THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF SECRETS IN A TOWN. THE ONES EVERYONE KNOWS… AND THE ONES EVERYONE WANTS TO KNOW.
Ballots came in by the thousands. Debates were ongoing in car lines, group texts, and lunch tables. Favorites were defended passionately. And then, just like that, the voting closed and the results were locked away. Until now.
Welcome to the 2026 Fabulist — the big reveal issue!
More than 165 categories, completely nominated and decided by our readers. Just the collective opinion of Statesboro, which is about as official as it gets around here. These pages hold the bragging rights, the local legends, and the places you told us you wouldn’t live without.
We’re also shining a brighter spotlight on four standouts whose names kept rising to the top. Laura Marsh, attorney-at-law, is our Most Fabulous Woman of the Year! Mayor Jonathan McCollar is our Most Fabulous Man of the Year. Sharon Persinger of UP Market Media earns the title of Most Fabulous Boss. And Anna Freeman Lee owner of Dish & Lily is our Most Fabulous Young Entrepreneur. Enjoy their stories and get inspired by their servant hearts and community pride!
Then there’s the other kind of celebration we love to document: the moment life changes forever. In Weddings by Statesboro Magazine we showcase two local couples, Olivia Riner & Landon Haralson, and Kitty Lewis & Jack Fortune, in celebrating their beautiful weddings. We follow them from getting ready to going away, and everything in between with each delightful detail. Different details, same joy, and a reminder that some of the biggest days in our lives happen right here at home.
So, settle in. Flip straight to the Fabulist, if you must. We won’t judge. Just know this issue belongs to you, because you’re the ones who chose every winner inside it!
And yes… you picked very well.
Stay Fabulous!
ABOUT THE COVER
She’s just FABULOUS!! Sharon Persinger Edwards, voted Most Fabulous Boss, the creative force behind Up Market Media, also crowned Most Fabulous Marketing Firm by our readers. Captured through the lens of Jason Hurst of Jason Hurst Photography, the cover celebrates leadership, vision, and the kind of hometown success story that makes Statesboro shine. jasonhurstphotography.com
ESTABLISHED MARCH 1, 2000
EDITOR
Jenny Starling Foss
SENIOR CREATIVE
DIRECTOR
Melanie Schmermund
DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING
Mindy Boyette
CONTRIBUTING
PHOTOGRAPHER
Frank Fortune, Jason Hurst, Jeremy Wilburn
Statesboro Magazine is proudly produced by:
FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION, PLEASE E-MAIL: mboyette@ StatesboroMagazine.com
FOR EDITORIAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE E-MAIL: editor@ StatesboroMagazine.com
MAILING ADDRESS: P. O. BOX 1084 Statesboro, GA 30459 p: 912.489.2181
PHYSICAL ADDRESS: One Herald Square, Statesboro, GA 30458 f: 912.489.8613
From Eagle Nation is a column brought to you by Georgia Southern University, where we cherish our place in the larger Statesboro community. In each issue, we hope to bring interesting and informative stories to the readers of Statesboro Magazine
Doy Cave is the Marketing Content Manager in the Office of Marketing and Communications at the University, and resides with his family in Statesboro.
FRANK FORTUNE
Frank is the national award winning freelance photographer who holds the distinction of shooting 26 years’ worth of covers for Statesboro Magazine. He retired from Georgia Southern after having been responsible for capturing the University’s history on film and video for 30 years. Throughout his career Frank’s enjoyed all aspects of photography, including sports, still-life, landscape, and architecture. He and his wife, Mandy, are the proud parents of Jack and Cate.
JASON HURST
Jason Hurst graduated from GSU in 2007 with a Bachelor's degree in Photography and has owned and operated
Jason Hurst Photography for 19 years, specializing in wedding, engagement, senior, and family portraiture. Jason is also lead commercial photographer for Paros Studios as well as being a videographer and editor for Paros Films. When he isn't behind the camera, Jason is traveling with his wife Casey or spending time with his family!
LAZAR BROWN OGLESBY
Lazar Brown Oglesby is the owner of Honey Catering and Dolan’s BBQ both located in Statesboro. Lazar attended Ogeechee Technical College where she earned a Culinary Arts degree. In 2012 Lazar followed a lifelong dream and opened Honey Catering and Café. She enjoys cooking Southern food with an adventurous twist! Lazar is known for her famous cheesecakes of which she has over 100 flavors. Lazar recently started the Honey Blog to share her recipes and stories. Visit her at Dolan’s & Honey’s new location on South Main Street.
MELANIE SCHMERMUND
Melanie is Statesboro Magazine’s Senior Creative Director. Owner of Schmermund Design Studio, LLC, she is an experienced freelance graphic designer specializing in editorial design & branding. She is also a frequent contributing designer to Savannah Magazine. She holds a degree in Art from Auburn University and loves traveling & exploring the world, always looking for new places to visit. Her knowledge & passion are invaluable assets ensuring that each project she works on is of the highest quality.
BENJY THOMPSON
Benjy was born and raised in nearby Millen but spent much of his childhood visiting family in Brooklet. He is a Double Eagle graduate of Georgia Southern University and received his Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina. After spending 16 years in faculty and administration roles at Georgia Southern and Ogeechee Technical College, Benjy transitioned to economic development and his present role as CEO of the Development Authority of Bulloch County. Benjy and his wife Delaine have two children, Lucas and Sarah Kate. He is a longtime partner in the “Downright Brothers Band” with Frank Fortune and a member of the Dark Desert Highway Band.
VIRGINIA ANNE FRANKLIN WATERS
Virginia Anne Franklin Waters is a fourth generation Bulloch Countian and loves all things about her hometown of Statesboro. She graduated from UGA and is a CPA. She spent her career in the hospitality industry. Her passions include entertaining friends at home and working in her gardens. Virginia Anne enjoys everything Gardening—planting seeds, arranging flowers, using raised beds, protecting native plants, propagating camellias and even pulling weeds. She has been a member of the Sprig-N-Dig Federated Garden Club since 1985. Virginia Anne has served on numerous philanthropic boards in our community and is currently the Executive Director of the Bulloch County Historical Society.
REV. JOHN WATERS
Since 2005, John Waters has been the lead pastor of First Baptist Church Statesboro. Raised in a military family, he spent his childhood years in Tokyo, Japan, and Selma, Alabama. He earned a master’s degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a doctorate from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. As a teenager, he once worked a weekend as a circus clown but now enjoys collecting fountain pens, reading across many genres, and visiting the great cathedrals of the world. His wife, Cynthia, is a retired elementary school teacher, and they have two married adult daughters and five grandchildren.
JEREMY WILBURN
Jeremy Wilburn, Business Development Director at the Statesboro-Bulloch Chamber of Commerce, blends over 15 years as a commercial photographer with expertise in marketing, communications, and public relations. He holds a master’s degree in communication from the University of Illinois, combining creativity with strategic vision.
22 LAURA MARSH
FEATURES WRITTEN BY JENNY STARLING FOSS
MOST FABULOUS WOMAN! PHOTOGRAPHY BY FRANK FORTUNE
28 JONATHAN MCCOLLAR MOST FABULOUS MAN! PHOTOGRAPHY BY FRANK FORTUNE
34 SHARON PERSINGER MOST FABULOUS BOSS! PHOTOGRAPHY BY JASON HURST
40 ANNA FREEMAN LEE
MOST FABULOUS YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR! PHOTOGRAPHY BY FRANK FORTUNE
Beyond Style
What if the runway was yours? At Georgia Southern, our fashion merchandising and apparel design program prepares you for a global industry. Master the journey from initial concept to production to the sales floor. You’ll build the expertise you need to soar… beyond ideas…beyond materials… beyond limits.
SOAR BEYOND.
FRIDAYS –TUESDAYS
@ 10:00 P.M.
STATESBORO MAIN STREET MARKET2GO
Order the season’s freshest local fruits, vegetables and homemade baked goods, preserves, jams, jellies, candies and relishes. You’ll also find locally sourced meat, seafood, spices, dairy and eggs. Home and garden items, honey and locally grown flower bouquets.
Shop online Friday – Tuesday at 10:00 p.m. @ https://statesboromarket2go.locallygrown.net.
Pick-up on Thursday afternoons at the Statesboro Visitors Center, 222 South Main Street or in Sylvania at the Victory Garden General Store, 124 West Telephone Street.
MARCH 5
DEREK WARFIELD & THE YOUNG WOLFE TONES
7:30 P.M.
$29 - $39/PERSON
EMMA KELLY THEATER
AVERITT CENTER FOR THE ARTS
Derek Warfield’s 50 years of experience coupled with the talent and energy of The
Young Wolfe Tones, bring the old tradition of Irish balladry into a new age. The story of Ireland is transmitted in their music and song and illuminated by the outstanding musicianship of three wonderful ambassadors of a new generation of traditional players. Derek Warfield and The Young Wolfe Tones deliver Ireland’s traditional music and folk songs with an energy and skill that shows the quality of contemporaries within that tradition. The patriotic spirit of Irish music carried through the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s by the Wolfe Tones now marches on in the dynamic sound of The Young Wolfe Tones. For tickets visit www.AverittCenterfortheArts.org.
MARCH 7
GATAJAM COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL
FEATURING BAILEY ZIMMERMAN & HUDSON WESTBROOK
BLAKE WHITEN & SLATTER NALLEY
5:00 P.M. – 11:00 P.M.
$70 - $335/PERSON
PAULSON STADIUM GOLD LOT
GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
VIP Pass Includes: Admission to Gata Jam! Access to the event's food, bars, merch, and great music! Expedited / private entry to event. Exclusive VIP area in front of the stage. Private Restroom Trailer. Private cash bar (beer, wine, RTD's, and liquor). Limited
community seating available on a first come, first serve basis. Pit Pass Includes: Admission to Gata Jam! Access the event's food, bars, merch, and great music! Access to the Pit Area in front of the stage. Pit tickets are first come first serve with no reserved standing area. General Admission Includes: Admission to Gata Jam! Access to the event's food, bars, merch, and great music! Event is Rain or Shine. All ticket sales final. No refunds. For tickets visit: www.gseagles.evenue.net/ events/GATAJAM.
MARCH 8
PEACH STATE OPERA PRESENTS HANSEL & GRETEL
3:00 P.M.
$38/PERSON
EMMA KELLY THEATER
AVERITT CENTER FOR THE ARTS
This Spring, Peach State Opera presents their touring production of Hansel and Gretel, performed in English in a condensed family-friendly version of this classic opera. This beloved fairy tale takes a dark and dazzling turn in Humperdinck’s spellbinding opera masterpiece. A trail of breadcrumbs, a forest that whispers secrets, and a witch with sinister intentions enticing you into her house made of sweets. Step into a world where innocence is tested, shadows dance, and music weaves magic more powerful than spells. With hauntingly beautiful melodies and a story as chilling as it is charming, this operatic journey will leave you breathless. Bring the whole family and experience this fairy tale like never before - mysterious, majestic, and unforgettable. For tickets visit www.AverittCenterfortheArts.org.
Derek Warfield & The Young Wolfe Tones
Bailey Zimmerman & Hudson Westbrook
PHOTO BY THEYOUNGWOLFETONES.COM
PHOTO BY BAILEYZIMMERMANMUSIC.COM
MARCH
13
STRAIT COUNTRY, THE ULTIMATE
GEORGE STRAIT TRIBUTE
7:30 P.M. | $28 - $38/PERSON
EMMA KELLY THEATER
AVERITT CENTER FOR THE ARTS
So, grab your cowboy hat, put on your dancing boots, and get ready to sing along to all your favorite George Strait hits with the one and only Howard Decker and his incredible band. Dedicated to honoring the timeless music of the legendary George Strait, Dallas-born Howard Decker tours nationwide delivering the iconic look, the sound, the essence and spirit of George Strait's chart-topping music, making every performance an unforgettable experience. Tribute performances transport audiences back to the heyday of traditional country music, delivering an energetic and nostalgic journey through George Strait's incredible discography. Get ready for a night of pure country bliss that will make you feel like you're right there at a George Strait concert. Welcome to Strait Country Tribute, your ultimate destination for the nation's top fanfavorite tribute to George Strait! For tickets visit www.AverittCenterfortheArts.org.
MARCH
15
WEMBERLY PONDER, PIANIST
PRESENTS THE FIRST CHOPIN BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION BENEFIT CONCERT
7:00 P.M.
TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH
4401 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD
Wemberly Ponder, renowned pianist, will present Statesboro’s first Chopin Birthday Celebration concert. Admission is free, and donations received during this musical celebration will support sanctuary repairs at Greater Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Guests who attend and contribute will be recognized in Wemberly Ponder’s upcoming book, I Soar Beyond the Stars. Enjoy Wemberly’s interpretation of Chopin’s finest music.
MARCH 21
STATESBORO FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS
10:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. | FREE, FUN, FAMILY EVENT! | THE MARKET ON MAIN 222 SOUTH MAIN STREET
Enjoy indoor/outdoor fun at The Market at Visit Statesboro for the 2nd Annual Statesboro Festival of the Arts. Explore over 60 artists’ booths featuring ceramics, metalworking, woodworking, paintings, and more. Watch live demonstrations, meet the makers, and take home one-of-a-kind treasures! Free Admission, free parking, artist demos, live music, food trucks & Kids craft zone! Presented by The Averitt Center for the Arts, Downtown Statesboro Development Authority, and Visit Statesboro. Sponsored by Georgia Power, Bulloch Solutions, GAF, and others. This event is funded in part by a grant from South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. More information can be found at www.averittcenterforthearts.org/ festival-of-arts.
APRIL 4
EASTER AT FRANKLIN’S FARM
10:00 A.M. | FREE, FUN, FAMILY EVENT!
FRANKLIN’S FARM STAND
10610 HIGHWAY 301 SOUTH
Hop on out to an Easter celebration at Franklin’s Farm for a cute and colorful Easter celebration for all ages. Enjoy a sweet spring day full of family fun, fresh air, and festive memories. They’re bringing the farm to life with egg hunts, photo spots, local goodies, and plenty of smiles. It’s the perfect way to welcome spring and celebrate together. Bunny photo ops, local vendors and farm favorites, fresh seasonal treats and market goodies. Bring your baskets, cameras, and your crew!
Wemberly
Ponder
APRIL 5
STATESBORO MAIN STREET
FARMERS MARKET OPENING DAY!
9:00 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.
FREE, FUN, FAMILY EVENT!
THE MARKET ON MAIN
222 SOUTH MAIN STREET
The season starts here. Opening day of the Statesboro Main Street Farmers Market is more than a shopping trip, it is a Saturday morning tradition in full color. Tents line the sidewalk with tables overflowing in just picked produce. Crisp greens, ripe tomatoes, sweet berries, and baskets of peaches and squash arrive straight from local fields, often harvested the very day you buy them. The air smells like warm butter and sugar as bakers set out loaves of artisan bread, cinnamon rolls, muffins, and hand pies. Artisan vendors share rows of small batch jams, pepper jellies, honey, and homemade sauces. Local makers bring the personality. Hand poured soaps, candles, and lotions share space with handcrafted jewelry, pottery, woodwork, and textile goods you will not find anywhere else. Fresh cut flowers brighten every corner with buckets of sunflowers, zinnias, and seasonal blooms ready to take home. Music, neighbors, and friendly conversation fill the morning air! Opening day marks the return of fresh flavor, handmade craft, and community spirit. Come early, bring a tote, and start your Saturday the local way.
APRIL 9
DOWNTOWN LIVE CONCERT SERIES: LIQUID PLEASURE
7:00 P.M.
FREE, FUN, FAMILY EVENT!
DOWNTOWN STATESBORO
The City of Statesboro will present the first concert of the 4th Annual Downtown Live Concert Series, kicking off the season is Liquid Pleasure, bringing their high-energy performance packed with crowd-pleasing covers ranging from modern hits by artists like The Black Eyed Peas and Outkast to Motown classics from The Temptations and The Supremes. With a sound that spans generations, there’s truly something for everyone to enjoy. Grab your dancing shoes and lawn chair and join the fun in Downtown Statesboro as Downtown Live returns for another exciting season of live music.
Admission to the concerts is open to the public. Food trucks and vendors will open at 6:00 p.m. on the day of the event, with several downtown restaurants also within walking distance of the concert stage. Downtown Live is a family-friendly event for all ages. For more information, visit www.downtownlivestatesboro.com.
APRIL 11
BERRIES IN THE BORO
10:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
FREE, FUN, FAMILY EVENT!
FRANKLIN’S FARM STAND
10610 HIGHWAY 301 SOUTH
Celebrating Strawberry Season! Prepicked or You-pick. The freshest ripened strawberries still in the field ready for picking. Or you can pick your own. Strawberries sold by the gallon and ½ gallon. At their red-juiciest, these local berries carry the sweet flavor of South Georgia sunshine and dew. Bring the whole family for a great day outdoors and take home the sweetest red, ripe and ready berries. Sunshine you can eat. Picked this morning. Gone by sunset.
OAK ROOM, JACK HILL BUILDING OGEECHEE TECHNICAL COLLEGE
The Statesboro-Bulloch County Chamber of Commerce, along with the Bulloch County Development Authority, Visit Statesboro, Ogeechee Technical College and Georgia Southern University partner to highlight the vibrancy of the Statesboro Bulloch County community while showcasing the vast opportunities available to enhance the quality of life in the area. Participants will gain insights into future planning and development and have the chance to engage in a panel Q & A session with local leaders. Presented by Georgia Power. For more information or to register for the event visit the “Choose Bulloch Event – Discovering Opportunities” Facebook page.
APRIL 18
BIG BORO BASH
11:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.
FREE, FUN, FAMILY EVENT!
BUSINESS INNOVATION GROUP
GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
58 EAST MAIN STREET
DOWNTOWN STATESBORO
Join in for a day of family friendly fun featuring live music, food trucks, local vendors, raffles, and more! Previously known as the Statesboro Business Expo, the event has been reimagined as the "BIG Boro Bash" after last spring’s debut success. A staple annual event that celebrates the local business community in Statesboro. Created and Hosted by Eagle Entrepreneurs.
APRIL 25
JOEY THURMOND & THE SELECT ORCHESTRA “ESPECIALLY FOR YOU”
7:00 P.M.
$29 - $39/PERSON
EMMA KELLY THEATER
AVERITT CENTER FOR THE ARTS
Joey Thurmond & The Select Orchestra, "Especially for You" is a true Las Vegas Experience! Fronted by Joey Thurmond who is celebrating over 35 years in Entertainment and backed by the Amazing, LIVE Select Orchestra, this High-Energy Show takes guests on a roller coaster ride of music made popular by the likes of Dean Martin, Elvis Presley, Wayne Newton, Chuck Berry, Mickey Gilley, Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis, & more. With Beautiful Costumes, MultiTalented Performers, & a song list featuring Classic Rock-n-Roll, R&B, Blues, Country, Pop, & Gospel arrangements this show is guaranteed to have something for Everyone! A Classic Las Vegas Experience! Perfect for a Date Night with that Special Someone, Friends Date, or a Family Night Out"! For tickets visit www.AverittCenterfortheArts.org.
SEND US YOUR EVENTS!
Email your event, with one image, to editor@statesboromagazine.com for possible inclusion in next month's calendar.
GOLDEN EAGLES TO LAND AT GEORGIA SOUTHERN’S EAST GEORGIA CAMPUS
Georgia Southern University’s East Georgia Campus in Swainsboro will soar to new heights with the announcement of the campus’s new athletics name and logo. At the start of the next East Georgia Campus athletic season, student-athletes will compete as the Georgia Southern Golden Eagles. The program is working toward National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) membership.
The Golden Eagles represent a culture built on earning success through hard work and perseverance. The program embraces the grind that reveals true commitment to sport and turns that reality into a competitive advantage. More than a team, the Golden Eagles are a family — fostering a campus environment where relentless student-athletes are known, supported and developed as whole people. As a four-year NAIA program, the Golden Eagles will be built to fly, transforming the campus from a stepping stone into a launchpad where student-athletes can build continuity, recognition and something lasting.
“The launch of the Golden Eagles marks a defining moment for our East Georgia Campus. This new identity reflects the resilience, determination and pride that already exist within our student-athletes and our Swainsboro community,” said Georgia Southern President Kyle Marrero. “As we pursue NAIA membership, we are not simply changing a name — we are expanding opportunity, strengthening our commitment to student success, and building a program where studentathletes can grow, compete and leave a lasting legacy.”
The new name was selected following information and branding sessions with East Georgia Campus students, studentathletes, coaches, faculty, staff, campus leaders and community held over the last several months.
The Golden Eagles logo showcases a left-facing eagle head with a fierce determination echoing the dedication that the coaches, staff and studentathletes exhibit each and every day. The design glistens with a golden foundation creating a focal point of distinction while adding to the rich tradition of Georgia Southern’s proud Eagle Nation. The new logo is an extension for Georgia Southern, representing how the institution continues to grow and impact more communities.
Joe Heikkinen has been selected to direct East Georgia Campus athletics.
Heikkinen is a former Division 1 football scholar athlete at Rice University. He has coached at the collegiate, high school, youth and professional levels with experience in strengthening academic and athletic outcomes. With more than 20 years of professional experience in sales and operations, he has led teams, managed significant budgets and developed sustainable systems. Heikkinen joined the Golden Eagles in February.
“I am incredibly honored to join our East Georgia Campus and the greater Eagle Nation at such an exciting time,” said Heikkinen. “The Golden Eagles brand represents more than a new identity. This is about creating pride across campus and throughout our local community. It represents our commitment to developing studentathletes who succeed in the classroom, in
competition and in life. I look forward to sharing this vision with our fans and partners in April.”
A special community event celebrating the launch of Golden Eagles Athletics is scheduled for April 27, 2026, on the University’s East Georgia Campus. Heikkinen and Golden Eagles student-athletes will be on hand for a meet-and-greet, while attendees get a first look at the full Golden Eagles athletics brand, including uniform concepts and facility branding. The event will also feature updates on athletic facilities and the University’s transition to the NAIA. Visit www.GeorgiaSouthern.edu.
COURTESY GSU
SHANNON PHILLIPS NEW OWNER AT ABSHIRE PUBLIC RELATIONS
Beginning January 2026, Shannon Phillips has assumed ownership of Abshire Public Relations (APR), marking the start of a thoughtful leadership succession plan designed to ensure a seamless and inspiring next chapter for the firm.
As part of this exciting transition, APR Founder Jennifer Abshire will continue to play an integral role in the firm’s future as Senior Strategist, working fulltime alongside the team she has helped build over the last 25 years. Susan Hancock will also remain a principal and trusted partner, continuing her key leadership role in shaping APR’s strategy, culture, and growth.
“This moment represents both a celebration of our legacy and the start of a bold new era,” said Jennifer Abshire. “As we continue providing the trusted counsel our clients rely on, we are also creating new and diverse ways to deliver impactful content and drive APR’s next phase of growth. Shannon joined our team nearly 10 years ago as Creative Director, and we have had the privilege of watching her grow into an exceptional leader. We are confident in her vision, her commitment to our clients, and the very bright future ahead for Abshire PR.”
“I am incredibly honored to step into this role and continue building on the foundation Jennifer and Susan have created,” said Phillips. “Abshire PR has always been rooted in relationships, integrity, and community, and I’m excited to carry that legacy forward alongside our talented team and trusted clients.”
For more information about Abshire Public Relations, visit abshirepr.com
East Georgia Regional Medical Center (EGRMC) announced the appointment of C. Alan Scott, MD as its new Chief Medical Officer (CMO). Dr. Scott officially assumed the role on January 11, 2026. He will be responsible for leading the hospital’s clinical strategy, ensuring the highest standard of patient safety and quality care, and serving as the primary liaison between the administration and the medical staff.
Dr. Scott brings several years of distinguished experience in clinical practice with board certification in both Internal
EAST GEORGIA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
APPOINTS C. ALAN SCOTT, M.D. AS CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER
Medicine and Pediatrics. He has held multiple medical leadership and healthcare administration roles previously in his career. A 1984 graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, he completed his residency at the University of Tennessee-Memphis, Le Bonheur and St. Jude’s Children’s hospitals before starting the private practice of medicine and pediatrics. He has multi-year clinical experience as a primary care physician, hospitalist, and emergency department physician. He began transitioning into physician administration at EGRMC in roles as Director of Emergency Services, Chief of Staff, Board of Trustees Vice Chairman, as well as physician champion for the accredited specialty stroke and chest pain centers.
Most recently, Dr. Scott served as Director of Medical Affairs. He has provided medical care to over one million patients throughout his career. In addition to his medical activities as actor C. Alan Scott, he has also been featured in several episodes of the popular TV series Untold Stories of the ER.
“East Georgia Regional Medical Center is pleased to welcome Dr. Scott to our
leadership team as Chief Medical Officer,” said Stephen Pennington, Chief Executive Officer. “The Chief Medical Officer role is a critical leadership position, and Dr. Scott brings extensive clinical and leadership experience along with the trust and respect of the regional medical community. His expertise and collaborative approach will support our continued focus on quality, safety, and exceptional patient care across southeast Georgia.”
“I’m honored by the confidence the leadership of East Georgia Regional Medical Center has placed in me, and am excited to continue my career at East Georgia. Our hospital has an excellent reputation for outstanding care and service to southeast Georgia,” said Dr. Scott. “I look forward to collaborating with all our partners to further strengthen our commitment to quality and innovation, ensuring that every patient receives exceptional care. I am committed to fulfilling our motto: “Every patient, Every time, Always.”
www.EastGeorgiaRegional.com
*East Georgia Regional Medical Center is owned in part by physicians.
COURTESY
RATES OF COLORECTAL CANCER RISING IN YOUNGER PEOPLE
Recent national attention surrounding the death of actor James Van Der Beek from colorectal cancer has brought renewed urgency to conversations about the importance of early detection and routine screening. At the same time, East Georgia Regional Medical Center is strengthening access to preventive care in the region with the addition of a new provider, Summer Strickland, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, at East Georgia Gastroenterology Institute dedicated to helping patients understand their risk, navigate screening options and take proactive steps to protect their digestive health.
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer in the U.S. and the statistics on the rates by age have surprised the medical community. Between 2012 and 2021, more colorectal cancer cases have been identified in adults under 50 each year while the rates for adults 50 and older have been going down over the same period. The American Cancer Society estimates about 107,320 new cases of colon cancer and 46,950 new cases of rectal cancer will be reported for 2025.
Strickland says, “Colorectal cancer screening is a critical tool to fight the disease, because precancerous growths can be detected and removed before they develop into cancer.” The American Cancer Society and US Preventive Services task force both recommend the age to start screening for colorectal cancers is 45 for those at average risk.
PORTAL TEACHER WINS STATE EDUCATOR AWARD
Jessica Autry, a Bulloch County teacher, has been honored for being a great leader and coach for Georgia’s future educators.
Jessica Autry, a teacher at Portal Elementary School, is a recipient of the Georgia Mentor Teacher Award for the Southeast P-20 Regional Collaborative. She was selected for her work to help both high school and college students learn to become great teachers.
For patients at higher risk, their physician may advise having an initial screening before age 45 or more frequent screening. These risk factors include:
• A personal or family history of colorectal cancer, or of certain types of polyps;
• A personal history of ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease;
• A history of radiation in the abdomen or pelvis, in treatment of previous cancer(s);
• A genetic and hereditary colorectal cancer syndrome, such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or Lynch syndrome.
In addition to colonoscopy, the most commonly known screening, several types of tests can screen for colorectal cancer. Fecal occult blood test, sigmoidoscopy, virtual colonoscopy and DNA stool test are also used.
“While we are doing a better job of screening for and removing polyps before they become cancerous, the overall lifestyle and diet choices of our population are driving up the risk and incidence of these cancers,” says Strickland.
Strickland says that beyond regular screenings, there are a number of lifestyle factors you can manage to reduce your risk of developing colorectal cancer. These include maintaining a healthy body weight; managing your Type 2 diabetes; minimizing red meats in your diet such as beef, pork, lamb and liver, and processed meats; avoiding smoking; and limiting your alcohol intake. Just as with heart health, staying active and maintaining a healthy diet that includes plenty of fruits,
vegetables and whole grains and limiting red meats and sugary drinks, may lower your risk.
Depending on your age, a colonoscopy screening may be a covered wellness test under your insurance plan – and most plans cover a colonoscopy completely as a follow-up test or diagnostic tool.
If you have a family history of colon cancer, or have reached age 45 or more, talk with your primary care provider to see if it’s time for you to begin screening, which test is right for you and how frequently to be screened. To book your appointment at East Georgia Gastroenterology Institute go to www.eastgeorgiamedsurgassociates.com/ all-appointments
*East Georgia Regional Medical Center is owned in part by physicians.
Sources:
American Cancer Society
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
NIH: National Cancer Institute
During its 2025-2026 biannual meeting at the Hilton Peachtree City Hotel in Atlanta, the Georgia Association of Colleges for Teacher Education presented Autry and eight other educators with Georgia Outstanding Mentor Awards, one for each of the state’s nine regional education collaboratives. The recipients were nominated by postsecondary faculty from colleges of education from around the state.
Autry has been a teacher for more than 14 years. She teaches second grade, but she also works with high school students who want to be educators as part of Bulloch County Schools’ Teaching As A Profession and Early Childhood Education career pathways.
“Without great mentors like Mrs. Autry, it would be much harder for new teachers to
succeed,” school officials said. “She is a true partner in helping our schools grow.”
Autry was nominated for the award by Alisa Leckie, Ed.D., Assistant Dean of Partnerships and Outreach and a professor of English Learner Education at Georgia Southern University.
The event and the award are sponsored by the Georgia Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, the Georgia Association of Educators, the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders, and the Professional Association of Georgia Educators.
Autry has a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Georgia Southern University. In 2014, she was named the Teacher of the Year for Portal Elementary.
COURTESY EGRMC
MOST FABULOUS
Place to Work
2025 EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR: Linda Curry, Patient Care Technician Medical Surgical & Telemetry
2025 CLINICAL LEADER OF THE YEAR:
Cheri Wagner, MBA, MSN, R.N., CEN Emergency Department Clinical Director
2025 NON-CLINICAL LEADER OF THE YEAR: Pat Patterson Biomedical Manager
2025 EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH WINNERS:
• Linda Curry, Patient Care Technician Medical Surgical & Telemetry
• Sterling Irvin, Supply Chain Tech Supply Chain
• Tammy Lynn, Speech-language Pathologist Lead erapist, Rehabilitation & Wound Care Services
• Angelia “Angie” Morris, CNA/Unit Secretary Critical Care Services
• Brooks Lord, CT Technologist Radiology
• Angela René Durfee RT(R)(M), Mammography Technologist Statesboro Imaging Center
• Joshlyn Curry, HIM Analyst Health Information Management
• Linda Oglesby, R.N., Educator Surgical Services
• Madison Poole, Echo Technologist Non-Interventional Cardiology
AWARD WINNER: Marie Burdett, MSN, R.N., CHSA Chief Nursing Operator
DAISY NURSE LEADER
AWARD WINNER: Eddie Saxon, R.N.
Assistant Manager of Critical Care (ICU, CCU, PCU, Dialysis)
NURSING EXCELLENCE
AWARD WINNER:
Shirley Lipsey, LPN
Medical Surgical
DISTINGUISHED TEAM MEMBERS
WITH 25 PLUS YEARS OF SERVICE IN 2025
Shirley Lipsey, 1972
Frances Walker, 1974
Kathy Holmes, 1979
Sheila Sanchez-Vesga, 1979
Latrelle Carter, 1980
Jane Flack, 1982
Donna Hodges, 1983
Betty Drummer, 1985
Alma Sabb, 1985
Catherine Lawson, 1985
John Shumate, 1985
Joy Pope, 1985
Mary Pryor, 1985
Katie Olson, 1986
Mae Jones, 1986
Sharon Deal, 1986
Joy Glisson, 1986
Tracy Colbert, 1987
Angela Reddick, 1987
Wayne Ru n, 1987
Connie Sherrod, 1987
Lafaye Williams, 1988
Brenda Rawls, 1988
Earshella Miles, 1989
Shelia Williams, 1989
Cecile Weaver, 1989
Debbie Mcnure, 1989
Charlene Key, 1989
Kimberly Wolfe, 1991
Cristi Mcnure, 1991
Anita Williams, 1991
Carla Branch, 1992
Renee Deal, 1992
Cynthia Young, 1992
Angela Nunnally, 1993
Marlene Mcalhany, 1993
Krista Girardeau, 1993
Maxine Bonner, 1993
Mike Motes, 1993
Devane Lewis, 1993
Gina Harnage, 1993
Michelle Woods, 1993
Daphne Hodge, 1993
Amanda Dowd, 1994
Crystal Boyd, 1994
Patricia Davis, 1995
Kimberly Smith, 1995
Amy Shuman, 1995
Stephen Jones, 1996
Staci Kennedy, 1996
Linda Oglesby, 1996
Christine Black, 1997
Claudette Akins, 1997
Joanne Sabb, 1997
Tracy Strickland, 1997
Cassie Dickerson, 1997
Joyce Boyett, 1998
Karen Lovett, 1998
Louisa Hensley, 1998
Daphne Wiggins, 1998
Teresa Leedy- omas, 1998
Wanda Alford, 1998
Matthew Haddock, 1998
Linda Curry, 1999
Trish Lanier, 1999
Penny Faircloth, 1999
Dawn Lambert, 1999
Tessie Grumbar, 2000
Bernita White, 2000
Kathy Jenkins, 2000
Charity Yates, 2000
Nancy Stovall, 2000
Sharon Williams, 2000
Tammy Mascarello, 2000
Jacquline Wiggins, 2000
Laura Taulbee Marsh
MOST FABULOUS WOMAN OF THE YEAR
WRITTEN BY JENNY STARLING FOSS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY FRANK FORTUNE
IN A TOWN WHERE ROOTS RUN DEEP AND HANDSHAKES STILL MATTER, LAURA TAULBEE MARSH has built a life that feels almost inseparable from Statesboro itself. Her work, her faith, her friendships, and even her profession are tied to the people and place she has always called home.
The 2026 Most Fabulous Woman did not become successful by chasing attention. She earned respect by showing up, solving problems, and helping others move forward.
Laura has practiced law in Statesboro since 2000 as a principal at Taulbee, Rushing, Snipes, Marsh & Hodgen, LLC. Her work centers on transactional law, guiding clients through contracts, real estate, corporations, development, and business start-ups. The job is complex and often demanding, but to her, the purpose is simple.
“My father, Dan Taulbee, was an attorney and I grew up around it,” Laura said. “I found it interesting and I like that it helps people. I thought I would be a prosecutor, but I worked
in corporate law in New York after law school, and now I specialize in transactional law.”
That path, from Wall Street firms back to a hometown office, was never about stepping away from opportunity. It was about choosing the right one.
“I work with amazing people, both clients and staff,” she said. “We work together to really solve issues.”
Over time those solutions have turned into hundreds of success stories, businesses launched, property secured, partnerships formed, and families protected. The cases may change, but her guiding principle has never wavered. It came from her father.
“If you do good work, success will follow.”
Laura adds quietly, “So we try to do the best job possible, and I believe God rewards that.”
A Life Built on Service
Her legal career alone would make her Most Fabulous, but the complete story of
Laura Marsh cannot be told through her résumé. It lives in decades of volunteer leadership, nonprofit formation, and hands-on service.
She helped form the Bulloch County Boys & Girls Club and the Professional Women of Statesboro. She has served in leadership with the Statesboro Service League, Bulloch Academy Board of Trustees, and the Camilla Foundation. She also represented the 12th Congressional District as representative to the Board of Regents for 3.5 years completing the term of Lori Durden, when Durden was appointed president of Ogeechee Technical College. Service, for her, is not an activity. It is a responsibility.
Her approach to leadership mirrors the way she practices law: listen first, build relationships, and bring people together to accomplish something that lasts. She believes communities stay strong when people invest their time, not just their opinions.
Family at the Center
Despite a schedule that could easily consume every hour, Laura calls one role her favorite. Mom.
She and her husband Randy raised their daughters CJ and Janna (JB) in Statesboro, intentionally building a home rooted in faith and connection. Both daughters will soon be living in Atlanta. Both graduated from the University of Georgia. CJ is pursuing a doctorate in audiology and will soon begin work in pediatric occupational therapy, while Janna works as a corporate consultant.
Distance has not changed the rhythm of their relationship. She talks or texts with them every day.
The family still travels together each year and spends time with close friends, a circle she considers essential.
“As our friends get older and we all care for our aging parents and pray for our adult children, it is a different stage of life,” Laura said. “The support of family and friends is essential. Surround yourself with prayer warriors.”
She has maintained friendships from elementary school and built others through church, sports, and Bible study. Those
Meeting people and hearing their stories makes me a better lawyer”
–LAURA MARSH
relationships shape her outlook and her law practice. Meeting people and hearing their stories, she says, makes her a better lawyer.
Coming Home
Laura’s connection to Statesboro stretches across generations. Her grandfather, J.I. Clements was a legendary coach, athletic director, and administrator at Georgia Southern College from 1948 until 1984. He led the baseball team to the school’s first national championship in 1962, achieved a 320-205 record, and was named 1963 NAIA National Coach of the Year. The baseball stadium at Georgia Southern University still bears his name.
Her father served as a door gunner in Vietnam, completed law school at the University of Kentucky, and brought the family back when she was in third grade.
She grew up attending local schools, cheering with friend Ashley Ellis at Statesboro High for four years, and forming friendships that still define her life. She fondly remembers teachers Virginia Trapnell, Janet Burke, Julian Deal, Linda Hubbard and Linda Carter.
After graduating from the University of Georgia School of Law with top honors and working in New York corporate law, she returned home not out of nostalgia, but purpose.
She wanted to build a life where her career and community strengthened each other.
“I love Statesboro,” she said. “I love the initiative behind the Blue Mile, the young energy a college town brings, and sports at every level. We’re a sporty family, and it makes the community vibrant.”
Running into familiar faces is one of her favorite parts of daily life. It is also what fuels her work. Clients are not transactions. They are neighbors.
Faith, Friendship, and Perspective
Faith has long been the foundation under everything Laura does. It shapes how she leads, how she practices law, and how she measures success. She and Randy are members of Statesboro’s First United Methodist Church where she has served on the Church Council.
“Any success I’ve experienced has been through God’s grace and other people pouring into me,” she said. “I’m very blessed with a loving family and friends.”
She encourages young people to broaden their perspective before settling into career and routine.
“Travel while you are young,” she advises. The world, she believes, makes you wiser. Community gives you purpose.
Why She’s Fabulous
The Most Fabulous Woman title recognizes more than professional accomplishment. It honors influence, impact, and the way a person elevates others.
For more than two decades, Laura Marsh has quietly shaped the landscape of Statesboro through businesses she helped form, organizations she strengthened, and people she encouraged.
Her career solves legal problems. Her leadership builds opportunity. Her relationships are built on caring.
“How grateful I am for this honor,” she said. “Statesboro is a unique community full of caring people who are very generous in giving and in spirit.”
In many ways, Laura Taulbee Marsh represents the very definition of hometown success. Not measured by distance traveled, but by lives touched. And in a community built on connection, that is exactly what makes her Most Fabulous. S
Mayor Jonathan McCollar
MOST FABULOUS MAN OF THE YEAR
WRITTEN BY JENNY STARLING FOSS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY FRANK FORTUNE
FOR JONATHAN MCCOLLAR, LEADERSHIP HAS NEVER BEEN ABOUT HOLDING AN office. It has always been about holding a responsibility.
The three-term mayor of Statesboro was born and raised here, educated in local public schools, and graduated from Statesboro High School. His roots stretch deep into Bulloch County history, back to the early 1800s, when generations of his family farmed the same land and endured hard seasons together.
From those experiences came the philosophy that guides his public service today.
His grandmother told him he would go far in life if he helped people. He never forgot it.
“At the end of the day, I want to lay my head down and rest in the peace of knowing I did a good job,” he said.
That definition of success is simple, but the work behind it is anything but. As Frank Jackson, Cleveland, Ohio’s longest serving
mayor once said, “The measure of a great city is how it provides for and how it treats the least among us.”
A Mayor Focused on Progress
Jonathan first took office in January 2018, with a clear goal: improve quality of life for every resident, not just a select few. He measures progress less by headlines and more by outcomes families can feel at their kitchen tables.
“When I came into office, Statesboro had a 53% poverty rate,” he said. “Today that has been reduced to 36%. Unemployment was in double digits. Now it is about 3.5%. To me that is success. Those numbers reflect families moving up in the world.”
Key developments during the Mayor’s tenure include over 190 new business licenses in 2024, massive infrastructure investments (like finishing all city road paving), and becoming the first “Retail Ready” community designated by Georgia Power. The trade
region of the City is expected to grow by 7.6% in the next five years, indicating a sustained demand for more retail.
Those improvements did not come quickly or easily. He believes the hardest part of being mayor is having patience, understanding that systemic issues cannot be solved overnight.
But forward movement matters. And his plan for the city follows a deliberate structure.
“We have to work in tiers,” he explained.
The first tier focuses on the city overall, maintaining development standards and housing codes.
The second tier strengthens neighborhoods by repairing older homes and rebuilding deteriorated ones.
The third tier addresses infrastructure: roads, flood zones, water, sewer, and gas systems.
The fourth tier is social infrastructure: parks, outdoor concerts, youth programs, and literacy partnerships with Bulloch County Schools.
At the end of the day, I want to lay my head down and rest in the peace of knowing I did a good job”
–MAYOR JONATHAN MCCOLLAR
Together, those layers form what he believes a modern city must be: not just functional, but livable.
Building a Regional Hub
Under his leadership, Statesboro has increasingly positioned itself as an economic center for surrounding counties. He points to partnerships, education, and workforce development as the engines behind that growth.
“The new robotics lab at Ogeechee Technical College will provide state-of-the-art training that workers from all over the state
can use,” he said. “Amazon employees now come here from across the nation to train. We’re visible on a national level because of investment in this region.”
He also notes proximity to major industry as a turning point.
“The Hyundai plant is just thirty minutes from City Hall,” he said.
To him, growth is not accidental. It is planned cooperation between city, county, education, and private industry.
“We are a regional hub, a center for commerce for surrounding rural counties,” he said. “Our daytime population exceeds 200,000 when you include students, workers, visitors, and shoppers. We are on a trajectory to become more like Athens or Auburn, Alabama.”
His hope is continued collaboration across government lines to sustain momentum and opportunity.
A Life in Service
Long before public office, Jonathan’s career centered on people. His work has spanned nonprofit leadership, higher education, workforce development, and real estate. Today he practices real estate with Coldwell Banker Conner Realty, specializing in commercial transactions and negotiations, while his wife Adrienne serves as Director of Strategic Initiatives for Student Affairs at Georgia Southern University.
Together they have five adult children, three sons and two daughters. Family, like community, is foundational to him.
“It is important for people to know how long my family has been here,” he said. “Our roots date back to 1820 to my 3x great-grandfather Alexander Mincey.”
Generations stayed together during difficult times, supporting each other through hardship. That memory shaped his approach to leadership: build people up so they can move forward. He sees public office as an extension of that principle.
The Challenge and the Honor
The COVID years tested every community leader in ways no one anticipated. For Jonathan, it became the defining moment of his administration.
He considers the measurable economic recovery that followed one of his greatest achievements, not because it reflects policy success alone, but because it reflects personal stability returning to households.
For him, statistics matter only because people do.
He calls serving as mayor of his hometown the greatest honor of his life.
“To be in my third term is beyond gratifying,” he said.
A Vision for the Future
Jonathan believes the next chapter of Statesboro depends on intentional growth, revitalized neighborhoods, and sustained partnerships. His focus remains on strengthening both physical and social infrastructure while preserving the character that makes the city feel personal rather than anonymous.
He speaks often about community investment, whether it is educational programs, historic preservation, or shared public spaces. Each contributes to a sense of belonging. Because ultimately, he says, cities succeed when people feel they matter.
Why He’s Fabulous
The Most Fabulous Man of the Year recognition reflects more than a title. It acknowledges a commitment to service rooted in generations of local history and carried forward through measurable change.
Jonathan McCollar’s leadership philosophy has never been complicated: help people, stay patient, and keep moving forward. The words his grandmother spoke still guide him.
And at the end of each day, that remains his measure of success.
To do a Fabulous job for his hometown. S
Sharon Persinger Edwards
MOST FABULOUS BOSS
Up Market Media
MOST FABULOUS MARKETING FIRM
WRITTEN BY JENNY STARLING FOSS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JASON HURST
SOME PEOPLE START BUSINESSES BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE THEIR OWN BOSS.
Sharon Persinger Edwards started hers because she wanted to do right by other people.
Long before Up Market Media existed, she was already studying behavior. Not customer behavior in a spreadsheet, but human behavior in real life. What motivates people. Why they trust certain messages and ignore others. Why one idea resonates and another disappears.
She first discovered that fascination in an advertising class at Georgia Southern University taught by Professor Trey Denton.
“I loved analyzing why some commercials worked and some didn’t,” Sharon said.
That curiosity never left her. It became the foundation of a marketing career built not on trends, but on understanding.
After graduating in 2004 with a degree in marketing, Sharon took an unexpected detour before beginning her professional life. She spent a couple of years helping a friend
with horses at Silver Fox Farms in Metter. The experience would shape her leadership style long before she realized it.
She had already ridden competitively, serving as lead rider and president of the competition team at Evermore Farms and a member of the Georgia Southern Equestrian Team all four years.
“I learned leadership and conflict resolution on the equestrian team,” she said. “Eleanor Ellis was a great mentor for me at Evermore.”
At Evermore, she also helped organize competitions and coordinate team travel, responsibilities that required planning, communication, and trust. The same skills she would later bring into business.
Learning the Industry
In 2006, she joined the Savannah Morning News in marketing and advertising, just as digital targeting began to emerge.
“I was interested in behavioral targeting
online,” she said. “Back then we used Yahoo behavioral tracking.”
She sold advertising, supported other sales team members, and worked in social media during its early days.
“Facebook and other social media outlets were filled with more personal profiles then,” she said.
Her territory included Bryan County and surrounding areas, and she moved into sales because she understood advancement required stepping into responsibility. But the experience also revealed something important to her. Businesses needed guidance, not just ad space.
She wanted to help them make the right choices, not simply sell them one.
In 2011, she welcomed her son Wells, and that same year she joined Statesboro Magazine, where she learned the inner workings of local publishing and marketing strategy.
“I loved working for the magazine. I loved meeting lots of people in town. I gained great mentors and learned how a magazine works
and how clients could use it as a tool to grow their businesses,” she said.
After transitioning to a sales role at the Statesboro Herald, her direction became clear. She wanted to serve as a neutral guide for small business owners navigating an increasingly complicated marketing world.
“All small business owners are passionate about what they do,” she said. “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. They also serve in the community and give back in a way that large corporate owned businesses do not.”
Starting From a Kitchen Table
In February 2014, she opened Up Market Media.
Her office was her kitchen table.
Her equipment was a $250 refurbished Dell laptop.
Her goal was simple: help businesses grow.
The name “UP” came from search rankings. Clients were moving up, and she wanted the company to represent progress. One of her clients believed in her vision so strongly they became her first investor. Within a year she returned the investment and continued strong and independent.
“I have a Type-A personality,” she said. “I like to do things my way.”
Her first office space came through mentor Alison Jordan. After outgrowing it, the company moved downtown to shared offices on Courtland Street. Five years ago, the team moved into its current professional suite upstairs in the Market District.
Fittingly, they literally moved UP.
A Different Kind of Marketing Firm
Up Market Media focuses on digital analytics and strategy, helping clients understand data and make informed decisions. They build websites, track rankings, interpret performance, and guide marketing direction rather than pushing a single product.
Some clients have stayed with her for all twelve years. The very first website the company ever built is still active.
She now leads a team including marketing specialists Basil Geddis, Sydney Davis, and Shelby Herrmann. For Sharon, leadership means creating opportunity.
“It’s hard to have a career in marketing without going into sales,” she said. “I’m proud to provide an avenue for marketing people
who don’t want to do sales. Seventy-five percent of the people who have worked for me stayed in the marketing field. Every one of them helped build this business.”
Her favorite moments are shared victories.
“My favorite is when we have a big win. A company with no online presence becomes visible, and they’re relieved and excited. At the same time employees learn new skills and feel invested,” she said.
Her perspective remains grounded in service. She believes marketing should empower, not overwhelm.
Lessons from the Stable
Outside the office, Sharon’s second world begins at the stable.
She has ridden horses for more than thirty years, starting with a trail ride on a palomino named Trigger when she was a child.
“It gave me a special feeling I can’t explain,” she said.
Her horse Beau, a 23-year-old jumper, remains part of her daily rhythm, as does her son, Wells, who now competes himself. When mentor Kathryn White of Silver Fox Farms in Metter recently lost her husband, Sharon stepped in to help care for the horses, the same way she once learned from others.
“In addition to marketing, horses are my passion,” she said. “They are magnificent creatures and very attuned to people’s emotions.”
Working with horses shaped her leadership philosophy.
You must be firm, but steady.
You must earn trust.
You must lead clearly.
“With horses, as in business, you have to be the leader or they will take you for a ride,” Sharon said.
She enjoys Saturday mornings simply letting the horse wander, a contrast to the
structured analytics of her weekday work. One day she hopes to open a rescue farm to rehabilitate horses and place them with new owners.
“It would help the sport and help me and Wells,” she said. “It’s humbling to create a team with horses. I like building confidence in horses. Horses and women need it.”
Building a Life
In 2022, she met husband Jarrett Edwards through friends, at a time she was content being single.
“He supports me in everything I do,” she said. “He just wants me to be happy.”
Their life quickly filled with activity. Three dogs, a cat, two horses, and Wells.
“He’s a steady partner who builds me up and deals with my obsessions,” she said with a smile.
Why She’s Fabulous
Twelve years after starting at a kitchen table, Up Market Media continues to grow because its founder never lost sight of her purpose. She did not want to sell marketing. She wanted to guide people.
Her clients trust her.
Her employees stay in the industry.
Her community benefits from stronger local businesses.
And that is exactly what a boss should do.
“I am very grateful to the magazine and to my staff for the recognition,” she said. “It was very sweet of the readers to do that. It makes us all feel good.”
For Sharon Persinger Edwards, success was never about being in charge. It was about lifting others up. Which makes her Statesboro’s Most Fabulous Boss — and Up Market Media, the Most Fabulous Marketing Firm. S
Thank Sta o!
(L-R): COLIN T. STRUB, D.D.S.; THOMAS E. MARHSALL, D.M.D.; KATHRYN W. MENTZER, D.M.D.; JARRETT H. WALDEN, D.M.D.
JENNY HIGHSMITH
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WRITTEN BY JENNY STARLING FOSS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY FRANK FORTUNE
AT DISH & LILY, SHOPPING FEELS A LITTLE LIKE
VISITING A FRIEND WHO just happens to know exactly what looks good on you. That friend is Anna Freeman Lee. And according to our readers, she is officially the Most Fabulous Young Entrepreneur in Statesboro.
The title fits. Anna does not simply sell clothes. She curates confidence. She remembers names. She texts reminders. She celebrates milestones. Walk through the boutique door and you quickly realize you are not just a customer. You are someone she planned for.
Her story starts right here in Statesboro. Anna grew up attending Pinewood Christian Academy before heading to Georgia Southern University. She originally switched her major to Fashion Merchandising, certain that clothing would always be part of her future. Her father, Tim Freeman, encouraged her to return to Business Management to keep her options open. In hindsight, that advice shaped everything.
She graduated in 2020, right into the uncertainty of COVID, and kept moving forward anyway.
Before owning a store, Anna worked at J’Adore, a bridal boutique in Brooklet. While helping brides find the dress, she quietly started building something of her own.
From 2019 through 2022, she ran an online boutique called The Lily Leopard. Orders shipped from her college house. Inventory stacked around daily life. She learned retail one package at a time.
Then an opportunity appeared. She purchased the storefront in June of 2022, from former Fabulist winner Laura Lanier. She closed on the store one day and opened the next morning at 10:00 a.m.
“I just plunged in,” she said. That decision defined her approach to business. Move forward. Trust your instincts. Adjust later.
The store became Dish & Lily, named for her younger sister, Lily Grace Freeman. At the time the shop catered mainly to college students. Anna
expanded the vision. She wanted every woman to feel comfortable walking in, whether she needed a brunch outfit, baby shower dress, or something special for dinner.
“I wanted to be inclusive,” she said. “Clothes women can really live in.”
When she shops market, she keeps her formula simple. If she loves it, it belongs in the store. That personal filter has become the brand.
Her customers know it. Many never browse racks alone. They ask Anna to pull looks before they arrive. Some text details about an upcoming event. She builds outfits waiting in the dressing room.
Honesty plays a major role in that loyalty.
“I will tell you if something isn’t your style,” she said. “I want you to feel beautiful and confident.”
That trust separates Dish & Lily from larger retailers. The experience feels personal because it truly is personal. Anna is present nearly every day.
“If I’m in Statesboro, I’m at the store,” she said. “If I travel, it has to be a short flight away.”
She credits her seven staff members, all college students, as a huge blessing. They help with daily operations, but Anna admits delegation has been her greatest challenge. She cares deeply about consistency and customer connection. Being visible helps maintain both.
Her commitment shows best during major Georgia Southern moments.
Sorority recruitment season turns the boutique into a planning headquarters. Anna tracks new members and contacts families to create custom Bid Day gift baskets. Each one includes sorority items, fashion pieces, and small details tailored to the student. Parents can celebrate from anywhere. New members feel immediately welcomed.
She keeps those contacts and follows up during holidays like Valentine’s Day, offering thoughtful gifting ideas. The service is part concierge, part stylist, and completely memorable.
Her marketing style extends online, too. New deliveries arrive every Thursday, and Anna models them herself on Instagram. She talks through fit, styling, and comfort like a personal fashion show.
“What works best for me is staying in my own lane,” she said. “I know what I’m good at, I work hard, and I represent the brand.”
That brand always includes her wearing Dish & Lily pieces. She believes customers should see clothes on real people living real lives.
Fashion has always been part of her
I want women to feel beautiful and confident when they walk out the door”
–ANNA FREEMAN LEE
life beyond retail. Anna danced with the Georgia Southern Dance Team for five years and competed in the Miss Georgia pageant, placing in the Top 15. She later danced in Dancing with the Statesboro Stars to support Safe Haven. In 2019, she partnered with insurance agent Win Lee for a baseball themed routine that won the People’s Choice Award.
She also won his heart. The two married on New Year’s Eve in 2022.
Their English Cocker Spaniel, Hook, now serves as Dish & Lily’s unofficial mascot. He greets shoppers, comforts college students, and entertains visiting children. Regulars expect him as much as the new arrivals.
Anna’s favorite part of Statesboro is the familiarity. She loves saying hello to friends wherever she goes and watching students energize the local economy. The town’s size allows relationships to grow naturally, which fits her business philosophy perfectly.
She also values mentorship. She credits Debra Prince of Canoochee Creek Market as an encouraging influence and friend. Support like that reinforced her confidence during early ownership.
Her greatest success so far is simply starting young. At 24, she stepped fully into her dream and learned in real time. The risk paid off through her fashion vision, customer loyalty and steady growth.
Inside the store you see that growth reflected in variety. Beyond clothing, Dish & Lily offers shoes, jewelry, handbags, candles, glassware, and gift items. The goal is simple. A customer can leave with the outfit and the present for the event.
Anna still loves styling most of all. She mixes pieces creatively and helps customers discover combinations they would not have chosen alone. Fashion, to her, is expression and empowerment.
“It’s my creative outlet,” she said.
She once helped design a pageant gown for her sister and enjoys the creative process, though she prefers curating collections rather than building garments from scratch. Market buying lets her focus on connection rather than production.
Looking ahead, she sees herself doing exactly what she does now. Greeting shoppers. Building outfits. Helping women feel confident.
“I still want to be helping customers pick clothes when I’m 65,” she said.
That statement explains why readers voted her Most Fabulous Young Entrepreneur. Success for Anna is not expansion into more stores. It is maintaining a close connection at her dream store. Every text answered. Every outfit chosen carefully. Every visit remembered.
Dish & Lily operates on regular hours through the week with extended shopping before holidays and special events, but the true schedule depends on customer needs. If someone has an occasion, Anna finds a way to help.
For fashion or gifts or simply reassurance before a big night, locals know they can reach out and she will respond.
In a world of quick transactions, Anna has built something slower and a lot more meaningful. A boutique where relationships matter as much as the beautiful clothes racks. That alone makes her Fabulous! S
2026
There are awards… and then there is The Fabulist.
The one people campaign for.
The one businesses secretly dream about.
The one that turns casual opinions into serious conversations over dinner.
The one that showcases The Most Fabulous people, places & things in Bulloch County!
Here, your vote really counts!
Each year readers across Statesboro, nominate, rally, remind friends, and proudly defend their favorites until the ballots close and the bragging rights begin. After tens of thousands of votes across more than 160 categories, the results are in and the MOST FABULOUS have officially been crowned.
This is not just “best of.” This is better than the Best.
Here you recommend without hesitation.
The businesses that go over the top.
The people whose service turns customers into regulars and regulars into fans.
Welcome to peak FABULOSITY!
From burgers to tire centers, real estate to gameday apparel, from everyday errands to life’s biggest moments, these winners represent the crème de la crème. Giving us all our FABULOUS sense of place! Some are longtime favorites who keep raising their own bar. Others are rising stars having their first breakout year. All earned their spot the only way that matters: YOU, our Fabulous Readers, chose them.
Inside you will meet this year’s Man and Woman of the Year and the winning names that kept showing up ballot after ballot. You might discover a new favorite. You will definitely recognize a few you already love.
The Fabulist is our annual reminder that what makes a town special is not just where we live, but who we trust, celebrate, and show up for!
YOU VOTED.
WE COUNTED.
NOW LET THE CELEBRATING BEGIN.
Beauty & Fitness
BARBER SHOP
MERLE NORMAN
Vintage Barber Shop
Big Heads Barber Shop
DAY SPA/MASSAGE THERAPY
JUVE INTERGRATIVE
MEDICINE & WELLNESS
Serenity Day Spa
Healthy Touch Day Spa
FITNESS CENTER/ GYM
180 FITNESS
Bulloch Elite Training Center-Youth Fitness
Fusion Training
HAIR SALON
SPLIT ENDS
Parrish Salon VS Studio
HAIR STYLISH, INDIVIDUAL
DENNA HUGHES
Charley Jackson
Sidney Dorsey
NAIL SALON
ANNIE’S NAILS
Sugar Coat Nail Lounge
Luxury Nails
NAIL TECH
KALLY GAING
Miranda at Annie’s Nails
Kat’s Klaws
PERSONAL TRAINER
KENNON BACON
Mindy Fair
Taylor Zetterower
TANNING SALON/BOUTIQUE
TAYLOR’S TANNING
Planet Fitness
Sunset Tanning
WEIGHT LOSS CLINIC/COUNSELING
SOUTHERN HEALTH & WELLNESS
Juve Intergrative Medicine & Wellness
Thrive
ASIAN CUISINE
TANDOOR & TAP
Happy Wok
Hibachi Express Ramen
BBQ
DOLAN’S BBQ
Hopulikit
Baby CJ’s Rib Shack
BREAKFAST/BRUNCH
BORO BAGEL COMPANY
Bull & Barrel Steak House
Huey’s on Main
BUFFET
HAPPY WOK
Tandoor & Tap
Ole Times Country Buffet
BURGER
BITES
Bull & Barrel Steak House
Sugar Magnolia Bistro & Bar
BUSINESS LUNCH
SUGAR MAGNOLIA BISTRO & BAR
Son Doner
Tandoor & Tap
CATERER
HONEY SPECIALTIES
Blue Mile Catering
The Painted Chef
BOSS
SHARON EDWARDSUP MARKET MEDIA
Jessica Herrmann - Great GA Realty
AJ Jetwani - Tandoor & Tap
Dining
CHICKEN WINGS
LOCO’S
Wild Wing Café
Dingus Magee’s
COFFEE/TEA, LOCAL
COOL BEANZ
The Daily Grind
Three Tea
COUNTRY COOKING
ANTIONETTE’S CAFÉ
Fordham’s Farm House
Dolan’s BBQ
DESSERTS
ROLLING MONKEY
Honey’s Cheese Cakes
Steph’s Treats
DRIVE THRU SERVICE
CHIC-FIL-A
Sugar Magnolia Coffee Shop
Elliano’s
FRIED CHICKEN
FORDHAM’S FARMHOUSE
Uncle Shug’s Chicken Barn
Antionette’s Café
ICE CREAM/FROZEN TREAT
BORO SNO
Rolling Monkey
Bruster’s
Employers
BUSINESS THAT GIVES BACK
CITIZEN’S BANK OF THE SOUTH
Juve Intergrate Medicine & Wellness
Morris Bank
MEXICAN CUISINE
AZUL TEX-MEX
El Sombrero
Flacco’s Tacos
OUTDOOR DINING
AZUL TEX-MEX
Del Sur
Tandoor & Tap
OVERALL RESTAURANT
BULL & BARREL
STEAK HOUSE
Tandoor & Tap
Oak 45
PIZZA
MELLOW MUSHROOM
Nonna Picci
Blaze Pizza
SEAFOOD
OCEAN GALLEY SEAFOOD
Saucy Shrimp
Red Claw Juicy Seafood & Bar
SUSHI
SHOGUN’S HABICHI GRILL & SUSHI BAR
Happy Wok
Tokyo Japanese Restaurant
COMPANY TO WORK FOR
EAST GEORGIA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
Shea Tractor Company
Southern Manor
The Development Authority of Bulloch County works to support this.
Manufacturing activity in Bulloch County represents a significant economic driver, contributing more than $1.55 billion in total economic output. When direct, indirect and induced effects are considered, the industry supports approximately 4,197 jobs and generates $245.35 million in labor income
This impact highlights the benefits manufacturing provides for individuals, households and the broader regional economy.
Entertainment & Leisure
BARTENDER
LEEANNE ROBINSONTANDOOR & TAP
Carolyn Edwards - Eagle Creek Brewery
Dale Fagan - Bull & Barrel Steak House
COCKTAIL MENU
TANDOOR & TAP
Oak 45
Aura Cocktails & Tapas
DATE NIGHT RESTAURANT
OAK 45
Bull & Barrel Steak House
Tandoor & Tap
DOG FRIENDLY
RESTAURANT/PATIO
DEL SUR
Dolan’s BBQ
Loco’s
EVENT VENUE/ WEDDING VENUE
PINE NEEDLE PLANTATION
The Market at Visit Statesboro
Fox Hall
FRIDAY NIGHT IN YOUR 40S
BORO THE HATCHET AXE
THROWING & PUB
Vino 1910
Tandoor & Tap
PLACE FOR TRIVIA
EAGLE CREEK BREWERY
Dolan’s BBQ
Pour House Pub
PLACE TO HAVE A BIRTHDAY PARTY
ROLLING MONKEY
Boro the Hatchet Axe Throwing & Pub
Vino 1910
PLACE TO WATCH THE GAME
BORO THE HATCHET AXE
THROWING & PUB
Eagle Creek Brewery
Loco’s
SPOT FOR LIVE MUSIC
POUR HOUSE PUB
Dolan’s BBQ
The Blue Room
WINE SELECTION
VINO 1910
The Grapevine at H’s
Sugar Magnolia Bistro & Bar
WORK EVENT SPACE
THE VENUES AT OTC
Cool Beanz
Pine Needle Plantation
Health & Wellness
ASSISTED LIVING/ RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
SOUTHERN MANOR
The Lodge at Bethany
Willow Pond
BOTOX CLINIC
ALTERA
Aviva Plastic Surgery
Juve Intergrated Medicine & Wellness
CHIROPRACTOR
RYAN FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC
Southern Chiropractic & Wellness
New Life Chiropractic
COSMETIC OR PLASTIC SURGEON
RENEWAL MD
Statesboro Plastic Surgery
The Georgia Institute for Plastic Surgery
DENTAL HYGIENIST
JENNY HIGHSMITH
Gretchen Thomas
Kim Howell
DENTIST
JARRETT WALDENSOUTHERN FAMILY DENTISTRY
Dr. Aleisha Bryant -Thomas Dental Center
Ricky Lane - Lane Dentistry
DENTIST OFFICE
LANE DENTISTRY
Southern Family Dentistry
Statesboro Pediatric Dentistry
DERMATOLOGY OFFICE
GEORGIA DERMATOLOGY & SKIN CARE CENTER
Georgia Skin & Cancer Clinic
Family Health Care Center
EYE CARE CENTER/ DOCTOR/OPTOMETRIST
VISION SOURCE
My Eye Doctor
Atys Cope
HOME HEALTH SERVICES/HOSPICE
OGEECHEE AREA HOSPICE
Georgia Hospice Care
Gentiva Hospice
HOSPITAL/EMERGENCY ROOM SERVICES
STATESBORO
URGENT CARE
ExperCare
East Georgia Regional Med Center
INFUSION BAR/MEDI-SPA/ VITAMIN THERAPY BAR
THE DRIP BAR
Juve Intergrative Medicine & Wellness
Savannah Age Management Medicine
LOCAL DRUG STORE/PHARMACY
MCCOOK’S PHARMACY
Forest Heights Pharmacy
Southern Pharmacy
MEDICAL AESTHETICS/ SKIN CARE
LUMIERE
Juve Intergrative Medicine & Wellness
Altera
MEDICAL PRACTICE/OFFICE
OPTIM HEALTH SYSTEMTANKERSLEY/REYES
ExperCare
Southern Family Medicine
NURSE
DAILEY AVERITT, RN, BSNJUVE INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE & WELLNESS
Emily Dawson, RN - Ogeechee OB/GYN
Jonathan Chiang
NURSE PRACTITIONER
LIZ HUTLEYOGEECHEE AREA HOSPIC
Jessica Smith - East Georgia Women’s Center
Henry Brower - Statesboro Urgent Care
OB/GYN
SOUTHERN OBGYN
East Georgia Women’s Center Ogeechee OBGYN
ORAL SURGERY
EAST GEORGIA ORAL & FACIAL SURGERY
Lane Family Dentistry
Statesboro Oral Surgeon - Troy Lawhorn
PAIN MANAGEMENT
OPTIM PAIN MANAGEMENTDR. REYES
Savannah Age Management Medicine Centurion Spine & Pain Center
Becky Sanders and Justin Samples pictured with the Blind Willie McTell Statue, located at Visit Statesboro. Voted Most Fabulous Local Place for a Selfie
Services
ACCOUNTANT
DAVID THOMPSON
Russ Lanier
Rhett Hickman
ACCOUNTING FIRM
DABBS, HICKMAN, HILL & CANNON, LLP
Lanier, Deal & Deal
Westside CPA
ATTORNEY INDIVIDUAL
DAN SNIPES
Paige Boykin Navarro
April Stafford
PLACE OF WORSHIP
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
St. Matthew Catholic Church
Compassion Christian Church
CUSTOMER SERVICE
CITIZENS BANK OF THE SOUTH
Rolling Monkey
Publix
FLORISTS
THE FLORIST
The Flower Girl
Blessings Grow Meadows
FUNERAL HOMES
CRAIG R. TREMBLE
FUNERAL HOMES, INC.
Joiner Anderson Funeral Home & Crematory
Matthew H. Lovett & Sons
GRAPHIC-DIGITAL DESIGN
PIONEER DESIGN & MARKETING
Created with Grit
Up Market Media
INSURANCE AGENT
ASHLEY ELLIS
Win Lee
J.J. Puccio
INSURANCE PROVIDER
LEE, HILL & JOHNSTON ISURORS
BBWH Insurors
Southern Insurance & Annuities
LAW FIRM
HALL & NAVARRO
Mock Law Firm
Stafford Law Group
MARKETING AGENCY
UP MARKET MEDIA
Pioneer Design & Marketing
Davis Marketing
NON-PROFIT
BULLOCH COUNTY
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Kiwanis Club of Statesboro
Statesboro Jaycees
PHOTOGRAPHER
FRANK FORTUNETHE FORTUNE IMAGE
Walker Family Studio
Jeremy Wilburn
PLACE TO BUY FARM EQUIPMENT
SHEA TRACTOR & EQUIPMENT COMPANY
Anderson’s General Store
Tractor Supply
TRIAL LAWYER
MARTHA HALL
Francys Johnson
Simon Peed
VETERINARIAN
UNIVERSITY ANIMAL HOSPITAL
Best Friends Animal Hospital
Ben Nessmith
Shopping
ANTIQUE STORE
CHARLIE’S FUNKY
JUNK SHOP
Waters Estate Sales
The White Moth Home Market
KIDS CLOTHING/BOUTIQUE
LITTLE HARTS
Walker Pharmacy
Creek & Coast Outfitters
CONSIGNMENT STORE
UPTOWN CHEAPSCAPE
The White Moth Home Market
Savannah Home Consignment
FURNITURE STORE
L.A. WATERS FURNITURE & MATTRESS COMPANY
Deal’s Furniture & Mattress Company
The White Moth Home Market
GAME DAY APPAREL
DISH & LILY BOUTIQUE
Southern Exchange
Deal’s Funiture & Mattress Outlet
GIFT STORE
EMMIE’S FINE CHINA & GIFTS
Forest Heights Pharmacy & Boutique
Walker Pharmacy & Boutique
JEWELRY STORE
BERNARD’S JEWELERS
Kay Jewelers
Walker Pharmacy & Boutique
LADIES FASHION/BOUTIQUE
MIRROR ON MAIN
Bleu Blush
Dish & Lily Boutique
LOCAL STORE ONLINE
SHOPPING/APP
H.L. FRANKLIN’S HEALTHY HONEY
Jaxe & Grace
Bleu Blush
MEN’S CLOTHING/FORMAL WEAR
BUBBA GOLF
R.J. Pope
The Sir Shop
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE
SHEA TRACTOR & EQUIPMENT COMPANY
Statesboro Power Sports Motors
Custom Marine
SPORTING GOODS STORE
TC OUTDOORS
Anderson’s General Store
Bubba Golf
BEVERAGE CENTER
WHISKEY BUSINESS
Clark’s Beverage Center
Boot Liquor
TRENDIEST BOUTIQUE
KELLY & KATE
Dish & Lily Boutique
Bleu Blush
Most Fabulous Young Entrepreneur, Anna Freeman Lee, pictured in her store Dish & Lily Boutique. Voted Most Fabulous Gameday Apparel.
Vehicles Dealers & Service
AUTO BODY & COLLISION
PREFERRED
COLLISION CENTER
Franklin Chevrolet Collision Center
Phillip’s Custom Works
AUTO DEALER NEW VEHICLES
FRANKLIN TOYOTA
J.C. Lewis Ford
Jimmy Britt Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, RAM
AUTO DEALER PREVIOUSLY OWNED
JARRARD MOTORS
J.C. Lewis Ford
Jimmy Britt Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, RAM
AUTO GLASS REPAIR
RICK’S GLASS
Bart Fallis Mobile Glass
Atlantic Auto Glass
AUTO SERVICE/REPAIR
D & R INTENSIVE CAR CARE
Espress Tune & Lube
Jimmy Britt Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, RAM
OIL CHANGE
D & R INTENSIVE CAR CARE
Cotton Tire
Express Tune & Lube
TIRE CENTER
COTTON TIRE
D & R Intensive Car Care
The Tire King S
• Trendy bachelorette party themes
• Beautiful bridal shower décor
• Wedding decorations for any style — timeless to modern
• Show-stopping balloon décor for every wedding event
Bride’s full name: Julia Katherine “Kitty” Lewis Fortune
Groom’s full name: Jackson Crosby “Jack” Fortune
Where you reside: Atlanta, Georgia
Where you both work:
BRIDE: Consultant with Willis Towers Watson (WTW)
GROOM: Student at Georgia State University College of Law
Date of Wedding: 03/01/2025
Wedding Location/Venue: CEREMONY: First Baptist Church Statesboro
RECEPTION: Forest Heights Country Club
Rehearsal Dinner Location/Venue: The Market at Visit Statesboro
Minister/Officiant: Rev. Dr. John Waters
Dress Shop: The White Magnolia (Atlanta)
Dress Designer: Kelly Faetanini
Tuxedo Rental/Purchase: The Sir Shop (Statesboro)
Wedding Colors:
Classic black and white wedding with elements of pale pink and forest green
Wedding Theme: Timeless meets modern; country club chic
Stylists:
HAIR: Danielle Davis (Millen)
MAKE-UP: Grace Kennedy (Statesboro/Atlanta)
Photographer(s):
Kaitlyn DeLong Photography
Videography: Brandon Reaves and Brandon Walker (Statesboro)
Wedding Cake: Spoons & Spools by Kelli Jenkins (Waynesboro)
Groom’s Cake: Cathy Braddy Deal
Caterers:
REHEARSAL DINNER: Bevricks WEDDING: Forest Heights Country Club
Musicians:
CEREMONY: Paige Sutcliff (Pianist) and Meggan Anderson (Violinist) RECEPTION: Finesse (Band out of the Carolinas)
Florist, Designer & Decorator: Warthen Lane (Sandersville)
Wedding Director(s): Jackson & June Events – Lead Planner: Sammy Kesner
Reception Location: Forest Heights Country Club
Honeymoon Location: A nine-day trip to Paris, France and Lisbon, Portugal
Parents:
BRIDE: Preston Lewis III & Carol Lewis
GROOM: Frank and Mandy Fortune
“Our wedding day was the perfect portrayal of the memories, places, and moments in time that mean the most to us. Each element of our wedding weekend was planned thoughtfully and purposefully with the mission of having both of our personalities along with milestones in our relationship shine through.
Jack and I met at The Masters in 2021, discovering that both of our dads had worked the tournament for 30+ years and we’d been attending on the same days each Masters Week for most of our lives. In 2024, after attending the tournament together for 3 years, Jack proposed on Wednesday of Masters Week on Hole 15. With golf being such a central theme of our relationship, we knew Forest Heights was the perfect venue for our reception. The backdrop of the course at sunset created a perfect ambience for our cocktail hour, and we were able to incorporate elements like our favorite flowers from the course into centerpieces, a golf themed Groom’s cake for guests to enjoy, and even our passes from the day we got engaged into our flatlay photos.
Another key theme of our big day was a nod to our “House Divided” relationship. While I graduated from the University of Georgia and bleed red and black, Jack graduated from Georgia Tech and is a Yellow Jacket through and through. Over the years, we’ve spent a lot of time watching both the Jackets and Dawgs play, learning to divide our time between the two as much as each of us will allow. Our goal was to ensure that moments from our reception made both UGA and Tech fans smile. From calling the dawgs and my “guitar solo” on a bright red UGA-themed electric guitar, to our exit in none other than the Ramblin’ Wreck, a 1930 Ford Model A Sport Coupe that has led the Yellow Jackets onto the field for every home game since 1961, we honored both of our alma maters and brought a little of both Athens and Atlanta to Statesboro.”
Landon Christian Olivia Lauren
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARY CATHERINE PHOTOGRAPHY 10.04.25
Bride’s full name: Olivia Lauren Riner Haralson
Groom’s full name: Landon Christian Haralson
Where you reside: Statesboro, Georgia
Where you both work:
BRIDE: Nevils Elementary School
GROOM: Statesboro Bulloch Chamber of Commerce
Date of Wedding: October 4, 2025
Wedding Ceremony & Reception Location/Venue: The Foxhall, Statesboro, Georgia
“The entire weekend was an absolute dream, made possible by our incredible family and friends. From a thoughtful bridal brunch hosted by our sweet aunts, to a beautiful rehearsal dinner planned by Landon’s mom, to the wedding day I had always dreamed of, every moment felt intentional and full of love.
So many meaningful details made the day even more special. My mom, who was so patient and supportive throughout the planning process, created stunning ceramic vases for the ceremony entrance, along with the communion cup and plate we used that day. She poured so much time and care into those pieces and even surprised me with the pearl bracelet I wore. My veil was created at Frills by Scott using lace from her wedding dress, which made it one of my favorite details of the day.
Our family and friends truly came together to bring everything to life. My talented sister Alannah designed countless details, Anna McBride Designs created our beautiful invitation suite, and Landon’s cousins beautifully handled makeup for the day. Alongside our wonderful day-of coordinator, many generous family and friends also volunteered their time. Everyone went above and beyond to make the celebration seamless and special and we feel so blessed!
Some of the details that made the day feel so uniquely ours included the mini blue French horn Landon gave me during our “first look” photos – a sweet nod to our shared love of How I Met Your Mother. A brief rain shower at the start of the ceremony is now a lighthearted memory as it was followed by a beautiful rainbow, reminding us of God’s plans and promises.
At the reception, we invited our guests to contribute to a collaborative abstract painting which now hangs in our home as a meaningful reminder of the day. Later in the evening, we surprised Landon with his favorite ice cream flavor from Bruster’s Ice Cream as a late-night treat, adding one more personal (and sweet!) touch to the celebration!
The entire weekend was rooted in love and community, and we truly could not have asked for more. If we could, we would relive the day over and over again. We are so grateful for our incredible vendors, family, and friends who made us feel deeply loved and celebrated. Our hearts are full as we begin this new chapter together as husband and wife, and we cannot wait to see what God has in store for our future.” S
Pat Conroy’s Pickled Shrimp
INGREDIENTS:
1 c. Thinly Sliced Yellow Onion
4 Bay Leaves, Crushed
1 (2-ounce) Bottle Capers, Drained and Coarsely Chopped
¼ c. Fresh Lemon Juice
1 c. Cider Vinegar
PREPARATION:
½ c. Olive Oil
1 tsp. Minced Fresh Garlic
1 tsp. Coarse or Kosher Salt
1 tsp. Celery Seeds
1 tsp. Red Pepper Flakes
2 lbs. Large (21-25 count)
Shrimp, Peeled and Deveined
Mix all ingredients except shrimp in a large heatproof glass or ceramic bowl. In a medium stockpot over high heat, bring 4 quarts of abundantly salted water to a rolling boil. Add the shrimp and cook until just pink, about 2 minutes. (The shrimp will continue to “cook” in the marinade). Drain and immediately transfer to the marinade. Bring to room temperature, cover tightly, and marinate overnight in refrigerator. Transfer shrimp and marinade to a glass serving compote or bowl. Serve chilled.
Being
Catered To
WRITTEN BY LAZAR BROWN OGLESBY
IHAVE SOME FRIENDLY ADVICE FROM YOUR LOCAL, NEIGHBORHOOD CATERING professional. Feed the people!!! It’s so simple. Folks are generally much happier and agreeable when their appetites are tamed. The emotion “hangry” is very real, but thankfully the Honey team is here to help! Don’t fall into the “happy hour” trap. No one is happy if they have to wait an hour to eat. LOL! Even if you have cute, signature cocktails and fabulous passed appetizers. Folks are not going to remember your first dance song or the cute cocktail napkins with your pooch and new monogram. They will remember you held them hostage for over an hour and they were hot, hungry, and their kids were pitching a fit!
I have earned some experience over the last 20 years. I don’t use the term “earned” lightly. Every event comes with a lesson. My Mother says “we” should write a book. We, meaning my sister Mary Beth and I. Between owning two restaurants and catering for nearly two decades we have some stories to tell!
I was thrown headfirst into the catering business. I worked as a chef in several restaurants before I was hired at Beaver Creek Plantation. My job was to cook lunch for the hunters and staff at the hunting plantation. A few months after I was hired my boss told me we needed to cater his daughter’s wedding…for 400 guests!! I was up for the challenge. I enlisted the help of Mrs. Claire Donaldson. She was Daddy’s Farm Bureau agent for many years, and she is famous in these parts for catering events, big and small. Her help and guidance laid the foundation for my catering career. She helped me with
calculating quantities, creating menus, finding helpers, and borrowing serving pieces. She so kindly let me borrow her most coveted punch bowl platters! The beautiful cut glass platters are still a staple of my serving pieces today! Mostly, she was a great comfort to me and peace of mind when I was in stressful situations. I knew if Mrs. Claire was there then everything would be ok!
The most memorable events seem to revolve around some type of weather catastrophe. Weddings don’t stop for hurricanes! We catered three weddings the weekend hurricane Matthew wreaked havoc from Macon to Savannah! I remember frying chicken fingers by the light from my Iphone flashlight because there was no power. I think half of the guests that attended the event were without power at home, so they ate us out of house and home! It was a great party, and guests were in high spirits despite the weather! The only time I have been truly scared for my life was while catering a wedding during a summer thunderstorm. We were in a massive tent in the middle of a giant hayfield. Lightning was crashing all around and rain was pouring from the sky. My staff and I were keeping the food lines full while standing in mud puddles up to our ankles. After the third lightning strike I saw terror in my helpers’ eyes. We made a run for the Honey van and rode out the rest of the storm crouched in the back of a cargo van. We were soaked to the bone but we made sure all those people were fed! The band fired up and the guests danced the night away!
Speaking of bands. Bands are the bane of my existence on wedding days. I adore
good music. It’s hard for me not to break into spontaneous dancing and singing when I hear a good band warming up. However, bands these days come with a list of high demands: a green room, a catered meal with dietary restrictions to be served before wedding guests, and a generally pretentious attitude. What happened to running through the Chick-fil-A drive though and picking up a meal?? I guess they want to be able to enjoy all the delicious wedding food, too! My favorite band story was when the band’s lead singer in a fancy sequined coat stole four platters of sandwiches meant for late night snacks for guests! I marched over to his truck and commandeered the contraband subs! I was not having it!
My best advice to anyone planning a wedding is to retain a wedding planner. They will save you time, money, and mental distress! I am not an organized person by nature. I have become more structured out of necessity for my own mental peace. I love working with good planners! When someone says they don’t have a planner, I immediately think of the Dolly Parton character in Steel Magnolias, Truvy. “I don’t trust anybody who does their own hair.” I trust the process much better if you don’t plan/coordinate your own wedding!
Wedding catering satisfies my need for speed! I have found I do my best work in high energy and high stress situations. I thrive on chaos. I love to be a problem solver and make things happen. I could not do any of these amazing events without my gifted staff. They are the best of the best. We have so much FUN! I tell folks you don’t have to be crazy to work here… We’ll train you!
Pimento Cheese
Skillet Dip
INGREDIENTS:
6 inch Cast Iron Skillet
2 c. Pimento Cheese
1 c. Pepper Jelly
½ c. Pecans
PREPARATION:
Spread the pimento cheese in the bottom of the skillet. Top with pepper jelly and pecans. Bake at 350˚ for 10 minutes or until sides begin to bubble. Don’t overcook. Serve warm with crackers.
Artichoke Crostini
INGREDIENTS:
1 can Artichoke Hearts
1/2 c. Dukes Mayonnaise
1/2 c. Grated Parmesan
1 clove Garlic (minced)
PREPARATION:
2 Green Onions (chopped) Salt and Pepper to Taste
1 Baguette
Drain artichokes hearts and give them a rough chop. You don’t want them to be mushy. Add mayo, Parmesan, garlic, green onion, and cracked black pepper and mix until combined. Refrigerate until ready to use. Slice baguette into 1/2 inch rounds and drizzle with olive oil. Bake at 300˚ until crispy. Store in an airtight container until ready to use.
My baguette slices always turn out too hard or chewy. I have not mastered the craft of crostini, but I will tell you who has perfected the crostini. Fresh Market stores almost always have clear boxes of crostini in the bakery section. They are the best and last for months!! I highly recommend.
TO ASSEMBLE:
Place the baguette rounds on a baking sheet and top with a spoonful of the artichoke mixture. Bake at 350˚ for 5-10 minutes until warm. I garnish the tops with extra parmesan cheese, balsamic reduction, or roasted red pepper puree.
Fried Oysters
with Cream Corn
Mocha Brownie
INGREDIENTS:
2 boxes Fudge Brownie Mix
1 stick Butter (softened)
8 oz. Cream Cheese (softened)
PREPARATION:
Prepare brownie batter according to the package directions and pour into a 9x13 baking dish. Bake according to box directions or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Beat cream cheese and butter until combined and fluffy. Add the powdered sugar and beat until combined. Mix the instant coffee with warm water and add it to the icing mixture. Don’t over-mix. The icing will break if you over mix. Refrigerate until ready to use. I have found they cut better when they are cold.
INGREDIENTS:
2 pints Oysters
3 c. House Autry Seafood
Breader Oil
20 oz. frozen Cream Corn
2 Tbsp. Butter
Salt & Pepper
Texas Pete Hot Sauce
Chives or Green Onion (chopped)
PREPARATION:
Bake the cream corn with a little butter, salt and pepper until warm. Keep warm while preparing oysters.
Place enough oil in a cast iron skillet to deep fry oysters. Heat oil to 350˚. Drain oysters and pat dry. Dredge oysters in seafood breading and fry until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Place a thin line of cream corn down the center of a long serving platter. Top with oysters. Garnish with hot sauce and chopped onions.
My catering menu represents everything I have learned in my career. Some of the recipes are from my childhood or are family recipes. Other recipes I have picked up along the way. Our signature pimento cheese was based off of my grandmother’s recipe. I added the pepper jam and pecans and served it in miniature cast iron skillets. I tell everyone that everything tastes better in a cast iron skillet! The artichoke crostini recipe was served at a Martini Bar I worked at called Statesboro Brews. The owner’s personal assistant wanted us to include a vegetarian option on the tapas style menu. She shared this wonderful Crostini recipe her family served on holidays. Pickled shrimp are a staple at parties in the South. They are a cool, fresh dish for hot summer nights. Pat Conroy did it best! I have found no way to enhance his classic, delicious recipe!
When preparing appetizers, I always want each bite to consist of different flavors and textures: salty and sweet, crunchy and soft, fresh and rich. A restaurant called Elements in Lyons, Georgia, did appetizers really well. I rarely ordered an entree when I visited. I ordered several appetizers so I could taste more and save room for dessert! I shamelessly copy their fried oyster appetizer when I really want to make a lasting impression. Everyone needs an easy dessert in your catering arsenal. I have catered many Statesboro “engagement” parties. The hostesses usually provide the desserts. I can’t remember who shared the mocha brownie recipe but it’s easy and the Honey employees crave this treat! None of the recipes below are a revelational culinary delight. Good, simple, and consistent are what folks remember. S
PLANTING ZONES
WRITTEN BY VIRGINIA ANNE FRANKLIN WATERS
THERE IS NOTHING SEXY, PRETTY, OR FUN ABOUT PLANTING ZONES IN THE USA. HOWEVER, understanding them is imperative to good gardening. They are also known as USDA Hardiness Zones. In our country there are 13 geographical areas (zones) based on the 30-year average annual minimum winter temperature, ranging from Zone 1 (coldest) to Zone 13 (warmest). They represent the guidelines for determining which perennial plants can survive the winter. Zones were last updated in 2023 and this “new” map reflects warmer trends.
The purpose of zones is to indicate if a perennial, shrub, or tree can withstand the coldest temperature of a region. However, these do NOT account for summer heat and rainfall. Most tags on new plants will list the minimum zone the plant can survive. The most accurate method to finding your zone is using the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map website and entering a ZIP code. (I am curious by nature. ZIP is an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, a system introduced by the U.S. Postal Service in 1963 to make mail sorting faster by assigning codes to geographic areas. Now we know!) Planting zones have nothing to do with annuals, which grow for only one season.
Bulloch County is in zone 8b. Evans, Screven and Metter are in 8a, 8b and 9a. Our minimum average winter temperature is 15-20 degrees Fahrenheit. We have a long, warm growing season and relatively mild winters, making it ideal for heat-loving plants. While your hardiness zone tells you how cold it gets, don’t forget about heat zones. Bulloch County summers are intense; ensure your plants can handle the high humidity and sustained heat typical of South Georgia’s “Coastal Plain” region. Last year the City of Statesboro planted petunias in Triangle Park. I thought to myself, great choice because they will take the July and August heat. Then came too much rain, and the hot humidity rotted the roots. In Statesboro, we are constantly monitoring what annuals work all summer long. My husband, Bill, and I had great luck with vincas, some call them periwinkle, and we will be using these again in areas of mass plantings.
This is the time of year to take care of your camellias. (We have previously discussed care for hydrangeas in the July/August 2024 issue of Statesboro Magazine).
My all-time favorite shrub is the camellia, which is native to Asia and is first cousin to
the tea plant. They prefer well-drained, acidic soil with a Ph between 5.0 and 6.5. They are low maintenance and long lived, but will do so much better with a little loving care. After they bloom and in March and April, camellias need to be fertilized. We have always used tobacco fertilizer. Any acid-forming fertilizer is good. My family began using tobacco fertilizer 100 years ago before the big box stores were even in existence. My grandfather, Paul G. Franklin, purchased lots 315 and 317 on Savannah Avenue in 1917. He was a local pharmacist and a big contributor to the early development of our fair town. We have three 100-plusyears-old camellias planted by my grandfather. They are the camellia, Professor Sargent. The amount of fertilizer depends on the size of the bush, so I’ll let you calculate it. I also follow up in late June with another round of fertilizer. We have over 60 plants over three acres so it takes Raymond Cone and me about a day to do this job. Be sure and apply the fertilizer around the drip line (the outer edge of the branches) not against the trunk.
After camellias have bloomed, prune to remove dead or weak wood and thin out the center to improve air circulation. This is so important in the humid southeast to prevent fungus from occurring. Be sure to rake up dead blooms under the plant. If needed mulch the plant with three inches of your choice of mulch material. This insures moisture conservation during our hottest months.
The most important thing to do is check the back of the leaves for scale or a white substance. This fungus spreads quickly and will kill the plant over time. There is one huge, old camellia in Triangle Park that is dying from scale infestation! Use either horticultural oil or systemic insecticides. Be sure whatever you use will not hurt the bees! You must cover the BACKside of all the leaves with treatments. Terrible yard chore but one of the most important for your camellia plants.
Now is the time to plant summer bulbs like caladiums or cannas. Both crave the moisture and heat that define our region. Start swapping our fading pansies for zinnias, marigolds and vincas. Divide your daylilies and hostas early in the month if they are getting too crowded.
No chore is ever sexy, pretty or fun. But without them your garden will not be at its ultimate best. Get that sunhat on and hydrate to the fullest. Happy Gardening! S
The Alchemy of God
WRITTEN BY REV. DR. JOHN WATERS
ALCHEMISTS FROM THE MIDDLE AGES TRIED TO CHANGE WORTHLESS METALS LIKE LEAD INTO PRECIOUS MATERIAL LIKE GOLD. By breaking down the contents and combining various minerals with quasi-science, they hoped to transform something useless into something valuable. Their alchemy never succeeded. Some items, no matter how much they tried, really didn’t mix well together.
But the alchemy of God is quite different. He takes our lives as living experiments and mixes in both good and bad moments, allowing us to enjoy the laughter of glad times and the pangs of suffering and sorrow. This approach may seem uncaring or hardhearted, but God knows that His perfect alchemy of joy and suffering is the only way to conform us to the image of his Son.
In my forty years of pastoring, I’ve yet to meet any person who wanted to face hardship and suffering. Even if we can’t avoid the troubles and trials of life, none of us goes looking for them. Instead, the dark nights and deep valleys have a way of finding us, whether we are wanting them or not.
But why does God allow us to face both the deep valleys and the mountain tops? Seems to me that walking on the mountain tops of joy and happiness is far better than trudging through the difficult valleys, yet a life of faith includes both.
The Apostle Paul acknowledged to the first century Christians that he was “being poured out as a drink offering” (Philippians 2:17), which spoke of his complete surrender and acceptance of the hardships and toils that accompany the Christian life. Having suffered much hardship in his ministry (see 2 Corinthians 11:25-27), Paul understood that it was God’s tool to conform him into Christ’s image. Reflecting this understanding, Paul says in another New Testament letter that he rejoices in toils and travails, and he makes the astounding statement, “When I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10).
As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand . . .”
JEREMIAH 18:6
The prophet Jeremiah from Old Testament days was told to visit the potter’s shop, where he saw a man forming a clay vessel on a potter’s wheel. The item became ruined in the hands of the craftsman, so he crushed the clay and transformed it into something else. As the prophet observed this scene, God speaks and says, “As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand . . .” (Jeremiah 18:6).
The lesson for Jeremiah is one for us today: God allows us to be crushed and face hardship in order to transform us into something we would not become otherwise.
None of us naturally wants to face suffering and hardship, but are you willing to accept them as part of God’s plan for your life? Are you willing to accept the mixture of both good and difficult things as his divine process in shaping you into the image of his Son? In His sovereignty, God does not cause our troubles or suffering, and He does not permit them casually or arbitrarily, as some type of meaningless or cosmic test. But He does allow them into our lives for purposes we may not fully understand. Just as He transformed the clay vessel, so He wants to transform us. He has a plan, and His plan often mixes both good times and bad times to accomplish His work within us.
Choose today to live with the joy that results from the mixture of both good and bad things, often simultaneously in your life. In the midst of hardship and trouble, will you acknowledge God’s purpose and plan for your life, even if it doesn’t make sense at the moment? We may not desire the heartache and heartbreak of suffering, but Christian joy is rarely discovered without it.
God does have His own version of alchemy, where He takes items in our lives and mixes them for His purpose. As a result, the mixture of hardship and happiness transforms us, allowing us to run to Him in the difficult moments and rejoice in Him during the joyful moments. Believing that is not quasi-science like the Middles Ages. It is simply living by faith. S
Inspiration is Where you Find It
WRITTEN BY BENJY THOMPSON
IOFTEN WAIT TO BE INSPIRED TO WRITE MY COLUMN FOR EACH ISSUE. I’M QUITE CERTAIN THAT THE EDITOR OF THIS WONDERFUL MAGAZINE WISHES it weren’t so, and I’m very glad that she’s a forgiving sort. This month, the inspiration came to me very late, in a place that often provides it to me. I was asked by a friend on the Georgia Southern faculty to speak to one of her classes, and I was very happy to say yes. I spent the first part of my adult life as a member of the faculty at Georgia Southern, and I loved it. Well, maybe not all of it – but I loved the classroom, talking with students, and sharing thoughts about my class and timely topics. So, whenever I have an opportunity to get in front of a class of University students, I usually jump at it.
This group was particularly enjoyable. They were mostly graduate students, and all were progressing towards careers with some level of public engagement. I was asked to talk about what I do in economic development, the challenges my work brings, the rewards of the job, and whatever else came to my mind. So, I did – and it was a marvelous two hours, at least for me.
I talked a bit about the Development Authority of Bulloch County, about the great Board of Directors we have, about the need to work closely with others in the community. We discussed the process of recruiting large businesses to our community, the need to secure property, prepare it, market it, and make every effort to bring business partners that fit Statesboro-Bulloch County and provide a return on investment that makes sense for our community. And we talked about the need to take care of the businesses that have chosen StatesboroBulloch County, and how important it is to help them continue to succeed. We discussed how long the economic development process takes, and the need for patience as you pursue economic successes.
When I finished sharing my stories and opened the floor for questions, I was reminded again of why I loved my time in the classroom – and why I think our community has such a bright future. To me, Statesboro-Bulloch County is a true “college town.” We are so fortunate to have 20,000-plus Georgia Southern students in our community each year, bringing with them an energy and excitement for life, and a diversity of ideas. In addition, our wonderful Ogeechee Tech campus hosts thousands of students each semester, too. Together, all of these students bring a very apparent “vibe” to our community. I find that our visitors always recognize it.
There are a couple of additional things that I think a “college town” provides – opportunity and hope. The energy in our community drives us to think about new and exciting things. The students I addressed in the class asked so many questions about possibilities – things like aspirational retail, improved land use planning, and job creation and capital investment in our community. They asked questions about challenges – the cost of infrastructure, the need for affordable housing, the importance of agriculture. And, they were all hopeful about the future of our community, and about the impacts they could make on the world they will inherit.
The room included students from Metro Atlanta, the Midwest, the Mid-Atlantic, and Bulloch County. It reminded me of how our community draws people from many places because of what we provide – a wonderful quality of life in a place where opportunities are plentiful. I’m so thankful to have found inspiration, right where it should be – in a community that has so much going for it. S
The 2026 Statesboro Bulloch Chamber of Commerce
Annual Meeting & Awards Celebration
“TARGETING EXCELLENCE”
TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2026 | THE MARKET AT VISIT STATESBORO
Honoring local businesses, educators, and community leaders with annual awards while highlighting milestones & passing the gavel for 2026.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEREMY WILBURN
Living in A Material World
WRITTEN BY DOY CAVE
IF MY CLOSET COULD TALK, IT WOULD STAGE AN INTERVENTION. IT’S A GRAVEYARD OF IMPULSIVE DECISIONS—COLOR-BLOCK PANTS THAT LOOKED “rad” on the internet; boots that were too small, but I insisted I would stretch them out (and never did); and two plastic tubs full of sweaters that I’m “saving” for when I finally stop eating chocolate.
All of which begs the question: am I a savvy shopper or just another victim of algorithms and good photography?
To find the answer, I sat down with Melisa Spilinek, Ph.D., assistant professor of fashion merchandising and apparel design at Georgia Southern University. She said being a savvy shopper isn’t just about deals; it’s about finding the right pieces for you.
KNOW YOUR MATERIAL
Before you rush headlong into the sales aisle, Spilinek said understanding clothing material is a must. Every piece of clothing in the United States is required to have a tag that tells you the fiber content.
“I always try to go with natural fibers, especially being in the deep south with our weather and as we’re getting closer towards summer that’s kind of necessary,” she said. “I try to go with linen and cotton and sometimes other materials depending on what I’m looking for. But those are certainly hard to find in our kind of synthetic world today.”
She said performance clothing or formal attire might require different fabrics, but it’s also important to consider what is touching your skin. What chemicals might they have in them? Do they break down into microplastics? It’s important to ask these questions when buying clothing you plan to keep for years.
WHEN TO SPEND MORE
Buying quality for certain pieces of clothing is like buying a good mattress—you’re going to spend a lot of time in it, so it might as well be built to last.
“I would definitely agree with splurging on something like a sweater that’s thicker and worn over something else,” she said. Because these items don’t face the daily wear-and-tear of our Southern humidity, they don’t degrade as quickly. On the flip side, spending $80 on a basic white T-shirt might feel fancy, but for the average person, the value doesn’t always scale.
The real “must-splurge” category? Base layers and undergarments. Since these are in direct contact with your skin, Spilinek recommends investing in organic, breathable materials. It’s better for your health, and unlike those “rad” color-block pants, you’ll actually wear them every day.
SALE, SECONDHAND OR SWAP?
Spilinek says there are many ways to save on clothing, and in an age where costs are rising on everything, finding ways to save money is more important than ever.
We also live in an age of “fast fashion,” where clothing companies can design and produce entire clothing lines in as little as 10 days, and what used to be “seasonal” items now often run by week or by month. Speed doesn’t always translate to quality, which means being savvy could mean not buying at all.
“There is this growing movement of ‘Buy Nothing,’” Spilinek said. In larger cities, people are hosting swap events where ‘new-to-you’ becomes the currency. “You show up with whatever clothes you’d like to swap, and they have a point system where certain things like a shirt might be less points than a dress or coat.”
These kinds of transactions can also happen every day on places like Facebook Marketplace, which helps people find inexpensive and sometimes free items every day.
If you do want to buy, however, you can visit Goodwill or ReTails, or you can look for “curated secondhand” shops like The Archive or Uptown Cheapskate here in Statesboro. These spots do the detective work for you, finding vintage pieces that have already proven they can survive more than one trip through the washing machine.
THE ONE-THIRD RULE
The best way to be a savvy shopper, however, is to actually wear what you buy, which happens less than you think.
As part of her Introduction to the Fashion Industry course, Spilinek asks her students to count the number of items in their closets and track how often they actually wear them. The result? Most students only wear about one-third of what they own, which is also the national average.
So, before I go back to the internet to look for more “rad” pants, I’m going to go shop my own closet first. I might even find those boots I was supposed to stretch out…or finally ease up on the chocolate! S
At Bulloch First, we’re more than just a financial institution – we’re your neighbors, your partners, and your advocates. We believe in building stronger communities by offering personalized banking solutions that cater to your unique needs. Local decision-makers who understand your needs. Whether you’re looking to buy a home, start a business, or save for the future, we’re here to help you achieve your goals with flexible loan options, competitive rates, and expert advice. Supporting you, your family, and your community, Bulloch First is here for you.
