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Toombs COUNTY MAGAZINE

18 A PERSPECTIVE OF JOY

Building a life–and farm–on faith, perseverance and the right perspective.

30 PRACTICE, PLAY & HAVE FUN!

Gerriell Craig’s small-town upbringing has taught him that gratitude is more important than fame.

42 A CROWN AND A CAUSE

Kimber Williford honors the memory of Reese Hughes with a mission that helps children feel loved.

52 BUILDING OPPORTUNITY AT HOME

Michelle Johnson’s passion is helping businesses succeed and thrive.

65 FORGED BY STRENGTH: THE JUGGERNAUT

Resilience and personal strength help James Vogt set state and national records in Strongman events.

74 FORGED BY STRENGTH: SURVIVING AND THRIVING

After her cancer battle, Lisa Williams began a health journey that led to professional competitive bodybuilding.

88 A DOG NAMED TOOMBS

Kelly Coursey’s dog Toombs becomes a historic third-generation super retriever crown champion.

100 A BEAUTIFUL TAPESTRY

Kevin and Debra Huddleston build a life around hard work, health and parenting while building a business and raising their grandchildren.

128 LAST WORDS

The road to maturity eventually finds you.

This bright, citrus fruit pairs well with many of summer’s favorite dishes.

Memorial Health Meadows Hospital’s new Fast Track ER system ensures quick help and quality care when emergencies arise.

114 & 115 | The Local Market

| Greater Vidalia Chamber of Commerce

| Downtown Vidalia Association

| Hometown Happenings

| Lyons Main Street

| Advertiser’s Index

About the Cover

Gerriell Craig’s story is one of talent, resilience, and gratitude. After overcoming the loss of his mother as a teenager, the Vidalia native balanced athletics, a healthcare career, and a growing passion for music. What began as a simple wedding performance eventually launched a successful music career, with Gerriell now performing across the region while continuing to serve his community with humility and heart.

A moment for the moms, please

“I got this, Mama.”

Those are the words that every mama of a toddler thinks they long to hear. The words that indicate independence. Finally, no more spoon feeding. No more picking up after a little walking tornado. No more sitting on the bathroom floor holding a hand and patiently waiting for a deposit to be made while singing Itsy Bitsy Spider for the hundreth time. It feels like freedom and accomplishment to a mama. You’ve created a human that can take care of himself or herself, and now you can celebrate success.

Then the tables start to turn. The independence you welcomed and yearned for turns against you like a bitter north wind. Now you wish for the days when a tiny voice said, “I need you to hold my hand.” Or maybe you’d be happy with a simple, “Can I ask for some advice?”

This year we graduated our last little bird. I am thrilled with his accomplishments and excited for his future, as I was with all my little birds. I am not really sad–although I did spend a few hours boo-hooing my way through 19 years of photos one midnight. Probably wistful is a better word. All the years of hard work, of discipline, of laughing or crying through every dramatic event, of building stories, of celebration–they are but memories, and now I’m left to wonder if those little birds even need me anymore. It is a perspective that I think most moms have at some point or another. We put so much time and effort into our families–we are the super heros, the glue–and then suddenly everything shifts. It’s easy to feel like we’ve lost our place as we watch our kids heading out to their greatest adventure–life

A s I look through this issue, I see a lot of our stories are built around perspective. The stories reflect people making choices based on their experiences. Oftentimes those experiences are the result of their own upbringing and things they learned from watching their parents. Their choices to save a life, sing no matter what, help others prosper, grow through strength, invest in family, and build a business were not happenstance. They believed in themselves or maybe they saw a need. Either way, someone encouraged them. Often times that someone was a mom.

We have bald eagles on our farm and every year we watch them teach their young how to fly. For months and months, the adults take care of the growing eaglets. Even after they get big, it seems like they will never leave the nest, and then one day, they just take off...and they soar...and they succeed. Although they rarely return, I’m sure the mama eagle is proud.

Then sometimes, when least expected, a little bird does come back, and with full sincerity he says, “Hey Mama, I still need you.” So you happily put your super hero cape back on, and life is good.

keeping the stories alive,

Stephanie Williams Executive Editor

Congratulations Jack!

To discover more that Toombs County has to offer, see our business index on page 127!

To share a story, send a note, or just get information: toombscountymagazine@gmail.com • (912) 293-0063

For more stories, visit us at www.toombscountymagazine.com

Toombs County MAGAZINE

PUBLISHER

Red Door Design & Publishing, LLC

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Stephanie Williams

CREATIVE | DESIGN

Stephanie Williams

ASSISTANT MANAGER

Nikki Guzman

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND MEDIA RELATIONS

Madison Beverly

SALES

Jennifer Crutchfield

Dottie Hicks

Daphne Walker

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Renée Martin

Ann Owens

Danni Thompson

Teri R. Williams

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Jennifer Crutchfield

Ruth English

Evan Riekhof, EZ-E Photography

The Fuller Effect Photography

Daphne Walker

PROOFING

Megan Morris

COVER PHOTO

The Fuller Effect Photography

Toombs County Magazine© is published bi-annually by Red Door Design & Publishing, LLC

148 Williams Avenue • Lyons, GA 30436 (912) 526-4195

All rights reserved. Copies or reproduction of this publication in whole or in part is strictly prohibited without expressed written authorization from the publisher. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein. Advertising is subject to omission, errors, and other changes without notice.

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Your Child, Your Trust, Our Care

Our Providers

Front row: Shayla Sellers, FNP-C, Etta Boss-Cole, MD, Leah Waller, PA-C, Back row: Amanda Shea Phillips, FNP-C, Callie Wilkes, PA-C, Kimberly Phillips, FNP-C

Monday-Friday:

AAccess to dependable emergency medical care is one of the most important resources any community can have, and Memorial Health Meadows Hospital continues to strengthen that commitment through expanded services and around-theclock care for families across the region.

Memorial Health Meadows Hospital operates its emergency department 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, ensuring patients have access to care whenever emergencies arise. From serious injuries and trauma situations to sudden illnesses and pediatric emergencies, the hospital’s emergency team is equipped to provide comprehensive medical services close to home.

Recently, the hospital celebrated the opening of a new $1.2 million expansion to its emergency department highlighting the facility’s commitment to ongoing growth and investment in regional healthcare. The expansion included a major upgrade to the hospital’s Fast Track ER area, increasing capacity from five bays to twelve bays. Designed to improve patient flow and reduce wait times for less critical emergency cases, the

Expanding Emergency Care Close to Home

When emergencies happen Memorial Health Meadows Hospital is ready with expanded services and quality care.

expanded Fast Track section allows medical teams to care for more patients efficiently while maintaining high-quality treatment standards.

The project also added three additional exam rooms, along with a new nurses’ station and expanded physician and nurse workspaces. These improvements create a more functional environment for hospital staff while helping streamline communication and patient care throughout the department.

“Expanding access to emergency care is about more than adding space. It is about making sure families in our community can receive timely, highquality care close to home when every second matters,” said Haley Powell, director of emergency services at Memorial Health Meadows Hospital. “These enhancements help our team improve patient flow, reduce wait times for less critical cases and create a more efficient environment for both patients and caregivers.”

For many families in rural Southeast Georgia, having advanced emergency care available nearby provides peace of mind during stressful situations. The emergency department is equipped to care for a wide range of serious illnesses,

Patients should visit the emergency room or call 911 immediately if they experience symptoms such as sudden numbness or confusion, difficulty speaking, breathing problems, severe pain, high fever, or major injuries and trauma. Quick medical attention during these situations can be critical.

In addition to emergency treatment, Memorial Health Meadows Hospital offers an after-hours line for non-emergency medical guidance. Callers can speak with a registered nurse about symptoms, care recommendations, or whether emergency treatment may be necessary.

injuries and urgent medical needs.

To help patients better plan for emergency visits, Memorial Health Meadows Hospital also provides estimated ER wait times online. These estimates are based on a rolling four-hour average and are updated every 30 minutes, offering families a general idea of current emergency department activity.

In addition to emergency treatment, the hospital offers an after-hours Consult-A-Nurse line for non-emergency medical guidance. Residents seeking health advice outside of normal office hours can call (844) 706-8773 to speak with a registered nurse about symptoms, care recommendations, or whether emergency treatment may be necessary.

As the community continues to grow, investments like the emergency department expansion reflect Memorial Health Meadows Hospital’s dedication to meeting increasing healthcare demands while keeping quality medical care accessible locally. Through expanded facilities, advanced services, and a patient-focused approach, the hospital remains a vital healthcare resource for Vidalia and surrounding communities.

To speak with a nurse about non-emergency situations, call

When the unexpected happens, you can count on Memorial Health Meadows Hospital to be here for you.

Memorial Health Meadows Hospital is always open to care for you and your family.

Our board-certified physicians and highly trained nurses specialize in emergency medicine, diagnosing and treating all emergency conditions, including:

• Injuries, such as fractures and deep cuts

• Stomach or abdominal pain

Scan the QR code to learn more about our ER services.

• Stroke • Chest pain

• Upper respiratory infections

when life gives you lemons

Lemons are a perfect ingredient for your summer menus. Their bright flavor pairs well with vegetables, meats and desserts. Add them to your cart at the grocery store and experiment with these easy recipes.

LEMON CHICKEN ORZO

This dish by Susan Bronson is quick and easy and offers a delightful citrus burst.

Ingredients

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts

3/4 teaspoon salt, divided

1/2 teaspoon pepper

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 can (14-1/2 ounces) reducedsodium chicken broth

1-1/4 cups uncooked whole wheat orzo pasta

2 cups chopped fresh spinach

1 cup grape tomatoes, halved

3 tablespoons lemon juice

2 tablespoons minced fresh basil

Lemon wedges, optional

Instructions

1 | In a shallow bowl, mix flour and garlic powder. Cut chicken into 1-1/2-in. pieces; pound each with a meat mallet to 1/4-in. thickness. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper. Dip both sides of chicken in flour mixture to coat lightly; shake off excess.

2 | In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add chicken; cook 3-4 minutes on each side or until golden brown and chicken is no longer pink. Remove from pan; keep warm. Wipe skillet clean.

3 | In same pan, bring broth to a boil; stir in orzo. Return to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 8-10 minutes or until tender. Stir in spinach, tomatoes, lemon juice, basil and remaining salt; remove from heat. Return chicken to pan. If desired, serve with lemon wedges.

LEMON PEPPER WINGS

These crispy wings from spendwithpennies.com pack in the flavor without the super spicy heat for summer picnic wing perfection.

Ingredients

1 ½ pounds chicken wings

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 teaspoons lemon pepper seasoning

1 ½ teaspoons lemon zest

1 clove garlic minced, or half teaspoon garlic powder

kosher salt to taste

black pepper to taste

3 tablespoons melted butter

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

chopped fresh parsley for garnish,

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

Instructions

1 | Pat chicken wings dry with paper towels. Preheat oven to 425˚F

2 | Toss wings with flour and baking powder. Refrigerate at least 15 minutes.

3 | Toss wings with olive oil, lemon pepper, lemon zest, and garlic.

4 | Line a pan with foil and top with a baking rack. Spray the rack with cooking spray. Bake wings 20 minutes, flip and bake an additional 15 minutes or until crisp. Broil 1 minute each side if desired.

5 | Combine butter and lemon juice and toss with wings. Generously season with extra pepper, salt to taste, and fresh thyme if desired. Serve immediately.

LEMON BROWNIES

This twist on a traditional favorite ushers in summer with its bright, citrusy flavor, and you can easily adjust the sweetness or tartness to your preference.

Ingredients

¾ cup all-purpose flour

¾ cup white sugar

½ cup unsalted butter, softened ½ teaspoon sea salt

3 large eggs

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 tablespoon lemon zest, plus more for glaze

Lemon Glaze:

1 cup confectioners’ sugar

¼ cup lemon juice, or to taste

¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1 |Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8-inch square baking pan.

2 | Beat flour, white sugar, butter, and salt together in a large bowl using an electric mixer until well blended.

3 | Whisk eggs, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, and 1 tablespoon lemon zest together in a separate bowl. Pour egg mixture into flour mixture; beat on medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth, about 3 minutes.

4 | Pour batter into the prepared baking pan. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 23 to 25 minutes. Cool on a wire rack until bottom of pan is warm to the touch.

5 | Make the lemon glaze by whisking confectioners’ sugar, 1/4 cup lemon juice, vanilla extract, and lemon zest together in a bowl until smooth. Spread glaze over cooled brownies. Cut into squares.

SPARKLING MOJITO LEMONADE

This drink from thebusybaker.ca will be your summer drink favorite.

Ingredients

2 cups cold peppermint tea 1/3 cup honey or agave a handful of fresh mint leaves

3 limes, juice and zest

3 lemons, juiced sparkling water such as S.Pellegrino fresh mint leaves and lime or lemon wedges for garnish

Instructions

1 | Add the peppermint tea, honey, mint leaves, lime juice and zest, and lemon juice to a blender and blend on high speed until smooth.

2 | Strain the mixture into a large pitcher to remove any bits of mint leaves that remain.

2 | Fill glasses half-way with the mixture and top it off with sparkling water, a lemon or lime wedge, and some fresh mint leaves for garnish.

BY TERI R. WILLIAMS PHOTOS BY RUTH ENGLISH AND ALISHA MOXLEY

A Perspective of Joy

Alisha and Sean Moxley have built a life centered on faith, family, and perseverance—finding success in careers, raising their boys, and creating Mox Farms as a place of joy, healing, and community.

Alisha grew up in a home where meals were eaten together as a family and where daily decisions were guided by common sense. Even though her mom and dad worked outside the home, there was always a garden, and everyone had a part in gathering and preserving the vegetables. Her junior year of high school was almost over when Alisha found out she was pregnant. After the initial shock, she gave her parents and Sean Moxley, the father of her unborn child, the news. It was a lot to process for everyone. And yet, despite knowing there would be many challenges ahead, Alisha was old enough to grasp the preciousness of the life she carried.

There is no instruction manual for parenting, and our role models are not always ideal. Sean’s upbringing differed in every way from Alisha’s. His parents divorced when he was very young, and his mother remarried an army man. When his stepfather was stationed in Germany, his mother moved there and was away for most of his childhood. Sean’s father was in and out of his life, so he moved between relatives, staying with them for short periods.

“My earliest memory of working with my grandfather on a construction site was when I was five years old,” said Sean. Paul Moxley was the one constant in his life. He gave Sean love and taught him everything he knew. The construction skills and work ethic

he gained from his grandfather would lay the foundation for Sean’s entire future.

He had just begun classes at Georgia Southern University when Alisha told him about the pregnancy. Sean needed no prior experience or handbook on parenting to know that what he felt for this unborn child was a father’s love. His initial response was to drop out of college and work full-time to care for his child. But with Alisha’s encouragement, he remained in school.

Cole was born on September 5, 2000, just as Alisha was beginning her senior year of high school. While at school, her Granny kept Cole, just as she had watched all of her grandchildren at some point. Even with her family’s love and support, and Sean’s involvement in Cole’s life, it was a difficult time. “Having a child outside of marriage is not God's plan and for good reason,” said Alisha. “It’s tough when you’re just married. But when you’re trying to raise a child as a single parent in high school, that’s something different altogether.”

Alisha’s father had always encouraged her and her older sister, Selina, to go to college. Being a teenage mom did not change that. “My dad worked at the warehouse for Piggly

Wiggly Southern,” said Alisha. “When it closed, he did factory work at Mohawk in Dublin. He always wanted us to go to college because he felt we would have more job opportunities with a degree.”

As challenging as it was at the time, Alisha met it head-on, and the roots of who she was becoming went deep. With her family's support and Sean’s involvement in Cole’s life, Alisha finished high school and began classes at Brewton Parker College. “Cole was still a baby, and BPC was close to home,” she said.

The following year, Alisha transferred to Georgia Southern to pursue a degree in special education. Since childhood, she had carried a righteous burden for those she saw in school who were excluded or marginalized for whatever reason. “I felt like I could make a difference as a special ed teacher,” said Alisha.

Even though the unplanned pregnancy had brought them together as parents, they both needed to give their own relationship time. By the time Sean proposed to Alisha in 2003, there was no question about their love or the commitment they were willing to make to one another. On March 15, just before Sean graduated from Georgia Southern, the two were

PHOTO

RUTH ENGLISH

“Goats and donkeys don’t judge,” said Alisha, “and kids sense that.”

Visitors to the farm include school groups, church groups and families. Allowing space for children to run free and connect with nature has inspired the Moxleys to expand the farm adding ducks, guineas, donkeys and more goats.

married. Cole, then two years old, was their ring bearer.

After graduation, Sean received numerous job offers, but all would mean moving away from their home in Ailey. Alisha was still in school at Georgia Southern, and she had no desire to move. So, Sean went to the head of the construction department and asked if he knew of anyone local who might be hiring. “He called his friend, Charlie Garbutt, the founder of Garbutt Construction, and I went in for an interview.”

Sean began working with Garbutt Construction as an estimator and quickly progressed to project manager. Twenty-three years later, Sean is now the President and CEO of Garbutt Construction and the company’s largest stockholder.

Alisha graduated from Georgia

Southern in 2005 with a degree in special education. For the first three years of her teaching career, she taught at Montgomery County Elementary School. She then took a teaching position at Toombs County High School as an inclusion teacher in a math classroom. Alisha eventually took the math certification test and taught inclusion classes in Algebra I and II, Geometry, and a senior math class. In 2006, she earned a Master of Educational Leadership and Administration (M.Ed.). That was also the year she and Sean welcomed their second son, Luke, into the family.

It would be impossible to measure Alisha’s impact on the students at TCHS over her 20-year teaching career. She mentored students with the kind of patience and love that only someone who has walked through hardship can

truly give. Whether giving help in the classroom or accompanying an anxious student for a driver’s license test, Alisha was always available.

For the last two years of her teaching career, Alisha served as an ESOL-certified instructor. With an increasing number of students entering the school system whose first language was Spanish, she once again saw a need and determined to do her part to fill it. Alisha taught herself Spanish using apps, then practiced with her students in the classroom until she was proficient. Many times, Alisha served as a liaison for nonEnglish-speaking parents.

Outside of the classroom, Alisha spent five years on the Board of the Boys and Girls Club and also served as youth minister at Higgston Baptist Church for many years. She continues

to teach a women’s Bible study and serves as a volunteer in the children’s ministry.

Somehow, Alisha managed all of this while still showing up for every one of her sons' school and sports events. For Sean, showing up was everything, which sometimes meant driving long distances to be home for a game, then heading back out early the next morning to a job site in another town. He was setting a precedent, building his own legacy for his sons and generations to come.

Sean’s legacy is encapsulated in the many amazing projects he has led at Garbutt Construction. This past April (2026), he was invited to the State Capitol to be recognized for his work with an official resolution in both the House and the Senate.

Many of the projects Sean has led have been on buildings of historical significance in Georgia.

One of the largest rehabilitation projects orchestrated by Garbutt Construction was on the Fox Theatre in Atlanta. Presently, Sean is overseeing the restoration of the Georgia State Capitol and Savannah City Hall, which recently celebrated its “120th Birthday Year.” In addition, he has carried out restoration projects on Georgia College in Milledgeville and many other historic college campuses

in the state. Sean has taken great pride in each of these historical projects in his home state.

In 2023, Cole graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in economics and is now working in Pooler at Garbutt Construction Company’s newest location. This past year, Luke started classes at UGA. As difficult as life’s many transitions can be, Sean and Alisha recognized the blessing of this next chapter in their lives. For Alisha, that meant retiring after twenty years of teaching.

W hich brings us to Mox Farms. In 2020, during the Covid lockdown, Alisha bought a few goats just to have something to do. But what began as a pastime soon developed into something much bigger. To date, Mox Farms comprises twenty-seven goats, eight guineas, three donkeys, fifteen ducks, two dogs, Scout and Zeus, and two cats, Finn and Fiona.

PHOTO BY RUTH ENGLISH

Alisha and Sean both believe in the benefits of being in nature and sharing the wonder of “all creatures of our God and King,” as the old hymn goes. As the farm grew, an idea began to take shape. As a former special education teacher, Alisha saw nature and animals as the great equalizer. “Goats and donkeys don’t judge,” said Alisha, “and kids sense that.” When she invited the Toombs County Camp Bulldog and Camp Bullpup out to visit the animals on the farm, it was as if Alisha’s world had come full circle. Children ran like free birds, chasing the goats. It was hard to tell the wild creatures from the children freed from the four walls of a classroom. It was only the beginning of many such visits from families, church groups, and others.

Mox Farms is just another way Alisha and Sean enjoy family life

together and find ways to share that joy with others. Many have enjoyed Alisha’s photos of Pablo the donkey, Banshee the goat, and Shoes the goat over the past few months that appeared on WTOC’s Pet of the Week.

Every time Sean and Alisha look across the field and see Pablo the donkey, they are reminded that love doesn’t always come in the way or in the manner one might expect. Pablo belonged to Sean’s grandfather. When Paul Moxley passed away on January 3, 2020, Sean and Alisha could do nothing less than take in the abandoned donkey he left behind.

I’ve often thought about the second part of Hebrews 12:2 (NIV) that says, “…For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Looking closer,

“scorning its shame,” according to Strong's concordance, means “to think little or nothing of.” Instead of shame, Jesus saw people – and he called that “joy.” Many a sermon has been given on the fire that refines and the troubles that can produce perseverance. But perhaps the message is not in how much we can suffer, but in how much joy we choose to see in the midst of our troubles. Rather than the shame of an unplanned pregnancy, Sean and Alisha saw the blessing of a new life. Perhaps changing the world is as simple as choosing joy over shame, looking across a field at a donkey, and remembering what was good rather than what was not. It’s not denial—it’s just perspective. And for Sean and Alisha, it’s redemption.

The first urgent care clinic in this area, the Acute Care Clinic is open 365 days per year offering easy access to care for any non emergent medical problems. With in house X-ray, ultra sound, and a comprehensive CLIA certified lab, we can diagnose and treat most medical conditions without having to go elsewhere. Also a fully integrated electronic medical record with their primary care clinics provides complete continuity of care between clinics. At the Acute Care Clinic your time and your health is our priority.

Urgent Care Facility

Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday 7 am - 7 pm Saturday 8:30 am - 3 pm Sunday 1 pm - 5 pm

• Covered on most insurance plans including most Medicaid plans

• Extended hours of operation including appointments & allergy injections on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 12 noon

• Timely appointments for new patients (generally within 1 week)

• Highest quality standards for preparation and administration of immunotherapy

• Over 26 years experience in allergy and asthma management

1608 Meadows Ln, Vidalia 912-535-9500

Hours of Operation: Monday through Thursday 8 am - 5 pm Friday 8 am - 12 pm

• Wound Care

• Diabetic Ulcers

• Skin Tears

• Pressure Wounds

• Non-healing Chronic Wounds

• Ar terial/ Venous Wounds

• Traumatic Wounds

Abednego Primary Care focuses on high quality, thorough family based primary care and weight management, for a thorough review of any chronic medical conditions and treatment plans. Laurel Shiver Sapp, a native of Toombs County, is the nurse practitioner team leader and has a passion for primary care and weight loss management.

Laurel Shiver Sapp, FNP

ABEDNEGO Primary Care Provider

WORDS OF WISDOM

Practice, Play &Have Fun!

Gerriell Craig’s journey from a small-town upbringing with personal loss to a sought-after local musician and community leader, is highlighted by passion and gratitude rather than fame.

The performer at the LR Speakeasy in Reidsville, Georgia, lit up the room with his natural, smooth voice backed by the resonant tones of his Fender Newporter acoustic-electric guitar. We had been meaning to check out the place, and picked the perfect night to come, it seemed. From country to pop, the singer shifted seamlessly through the audience’s requests, covering multiple genres. I asked a server for his name and wrote it down on a scrap of paper. “Where is he from?” I asked.

“Gerriell is from Vidalia. Your neck of the woods,” she smiled.

A few months later, I got the chance to sit down with this talented singer/musician. Gerriell’s onstage presence had seemed so comfortable and effortless. But performers “perform.” I was there to find out about the man without the stage. Just who was Gerriell Craig?

The answer to that question began with his parents, Goodman and Lillian Craig. Before his father came to Vidalia in the early 90s, he had served in the army for over twenty years. “My dad was a master sergeant and served in Germany for a few years. He was also a Vietnam veteran,” said Gerriell, proudly.

W hen Goodman Craig retired from military service, he returned to his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama. “My dad’s sister, Aunt

Winnie, set him and my mom up on a date.” Lillian (Persha-Craig) was from St. Petersburg, but her work with the Social Security office had moved her to Birmingham. The date obviously worked out well, as Goodman and Lillian married in 1991. When Lillian was transferred to the Social Security Office in Vidalia, the couple relocated and never left. Gerriell, their only child, was born in 1995. “I’m basically the only person in my family from Vidalia,” he smiled.

Ger riell always wanted to play guitar, but his parents insisted he take piano lessons first. With the incredibly talented John Morgan as his piano teacher, young Gerriell gained a musical foundation that would serve him in ways he could never have imagined. By high school, he was playing piano for church services, but the music lessons were put on hold as high school sports took center stage. Gerriell played football, baseball, and ran track, and excelled in all three.

At the end of his sophomore year of high school, Gerriell lost his mother to breast cancer. He was only fifteen years old at the time. As an only child, he and his father walked through their grief together, and their relationship became even stronger. Gerriell also had the rare gift of friends that stepped in when others might have stepped away. Perhaps they didn’t know the right words to say at such a time, but they did know how to show up. “They kept me involved in activities, so I wasn’t alone,” said Gerriell. “And I knew that’s what my mother would have wanted for me.”

W hen Gerriell graduated from Vidalia Comprehensive High School in 2013, he finally got that guitar he’d wanted. “My dad gave me a Randy Jackson ‘Limited Edition’ acoustic guitar,” said Gerriell. But the guitar sat in a corner of his room while he turned his attention to college. “I walked on and played football at Georgia Southern in the fall of 2013 and the fall of 2014. I was a part of the Sunbelt Championship team.”

In 2017, Ger riell graduated from GSU with a degree in exercise science. He began working as a medical assistant at

Spivey Orthopedic Clinic in 2018, where he continues to work today. His experience in sports gave him a passion for the athletes who play them. “I really enjoy helping athletes get back to their normal lives after an injury. It’s very rewarding.”

Just before the Covid crisis of 2020, Gerriell picked up the guitar that his father had given him. His background in piano gave him a musical foundation, for which he had his mom and dad to thank. The rest came the old-fashioned way: practice and more practice. The first song he learned to play was Redemption Song by Bob Marley. “It was the most fulfilling experience to sing and play it all the way through.”

W hen one of his buddies heard him play, he asked him to perform a song at his wedding. A few days later, Gerriell got an unexpected call from Ashley Johnson, then owner of The Floating Axe in downtown Vidalia. “Someone had recorded the performance and posted it online,” said Gerriell. “Ms. Ashley saw it, and she asked if I would play at The Floating Axe.”

That night at The Floating Axe would be the first of many. Almost overnight, Gerriell was playing in nearly every venue in town. Each experience was “an opportunity just to have a really good time.” It was simple. And that was his magic.

“God has given me these opportunities,” said Gerriell, “and I’m grateful.

Gerriell views every opportunity to play music as a chance to "have a really good time." His followers know he delivers with a smooth voice and natural talent.

In 2025, Ger riell was booked for all but three weekends the entire year. This year, his schedule has already proven to be even busier than ever. With a full-time job and a full performing schedule, he has still made time to serve the community as President of Community Men in

Action (CMIA), a position he’s held since 2023. The community service organization partners with other organizations throughout the year to meet community needs.

In January 2026, Gerriell competed in the East Georgia Competitions, LLC, at Southeastern

Technical College. “The ultimate winner will take home a massive cash prize of at least $50,000 and cement their place as a rising star in the music industry” (www. eastcoastcompetitionsllc.com)

“Fan voting decides the top four competitors, followed by the judges’

decision of who moves on to the next round,” said Gerriell. “Of course, I want to win, but if I do or don’t, I’m just happy for the chance to keep playing.”

After making the fan pick, the judges chose Gerriell to move on to the next round. (The competition will continue until a winner is chosen.) “I got the chance to meet Craig Campbell, who was one of the judges for the competition. And I’m playing at his bar, Grindstone Cowboy, in Shelbyville, Tennessee, this June,” said Gerriell. “I'm very excited about that opportunity.”

This year, Gerriell was the opening act for the 2026 Vidalia Onion Festival concert at the Amphitheatre at Ronnie Dixon Park. His performance set the tone for a celebration of the community that helped him become the man he is today.

No matter the stage, every opportunity to perform is met with gratitude. “God has given me these opportunities,” said Gerriell, “and I’m grateful. I could have played for my friend’s wedding, and that would have been it.” It’s not the stage that has made the man Gerriell has become. For that reason, the lack of a stage can’t take it away.

I was reminded of an article on nbcolympics.com about Alysa Liu, the American figure skater, who won the gold medal for the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics. “She's been labeled figure skating's ‘unbothered queen,’” writes the author of the article, Talia Barrington, “and says the results matter less to her than how she feels while performing. ‘I really don't feel nervous. I don't feel the pressure. There's nothing holding me down or holding me back,’ she said after the short program in Milan. ‘I invite it all in. So, no matter what happens, it's a story.’”

The opportunity Gerriell never anticipated is all part of his story. And the story, not the gold medal, not the result of a competition or how many places he’s booked to play, is what

makes him a true artist. Gerriell sings for the joy of it. I’d not just heard a great performer at the speakeasy that night in Reidsville. I’d heard his song, a chapter in his story. Whether telling his story through work, song, or service, Gerriell Craig is someone we can be proud to have our children look up to. He’s a son of our community, after all.

Gerriell F. Craig's music is available on Facebook, TikTok (G.F. Craig), and Instagram (GCraig24).

& A crown a cause

Kimber Williford honors the life of Reese Hughes by taking on a mission of compassion that helps children feel loved and supported.

The crown on her head may sparkle and shine under the stage lights, but it’s the teddy bear in her arms that tells the real story. Most kids her age might be worried about learning their ABCs or coloring the perfect picture, but her focus has shifted to something bigger: making sure children in unsafe situations have a teddy bear to hold when they need comfort most.

K imber Williford is just 5 years old, a kindergartener at Toombs Central Elementary School, but she has already found a way to use her love of pageantry to help children who are suffering in silence.

Her mom, Allena McCoy, says that the desire to make sure others feel loved comes naturally to Kimber. “To know Kimber is to love her. She is the sassiest, most energetic, and loving little girl,” Allena said.

That sass and energy are noticed instantly when Kimber walks into a room, usually dressed in glitter or sequins, with a big bow in her blonde curly hair,

ready to talk to anyone and everyone. But what makes her stand out isn’t just her big smile and personality or her love for performing. It’s the way she has taken on a job that is much bigger than herself serving as a Kada’s Promise ambassador, a nonprofit that provides teddy bears and comfort to children who have experienced abuse or neglect.

K imber enjoys seeing smiles on other kids’ faces, her mom explained.

To Kimber, giving a teddy bear to a child in need means happiness and love.

STARTING ON STAGE

Kimber’s journey to the crown began when she was just 3 years old. After watching other girls compete in pageants, she decided she was ready to “hit the stage” too, and she hasn’t looked back since.

For Kimber, pageants aren’t just about big crowns and titles. A typical pageant day, according to her mom, is about having fun, being with friends, and supporting other girls no matter who leaves with the crown at the end of the day.

K imber’s focus on friendship and kindness instead of competition is something that is easy to see in the way she interacts with her peers. She’s always the one to cheer on her friends even when they’re competing against her.

Pageantry has also given Kimber important life skills that she will carry with her beyond the stage. Her mom said the experience has built up her confidence, her ability to interact and form relationships

with people, and her natural instinct to encourage others.

TAKING ON A MISSION

K imber’s biggest stage is not in the world of rhinestones and trophies; it’s in her role with Kada’s Promise.

K ada’s Promise was founded by Kadance Fredericksen, a young girl who experienced abuse and neglect but chose to dedicate her life to helping other children. After her passing, her mom, Lisa Frederiksen, made sure that light wouldn’t fade.

“K ada’s Promise was born from my daughter’s heart,” Lisa explained. Kadance knew firsthand what it felt like to be broken and alone, and instead of letting that pain define her, she turned it into a promise to comfort other children.

Lisa carries on the mission that Kadance set in order to keep her daughter’s legacy alive.

Lisa explained that when children like Kimber step up to serve as ambassadors, it changes everything. When children and teens step forward as ambassadors, it creates a connection that no adult can replicate. “Kids listen to other kids… they see themselves in each other,” Lisa said.

Ambassadors like Kimber are living proof that kindness and advocacy aren’t limited by age. Bringing comfort to kids is a challenge that Kimber is up for. Even though she knows that teddy bears can’t fix everything, for children who are going through situations that no child should face, any sense of comfort matters.

A COMMUNITY RESPONSE

The importance of comfort has been especially clear in Vidalia, where Kimber lives. After the passing of a local 4 year old girl, Reese Carter Hughes, the community came together to support Kada’s Promise and raise awareness for child abuse in a big way, honoring both Kadance and Reese. In Reese’s honor, teddy bear donations have poured in, with the community painting the town in pink ribbons and showing support through prayer, events, and drives.

Reese’s grandmother, Michele Erickson, says this kindness means more than words can express.

“This act of giving transforms immeasurable pain into meaningful action, providing a path forward for our family to find purpose and comfort by seeing the impact that the bears give other children in their time of pain or sadness,” Michele said.

She believes that although Reese was only 4, she would be proud to know her story is sparking hope, and that she’d be smiling to know that her legacy is one of compassion and hope. The site of donation boxes filled with teddy bears is proof of how far the mission has spread, showing Michele and her family that Reese’s story will inspire people to be compassionate and to serve others.

In the middle of it all, in sweet Vidalia, Georgia, is Kimber, a little ambassador with a huge job. Her role as a Kada’s Promise ambassador shows that even the youngest members of a community can make a difference.

LESSONS FROM HOME

Part of Kimber’s understanding comes from her mother’s openness. Her mom doesn’t hide the reality that some children face. She remains honest with her about situations that some kids are stuck in on a level that she can understand.

“As Kimber’s mother, I am very open and honest with her about the abuse and neglect other children face,” said Allena. “Through my own lived experience of abuse as an adult, I feel like transparency with her is key.”

ABOVE As a Kada’s Promise ambassador, Kimber knows the teddy bears aren’t just about collecting toys. It’s about giving love and support to children who might not get it in any other way. RIGHT "Kimber works to build other girls up and spread love and encouragement,” said Kimber’s mom

.....giving a teddy bear to a kid means kindness and love,” said kimber.

Allena McCoy.

That honesty has helped Kimber connect to Kada’s Promise in a real way, even at such a young age. She knows her role as a Kada’s Promise ambassador isn’t just about collecting toys. It’s about giving love and support to children who might not get it in any other way.

BEYOND THE STAGE

Compassion in Every Treatment

From the outside looking in, it would be easy to see Kimber only as a “pageant girl,” but her work with Kada’s Promise has taken her influence far beyond crowns and sashes. Pageantry has given her the confidence, presence, and determination, but her mission has given her a bigger purpose.

“K imber works to build other girls up and spread love and encouragement,” said Allena. On stage, that might mean clapping for a friend who wins. Off stage, it means standing up for children who don’t always get the love and encouragement they need in the best way she knows how.

LOOKING AHEAD

K imber’s story is just beginning. She is only 5 years old, but she is already a part of a platform and a mission that is making a huge impact in the lives of children at the 8 local places in need that she has made donations to. Pageants are fun, but Kada’s Promise is a responsibility she takes great pride in.

Compassion in Every Treatment

In efforts to remember Reese, it’s about turning heartbreak into hope. “I know she’s looking down smiling because now she’s not only helping her siblings, she’s helping to comfort lots of kids, and I hope this will continue for many years to come,” Michele shared.

A s Lisa looks to the future, her hope is that Kada’s Promise becomes a household name; not for recognition, but so no child is ever overlooked.

Lisa hopes that in the future every law enforcement car, every advocacy center, every hospital,

Compassion in Every Treatment

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and every school counselor will have resources ready when a child is in crisis. More than anything, Lisa explained that she hopes that her daughter’s legacy continues to “ripple out so far that even children she never met will feel her love.”

For Kimber, it comes down to the joy of giving comfort. When asked what it all means, Kimber’s answer is simple. “To me, giving a teddy bear to a kid means kindness and love,” Kimber said.

That’s exactly what makes her story stand out the most. Behind the glitz and glam, Kimber is a little girl who learned at a young age that every child deserves to feel safe, cared for, and loved, a belief she’s turning into action, one teddy bear at a time.

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Building Opportunity

Building Opportunity at home

Watching

small towns struggle and industries send jobs overseas led Michele Johnson to find her passion: helping business thrive in Toombs county and the surrounding areas.

For Michele Johnson, economic development is personal.

L ong before she became Executive Director of the Toombs County Development Authority (TCDA) and President of the Greater Vidalia® Chamber (GVC), she was a country girl growing up on her grandfather’s farm off Highway 297. Her father farmed and worked in construction. Her mother spent her working life at Oxford of Vidalia. Michele saw firsthand how deeply a business could become woven into the life of a community—and how devastating it could be when those jobs disappeared.

After graduating from Vidalia High School in 1990, Michele began working in industrial engineering, first with Oxford and later with Tumi Luggage. She watched as apparel jobs left for Latin America and other manufacturing jobs moved overseas. For many families, it was more than a career change. It felt like losing a way of life.

“That’s what shaped me,” Michele said. “It’s hard to witness an entire industry disappear and the impact that has on individual employees and the collective community.”

Those experiences eventually led her to economic development. She joined the staff at the Chamber and Development Authority in 2002 and is now in her eighth year as president and executive director. She didn’t grow up planning for this role, but once she found it, it was the right fit. Her work became a way to help bring back the kind of jobs and opportunities she had watched disappear.

In Toombs County, Michele’s position is unique. The Toombs County Development Authority is a public body focused on recruitment, investment, industrial growth, and job creation within the county. The Greater Vidalia® Chamber is a membership-based business organization with a broader regional reach. Years ago, local leaders wisely decided the two should work hand in hand. Today, Michele helps

PHOTOS BY EVAN RIEKHOF/EZ-E PHOTOGRAPHY

Many people still haven't grasped the impact of what we are doing here. We always encourage our community members to come in, walk around, see the space and let us share the vision, so they can understand how this center can change the business landscape of our area," said Michele.

lead both organizations with one set of shared goals: growing business, strengthening the tax base, creating jobs, and improving quality of life.

That mission is what led to the Greater Vidalia® Center for Rural Entrepreneurship.

The effort began in March 2019 when Michele, along with Debbie Evans, Chamber Vice President, and Steven McComas, Chamber Board Member, took a trip to Alexander City, Alabama, to benchmark a youth entrepreneurship program. The focus of the trip quickly changed when the group discovered something more–the Lake Martin Innovation Center, a chamber office connected to a business incubator. The energy of the place made an immediate positive impression on them. Entrepreneurs were working, talking, sharing ideas, and building businesses in an environment designed to help them get started without taking on overwhelming risk.

The visit sparked a question: Why couldn’t Greater Vidalia® do something similar?

W hen they returned home, they began brainstorming the idea with the Chamber and Development Authority Boards, as well as various resource providers, eventually establishing a Community Advisory Council to spearhead the project. Soon they were ready to start looking for a building. A grant from Georgia Power provided seed money to hire an architect, and the old Darby Bank building was considered the top choice of three potential options. When that option did not work out, the vision shifted. Around the same time, the City of Vidalia purchased the former Econo Inn property as part of an effort to address blight. City leaders approached the Chamber and Development Authority about placing the center on part of that site.

The result is a 14,000-square-foot facility built through a partnership between the Chamber, the Development Authority, the City of Vidalia, and the State of Georgia. The building is publicly-owned by the Authority, with both the Chamber & Authority operating from the space so that customers might access traditional services and networks of both organizations. But the center is much more than an office. It serves as a business incubator and co-working environment, offering resources, networking opportunities, and technology to help new and growing businesses succeed. It’s also about building a strong economy–from within the community.

For new businesses, the center offers low-cost, flexible space, access to mentors, business training, networking, and support from organizations such as the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in Statesboro, Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs (ACE), Small Business Assistance Center (SBAC), and Lucas Center for Entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurs can work on business plans, test ideas, understand expenses, prepare for financing, and receive guidance before committing their life savings or signing a major lease.

Michele knows that many small businesses fail not because the idea is bad, but because the owner lacks access to the right resources. The

LEFT From meeting and collaboration areas to dedicated office/retail space or simply desk for the day space, the Center and its resources are available to everyone. RIGHT TOP The Center has hosted The Foundational Leadership and Entrepreneurship Experience (FLEX), which is coordinated through Southeastern Early College and Career Academy (SECCA). FLEX is a hands-on, high-school program that teaches students how to create real businesses, products, and services for a chance to win funding and mentorship. BOTTOM Some businesses that have taken advantage of space at the Center include It Takes a Village Counseling, Southern Mark Safety and The Strong Truth Podcast.

To date, these businesses have taken advantage of the Center’s services as tenants:

Harris Brokerage

It Takes a Village Counseling Smith’s Roll-Offs

Southern Mark Safety

The Strong Truth Podcast

TurnKey Realty Company

UK Candles & Gifts

Start-ups that could benefit in the space include:

Specialty Retail, such as a Bicycle Shop, Book Store, Pet Boutique, Local Artisan Shop; Specialty Services, such as an Architect, Clothing Alterations, Grant Writer, Speech Therapy, Financial Services, Events Planning, Travel Agent

center is designed to reduce that risk. If it helps someone grow, that is a success. If it helps someone avoid a bad decision, that is a success too.

The facility also reflects what Michele and local leaders heard during listening sessions with young entrepreneurs and creatives. Many did not want another classroom-style program. They wanted a place to gather, collaborate, work after hours, drink coffee, plug in a laptop, and talk through ideas. The center provides that kind of space—a place where

someone working a regular job during the day can still pursue building a dream in the after hours.

“I mean, that’s really what the Center is all about,” Michele said. “We are trying to help people make money in pursuit of their dreams.”

That philosophy connects directly to the broader work of both organizations Michele leads. The Development Authority continues to recruit industry, develop industrial parks, pursue grants, and expand sites for future growth. The

The Center's success is largely due to a staff that operates under a well-organized plan. With the Chamber of Commerce and Development Authority offices both located in the building, duties can be shared and collaboration can take place. The Development Authority initiates much of the incoming corporate business in Toombs County, and the Chamber helps guide these new organizations in the business community. It is a unique hand-in-hand system that helps ensure success.

LEFT Lisa Truxel serves as Front Desk Coordinator at The Center helping newcomers find resources and pointing them in the right direction. OPPOSITE PAGE Lisa Truxel, GVC & TCDA Front Desk Coordinator; Michele Johnson, GVC President and TCDA Executive Director; Debbie Evans, GVC Executive Vice President; Amber O'Connor, GVC & TCDA Director of Operations; and Dana Brown, GVC Director of Member Experience.

Chamber helps businesses connect, promote themselves, find employees, access programs, and become part of the community. Together, they are working to remove barriers for businesses of all sizes.

Michele’s rural upbringing gives her a clear understanding of what is at stake. Her family’s farm was close to Oak Park. She remembers Oak Park as a lively little town with a post office, grocery store, florist, package shop, apparel factory, game room, ball field, school and diners. She remembers people walking around downtown talking to neighbors. She also watched that community decline as jobs, services, and daily traffic moved elsewhere. She does not want that future for Toombs County.

S he is also a mother and grandmother who wants the next generation to have choices close to home. Like many parents, Michele would love for her children and grandchildren to be near her, but she knows that requires opportunity.

That is why the Center for Rural Entrepreneurship matters. It is not just

The DOT Foods Business Hub located on the second floor of The Center has a large meeting space, state of the art audio visual capability, a catering kitchen and outdoor seating. Local businesses can rent the space for meetings, educational and training seminars, luncheons and more.

about office space. It is about helping people stay, return, build, and belong. It is about giving local dreams a better chance of becoming local businesses. It is about growing from within while still welcoming outside investment.

For Michele, the work ahead includes continuing industrial recruitment, preparing new property for future projects, strengthening workforce development, and helping the Center become a true communityowned resource.

Her path—from the farm, to industrial engineering, to economic development—has given her both perspective and purpose. She knows what it means when jobs leave. She knows what it means when communities lose momentum. And she knows what can happen when people decide to build something better together.

Here in our community, that something is already taking shape.

Hannah Naude, PMHNP Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Julie Jensen, MD Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist

Forged by Strength

Strength takes many forms. Sometimes it’s forged through loss, discipline, and sacrifice; other times, it’s revealed through quiet resilience and the determination to keep moving forward when life delivers its hardest blows. In this issue, we share the stories of two extraordinary individuals whose journeys through adversity led them to the demanding worlds of strength sports. From military service, personal tragedy, and advocacy to cancer survival and professional bodybuilding, James Vogt and Lisa Williams prove that true strength is built far beyond the gym—and that perseverance of the human spirit can inspire an entire community.

TheJuggernaut

James Vogt's resilience and strength stand out as he sets state and national records in Strongman events.

Jameshad few childhood memories of his father, Robert Vogt. He and his older brother, Steven, were raised by their mother, Teresa Girard. “She drove a truck across the country to support us. When she didn’t have a load to carry, she waited tables,” said James. He was in the ninth grade when he quit school. “There were a lot of gangs at my school in Talladega, Alabama. I was just a country boy. I grew up riding horses, wearing blue jeans and a cowboy hat. So, I got bullied a lot. More than once, I would get jumped four to one.” In the ninth grade alone, he had been in twenty fights. "I believed I would die if I didn't get out," James recounted.

W hen James told his mother he was quitting school, she voiced her objections but felt powerless to change the situation. On her way to work, she dropped James off at the college where the GED was being administered and said, ‘This one’s on me. But if you don’t pass it, the next $50 is on you. And you will study and take it until you do pass it.” James not only passed the GED on his first attempt—he aced it.

W hen he turned eighteen, he joined the Army. Serving his country was a family legacy. “We’ve served for six generations that I know of,” said James. “My grandfather lost an eye serving in the Marines. My dad and his sister both served in the Marines. My brother and I served

in the Army. I’ve got uncles and aunts and cousins in every branch of the military.”

The opportunities provided by the military more than made up for what he missed in high school.

“I studied biochemistry. My MOS [Military Occupational Specialty] was Patriot Missile System Operator and Maintainer. I also became a hand-tohand combat instructor and trained both men and women in self-defense.” In addition, “I competed in Yosh Karate, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Judo, and taught the modern Army Combat program as a level-two instructor.”

During his last tour overseas, James received a call from home informing him that his mother was on life support. “I was rushed home on emergency leave. She died soon after that.”

After suffering a traumatic brain injury, James faced medical retirement. He had given his life to serve our country for eight and a half years. Soon after he returned to civilian life, he met Alycia, and they married. In 2018, James became the proud father of Amelia, a beautiful baby girl.

Hoping to reconnect with his father, James sought him out, only to

learn that his father was in poor health and needed care. “Me and my wife took him into our home in Metter,” said James. “He was scheduled for open heart surgery at the VA, but they told him it would be a year before they could deal with his hernia, which was the size of a grapefruit.”

The events that unfolded on June 19, 2019, were completely unexpected. “We had no warning. We don’t know if the news from the VA triggered something or what was going on in his mind. All we know is that he went and paid his insurance, bought three packs of cigarettes, came home, and shot himself on the front porch.” The events of that day had unfolded like a horror movie.“I held him for thirty minutes before the ambulance arrived.” The Vietnam veteran died in his son’s arms from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

“I relived that day every time I walked across the porch to go into my house,” said James. “There was no way we could stay there. So, we bought a house with twenty-one acres in ‘Racket Town’ where we could have some farm animals and raise our daughter.” The tranquility of their new surroundings helped James and his family begin to heal.

OPPOSITE James quit school in ninth grade after numerous confrontations and bullying, but his mother insisted he get his GED-and he aced it. Later he joined the Army and served for over eight years gaining the education and discipline he had missed from high school.

He then turned his attention to caring for his physical well-being.

“I had put on a lot of weight since I retired from the service, so I started weightlifting for my own mental and physical health. And then I met Josh Pinkerton. He’s retired from the military and now works as a federal agent. He had posted on Facebook, inviting guys to come work out at his place in Pooler. So, my buddy Wesley Toole and I went there to check it out. Josh put his van on a deadlift platform, and I had to deadlift it,” James smiled. “I did five or six reps.”

James put a shipping container in his back pasture and filled it with workout equipment. Day after day, week after week, he worked on overhead presses, deadlifts, and squats with no air conditioning or heat. Training for competitions requires preparing for the unexpected. Higher elevations. Rain. A sudden drop or rise in temperature at an outdoor event. He trained for it all.

After only two months of training, James competed in the Georgia Log and Deadlift Championship in Perry, Georgia. When he out-lifted guys who had been lifting for years, he was hooked. He’s been competing in events from across the Southeast ever since.

It was more than the physical challenge that had drawn James into the competitive world of weightlifting. It was the friendship and camaraderie of like-minded brothers-in-arms such as he had known in the Army. The community of friendships was not limited to competitors alone. “These strongman events aren’t just for the ones competing,” said James. “The kids are running around playing together while the competitions are going on. Families are hanging out together. I get to meet people from all over the world who are competing. They come with their stories, and you come with yours.”

A big part of training comes from having the right coach. “I’ve had the

LEFT James's daughter likes to work out with him in the container that he has converted to a gym. "She has her own bar," said James. BELOW The friendship and camaraderie in competitive weightlifting is strong. "They come with their stories," said James, "and you come with yours." BOTTOM LEFT James's hard work and achievement has earned the nickname "The Juggernaut."

honor to work with some great coaches,” said James. “Like Tyler Davis from Mobile, Alabama. He has competed all around the world. He’s a great coach and a dear friend of mine.”

James is currently working with Pro Strongman Adam Derks, from Nashville, Tennessee. “Adam is a 2x World Record Holder and has held the title of World’s Strongest Man, as well. He’s a phenomenal person and coach, and has trained some of the world’s strongest men.”

The work James has put into training speaks for itself. He has become a three-time state record holder at events in Alabama and North Carolina. And December 13, 2025, he made a 865 lb. deadlift in the men’s Open Heavyweight division to become a national record holder. His hard work has earned him the title of “The Juggernaut” a term that Merriam-Webster Dictionary describes as “a massive inexorable force...that crushes whatever is in its path” Juggernaut is also a fictional character created by Marvel Comic legend Stan Lee as one with superhuman strength and durability. Looking at James's record, it's easy to see how he got the nickname.

James has seized the opportunity of this new platform to bring attention to the high rate of veteran mental health and suicide prevention. In an article entitled “The State of Veteran Suicide (2025 Update),” the advocacy group Mission Roll Call writes, “AWP [America’s Warrior Partnership] suggests that as many as 24 veterans die by

suicide per day, with an additional 20 dying by ‘self-injury mortality,’ often overdosing,” (https://missionrollcall.org).

At first, James focused solely on bringing attention to the high rate of veteran suicide. It was part of his personal story, after all. But when a friend attempted suicide, he realized the enormity of the mental health issue in our country. “So many people don’t talk about how they

feel inside,” said James. “When I was growing up, I can remember going to my grandma’s house and everybody sitting on the porch just talking. But the cell phone has replaced that today.”

“The relationship between cell phone use and depression and/or anxiety creates a vicious cycle,” according to an article by Mitchell B. Liester, M.D., on May 7, 2025,

entitled “When Cell Phones Replace People.” “These emotions may lead to increased cell phone use as a coping mechanism, which in turn can worsen anxiety or depression” (psychologytoday.com).

“Depression affects so many of us,” said James. The solutions are complex. But as people care, encourage, and work together, there is hope that we can find our way back to the simplicity of porch sitting, where words can be shared, life valued, and love given.

As for the future, James has a lofty, or rather, “heavy” goal. “I want to deadlift 1,000 lbs.,” he said. It’s a feat only achieved by fewer than 40 people, according to official accounts. He is also preparing to compete in The Arnold Strongman/Strongwoman Classic in 2027.

As much as James enjoys both the challenge and camaraderie of weightlifting, faith and family come first. “We are raising our daughter to be strong and independent. I want my daughter to be a positive influence in this world. Education is important. I want her to be successful and have a great career.” Sevenyear-old Amelia loves spending time in the shipping container/gym with her dad. “She has her own little personal bar she lifts while I’m training,” James said with pride.

Through his own personal accomplishments, James inspires both the young and the not-so-young. “I would like to see more youth in the gym weightlifting,” he said. “It’s a great sport to get involved in. Weight training is important regardless of age. So many people are having health problems, and a lot of these things are on us. We have to get in the gym and help ourselves.”

It’s easier to reach out than to reach in. But the good we hope to do for others is limited by the personal responsibility we take for ourselves. In the Bible, Jesus states that the second greatest commandment is to love others as much as you love yourself (ref. Matthew 22:39). Loving ourselves means caring for our whole being-spirit, soul, and body. The first commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (vs. 37) removes any egotism from the equation, making way for gratefulness and discipline. Like the weighted ends of the barbell, James understands the balance. With a gentle spirit, he leads others by his own example of discipline and determination to give his all. He’s a soldier, after all.

BY TERI R.

Surviving & Thriving

Lisa Williams transforms personal adversity into achievement by earning professional status in competitive bodybuilding while balancing work, family, and relentless discipline.

Although the competitive bodybuilder featured on several posters at the Vidalia Fitness

Evolution gym in Vidalia is well known to gym members, her accomplishments may come as a surprise to others in our community, where Lisa Williams has worked for the past 15 years. This past Labor Day weekend (2025), Lisa earned pro status in women’s physique and bodybuilding, a remarkable accomplishment for this 56-year-old grandmother and cancer survivor.

Throughout her life, Lisa had always been active. “I grew up in East Dublin and played softball and tennis in school. Besides basketball, they were the only team sports available to girls back then,” she said. “We had weightlifting, but it wasn’t like it is now.”

Lisa admired bodybuilding but knew little about it. In 2018, while going to a gym in Swainsboro with her husband, the trainer approached her. “He said, ‘Lisa, we are having this in-house bodybuilding show, and we need people to compete. You have the build. Will you do it?” At forty-nine, Lisa won the competition.

Being athletic all her life certainly helped Lisa prepare for this new challenge. But her true strength went much deeper than her physical build and form. Only five years earlier, Lisa had literally walked through the valley of the shadow of death on the heels of great heartbreak. In July 2012, she had separated from her then husband. Three months later, her divorce was finalized. On December 12, 2012, Lisa learned she had breast cancer.

“Anytime doctors say the ‘C word,’ your first thought is, ‘How long do I have?’” said Lisa. Her very next thought was to fight for her life. “I went from that office straight to the cancer center in Dublin. From that moment on, I determined to do everything I could to keep my body and mind strong.”

In 2013, Lisa underwent chemotherapy treatments from January to May. “I would go on Thursdays for chemo and go back the next day for my Neulasta shot, which helps rebuild immunity, they told me. The Neulasta was

worse than the chemo for me because it made me feel like I had the flu. So, I had Saturday and Sunday to recoup.”

Through it all, there was one person who never left Lisa’s side. “My mama was there with me for every treatment. She was my rock.” Lisa and her mama, Judy Caulder, often joke that both went through “chemo brain” from the aftereffects of the treatments that she shared with her presence and love.

Following four months of treatments, Lisa had a double mastectomy and reconstruction surgery. Throughout the entire process, she said, “I never missed a day of work.” As the "controller” for both the Woody Folsom Chrysler and Nissan dealerships in Vidalia, she handles all accounting functions, including monthly financial statement submissions to the manufacturer. “When I had to stay home to recover from surgery, Woody Folsom had an office set up for me in my home, which really helped me keep my mind busy and still do my job.”

Despite the treatments being difficult at times, Lisa continued her fitness routine. “I believe that staying active and going to the gym as much as I could, helped me stay strong enough to handle the chemo and get through everything,” said Lisa.

When her hair fell out during chemo, she put on a durag. “People would come up to me at the gym and tell me what an inspiration it was to see somebody going through chemo and still working out. ‘If you can do it,’ they would say, ‘there’s no reason I can’t do it, too.’”

When the trainer approached Lisa about the bodybuilding competition, five years had passed since her recovery from breast cancer. During that time, she had remarried and moved to Adrian with her husband, John. Even though she was interested in participating in the competition, she hesitated. Not because she didn’t want to do it, but because she knew nothing about posing, and posing is everything in bodybuilding. “The trainer said he knew someone named Nick Perkins who could help me learn the poses. So, I agreed to do it.” Lisa won the competition, and she’s been competing ever since.

THE ROAD TO SUCCESS

Five years after battling breast cancer (LEFT), Lisa, who had always enjoyed athletics, was going to a gym in Swainsboro to maintain a healthy lifestyle. It was there where she was first approached about competing in bodybuilding. After years of learning, training and developing her regimen, Lisa now competes on a national level winning pro cards. Winning an IFBB pro card means an athlete can compete in professional level competitions, for titles and money. Like many other sports, competitive body building is all about moving up to different levels.

With the success of that first competition, she was hooked. “I got in contact with Robyn Burney, in Dublin, who was competing at the pro level, and she put me in contact with Brian Hoydic, an IFBB [International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness] pro coach in Ohio. He agreed to take me on as a client, and I’ve been under his guidance ever since.”

Readers may note that there is another article in this edition of the Toombs County Magazine about a powerlifter named James Vogt. Until my interview with Lisa Williams, I had no idea that powerlifting and bodybuilding are completely different sports. “Powerlifting is a sport where athletes compete to lift their maximum weight for one rep (1RM) in the back squat, deadlift, and bench press.” The goals are to “maximize the size and symmetry of your muscles” and “reduce your body fat as much as possible.

The overall purpose is to reveal the definition of your hardearned muscle mass,” according to healthline.com. Although bodybuilding requires extreme physical training and strength, the competitions are not about a competitor’s ability to lift weights but about showing the body’s strength through specific poses.

The IFBB governs the sport of Bodybuilding and Fitness, Lisa explained. “There are six categories in the competition: Bikini, figure, fitness, wellness, physique, and bodybuilding. It’s just like other sports. For example, take baseball. You have the minor league and the pros. It’s the same with bodybuilding competitions. Before you can compete at the pro level, you compete in the National Physique Committee [NPC]. If you win at one of these national qualifiers, you gain a place to compete at a national show for a pro card.” Winning a pro card means an athlete has reached a

Lisa has a rigorous schedule of workouts and diet to help maximize the size and symmetry of her muscles. She trains year round and gets help from her husband John, who is one of her biggest supporters.

professional level and has earned the right to compete in professional-level IFBB Pro shows for titles and money.

Competitive bodybuilding is all about the pose. “It's just like any other presentation of a person’s work” said Lisa. “With bodybuilding, you’re presenting the work you’ve done with your body. We stand on stage in front of all the judges to present ourselves in the best possible way. Even though you put in the work, you eat the right food, and do everything right, if you don’t know how to get up there and show it the right way, you could get beat by someone who is just a better poser.”

Before bodybuilding, Lisa ate normally. “But competing,” she said, “changes your entire lifestyle. There’s a scientific process to what I eat and when, depending on where I am in my training. There are two parts to my training year. The first is what we call the ‘bulking season.’ To add muscle, I must bulk up. During this time, I eat five times a day, and each meal is carefully planned.” As Lisa described each meal with its specific food choices and portions, each one weighed and measured, I gained a whole new respect for the work that goes into the sport.

During the second part of Lisa’s year, she will go through 18 to 21 weeks (about 5 months)

of preparation for competitions.

“During that time, everything from the workouts to the meals changes. Every two weeks, my coach will also adjust my workouts as needed. He may say, ‘This spot is dragging a little. Let’s work harder over the next few weeks on this area.’ It gets so intense near the end. It can really mess with your mind.” She paused and smiled. “But when you’ve done all the work and stand up on that stage, it’s an incredible feeling to know what you’ve accomplished.” Lisa competes in physique and bodybuilding, divided by height and age. “We compete barefoot. The others compete in high heels. I had to wear high heels in the first show I competed in, and that was enough for me to know it wasn’t for me,” she laughed. Winners at competitions receive trophies, medals, or ribbons. “If you reach Pro status,” said Lisa, “you can

win money. It’s not much, not like men’s competitions. But it’s not really about money for me. It’s about the feeling that you get knowing that you have worked so hard at something difficult, and your hard work has been recognized.”

In a spare room, trophies, medals, and framed t-shirts from competitions line all four walls. Lisa has placed in every NPC competition she’s ever entered. But her goal has always been to reach a pro level. “I came so close these past two years. I was always one place away from pro status. But this past August, I won in every class I entered. And because of the way our division works, I received four pro cards at a competition in Pittsburgh.”

In 2023, Lisa qualified to compete for her pro card at the Night of the Gladiators show in Tifton. After winning her pro card in Pittsburgh this

past August 2025, she was asked to “Guest Pose” at this year’s competition at the same event in which she qualified to compete for her pro card in 2023.

“I’m really excited about that because it’s also a cancer benefit, and I’ve been asked to be a guest speaker. The organizer of the show is also a cancer survivor.”

According to Lisa, many competitors are full-time bodybuilders. “That’s all they do. Train, eat, and train some more. Then there are those like me who work full-time jobs. For me, that can mean leaving for work earlier for cardio and going back to the gym after work.”

Add to that the hour-long, five-daya-week commute from her home in Rockledge, Georgia, to her workplace in Vidalia. Thankfully, Lisa has the full support and encouragement of her husband, John, who helps her prep for her weekly meals every Sunday.

“You never know how strong you are until being strong is your only choice.” - Bob Marley

When not competing, Lisa works as a controller for Woody Folsom Chrysler and Nissan.

In addition to her full-time job, Lisa also makes time for her family. Together, John and Lisa share four children and nine grandchildren. This October, Lisa will turn 57 and has no plans to slow down. “I won my pro card at the Saturday competition. Sunday was the Pro section of the show. My coach said, ‘Lisa, you're ready. You’re not leaving until Monday. Let’s do it!’” She signed up and won fourth place in her first pro show, which was quite an accomplishment. Among these extremely disciplined competitors, Lisa has also found friendship and camaraderie. “These women come from all around the world. You might think it would be a cutthroat atmosphere because we’re competing against one another. But it’s actually the opposite. We look at each other with such respect, knowing what it took for each of us to get there. We share something few will ever achieve, and that connects us. All we have is respect and appreciation for each other. I’ve made so many great friends doing this.”

Before, the only attention given to Lisa’s achievements was from the posters on the wall at Vidalia Fitness Evolution. But with her pro card, she has taken center stage as a competitor and motivational speaker. This past spring, Lisa appeared as a guest on Fit Talk Radio, hosted by Maria Wells in Valdosta. Wells is also the promoter of the bodybuilding event in August, where Lisa will guest pose and share her story as a cancer survivor and bodybuilder.

Making pro means more publicity. “Putting yourself out there on social media is different from competing in a bodybuilding event. That’s been a challenge for me to deal with,” she said. And yet, Lisa also understands the importance of using her voice and her platform to encourage and possibly gain support for future competitions. “Entry fees can be expensive,” she said. “Competitors put themselves out there hoping to receive sponsorship.”

feats are no less extraordinary. Many, just like Lisa, have families and full-time jobs. Even though they will never gain the attention of an Olympic stage, their courage and commitment are no less commendable.

For those of us who watched athletes compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics and/or the Special Olympics, we understood that those few moments of competition represented many years of unimaginable discipline and hard work. For every Olympic competitor, there were untold numbers of athletes who did not make it to that level of competition, but whose

Our community takes pride in individuals like Lisa Williams, who has not only overcome adversity but also achieved elite status in her field as a professional bodybuilder. Her true strength was not forged under stage lights but through adversity in the hidden places of her heart. Strength is not only physical—it’s a work in the hidden places of the soul. It requires incredible discipline, faith, and resilience. Lisa Williams is proof that survival can become something extraordinary.

Make a Difference

Advocate for a child’s safety, stability, and well-being during a very uncertain time.

Be a Child’s Voice

Help ensure a child’s needs, experiences, and best interests are clearly met.

Meaningful Relationships

Form trusted connections with children and youth, offering them stability.

Part of a Community

Join a network of dedicated individuals, working to improve outcomes for children.

A Dog Named Toombs

BY TERI R. WILLIAMS

DAPHNE WALKER AND MARK ATWATER/UP CLOSE PHOTOS

KELLY

COURSEY’S PASSION FOR DUCK HUNTING EVOLVED INTO A FAMILYCENTERED JOURNEY OF TRAINING CHAMPION RETRIEVERS—CULMINATING IN HIS DOG TOOMBS BECOMING A HISTORIC THIRD-GENERATION SUPER RETRIEVER SERIES CROWN CHAMPION.

We all have our obsessions—I

mean, hobbies. Before family responsibilities require our full time and attention, leisurely pastimes are a great way to wile away a weekend. But the days of a leisurely round of golf or hunting for the season’s prized buck are numbered once a family comes along.

Kelly Coursey’s passion was duck hunting. He spent every leisure moment training his halfchocolate lab, half-golden retriever named Hoyt until he met and married his wife, Kristen, and the two started a family. Today, his hobby has developed into a family affair, thanks to a champion dog named Toombs.

Kelly's relationship with dogs began in 2011. When Kelly wasn’t at Plant Hatch, where he works as a Nuclear Planning Specialist, he was traveling with his dog to duck hunts. Even after he met and married his wife Kristen in 2012, weekends often involved traveling together to duck hunts with Hoyt.

In January 2016, Kelly and Kristen’s oldest son, Trevor, was born. The following spring, Kelly’s friend Tim Taylor invited him to an HRC (Hunting Retriever Club) event in Hilliard, Florida. “Tim had a dog running down there with a professional dog trainer named Chris Stewart,

PHOTOS BY

and he invited me to go. It was something I always wanted to see,” said Kelly.

It was all he needed to persuade him it was time for another dog in the family. “When I started researching these hunting events like I’d seen down in Florida, I found out I would need a purebred dog to run in these events,” which is exactly what Kelly set out to do.

“With Chris Stewart’s help, I found a beautiful black Labrador puppy in 2017.” She was the last of her litter. Kristen crowned the new puppy with the registered name “KC’s Sharp Shootin Annie,” and the call name Annie.

A clarification about registries, titles, and clubs for the not-so-informed about such things, like myself: to begin with, the two most recognized dog registries in the United States are the AKC (American Kennel Club) and the UKC (United Kennel Club). The AKC was founded in 1884. The club is “the largest, oldest, and most prestigious registry, focusing on purebred dogs, conformation shows, and performance events.” Four years later, the UKC (United Kennel Club) was founded. “[I] t is the second largest, focusing on ‘total dog’ (function, health, and temperament) and working breeds” (royalpuppylove.com). Each has a slightly different focus, but both play an important part in the world of purebred dogs.

Whew! All the acronyms! So, who is the HRC (Hunting Retrievers Club) affiliated with? Good question. HRC operates with the UKC (United Kennel Club). The HRC hosts volunteer-run retriever-hunting events that replicate realistic hunting conditions. Now that we’ve got that settled, let’s throw in a few numbers. According to the HRC website, the club “registers over 250,000 dogs each year and licenses 10,000 challenging, fun, relaxed, family-oriented events annually” (huntingretrieverclub.org)

Through his friend Tim Taylor, Kelly met Joel Hawkland, president of Coastal Empire HRC. After visiting one of the club’s training days, Kelly joined the Coastal Empire HRC and found his tribe.

He also started following a retriever trainer named Freddie King from Arkansas and joined his online training program. Kelly studied the data the trainer provided and watched dozens of videos from his program. “I worked my way through it,”said Kelly.

Each event has its own rules, but centers on recovering multiple marked /and blind retrievals. “Marking means the dog must memorize where the bird or object fell and

The Coursey's two boys are homeschooled by Kelly's wife Kristen, which allows the family to travel and enjoy events together. The boys often help with training by throwing marks to help Toombs prepare for events.

then retrieve it with a verbal command. A blind retrieve is a bird that is planted that the dog didn’t see, and the dog and handler must work together with whistles and hand signals to retrieve the unseen bird,” said Kelly.

Titles of achievement are noteworthy for a dog’s pedigree record. There are 5 official titles in the HRC program with each awarded according to points earned: (1) Started = Started Hunting Retriever (SHR); (2) Seasoned = Hunting Retriever (HR); (3) Finished = Hunting Retriever

Champion (HRCH); (4) Grand = Grand Hunting Retriever Champion (GRHRCH); and (5) Upland = Upland Hunter (UH). Annie achieved her Finished Level/HRCH title at 18 months old, an impressive feat for both the dog and Kelly, an amateur trainer. The average age for such an accomplishment is two to three years old. “

Someone hoping to buy a dog can look at the letters in a dog’s pedigree to find proof of good breeding. Dogs with titles are simply more likely to pass on good qualities

to their puppies. “To this day, Annie continues to be our duck and dove hunting dog.”

The success with Annie just whetted Kelly’s appetite for more. “I wanted a male dog I could breed with Annie,” he said. But Kelly didn’t want just any male dog. He wanted a progeny of the great Super Retriever Series Crown Championship two-time winner, “Big Black Dude,” known simply by his call name, “Dude.” It was a pipe dream, sure, but knowing that did not keep Kelly from trying to find puppies from his bloodline.

In mid-spring 2019, Coastal Empire HRC, the club to which Kelly belongs, held a training event. The event was open to the public. Anyone could come and train their dog with the club members or enjoy the event. In retrospect, Kelly would refer to his meeting that day with Clark Kennington, a professional trainer from Mossy Pond Retrievers in Patterson, Georgia, and his dog,

Stroker, as a divine encounter. “I still remember there was a ‘mark’ thrown that no dog could find until Clark brought out Stroker. Clark and Stroker made retrieving look easy.”

Stroker, Kelly learned, was the son of the great champion retriever Dude. Not only that, Stroker had been bred to a “fire-breathing female of a dog named Bailey that had a ton of success in the SRS [Super Retriever Series] and retriever events herself,” said Kelly. And it just so happened that there was one male puppy left from Stroker and Bailey’s litter. Kelly put a deposit on the puppy and brought him home in late October 2019.

The first order of business was to give this beautiful, purebred black Labrador Retriever puppy a name. And not just any name would do. “I wanted his name to be different,” said Kelly. “I wanted a name that represented where I’ve lived most of my life, and where we are raising

What is a Super Retriever?

“The retriever that can do it all… in field trials, hunt tests, and in a hunting situation with a handler not only to take them there but to do it as a team” (superretrieverseries.com)

our family.” Looking back on the county's history, the name seemed obvious: Toombs. A county named for an orator, U.S. senator, and General. “I graduated from Robert Toombs Christian Academy in 2005,” said Kelly. Toombs, it was to be. “His UKC / AKC registered name is KC’s General of the County, and his call name is ‘Toombs.’” (Note: KC stands for Kelly Coursey and is his way of establishing a trademark with his Labrador Retrievers.)

Kelly began training Toombs in the same manner that he trained Annie. But this time, he had the benefit of his friend and expert trainer, Clark Kennington, providing help and oversight. “It didn’t take long for us both to know that Toombs was special,” said Kelly. “Toombs progressed through to the Finished Level and received his HRCH title at just 21 months of age. Clark then took Toombs to the Hunting Retriever Club International Grand,

With Toombs’s win in 2025, he becomes the sport’s first-ever third-generation Crown Champion.

At only six years old, his accolades already include:

• GRHRCH x5

• Master National Hall of Fame dog

• SRS Champion & SRS Amateur Champion

• Multiple Crown appearances, including 2nd place in 2024

and he passed it the first time at just two years old, which is uncommon.”

Toombs has now passed the Grand 6 times. “He will continue to run the event and other events, which he will need to receive the Hall of Fame (HOF) title,” said Kelly.

In addition to his induction into the Master National Retriever Club, Toombs also holds AKC Master Hunter (MH) and AKC Hall of Fame (MNH4) titles, which are official titles noted on his pedigree. In 2025, “Louis West, another professional trainer, handled Toombs in 3 AKC qualifying events. The result was a JAM (Judges Award of Merit), a third, and a first for a QAA (Qualified All Age) title.

Perhaps, like me, your head is spinning with all the acronyms and countless awards. Maybe you’re here for the pictures. (Who can resist a dog picture?) But this story is not only about a remarkable dog. It’s also about a remarkable dog’s family. With the birth of their second son, Brooks, in 2021, the family of four continues to share a “hobby” that brings them together instead of apart.

“Kristen and the boys help prepare for the next event. They all throw marks and help set up equipment for Toombs’s training,” said Kelly. Homeschooling allows the Courseys to travel and spend invaluable time together in the outdoors.

Toombs is indeed a champion, but he is also part of the Coursey family. “Toombs training is ongoing, and both boys take part. He can step on a bird at 350 yards, run a hundred miles an hour to get out there, pick it up, and come back again. And then he can come inside and lie on the couch or in the corner, and you

don’t even know he’s there.” To date, Toombs has sired four litters, three of which were with Annie. Buyers have come from as far away as Illinois and New Mexico for his puppies. For Kelly, these experiences of training and competing have reflected many spiritual truths that he has shared from time to time on social media and with others when the opportunity has arisen. From distractions to the temptation of a “poison bird” that can disqualify a bird in a competition if retrieved against the handler’s instructions. Everything is a part of the process for both Toombs and Kelly. Every win is celebrated, and every loss is an opportunity to learn and grow stronger. The experiences not only benefit and strengthen their relationships with one another, but also with other families who share this passion. “These dogs are another way I believe my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has blessed me to live out and share His Gospel message to

others through these dogs,” said Kelly. While he enjoyed watching Toombs race across a field or cut through water on a retrieve, Kelly held on to his dream. It was the same dream that had inspired him all those many years ago when he watched Toombs’ grandfather, Dude, win the Super Retriever Series Crown Championship in a YouTube video. “It was my dream to have a retriever win the Super Retriever Series Crown Championship. It’s like the NFL Super Bowl for football. The MLB World Series of the dog world,” said Kelly. That dream became a reality in Shreveport, Louisiana, in 2025, with Toombs and professional trainer Clark Kennington. Clark, amazingly, was also the trainer who won the SRS with Stroker, Toombs’ sire, in 2021.

“To this day, it doesn’t seem real,” said Kelly. “The five series that were put together for the win at this event were something straight out of my dreams.” Following in the steps of his sire, Stroker, and grand-sire, Dude,

“Training at this level is mental. Toombs has the head and the heart – that’s what wins.”

–Clark Kennington, Professional Trainer

Toombs became the first ever thirdgeneration Super Retriever Series Crown Champion.

Toombs won his first event of the year (2026) at the Windy Hills SRS Club Event at Laurel Hills, Florida. “With this finish, we are now qualified to run the 2026 SRS Crown Championship on the amateur side.”

After winning the crown last year, Toombs is qualified for life on the Open side. “We then got a top 6 finish at the Southern Way Retrievers Club event in Dublin.”

Now, Kelly hopes to make history by winning the Crown on the amateur side. A dual-crown champion win has never been done. But then, like the county for which he is named, Toombs is not your average competitor. If the moment comes, it will represent more than a victory,” said Kelly. “It will be the culmination of years of dedication, training, family support—a partnership between a man, a remarkable dog, and a purpose that reaches far beyond the field.

BY TERI R. WILLIAMS

A Beautiful Tapestry

Kevin and Debra Huddleston navigate health struggles, career success, and unexpected parenthood as they weave a life of love, service, and the growing dream of Salt and Light Bakery.

The seventh of nine children, Kevin Huddleston grew up in the farming community of Hammonton, New Jersey, famously known as the blueberry capital of the world. Every summer, he and his siblings went back and forth between his grandmother’s and great-grandmother’s houses in South Philly. His great-grandmother always kept a written list of projects for Kevin to complete. He still remembered the summer he was nine, and the list included fixing her sewing machine and taking apart the old wind-up clock on the mantel to clean it and get it running again. Born in 1890, his great-grandmother, Hazel Sawyer, had seen the world change in unimaginable ways. But she understood that raising children who could think critically required hands-on experience, and that would never change.

W hen Kevin wasn’t working on a project for his great-grandmother, he was down at the brewery with his Uncle Dory, the brewery's mechanic. Kevin’s job was to hold the flashlight while his uncle repaired and maintained the pumps, motors, gearboxes, and various parts of the machinery. It seems so simple–this attitude of engaging a child in tasks that could build thinkers and, eventually, capable working members of society.

At eighteen, Kevin got a job working in an auto body shop. By the age of twenty-two, he had garnered the attention of an Italian businessman named Bill Caracciolo from Winslow, New Jersey. “Bill was an engineer by trade, but he also collected classic cars. He had this 1964 Morgan in his shop that was completely taken apart.” Even though Kevin had never seen the old British sports car, he agreed to restore the relic using a little shop manual with a hand sketch of the Morgan inside.

K evin worked with Bill Caracciolo, and his brother, Louis, who was a food scientist, for seventeen years.

“Working with the Caracciolo brothers meant doing whatever was needed to get the job done. We built conveying equipment, installed equipment, and assembled food processing plants. If we needed to build a building, we built it. We did our own fabrication, welding, and millwright work.” When things were slow, Kevin worked on Mr. Caracciolo’s classic cars.

In the late nineties, Bill Caracciolo and his brother developed a water filtration system for poultry plants. Kevin worked with them on the system that would “collect water from the processes, run it through our filter, and then return it to the processes, saving the poultry plant a lot of money. We were returning water at 1600 gallons per minute increments. We worked with the USDA, since everything had to be approved.”

In 1997, K evin’s first marriage ended. Within six months, he had sole custody of his three daughters. His oldest, Liz, was 13. His middle daughter, Lori, was 11, and his youngest, Sara, was 5. As a single parent, traveling for work was no longer an option. Still, there was plenty of work close to home. Thanks to people in his formative years, like his great-grandmother and his uncle, Kevin was the ultimate jack-of-all-trades.

In addition to his work with Mr. Caracciolo’s classic cars, he did everything from installing an irrigation system in the garden to driving the limo for the brothers. When the job required travel again, Kevin knew it was time for a change.

W hile stationed at Fort Stewart, his oldest brother, Joe Sannutti, had met and married a girl from Baxley. “He had a very successful sign business there,” said Kevin. “And over the years, my mother and almost all of my brothers and sisters had followed him there.”

In 2001, K evin and his girls moved to Baxley, and he went to work with his brother Joe, who had just started a new business called East Coast Classics, and they worked on classic cars and classic hot rods.

Debra (Kight) Powell and Valerie Quigley were the best of friends. The two women had met through Valerie’s work at DFCS and Debra’s work as a legal advocate and volunteer coordinator for The Refuge, a domestic violence shelter in Vidalia.

W hen Kevin called his sister Valerie on July 3, 2004, just to talk, her best friend happened to be there. The phone call from her brother, Valerie decided, was a sign that he and Debra should go out. Her suggestion did not go over as she had planned. Kevin was not interested. His work and taking care of his daughters were enough, he said. Debra echoed the sentiment. She had divorced two years earlier, was a single parent to her two sons, Kory and Kody, then 16 and 14, and had a full-time career. The last thing she thought she needed was a dating relationship.

Debra had a very successful career as a medical professional, but she had overcome many obstacles to get there. “I went through a difficult and tumultuous time my senior year of high school. I quit school at seventeen to get married three months before graduating. At nineteen, my first son was born.”

W hen her sons were 7 and 5, Debra started classes at Georgia Southern University. She graduated in 1999 with a BSN and earned her M.B.A. in Healthcare Administration in 2018. By the time she met Kevin, she had a long list of professional certifications and experience.

W hen Valerie decided to play matchmaker, she made it impossible for them to refuse. “The next day was July 4,” said Debra, “and we were both invited to spend it with her family.”

The connection was instantaneous. Debra and Kevin spent all day and long into the evening just talking and getting to know one another. The following day, Kevin took her for a motorcycle ride. She smiled and said, “That sealed the deal.” Kevin proposed on Thanksgiving Day, and they were married the following Valentine’s Day (2005). The two families became one and made their home together in Baxley.

B y this time, Kevin and his brother had separated the car restoration business. “Joe wanted to do the hot rods, and he asked me to do the classic restoration.

LEFT As a kid, Kevin would accompany his Uncle Dory to worksites. Kevin learned about mechanics and repairing machinery from watching his uncle and holding a flashlight. ABOVE Working for Bill Caracciolo in New Jersey, Kevin restored this 1964 Morgan sports car. He would work for Caracciolo for the next 17 years building and installing equipment, fabricating, welding and inventing production systems.

If someone wanted flames or a fancy paint job on their muscle car, my brother would do it. But if somebody wanted a car restored to its original condition, I would do it,” said Kevin. The shops were only a mile apart.

In 2006, Healogics, the largest wound care management company in the United States, had hired Debra as a program director. Her job was to oversee and establish wound centers nationwide. She ensured construction was proceeding on schedule and promoted the center to doctors. Debra did everything from purchasing the equipment to hiring and training the staff.

Her first job in the position with Healogics was at The Comprehensive Wound Healing Center in Statesboro, Georgia. For two years, Debra made the 70-mile one-way commute to and from her home in Baxley. In 2008, she was offered a job establishing a wound center in Bristol, Tennessee. Kevin sold his business in Baxley, and they found a place to live just across the state line in Abingdon, Virginia.

O f course, Kevin was not one to be idle. “When we moved there, the realtor who helped us find a house mentioned she needed some work done. I told her I could do it,” said Kevin. The next thing he knew, she was calling him all the time about work and giving out his number to all her friends.

W hat Kevin thought might be a good side hustle had become a full-time career. It was the same with every move they made. His knowledge and handson experience in electrical, plumbing, carpentry, and everything in between made him the definition of a jack-of-alltrades. It wasn’t just his skill that made him stand out. Kevin was meticulous. Whatever the job, he treated the place he worked on as if it were his own home, and his customers took note.

After Tennessee, Debra’s work took the family to Rome, Georgia. The next job was in Murphy, North Carolina, which would be their first “empty-nest” experience.

W hile working and living in Murphy, Debra faced the tragic death of her brother, David Kight, a professor

at Brewton-Parker College (now Brewton-Parker Christian University). At only forty-two years old, he had died of gastrointestinal cancer. Her brother’s passing had a profound effect on Debra.

“I had been dealing with some serious health issues for years,” she said. “I had gone to lots of physicians, spent a lot of money, tried different things.” Debra was eventually diagnosed with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue, even so, nothing the doctors suggested brought relief.

A s her health continued to deteriorate, she developed diverticulitis, chronic fatigue, and kidney stones. “I got shingles. My hair was falling out in clumps, and the lymph nodes around my neck were swollen. I was only thirty-five years old and had inflammation in my knees, which made it difficult to walk. At night, I couldn’t sleep for the pain in my hips. It was just a circus,” she said.

On the day of her brother’s funeral, she decided to take matters into her own hands. “I began an elimination diet. I went cold turkey. I drank only water and ate only meat for thirty days.” With her medical training, Debra knew there had to be a clinical reason for these symptoms. Debra did a deep dive into the connection between gut health, brain health, hormones, and food.

But the greatest culprit behind her illnesses, she discovered, was gluten, and she was officially diagnosed with celiac disease. “Celiac disease,” according to celiac.org, “is a serious autoimmune disease that occurs in genetically predisposed people where the ingestion of gluten leads to damage in the small intestine. It is estimated to affect 1 in 100 people worldwide, but only about 30% are properly diagnosed.”

Debra’s journey to healing began with the correct diagnosis, and she “watched” her gluten intake from that point on, seeing significant improvement. But it would be some time before she took the next step in her health journey.

A new job offer took Debra and Kevin to Landisville, New Jersey.

With the move came a new position as the Regional Director of Clinical Operations. Debra was now traveling up and down the East Coast to manage clinical operations at thirty-five centers. The new position required Debra to be away from home for four or more days at a time.

B ack in his old stomping ground, Kevin looked up his former employer, Louis Caracciolo. The brother’s grandfather was an Italian immigrant and a winemaker. As a child, Louis had made wine with his grandfather. “In the mid-70s, he grafted some European vines and established Amalthea Cellars,” said Kevin.

During his time with the Caracciolo brothers, Kevin had primarily worked for Bill, who had since passed away, but he had helped Louis at the winery from time to time. The return to New Jersey allowed him to work with Louis again. Kevin worked at the winery the entire time he and Debra lived there, which turned out to be only eleven months.

Even though Debra’s health had improved, she could not negate the connection between the stress of her work and her physical health. “We had a five-year plan,” said Kevin. “The Regional Director of Clinical Operations in South Georgia planned to retire in five years, and that would be our ticket back home to Georgia.”

“My stepfather had passed away ten months after my brother,” said Debra. “And my mother had moved back to Vidalia, but she was alone. And the truth was that both of us were homesick.” So, when the regional director retired early, Debra was hired for the position.

In 2015, the Huddlestons bought a house in Vidalia and moved home.

Even though the house was larger than what they felt they needed, the small shed in the backyard seemed the perfect place for Kevin to set up his workshop.

Thir ty days after moving in, Debra received a phone call from her oldest son’s ex-girlfriend in Virginia. “They had two daughters, but she and my son

were not together,” said Debra. “Emi was three years old, and Becca had just turned two a month earlier. There were drug-related circumstances that required child services intervention.”

With DFCS at the door to inform the mother that the police had been called, she asked if Debra and Kevin wanted to come get the girls. “We had already offered to keep the children for her to go to rehab, and she had refused. So, when she called, I said, ‘We will come, but if we take them, you will have to first officially sign them away to us so we can care for them and make whatever decisions that need to be made for their care.’” And that’s exactly what she did.

W hen they arrived, Becca was wearing only a t-shirt and a diaper. “All she had with her was a blanket,” said Debra. “Emi had the clothes on her back, a blanket, and a little purse. We realized right away that the three-yearold had been caring for her sister and changing her diapers. They were so

happy to see us. They jumped in the car with us and never even looked back.”

Debra was forty-eight and Kevin was fifty-one when they gained legal guardianship of their grandchildren. They were no longer “Bebe and Poppop,” but “mommy and daddy,” which the girls began calling them on their own. The huge house with all its extra space was now filled with the laughter and love of these two beautiful little girls. Even so, the transition from empty-nesters to raising two toddlers was a huge adjustment.

Debra’s job still required her to travel up and down the East Coast. She was responsible for 30-35 locations across multiple states at a time and provided leadership training and support for over 100 providers and more than 600 clinical and operations staff. She also provided education at the corporate office location for all new providers and clinical support staff, which included the Wound Center in Vidalia.

“Ninety percent of my workdays were fifteen to twenty hours long,” said Debra. The whole time I was working, I was just trying to get back home to the girls.”

K evin adjusted his work schedule to accommodate taking the girls to daycare, picking them up, and everything in between. Fortunately, he had a lot of experience with raising girls, having raised his own. “He could even braid hair,” Debra smiled. “He was so good with them.”

But the travel weighed heavily on Debra both physically and emotionally. In 2018, Debra became Director of Quality at Fairview Park Hospital in Dublin, which allowed her to be home every night. Ten months later, Fairview Park Hospital promoted her to VP of Quality. Debra served her last two years at Fairview as an administrator, which included the time of the Covid crisis.

In 2021, Debra joined Humana as a Performance Improvement Manager, which allowed her to work from home.

With time now to consider a healthier lifestyle, she completely removed gluten from her diet and all artificial sweeteners. “Seed oils were also a big culprit for my inflammation, I discovered.”

An important factor in her journey to health was prayer. “With prayer for healing and dietary changes, I don’t struggle with any of my previous health issues. I don’t take medications. I sleep well. My joints don’t hurt, and the brain fog has lifted.”

Her pursuit of a healthier lifestyle ignited a fresh aspiration. “In 2023, I began praying about opening a gluten-free bakery.” As she tested her recipes on the family, she refined them. “My first customer was the mother of a sweet little girl who had been gluten-free her entire life. This inspired me even more to create alternatives for those struggling to have bread and other sweet treats while living with gluten intolerance and other types of allergies.”

In 2024, Debra set up a cottage-industry bakery and named it “Salt and Light Bakery.” Through Facebook, she began taking orders, and the business took off so much that she could barely keep up. The most important part of Debra’s new venture was that she was happy and doing what she loved.

LEFT Debra and Kevin are now raising her grandchildren, Emi and Becca.

In 2025, she retired from the healthcare industry to focus on her family and baking business. Over the years, her credentials had filled the top of her resume: MBA, BSN, CWS, CPHQ…and the list went on. Now, her titles were simply: Wife, Mom, and Baker. What began as a personal journey to restore her own health had become a full-time job.

Since the beginning of 2026, Kevin has been on a mission. Kevin, the plumber, electrician, carpenter, and whatever else he needs to be, is transforming his old workshop into a bakery. And when it’s finished, it will be amazing. Thankfully, Kevin now has his son-in-law, Joe Carty, working alongside him. “He and my daughter, Lori, moved down to Hazelhurst from New Jersey two years ago. And he's been working with me ever since. He’s been a real blessing.”

W hen Kevin is finished, Salt and Light Bakery will be open four mornings a week from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.

“We'll have organic coffee, muffins, and perhaps a breakfast bowl as a low-carb option. We’ll reopen from 12:00 to 6:00. Our gluten-free items are made with the highest-quality whole-food ingredients, with no preservatives or other artificial ingredients. So, you get a two to three-day shelf life. Beyond that, you would need to freeze it,” which is the way it used to be. (Remember when bread would mold after only a short time in the breadbox? It’s scary to see how long a loaf of bread can last these days.)

Salt and Light Bakery serves as more than a gluten-free bakery. “I don’t use fake foods or chemicals. I don't use artificial colors or artificial ingredients as much as possible. I use pasture-raised eggs, organic sugars, and flours, and grass-fed butter. I don't use seed oils such as canola, peanut, soy, sunflower, safflower, or others unless the customer asks for them. If you want to eat clean and healthy, the best and safest oil is olive oil. Second to that, avocado.” Debra’s onion rings fried in beef tallow were a huge hit at the Vidalia Onion Festival.

A s I drank a wonderful cup of Debra’s organic decaf coffee, I watched Emi and Becca walk across the backyard to the chicken house. “They’re doing their chores before they come inside,” said Debra. “We have sixteen chickens right now, and the girls know every one of them by name.”

Becca is in the seventh grade, and Emi is in the eighth. Both do great in school at Vidalia Heritage Academy. “They’re so kind and welladjusted. They are just the best kids. And they’re super smart, too,” said Debra, as any proud parent would say.

Before I left the Huddleston’s home that day in late February, Debra loaded me up with a homemade jar of her organic peach jam and several slices of glutenfree pound cake, which was some of the best pound cake I've ever had. Just before driving away, I looked back at what had once been Kevin’s workshop. With his handiwork and Debra’s delicious gluten-free baking, they made the perfect team: Salt and Light. That’s what the Huddlestons are in this community. Salt that preserves and enhances the lives of others. Light that enables others to see the way forward, no matter what life brings. It’s the kind of life that makes a sermon unnecessary.

Surely, this is what a healthy home looks like. Not just healthy food, but all of it. The complicated,

unexpected messiness of life finds meaning and purpose in a backyard where chickens have names and grandparents are mommy and daddy again.

Every year on July 31, the family celebrates “Adoption Day.” It’s the best day of the year. The day their family became complete. As I considered all the Huddlestons' many experiences woven together over the years, the good and the not so good, the hardship, the heartbreak, and the redemption, the rocky roads that somehow led to new and brighter paths, the hard work and the grace of God that gave strength for the day at hand, it was truly a beautiful tapestry, creating a magnificent masterpiece.

KaileyDebbie

Legislative Lunch Reveals Key Issues for Our Region

The Greater Vidalia® Chamber hosted its annual Legislative Lunch on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at Lyons First Baptist Church, providing local business and community leaders the opportunity to hear directly from state legislators on key issues impacting the region and the state of Georgia. During the event, Representative Hagan and Senator Tillery addressed several topics of importance to both businesses and families, including property tax reform, noting ongoing efforts to provide relief while maintaining essential funding for local governments and services. The legislators discussed initiatives aimed at improving access to healthcare, particularly in rural communities, emphasizing the importance of sustaining local providers, attracting residency options, and expanding access to care across the region. “The Legislative Lunch is an important opportunity for our members to hear firsthand from those shaping policy at the state level,” said Debbie Evans, EVP of the Greater Vidalia® Chamber and advocacy staff lead. “We appreciate Representative Hagan and Senator Tillery for taking the time to share insights and listen to the concerns of our business community.”

Bringing Businesses Together at the Annual Meeting

The Greater Vidalia®Chamber held its 2026 Annual Meeting on February 5th at the Vidalia Community Center, bringing together business leaders, elected officials, and community partners to celebrate accomplishments and discuss priorities for the year ahead. During the meeting, 2025 Board Chair Nissa Mitchell passed the gavel to 2026 Board Chair Tres Herin.

A major highlight of the evening was the Chamber’s REACH Program, launched in 2019 to expand programming, volunteer engagement, and business resources. Under 2025 REACH Chair Wendell Dixon, the program experienced a record-breaking year, engaging 28 businesses for the first time, recruiting 26 new Chamber members, and increasing volunteer participation. The Chamber also recognized Vice Chairs Kailey Dees, Tim Truxel, and Garrett Wilcox, along with approximately 40 volunteers. Special recognition was given to Angela Lane, Rebekah Usher, and Pat Dixon for outstanding service.

Leadership development remains a cornerstone of the Chamber’s mission.

Leadership Greater Vidalia® has graduated more than 500 participants since 1994, while the Greater Vidalia® Youth Leadership program continues serving students across Toombs and Montgomery counties. Through partnerships with local governments, schools, and community organizations, the Chamber continues supporting economic growth and long-term prosperity.

Business advocacy will also remain a priority under Business Advocacy Council Chair Mike Hagan, focusing on economic development, business interests, and member education on key issues. Michele Johnson, President of the Greater Vidalia® Chamber, closed the meeting with a call to action encouraging established business leaders to mentor and invest in the next generation of entrepreneurs who will help strengthen the community for years to come.

A Event for Women: ConnectHER

The ConnectHER Gathering for Women brought energy and community spirit to downtown Vidalia on Thursday, March 19, at the Dahlia Event Center. Nearly 200 women attended the evening event focused on connection, support, and empowerment.

Guests enjoyed a relaxed “sip and shop” experience featuring local vendors, giving attendees the opportunity to discover unique products, support small businesses, and connect with one another in a fun, welcoming atmosphere.

The ConnectHER Gathering once again proved to be more than just an event—it was a celebration of connection, collaboration, and community. With strong attendance and enthusiastic participation, the gathering continues to be a meaningful tradition for women across the Vidalia area.

State of Emergency Preparedness

The Greater Vidalia® Chamber welcomed more than 130 business and community leaders on April 2 for a State of Emergency Preparedness Luncheon at Lyons First Baptist Church. Keynote speakers GBI Special Agent Michael Kight and Toombs County Deputy EMA Director CJ Worden shared insights on risk awareness, emergency planning, and strategies businesses can use to protect employees, customers, and assets. Both speakers emphasized the importance of preparedness, encouraging businesses to develop response plans, stay informed, and work closely with local agencies during times of crisis.

“ This luncheon provided critical information for our business community,” said Mike Hagan, Chair of the Chamber’s Business Advocacy Council. “Preparedness is about protecting livelihoods and strengthening the resilience of our entire community through planning.”

DR. MELISSA FURMAN HAS 20+ YEARS EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.

SARAH WELLS IS AN OLYMPIAN, KEYNOTE SPEAKER AND BOLT OF ENERGY WITH A MISSION TO HELP PEOPLE SEE THAT EXCELLENCE IS FOR EVERYONE.

Showcasing: a Rock n’ Roll Affair

Shop Local with Community Bucks!

Community Bucks are checks that can be spent at over 80 chamber member businesses. There is no fee to purchase a gift check.

Business Expo | OCT 8, 2026

Annual Awards Gala | NOV 12, 2026

State of Cities/County | 4TH QUARTER

Downtown Vidalia continues to grow as a hub for connection, creativity, and community pride through events that bring locals and visitors together in meaningful ways. From community networking events to public art and family-friendly events, the Downtown Vidalia Association is always looking for new ways to showcase the heart of our Sweet City.

Coffee Before Hours remains one of our most popular monthly events, giving community members the opportunity to network, connect, and learn more about local businesses in a welcoming atmosphere. If you have never attended,

make plans to join us soon. Another favorite is 505 with DVA, a fun afterhours event designed to bring people together while highlighting businesses throughout downtown.

This year also brought exciting additions to our event calendar, including Art in the Park in our recently updated Meadows Park. Muralists from across Georgia created beautiful works of art while visitors watched the creative process unfold. During the event, community members of all ages also participated in a paint-by-number mural celebrating both our Sweet City heritage and America’s 250th birthday.

To continue showcasing the murals and encourage activity in Meadows Park, we now host Tasty Tuesday on the second Tuesday of each month featuring two different food trucks. It is another great opportunity to enjoy downtown, gather with friends, and experience the energy of our growing community.

We are always looking for ways to draw people to our beautiful downtown and have even more exciting events planned for later this year.

Tonya Green Parker is the Downtown Economic Development Director

HOMETOWN HAPPENINGS

THE VIDALIA ONION FESTIVAL

Photos by Evan Riekhof/EZ-E Photography

HOMETOWN HAPPENINGS

Photos by Evan Riekhof/EZ-E Photography

HOMETOWN HAPPENINGS

Photos by Evan Riekhof/EZ-E Photography

THE SISTERHOOD SOIREE AT THE ALTAMA MUSEUM OF ART & HISTORY

HOMETOWN HAPPENINGS

Photos by Evan Riekhof/EZ-E Photography

GARDENS OF HOPE GALA AT THE DAHLIA

HOMETOWN HAPPENINGS

Photos by Evan Riekhof/EZ-E Photography

DANCING FOR THE STARS

AT THE VIDALIA COMMUNITY CENTER

MURDER AT THE RED ROSE MASQUERADE BALL AT THE PAL THEATER

HOMETOWN HAPPENINGS

Photos by Evan Riekhof/EZ-E Photography

ART IN THE PARK IN DOWNTOWN VIDALIA

Live in Lyons is Back

The concert series continues! Enjoy free live music from local talent at the 304 Society Garden located inside the Downtown Entertainment District where Sip & Stroll is welcome. Each event provides fun, fellowship, and opportunities to support local businesses. Bring your chair and enjoy music under the stars while connecting with friends and neighbors in the heart of Lyons.

Join the Main Street Movement and Shape the Future of Lyons

Lyons is more than just a town—it’s a vibrant, growing community full of heart, history, and hope for the future. At Lyons Main Street, we believe in building a stronger Lyons from the inside out, and we need you to help make it happen.

We’re inviting residents, business owners, and neighbors of all ages to be a part of something special. Whether you’ve lived in Lyons your whole life or just arrived, your voice matters.

Share Your Story

The Lyons Heart & Soul initiative is collecting stories from residents about what makes Lyons special and what they hope to see over the next five years. This effort focuses on listening and shaping a shared vision for the community. Your input will help guide future development, events, and projects. Visit www.lyonsmainstreet.com to complete the Heart & Soul survey and share your thoughts.

Take the time to participate in your community. Whether you’d like to volunteer, attend events, share your story, or help shape community initiatives, Lyons Main Street wants YOU on our team.

Together, we can honor the past, celebrate the present, and build the future of Lyons—one story, one event, and one person at a time.

Let’s make Lyons better— together.

Visit us online or stop by our office to learn more about upcoming events and how you can get involved. Questions? Ideas? Stories to tell? We’re all ears—and we can’t wait to hear from you.

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LAST Words

A life in Lessons

Don’t sweat it–the road to maturity will eventually find you!

I’ve written so much about my children and their milestones, but I thought maybe it was time for you to get to know that I was actually a young person at one time, before marriage and children and grands, and the struggle was real. Also, thank God we did NOT have smart phones and social media. Some of you out there are going to have to live with those bad decisions/hair/clothing/ boyfriend choices/posts for the rest of your lives, perfectly catalogued on the interwebs. Lucky you. My bad decisions are just kept deep in my closet in old photo albums containing Polaroids and journals, many of which I have properly disposed of as not to horrify my adult children after I’ve passed along.

The year was 1981, and I quite seriously skated through my three years at Vidalia High School. There was only one subject that I liked, and that was Drafting with Mr. Chismark. I was actually pretty good at it and had a mild crush on him. Beyond that, I was lucky to have graduated. It is important to note that my family moved to Vidalia in 1978 (my 4th move since I was 7), ripped me from a suburb of Chicago and brought me to this small town where there were six restaurants, three movie theaters, and a “strip” to ride on for entertainment. I was miserable, angry, resentful, edgy, and could not care less about my future, all of which was reflected in my studies. I made some great, lifelong friendships, though, and that was the best part…that and the smoking pit at school where you could find me at all break periods. I told ya – “edgy”. Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t a terror or misguided or even a bad kid, but there were some mothers of my friends who may/may not have thought I was a bad influence. I just wanted out of smalltown Vidalia and to move back up to the Midwest but my parents wouldn’t have it and I am now grateful.

We had several days off before graduation, and we all made the best of it, trust me. I was late for practice, did not have on the appropriate clothing for a school event, and got pulled aside by the graduation coach who begged me to just do what I needed to do to get out of there. Bless her. We did the thing, graduated and 4 of us girls headed to my house and pool for a post-grad “party” while my parents went back to work. I wouldn’t be 19 until December, and Georgia had just changed the legal drinking age from 18, so I had to employ one of my brothers to buy us some beer – two whole 6 packs of Pony Millers. LOL! We drank them down, swam, and dreamed out loud of how awesome it was to finally be free, all the while scared to death and not having a clue of what was next. I have Polaroids of this day, too, and no you can’t see them. They made me go to Valdosta State College because I was not going to “sit around and waste my life.” You see, my parents had three sons and three daughters, of which I was the baby. Two of their daughters did very well; had plans, implemented them, blah blah blah. I, however, was leaning more towards the life of two of my brothers. Mom and dad saw this clearly, and they tightened the reins before it was too late. Honestly, I was a turd of a teenager, and I don’t know how they stood me.

Valdosta was a no-go for me, and, as happens to so many parents of children that are not in any way ready to be independent, they wasted a whole lot of money on me. As I grew older, when asked where I went to college, I would always say that Valdosta State was the best year of my life. I wasn’t there for a long time, I was there for a good time. After being put on probation and then double secret probation (if you get the reference, you are my people), my counselor called me in to her office and said, “Ann, college is not

for you. You need to go on home, honey.” And I did, much to my parents’ dismay. A gain, with the lecture about doing something with my life, I was forced to go to Swainsboro Tech where I wanted to sign up for Drafting but the class was full. I had to choose the only program that was left open having waited too long to register - Secretarial. This was not in my plans, but I had no choice in the matter. I couldn’t keep myself together long enough to do something important for my future because I simply wasn’t mature enough, which left me with only one option.

Sur prisingly, I did really well at Swainsboro Tech. I learned how to study, how to apply myself, and most importantly that I wasn’t as stupid as I had thought. I earned very good grades, which became like a drug and pushed me to excel in each class, allowed me to mature and to build my confidence. I passed at the top of my class, got several awards, and graduated early after being hired by a law firm in a neighboring town. That 13-year job taught me accounting, management, human resources, and knowledge of real estate, probate, and corporate law. All of these skills took me through my entire–and what I consider to be successful–career as an entrepreneur and a Director of Community Development for The Greater Vidalia® Chamber and the Toombs County Development Authority.

The Technical School system changed my life. We aren’t all ready for college and there is absolutely no shame in that. For some of us, knowing what you want to be when you grow up is an incredibly hard ask when you are just out of high school. I’ve learned that between the ages of 18 and 25, your outlook on life, and your dreams and visions for your future will change dozens of times, as it should. If you have doubts, take your time, go to work, mature, and your road will find you, I promise.

Also, Polaroids are better than digital pictures and I will die on that hill.

Ann Owens is a writer, creative genius, entrepreneur, mother, and wife who enjoys pondering what makes the world click

Jason Colbert, CHPCA, CEO