Issuu

Dr. Michelle R. Johnston is dedicated to strengthening Georgia Southwestern State University.

decorating

Hometown Living at its

Raised Right, Living Slow

Grounded in faith, kindness, and smalltown values, Andrew Greer reminds us that the richest lives are built one humble act at a time.

10 Rooted in Tradition, Focused on Community

A portrait of Dr. Michelle R. Johnston, whose people-first leadership, deep respect for tradition, and bold vision for education are strengthening Georgia Southwestern State University.

22 A Better Way for the Community

Since 2017, A Better Way Grocers has been a godsend for anyone facing food insecurity.

44 A Night That Changes Lives

A celebration of dignity and inclusion, Night to Shine in Americus transforms one unforgettable evening into a powerful reminder that every person is seen, cherished, and crowned with love by their community.

56 A Lifetime in the Game

A lifetime around sports and Americus, heralded Coach Melvin Kinslow is still game for the games.

DR. MICHELLE R. JOHNSTON

Photo by David Parks Photography

Photo Credit: Sarah Cheaves with Salty Sea Cow Photography

Scenes of Sumter

Around every corner in our amazing community, there are treasures that lay awaiting discovery. Beauty is indeed all around us and in endless supply. Take a look at a few more reasons why we love Sumter.

66 Mother Allie’s House: The Home That Built a First Lady

A lovingly told story of Mother Allie’s House in Plains, where the restored childhood home of Rosalynn Carter preserves family memory, small-town grace, and the enduring spirit of a place that still feels like home.

78 A Beacon of Community, Love and Service

A reflection on Kimberly Baker, whose faith, gratitude, and heart for service are transforming her own hardships into joyful community gatherings.

90 Steel Magnolias Stronger Community

Through an inspired production of Steel Magnolias, Sumter County revealed itself as a place where friendship, artistry, and Rosalynn Carter’s legacy of strength and grace continue to bloom— onstage and far beyond the curtain.

102 A Legacy of Service

A tribute to Milton Raven, whose journey from humble beginnings to educator, workforce advocate, and community builder created a lasting legacy of service.

be you. even better.

> Mia and Modest Bell lost more than 325 pounds combined.

Phoebe Bariatrics is changing lives by helping patients lose excess weight and live healthier, happier lives.

Mia and Modest are just two examples of how Phoebe’s surgical weight loss program is helping patients return to a healthy lifestyle they previously only imagined. Phoebe Bariatrics is an accredited comprehensive center with a goal of long-term success for patients. Our two board-certified, fellowship-trained surgeons offer a range of treatments including robotic-assisted gastric sleeve and gastric bypass surgeries.

Most insurance plans cover bariatric procedures, and Phoebe’s team of financial counselors will help you navigate the filing process, obtain pre-certification and, if needed, arrange payments. See patient stories and register for a FREE on-line seminar today at phoebeweightloss.com

Tt’s found in the quiet strength of its people, the pride in its traditions, and the way neighbors come together to support one another through every season of life. umter County Living, we celebrate the stories that remind us just how extraordinary this community truly is.

from the halls of Georgia niversity to the heart of downtown Americus, leadership and service continue to shape the future of our county. We take a closer look at individuals who are making a difference every day—people whose vision, dedication, and compassion are leaving a lasting mark on this community.

You’ll also find stories that reflect the spirit of generosity that defines sumter County. Whether it’s organizations working to fight food insecurity, community leaders transforming personal hardship into acts of service, or events that create unforgettable moments of joy and inclusion, this issue is filled with reminders that the strength of a community lies in how it cares for one another.

history and heritage remain an important part of who we are as well. from the preserved memories of Mother Allie’s house in Plains to the lasting influence of educators, coaches, and community builders who have devoted their lives to helping others succeed, sumter County continues to honor its past while building toward the future.

And of course, no issue would be complete without celebrating the beauty and character of this remarkable place we call home. Around every corner there are stories waiting to be told, traditions worth preserving, and people whose lives inspire us all.

At sumter County Living, our mission has always been simple: to shine a light on the people, places, and stories that make this community so special. thank you for allowing us to be a small part of preserving and sharing those stories.

We hope you enjoy this issue—and as always, thank you for supporting local voices and local storytelling. romans 8:28

With thankful hear ts,

Jay and Patti Martin

sales: (912) 654-3045

Email: jay@wyimpublications.com

Madison hernandez

rachel Price

sarah

Cyndi

lisa holloway

rachel Price

stephen Prudhomme

tayler Willis

By Lisa Holloway |

Rooted in Tradition, Focused on Community

A portrait of Dr. Michelle R. Johnston, whose people-first leadership, deep respect for tradition, and bold vision for education are strengthening Georgia Southwestern State University.

Photos by David Parks photography

WWhen I met Dr. Michelle R. Johnston, the newly appointed and first female president of Georgia Southwestern State University, it felt as though in her short one-year tenure, she has already become an integral part of the community. Sitting in her office, which is beautifully decorated with artwork from GSW faculty, students, and alumni, her passion for education and her commitment to collaboration with students, faculty, staff, and the wider community were evident.

Dr. Johnston grew up in a university town, where her father was a researcher and her mother a small business owner. Her earliest and fondest memories are rooted in campus life, and from an early age she knew she wanted to pursue a career in education, shaping and inspiring others just as her own teachers had inspired her.

An accomplished pianist, Dr. Johnston earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in piano

performance and then paired her love of music with her passion for education by obtaining a Ph.D. in educational leadership. Throughout her career, she has dedicated herself to fostering collaboration, creating meaningful learning opportunities, providing resources for students and staff, and supporting growth across every area of the college environment.

When asked what drew her and her husband, Gene Pierce, to Georgia Southwestern, Dr. Johnston’s list was long. At the top was the university’s 119-year legacy of changing lives. GSW alumni include a Nobel Peace Prize winner, a national attorney general, Pulitzer Prize nominees, international athletes, entrepreneurs, government officials, military leaders, and even a United States President and First Lady. For a university of its size, that record is a

remarkable “Hall of Fame.” She is equally proud of the more than 30,000 living alumni who are making a difference in their communities and professions, something she attributes to the strong foundation they built on GSW’s campus. She also praised the university’s faculty and staff, who she says go above and beyond to ensure students leave not only as wellprepared professionals, but also as well-rounded citizens. Their mission, she noted, is always “people first.”

Among her most memorable first-year experiences have been GSW’s long-standing traditions. One of her favorites places on campus is the “Hello Walk,” a prominent, central pathway introduced to new students each year in the days before classes begin. Following Freshman Convocation, which is the official welcome

As Georgia Southwestern continues to grow, she envisions a university that not only equips graduates with knowledge and skills but also strengthens the fabric of Americus and beyond. With a deep respect for tradition and a bold vision for the future, Dr. Johnston is excited to be a part of this community and to be a part of a team where education, community, and service go hand in hand.

into the GSW family, upperclass students, faculty, and staff line “Hello Walk” to cheer as the newest class of Hurricanes makes their way through campus. Dr. Johnston appreciates how the tradition encourages students to connect with one another face-to-face, stepping away from technology to build meaningful relationships.

One thing she encourages students, faculty, staff, and the community to do is to take time to visit the Presidential Plaza located at the entrance to campus. She has found this is a place to sit and reflect on the great leadership and overall wonderful humans that have passed through the halls of the university. To see the handwriting of Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the United States, engraved in stone and ponder the impact he and other alumni have had on the world is truly inspirational.

Dr. Johnston’s top priority in her first year has been building on GSW’s many strengths and elevating them to the highest level. She often reminds the university community that “a college degree matters,” and stresses that students must graduate not only with a diploma but also with the skills they need for life. On the shelf in her office is a diploma cover and she has asked every employee at the university to display this cover at a prominent place in their offices. This symbol

serves as a daily reminder of the ultimate goal: student success. To that end, she is leading efforts to develop new strategic and facility plans that will guide GSW into its strongest era yet. With GSW currently recognized as the fastest-growing state university in Georgia, she measures success in one way: “When people look at GSW, they’ll see the mark that our graduates have on the world.”

The broader Americus and Sumter County community also played a key role in her decision to join GSW. She believes deeply in the power of collaboration between the university and the region, and she points to GSW’s significant contributions: more than half a billion dollars in economic impact over the past five years; partnerships with South Georgia Technical College and Phoebe Sumter Medical Center; and national recognition for community service, with GSW student athletes logging more

hours than any other NCAA Division II institution in both 2023–24 and two other recent years. Dr. Johnston is equally excited about the various ways the community can engage with the university. The newly renovated James Earl Carter Library, scheduled to open in October 2025, will be free for public use. The dining hall, golf course, and new health center also welcome community members. The Griffin Bell Conference Center

An accomplished pianist, Dr. Johnston earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in piano performance and then paired her love of music with her passion for education by obtaining a Ph.D. in educational leadership. Throughout her career, she has dedicated herself to fostering collaboration, creating meaningful learning opportunities, providing resources for students and staff, and supporting growth across every area of the college environment.

provides an excellent and much needed event venue, while the Chamber Concert series, art exhibitions, and Homecoming Week activities offer cultural and entertainment opportunities for all. The annual community event, “Under the Lights,” consists of the community coming together for food, activities, and a soccer match which concludes with fireworks to kick off the school year in an opportunity to bring students and community together. This year, the local high school band was a big part of the celebration which allowed these students to see and hopefully be motivated to pursue the opportunities for higher education located right at their back door! One of the favorite activities of local children is the beloved Teddy Bear Toss during basketball season, bringing students and residents together to provide babies and children in the Phoebe Healthcare System with a tangible representation of community support.

She also hopes to see more people take advantage of mendment 23, which allows adults aged sixty-two and older to take tuition-free classes. She added that the Admissions Department would love to share this

opportunity with anyone interested. When asked how the community can best support her vision, Dr. Johnston reiterated her commitment to collaboration. She hopes to expand internships with local businesses and strengthen partnerships with schools, industries, and organizations across the region. A newly appointed Director of Professional and Experiential Learning will play a key role in developing those opportunities. Already, Dr. Johnston has found ways to connect with local schools, the Chamber of Commerce, Sumter Strong, Phoebe Sumter, and the Sumter County Development Authority. For her, the future of GSW is inseparable from the future of the community and she is committed to ensuring both thrive together.

It’s A Life Style

HOME DECOR | GIFT ITEMS | COLLECTIBLES | ANTIQUES

Plains

HISTORIC INN & ANTIQUE MALL

Below the Inn, enjoy shopping for antiques in the mall featuring display cases and over 25 booths!

A Better Way for the Community

Story by DAVID PENA

by David Parks Photography

Since 2017, A Better Way Grocers has been a godsend for anyone facing food insecurity in Albany.

IIt’s not too common these days for a person to see a real problem in their community and then take the necessary steps to resolve it, almost singlehandedly. It does happen, but it’s rare. Maybe this is because most folks tend to believe that community involvement merely involves getting to know your neighbors or simply attending HOA meetings. However, it has more to do with someone actually taking action to make a positive change in their little corner of the world.

Such was the case with A Better Way Grocers, a mobile market and community health initiative that has been serving Southwest Georgia since 2017. Founders Tiffany and Tommie Terrell were driven by the need to address the food insecurity problem in their community after attending a rather unique conference. “They discussed food insecurity and ways to combat it.

Tommie and I thought that some sort of delivery system might work for Albany

Photos

In July of 2024, Tommie and Tiffany officially opened a bricks and mortar in downtown Albany, offering an array of smoothies, fresh produce, and wellness products. Now boasting a staff of 11 employees, they serve healthy drink shots as well, and there’s even a recipe rack for patrons. However, the couple still finds time to hit the road in order to deliver healthy foods to folks in Lee, Mitchell, Thomas, Dougherty, and Colquitt counties.

since we were having some of the same problems here. There was a community in Texas that had already been doing it.”

Due to the economy in 2017, several grocery stores had begun to close, making it difficult for some Albany residents to obtain what they needed. The couple then began thinking about ways that they could remedy the problem. “I felt then and still feel that access to healthy food is not just a privilege; it’s a right for everyone,” says Tiffany proudly.

“After one of the major storms hit our area, many people were unable to get to a store in order to purchase their groceries,” explains Tommie. “We felt that if some folks can’t get to a grocery store, then we would bring the store to them. You see, we try to see the value in everyone, so we wanted to be a catalyst for positive change in our community.”

There was one obvious hurdle to overcome, however. Neither Tiffany nor Tommie had any experience running their own grocery store, much less one on wheels. “I had a career in banking, and Tommie was a probation officer,” Tiffany says. “However, we decided to make it happen, and in time we both ultimately left our respective careers to pursue this because we believed in it.”

After doing some research online, the couple purchased a van to make their deliveries. “We then began to purchase the type of foods that the USDA defined as a staple – vegetables, dry goods, produce, but nothing processed whatsoever.”

The couple then drove their own vehicles to distribution centers and local farm to purchase the food to then be delivered in their newly acquired van, complete with a mobile refrigeration system. After a few deliveries, however, the Terrells soon learned that they would have to make a few concessions. “We stocked our van with fresh, healthy food that we thought was in the public’s best interest. However, some people didn’t know

what to make of some of what we offered, like eggplant for example,” explains Tiffany. “Ultimately we had to give a lot of the items away, so it was an eye-opening experience for us.”

Around 2020, their budding business received a huge boost when the pandemic hit. As a result of the lockdowns, the demand for food deliveries skyrocketed. “We were featured as part of news story that really got the ball rolling for us,” says Tiffany. “In addition to our deliveries, we also began to educate the public about proper dieting and reversing the effects of the virus through their diet.”

When the pandemic hit, the couple also started to focus their attention on delivering more green produce, like spinach and kale, to folks in underserved areas. They began collaborating with organizations like the United Way and the Microbusiness Enterprise Center. “These partnerships helped to expand our reach and make a greater impact to our community, offering more services to underserved groups.” In turn, their efforts also helped strengthen the local ecosystem as well.

Their organization expanded quickly, as the couple began forging community partnerships with health clinics, schools, and community centers. “We not only wanted to help provide healthy food, but we wanted to offer regular classes to help educate the public about healthy food habits,” says Tiffany. To that end, the couple purchased from Georgia farmers and food networks to fully stock their van with fresh produce and meats.

Eventually, the Terrells needed to add a second mobile unit, a retrofitted school bus equipped with a generator, to meet the high demand from the community. “We wanted more folks to be able to count on us to be there for them,” Tiffany explains. “(With our second vehicle) we were able to provide an assortment of items that people can use to prepare an entire healthy meal.”

The couple’s efforts at combatting financial insecurity eventually earned them some national recognition. ABWG won the Black Business of the Year award in 2023. In

2025, Tiffany was named a Truist Foundation Fellow and given a Rockefeller Foundation Big Bets Fellowship. Tiffany has also been a featured panelist and speaker at conferences that focus on food justice, such as the Sewega Rising Agri-Tech Conference. “We really wanted to elevate the conversation around how community-driven solutions can disrupt cycles of poverty and poor health outcomes.”

Founders Tiffany and Tommie Terrell were driven by the need to address the food insecurity problem in their community after attending a rather unique conference. “They discussed food insecurity and ways to combat it. Tommie and I thought that some sort of delivery system might work for Albany since we were having some of the same problems here. There was a community in Texas that had already been doing it.”

to hit the road in order to deliver healthy foods to folks in Lee, Mitchell, Thomas, Dougherty, and Colquitt counties.

Looking ahead to the future, this dynamic duo is focused on expanding their mobile fleet and developing neighborhood-based market hubs. At the heart of it all is Tiffany’s unwavering belief that access to healthy food is not just a privilege; it’s a basic human right. “It’s very satisfying for us to have helped create real, tangible changes in underserved communities that are often overlooked.”

Since its inception, A Better Way Grocers has grown into a transformative model for delivering fresh, affordable food in addition to wellness education directly to neighborhoods in need. Since its humble beginnings in 2017, Tommie and Tiffany have been driven by the same principles that were the impetus to form their non-profit in the first place: community support and empowerment. Their story drives home the point that each one of us possesses the power to effect positive change in our communities. And when we act on that power, we can truly improve quality of life for our communities and form lasting social cohesion.

Learn more about A Better Way Grocer’s products and services by visiting www. abetterwaygrocers.com or by calling them at (229) 343-0445. SCL

A better life begins with a healthy mouth and beautiful smile.

We have some EXCITING news to share!! Miranda Peck, DMD has joined our team at RGD! She grew up in Ashland, Ohio. She completed undergraduate school in Ohio, and furthered her education at Case Western Dental School. She and her husband, Troy, got married in 2024 before they ventured to the Dental College of Georgia for her to complete a one year Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency. They decided they wanted to stay in warmer weather, and we are OVERJOYED she has chosen RGD as her work home! Please give them a big Americus welcome!

Voted the best dental office of Sumter County for multiple years!

• cleanings

• scaling and root planing • curettage • bleaching

fillings

IMPLANTS • implant restorations • root canals • oral surgery • dentures • Botox & Dermal Fillers

N. Alexandra Riccardi, DMD | Louis A. Riccardi, DDS | Miranda Peck, DMD

From Dreamer

to Doer:

How GSW is Shaping the Next Generation of Medical Leaders

WWhen Claudine Mae “Clae” Rodriguez moved from the Philippines to the United States just three years ago, she brought with her a big dream: to pursue a career in healthcare. Today, thanks to the supportive community and world-class opportunities at Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW), Clae is turning that dream into reality and inspiring others to dream big along the way.

Originally drawn to GSW for its highly respected nursing program, Clae quickly discovered that this small, welcoming campus had even bigger opportunities in store. With guidance from her advisor, Dr. Anh-Hue Tu, she transitioned to the Biology Pre-Med track with a minor in Psychology, strengthening her scientific foundation and exploring her passion for neuroscience. Through her coursework, research experiences, and mentorship, Clae is preparing to pursue an MD-PhD, with aspirations to become both a neurosurgeon and a neuroscientist.

to engaging with leaders across campus, including GSW President Dr. Michelle Johnston, Clae has found herself surrounded by mentors who believe in her potential. GSW has given her the chance to put her talents to work both in and out of the classroom and see her dreams come to life.

“GSW feels like family,” Clae says. “Every department, from science to psychology to English, has supported me.” This collaborative environment has made her more confident in pursuing her goals.

Looking ahead, Clae is especially excited about GSW’s proposed new Science building, which promises even more opportunities for cutting-edge research and experiential learning.

“GSW feels like family.”

Dr. Tu recognized Clae as responsible, mature, academically strong, and driven to succeed and will make an impact in both medicine and research.

To prepare for an MD-PhD program, Clae must build both familiarity with and experience in research. At GSW, opportunities are created for students to explore their interests and build essential skills for their future careers.

The annual GSW Undergraduate Research Symposium, where she and two student partners earned first place for their bacterial research project, is one example of the institution’s experiential learning opportunities, providing a powerful foundation for aspiring professionals.

Through GSW, Clae participated in the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation, sparking her passion for research. This led to her being selected for the highly competitive Yale Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program, earning a spot as one of only 22 students nationwide. During the internship, Clae conducted handson neuroscience research, an experience that enhanced her scientific skills and strengthened her ambition to become a physician-scientist.

Back on campus, Clae continues to shine. From joining the Student Government Association and Biology Club

- Clae Rodriguez

Her journey is proof that big dreams and small campuses can create powerful outcomes. She credits her advisor, Dr. Tu, along with all of her professors, for seeing the potential of students and helping them to achieve. The supportive community on a campus that “feels like family” with every department collaborating with each other, the opportunity for hand-on research, and the future-focused growth mindset all contribute to making GSW a place where dreams become a reality.

Clae is grateful for the continuing support of not only her family and mentors but also her coworkers at a local pharmacy and in the Human Resources department at GSW who encourage her to pursue her degree. “Don’t be afraid to dream big,” she advises. “As long as you put in the work, you will be successful. I am very proud and thankful to be a GSW student!”

For Clae, success is no longer just a dream, it’s a reality in the making. And at Georgia Southwestern State University, students like her are proving every day that with the right support, the sky’s the limit.

Raised Right,

Living Slow

Grounded in faith, kindness, and small-town values, Andrew Greer reminds us that the richest lives are built one humble act at a time.

MMost independent people aspire to achieve fame, wealth, or a combination of both. Many clamor to grow their businesses, accumulate riches, or gain prestige and honor. In contrast, there are a few whose dreams lead them toward a slower, more communityoriented life—focused on connection and being present rather than chasing every opportunity that comes their way.

One of the first times I met Andrew Greer, I was rehearsing for a production of Steel Magnolias. The director, Kim Carter Fuller, invited him to be the musical guest for the play. He attended a rehearsal, bought dinner for complete strangers, served us, and cleaned up afterward. The next time we crossed paths, we gathered to watch a recording of the movie, and he brought us all candy and sodas. When we met for

this interview, he opened every door, made me a cup of coffee, and showed genuine interest in my life—something rare when interviewing someone. His small gestures revealed a big heart and reflected a person that sees the beauty in everyday connections, where faith is not just a Sunday morning activity but a way of embodying love and service in daily life.

Andrew grew up in a small rural community in Texas. His father was a therapist, and his mother was an organist and a music educator for many years. His journey into the arts was a product of being raised in a family that valued conversation, expression, faith, and caring for community. As a child, his mother introduced Andrew and his two older brothers to piano; offering lessons. Interestingly, he was the only one truly intrigued. “I loved music from the first time I pressed my finger into those keys,” he recalls.

“I think I consumed music at an earlier age than most of my friends, developing my own tastes; feeling a kinship with the artistry and the stories behind the songs.” His college years at Belmont University in Nashville deepened his appreciation for songwriting and the craft of storytelling through music. But beyond the pursuit of a career, Andrew’s life has been about embracing the beauty of a slower, more intentional existence.

admiration for Jimmy Carter’s example compelled me

church. We pulled into a trailer park along the way, a common sight along the outskirts of our community, the trailer park and said, ‘This is where they live?’

My mom, a very kind and easygoing woman, turned to me and said, ‘Andrew, there’s no difference between them and us.’ Her words weren’t spoken in hyperbole; she wasn’t overly dramatic, but they carried a powerful message. I trusted her completely because she’s always been very deliberate with her words—she chooses her moments to speak carefully. That moment stuck with me for over thirty years. It revealed an instinct I already had—that I didn’t want to treat anyone differently or see anyone as less than. She was calling out the better Andrew.”

Her gentle challenge did call out the best in him and fostered a deep sense of self-awareness. Her compassionate correction played a fundamental role in shaping who Andrew is today.

While my intention for this interview was to learn more about Andrew’s accolades, what struck me most during our conversation was his desire to speak more about his family, roots, and humanity. He seemed to steer away from self-centered talk, instead inverting into deeper reflections on life and purpose.

“That lesson shaped a core belief I carry with me: that everyone deserves respect and dignity, regardless of their circumstances. I also realize I’ve always felt somewhat in the minority in my perspectives. It’s strange how people see me differently—sometimes I think I’m misunderstood or seen through a different lens—but I’ve come to accept that everyone’s perspective is shaped by their unique experiences.”

“I was raised in a household that valued honesty and integrity, so there wasn’t much of a gap for me to bridge in terms of understanding right from wrong. That was beneficial. Additionally, my family was free of prejudice—at least on the surface. Of course, everyone carries biases to some degree, but I believe my parents made a conscious effort to confront and address their own biases first before engaging with us.”

Interested in what sustains and carries Andrew inwardly, I asked what drives his deep desire for human connection. His answer was simple yet profound: “Sadness. I’ve always carried a sense of

sadness—a weight that sometimes stems from circumstances, but often feels like a deeper, more enduring part of me. I’ve had this feeling since I was a child, and I’m not entirely sure why.”

Andrew believes his sadness anchors him to spiritual depth and serves as a reminder of both pain and hope.

As a talented songwriter, producer, author, and filmmaker, Andrew has dedicated his career to creating meaningful art—projects like the PBS documentary Plainspoken, the heartfelt streaming series on K-Love Empty Stage with Andrew Greer, and his new book on Jimmy Carter and his Sunday school teachings More Than a President: Sundays with Jimmy Carter. But beyond his artistic achievements, what truly defines Andrew is his deep admiration for humanity and faith. He describes Jesus as his best friend and recognizes the beauty inherent in human nature. He also holds a heartfelt respect for humanitarians of our time, especially Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter.

His deep respect for the Carters was what inspired him to leave behind the busyness of Nashville and seek the quiet, yet profoundly rich community in Plains. Andrew serves on the Board for the Friends of Jimmy Carter National Historical Park, helps organize the Rosalynn Carter Memorial Food Distribution, and can be found contributing to the music at Maranatha Baptist Church weekends he is in town.

“I think I could have built my career and pursued fame,” he shared, “but my love for people, my appreciation for authentic community, and my admiration for Jimmy Carter’s example compelled me to choose a slower, more meaningful life.” Moving to Plains was a conscious, intentional decision—an act of faith in the transformative power of humility and community.  SCL

50 WITH OVER YEARS

in the well drilling industry we have the experience, personnel and equipment needed to meet your needs. We specialize in residential, agricultural and irrigation wells.

Welcome to the Sumter County Chamber of Commerce

Since 1920, the Sumter County Chamber of Commerce has been helping local businesses grow and prosper. Today, the Chamber continues to be the face of the business community throughout Sumter County, Georgia. Over the years, the Chamber has been a progressive business organization, working to build quality of life for its citizens, assisting its businesses in the county to grow and prosper, and partnering with the Sumter County Development Authority to bring jobs to the region.

Membership is diverse, with representation from manufacturing, retail, service and corporate businesses ranging in size from sole proprietors to international industry. They share a common notion that commerce will function at its best when business relationships are forged, and resources are utilized to their fullest potential creating a partnership for prosperity. Membership in the Sumter County Chamber of Commerce is an investment in Americus, Andersonville, DeSoto, Leslie, and Plains, Georgia. We invite you to join with our fellow business associates and help support the economic development of Sumter County and take advantage of the many benefits available to you through your membership in the Sumter County Chamber of Commerce.

Sumter County Chamber of Commerce Mission, Vision & Values

Mission: To provide opportunities and support for the growth and prosperity of local business and industry.

Vision: To serve as the catalyst for a vibrant business community.

Values: Integrity, Innovative, Inclusive, Involved

By Lisa Holloway

A Night That Changes Lives

mMany of us, no matter our ages, fondly remember our high school proms—that one special night where we dressed to impress, danced under twinkling lights, and celebrated friendships. But for some students, particularly those with disabilities, that experience may have never happened. Whether due to accessibility, exclusion, or simply a lack of opportunity, prom was a tradition many never got to be part of.

That’s exactly what makes Night to Shine, a prom like event for people with disabilities, so remarkable. Sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation, Night to Shine is a worldwide movement that celebrates individuals with special needs aged 14 and older, offering them and the community an experience like no other! Locally, this event has been hosted every February for the last 10 years by First Baptist Church in Americus and brings

individuals with disabilities from Americus and neighboring cities, along with countless volunteers, together for a night that transforms dreams into reality.

When local optometrist and parent of a child with Downs Syndrome, Valerie Moates, applied to be a host church, she felt very confident that God wanted First Baptist to be a part of this mission and shared “When receiving the message that we had indeed been approved as a venue, I was so excited but also nervous!”

She began to pray about how this event could be pulled off in our community and immediately gathered a team of people God had placed in her life who were experienced, hard-working and gifted in different areas. Dr. Moates shared her beliefs about this event…“I believe that this has been a beautiful mission for

our church and our community to not only have the special needs community feel loved but also to create relationships and connections! It’s a wonderful way to minister to so many sweet people and I believe Heaven will probably look a lot like the red carpet at our Night to Shine when our friends are greeted and cheered all the way to the end. To God be the glory!”

For weeks before the event, volunteers work tirelessly to transform the building into a dreamlike setting. Every hallway and room are decorated with balloons, lights, and colorful displays matching the theme of the room—whether it’s a salon experience, karaoke stage, game room, arts and crafts area, photo booth, limo and party bus rides, or the ever-crowded prom room!

On the night of the event, the excitement begins before guests even enter the doors. Local First Responders, dressed in full uniform, escort guests to the registration tent, providing a sense of safety and excitement and adding to the VIP feeling of the evening.

Guests are introduced to their specially selected buddies—volunteers who are there to ensure every guest has a dance partner and a companion by their side for the night and then announced and crowned by a Prince or Princess, thereby becoming the King or Queen of the Prom for the night. A stroll down the red carpet—lined with excited community members of all ages and local cheerleading teams—marks the beginning of a night they will never forget.

The heart of our community shows during Night to Shine with hundreds of volunteers—students from local high schools and colleges, teachers, first responders, healthcare workers, church and community members, civic groups—all coming together to create a night of joy.

But Night to Shine is not just about glitz and glamour. It’s about recognition. It’s about dignity. It’s about telling every single guest: “You matter. You are celebrated. You are loved by God and your community.”

Local law enforcement and EMS teams help keep the event safe and accessible. Stylists, photographers, and other volunteers donate their time and talent in order to

provide needed attention to each and every King or Queen.

In addition, parents and caregivers are treated to a well-deserved night of respite, complete with door prizes, food, and the chance to watch on a live screen as their loved ones are celebrated as they never dreamed possible! For many families, Night to Shine is more than just one evening—it’s a moment of acceptance and inclusion. One mother said, “My daughter never got to go to prom. She never had that chance… until tonight.” Another father shared, “I haven’t seen my son smile like that in years.”

And for the guests, the night is unforgettable. For once, they aren’t defined by their limitations. They are kings and queens—dressed in their finest, dancing

under the lights, participating in experiences designed to focus on their happiness and worth. In a world that too often overlooks those with disabilities, this one night is a bold, beautiful reminder that everyone is created specially by God and deserves celebration.

As the music fades and the lights dim at the end of the evening, one thing is clear: Night to Shine leaves a lasting mark on the community—not just the guests, but on every volunteer, every parent, and every person who witnesses the power of love in action.

Want to Get Involved?

Night to Shine in Americus continues to grow each year, and volunteers, donations, and prayers are always welcomed. Whether working during the event or in the weeks leading up to the night, if you want to be a part of something meaningful, there’s a place for you. In addition, if you know of a person with special needs who would enjoy this event, please contact First Baptist Church with their information.

The event will be held Friday, February 13, 2026 and registration for volunteers and guests will begin in November, 2025. For more information, contact First Baptist Church of Americus and/or visit the social media pages on Facebook Night to Shine—FBC Americus and Instagram nighttoshine_fbcamericus  SCL

A Lifetime in the Game

Fby Stephen Prudhomme

For more than 75 years, Melvin Kinslow and Americus have been connected through sports. Following a successful prep career in football, basketball and baseball, he entered the coaching ranks and won a number of state championships in various sports.

Now 90, Melvin is still pacing the sidelines, although in a volunteer capacity. He’s passing on his knowledge, experience and competitive spirit to a new generation of prep athletes. Melvin lends his coaching experience to the girls’ basketball team at Southland Academy, a private school in Americus that named its gymnasium after the storied coach. He’s served as a volunteer coach for six years.

“I enjoy the competition,” said Melvin, who limits his coaching to basketball and stays active by playing a little golf. “I absolutely like to win. I have no patience for sitting around the house. It keeps me busy.”

Melvin has coached hundreds of players over the years. One he has a special connection with his is son, Ty, who played basketball for his dad during his high school junior and senior years and won a state championship as a senior. As a child, Ty recalled, his dad was always teaching him how to play baseball and would often throw him fastballs and curves with a tennis ball that he would hit with a broomstick. “He would teach me how to pick up the spin of the curve ball and stay back until it broke to hit it,” Ty said. We would do this for as long as my black Labrador retriever, Jet, could last while retrieving the balls.”

Father and son would also spend many hours in the gym, where Melvin taught Ty how to handle the basketball, anticipate what the defense was doing, and trying to perfect his shot. Some of Ty’s most vivid memories are riding to games with his dad when the latter was a college basketball official. “We often would discuss the game, and he would tell me of players to watch and how they understood the game of basketball,” Ty said. “He believed the best players were not just physically good but mentally superior.”

Being the coach’s son can be challenging. Ty said

A lifetime around sports and Americus, heralded Coach Melvin Kinslow is still game for the games.

| Photos by David Parks Photography

his dad was extremely tough on him, but he knew Melvin trusted him completely to run the show on the court from the point guard position. “I feel like he was a little ahead of his time in having us prepared for each game,” Ty said. “He would watch film and have us ready for whatever our opponent was doing, and we even watched film together as a team to scout our opponent which was rare for a basketball team to do over 40 years ago. He always preached to do the little things correctly and be prepared.”

Ty said his dad’s coaching style was similar to his parenting approach, stressing discipline and being tough but fair. “He always had high expectations and always expected your best effort,” Ty said. “He wanted you mentally tough so when adversity hit you wouldn’t quit or back down. He knew this was good for you competing in games, but more importantly it would help you down the road in the most important game of all…the game of life. His most important lesson that he has taught me is his love for our family and his dedication to my mom and his wife, Wilma Kinslow. He has given me an example of a godly man and has truly used his God given gifts to serve others.”

Another of Melvin’s former players is Drew Daniel, a forward for the Raiders from 1981-‘83 and a member of the 1982-‘83 state championship team. He said Coach K was a great leader of young men who demanded strong discipline and had the toughest competitive spirit possible, something Drew has applied in his own life.

“I have drawn on his example many times through adversity in my own life,” Drew said. “Coach K had that indefinable quality that all great coaches possess. He just infused his teams

with confidence because he was there with us on the bench battling along with us. I can’t say enough good things about the man. He is a very high character human being and we were blessed to be able to play for him.”

Oscar Williams was a quarterback on the football team and guard on the basketball team under Melvin from 1996 to 2000.

“I was fortunate as a high school athlete to play for a coaching legend in the state of Georgia,” Oscar said. “As a kid I had no idea the magnitude that Coach Kinslow would have on my life. The work ethic coupled with grit and determination he taught me has had a tremendous impact on my career. Outside of my own parents, Coach K had the biggest impact on my life. I’m thankful every day that I had the opportunity to play for Coach for those five years and to call him friend everyday since.”

Melvin has been around sports for much of his life. Growing up in Oglethorpe, Ga., he played basketball and baseball in elementary and junior high school and continued that after moving to Americus as a teenager. Playing on the basketball team at Americus High, Melvin would spot peanut farmer Jimmy Carter in the stands when Plains High School was the opposition.

“I didn’t speak to him that much,” Melvin said. “He seemed like a real nice person. Reading about him and how he served on a nuclear sub after graduating from the Naval Academy, there was no question he was a smart person. I’m proud of what he did and the success he had. (Ironically, this paragraph was written shortly before the former president passed away at the age of 100.)

Melvin moved on to the next level and

competed in basketball and baseball at two colleges, Georgia Southwestern University and Mercer University. At Mercer, Melvin played catcher and shortstop and led the team in hitting his junior year with a .433 average. He was elected to the Hall of Fame at Mercer University as well as Georgia Southwestern University. Melvin also was elected to the Georgia Dugout Hall of Fame.

Although Melvin said baseball was his best sport, he also did well on the hardwood. As a 5-9 guard, he averaged 10 to 12 points a game and said he was quick enough to play. “I liked to fool people,” said Melvin, who scored 29 points in a 1957 game against the University of Georgia.

His playing career coming to an end, Melvin took his history degree to the classroom. His first job, however, was teaching math, a subject he truly enjoyed and continued to instruct at the school. Melvin also put his sports background to work by coaching “everything” at the school. He had the most success in baseball, winning five state titles between 1961 and 1969. Melvin also served as defensive coordinator on the football team under Jimmy Hightower, a member of the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame whom he described as a great coach. The team won state titles in 1962 and 1965, led by a talented group of players that included Chan Gailey, who played quarterback at the University of Florida before embarking on a coaching career that included stints at Georgia Tech and with the Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills, and Dan Reeves, the latter playing and coaching in the National Football League (NFL).

“Dan was a team player,” Melvin said. “He and Chan were among a group of exceptionally talented athletes.”

Melvin also coached the Americus High girls’ basketball team in the ‘60s. During that period, the Lady Panthers posted a record of 120-25.

Seeking a different challenge, Melvin served as principal at Cherokee Elementary School from 1969 to 1971. He subsequently became headmaster at Southland Academy and held that

the school to five state titles. “I had some good players,” Melvin said. “They went on to play in college.”

Melvin hired Rod Murray to teach and coach at Southland Academy. The latter now serves as athletic director and dean of students at Deerfield Windsor. He said he owes Melvin everything, noting how he hired him for his first real career job when he was 23 years old and set him up where he is now.

“It wouldn’t have happened without him and his belief in me,” said Rod, who served as athletic director at Southland Academy. “We coached together at Southland and at Deerfield along with Ty, his son. We coached Banks, his grandson, so we were all together during Banks’ high school career. That was so much fun doing that together. Again, we were fortunate enough to win some games and that made it even better again.”

Through it all, Rod added, as much as he enjoyed coaching with Melvin, the most satisfying part was the latter’s guidance, friendship, and the knowledge he passed onto him. “When Coach tells you that we did well on something, it just means so much,” Rod said. “He is a dear friend, a mentor, and loves to compete. I could go on and and on with stories about Coach as we have been doing

Not all of Melvin’s time on the hardwood was as a player and coach. He referred high school basketball for seven years before moving to the college ranks, calling games in the Sunbelt and Transamerica conferences and eventually making it to the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

“Not everyone can referee in the SEC,” Melvin said. “I enjoyed the challenge and being around the game.”

Melvin had his greatest impact in coaching, inspired by Jim Luck, who coached him in football, basketball and baseball before going to Georgia Tech and heading up the baseball program for many years and serving as an assistant on the football team before being killed in a car crash.

“He was a good coach who didn’t put up with any mess,” Melvin said. “He drove us hard and patted us on the back when we did well. I adopted a similar coaching style.” Melvin noted he enjoys the competition and trying to do some things to win the game, adding he enjoys the practices as much as the games.”

William Rooks is in his first year as athletic director at Southland Academy. His daughter played for the

basketball team coached by Melvin, as did his fatherin-law. “People don’t realize how accomplished he is,” William said. “He is successful in everything he does. Kids love and respect him. He brings energy and passion. He’s a no-nonsense coach who expects things done a certain way and stresses the little things and fundamentals. We’d be crazy not to utilize him.”

Melvin’s been married to his wife, Wilma, for 67 years. Their family includes nine great-grandchildren. Wilma said Melvin is a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather whose connection to his players goes beyond the field of competition and continues long after their careers under him end.

“He really, really cares about his players,” she said. “He stays in touch with them. They know he cares about them.”

Family’s important to Melvin, and he had the privilege of coaching his son and grandson and serving as assistant coach with the former. Ty said some of his fondest memories were coaching his son, Banks, and daughter, Kathleen, and having his father as assistant coach. “My children are very fortunate because not many people can say that they were coached by their dad and grandad,” Ty said. “They say that a little age mellows you, and I can agree because I saw my dad go from being real tough on me while he coached me to being my children’s biggest fans and telling me that I needed to lighten up on them.”

Ty said they were fortunate enough to win many games and region championships while he and his dad coached his children, adding it wasn’t only the winning moments that made it special. He noted there were also some tough losses and adversity during this time and it was very special to go through the ups and downs, laughs and tears, and the agony of defeat and thrill of victory together.

“They were all lessons well learned,” Ty said. “Dad and I were able to close out our coaching together with a 2021 Southland Academy varsity girls state championship that was won right here in Americus, GA, at the Georgia Southwestern State University’s Storm Dome in front of a capacity crowd from our community. Not many people would believe this, but I got my dad to do a little dance with me in the locker room after winning the championship.” SCL

Mother Allie’s House:

The Home That Built a First Lady

Written

by Andrew Greer | Photos by Madison Hernandez Photo + Art LLC

NNo one is certain of the exact date that the little white house on South Bond Street in Plains, Georgia was built. As the story goes, around 1910, the courthouse containing the paperwork for the home burned to the ground, leaving a catalog of town records in a pile of ash and a host of re-issued deeds marked with the year of the misfortune. Adding to the drama of the narrative of this particular abode, a child that will be raised in this house just a few years later will, a few decades later, become the first lady of the United States.

The child’s name? Rosalynn. (Pronounced ROHzuh-lin, like the flower.)

RESTORING THE HOUSE

In 1927, in a small, dusty town far removed from the excess that categorized metropolitan life during America’s “Roaring ‘20s”, Eleanor Rosalynn Smith was born. The oldest of four children born to Wilburn Edgar Smith and Frances Allethea “Allie” Murray Smith, Rosalynn was born on her grandparents’ farm just outside the rural village of Plains. When she was eighteen months old, just a toddler, Rosalynn’s parents brought her home to their new home–that little white house on South Bond Street–for the first time.

Situated just one block south of the one-block of storefronts that make up downtown Plains, the Smith home is wrapped with sturdy wooden planks–the kind of siding made from trees likely sourced from a farm within only a few miles from the location of the house, and installed by workers Edgar and Allie likely knew personally, or at the very least knew of. Accented by a roof of dark gray shingles, a deep front porch with rockers and classic window shutters–all painted black, the body of the house is decked in a bright shade of white, as if freshly bleached linens were hanging out on the backyard line to dry, wafting in the wind and dispersing the sheets’ “crisp clean” over the hundredyear old home.

Affectionately known as “Mama Allie’s House” by the neighbors and friends in and around Plains in the middle of the twentieth century, the home is now called “Mother Allie’s House,” owned and operated by Rosalynn’s younger sister, Allethea Wall, her son and daughter-in-law, Clate and Courtney Wall, and her daughter and son-in-law, Julie Wall-Smith and Kenny Smith.

“LeAnne [Smith, Rosalynn and Allethea’s niece] lived in the house for about 25 years and she wanted to move to a smaller house in Americus,” Allethea explains, sharing how the house ended up in her and

her children’s hands. “My children looked at me and said, ‘Well, Mama, don’t you want the house?’ And I said, ‘I would love it.’ So, we just started putting it together like it was [when Mother Allie lived in it], and now it’s basically mother’s house.”

Though the transition of the house from Rosalynn’s niece to Rosalynn’s sister was simple, and agreeable, settling on an official name for the now-restored home turned into a family debate. “All of us called her ‘Mother,’” Allethea states, “so when my children said, ‘What are we gonna name the house?’, I said, ‘Mother Allie’s House.’ Clate said, ‘But we all called her ‘Mama.’”

Allethea, in a firm tone, reminded Clate that she was still his mother by replying, ‘Yeah, but Rosalynn, Jerry, Murray, and me called her ‘Mother!’”

And so, it was settled. Mother Allie’s House, the childhood home of former first lady Rosalynn Carter, was ready to open its doors for visitors passing through Plains and in need of a comfortable, yet historic, home away from home while playing “tourist” in the many intriguing sites populating Sumter County, and beyond.

A FAMILY NAME

For the first nine years of her tender life, Rosalynn was an only daughter. In 1929, her brother, Jerry, was born, followed by the birth of her youngest brother Murray, in 1932. Four years later, in 1936, a second daughter, Lillian Allethea Smith, arrived into the world, giving Rosalynn, Jerry, and Murray the gift of a baby sister. She would go by her middle name, “Allethea,” a name passed down from her mother’s family.

“All three of the other children were born down at [grandaddy’s] farm,” says Allethea, 88, now a mother and grandmother herself, living near Griffin, Georgia, just 90 miles or so north of her hometown of Plains. “I came a little early, so I was born at home.”

She’s talking about the home in which she is now sitting as she shares the story that has been passed down to her about the day she arrived on the scene of this southern-paced settlement. “Daddy came home from work one day, and mother said,

‘I think you better go get the doctor,’” Allethea retells with that dreamy southern dialect that invokes images of a simpler era, when porch swings and shade trees and red dirt roads and fishing lines bobbing in a creek were a part of the ease of everyday living.

“My granddaddy came up to Plains for a funeral that day, so he went to get Dr. Bowman in the Hudson House–that’s where he lived–to come down to deliver me. Well, Dr. Bowman was a pallbearer at the funeral. [Laughter] And, I can’t remember what my birth certificate said, but I was born at two or three o’clock that afternoon, so I came fast after the doctor got there. Rosalynn and [Jerry and Murray] were all two doors up playing. So, Daddy went up and told them, ‘You have a little red-headed sister.’”

“I was named Lillian Allethea,” Allethea continues.

“Lillian for Miss Lillian, Jimmy’s mother, because she would go out anytime, day or night–Black or White person–to help because she was a nurse. She later was daddy’s nurse when he died with leukemia [in 1940].” Lillian had also helped deliver Allethea’s sister, Rosalynn, having no notion of how important that infant girl would later become in the life of her oldest son,

Jimmy, and how decades later Jimmy and Rosalynn would become one of the most revered couples in the world.

“Daddy just admired Miss Lillian so much that he wanted me named for her,” she says, remembering her daddy’s deep respect for Plains’ impartial nurse. “And Allethea is for mother–an old family name. Everybody else is called ‘Allie,’ but they called me ‘Allethea.’ Of course, I always have to spell it when someone asks me. [Laughter]”

ROSALYNN & JIMMY

Miss Lillian was, of course, the mother of Jimmy Carter, a child of Plains who would ascend to the highest office in the world when he was elected the 39th President of the United States in 1976. Outside of the years he served as governor of Georgia and president of the United States, Plains would remain Jimmy, and Rosalynn’s, homeplace until he passed away in December 2024 and she passed away in November 2023.

Rosalynn, who was three years younger than Jimmy, was not a thought in his mind or a name on his lips when he asked her out on an impromptu date one fateful night in 1945. The girl Jimmy had been seeing while at home on holiday from his last year of studies at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis could not go out on that particular evening due to a prior obligation with her family. Feeling like a third wheel–the date was a double date with his sister, Ruth, and her boyfriend–Ruth suggested they swing by Plains Methodist Church and pick up her good friend, Rosalynn, as a stand-in. When they pulled up the curb of the church, Jimmy noticed Rosalynn Smith for the first time, not as a younger classmate or a friend of his sister’s but, as a young woman all her own.

Rosalynn, who had first noticed Jimmy in a photograph hanging up in Ruth’s bedroom, was more than delighted to accept the spontaneous invitation. As she squeezed into the rumble seat with her lastminute movie companion, Jimmy was mesmerized. The chemistry between the couple was palpable. The next morning, when Miss Lillian asked him about the evening, Jimmy responded, “She’s the one I’m going to marry.” He proposed a few months later, but Rosalynn politely declined.

“My granddaddy and my daddy had a little farm together right outside the city limits of Plains,” Allethea explains. “But on his deathbed, Daddy made Mother promise, Rosalynn promise, and all of

us promise, that even if she had to sell the farm, we would all get a college education. So, the first time Jimmy asked Rosalynn to marry him, she turned him down because she promised Daddy she would get her education [first].”

“Daddy died a month before my fourth birthday, and my grandaddy moved in with us the next year because mother lost her husband and her mother within a year,” Allethea shares, accounting for her mother’s full house when Allethea was still a young girl. “The front bedroom would have been Rosalynn’s. Then there was Mother’s room, and she closed the French doors and had a little cot in the hallway, where I slept. That’s when me and my first cousin, Anne, would pull the curtain back and peep at Rosalynn and Jimmy when they were dating. Ann loved that story–she told it to everybody.”

Mother Allie’s home would not be at capacity for long. Jimmy and Rosalynn married in the summer of 1946, when Allethea was only nine years old, and moved away as a part of life in the Navy. Her brother Jerry soon moved from Plains to Atlanta to attend Georgia Tech. Eventually, Murray, would also fly the coop to attend college. With her siblings all away from home, and her father now deceased, her mother became more than her parent, she became her best friend. “We did everything together,” she shares with the sentimentality reserved for a mother and daughter bonded through experiencing life’s hardships together. “She’s the one I looked up to. She’s the one that was there for me. She was just a great mother.”

MOTHER ALLIE

Allie graduated from Plains High School in 1924 and graduated from college in 1926 with a teaching certificate in home economics. She married Edgar as soon as she graduated, so she never used the teaching certificate, “but she sewed–she made all of Rosalynn’s and my clothes,” Allethea remembers. “She even made my girlfriend’s trousseau when she got married, but then Daddy died and she had never worked [outside of the home]; she depended on Rosalynn,” who was 13 at the time of her father’s death, “a lot.”

In the aftermath of her husband’s death with four

young children to raise, and the expanded burden of caring for her father after the loss of her mother the next year, Allie could have caved. Given up. Stayed in bed and let everyone around her figure it out for her. Instead, she dug deep within herself and surfaced with a strong courage to forge forward even in the wake of tragedy. “She worked in the lunchroom at school, she worked at a flower shop, and then she worked for the Plains post office for 27 years,” Allethea recalls, sharing of her mother’s entry into the workforce and the newfound independence that freedom afforded her. “She cried when they made her quit at 70 [years old], because she enjoyed seeing everybody that came in and speaking to everybody. She missed that. Everybody loved her.”

Allethea’s daughter-in-law, Courtney Wall, who, along with her husband and brother- and sister-in-law, manages Addis Acres, a host of peaceful retreat properties located in Georgia, of which now “Mother Allie’s House” is also a part of, also remembers the kindnesses her grandmother-inlaw showered on those lucky enough to come into contact with her. “Mama Allie had a way of making everybody feel

like they belonged there,” she shares, before looking over at her mother-in-law and asking, “Did she always hang up the Christmas stockings for everybody?”

“Always,” Allethea confirms. “She filled the whole dining room and living room mantles with a stocking for everybody. You can still feel the nail holes. She couldn’t afford much, so we didn’t get a lot, but we might have an orange–that’s the only time we could get oranges, maybe some socks or something like that, and the little chocolate candy that’s creamy on the inside.”

“Oh, and I have to tell you about the BB,” she smiles, pointing at a bullseye target hanging on the wall in the front bedroom. “Murray’s son, Steve, and my son, Clate, got pump BB guns for Christmas. We had so many tourists that they couldn’t get outside with the guns, so my husband built a target for them. They could stand in the dining room and shoot through the door to the front bedroom. Well, Steve pumped his a little bit too much and it went through the target and stuck in the wall.”

“When we decided to buy the house, Clate said, ‘The BB’s still in the wall.’ LeAnne didn’t know there was a BB there and had painted it, but he went right over and touched it. Now there’s a bull’s eye around it,” she says with a grin, “so you can go in and find the BB.”

“After that they had to put the BB guns up, but the Secret Service took Steve and Clate outside, in the back where the tourists couldn’t see them, and showed

them their guns.” Needless to say, the Secret Service’s show-and-tell more than made up for the boys’ disappointment in not being able to fire off a few rounds of BBs in the yard that Christmas morning.

A NEW BEGINNING IN PLAINS

After Allethea’s niece, LeAnne, sold the house to her family, she dropped by to see how the work was shaping up on the house, “but she decided she didn’t want to see it until we got all the furniture in,” Allethea shares. Once the house was restored back to Mother Allie specs, LeAnne was ready to view a piece of family history. “When she walked in, she teared up and said, ‘This is Mama Allie’s house. I expect her to be cooking when I get back to the kitchen.’”

The restoration of her mother’s home was more than personal pet project for Allethea’s family; it has become a contribution to the fabric of the future of Plains–a future that is finding its footing for the first time without its pillar residents, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter. As for Allethea, she believes Plains, and the Carters’ legacies within the town, will live on for a long time.

“Everybody will remember Rosalynn and the good that she did,” she says reflectively as she poignantly turns her eyes away from the conversation and looks out the window, as if remembering her sister in some not-so-distant memory. Then, as if forced back into her current reality, she matter-of-factly states, “Well, I’ll never be like Rosalynn. I’m not outgoing and all like she was.”

Courtney, Allethea’s daughter-in-law, interjects, “But you have said that there are so many wonderful things about the town that you want to see continue and go on–that you don’t want those things to die.” Allethea nods in agreement. She does want the town to live on and hopes the opening of Mother Allie’s House is one contribution she can make to the sustainability of her hometown.

“We don’t want things to die,” she states with a certain resolve. “I think so many in Plains feel the same way. And mother’s house–that people can go in and see what a mother she was–I’d like to keep that open. Plains is home and always will be.”

Andrew Greer is a songwriter, author, and filmmaker and a recent transplant from Nashville, Tennessee to Plains, Georgia. For more information on Andrew, visit: www.andrew-greer.com. For more information on staying at Mother Allie’s House, visit www.addisacresllc.com/mother-allie  SCL

Bringing Comfort, Cutting-edge Care and Compassion Together

By Lisa Holloway

A Beacon of Community, Love, and Service

A reflection on Kimberly Baker, whose faith, gratitude, and heart for service are transforming her own hardships into joyful community gatherings

II recently had a chance to sit with Kimberly Baker and learn a little about her life and how she has become a shining example of someone who chooses to make a difference. With a heart full of gratitude for where God has taken her and a deep desire to give back, Kimberly has made it her mission to bring joy, unity, and peace to the community of Americus.

Raised by a single mom and often moving to make ends meet, she knows firsthand the struggles of not having enough. She shared that as a kid, while others her age were attending festivals and fairs, she was working to help her family. Spending money at these special events was not an option and she feels these early years of sacrifice and resilience shaped her mission of providing activities and events where kids of all ages can enjoy some of the things she missed.

One of Kimberly’s most well-known projects is “The Greatest Gift”, an annual Christmas event she and her husband have hosted in their yard for the last four years.

The event, named in honor of the greatest gift ever given to the world, Jesus, has grown each year, Last year, their yard was adorned with over 50,000 lights and more than 1,200 people attended the one night event to celebrate the season.

What started as a simple event for the youth group she led has evolved into a community-wide gathering, where families and individuals from all around can experience the joy of Christmas. The evening is filled with barrel train rides, pony rides, arts and crafts, sweet treats, and even the chance to take pictures with “Jesus” (a family member who dons the role!). Best of all, everything is free.

Kimberly credits her husband Scotty, friends Kristy and Rueben Nolt, and over thirty-five volunteers for the success of the night. Together, they create a space where the love of Christ is shared through both the story of His birth and through the love and kindness of the people who come together to serve. Kimberly shares that the event is about bringing people together, especially the kids, and showing them the love of Christ through the Christmas story.

Kimberly’s vision for the diner extends beyond the food. She plans to partner with local schools to create literacy programs, rewarding students with free doughnuts for academic achievements. When talking with Kimberly, it is obvious that her desire is to serve the community no matter the age or background.

Though “The Greatest Gift” event is perhaps the most well-known of Kimberly’s events, it is just one example of her deep commitment to bringing people together. This past fall, Kimberly collaborated with the Rotary Club to help plan the first-ever “Peace Festival” in downtown Americus. The festival was designed to unite people from all walks of life, showing that peace and harmony are possible, even in an often-divided world. Scheduled in the fall of 2025, the “Peace Festival” took place in Rylander Park and featured food, games, entertainment, and a street dance. The goal was to provide a space for people to come together, put aside their differences, and enjoy a day of unity and connection.

One of Kimberly’s most well-known projects is “The Greatest Gift”, an annual Christmas event she and her husband have hosted in their yard for the last four years. The event, named in honor of the greatest gift ever given to the world, Jesus, has grown each year, Last year, their yard was adorned with over 50,000 lights and more than 1,200 people attended the one night event to celebrate the season.

With a heart full of gratitude for where God has taken her and a deep desire to give back, Kimberly has made it her mission to bring joy, unity, and peace to the community of Americus.

Kimberly is dedicated to providing events where people can come together and build community, but she and her husband are taking this vision from stand-alone events to a daily way of life. They have been diligently working to open a retro-style diner and doughnut shoppe in downtown Americus called Bakers Dozen Doughnuts and Diner. This 1950s-inspired eatery will serve, among other things, specialty burgers and homemade doughnuts while also providing space for community members to unplug from their digital lives and reconnect around a table of food and various games that will bring families and friends together. More than just a place to eat, Kimberly says the goal is to create an experience, a place where people feel loved and valued. Her desire is to be a part of the community—not just a business trying to make money, but a place where people can come together, share a meal, and enjoy each other’s company.

Whether through “The Greatest Gift”, the “Peace Festival”, or the opening of a new diner, Kimberly’s commitment to this corner of the world is clear: she wants to build a community where people come together to serve one another, to celebrate each other’s differences, and to love unconditionally as an example of how Jesus lived.

While Kimberly’s events have been a resounding success, they would not be possible without the support of volunteers and donors. For those interested in contributing to “The Greatest Gift” event there are always opportunities to volunteer or donate to help cover the costs of the festivities. With more than thirty-five volunteers already involved, Kimberly is always looking for additional hands to help make the event as special and successful as possible. In a world that too often feels divided, Kimberly’s story is a true testament to the power of giving back and the difference one person can make when they’re driven by a heart of service, and she invites all to join her in this journey!  SCL

Affordable Mental Health Treatment

We offer a variety of facility-based and home-based programs for individuals with developmental disabilities, behavioral health issues, and addictive disease.

Middle Flint HW Main | (229) 815-5454 Americus Outpatient Therapy | (229) 931-6988 Americus Outpatient Clinic | (229) 931-2504

Cordele Outpatient Clinic | (229) 276-2367 Fort Valley Outpatient Clinic | (478) 825-6499 Warner Robins Outpatient Clinic | (478) 988-1222

• Mental Health Services

• Developmental Disability Services

• Youth Services

• Crisis Services

CARF accreditation demonstrates Middle Flint HW’s quality, accountability, and commitment to the satisfaction of the persons served.

STRONGER COMMUNITY Steel Magnolias

Through an inspired production of Steel Magnolias, Sumter County revealed itself as a place where friendship, artistry, and Rosalynn Carter’s legacy of strength and grace continue to bloom—onstage and far beyond the curtain.

HHaving just moved to Sumter County, I was excited to learn about auditions for Steel Magnolias 2025. After working with students in theatre and film during a twenty-year academic career in Atlanta and Miami, I looked forward to supporting the arts in my new hometown. I definitely wanted to help, as I assumed resources, support, and volunteers would be minimal in this rural setting. I was wrong.

Auditions were packed with lots of friendly Magnolia hopefuls all three nights of auditions. Fortunate enough to get a callback, I enjoyed reading lines with a room of female talent teeming with positive energy. However, I waited until everyone left and told the director that I did not want a role. At that final audition, I witnessed

a magical chemistry that can only be derived from real connection, and I was convinced that I already knew who the cast would and should be. I was right.

Declining a potential role served as the most insightful moment in my history with theater and performance. Recognizing that I shared her vision, the director gave me the part of stage manager, my first casting ever in that role. The experience introduced me not only to

a thriving world of creative and positive people in my new adopted communities of Sumter County, but also taught me so much about what I previously considered just another rural Georgia place.

assumed her position as First Lady in 1977, she initially rebuffed the nickname, then embraced it with a grace that I’ve noticed is abundant in the women of Sumter County. Coming full circle, the late Mrs. Carter’s niece Kim Fuller was the director of Steel Magnolias 2025, and her concept of the production extended beyond the performances.

Kim, along with the cast, Sumter Players President Laura McConatha, and the organization’s committed board members and volunteers, paid tribute to Sumter County’s Steel Magnolia heritage by honoring the legacy of caregiving established here by Rosalynn Carter. Members of the community were asked to submit photos of their own “steel magnolias,” whose lives were celebrated in a slideshow at performances. The cast participated in both the monthly food drive and annual butterfly plant sale begun by Mrs. Carter. At April’s First Friday in Americus, the cast spread the joy of family and friendships by joining with other women downtown for the character of Shelby’s faux bachelorette party.

But there was nothing faux about the very real charismatic rapport of this cast. Facebook commenters said that they were “obsessed” with this “chef’s kiss” casting, and reviews from the Americus Times-Recorder and attendees agreed. Rebecca Ferguson brought the refined “lady about small Southern town” to life spot-on as Clairee,

Supported by this unique and dedicated sense of genuine community, “Steel Magnolias” was a cast of six real-life friends, and they performed in the home county of the original “Steel Magnolia“ in honor of every Steel Magnolia in Southwest Georgia. Sumter County absolutely showed me that “small and rural” can come together as a team and do something really big— with a smile.

while the effervescent and bubbly Lezlie Poole sparked laughs with every entry, exit, and quotable classic lines as the opinionated but lovable grouch Ouizer. Ironically playing the outsider new to town, fourth-generation Sumter County native Mandy Barr’s comedic yet vulnerable characterization of Annelle reminded audiences of the power of kindness and humble honesty, as Rachel Cotton kept the pulse of the plot quick and witty with her sassy portrayal of Truvy. The mother-daughter dynamic is particularly compelling in the play, and Rachel Price and Roxanne Gatian rose to the demands of these roles with the kind of intensity that has made “Steel Magnolias” timeless. Roxanne Gatian’s Shelby took the audience on a roller

coaster of joy and devastation, wild emotional swings that were brought to full catharsis by Rachel Price’s M’Lynn. Rachel Price’s portrayal spanned nuanced emotion only capable by the rare performer gifted with such unique range. Yet the “best actor” in the production existed in this cast’s clear personal connection. These Sumter County women brought decades of real friendships to their character interactions, and the result was a sense of authenticity that the best of actors can’t possibly replicate.

But as an actual “outsider new to town,” I witnessed a magic that was not contained by the stage. Volunteers helped with marketing, building sets, pulling together props, and all the various jobs that go along with putting on a quality production. Among those volunteers were local high schoolers who were being mentored by the other volunteers: academic professionals, business owners— a collective of unassuming, hard-working folks who know that the joy of art and community is work, and they were happy to do it. Supported by this unique and dedicated sense of genuine community, “Steel Magnolias” was a cast of six real-life friends, and they performed in

The most notable discovery I’ve made with regard to the place, the people, and the play connects the production of “Steel Magnolias” to its most recognizable female resident, Rosalynn Carter. Dubbed the “Steel Magnolia” by the press as she assumed her position as First Lady in 1977, she initially rebuffed the nickname, then embraced it with a grace that I’ve noticed is abundant in the women of Sumter County.

in honor of every Steel Magnolia in Southwest Georgia. Sumter County absolutely showed me that “small and rural” can come together as a team and do something really big— with a smile.

As cliché as it may sound, I feel grateful and blessed to have ended up in a rural Southwestern Georgia county and stumbled upon a substantial group of people driven by creativity, joy, and the invaluable wealth of generational hope— the components of which real community is composed. Sumter Players might be going on 61 years as an organization, but I will delightedly be entering only my second year to join this team for the 2025-26 season productions of “Love, Sex, and the IRS,” “Matilda the Musical,” “A Christmas Carol,” and the much-anticipated “The Outsiders.” Join me in supporting this authentically positive and valuable part of Sumter County’s community by visiting www.sumterplayers.org. I won’t be hard to spot; I’ll be the one in occasional wonderment of how I stumbled upon this place full of cool people.  SCL

Stay in the childhood home of former First Lady Rosalynn Carter!

Visit the Rosalynn Smith Carter Childhood Garden and see the“Dancing Monarchs” sculpture, located next door!Visit historic Main Street Plains, GA, just a short walk away!Enjoy updated renovations that will still take you back in time!

For upcoming details, check out addisacresllc.com or scan the QR code!

•

A Legacy of Service

Written by Tayler Willis | Photos by David Parks

MMilton Raven was born in Plains, Georgia

July 2, 1931. He grew up in Archery, where his ancestors had been enslaved just decades before. After finishing high school, he spent time in the Army, then returned to marry and attend college. It just so happened that Albany State College was offering courses in education at that time, and that opportunity set Milton on a path that would greatly impact our community and workforce. Milton went on to spend 30 years as an educator and became the first African

A tribute to Milton Raven, whose journey from humble beginnings to educator, workforce advocate, and community builder created a lasting legacy of service.

Photography

The two businesses are highly impactful to vulnerable populations and their families. To date, they’ve served over 150 local community members and many more throughout the region through Graceful Hands and have accommodated approximately 30 residents at Bernice Bell House. In addition to the wonderful services the businesses provide, the Ravens prioritize community service and outreach.

American principal in Webster County. He had a passion for helping young people find success in the workforce, which he continued to do for the rest of his life.

Upon retiring from the school system, Milton took over Colam Enterprises in Americus, which he had been a founder of a few years prior. The business assisted with job training and workforce development. It answered a great need for work skills in the local economy and helped provide a pathway to success for young people that were falling through the cracks and struggling to find gainful employment. Milton also worked with the JTPA program, formally the Job Training Partnership Act. Through this partnership, Milton assisted local students with job training and placement in Sumter County. Through the nonprofit Goodworks, Milton employed case managers to follow students throughout the job training and placement process to ensure long term employability and success in their field.

Milton later opened an elderly residential apartment complex to provide safe and affordable accommodations to seniors. In his later life, Milton and his wife

ventured into the restaurant business with Mimmie’s Diner, named after Milton’s grandmother. The restaurant was loved by former president Jimmy Carter, as he grew up down the street from the Ravens in Archery and enjoyed the familiar taste of Mimmie’s style of cooking. These ventures were in addition to his workforce development service, which he continued throughout his life. Milton was a beacon of hard work, and his commitment to passionate service changed lives and improved the local economy.

Milton’s legacy speaks for itself. Community members impacted by his work have not forgotten the difference he made in their lives. Even more impressive is the fact that he has inspired his relatives to continue local service

hip learning how business works and how to be an entrepreneur, and trying to learn about the community here in Sumter County and Americus,” Arthur Raven, Milton’s grandson, says. So, when his wife Ciera came up with the idea for a homecare service called Graceful Hands in 2018, “it was almost a no-brainer,” Arthur says.

Ciera and Arthur both have backgrounds in healthcare. Arthur’s mother, Brenda Harris, worked as the Office Supervisor at Magnolia Manor for more than 40 years, and Ciera’s mother, Juliet Tookes, was a nurse for more than 30 years. Ciera originally pursued the nursing field, while Arthur began studying

computers, both at South Georgia Technical College. Arthur got a job teaching computer lab at a local elementary school. He had hopes of being an educator to honor his grandfather, as none of Milton’s other descendants had followed him into education. However, Arthur found that he had an aptitude for the material Ciera was learning in nursing school while helping her study for exams. Meanwhile, he came to the realization that teaching was not his passion. Once Ciera graduated and became a Licensed Practical Nurse, or LPN, Arthur pursued the same degree. He is now in school once again to become a Registered Nurse. As for whether his grandfather approved of the career transition, Arthur says he was okay with it. Milton advised Arthur that education might not be the right field if it was not something he thought about when he went to sleep and when he woke up, and he encouraged him to do something he loves.

In healthcare, Arthur has found what he loves to do. The new generation of Ravens has given a nod to their patriarch’s entrepreneurial spirit with the founding of the previously mentioned Graceful Hands in 2018 and Bernice Bell House in 2020. Graceful Hands provides personal care and household assistance to senior, disabled, and veteran clients. “We’re keeping seniors out of the nursing home,” Ciera says. Their goal is to provide the services a nursing home would provide while allowing clients to stay in their private residences. For seniors that need more assistance or support, Bernice Bell House acts as a middle ground between living at home and entering a nursing home. The home, located in Americus, is the former office of Milton Raven and has been renovated to hold up to eight residents.

The two businesses are highly impactful to vulnerable populations and their families. To date, they’ve served over 150 local community members and many more throughout the region

through Graceful Hands and have accommodated approximately 30 residents at Bernice Bell House. In addition to the wonderful services the businesses provide, the Ravens prioritize community service and outreach. They recall a time in recent years when they heard of a local senior apartment complex that had been without water for over a week due to a plumbing issue. Arthur and Ciera responded immediately, partnering with other community members including Walmart manager Daniel Corral and local restaurants including Chick-Fil-A and Pat’s Place to secure water and meal donations for residents at the apartments. The Ravens are also beginning Alzheimer’s and Dementia outreach efforts in response to an alarming increase in diagnosis of these diseases. In all they do, they hope to bring awareness to the needs of senior and disabled members of the community and to support family members in providing care. In following Milton Raven’s advice to find work that inspires passion, a new generation of Ravens has greatly impacted the community.

If you have questions or think you or a loved one could benefit from services provided by Graceful Hands or Bernice Bell House, Arthur wants you to know they are here to help or provide guidance if needed. If you would like to support the cause, consider attending the Graceful Hands Home Care Alzheimer’s Symposium and Silent Auction on May 16. Visit their Facebook page for more information. Arthur and Ciera are grateful for the example Milton provided and support that allows them to serve a community they love. The impact they’ve had by following their passions is a fantastic example of the good we can do by doing what we love. SCL

Scenes

of Sumter

Around every corner in our amazing community, there are treasures that lay awaiting discovery. Beauty is indeed all around us and in endless supply. Take a look at a few more reasons