CONTRIBUTORS
1. Alycia Calderin is a Florida native who moved to Georgia in 2013, where she planted roots with her husband of 16 years. When she’s not balancing the whirlwind of activities for her four kids, she escapes into the world of books.
2. Aaron Hoffman is a retired police officer and U.S. Army veteran with a lifelong passion for photography. His work spans commercial, portrait, and sports photography. Originally from Southern Pennsylvania, Aaron now calls the greater Savannah area home.
3. Leidy Lester is a freelance photographer, originally from Bogota, Colombia. One of her proudest achievements was working with models and highly experienced photographers in Las Vegas.
4. Gail Mihalik lives in Rincon with Scott, her high school sweetheart, and their two rescue dogs. Chef by trade with over 50 years of experience, she spends most of her time living, loving, and sharing the history and culture of the area.
5. Scott Douglas Miller is a broadcaster celebrating 50 years in radio as an air personality, news director, event DJ and content provider several publications. He Originally from Mississippi, Scott shares a home in Rincon with his high school sweetheart, Gail.
6. Gail Parsons has more than 30 years experience writing for magazines and newspapers. She most enjoys feature writing because it allows her to share the stories of interesting and inspiring people. She is also an artist and enjoys traveling and spending time at the beach.
7. Donald R. Payseur is a pilot, active businessman, and dedicated community member based in coastal Georgia. He believes the unique focus and discipline required in the cockpit translate directly into effective leadership, navigating everyday life, and building a strong foundation of faith.
8. Claire Sandow is a marketing professional who lives in Savannah with her husband, daughter and cat. In her spare time, she enjoys pursuing her many hobbies, including knitting, crocheting, quilting and running.
9. Laura Zielinski is a freelance graphic designer specializing in print design. When she’s not working, she loves spending time with her husband Keith and their three beautiful children.
10. Mabel, morale officer, enjoys roaming the backyard at home, sitting for hours on the back porch and coming to the office to greet visitors and encourage the staff. Mabel loves getting treats and taking long naps in her mommy’s office in the afternoons.
Christie Wilson Director of Advertising
Kelsey Harrison Account Executive
Derek E. Horne Attorney
Women of Influence Issue PUBLISHER’S THOUGHTS
PUBLISHER
Jan Southern Jan@JDelSURMarketing.com 912-318-8645
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Kelsey Harrison, Account Executive Kelsey@JDelSURMarketing.com
OFFICE MANAGER
Chris Antonio
DESIGN
Laura Zielinski
DISTRIBUTION
Penny Redmond
Bryan County Magazine is proudly produced by:
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Write and tell us what you think. Bryan Count Magazine welcomes all letters to the editor. Please send letters to Jan Southern at Jan@JDelSURMarketing.com. Letters to the editor must have a phone number and name of contact. Phone numbers will not be published.
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I just love watching a woman step fully into who she was created to be. With all the pressures we experience, this is no easy task. It can take a lifetime to be realized.
This issue of Bryan County Magazine is dedicated to the women in our community who are shaping the future of this county in meaningful ways. They are leading, building, serving, creating, mentoring, nurturing, and stepping forward when leadership is required.
Bryan County continues to grow and evolve, but what will always define it is the character of the people willing to carry responsibility for others. That kind of influence is not loud. It is steady. It is thoughtful. And it matters.
In these pages, you will read about women who were nominated by friends, colleagues, clients, and family members. Women whose lives are impacting others in ways both visible and unseen. Their photos and words of encouragement remind us that influence is not reserved for a select few. It belongs to women who show up consistently and choose excellence in the everyday.
Our cover story marks a historic chapter for Richmond Hill and for Bryan County. Kristi Cox, the first female mayor of Richmond Hill, represents more than a milestone. She represents forward movement.
We also hear from Alycia Calderin again in her column, Moming Unfiltered, “What I’d Tell New Moms (That Nobody Told Me).” This column offers a different kind of leadership — one rooted in honesty. She writes to the exhausted, overwhelmed, unseen mother and reminds her: “You’re not failing. You’re becoming someone new.”
Leadership looks different in different seasons of life. Sometimes it is civic. Sometimes it is professional. Sometimes it is deeply personal.
As you turn these pages, my hope is that you don’t simply admire these women. I hope you recognize yourself. Whether you are building a business, serving in local government, volunteering in our schools, supporting your family, or leading quietly behind the scenes, you are helping shape the future of Bryan County. You are setting expectations for the next generation. You are contributing to the kind of community we all want to call home.
And that matters.
To every woman in Bryan County, thank you for all you do. You are helping write the next chapter of this community’s story.
CEO/Publisher
Bryan County Magazine
Jan Southern
Service is at the Heart of Everything
Story by Gail Parsons | Photography by Aaron Hoffman
On her 27th working day as mayor of Richmond Hill, Kristi Cox smiled and admitted she feels like she’s been “drinking from a fire hose.” The schedule has been relentless, but Cox has her sights set on the future.
When she stepped into the mayor’s office, it was not about prestige or politics. It was about fulfilling a purpose.
“I’m not a politician,” she said. “I’ll never be a politician. I’m a servant.”
That posture, humble, direct, and rooted in service, has defined Cox’s 31 years in Richmond Hill. Long before she held public office, she was involved in the community through nonprofit leadership, youth advocacy, and volunteer work.
A Life of Service
Cox’s professional background reflects a consistent thread: standing in the gap for others. With a degree in criminal justice, she began her career as a juvenile probation officer, working daily with young people navigating difficult circumstances.
“I used to always tell all of my kids that came in, there is nothing that has happened that is so horrible that we cannot find a resolution or a solution to,” she said. “But what we have to do is all sit at the table, and we all have to be honest.”
That philosophy, truth, accountability, and collaboration still guide her leadership today.
After stepping away from probation work, Cox served with the March of Dimes and later became director of the United Way of Bryan County, where she worked closely with families across the region. In each role, she saw firsthand how often people feel unheard.
“Many times, people feel like they’re not heard,” she said. “They feel like they don’t know how to share their voice.”
She never imagined that insight would one day propel her into elected office.
Leadership Forged in Loss
In 2018, Cox’s world shifted. Her 14-year-old daughter died just four hours after being diagnosed with cancer.
Walking through that grief reshaped her understanding of both faith and community. In January 2019, she submitted her resignation from United Way, sensing a new direction ahead.
“I just felt like the Lord was leading me,” she said.
That leading was unexpected: a run for the city council.
“I said to myself, I’m not a politician. I’ve never been involved with politics,” she recalls. “But I felt like it was a way that I would still be able to give back and be a voice for those people that I had worked with for all those years.”
Cox entered a special election against six men and won outright, without a runoff. For Cox, the result confirmed she was “right where God wanted me to be.”
She served six years on the council before seeking the mayor’s seat when term limits opened the position.
Protecting and Preserving Community
Now, as mayor, Cox inherits both opportunity and complexity. Richmond Hill continues to grow rapidly, bringing infrastructure challenges alongside economic promise.
“I’m not a politician. I’ve never been involved with politics. But I felt like it was a way that I would still be able to give back and be a voice for those people that I had worked with for all those years.”
At the forefront is flood mitigation. After major storms brought significant water issues to the city, leaders pursued solutions. The city secured a FEMA grant and is conducting a comprehensive assessment to identify the most vulnerable areas.
“Public safety is always at the top of the list,” Cox said.
Growth requires preparation, not only for roads and drainage, but also for police, fire, and emergency services.
“As we continue to grow … we need to ensure that we’re staying on top of public safety and provide the resources … to ensure that we’re protecting our community as well as our staff members,” she said.
Cox is equally committed to preserving Richmond Hill’s historic identity. The city purchased the Community House, an iconic structure built during the era of Henry Ford, and is now exploring partnerships and grants to restore it.
The goal is to bring the building back to life without placing undue burden on taxpayers.
Inclusion Is Personal
For Cox, inclusion is not a buzzword. It is her daily reality.
She and her husband are parents to three daughters. One works for CURE Childhood Cancer, inspired by her sister’s legacy. Cox’s two younger daughters have Down syndrome; one, who was adopted from Ukraine, uses a wheelchair.
Because of that, accessibility matters deeply. During her time on council, Richmond Hill added wheelchair-accessible playground equipment, ensuring children of all abilities could play together.
Bringing Everyone to the Table
One of Cox’s goals as mayor is to expand civic engagement.
“It should not just be a mayor and four council members that are making decisions for everyone,” she said. “We were elected to represent the people, and I want to bring everything back to the people.”
“I believe in having the conversations if they’re tough, if they’re easy. Connectivity is what is going to help drive us to the best future that each one of us can have.”
“Being inclusive is very important to me,” Cox says. “We all deserve to have that seat at the table. One voice is not louder than another voice.”
Her commitment to inclusion extends beyond playgrounds. She wants everyone to feel ownership in the city’s future.
She plans to host town halls to increase transparency and create space for dialogue. She is also developing a “Citizens 101” class to help residents better understand how municipal government works.
“A lot of times we hear people speak on social media, and they’re sharing information, but the information that they have is incorrect,” she says.
Educating citizens empowers them to participate constructively.
Another initiative on her list is to form a youth council. As a member of the Georgia Municipal Association’s Children and Youth Advisory Council, Cox believes early civic engagement is vital.
“Our youth are our future leaders,” she says.
She also wants to convene business roundtables to hear directly from entrepreneurs about the challenges of opening and operating businesses in Richmond Hill. She wants to get to the “why” behind the problems.
Regional Relationships
Cox understands that cities do not function in isolation. She has prioritized building relationships with neighboring municipalities and county leadership, recognizing that decisions ripple across borders.
“What happens in Richmond Hill is not in a silo,” she says. Collaboration, she believes, strengthens the entire region.
As a newly elected mayor, she has connected with both veteran and first-term leaders in surrounding cities, exchanging ideas and learning from shared experiences.
Faith at the Center
Throughout every conversation, Cox returns to one anchor: her faith.
“You can’t separate Kristi from Jesus and Jesus from Kristi,” she says. “That is always going to be what I turn to, to make decisions.”
She acknowledges the distinction between church and state, yet her personal integrity flows directly from her beliefs.
“Integrity is very important to me,” she said. “Being ethical. Working efficiently. Having a strong work ethic. All of that is based upon my faith.”
Her approach to leadership mirrors her earlier work in probation: honest conversations, even when difficult.
“I believe in having the conversations if they’re tough, if they’re easy,” she says. “Connectivity is what is going to help drive us to the best future that each one of us can have.”
The Weight and the Joy
Balancing public office with family life and volunteer commitments requires stamina. Cox serves on nonprofit boards, participates in community cleanups and regularly volunteers at Magnolia Manor. For her, giving back is energizing rather than draining.
“There are days that I do get burned out,” she admits. “But God’s always going to provide you what you need. I just keep putting one foot in front of the other.”
She laughs about thriving under pressure. “I work best last minute and in chaos,” she said. It is a trait that has carried her through nonprofit fundraising events and now through the whirlwind of mayoral responsibilities.
For downtime, she turns to weekly gatherings with close friends or episodes of Law & Order and Hawaii Five-0.
Her version of fun often circles back to service, playing bingo with seniors, supporting youth projects, or organizing neighborhood cleanups.
“That is my fun,” she said.
An Open Door
If there is one message Cox wants residents to hear, it is this that access matters.
“I have an open-door policy,” she said. “They can … reach out to me with any concern, or even their criticism.”
She does not claim perfection. “I am not always going to make the right decisions, because I’m going to make mistakes. I’m human,” she says. “But I’m going to own those mistakes.”
For Cox, influence is not measured by title. It is measured by trust and whether citizens feel seen, heard, and valued.
“I just love what I do,” she said. “I really do love serving my community.”
In an era often defined by division and distrust, Cox’s leadership offers a different narrative, one of faith-rooted integrity, inclusive vision, and steady, servant-hearted commitment. And in Richmond Hill, that kind of influence will shape the future one honest conversation at a time. ■
Savannah Technical College Names Top 2026 Faculty and Student Leaders
Savannah Technical College (Savannah Tech) has announced its four top honorees for 2026, selecting a slate of student and faculty leaders who represent the highest standard of technical and adult education. The college named Javiera Scott as the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) winner, Stephanie Grant as the Rick Perkins Award (RPA) winner, Abimbola "BeBe" Ojelabi as the EAGLE delegate, and Dr. Cheryl Cale as the Adult Education Teacher of the Year.
These four individuals will represent the college at regional and statewide competitions, advocating for the critical role technical education plays in workforce development and economic mobility in the Coastal Empire.
Javiera Scott, the 2026 GOAL winner, was selected as the Student of the Year for her academic excellence and leadership potential. The GOAL program is the first of its kind in the nation and honors excellence in technical education. Scott will serve as a spokesperson for technical education, sharing her story of how handson training leads to high-demand careers.
Stephanie Grant, Department Head and Instructor for Early Childhood Care and Education, was named the 2026 Rick Perkins Award winner. The award recognizes technical college instructors who make significant contributions to technical education through innovation and leadership. Grant will represent Savannah Technical College in the statewide competition for technical instructor of the year.
The college also celebrated excellence within its Adult Education department, which provides vital pathways for students seeking high school equivalency and literacy education.
Abimbola "BeBe" Ojelabi was named the 2026 EAGLE (Exceptional Adult Georgian in Literacy Education) delegate. This program celebrates adult learners who demonstrate superior achievement in adult education classes. Ojelabi was selected for her powerful ability to articulate the impact of literacy education on her life and career goals. She will
now advocate for adult education at the state level, representing the thousands of Georgians who utilize these programs to transform their futures.
Dr. Cheryl Cale was honored as the 2026 Adult Education Teacher of the Year. A 40-year veteran of education, Dr. Cale currently serves as an HSE Instructor and Instructional Lead at the Effingham Campus. Her colleagues selected her for her deep commitment to student success and her expertise in guiding adult learners through the challenges of earning their high school equivalency.
Dr. Cale’s career spans early childhood to higher education administration, bringing a wealth of experience to her classroom where she prepares students for the next step in their careers.
The selection of these four winners underscores Savannah Technical College’s commitment to servant leadership and its 10-Year Master Plan to expand access to workforce training. By honoring achievement at every level—from adult literacy to technical specialization—the college reinforces its mission as the region’s primary pipeline for skilled professionals in industries like healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and logistics.
About Savannah Technical College
A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, Savannah Technical College (Savannah Tech) is the premier provider of career-ready technical education in Coastal Georgia, offering a comprehensive range of nearly 150 market-driven programs, preparing students for highdemand careers including Aviation Technology, Cybersecurity, Health Sciences, Logistics & Supply Chain Management, Automation & Robotics, Information Technology, Culinary Arts, Public Services and more. With campuses in Chatham, Effingham, and Liberty Counties, Savannah Tech serves more than 13,000 credit and non-credit students with a variety of pathways to success, including dual enrollment programs for high school students and specialized support services for military veterans and their families. Beyond academics, Savannah Tech is an economic and community development partner, collaborating with industry leaders to provide customized training programs, assessment services, and continuing education opportunities. For more information, visit www.savannahtech.edu.
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Every Story Has a Moment That Changes Everything
They say every person has a story to tell. For Donald Payseur, his story took more than 35 years to tell.
Donald R. Payseur is a local business owner, serial entrepreneur, and lifelong pilot. In Bryan County, he is best known as the founder of Coastal Broadband, Inc., a company built on reliability, resilience, and service to the community. What many people do not know is that long before fiber networks, tower climbs, and business leadership, Payseur came within seconds of losing his life in a small airplane and spent decades learning what that moment was truly trying to teach him.
In 1983, as a student pilot flying solo near his hometown of Gastonia, North Carolina, Payseur unexpectedly entered a bank of clouds without the training required to fly by instruments. Disoriented and panicked, he stalled the aircraft and began an uncontrolled descent from nearly three thousand feet toward the face of a mountain. When he finally broke through the cloud layer, the granite face of that mountain filled his windshield, and only seconds separated survival from tragedy.
He survived that near-death incident, but the experience left scars that were not visible. What followed was not an immediate return to aviation or a dramatic redemption story. Instead, Payseur quietly walked away from flying for a short time. He eventually went on to earn his other flying credentials, instrument rating, multiengine license, and commercial pilot's license. He built a career, raised a family, and entered the trucking industry, where the demanding discipline aviation requires: preparation, precision, procedures, and accountability would later shape his professional success.
Discipline Applied and Then Ignored
In the trucking industry, Payseur became a highly successful National Accounts Executive, working closely with Fortune 500 customers, building a national accounts territory, and earning broad respect within the industry. The habits that aviation instills, checklists, contingency planning, disciplined decision-making, and respect for risk, served him exceptionally well.
Yet Flying High is honest about a difficult truth.
When Payseur later founded his own trucking company, the discipline that had once guided his professional success quickly eroded. Confidence replaced caution. Experience replaced procedure. Emotion overtook humility. He poured his life savings into the venture, gambled on growth, and ignored the same principles aviation had demanded of him years earlier.
The outcome was devastating. The business failed, and everything he had built financially was lost. Payseur recounts this chapter without excuses or bitterness. He does not blame the market, the economy, or others. Instead, he acknowledges an uncomfortable truth: the failure was not caused by
“It is not the failure that ends your story; it’s the refusal to get back up that ends your story.”
a lack of effort or intelligence; it was caused by abandoning discipline. As he writes in the book, “You don’t rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your training.” The same discipline that made him successful as an executive was the discipline he failed to apply as a business owner.
In Flying High, Payseur describes the process that followed as “the NTSB of the soul.” Just as the National Transportation Safety Board dissects aviation accidents to prevent them from happening again, he walked back through the wreckage of his business with deliberate introspection, determined to understand the decisions that led to failure and to ensure he would never repeat them.
Why the Book Was Written
Payseur did not write Flying High: How Everything I Learned About Faith, Life, and Business, I Learned from the Cockpit to relive a frightening flight or a painful business collapse. He wrote it to redeem both. “For years, I thought those were separate failures,” Payseur explains. “Eventually, I realized they were the same lesson; one in the air and one on the ground.”
At the heart of the book is a simple but uncompromising truth: “Hope is not part of the flight plan.” In aviation, hope has no operational value. Pilots rely on training, discipline, procedures, and practice. Hope without those elements is dangerous. Payseur argues that life and business operate by the same rules. “Hope without training, discipline, procedures, and practice is nothing more than a really great idea,” he writes.
The book challenges the idea that passion alone is not enough. Passion must be paired with preparation and a solid flight plan. Experience must be governed by accountability. Success, when not anchored in discipline, often plants the seeds of future failure.
The Three P’s: Purpose, Procedures, and Practice.
From both aviation and entrepreneurship, Payseur developed what he calls the Three P’s: Purpose, Procedures, and Practice. Purpose defines why decisions are made. Procedures remove emotion and guesswork. Practice ensures readiness when pressure arrives. In aviation, these principles are non-negotiable. In business and life, they are often treated as optional until something goes wrong.
Payseur believes the collapse of his trucking business could have been avoided had he adhered to the same disciplined framework that once guided his professional success. The Three P’s are not about rigidity; they are about resilience. “Discipline doesn’t limit you,” he says. “It protects you.”
Faith, Failure, and the Decision to Get Back Up
Faith plays a steady, grounding role throughout Flying High. It is not presented as a guarantee against hardship, but as an anchor when plans fail. One of the book’s most resonant lines speaks directly to resilience:
“It is not the failure that ends your story; it’s the refusal to get back up that ends your story.”
Failure, Payseur argues, is unavoidable. What matters is whether we allow it to define us or instruct us. The book reflects candidly on shame, pride, and avoidance, and how growth often begins when we are willing to revisit the
“You don’t rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your training.”
moments we would rather forget. Writing the book required Payseur to confront both near-death and financial ruin, not as isolated events, but as connected lessons shaped by discipline applied and discipline ignored.
Why His Story Matters Now
In a culture that celebrates speed, visible success, and the idea of a straight line to achievement, the realities behind entrepreneurship and personal growth are often whitewashed. Failure is minimized, struggle is edited out, and success is frequently presented without context. Flying High was written with a different purpose: to examine failure first and to explore the lessons required to reach meaningful and sustainable success. Today, bold risk-taking is often praised, while mentorship, disciplined preparation, and accountability are overlooked. The consequences of that imbalance continue to surface in failed businesses, broken trust, and personal burnout.
As Payseur writes in the book, “When it comes to mentorship, asking for help is not weakness, it is wisdom.”
By sharing his story, Payseur hopes readers, especially business owners, leaders, and young professionals, will recognize the value of guidance, process, and humility before a crisis forces the lesson. This is not a book about aviation alone. It is about decision-making under pressure, the cost of abandoning discipline, and the power of learning - sometimes late, but never too late.
Flying High: How Everything I Learned About Faith, Life, and Business, I Learned from the Cockpit is available nationally through major booksellers. The book is available on Amazon in eBook, paperback, and hardcover formats, as well as through Barnes & Noble in paperback and hardcover editions. Also, directly on his website, www. flyinghighthebook.com. Payseur is also available for speaking engagements and can be reached at pressagent@ flyinghighthebook.com ■
BRYAN COUNTY
Read United Day
Q&A with Women who are Making a Difference IN BRYAN COUNTY
TAYLOR MATTHEWS
Sparkling Queens Cleaning
How long have you been in business? 5 years
What has been the most challenging in running your business? Hiring great team members and learning how to scale.
What has been the most rewarding part of running your business? Working with people and seeing people thrive.
What advice would you give other female entrepreneurs? You don’t need permission. So many people are going to doubt you, but you don’t need their permission.
Who are your greatest cheerleaders?
My husband who never wants me to be anything less than 100% myself
LESLEY FRANCIS
Lesley Francis Public Relations
How long have you been in business? 15 years in business and 30 years in the industry.
What has been the most challenging in running your business?
Running a public relations firm in an ever-evolving media landscape has been one of the greatest challenges, requiring constant adaptation to new platforms, technologies, and client expectations.
What has been the most rewarding part of running your business?
Seeing clients succeed and knowing our work has helped elevate their voices, brands, and impact within the community.
What advice would you give other female entrepreneurs? I would encourage other female entrepreneurs to trust their vision, stay resilient through challenges, and never underestimate the value of relationships. Building a strong network, asking for help when needed, and remaining authentic in leadership are key to long-term success. Most importantly, I believe confidence and consistency will carry you through even the most demanding seasons of business.
Who are your greatest cheerleaders?
My greatest cheerleader is my husband, Carl, my three dogs, Coco, Suzie, and Max, as well as my team at LFPR: Kristyn, Allie, Katelynn, Genelle, and Grace.
GINA HALDEMAN
Sea Steps Pediatric Therapy
How long have you been in business? 15-20 years in the industry
What has been the most challenging in running your business? Starting a brand new business
What has been the most rewarding part of running your business? Getting to change the lives of pediatric patients and improve their daily independence
What advice would you give other female entrepreneurs? Aspire to help others, put others first, starting my own business after knowing what works and what doesn’t from my experience of working at several other clinics and facilities
Who are your greatest cheerleaders? Her family - husband and children and my patients/families
ERIN MADDEN, The Wellspring Group
How long have you been in business? 6 years
What has been the most challenging in running your business? Not being taken serious
What has been the most rewarding part of running your business? Amazing success
What advice would you give other female entrepreneurs? Be kind & trust in the Lord.
Who are your greatest cheerleaders? Their entire wellspring family and clients.
JACLYN DELOACH, PT, DPT, MS, PCES
Advent Therapy
How long have you been in business? 11 years in business and 26 years in PT
What has been the most challenging in running your business? Managing insurance networks including credentialing and reimbursements is definitely the most challenging.
What has been the most rewarding part of running your business?
The most rewarding part of owning a therapy business is helping patients reach their goals and return to activities with restored mobility, strength, and balance.
What advice would you give other female entrepreneurs?
To go for it but establish a healthy time balance between work and play.
Who are your greatest cheerleaders?
Family, friends, employees, and community.
SALLY REJAS
American Legion JE Lanier Post 27
How long have you been in business? 3 years and 20 years in leadership
What has been the most challenging in running your business?
The greatest challenge as Commander of JE Lanier Post 27 is leading meaningful change while honoring tradition, especially as the first female commander in the Post’s history. Shifting how the community sees veterans means reminding others that veterans still need support, connection, and advocacy long after service ends. At the same time, rallying trust and resources to raise funds for a building is especially difficult when we have land but no home, yet it remains essential to ensuring a lasting place for veterans to belong and be served.
What has been the most rewarding part of running your business?
The most rewarding part of serving as Commander is seeing veterans and their families feel supported, heard, and no longer alone. Helping create a space where veterans reconnect, find purpose, and know their service still matters brings deep fulfillment. Knowing that each effort strengthens community, honors sacrifice, and builds a future home for veterans makes every challenge worthwhile.
What advice would you give other female entrepreneurs?
Lead with confidence, even when stepping into spaces where they have not been traditionally represented.
Who are your greatest cheerleaders?
My greatest cheerleaders are the veterans, families, and members of JE Lanier Post 27, Beauties in Boots: Women Veteran Organization, and my family who believe in the mission and show up with trust and support.
mom-ing UN FILTERED
Finding Magic in the Madness of Motherhood
What I’d Tell New Moms (That Nobody Told Me)
by Alycia Calderin
If I could sit across from you right now - hair unwashed, coffee gone cold, baby asleep on your chest - I wouldn’t tell you to soak it all in.
I wouldn’t say, “You’ll miss this.”
I wouldn’t tell you that this is the best time of your life.
What I would tell you is this:
You’re not failing. You’re becoming someone new, and that process is disorienting.
No one warned me that motherhood doesn’t arrive gently. It comes in waves, some beautiful, some suffocating, and sometimes all in the same hour. One minute you’re overwhelmed by love, the next you’re crying in the bathroom because you don’t recognize your own reflection anymore.
Both are normal.
I wish someone had told me that loving your baby instantly doesn’t mean loving motherhood instantly. That bond doesn’t cancel out exhaustion, loneliness, or the grief of losing who you used to be. You’re allowed to mourn her—even while holding the greatest thing you’ve ever made.
I wish someone had said that asking for help doesn’t make you weak. It makes you human. That you don’t need to prove you can do it all alone to earn the title “good mom.” Burnout isn’t a badge of honor. It’s a warning sign.
No one prepared me for how invisible moms can feel. How everyone asks about the baby, and no one asks about you. How your needs slip to the bottom of the list so quietly you don’t even notice it happening, until you’re empty.
So I’ll tell you this now: you still matter.
Your body isn’t ruined, it’s recovering. Your mind isn’t broken, it’s overloaded. And your heart isn’t cold, you’re just tired beyond words.
I wish someone had told me that it’s okay if you don’t enjoy every stage. Some seasons are survival. Some are growth. Some are just hard. And none of that makes you ungrateful.
You don’t need to cherish every moment. You just need to get through this one.
And one day, slowly, quietly, you’ll look up and realize you didn’t disappear. You changed. You softened and hardened in different places. You became stronger in ways you never asked for. You became a mother.
Not perfect.
Not glowing.
But real.
And that is more than enough.
Whiskey
Tiny Bear
Milo
Wesley Cash
Sony and tiny
Morgan
Mabel and Jaxson
March 2026
April 2026
BRYAN COUNTY EVENTS
3/7, 4/4: Cars & Coffee 11460 Ford Ave
Richmond Hill
3/7: Women’s History Month: Home Front Women 3894 Fort McAllister Rd
Richmond Hill
3/9, 3/16/ 3/23, 3/30, 4/6, 4/13, 4/20, 4/27: Common Threads
Richmond Hill Library
Richmond Hill
3/16: 2026 Bulk Trash Pick-up
Richmond Hill
3/19: The Richmond Hill Friends of the Library Used-Book Sales
Richmond Hill Library
Richmond Hill
3/20: Mini Jr. Ranger Camp: Eco Explorers
Fort McAllister State Park Richmond Hill
3/21: Spring Pop-up Market
1000 Belfast River Road
Richmond Hill
4/4: Easter Egg Hunt
Fort McAllister State Park
Richmond Hill
4/18: Open Car, Truck & Bike Show (RH 8th Annual Spring Fling) 1000 Belfast River Road Richmond Hill
4/23: Community Resource Fair Richmond Hill City Center
Where
The Corner Table
Bryan County
by Gail Mihalik
Hot
Dogs Get
Dressed
Up and Brisket Brings the Swagger
Every town needs that one place where you can loosen your belt a notch and not apologize for it. In Richmond Hill, that place is Charlie Graingers — where hot dogs are dressed better than most of us on a Tuesday, and the brisket shows up with quiet confidence.
Time to Get Creative
Let’s start with the dogs. These aren’t the sad, lonely rollers spinning under a gas-station heat lamp. No ma’am. These are plump, snappy, properly crafted hot dogs that arrive piled high with toppings that mean business. Chili? Of course. Slaw? Naturally. But then the fun begins.
The menu reads like a playground for grown-ups — bold sauces, crunchy textures, sweetmeets-savory combinations that make you pause mid-bite and say, “Well now.” That’s the magic here. You can keep it classic, or you can let your inner flavor daredevil take the wheel.
Get Your Southern On
Then there’s the barbecue. Brisket doesn’t need to shout when it’s done right. At Charlie Graingers, it speaks in a slow, smoky Southern drawl. Tender, sliced thick enough to matter, and stacked generously on a bun that understands its role is to support, not compete.
Pulled pork joins the party with that just-right balance of smoke and moisture — the kind that makes napkins mandatory and manners optional.
The Supporting Cast Matters
And let’s not forget the sides. These aren’t afterthoughts or plate fillers — they mean business. We ordered one of each, strictly for research purposes.
The Brunswick stew delivers pure Southern comfort, rich and satisfying. The mac and cheese is creamy and classic, no unnecessary drama — just cheese doing what cheese does best. Baked beans bring a touch of sweetness, while the coleslaw adds a cool crunch that keeps everything in balance. It’s a full Southern supporting cast, and every player pulls their weight.
Pure and Simple
What I appreciate most about Charlie Graingers is that it doesn’t pretend to be anything it’s not. This is counter service with purpose. Order at the register, grab your drink, claim your table, and prepare to get a little messy in the best possible way.
It’s quick enough for a lunch break, but satisfying enough to become a weekly ritual. And it works for everybody. Kids stick to familiar favorites. Flavor seekers build something bold. And the “I just want something good and fast” crowd walks out happy every time.
There’s a certain confidence in taking two humble staples — hot dogs and barbecue — and giving them just enough creative spark to make people talk about them later. Not fussy. Not overcomplicated. Just solid food with personality.
In a growing town like Richmond Hill, places like Charlie Graingers matter. They give you a reason to gather. A reason to treat Tuesday like it’s Friday. A reason to say, “Let’s just go grab a dog,” and mean it.
So here’s my Corner Table advice: go hungry. Try the unexpected topping. Order the brisket. Don’t skip the mac. And if you leave without sauce on your fingers, you probably did it wrong.
INDEX OF ADVERTISERS
COMMUNITY SPONSORS
South Georgia. Are you Ready?
2026 is about real growth.
New neighborhoods are going up. New families are moving in. New businesses are opening their doors. Every single month, people are making decisions about where to eat, where to shop, who to trust with their home, their health, their finances, and their families.
Those decisions are happening right now.
And here’s the part many business leaders miss:
Most of these new residents don’t have brand loyalty yet. They’re forming habits. They’re choosing favorites. They’re deciding who feels familiar, credible, and trustworthy in a place that’s still new to them.
That creates a real opportunity for business growth.
It also creates a real risk of being overlooked.
Most local businesses aren’t struggling because they’re bad at what they do. They’re struggling because when it comes to marketing, they’re winging it.
• They post when they remember.
• They boost a few ads.
• They sponsor an event here and there.
• They hope it all adds up to growth.
Hope is not a strategy.
At J. DelSUR Marketing Group, we look at businesses through a big-picture lens. We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all packages, and we don’t believe more tactics automatically equal better results.
We believe strategy comes first.
2026 is the year to move from random acts of marketing to a strategy-first approach that:
• Reaches the right people at the right time
• Builds trust with newcomers and long-time residents
• Turns first-time buyers into loyal advocates
• Uses your budget wisely instead of spreading it thin
In the months ahead, we’ll be sharing what’s working right now for local businesses in our region — from strategy and local visibility to content, email, paid media, and of course AI.
You’ll see one theme come up again and again: Real growth doesn’t come from doing MORE marketing.
It comes from doing the right marketing, consistently, with a clear strategy behind every move.
If you’d like a partner to help you build and execute a real plan, that’s exactly what we do.
St. Joseph’s/Candler’s Richmond Hill Campus at Heartwood offers a wide variety of healthcare services designed to keep you and your family in great health. Located on Belfast Keller Road across from the Heartwood community, our medical campus offers key access to vital services in a convenient, close-to-home location.
Staffed by experienced, board-certified medical professionals, services now include:
• Primary Care
• Urgent Care
• Cardiology
• Neurology
• OB/GYN
• Podiatry
• Bē Health & Well-Being Program
Whether its diagnosing and treating illnesses, managing chronic illnesses, coordinating care provided by other St. Joseph’s/ Candler specialists, or focusing on preventive care, including checkups and physicals, or immunizations and screenings, we are here to make your health a priority.
For more information, or to schedule an appointment, visit us at sjchs.org/heartwood.
ST.Joseph’s Candler