck Bowen | John Maichele Denise Purvis | Stephanie Rice | Teresa Williams • CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

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Thomasville Magazine is published quarterly by Thomasville Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Subscription rates in the U.S. are $15 annually. Please send address changes along with mailing label from past issue to: Thomasville Magazine, P.O.Box 1855, Thomasville, GA 31799-1855 or visit us at www.thomasvillemagazine.com/subscribe/

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Volume 15 Issue 1

34

SPRING 2018

Every Epic Love Story has a Great Wedding Tale

5

In Every Issue 11

High Adventures

8

Food & Fitness

18

St. Thomas Episcopal Church Celebrates Its Sesquicentennial

10

Brick Street Sweets & Eats

14

Inspirational Alumni

29

42

Wedding Registry Checklist

56

Calendar of Events

State Park Spring Getaways

62 Landscaping

46

Thomasville Rose Show and Festival Highlights

64 Ledger

61

Bright Spring

COVER

Madeline and Cole Duncan in front of the Main House of Pebble Hill Plantation.

Photograph by Red Fly Studio.

Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your special day.

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL @ThomasvilleMagazine

@thomasville_magazine

@thomasvillemag

Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

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18

Snapchat @tvillemagazine

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years of "Thomasville Magazine." Can you believe it? My journey with this magazine began in the fall of 2011 as an advertising sales representative. I would not be where I am today, seven years later, without our founder, Jack Kelly. For the publisher's note this quarter, I would like to reprint Jack's note (as originally published) from our very first issue.

With Love,

Christy Layfield President+Publisher Welcome to Thomasville Magazine!

The magazine you hold in your hand is the culmination of many months of dreaming, planning, and work in order to bring it to fruition.

Proudly, I present you, Thomasville Magazine!

The magazine was begun with the firm conviction that our community – Thomasville, Thomas County, and the surrounding area – needed an outlet to voice its wonderful heritage, its people and the many significant places and events we have to offer. We do have much to be proud of and to be thankful for. Our community is truly a “place apart”.

This is our first effort and I’m proud of it but I want you, our readers to know that we will be adding new ideas, new features, more photographs and article with

every issue, and that’s where you come in.

I not only welcome, but request that you let us know what you think of Thomasville Magazine. I want to hear your suggestions and ideas for new features and articles, and your comments are always welcome.

While dreaming, planning, and working to establish Thomasville Magazine, I have received encouragement and help from a number of friends and family and I wish I could name every one of them, but that would be very difficult to do in just one magazine!

I do, however, want to thank my family for supporting me as I began this endeavor. I also want to thank a very good friend of many years, John B. Lastinger of Valdosta for helping me by sharing his knowledge on the “nuts and bolts” on putting together a quality publication and also introduced me to the people who will produce and print the finished product every quarter.

Lea Sampson, who worked with me as an advertising salesperson at the Thomasville Times Enterprise, has been and will continue to be a tremendous help in the sales department of the magazine.

Joe Serverns, whom I met through Johnny B., and his company, Image Matters, will handle the graphic design of the magazine, and Joe will also serve as Editor.

I appreciate his ideas and his work ethic.

I also want to thank our advertisers, without whom this publication would not be possible. Finally, I would like to thank our readers and upcoming subscribers. We hope you enjoy and look forward to each future issue of Thomasville Magazine.

As my friend Johnny B. wrote in the very first issue of Valdosta Magazine, this is a leap of faith…but a labor of love. It is out of genuine affection for Thomasville, and Thomas County, its heritage and its people.

I hope you enjoy!

–Jack Kelly

Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

We are celebrating 15

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Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

BY STEPHANIE RICE

8

Being the bride-to-be is one of the most amazing, exciting and, unfortunately, stressful times of your life. This otherwise happy time is usually consumed by feelings of being overwhelmed, frustrated, and exhausted and is just downright hard! Don’t worry my dear brides-to-be: follow these five steps and you will be a champ at dealing with any last-minute hiccups, look and feel fabulous, and be absolutely gorgeous on your big day!

Reduce stress and get glowing for your big day 1

Get more sleep.

Your body performs amazing tasks while you sleep. Some of the beautiful things rest does for our bodies include: increases blood supply to tissues, promotes muscle growth, tissue repair, restores energy, releases hormones, assists in weight loss, fights fine lines and wrinkles, decreases cortisol (stress hormones), and boosts the immune system.

Many of these tasks are highly beneficial during the joyous and stressful months leading up to your big day. Aim for at least 7-8 hours a night. The to-do list will still be there tomorrow, and it will all get done!

Stephanice Rice has a Bachelor of Science in exercise science from the American College of Sports Medicine, CPT, ACE weight-loss specialist.

Ask for help.

3

Exercise.

This was a major one for me when I got married. I had all these great ideas in my head but had a hard time either communicating them or just getting them done. If you can swing it, get a wedding coordinator. And remember, all those bridesmaids said yes to you for a reason – put them to work! Also, ask your soon-to-be husband to pitch in. You may be surprised at how much he helps out. It’s good practice for those “honey do” lists we all say we won’t do but inevitably write after a couple of years of marriage.

You all knew this one was coming. This is probably one of the few advice columns you will ever read by a personal trainer about getting ready for the big day that doesn’t give you the “Perfect Wedding Arms” or “Dress Worthy Back and Shoulders” type of exercises. No, the key is to make you less stressed. So what exercise is perfect for you? Whatever exercise makes you happy! Whether it is yoga, Pilates, Cross Fit, running, swimming, spinning or boot camp, almost every day do whatever gets you moving, makes you excited and happy to be there.

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5

Cut back on the caffeine.

Caffeine, in moderate amounts, is not bad for you.

But when stress starts to hit, and your nerves start to fry, and you feel fatigue coming on, try something other than that double shot vanilla latte. In excess caffeine dehydrates you, which can actually make you look older and more tired. It is also acid forming, which can defeat the purpose of all those veggies you are now consuming. Next time you need an afternoon pick me up, try reaching for an herbal tea or a homemade smoothie filled with nourishing fruits and veggies. Or even better, drink more water!

This will give you more energy with no crash and burn and make your skin glow.

Remember: this time is for being excited and filled with love. Enjoy the journey, even the tough times, because upon reaching the end of the aisle, it is all worth it. TM

Cut out processed foods.

Not only do these foods contribute to weight gain, puffiness, poor digestion and bloating, but they also clog up your intestines with acidic toxins that can contribute to acne. If it’s in a bag, box or carton, most likely it is processed.

Processed foods can also leave you feeling heavy and irritated, also not good while trying to reduce stress. Instead, try reaching for fresh fruit and veggies. Pineapple, for example, improves your digestion, reduces inflammation, forms collagen and removes toxins from the body.

Spinach is another super food and wrinkle fighter. It’s loaded with antioxidants, which flushes out toxins while leaving skin clearer and glowing.

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Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

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Sweets & Eats

Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

SUBMITTED BY: CHRISTY LAYFIELD

10

No Bake Sugar Free/Low Carb Peanut Butter Cups Ingredients 6 ounces Lily’s Chocolate 2 tablespoons coconut oil 8 tablespoons peanut butter (natural no sugar added) 4 teaspoons Swerve 1 pinch of salt Instructions Melt the chocolate and coconut oil on low heat. Add salt and half of the sweetener and stir well to dissolve. Pour half of the chocolate mixture into 12 small cupcake molds and chill until set. Melt the peanut butter in the microwave at 20-second intervals. Add the remaining sweetener and stir well until it's mixed smoothly. Pour the peanut butter mixture into the molds you just prepared and chill until set. Finally, top the remaining chocolate mixture and chill again until set.

Enjoy!

Fathead Pizza Ingredients 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella ¾ cup almond flour 2 tablespoons of cream cheese, cubed 1 egg garlic powder, onion powder, and mixed herbs for seasoning Instructions Put Mozzarella and cream cheese in a medium bowl. Microwave for 1 min, stir and then another 30 sec, stir. Stir in egg and almond flour. Wet hands and spread “dough” thin on parchment paper. It should spread evenly with dough-like consitency.

Poke rows of holes with a fork to avoid bubbles. Put in 425 degree oven. After 8 minutes check the crust and poke holes if there are bubbles. Add desired pizza toppings. Continue cooking for a total of 12 to 14 minutes or until slightly brown and golden.

Tag us in your photos #brickstreetsweetsandeats

Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

11

High tures n e v d A

A boy's will is the wind's will, and the thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts. ~ Longfellow

Well, I guess I should admit that the following “once upon a times” are not exactly “high adventures.” To be honest, most of them would be more correctly labeled “misadventures.”

Yep, they're all true and all date back to pre-marriage.

Anyway, I remember:

Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

BY CHUCK BOWEN

Living through an April night when a tornado destroyed our old unpainted, back-of-a-cornfield house and demolished my muchloved new peddle car (my sister and I thought the world was ending); Winning a “hollerin' contest” at the only “medicine show” I ever attended;

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While still a preteen, “breaking land” with a rustic plow and an old mule named “Dolly;” Watching my dad win three turkeys at a Thanksgiving “turkey shoot;” Scaling the wall of our old corncrib to shoot at mice with my BB gun;

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Puzzling over a corpse with pennies on his eyes; The great anticipation of “movin' into town;” Shooting my neighbor – who fancied himself a Frank Sinatratype singer – in the sitting-downplace with that same ol' BB gun;

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“Playing out” on summer nights;

Having rubber gun wars with the kids who lived on Third Avenue in Cairo;

Nova Kelly, my across-the-street buddy, and I getting caught fishing in a private pond;

Trying to control my “changing” voice;

Landing a part-time job at a radio station;

Worrying about Hitler “taking over the world;”

Beating my brainy best friend, Max Barlow, in the class typing contest;

Nagging my sister's dates about playing ball;

Skipping school to get cowboy star Sunset Carson's autograph;

Winning the state one act play competition; Passing algebra;

Knocking on doors and running;

Winning a tour of our big state in a Georgia Power Company sponsored essay contest;

“Pulling the snake” (ask your parents);

Imitating Al Jolson at every opportunity;

Wrecking my knees and elbows playing touch football on our gravel-topped street;

Riding the train to Massachusetts en route to play summer stock on Cape Cod;

Flirting with girls in study hall;

Living through the mumps;

Shooting my all-time high of 21 points in a YMCA basketball game;

Working at the “picture show” for $6 a week and all the movies I could watch (a movie, popcorn and Coke in those days would total 20 cents);

Sneezing all summer while working at a cotton gin; Serving as a school principal as an 18-year-old after junior college; The senior college adventures of selling cemetery lots and modeling for an art class for 50 cents an hour; Living through the U.S. Army's basic training; Hitching all night to get home on Army leave; While stationed at Camp Gordon, falling asleep at the wheel and destroying our orderly room's picket fence (the first sergeant was not happy); What's that you say? It all sounds pretty mild to you? Well, I haven't played in the NFL, scaled Mount Everest, or fought in the French Foreign Legion, but did I tell you about the day I had two Cokes? TM

Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

Trying to “chin the bar” more times than my neighborhood buddies;

Riding a NYC subway at night – alone;

Learning to drive in an old vacuum-shift Chevy;

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14

alumna

Thomas County Central High School

Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

Inspirational Alumni TM: What about this career most interests you?

Why? JMM: As a practitioner on a college campus, I believe in the holistic development of students. It is my goal to inspire students to question who they are, what they believe, and to make choices that allow them to emerge stronger, more purposeful and driven. This kind of purposeful interaction with each student does not come without effort or thought. For a student to feel comfortable in examining the tough questions and to be willing to put in the effort to go through a thoughtful process, he/she must have both challenge and support.

I believe my role in shaping the educational and personal development of students is to provide intentional challenge with a strong foundation of support.

TM: How did you find/obtain your current job?

Please give a brief explanation of how you got there.

Jennifer Manson Mitchell, 30 EDUCATION: 2003 graduate of Thomas County Central High School; current doctoral candidate in student affairs leadership at the University of Georgia FAMILY: married to Antoine Mitchell; three children, Aiden & Jaden (6) and Kalen (4)

JMM: After completing my graduate degree, I successfully applied to become a behavior specialist at a psychiatric hospital. There my responsibilities involved consultations with an institution to provide recovery-based services, including Positive Behavior Support, to individuals with psychiatric/ forensic needs and developmental and intellectual disabilities.

I conducted training and in-service presentations that promoted the development of skills and establishment of effective relationships with adults diagnosed with mental health disorders. I also served the adult population, where I worked with dually diagnosed individuals as well as individuals with developmental disabilities. After working in the psychiatric hospital for a little over five years, I made a move into higher education. Making the transition to disability services has proved to be one of the most satisfying and rewarding experiences of my career. My training and knowledge as a disability services administrator have allowed me to empower and assist students as they work to obtain their educational goals. Understanding institutional politics, how to create and implement institutional policies and procedures, knowing the importance of legal issues and staying abreast of current trends and changes has allowed me to understand the field.

THOMASVILLE MAGAZINE: Why did you want a career in this field?

TM: What is your favorite part of your job? Why?

JENNIFER MANSON MITCHELL: At a young age, the importance of education was indoctrinated in me. My mother was an elementary school teacher for over 30 years; the life of a teacher’s kid was very insightful. However, there was a lot of pressure to perform well academically. Education was always a topic of conversation in our household, from the latest state policy changes to the child who couldn’t read on their grade level. Those moments made me appreciate the profession of education and learning.

TM: How would you describe your job to someone who doesn't know anything about what you do?

JMM: My favorite part of my job is the student interaction. I get to interact with students from the time they enter college as a freshman, unsure of what lies ahead, to seniors when they are ready to take on the world (hopefully).

JMM: When I tell people I work in the disability center at Florida State University, they look very puzzled. The main goal of my job is to make sure all students have access to their education. Also, to support an inclusive academic environment through education, empowerment, crisis management and advocacy of students.

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TM: How did your education at Thomas County Central aid you on your career path?

TM: If you could go back to when you were a student, what would you change or do differently and why?

JMM: My education at Thomas County Central helped paved the way for my career path. I was involved in many clubs and organizations as well as extracurricular activities. The values of the school system helped shape the professional I am today!

JMM: I would do it all over again exactly how I did it!

Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

TM: What words of encouragement/advice would you give to current students in choosing their career path?

16

JMM: One of my favorite quotes is by Gandhi, “Strength does not come from physical capacity, it comes from an indomitable will.” Having indomitable will takes you to places far beyond the moon; you will land amongst the stars.

TM: Why is a “good education” important for a successful future?

TM: What most inspires you? Why? JMM: My husband and kids inspire me; they are all so loving.

I am also inspired by my mother. My husband and my mother are my support system. If it were not for them, I would not be able to do what I am doing now, pursuing a doctoral degree.

TM: Who was your role model and why?

JMM: My mom. She has always been my biggest cheerleader.

TM: Is this the career you always saw yourself doing?

If not, what did you think you would be doing after high school?

JMM: I believe a good education is an education that is right for the individual. Technical education, college/university (4year) education are all good education; it just has to be the right kind for that person.

JMM: I started off as a chemistry major in college because I wanted to find the cure for sickle cell disease. Then, eventually, I got into education. I always like working in the mental health field and love academia, so this is the right fit for me.

TM: What does being successful mean to you?

TM: What made you decide to stay in your hometown, Thomasville?

JMM: Success to me is finding meaning and purpose in what you do. It is a journey each person has that is individualized and not comparative to anyone else’s journey. Success is what makes you happy.

JMM: Thomasville is a great place to live. It is an excellent place to raise a family, from the local school systems to the many activities around town for families.

TM: Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

JMM: I see myself as a dean of students at a university. TM

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Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

BY TERESA WILLIAMS

18

St. Thomas Episcopal Church celebrates its sesquicentennial this May.

For 150 years, the house of worship has been a steady, loving entity dedicated to helping its community and spreading God’s love. St. Thomas is a life-long resident of its current address, 216 Remington Ave. Though faces and facades have changed since its inception, the church remains a holy staple of the Thomasville area.

“It is one of the original downtown churches, having a history of Christian hospitality, sacred worship services with beautiful music, and a committed congregation that is seeking to follow and show the love of Christ,” member David Hutchings says of the church’s longevity.

All Episcopal churches share St. Thomas’ mission, the “branch of the Anglican Communion in the U.S.,” explains current rector, Rev. Dwayne Varas. This is, according to the “Book of Common Prayer,” “to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.”

St. Thomas Episcopal Church 216 Remington Ave. Thomasville, GA 31792 (229) 226-5145  sttomas@rose.net

Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

as St. Thom l Church Episcopa

19

Remin gt Looki on Avenue ng eas (East 2 t 00 Bl

ock)

Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

Constructing a church

20

The official birthday is May 8, 1868; however, some of the church’s founding families began the group that would become the foundation for St. Thomas almost a decade earlier. In 1859, a handful of Episcopalians in Thomasville began holding services in their homes, according to church member Susan Jobson. These founding members include Mrs. James R. Reid, Miss Frances Seward, Mr. and Mrs. A.P. Wright, and Mr. and Mrs. W.M. Hammond. A home where services were held that still exists was the one then belonging to Mr. and Mrs. A.P. Wright at 415 Fletcher St. Seven years later they organized as a mission but did not apply for inclusion into the diocese of Georgia until May 8, 1868.

Originally, the church was a wooden structure. It was built in 1869 for a cost of approximately $1,200. The plot of land where the church still resides was donated by Arthur Wright. The wooden building was replaced by a brick structure in 1889. Its bricks hold invaluable historical mementos.

“During the building of this church, a cornerstone was laid where a member of St. Thomas placed the buttons from her brother's Confederate uniform inside the cornerstone,” Jobson shares. “Hopefully, they remain today with other memorabilia from the period.”

This member was Margaret Hansell (Mrs. Charles Hansell), who is likely an ancestor of the family for whom Hansell Street is named.

“She was a force in the development of the life of St. Thomas and its close ties to the community,” Jobson says of Hansell. “When she was near death, she knew there would be a ceremony for the laying of the church cornerstone in the new brick church. It was at this ceremony that she placed the buttons she removed from her younger brother's Confederate uniform as a memorial to his death in the Civil War.”

In the early 1900s, Tiffany windows were placed at the front of the sanctuary as memorials to loved ones. Their beauty still gleams there. The first of these windows, located near the altar, is a memorial to Margaret Hansell.

As these loving mementos mark the church’s history, so is the church woven into Thomasville’s timeline.

“In the 1800s, Thomasville was known as a winter resort with a climate that was thought to have healing properties,” Jobson said. “Thomasville developed quickly during this time, and many families who visited here eventually bought large acreage (surrounding plantations) in the area. Many of these prominent families of America who spent the winters here attended St. Thomas church.”

Margaret Arnold, currently the oldest living member at age 99, grew up in the church. Her mother was an Episcopalian; her father grew up a Methodist but chose to join his wife’s church. Margaret’s husband Howard also was born to a Methodist family but chose to join the Episcopalian faith. She recalls how her husband told her his parents were of different faiths – his father a Baptist and his mother a Methodist.

“They went their separate ways every Sunday; she took the kids with her and he went alone,” Arnold tells. “He said, ‘I do not want a family like that. So, I want us all to go to the same church.’ He’s the one who changed and went into the church with me.”

The Ariail family has been a part of St. Thomas for three generations. Second-generation member Julius Ariail says his parents also came from separate faiths: his father was Episcopalian, but his mother was Roman Catholic.

Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

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Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018 22

“In those days there was an understanding that children of mixed marriages like that would be raised Roman Catholic but at age 18 could choose their own denomination,” he recalls. “My father chose the Episcopal Church, but he never told me why. When he came to Thomasville as a soldier in World War II, he attended St. Thomas. My mother was a Methodist, but when they were married both attended St. Thomas.”

Jonathan Ariail, Julius’ son, believes St. Thomas’ welcoming spirit and its embracing of the Episcopal motto of “all are welcome, no exceptions” is essential to the church’s endurance.

“Individual members come and go through the years,” he said. “However, by embracing the ‘all are welcome, no exceptions’ spirit, the church maintains steady membership over time.”

Humble humanitarians Many St. Thomas parishioners and rectors have left their unique mark upon the church and community.

Rev. Robb White took over as rector of St. Thomas in 1922. White was a tireless crusader for in need community members. For the people of Thomas County, he raised money for food, housing, clothes, medical efforts and jobs. He is the father of Robb White, who wrote various

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books and articles, and the grandfather of established local author, June Bailey White.

Arnold recollects White very well. She calls him a wonderful person who should have been a welfare worker.

“It didn’t make any difference what color you were [and] you didn’t have to be a member of his church,” she says.

“He was just a humanitarian. If you were in need, he was there to help you. He was so kind and so loving.”

White also never drove a car, Arnold says, which is why she spent time chauffeuring the rector around the area.

The Pittmans (Arnold’s maiden name) had a family car, and White would call Mrs. Pittman (her mother) and ask if Margaret – still in school but able to drive – was busy or if she could drive him somewhere, often to take visitors on area plantation tours. White, Arnold adds, always knew where to go, like he had a map in his head.

“He was very friendly with all the plantation owners around here,” she recalls. “I’d pick him up and his friends who were visiting and he’d give me directions. As a 16-yearold girl, I’d be going from one plantation to another.

Millpond is a maze of roads – you can get lost so easy – but he knew how to go. I even took him down to Tallahassee one time. He had an Army friend who was in World War I and had been put in jail for some reason. I never knew why, but I took him down there to get that man out of jail!”

Arnold remembers a story her father shared about an incident that occurred on a cold winter’s night at the rectory. He was a member of the church’s vestry and they were having a meeting. At one point, they heard a knock at the front door; White answered it, returned, and continued the meeting. When one of the distinguished gentlemen at the meeting (she recalls it to be Mr. Balfour of Balfour Lumber Co.) went to get his overcoat, it wasn’t there.

“Robb White said, ‘Oh Bob, that knock at the door was this poor man who was freezing, and he needed a coat. He needs it (the coat) a lot more than you do. You can go buy another one,” Arnold shares.

The next man to take the church helm was Rev. George Shirley. Popular throughout the city, he often received invites to preach services for other denominations. World War II ended during his tenure, and as veterans began to return home to Thomasville, the church noticed there were no organized aid groups. St. Thomas joined with several other churches to form the Christian Service Committee.

“As an outgrowth of this vital ministry, a vocational school was started to assist the men with job rehabilitation and training,” Jobson says. “This school eventually evolved into the Thomas Technical School (now Southern Regional Technical College). This was a prime example of people of many faiths joining together for a worthy, common cause.”

Shirley and his congregation also prevailed in a personal endeavor. The reverend and his wife became parents to twin boys, both of whom were born with cerebral palsy.

With no local clinic available, the church began a crippled children's clinic in its parish hall. Local humanitarian Nat Williams appealed to his fellow residents and raised enough

Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

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Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018 24

funds to rent a larger space in a local medical building.

Eventually, this clinic was absorbed into the Georgia Department of Public Health and relocated to John D. Archbold Memorial Hospital, where children from Thomas and surrounding counties could receive necessary services.

A more recent success in the church’s community service chalice is the Saturday Lunch program. In 2008, two female members initiated the service with the assistance of four other local churches: Providence Missionary Baptist, All Saints Episcopal, First Presbyterian and St. Augustine Catholic Church. Each Saturday, teams serve a hot meal to those in need.

“This lunch program is modeled on service of guests at a nice restaurant,” Jobson explains. “This ministry is going into its 10th year, continues to thrive, and is a blessing to the servers as well as the diners.”

Varas says the St. Thomas Episcopal Day School is the church’s signature ministry. Founded in 1958, the school has a long history of serving and adapting to the community’s needs. A recent example of this is the addition of a year-old program to its roster.

“Our day school is a gem in Thomasville, meeting the needs of families in Thomasville and Thomas County,” Varas said.

The church also has its hand in youth service through the sponsorship of various scouting groups. Theo Titus,

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whose great-great-grandfather is founding church member William Henry Hopkins, was actively involved in this outreach program.

“St. Thomas sponsored a Cub Scouts pack, a regular Scouts troop, and an Explorers post in later years,” Titus said. “I was a member of all three during my participation in the scouting program. Various members of the St. Thomas congregation served as leaders and sponsors of the Scouts. The Cub Scout years were overseen by den mothers and our meetings were generally in their homes. Once each month the pack would hold an evening meeting at the church for awards and rank progression.”

Titus feels the church’s scouting program, for boys age 11 and older, is most recognizable to the public. The troop met in a multiuse building located in the church’s backyard that came to be known as “the Scout Hut.” “It was mostly a brick structure with three walls of brick and the rear wall facing onto the alleyway made of wood,” Titus recalls. “The troop cleaned it out, fitted it with benches and a desk for the leaders, and it supported several patrols, which were smaller subdivisions of the troop.”

His principal memory of troop time is his scoutmaster Jesse Woodham and a cadre of assistant scoutmasters.

Transportation to activities often included riding on a thenappropriate flatbed truck.

“Many of our outings were to the Peter DeSantis farm out on the Pavo Road where we had a semi-permanent campsite,” Titus said.

The success of the troop was such that, as participants aged, the program was split, and a new group known as Explorers was created for boys age 14-18. John Carr was their leader and the Explorers moved into a garage building behind the rectory. The dirt-floored, wooden building was not particularly suited for such meetings, Titus recalls, and a generous church member paid for concrete that the post members spread and smoothed to make a concrete floor.

“John Carr used his construction experience to ensure we got a fairly decent finish on the floor,” Titus said.

“From then on, the Explorers post met and conducted its affairs from that building. Both the troop and the post held meetings on the same night, so it was fairly easy to coordinate activities as there was only about 150 feet separating the two buildings.”

The Scouts grew away from the old hut, but the building remained in use for several years as “The Clothes Closet,” which gave away items of clothing to persons who needed them.

St. Thomas now hosts a troop of small Brownie Girl Scouts. They occasionally help St. Thomas serve Saturday Lunch.

The church’s generosity also extends to other religions.

The Ariails recall how St. Thomas opened its doors to the Greek Orthodox Church members when they were without a home.

Julius Ariail remembers a Greek community in Thomasville during the 1950s. It was based around the owners of The Plaza restaurant.

Honoring the past, embracing the future A sesquicentennial is no small feat. The church plans to celebrate its 150 years by both honoring its rich history and showcasing its continued community presence. Members are achieving this by compiling an official timeline of St. Thomas from inception to present day. The project is expected to wrap by March’s end and will then be on public display.

“It will contain many stories and photos that will be of interest to our members, former members and others in town who have connections [to the church],” Jobson says.

Church youths will carry a banner proclaiming the anniversary during the annual Thomasville Rose Parade this April. During its official anniversary month, May, Thomasville Landmarks Inc. will host a lawn party and tour of the church sanctuary. A visit from the Episcopalian Bishop of Georgia is planned for June 24. There will be a

service and reception. Special music will be provided by Dr. Iain Quinn of Florida State University, who is also the church’s music director.

St. Thomas plans to end its milestone anniversary year with its choir singing Christmas carols outside the church during the annual Victorian Christmas event in December.

The church’s social calendar may be full this year, but members say there is always room for more parishioners in its pews.

Hutchings believes the traditional Anglican liturgical service directs worship away from self and more toward God with sacredness. This service promotes participation instead of spectating.

“I believe it emulates early Christian worship,” he said.

“The church calendar follows the life of Christ and gives meaning and understanding to the congregation. St. Thomas welcomes all who come to worship, visit, or are seeking to be Spiritual fed.”

The service’s sequence is easy to learn with practice, Jonathan Ariail adds.

“Most all Episcopalians are sympathetic to the challenge of learning the service and are more than willing to guide newcomers through the service as they learn,” he said.

The membership process begins with participation in church life (worship, fellowship or service), Varas explains, and conversing with the rector to determine the appropriate pathway for official membership.

“New members often tell me they were drawn to St. Thomas by its rich liturgical tradition, that is, worship which continues the use of ancient Christian rituals, symbols and music,” Varas says. “Reported equally to me as a reason for remaining at St. Thomas is the love and care extended to one another. In a world so desperately in need of love, it is this which I believe has sustained us for 150 years.”

Arnold has love and reverence for her church. She loves the ritual and how being a member makes her feel at peace.

“When you go into that church, you feel like you are in God’s house,” she says with emotion. “There is a reverence for everything around, and I just love the quietness and the beauty of the Episcopal service. It’s so entirely different from other churches. It’s not that I disapprove of other faiths but this one, to me, is just satisfying, and it is something that just warms my heart and makes me at peace when I go in that church. I just feel like I am there in the presence of God.” TM

* To learn more about the Episcopal faith or St. Thomas church, contact Rev. Dwayne Varas at (229) 379-6790 or dwayneavaras@gmail.com.

Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

“In those days of easier immigration practices, the Greek owners of that restaurant would bring in friends and family from Greece and sponsor them for a time while they learned the restaurant trade and then left to start their own businesses elsewhere,” he explains. “This was George Mathes' family, of the George & Louie’s restaurant across from St. Thomas. Louie was George's father. Most, if not all, of them were Greek Orthodox, but the closest Greek Orthodox Church was in Jacksonville, as I remember it, anyway. Many of them attended St. Thomas regularly since its liturgy was closer to the Orthodox liturgy in Thomasville than any other church beside the Roman Catholic Church, but for some reason they preferred to come to St. Thomas.

Once a month or so a priest from the Greek Orthodox Church in Jacksonville would come to St. Thomas to hold authentic orthodox services, which occasionally included baptisms. I attended one of those baptisms and remember a large brass or copper basin in the middle of the church, large enough to immerse the baby totally, and then the baby being swirled around in the water and emerging, loudly crying but successfully baptized.”

Also, Mathes’ sister, Connie, was married at St. Thomas in the 1960s (for more on weddings held at the church, see the sidebar).

Jonathan Ariail believes this outreach is just one example of St. Thomas’ mission.

“I think that goes the farthest to exhibit the ‘all are welcome, no exceptions’ motto,” he said. “Our Episcopal community is definitely important to us, but serving the wider community is even more important.”

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“I Do”

Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

at St. Thomas

26

In its rich, storied history, St. Thomas Episcopal Church has witnessed a multitude of matrimonial moments. The wedding party’s dress clothes may have changed in style, but the memories made last lifetimes.

Margaret Arnold got married at St. Thomas in January 1940. She married Thomasville native Howard Arnold. The Depression era was still felt, she recalls, and though things didn’t cost as much, “you didn’t do anything with frills.” Arnold dubs her wedding very small and simple compared to today’s fancy affairs.

“I was married at what they call ‘high noon’,” Arnold says. “It was just a small wedding with no reception afterward because we didn’t have that extra money to have a reception.

It was a nice wedding, and I remember I wore a light blue velvet dress and a little turban that matched it, and I had an orchid corsage. He wore a nice suit and tie. The church was decorated very sparsely. We had three attendants: my sister was my matron of honor and I had two bridesmaids. It was a nice, sweet wedding, but it was not a big, fancy wedding. We had a nice time.”

Arnold says she never considered getting married anywhere except in the church.

“I had always assumed that was what everybody did,” she says. “It meant a lot to me to have a religious ceremony in the church. Those were the days when you didn’t question that.

Nowadays, people get married anywhere they want. It’s just an entirely different world.”

As soon as the wedding was over, the Arnolds headed to New Orleans for a weeklong honeymoon.

“I think it was the coldest January on record at that time,” she recalls. “I don’t think there was two or three days that whole month that it got above freezing. There were icicles hanging from everything.”

Rev. George Shirley married the Arnolds. Margaret recalls how Shirley came to Thomasville a week early just to perform the service. Ten days later he married another couple in the church who had the same first names as the Arnolds.

“He would say, ‘The first two couples I married in the church were Margarets and Howards,’” she says with a laugh.

Jonathan Ariail’s grandparents, Louise and Julius, also were married at St. Thomas in 1942 during World War II. Living family members say much of the day’s details have been lost to time. However, their son Julius Ariail Jr. remembers learning that several of his father’s Army buddies attended the service.

“He stayed in touch with them all the rest of his life in one way or another,” Julius said.

Julius Sr. later became the city clerk and his wife Louise was a beloved teacher at Jerger Elementary School. She was also the first director of the church’s day school program, a position she held for many years. TM

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Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

Is a bride-to-be’s job ever done? Between dress fittings, cake tastings, honeymoon researching, flower selecting, seating chart planning – the list goes on – she still must find time for she and her groom to make a list of gift ideas to share with their loved ones. This task is known as the wedding or bridal registry.

The goal is for a couple to select items they need or want for their new home but haven’t had the time (or money) to buy. Instead of sending these requests off to large conglomerates where they might be just one list in millions, why not entrust these wishes to local small businesses that can help in selecting and safeguarding items that may become cherished family heirlooms for generations ahead?

Here are some of the local vendors who offer items to consider when creating a wedding registry. A checklist is available on p. 32.

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Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

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Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

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WEDDING REGISTRY Dining

Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

Dinnerware

32

 q 5-Piece Place Settings q Accent Plates q Soup/Cereal/Pasta Bowls

q Medium/Large Platters q Covered Casseroles q Storage Protector Sets q Gravy Boat and Stand q Salt and Pepper Shakers q Sugar Bowl and Creamer q Teapot/Coffeepot Serveware  q Serving Trays q Serving Bowls q Pitchers q Cake Plate q Serving Utensils q Ice Bucket and Tongs Table Linens  q Napkins q Napkins Rings q Placemats q Table Runners q Tablecloths Formal Flatware  q 5–Piece Place Settings

q Serving Set q Storage Chest q Hostess Set q Entertainment Set Crystal Drinkware  q Goblets q White Wine Glasses q Iced Beverage Glasses q Red Wine Glasses Giftware  q Decorative Bowls q Candle Holders q Ring Dish q Photo Albums q Picture Frames  Keepsakes  q Toasting Flutes q Cake Knife q Unity Candle q Cake Server q Cake Topper q Ring Pillow q Guest Book

Casual Dining

 Dinnerware  q Dinner Plates

Checklist

q Mug/Cup & Saucer q Salad Plates q Cereal Bowls

Casual Glassware  q Juice Glasses q Double Old–Fashioned Glasses q High Balls q Pilsner Glasses q Serving Utensils q Ice Bucket and Tongs Casual Flatware  q Flatware (Service for 8 or 12)

q Hostess Set q Service Set Table Linens  q Napkins (8–12) q Napkins Rings (8–12) q Placemats (8–12) q Table Runners q Tablecloths

Kitchen Cookware  q Cookware Set

q Fry or Omelet Pan q Sauce Pans q Dutch Oven q Saute Pan q Roasting Pan q Wok/Stir Fry Pan Cutlery  q Knife Block Set q Bread Knife q Chef's Knife q Paring Knife q Carving Knife q Santoku Knife q Steak Knives (8–12) Bakeware  q Nonstick Bakeware Set q Ceramic Bakeware Set q Glass Bakeware Set q Cookie Sheets q Muffin Pan q Jelly Roll Pan q Loaf Pan q Baking Pan q Cooling Rack Basics  q Measuring Spoons q Measuring Cups q Utensil Set q Can Opener

q Storage/Canister Sets q Salt and Pepper Mill Set q Vegetable Peeler q Garlic Press q Graters q Egg Slicer q Spice Rack q Whisk q Ice Cream Scoop q Corkscrew q Chopping Boards q Salad Spinner Electrics  q Stand Mixer q Hand Mixer q Food Processor q Blender q Slow Cooker q Rice Cooker q Coffeemaker q Coffee Grinder q Espresso Machine q Toaster Oven q Grilling Machine q Toaster q Waffle Maker q Juice Extractor q Ice Cream Maker q Deep Fryer

Bedding  Master Bedroom  q Flat Sheets q Fitted Sheets q Pillowcases (Pairs)

q Comforters (Down & Other) q Duvet Covers q Pillows q Pillow Shams q Mattress Pads q Bedskirts q Blankets (Summer & Winter)  Guest Bedroom  q Flat Sheets q Fitted Sheets q Pillowcases (Pairs)

q Comforters (Down & Other) q Duvet Covers q Pillows q Pillow Shams q Mattress Pads q Bedskirts q Blankets (Summer & Winter) 

Bath

Master Bathroom  q Bath Sheets q Bath Towels q Hand Towels q Washcloths q Toothbrush Holder q Bath Rug

q Tub Mats q Shower Curtain q Shower Curtain Rings q Tumbler q Lotion Dispenser q Soap Dish q Tissue Holder q Wastebasket  Guest Bathroom  q Bath Sheets q Bath Towels q Hand Towels q Washcloths q Tumbler q Bath Rug q Tub Mats q Shower Curtain q Shower Curtain Rings q Wastebasket q Lotion Dispenser q Soap Dish q Tissue Holder q Toothbrush Holder q Decorative Towels  Personal Care  q Magnifying Mirror q Electric Toothbrushes q Bathrobe and Slippers q Electric Razors q Bath Scale q Pedicure Spa q Hair Dryer q Massaging Cushion

Decor  q Candles and Holders q Wall Clocks q Wall Mirrors q Framed Art q Alarm Clocks q Picture Frames q Window Treatment q Drapery Hardware q Wall Frames

Cleaning/Laundry  q Hand Vacuum q Vacuum q Iron q Mop & Broom q Trash Cans q Ironing Board q Steam Cleaner q Garment Cleaner 

Travel

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i am your friend. a soul for your soul. a place for your life. home. know this. sun or water. here or away. we are a lighthouse. we leave. and we stay.

– “lighthouse” Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

from Salt by Nayyirah Waheed

34

BY DENISE PURVIS PHOTOGRAPHS BY RED FLY STUDIO

love story has a great

wedding tale.

The union of Madeline MacQuirter and Cole Duncan is no exception. The couple could not have asked for a more perfect February afternoon at Pebble Hill Plantation—sunny, warm and downright gorgeous. The only thing more beautiful than the day itself was the love that Madeline and Cole have for each other.

Madeline, a Thomasville native who won the title of Thomasville's Rose Queen her junior year of high school, met Cole at the University of Utah. It is the definition of a “meet cute.” Just in case you are scratching your head at the term, Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines "meet cute" as "a cute, charming, or amusing first encounter between romantic partners (as in a movie).”

Both Madeline and Cole noticed each other before really interacting. Madeline saw Cole at the ATM one day and asked around about him. Cole noticed Madeline around the geology building and asked one of his friends about her.

“We were both in the Mines & Earth Science department,” Madeline said. “He was double majoring in geological engineering and geoscience, and I was majoring in geoscience. We’d met through one of my classmates, who is actually in the wedding (Daniel). Right before my last final for the semester, I was studying in

the mines building, and he walked up [and] asked me out on a date.”

He also delivered a smooth line about how he had to talk to the most beautiful girl in the school. It worked. They went on a date, and as they say, the rest is history.

They dated for a couple of years before they got engaged. Their engagement story is almost as cute as their meeting one. Cole and Madeline are nature loving, active people. Cole’s mom, Shannon Duncan, describes Cole as “an outdoorsy kid who has always been a curious and bright personality. He loves to hunt, fly fish and spend time outdoors.”

Madeline’s mother, Kathy MacQuirter, describes Madeline similarly.

“Madeline has always been independent and adventurous,” she said. “My sister and brother-in-law recruited her to come out to University of Utah her junior year. She fell in love with the mountains and all the outdoor activities that are offered year-round.”

So, it makes a lot of sense to find out that they got engaged after a fly fishing trip, which was a complete surprise to Madeline. She said that they were out casting when they needed to change the fly.

She was tying the fly when he told her to “put this one on” while holding her engagement ring. He asked her to spend the rest of her life with him, and she said “yes.”

“There were no hidden cameras, and it was just the two of us, but it completely surprised me, and that’s why I loved it so much,” Madeline said.

Which brings us to their magical wedding day.

Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

Every epic

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Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018 36

w

hen I showed up to Pebble Hill, the photographers from Red Fly were just arriving as well. I took the opportunity to follow them to find Madeline and her bridesmaids. When I walked upstairs to meet everyone, I saw a lot of excited girls in floral kimonos.

I have been a bridesmaid in 10 weddings, and I have probably attended twice that many as a guest.

I have seen all sorts of brides—scary brides, hyper brides,

nervous brides, anxious brides and probably all different types in between. Madeline is easily the most gracious, easy-going and friendly bride I have ever encountered. She answered my questions with grace although I am sure it is rattling to have a strange woman shadowing your every move and talking to everyone you know.

We gabbed like it was not one of the most important days of her life. She was extremely relaxed and chipper, which she attributed to having some of her best friends by her side.

Cole was born in West Texas and lived in New Mexico for many years. As Madeline was telling me the stories about her courtship and engagement to Cole, her Aunt Cindy Riley popped in and asked, “Are you telling the cowboy story?” After Madeline first met Cole, she told her aunt and cousins about this cute cowboy she met at school. As Cindy, Brittany (Madeline’s maid of honor) and I chuckled about her aunt calling Cole a cowboy, I asked Brittany a little about Madeline and Cole.

“I met Cole at Madeline’s 21st birthday,” Brittany said.

“As soon as I met him, I knew he was perfect for her. When they get together, she just lights up, and I trust that he’ll always be there for her.”

I watched as Madeline and her bridesmaids got their hair done and observed as everyone scattered to put on their dresses.

Madeline’s and the bridesmaids’ dresses were from the Watters WTOO line. Madeline’s dress was a fitted style with Cybele lace, Deryn trim and Illusion tulle. The lace long sleeves contrasted with the mostly open back. The long sleeves were a conscious decision for Madeline.

“To be honest, I never thought much about what my wedding would be like until recently,” she said. “I had always looked at wedding dresses and knew I wanted something long sleeve because my mom had worn long sleeves.”

The dress is an important part of any wedding day, and it is important for the bride to find the perfect dress. The dress Madeline chose was the first one she tried on while shopping at Velvet Bridal Boutique in Missoula, Mont.

“I actually went to that store because I’d seen a photo on their Instagram of the dress and knew I had to try it on,”

“

I met Cole at Madeline’s 21st birthday,” Brittany said. “As soon as I met him, I knew he was perfect for her. When they

and I trust that he’ll always be there for her.

”

Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

get together, she just lights up,

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Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018 38

she said. “I did try on about 10 other dresses, but I ended up purchasing the first I’d tried on!”

I left Madeline and her bridesmaids to finish getting ready and followed the photographers from Red Fly to meet Cole. The big plan was to blindfold Cole so that he would not be able to see Madeline at all. I could not imagine being blindfolded and already nervous with a group of photographers, videographers, family, a wedding planner and a writer standing by.

My favorite part of the day was when they removed Cole’s blindfold so he could see Madeline in her wedding dress. They both looked so happy and in love. At this moment, I felt like I was an invader in this special, private moment. Then I remembered the army of people around me.

Madeline’s bridesmaids included: Brittany Duren, who is the only Thomasville resident; April Furin, Madeline’s college roommate; Karina Schwartznau and Haley Hanseler, Madeline’s college friends; Carlie Shafroth, Cole’s sister; and, Katherine Riley, Madeline’s cousin.

Cole’s groomsmen included: Tanner Duncan, Cole’s brother, best man and father of ring bearer Blake Duncan; Daniel Pollock and Carter Oman, Cole’s college roommates; Jake Maga, Cole’s college friend; and, Gordon MacQuirter, Madeline’s brother.

I chose a seat out of the way but great for observing. I watched Madeline and Cole’s nearly 200 guests take their seats. At one point, I heard thunder threaten rain just

Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018 39

T

his wedding also included a salt covenant, which is like the lighting of a unity candle or a sand ceremony. The covenant refers to the act of combining individual grains of salt into one vessel during the wedding ceremony.

40 Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

It sounds cliché, but I can only imagine that Madeline and Cole will live happily ever after….

TM

Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

before the ceremony started, but it immediately cleared up.

I watched as the bridesmaids, groomsmen and family took their places, but the truly special moment was when Madeline and her father arrived by carriage so he could walk her down the aisle. I had looked at Madeline countless times throughout the day, but she was really glowing at that moment.

During the ceremony, Cole’s sister read “Lighthouse”

by Nayyirah Waheed and both sets of parents read a blessing. Before giving Madeline away, her father, Danny MacQuirter, spoke about how Cole is the perfect mate for his princess.

The wedding also included a salt covenant, which is like the lighting of a unity candle or a sand ceremony. The covenant refers to the act of combining individual grains of salt into one vessel during the wedding ceremony. This procedure has its roots in the Old Testament of the Bible. In Biblical times, salt was considered a valuable commodity. It was particularly perfect for Madeline and Cole because they both have roots in geology.

After the ceremony concluded, Madeline and Cole were whisked away in the carriage that originally brought Madeline to the ceremony, and a cocktail hour followed.

The reception was held in an enormous white tent filled with tables covered in blue silk, embroidered tablecloths, and accented with a place setting complete with wicker charger. Have I mentioned the flowers? The flowers from Singletary’s were simply beautiful. I spied cream and blushcolored roses and ranunculuses everywhere.

I enjoyed watching Madeline and Cole’s first dance to Van Morrison’s “Crazy Love.” From what I observed, they both seemed to be phenomenal dancers. The next dance belonged to Madeline and her father to the iconic “My Girl” by the Temptations. Then, Cole and his mother danced to “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac. The reception was a wildly good time. The food was great, the band was fun, and the overall atmosphere was a celebration.

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STATE PARK

Spring Getaways “You r s u cce s s is o u r s u ce s s ”

Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

— STEPHEN H. CHENEY I CEO

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BY ALEX RAYMOND

The weather in Georgia is finally warming up, and spring has officially sprung! With holiday weekends fast approaching and spring break just around the corner, why not consider the fantastic outdoor family-friendly activities available at several and their ? From locals looking for a relaxing ‘staycation’ to travelers from afar seeking adventure and nature, each of these distinctive properties offer the perfect spring getaway. Below is a short overview and sampling of the available activities:

lodges

state parks

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George T. Bagby State Park & Lodge Along the shores of Lake Walter F. George in Fort Gaines, George T. Bagby State Park & Lodge features Golf Digest ranked Meadow Links Golf Course and a full-service marina that proudly boasts the 48,000-acre lake’s state record for blue catfish. The property offers a full range of accommodations including 60 lodge rooms, five cabins and a group lodge.

Amenities consist of tennis and volleyball courts, bicycles, canoe rentals, hiking trails and a private swimming pool.

Little Ocmulgee State Park & Lodge: Set alongside the peaceful pine trees of the South, this rustic 1,360-acre property features 60 lodge rooms, 10 cabins, 54 campsites and a pioneer camp. Activities include 18-hole Wallace Adams Golf Course, designed by O.C. Jones of the Robert Trent Jones family, biking, children’s splash pad, 2.6-mile Oak Ridge Trail, private pool and Little Ocmulgee Lake. A distinctive feature of the park is the soil which produces pristine white sand beaches along the shore.

2/27/18 3:10 PM

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Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge: Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge is home to 829 acres of Georgia wilderness in the heart of the Chattahoochee National Forest. This mountaintop property features a 57-room main lodge with panoramic views, 14 secluded cabins and 25 campsites.

Popular outdoor attractions include the 729-foot Amicalola Falls, eight-mile trail to the southern end of the Appalachian Trail and a variety of outdoor activities as part of the state’s Adventure Lodge Program. The property is an ideal destination for thrill-seekers of all ages and offers activities ranging from the ziplines, 3-D archery, survivalist camp, rock climbing, GPS scavenger hunts and guided trail runs.

Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

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Brasstown Valley Resort & Spa: Situated amongst the northern mountains of Young Harris, Brasstown Valley Resort & Spa is a luxurious 503-acre countryside retreat featuring a 102-room lodge, 43 cottage guestrooms and deluxe spa suite. On property, travelers may enjoy the horse stables and guided trail riding, pond and stream fishing, hiking trails and close proximity to the infamous Brasstown Bald hiking trail.

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Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018 44

Z Lake Blackshear Resort & Golf Club: Positioned within Georgia Veterans State Park, Lake Blackshear Resort & Golf Club is a newly restored lakeside retreat. Equipped with 14 main lodge guestrooms, 64 villa guestrooms and 10 lakeside cabins, the relaxing resort is set among 1,308 acres of South Georgia beauty and serves as a popular destination for family travel. Outdoor activities include a full-service marina with boat and jet ski rentals available, Veterans Memorial Golf Course, and miles of walking and biking trails.

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Unicoi State Park & Lodge: Tucked away in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and situated in the charming Alpine-Bavarian town of Helen, Unicoi State Park & Lodge is home to the 53-acre Unicoi Lake and famous trout streams. Boasting 1,029 acres of wilderness, this mountain destination consists of an expansive 100-room main lodge, 30 cabins and 82 campsites. As part of the Adventure Lodge Program, the property features ziplines, new archery and air rifle range and GPS scavenger hunts, as well as paddleboard lessons, mountain biking, fly fishing, kayaking and a primitive overnight camping class where guests sleep under the stars and learn to conquer the wilderness.

Now through April 30, families can take advantage of the spring break packages offering discounts at Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge and Unicoi State Park & Lodge when they book with the promo code: SPRING18.

Run to INSPIRE & EMPOWER THOSE AFFECTED BY BRAIN CANCER

4th ANNUAL 3rd ANNUAL

5K Run/Walk & 1 Mile Fun Run 5K Run/Walk & 1 Mile Fun Run

Saturday, April 14, 2018 Saturday, March 25, 2017

THOMAS COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL 4681 US Hwy 84 Bypass • Thomasville, GA THOMAS COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL 4681 US Hwy 84 Bypass • Thomasville, GA

FUN RUN 7:30 p.m. START FUN8 RUN p.m. START 5K p.m. 7:30 START 5K 8 p.m. START

Register at: https://runsignup.com/Race/GA/Thomasville/SuperDave5kGlowRun

5K/Ghost Runner $25 before 4/5 - $30 after at: 4/5 - $25 after 1 Mile Fun RunRegister $20 before

https://localraces.com/events/thomasville-ga/superdave-5K

T-shirt and cape will be given to all participants on race day, while supplies last. Runners are encouraged to create a

SUPERHERO costume that is fun and even GLOWS. See you at the finish line GLOWING. 5K/Ghost Runner $25 before 3/15 - $30 after 1 Mile Fun Run $20 before 3/15 - $25 after www.bedavebrave.com

T-shirt and cape will be togiven to the all David participants on Foundation race day, while supplies Runners areCancer encouraged to All proceeds benefit Waldron to help familieslast. affected

by Brain

create a SUPERHERO costume that is fun and even GLOWS. See you at the finish line GLOWING.

Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

5K

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BY DENISE PURVIS

Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

Thomasville Rose Show and Festival Highlights

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~

Thursday, April 26 7 p.m. ~ Children’s Rose Bud Parade

A little event that began as a display in Neel’s Department store has expanded into a three-day Friday, April 27 festival that brings huge crowds of people to this quaint 1 p.m. ~ Rose Show grand opening at Rose Tent little town. For 97 years, Thomasville residents have 2 p.m. ~ Standard Flower Show grand opening at Thomasville enjoyed the Rose Show and Festival. Residents can Garden Center count on this family friendly celebration that always 7 p.m. ~ Rose Parade (Street Dance follows the parade) falls around the fourth Friday of every April. Each year Saturday, April 28 kicks off Thursday evening with the Children’s Rose Bud 10 a.m. ~ Orchids on Parade grand opening at the Thomasville Parade and runs through Saturday.

Municipal Auditorium ~ Civic Garden Club Show grand opening at Paradise Park The 97th annual Thomasville Rose Show and Festival is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

~ Art in the Park in Paradise Park (featuring

April 26-28. Festival goers can count on a great time at the mostly free event, where they can see roses, attend food and craft vendors, children’s activities, live music, a street dance, snack on great food from the numerous and fun for the whole family) street vendors, watch fireworks and so much more.

TBA ~ Car and Truck Show and a live concert at the Amphitheater

We love Smiles!

~

Dr. Adams 229.226.3633

215 Constitution Ave | Thomasville, GA

ThomasvillePediatricDentistry.com

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229.226.2386

CNS Marketing Director Sarah Turner Baggett shares the scoop on this year's festivities.

Thomasville Magazine: How will this year’s festival be different from those of the past?

TM: What is your favorite aspect of the festival?

STB: Working with all the different city departments and community organizations to bring the event together is my favorite part. It is incredible what we can achieve when we work together.

presents

TM: How many visitors do you expect this year?

STB: There are generally 30,000 plus people over the three days of the festival.

TM: What is the crowd typically like at the festival?

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STB: The crowd varies from year to year. It is generally a great mix of locals and visitors from all over the southeastern United States.

TM: What suggestions would you give to a festival newbie (both with planning and what to pack/bring)?

STB: I’d recommend that they try and visit all the flower show openings. There is something very special about seeing a year’s worth of hard work come together for these talented growers. The parade and street dance are also do-not-miss events! Bring your camera: there is always something you’ll want to remember.

TM: What costs are associated with the events?

June 1, 2018 at 7:00 pm June 2, 2018 at 2:00 pm

STB: Most events are free to the public. This is a great, cost-effective event to bring the whole family to.

Thomasville Municipal Auditorium

TM: What type of activities will you have for children?

STB: There are many activities for kids to enjoy. The Children’s Rose Bud Parade, the Rose Parade and Street Dance plus fireworks, and Art in the Park are just a few that come to mind.

Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

Sarah Turner Baggett: This is the 97th year of the festival, and TM: What event tends to attract the most visitors? what a wonderful tradition it is for the community! This year will feature many of the classic favorites visitors and locals have come to expect, STB: Probably the Rose Parade and following Street Dance – people like the Children’s Rose Bud Parade and the Rose Show itself. New this love to boogie with the Swingin’ Medallions! year is the theme for the Rose Parade, “Helping Hands: A Celebration of Community Volunteers!”, which will be a fun way for our community to celebrate our wonderful volunteers. Art in the Park has been restructured to be easier to navigate and to include more fun activities. Don’t miss the BMX Trickstars show in the park, featuring South Georgia Ballet eye-popping BMX stunts!

This program is supported in part by the Georgia Council for the Arts through the appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly. GCA also receives support from its partner agency, the National Endowment for the Arts.

Join the Fun In Your Backyard

Meet your friends, family and neighbors in Downtown Thomasville for all the fun events, concerts and festivals planned this year.

DOWNTOWN

229.228.7977 • downtownthomasville.com

Erik von Hellens, CFP®, AAMS® Financial Advisor .

124 E Jackson St Thomasville, GA 31792 229-225-9393

MKT-5894F-A-A1

www.edwardjones.com

Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

What's important to you? Let's talk.

49

Come visit us at our new location!

216 S Broad St. | Thomasville, GA

HOURS Tues – Sat 10 - 5:30

229.236.5111

MATERNITY | HEALTHER LIVING | ENCOURAGEMENT

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Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

Serving î Žomasville for 12 years

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Truly Scrumptious, Inc. A Modern Catering Service providing Fresh, Seasonal Menus for both Private and Corporate Events.

Specializing in Clean Eating with Healthy Options like Gluten-Free or Paleo. Let us help you transition into a new diet!

TOURS EVERY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY

Come Taste Your Way Around

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on this 3-hour food-tasting unique sampling of six one-of-a-kind eateries.

Stroll between the eateries, and discover what makes Thomasville one of the South's most historically eloquent small towns.

Chef Michael Mann 229.231.2150

Your Premier Choice in Gourmet & Specialty Catering

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Buy tickets online: http://www.tasteofthomasvillefoodtour.com

or call 800.979.3370

@TasteOfThomasvilleFoodTour

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Tuesday - saTurday 11-9 P.M. serving lunch & dinner sunday 11-2:30 P.M. serving brunch, lunch & dinner Banquet spaces available for in-house catering and special events.

420 W Jackson St, Thomasville, GA

229.236.6006

Georgia’s oldest Restaurant

Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

A 100 Year old Thomasville Tradition

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We seek out the lastest fashion trends and offer them to you at customer-friendly prices.

We carry Simply Southern, Southern Cross, Jadelynn Brooke, Southern Darlin’, Southern Sippin’, Old South Apparel & SIC Cups

229.224.5590 www.shopsecboutique.com

We Now Carry XS - Plus Sizes

116 E Jackson St Downtown Thomasville, GA

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So.Ho. is a Modern Southern restaurant inspired by looking to the many fascinating flavors and techniques found in Asian cuisine.

Boasting an attractive dining room, a full bar, and a charming event space upstairs with a gorgeous view of downtown, So.Ho. is perfect for a casual lunch meeting, an intimate and romantic evening, or your next grand celebration. Come enjoy the view with us at So.Ho. – as we are Southern Looking East.

Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

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Jr, Misses and Plus Size Apparel and Accessories a passion for fashion and a cure for cancer 108 N. Broad St.

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Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018 54

Healthcare Solutions and Claims Administration facilitated with exceptional service!

Plan/Benefit Design | Benefit Counseling | Cost Analysis Self Funded Plans | Reinsurance | Claims Administration

Taylor Benefit Resource

164 Commercial Drive | Thomasville, Georgia 31757 229.225.9943 Toll Free 888.352.5246 www.tbrpa.com

Thomsville-Thomas County Visitors Center Historic Thomasville, Georgia

Listed events are subject to change; please verify event dates and times prior to scheduling activities.

Visit www.thomasvillega.com for the current Thomasville area calendar of events.

APRIL 2018 April 6, 2018 Enlightening Bites Lecture Series: “Infusion of African American History into the Local Classroom”

12:00-1:00pm, Thomas County Public Library Flipper Room, 201 N. Madison St., Thomasville, GA – The series is the first Friday of each month from September – May. This week’s lecture “Infusion of African American History into the Local Classroom” is presented by Jamarcus Underwood.

Bring your lunch and enjoy this stimulating series of lectures on subjects of interest in our area. The series is sponsored by Pebble Hill Plantation and the Thomas County Public Library. Info: Lori Curtis, 229-226-2344, lcurtis@pebblehill.com April 19, 2018 Cocktails and Commerce hosted by First Commerce Credit Union

5:00-7:00pm, First Commerce Credit Union, 15131 U.S. Highway 19, Thomasville, GA - Please join us the third Thursday of every month for networking, hors d'oeuvres, beer & wine and door prizes!

Each month will be sponsored by a Chamber member business and held at their location. Info: Thomasville Chamber of Commerce, 229-2269600, christina@thomasvillechamber.com April 19, 2018 Thomas University Night Hawk Review 2018 Release Party and Spring Art Show

6:00pm, Student Life Center, Magnolia Campus, 1550 Magnolia Rd., Thomasville, GA –ACTU's mission is to combine the gifts and energies of Thomas University personnel and students (Act One) with those of community members (Act Two) to provide excellent arts events for the community.

For this reason, we have named this organization ACTU Act Two: Arts for the Community at Thomas University. For more information, call 229-2276964 or e-mail actu@thomasu.edu. Info: Thomas University, 229-227-6964, actu@thomasu.edu

April 20, 2018 Fridays at Noon presented by ACTU: Mary Z. Cox, Banjo

12:00pm, Thomas University Balfour Chapel, 1501 Millpond Rd., Thomasville, GA – This month’s concert features banjo player Mary Z. Cox. Join us for a free concert presented by Arts for the Community at Thomas University. ACTU's mission is to combine the gifts and energies of Thomas University personnel and students (Act One) with those of community members (Act Two) to provide excellent arts events for the community.

For this reason, we have named this organization ACTU Act Two: Arts for the Community at Thomas University. For more information, call 229-2276964 or e-mail actu@thomasu.edu. Info: Thomas University, 229-227-6964, actu@thomasu.edu April 23-28th, 2018 HOTC Volunteer Week

April is National Volunteer Month. Join us for Thomas County’s very own Volunteer Week, April 23-28, 2018. Volunteer Week is a celebration of service and all the volunteers who help make good things happen in our community. During this annual event (always the week of Rose Festival), we’ll have select volunteer opportunities, volunteer “shout-outs”, and Appreciation Stations at select businesses around town. THANK YOU to all of our volunteers who make this such a great community to be a part of! Visit us at www.HandsOnThomasCounty.org for more info, or call 229-226-5200.

April 26th-28th and Festival

97th Annual Rose Show

Times vary, Downtown Thomasville, GA - We’re celebrating 97 years! This three-day event is held in beautiful historic Downtown Thomasville and has been a southwest Georgia tradition since the 1920s! What started in 1921 as a display in Neel’s Department Store organized with only $25 (won by

Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

Call 229-228-7977 or toll free at 1-866-577-3600, with questions, comments or submissions. Stop in the Thomasville Visitors Center (144 East Jackson Street, Thomasville, GA 31799) for the most up to the minute information. This calendar is included as submitted by Thomasville Main Street and Visitors Center.

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Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018 56

a group of garden club ladies who won 1st place in the state fair for their display of locally grown vegetables and fruits) has now grown to a 3-day festival with over 25,000 visitors! Join us for all the fun and festivities! Enjoy roses, roses and more roses, plus four flower shows, a children’s parade, a larger and more exciting Rose Parade, a street dance featuring the Swingin’ Medallions, fireworks, fantastic food, a car and truck show and family friendly activities in Paradise Park. We’re pulling out all the stops to make this year the best Rose Show and Festival yet! For more info and a complete listing of events and locations, click here. Also included in the Rose Show and Festival weekend activities are the Rose City 10K Run, Walk & One-Mile Run (for information call 229.226.9878 or visit www.ymca-thomasville.org) and the Rose City Golf Classic (for information call 229.225.4333 or visit www.countryoaksgolfcourse.com). Info:

Thomasville Main Street, 229-228-7977, visit@thomasville.org, www.thomasvillega.com

MAY 2018 May 1-May 31, 2018 Thomas County Public Library System Silver Jubilee Celebration Month

Silver Jubilee Month Celebration TCPLS marks the 25th anniversary of the opening of the Main Library in Thomasville and branches in Boston, Coolidge, Meigs, Ochlocknee, and Pavo. Events take place throughout May at the Main Library and all branches.

Saturday, May 5, 2018—TCPLS Open House 10 a.m. – 2p.m. Main Library, 201 North Madison Street, Thomasville. Library tours, poetry readings, activities for children and teens, performances on outside stage, refreshments. All Thomas County residents are invited. Contact: Nancy Tillinghast, Library Executive Director 229-225-5252, www.tcpls.org.

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Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

May 4, 2018 Enlightening Bites Lecture Series: “Hands on Thomas County Volunteering – Yes, You Should. Yes, You Do. Yes, You Can!”

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12:00-1:00pm, Thomas County Public Library Flipper Room, 201 N. Madison St., Thomasville, GA – The series is the first Friday of each month from September – May. This week’s lecture “Hands on Thomas County Volunteering – Yes, You Should.

Yes, You Do. Yes, You Can!” is presented by Angela Kiminas. Bring your lunch and enjoy this stimulating series of lectures on subjects of interest in our area.

The series is sponsored by Pebble Hill Plantation and the Thomas County Public Library. Info: Lori Curtis, 229-226-2344, lcurtis@pebblehill.com May 4, 2018 Thomasville Music & Drama Troupe Spring Show

8:00pm, Thomasville Municipal Auditorium, 144 E. Jackson St., Thomasville, GA - You won’t want

Southern Living Food Award Winner for Best Oil

Offering cold-pressed pecan oil, pecan truffle oil and truffle hunts.

The perfect gift for any season! Available at retailers in Downtown Thomasville.

229.254.7107 PecanRidgePlantation.com

to miss Troupe’s spring show! This is a group of talented singing teen entertainers from area high schools across southwest Georgia. Since its inception in 1972, Troupe has been wowing audiences of all ages. For more information or tickets, call 229-558-9470 or visit www. thomasvillemusicanddramatroupe.com. Info: Thomasville Music and Drama Troupe, 229-558-9470, troupe@rose.net May 5, 2018 Landmarks Derby Party

Join Thomasville Landmarks for the most exciting two minutes in sports while celebrating 52 years of community preservation in Thomas County. Enjoy drinks, dinner, and live music while raising funds to support vital programs like Operation CARE, Education and Outreach, and Neighborhood Revitalization. Individual tickets start at $125 each, and a portion of all tickets and

sponsorships are tax-deductible. Please visit www. thomasvillelandmarks.org for more information and to order online. Party will be held at Glen Arven Country Club.

10am-2pm, TCPLS, 201 North Madison Street, Thomasville, GA- The TCPLS will be having an Open House to celebrate Silver Jubilee Celebration Month.

There will be library tours, poetry readings, activities for children and teens, performances on outside stage and light refreshments. Event is free and open to the public. For more info: 229-225-5252, www.tcpls.org

May 17, 2018 Cocktails and Commerce hosted by Key South Real Estate Group

5:00-7:00pm, Key South Real Estate Group, 401 E. Jackson St., Thomasville, GA - Please join us the

May 20 Thomasville Landmarks Away Down South At Dixie Plantation with Tall Timbers

Save the date! More details coming soon! Please contact Sophia Latz at 229.226.6016 for more information about any Thomasville Landmark event.

May 26, 2018 Thomasville Classic Bike Race

Sign up to take part in the first ever 50 or 100 mile bike race!! Start and end at Park and Amphitheater, 131 S. Stevens St., Thomasville, GA – More information coming soon! Info: Southern Wheelworks, southernwheelworks@gmail.com, 706.814.0089.

Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

May 5, 2018 Open House at the Thomas County Public Library

third Thursday of every month for networking, hors d'oeuvres, beer & wine and door prizes!

Each month will be sponsored by a Chamber member business and held at their location. Info: Thomasville Chamber of Commerce, 229-2269600, christina@thomasvillechamber.com

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BRIGHT SPRING

BY JOHN MAICHELE Thomas County Central High School Creative Writing student

It’s Just Like Coming Home

We carry many famous brands including Bradington-Young,Bernhardt, Cresent, Fairreld Chair, Hekman, Hooker, Kincaid, Lexington, Massoud, Stanley, Fine Furniture Designs, Wesley Hall, Luxurious Jamison Bedding & Smith Brothers

Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

As the ice melts and the cold fades away Colorful hues erasing the dull gray The flora flourish; the fauna return As they seek the warm climate that we yearn Changing frowns into beautiful smiles People dressed in dazzling diverse styles Clothes dyed in reds and yellows; pinks and greens The entire world in such brilliant sheens This season I speak of is the bright spring The season considered a wondrous thing A time of love; a time of revival Proudly announcing its own arrival So enjoy the rain, the shine of the sun This is the moment to be having fun Get out of the house Not a moment to waste Life’s too short To not make haste Breathe in the season Of joyous rebirth With the only restraint Being your own mirth

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Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

BY SYDNI BARWICK, COUNTY AGENT

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Dogwoods in Bloom One of the most scenic flowering trees of the South, dogwoods are native to the eastern United States. They are well known for their spring display of creamy white flowers.

Dogwoods, along with azaleas, are associated with Easter in South Georgia. While there are different species of dogwoods, the species that is commonly grown in South Georgia is the flowering dogwood, Cornus florida. The native habitat of the flowering dogwood extends from Massachusetts to Florida. The flowering dogwood has been cultivated for almost 300 years.

Although they can grow well in a variety of environments, they grow as understory trees (hence their small size) generally seen under pines. I have seen dogwoods in full sun, but they should be watered during periods of dry weather.

Dogwoods are shallow-rooted trees. In the landscape, dogwoods benefit from being shaded. Dogwoods do very well under the partial shade of pine trees, as do azaleas and camellias. Dogwoods planted in full sun is one of the leading causes of decline we observe in Thomasville.

Additionally, dogwoods do not do well as a street tree.

Dogwoods bloom before the trees leaf out with the actual flower being green and yellow and not much to see. It is the bracts that surround the flower that are so attractive.

Dogwoods do have their share of insect and disease pests, but if soil moisture is maintained and the tree is mulched so that it is not likely to incur damage from a mower, its chances of a healthy survival are pretty good.

Our former county agent, Andrew Sawyer, spent a great deal of time researching the decline of dogwoods around Thomasville. A common pathogen associated with dogwoods is called anthracnose. It is found on dogwood flowers and leaves. This pathogen can cause major issues further north but has never been a cause of decline or death here in South Georgia.

The most significant issue affecting dogwoods around Thomasville is a combination of environmental and situational factors. Being shallow-rooted, dogwoods planted

For more information, call the Thomas County Extension Office at 225-4130.

Hampton Inn of Thomasville

Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

along the street are stressed from compacted soils as well as being left in full sun.

In the right situation, dogwoods are still a good tree to plant in the landscape. Bare root seedlings should be planted in the winter while they are dormant.

Container-grown plants are ideally planted while dormant but can be planted any time of year as long as they are watered adequately.

You can expect the tree to grow fairly slow after planting and later grow at a medium rate. The fruit produced by dogwoods is a favorite of birds.

The height of dogwoods is highly variable. Twenty feet tall specimens are not that uncommon, although dogwoods can grow to a height of 40 feet. Dogwoods can have a spread equal to or greater than their height. TM

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District Capitol P.O. Box 6580 401-J State Capitol Atlanta, GA Thomasville, GA 31758 30334 Office 404.656.7857 Office 229.225.9943 ext 215 Darlene.Taylor@house.ga.gov Darlene.Taylor@house.ga.gov

Constituent Services P.O. Box 6580 Thomasville, GA 31758 Office 229.225.9943 ext 215 gahouseseat173@gmail.com

May we pursue that which is right without self-righteousness. May we know unity without conformity. May we grow in strength without pride in self. May we, in our dealings with all peoples of the earth, ever speak truth and serve justice. – President Dwight D. Eisenhower

A Listing of Local Deaths in Our Community.

Names and dates provided by Allen & Allen Funeral Home and Whiddon-Shiver Funeral Home

Allen & Allen Virginia M Kelso Jan. 20, 1917 - Nov. 1, 2017

Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

William Thomas Weissinger, IV June 16, 1943 - Nov. 2, 2017

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Charles Rodney Warmack March 17, 1933 - Nov. 3, 2017 Patricia Anne Bennett Aug. 10, 1935 - Nov. 7, 2017 William Collins Feb. 5, 1975 - Nov. 7, 2017 Larry Lindsey Jan. 29, 1951 - Nov. 8, 2017 Christopher Carvin June 17, 1956 - Nov. 10, 2017 Judy Godwin Sept. 13, 1956 - Nov. 11, 2017 Vernard Cone June 13, 1924 - Nov. 16, 2017 Allie Rual Wilbourn Jan. 27, 1935 - Nov. 16, 2017 William Miller July 2, 1938 - Nov. 15, 2017 Stephen Capkovitz May 30, 1970 - Nov. 18, 2017 Marjorie Sellers Aug. 23, 1929 - Nov. 18, 2017 Maniben Patel May 28, 1929 - Nov. 23, 2017 Harry E. Kelso, Jr. June 30, 1922 - Nov. 24, 2017

Nicole Carper Feb. 13, 1967 - Nov. 26, 2017

Evelyn Taylor July 28, 1925 - Dec. 14, 2017

Carl Elmer Wilson May 11, 1936 - Dec. 31, 2017

Carol Fleming June 4, 1949 - Nov. 25, 2017

Phyllis R. Yergin Oct. 24, 1926 - Dec. 16, 2017

Jewel Tucker December 11, 1929 - Dec. 31, 2017

James Lockamy March 28, 1949 - Nov. 27, 2017

Eunice NeSmith Sept. 30, 1924 - Dec. 18, 2017

Dana Jewell Wilson January 3, 1944 - Dec. 28, 2017

Paula Duren Feb. 23, 1940 - Nov. 28, 2017

Inez Anderson July 28, 1923 - Dec. 18, 2017

Michael Nocera April 2, 1939 - Jan. 2, 2018

Lenora Wiker July 24, 1928 - Nov. 29, 2017

Louise Fleetwood June 7, 1932 - Dec. 18, 2017

Belinda Todd August 8, 1959 - Jan. 4, 2018

Estelle Redding April 1, 1910 - Nov. 30, 2017

Marie Bennett July 27, 1932 - Dec. 19, 2017

Rosie Mae Creel Jan. 24, 1927 - Jan. 7, 2018

Reginald King Nov. 27, 1957 - Nov. 29, 2017

Harriet Burns Dec. 22, 1927 - Dec. 23, 2017

Martha Carmichael Jan. 5, 1939 - Jan. 7, 2018

Bonnie Davis June 20, 1947 - Dec. 2, 2017

Elizabeth Iffland May 7, 1924 - Dec. 22, 2017

Thomas Zay, Sr. Dec. 2, 1932 - Jan. 8, 2018

Merle Courtney August 2, 1925 - December 5, 2017

Antonio Gallardo Jan. 26, 1940 - Dec. 22, 2017

Ruth Wilson March 4, 1937 - Jan. 9, 2018

Jane Norman July 7, 1929 - December 5, 2017

Salima Adwar April 19, 1929 - Dec. 24, 2017

Thomas Vincent Knapp July 6, 1955 - Jan. 8, 2018

Mary Frances Parker June 12, 1927 - December 5, 2017

Jay McMillan Sept. 2, 1944 - Dec. 26, 2017

Cathy Sue Carter June 3, 1957 - Jan. 12, 2018

Patricia Kalena Sept. 10, 1940 - Dec. 11, 2017

Albert Woods Aug. 247, 1931 - Dec. 29, 2017

William NeSmith Oct. 21, 1952 - Jan. 8, 2018

Carol Lau Aug. 8, 1938 - Dec. 11, 2017

Henry Rollins Oct. 22, 1933 - Dec. 26, 2017

Stella Law September 13, 1924 - Jan. 9, 2018

Jennie Curnalia June 16, 1945 - Dec. 12, 2017

Noel Hinojosa March 16, 1960 - Dec. 10, 2017

Robert Hambrick February 1, 1930 - Jan. 9, 2018

Hazel Hester Nov. 2, 1956 - Dec. 12, 2017

June Whidden Aug. 6, 1944 - Dec. 29, 2017

James Parrish Aug. 18, 1932 - Jan. 10, 2018

Frank Hiram Walker Aug. 18, 1954 - Dec. 14, 2017

Mary Benton Jan. 10, 1934 - Dec. 31, 2017

Ralph DePew November 2, 1921 - January 11, 2018 William Owen, IV Nov. 24, 1996 - Jan. 13, 2018 Stephen Hancock Sept. 8, 1992 - Jan. 13, 2018 James Dickerson Sept. 15, 1953 - Jan. 13, 2018 Charles Cox July 21, 1935 - Jan. 14, 2018 Donald Lawhorne, Jr. Oct. 5, 1970 - Jan. 10, 2018 Dorothy Griffin April 4, 1927 - Jan. 18, 2018 James Jones March 13, 1963 - Jan. 20, 2018 Madyson Thompson June 30, 2000 - Jan. 19, 2018

Lila Mae Chastain Wright Dec. 13, 1931 - Oct. 14, 2017

Richard A. White Dec. 28, 1960 - Jan. 20, 2018

Susan Deyette Davidson Clark May 6, 1949 - Feb. 1, 2018

Curtis Chapman July 29, 1934 -Jan. 23, 2018

Samuel Warren Mays, Jr. July 9, 1935 - Oct. 15, 2017

Carolyn Raye Craven Simpson Feb. 6, 1944 - Jan. 20, 2018

Dariusz Andrzej Blaszczak Aug. 24, 1958 - Feb.7, 2018

Hubert Lee Ansley March 24, 1931 - Jan. 23, 2018

Edna Laverne Brown Brack July 2, 1960 - Oct. 18, 2017

Margaret Peggy Evans May 20, 1946 - Jan. 22, 2018

Avin Thomas Ezell May 25, 1934 - Feb. 10, 2018

Mary Golden Jan. 19, 1926 - Jan. 25, 2018

Milton W. Croy April 1, 1940 - Oct. 28, 2017

Shirlee Pettigrew Shiver Griffin Aug. 15, 1942 - Jan. 22, 2018

Douglas Craige Magill Oct. 12, 1937 - Feb. 14, 2018

William Konrath Jan. 24, 1945 - Jan. 26, 2018

Olin Dewitt Rehberg, Jr. May 30, 1937 - Nov. 7, 2017

Jasmine Lee Feb. 7, 1996 - Jan. 27, 2018

Esther Hicks Davis April 19, 1928 - Nov. 12, 2017

Rith Rhinehart Aug. 15, 1923 - Jan. 31, 2018

Marcus Werner Whatley Sept. 10, 1960 - Nov. 25, 2017

Angie Jenkins Nov. 2, 1964 - Jan. 31, 2018

Verna Virginia Jarrad McCarter Aug. 25, 1929 - Dec. 3, 2017

Whiddon-Shiver Betty Jane Martin Debruyn Feb. 5, 1925 - Sept. 2, 2017 Toni Ann Bond Rayburn Oct. 21, 1971 - Sept. 6, 2017 Linda Lee Hiers Horne Jan. 8, 1939 - Sept. 12, 2017

Frances Christine Estridge Mitchell Aug. 25, 1925 - Dec. 9, 2017 Tammy Yvonne McGough Miller June 30, 1969 - Dec. 11, 2017 Charles Malcolm Winchester, Sr. Nov. 12, 1934 - Dec. 11, 2017 Charles Leighton Eason, Jr. Aug. 31, 1947 - Dec. 14, 2017

Brenda Lee Brady Croft Aug. 13, 1964 - Sept. 14, 2017

John W. Searles Aug. 3, 1924 - Dec. 19, 2017

John Willard Sparks Dec. 5, 1951 - Sept. 15, 2017

Suzanne MacMurray Dodson Sept. 13, 1927 - Dec. 20, 2017

Eleanor Mildred Johnson Hurst Dec. 16, 1922 - Sept. 15, 2017

Mary Margaritakis Athitakis Aug. 1, 1929 - Dec. 22, 2017

Bernadette Snow Griffin Nov. 8, 1915 - Sept. 17, 2017

Judy Ellen Bryner Beckwith Oct. 4, 1943 - Dec. 27, 2017

Dora Pauline Davis Wilson March 10, 1920 - Sept. 20, 2017

Herbert Dewe Donalson Dec. 31, 1938 - Dec. 29, 2017

Franklin Rudolph Ragan July 15, 1933 - Sept. 30,2017

Bobby Fletcher April 2, 1939 - Jan. 6, 2018

Franklin Blake Aspinwall Feb. 26, 1969 - Oct. 3, 2017 James Reneau Thompson Nov. 17, 1954 - Oct. 4, 2017 Wilma Crosby Furney Aug. 4, 1922 - Oct. 8, 2017 Vivian Kitterman Rose Aug. 19, 1919 - Oct. 9, 2017 Kenneth Ray Creager May 20, 1926 - Oct. 10, 2017

John William Ritter, Sr. Dec. 14, 1936 - Jan. 6, 2018 Rosa Turner Lee Jacobs Feb. 1, 1929 - Jan. 9, 2018 Jerry Cecil Lairsey June 15, 1947 - Jan. 10, 2018 Carolyn Braswell Brown April 26, 1939 - Jan. 11, 2018 Tommy Walter Cochran, Sr. Oct. 18, 1943 - Jan. 15, 2018

Claude Dalton Taylor April 21, 1949 - Feb. 1, 2018

Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

Margaret Morris June 24, 1940 - January 21, 2018

65

LIST OF ADVERTISERS

Thomasville Magazine / SPRING 2018

Abbotts Woodcraft Inc..............................................................page 9 A Confident Smile ..................................................................page 12 Al Dixon.................................................................................page 53 Allen & Allen Funeral Home.....................................................page 64 Archbold..................................................................................page 3 Be Brave Dave.......................................................................page 45 Best Western/Holiday Inn Express...........................................page 13 BloughTech............................................................................page 60 Bobby Dollar..........................................................................page 11 Camellia Gardens Nursing Home............................................page 27 CNS TV..............................................................................back cover Colquitt County Arts Center.....................................................page 58 Commercial Bank.....................................................inside back cover Darlene Taylor.........................................................................page 63 Downtown Thomasville...........................................................page 48 Easter Seals...........................................................................page 54 Edward Jones/Erik von Hellens.............................................. page 49 Farm Credit Southwest Georgia .............................................page 16 Florida Historic Capitol Museum................................................page 4 Flourish..................................................................................page 49 Flowers Autogroup.................................................................page 57 Hampton Inn..........................................................................page 63 KeySouth...............................................................................page 66 Legacy Village at Plantation Manor...........................................page 17 Metta Day Spa.......................................................................page 24 66 Kres Jewelers.........................................................................page 49

Pecan Ridge Plantation...........................................................page 58 Pelicanno Construction...........................................................page 56 Quirky Perks...........................................................................page 50 Robin Wise..............................................................................page 6 Sass! Sweet & Savory Sisters.................................................page 51 Sellers....................................................................................page 33 SoHo.....................................................................................page 53 Southern Elegance & Charm Boutique.....................................page 52 Southern Heritage..................................................................page 61 Southern Pines.......................................................................page 28 South Georgia Ballet ..............................................................page 47 South Georgia Sipine, Joint & Rehab Center..............................page 4 Sterling Center Bariatrics.........................................................page 59 Taste of Thomasville................................................................page 50 Taylor Benefit Resource..........................................................page 54 The Gift Shop.........................................................................page 52 The Pink Valise Boutique.........................................................page 53 The Plaza Restaurant & Lounge ..............................................page 52 Thomas County Public Library System.....................................page 22 Thomasville Dental Center..........................................inside front cover Thomasville Pediatric Dentistry................................................page 46 Thomasville National Bank.......................................................page 42 Trolly's ...................................................................................page 50 Truly Scrumptious...................................................................page 50 Whiddon-Shiver Funeral Home................................................page 65 YMCA....................................................................................page 15

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