YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1978 w w w. j a m e s t o w n n e w s . c o m
WEEKLY EDITION
AUG. 19-25, 2026 Vol 48 No 34 | 1 Section | 10 Pages
Goodbye Wyndham, hello GO by Raymond James BY CAROL BROOKS FREELANCE WRITER cab1hp@gmail.com
It is now official. After several days of rumors, the Piedmont Triad Charitable Foundation, which puts on the annual golf tournament at Sedgefield Country Club, announced Aug. 12 the new sponsor of what until Aug. 11 was the Wyndham Championship. Beginning in 2027, Raymond James will be the new sponsor of the tournament now called GO by Raymond James. The name is a nod to the original name, Greater Greensboro Open, or GGO.
Perhaps the more important information to local residents — the tournament will stay at Sedgefield. Even more good news, GO by Raymond James will be part of the new PGA Tour Championship Series beginning in 2028. This is a major upgrade to the former GGO, which was formed at Sedgefield in 1938. “We wanted to be one of the big deals in the state,” said Mark Brazil, CEO, Piedmont Triad Charitable Foundation of the group’s year-long search for a
Gristmill worker looks forward to retirement BY NORMA B. DENNIS FREELANCE WRITER ndworddesign@gmail.com
Photo by Norma B. Dennis
Retirement provides Annie Laura Purdue time to pause and enjoy a coffee drink at a local coffee shop. ing to get good cornmeal to make Jack’s favorite cornbread. I bought cornmeal and whole wheat flour to make my own bread. “Jack and the mill’s owner Charlie Parnell became friends and it was not long until Jack and I were volunteering at the mill on weekends.” At the time, the Old Mill sold not only freshly ground cornmeal and whole-wheat flour, but also a special pancake mix Parnell bought from a business in New
coverage on CBS, Golf Channel and three properties produced by PGA Tour Studios — PGA Tour Live on the ESPN App, PGA Tour Radio on SiriusXM and the World Feed. “The PGA Tour’s Greensboro event has one of the richest histories in men’s professional golf and we are proud to continue building on its longstanding legacy and local charitable impact with the support of our new partners at Raymond James,” said Dhruv Prasad, PGA Tour Chief Commercial Officer. “GreensSEE GO, PAGE 2
Village Fair crafters and vendors wanted BY CAROL BROOKS FREELANCE WRITER cab1hp@gmail.com The 22st annual Village Fair will return to Mendenhall Homeplace on Sept. 19 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The fun-filled event is a great opportunity for children, as well as adults, to learn how people lived and worked many, many years ago through interaction with heritage trade exhibitors. The Richard Mendenhall homeplace, 603 W. Main St., is 215 years old and many of the crafts that will be on display were familiar to the Mendenhall family and the Jamestown community of that time. Can you turn a gourd into a ladle or know someone who can? Several heritage trade exhibitors will be in period attire. Heritage trades include spinning, quilting, metal work, woodworking, weaving, hat making, chair caning, basket making, sewing, cobblers, leather crafts, blacksmithing and farming, to name a few. If you would like to participate as a heritage trade exhibitor, craft vendor or storyteller/history interpreter
Photos by Carol Brooks and Louise Hobbs
Scenes from the 2025 Village Fair. — or know someone who could participate — call 336-687-3131. Animals such as sheep, llamas, etc. are also welcome especially if they have a story to tell. Sponsorships are also available for this event, presented by the Historic Jamestown Society. For more information, call Elizabeth Greeson at 336-687-3131 or greeson.elizabeth@yahoo.com.
Historic Jamestown Society is committed to sharing the rich history and heritage of the community. The community’s support will enable further preservation efforts and programming.
SEE GRISTMILL, PAGE 8
Quaker Woods history protected by Land Conservancy BY CAROL BROOKS FREELANCE WRITER cab1hp@gmail.com Unknown to many, the Quaker Woods in Greensboro has seen a wealth of history in its lifetime, ranging from settlements by indigenous people to participation in the Underground Railroad. Now, it will be preserved forever. “Guilford Woods on the Guilford College campus has stood at the heart of Greensboro for centuries – long before the city existed, long before the roads and subdivisions and shopping centers that surround it today. What remains is 140 acres of mature hardwood forest carrying an extraordinary history.” So reads the Piedmont Land Conservancy description of Guilford Woods. On July 30 of this year, the PLC closed an agreement with Guilford College to protect 140
Photo courtesy the gatheringinlight.com
(At left) Guilford College Woods historical marker. Photo courtesy of Guilford College
(Below) The 350+ year old Witness Tree.
of the 240-acre site often called Quaker or Guilford Woods. The group will begin with 20 acres purchased for $2.5 million. Located in a growing part of Greensboro, the desire is to preserve the site from development that would SEE WOODS, PAGE 8
New Lunch & Learn series available for dementia care partners BY NORMA B. DENNIS FREELANCE WRITER ndworddesign@gmail.com Watching loved ones slowly lose their memories until they no longer even remember who you are is devastating. Finding resources to help them and you navigate that journey can be difficult as well. Jamestown United Methodist Church, 403 E. Main St., is using its facility to support care partners of those with dementia. Two free programs are already available, which are open to all the community. A new Lunch & Learn series will begin on Sept. 8 in the church fellowship hall and will be held each second Tuesday of the month from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. This program is also free and open to the community. The committee coordinating the program includes Laura Gulledge, Melissa Moore, Sally Ledbetter and Janice Baynard. “We realized caregivers needed
ADVERTISE IN THE JAMESTOWN NEWS! We offer great, affordable packages to fit any budget. Call 336-316-1231.
more information about dealing with dementia,” said Gulledge, who also helps coordinate other dementia programs. “The Lunch & Learn sessions will be topic-driven presented by experts in their field. We are not trying to reinvent the wheel, but take advantage of what is already available.” A simple box lunch will be provided, so RSVPs are required for this meeting. Any dietary restrictions will need to be noted. “Some presenters will provide the lunch and others will just do the
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Never underestimate the value of volunteering. When one volunteers, it could lead to a paying job. That is what happened to Jamestown resident Annie Laura Purdue, who recently retired after a 50-year association with Old Mill of Guilford, located on Hwy. 68 in Oak Ridge. The water-powered gristmill had been built in 1767 on Beaver Creek so settlers would have a place to have their grains ground into flour/meal. Throughout its long history the mill was moved numerous times. Today’s technology has upgraded the milling process, but the mill continues to produce all-natural, stone-ground, whole-grain foods, just as it has for over 240 years. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. “My husband Jack found the Old Mill as he was traveling around Guilford County with his work,” Purdue said. “I started going there as a customer hop-
new sponsor. “We worked hard on that. We wanted to stay here. There will be some work done on the course over the next couple of years.” Brazil believes the new tourna-
ment will be one the top players will want to play. Currently, some sit out various tournaments. “I don’t have to recruit golfers anymore and I don’t have to give any more exemptions,” he said. As one of the longestrunning stops on the PGA Tour, the Greensboro-area event has been a mainstay on the schedule since its inception in 1938. GO by Raymond James will still be the regularseason finale contest and be contested Aug. 2-8, 2027, as a full-field event with broadcast
SEE LUNCH, PAGE 8