tifton scene, july/august 2013

TiftonSceneTiftonSceneJULY•AUGUST 2013

Inns and B&B’s

A Train Ride toNew Orleans

Lady Devil Adriana Durden

SummerLovin’

M A G A Z I N E

Love stories from area couples

814083SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY

JULY•AUGUST 2013 | TiftonScene 3

Tifton Scene Magazineis published bimonthly

at 211 N. Tift Ave., Tifton, GA 31794by The Tifton Gazette

p: 229.382.4321 • f: 229.387.7322P.O. Box 708 • Tifton, GA 31793-0708

email: [email protected]

Letters and all editorial contributions may be sent tothe above address or emailed [email protected]

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AMagazine with Personality!

TiftonSceneTiftonSceneM A G A Z I N E

Publisher/Ad DirectorDAN SUTTON

EditorANGYE MORRISON

Graphics CoordinatorIRIS HARBIN

Design/LayoutDEREK SCHAPER

ContributorsSTEVE CARTERMIKE CHASON

LATASHA EVERSONBECKY TAYLOR

CHRISTINE TIBBETTS

CirculationRACHEL WAINWRIGHT

Volume 8 • No. 4

CONTR IBUTORSAngye Morrison is the editor of The Tifton Gazette. Morrison is a Georgia na-tive who hails from Lincoln County, and is an avid high school football fan, aswell as the Georgia Bulldogs. She is a graduate of Augusta State University, andhas worked at newspapers in Georgia and Florida, as a reporter, photographer,paginator and editor. For her, summer lovin' has but one meaning…water. Sheloves to go to the beach or camp out beside a mountain stream. “There’s nonoise like the babbling of a brook or the sound of ocean waves,” she says.“Nothing says summer like that, for me.”

Latasha Everson has been with The Gazette for more than two years as a re-porter (three years on August 16 to be exact). Everson started August 16, 2010,fresh out of college. She graduated from Turner County High School in Ashburnin 2006, where she was involved in yearbook and journalism. In 2010, sheearned her bachelor's degree in English with a concentration in professionalwriting from Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus. While atGSW, she was involved with the literary and visual arts magazine, Sirocco, forthree years. “When I think about the words ‘summer love,’ the first thing thatcomes to mind is enjoying a nice, tall glass of something sweet with ice outsideon a hot summer day, sitting on the porch or in the yard with family. I have al-ways loved the outdoors, especially during the summer, laughing and reminisc-

ing on the past with the people I love. That’s what I call some good ol’ southern, summer lovin’.”

Becky Taylor joined the sports department of The Tifton Gazette in September2012. She was reared in Berrien County and developed a love of sports, startingwith the 1991 Atlanta Braves and an invitation to keep basketball scorebooksfor Nashville Middle a year later. She graduated from Berrien High, attendedABAC and finished Valdosta State with a degree in History. Five years later, shefound herself in Athens and later graduated from the University of Georgia witha degree in Newspapers. Prior to joining The Gazette, she worked some withGeorgia Public Broadcasting for the in-production “As If We Were Ghosts” andhas done research for the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association. She believes thefeelings of summer are invoked in beach music. The Beach Boys’ anthem of AllSummer Long. The Lovin’ Spoonful telling you about Summer in the City. A

sense of youth, freedom and hopefully the smell of someone grilling.

Christine Tibbetts started life in New Jersey and ventured west in 1966 for theUniversity of Missouri School of Journalism. Tifton became home in1978. Herprofessional focus for 30 years was marketing and public relations for the artsand education, for healthcare and early childhood education, plus a healthydose of community activism and political advocacy. You can find her work forthe Equal Rights Amendment on record in the Library of Congress. Craftingstories of places near and far dominates Tibbetts’ work now. Summer lovin’evokes memories of the Jersey shore for Tibbetts with childhood summers spentin Bruce Springsteen’s neighborhood.

Steve Carter grew up loving newspapers and began working for his hometownpaper in Ocilla when he was a sophomore at Irwin County High School. Besidesworking there, Carter has also worked as a student sports information directorat Albany State University, as a scorer for the minor league South GeorgiaSharpshooters basketball team and in several capacities for the Albany Polecats.During his time in school, Carter was the 1988 Staff Member of the Year withaward-winning paper at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, The Stallion.Carter began working at the Gazette in 1999, and has served in several capaci-ties, including sports editor and assistant news editor. He is currently the pagi-nation supervisor for The Gazette. “I love summer for all of the new moviereleases. I normally try to put aside time to catch everything when it comes out

the first weekend,” Carter said.

Mike Chason is the director of Public Relations Emeritus at Abraham BaldwinAgricultural College. He is a native of Lakeland, a 1970 graduate of LanierCounty High School, and a 1974 graduate of Valdosta State College. He wassports editor of the Valdosta Daily Times before joining the ABAC staff as di-rector of Public Relations in 1979. He retired from ABAC in 2011 and nowworks part-time for the college while running Chason Enterprises LLC. “I lovesummer time! ‘Summer loving’ conjures up thoughts of long, lazy summertimedays in Lakeland, filled with boyhood adventures like catching fish and fryingthem on the banks of the Alapaha River, sitting on top of the homemade icecream churn while my dad cranked it, playing under the sprinkler on meltinghot summer afternoons, and settling back in front of the oscillating fan reading

books from the Lakeland Library.”

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Samantha Wright &Elliot Sumner

June 15, 2013Amanda Johnson &

Kris Stone

July 13, 2013

Natalie Barber & Walker Keadle • January 13, 2013

Lauren French & Todd Barnette • March 2, 2013

Danielle Godwin & Rob Buckley • March 9, 2013

Erica Ward & Travis Johnson • March 16, 2013

Hallie Willis & Court Lukens • March 16, 2013

Amanda Bullington & Ron Arant • March 30, 2013

Randi Cooney & Steven Bruner • March 30, 2013

Tiffany Crumley & Josh White • March 30, 2013

Kimberly Gandy & Kyle Payne • April, 5 2013

Latilya Johnson & Marcus Nichols • April 6, 2013

Becky Lastinger & Michael Meadows • April 13, 2013

Rebecca Sapp & Luke Hogan • April 20, 2013

Summer Pate & Camaron Revels • April 27, 2013

Hilary Aycock & Brannon Daniel • April 27, 2013

Michelle Bembry & Christopher Morrow • May 4, 2013

Abby Walker & Steven VanDerMeid • May 4, 2013

Shelley Baxter & Luke Gordon • May 11, 2013

Haley Moore & Matt Hughes • May 18, 2013

Allyson Harten & Joe Shelley • May 18, 2013

Teresa Chavez & Drew Rutland • May 18, 2013

Raleigh Hall & Jared Tompkins • June 1, 2013

Haiden Hudson & Blake Edore • June 8, 2013

Heather Hullett & Joseph Hardy • June 8, 2013

Georganne Swords & Joshua Roberts • June 8, 2013

Samantha Wright & Elliot Sumner • June 15, 2013

Alyssa Bonneau & Detera Marshall • June 22, 2013

Amber Bruner & James Vickers • June 22, 2013

Brittany Courtoy & CJ Schofill • June 29, 2013

Amanda Johnson & Kris Stone • July 13, 2013

Heather Sumner & Shelby Jarrell • July 20, 2013

Kristy Baker & Michael Music • August 10, 2013

Jessica Baxter & Gant Graves • August 10, 2013

Charnele Smith & Eugene King • August 24, 2013

Sara Wells & Paul Stephens • August 31, 2013

Heather Busbin & Chance Carpenter • September 7, 2013

Ashly Stone & Boone Webster • October 5, 2013

Kristen Chung & Reed Hall • October 12, 2013

Kristian Swain & John Robinson • October 26, 2013

Macie Hood & Rob Miller • November 2, 2013

Danielle Edwards & David Beranek • November 9, 2013

Kristen Kostelecky & Andrew Stinson • November 9, 2013

Cecilia Estella and Patrick Fallin • November 9, 2013

Angela Moore & Warren Elder • November 30, 2013

Dana Sloan & Josh Miley • December 14, 2013

Meagan Royal and Jacob Mayne • December 21, 2013


contents8 FEATURE

Age doesn’t mean a thing

11 FEATUREIt’s the scenery along the way that counts

14 FEATUREJourney to the altar

17 TRAVELSnazzy inns and B&B’s

24 TRAVELTaking the train to New Orleans

29 SPORTSTift’s Durden hoping for a big season

30 EVENTSKids lovin’ summer

JULY•AUGUST 2013

ON THE COVERAndy and Suzanne Oliver spendmany a summer’s day enjoying lifeand loving summer – as well aseach other – on the screened-inporch of their home.

Photo by Angye Morrison

6 TiftonScene | JULY•AUGUST 2013

memorandumummer lovin’. For some folks, the words evokeimages of sand castles, starfish and sea foam.For others, it’s about that trip to themountains for a stay in a remote cabin. Forstill others, summer lovin’ brings to mindimages of a long-lost first love. Still for some,images of John Travolta and Olivia Newton

John in a certain movie pop up.

Whatever you think of when you hear the words “summerlovin’,” one thing is for certain. Everyone loves summer.There’s tons to do, and lots of places to be explored. There’snothing like running through the grass in your bare feet, orriding a bike down a hill, feeling the breeze blow through yourhair. Or how about that lazy summer afternoon spent in ahammock with a good book?

For me, summer lovin’ – our theme this issue – is all aboutfreedom. It starts when we’re kids, and that last school bell ofthe year rings…and we know summer is officially here. Pooltime, playing, popsicles and picking berries.

We chose this theme because it has so many layers. Summerlovin’, at first glance, would seem to be romantic in nature. Itis, of course, one layer. We all remember that first summercrush. In this issue, we do give a nod toward romance bytalking with two couples who are in it for the long haul – onehas been together for 60-plus years, while the other, bycomparison, is still in their honeymoon period…they’ve beentogether 23 years.

We are also turning the spotlight on one of our own, LatashaEverson, who is in the midst of planning her wedding fortoward the end of the summer. She shares with us her journeyto the altar.

But summer lovin’ is also about loving summer, and we’vetried to bring that out as well. We are featuring a story about alocal young lady who is a terror on the mound as a top softballplayer. Summer was made for softball.

In addition, you’ll find two travel stories, written by local folkswho have traveled throughout the state and beyond. Travel isa big part of summer, and we know you’ll love reading aboutthe places Christine Tibbetts and Mike Chason have visited.

Last but not least, we’re sharing photos of kids at our locallibrary enjoying another reason we love summer – reading. Wefeature photos from a recent library event with a storyteller,who engaged the children and helped to increase their love ofusing their imaginations. We also showcase photos of childrenwho are working to test theirknowledge and comprehension asthey read, and to work towardearning high marks for reading.

Join us as we journey on thissummer, loving the season, lovingthe fun and loving Tifton and TiftCounty.

Angye Morrison,Editor

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Andy Oliver speaks these wordswith such love in his eyes as helooks at his wife, Suzanne. TheTifton couple has been to-gether for 23 years, and in

many ways are like any other couple. Theylike going out to dinner and seeing the latestmovie. They enjoy travel. Family is impor-tant, and they love to spend time with them.

But what makes them different is alsowhat makes them work – Suzanne is 25-plus years older than Andy.

The couple met while they were bothworking at the Target Distribution Centerin Tifton.

“I was on a trial season and then theylet the seasonals go,” said Andy. “Whenthey turned me loose that day, all I madesure of was that we had a date for thatnight.”

When Andy first approached Suzanneand asked her out, she was unsure about it.“She thought it would be like going some-where with one of her sons, but it wasn’t,”Andy said.

“He worked out on the floor, and theywere doing write-ups. He had to come andget the sheets from me. Every time he wouldcome in, we would talk some. After a while,I noticed he was coming in way too often toget those sheets,” she said.

“We started off as friends, just talkingat Target, and then we dated a year and ahalf,” Andy added.

Suzanne said the pair were both atKutters in Tifton getting haircuts, and Andyasked her, “What would you think aboutgoing to a movie?”

“I said, that would be fine. My familywasn’t here, and it will be something to do.It’ll be like going out with one of my sons.Only he had different ideas,” Suzanne said.“I had been widowed for eight years. I had

no intention of getting married again. Ithought, OK, I’m earning my own moneyand taking care of myself, and the boyswere doing good, so I didn’t want to com-plicate my life. The first time I was marriedit ended in a divorce, and that’s as bad as adeath to go through.”

Suzanne said once they began dating,she quickly saw “which way he was going.”

“I was telling him, listen, I’m just goingto get older, and with older comes health is-sues normally. I threw everything at him Icould think of,” she said. “But I could seehow committed he was to this. I kept think-ing about his age, but he kept on trying tosell it.”

Suzanne was especially concerned withwhat Andy would be giving up if they wereto marry.

“I was scared. I fought it because Iknew this would take away him ever havingany children and the joy of having children.That really bothered me that I might be de-priving him of some things in life,” she said.

“When I knew I was in love with her, Isaid in one aspect, it doesn’t matter whathappens. I’m always going to be here,”Andy said. “We enjoyed our dating time. Iasked her to marry me six months into it. Iasked her several times. I wouldn’t goaway.”

She said as they talked about the agingprocess, she told him, “it’s not going to bepretty.”

But eventually, Suzanne realized that“this could be possible.”

“I believe that God puts people in yourlives for a reason. At first, I was totally op-posed. I had told my grandmother I wouldnever go with anybody younger than me.My grandmother said, ‘Don’t say what youwon’t do. God will make sure you get to dothat.’ I had to get rid of that idea,” she said.

Suzanne said she’s a private person,and was concerned at first about how otherpeople would react. “But Andy is so outgo-ing and loves everybody. So I finally gave inand said OK, we’re going to do this. But Itold him when I’m married, I am totallycommitted. I’ve always been very monoga-mous. I went into it thinking, we’re going tomake this work,” she said. “We didn’tcome into this marriage with the idea that ifit doesn’t work, we’ll just get a divorce.”

Early on, the couple faced opposition.There were people in each of their familieswho were against the match. Suzanne’s twosons each had their own opinions – the eld-est had more trouble accepting it at first,while the younger said he felt more com-fortable with Andy than he would havewith someone closer to his mother’s age.

These days, the couple enjoys a won-derful relationship with Suzanne’s sons, aswell as the couple’s granddaughters, Evieand Eowyn, who spend a lot of time withthe Olivers in their home. There’s even aspecial room in the house, just for the girls.

Suzanne also has enjoyed a great rela-tionship with Andy’s mother, who pur-chased their home for them a couple ofyears ago, and renovated it for them.

“She said she wanted to get us some-thing for Christmas, and I thought it was atruck or something,” Suzanne said. “But

For this Tifton couple –age doesn’t mean a thing

FEATURE

“She’s the reason I breathe.”

by ANGYE MORRISON

then she brought us out here, and said ‘ifyou like it, I want to give it to you.’ And welove it out here.”

“This is why we say we’re so blessed,”Andy added.

But the couple is aware there are stillcritics of their relationship.

“We have a double standard in thiscountry,” said Suzanne. “If a man marries ayounger woman, it’s a trophy bride.” Sheadded that someone once called her a“cougar,” a term with which she takes ex-ception.

“To me a cougar is someone who goesafter a lot of younger men. My husband isthe only younger man I ever dated. Myother husbands were older than me,” shesaid.

“You just tell them I chased you, youdidn’t chase me,” Andy added with a grin.

“We do still get the looks because Iknow we’re the odd couple,” Suzanne said,adding that it still bothers her somewhat. “Iespecially get it from women. I don’t thinkabout age now. I did in the beginning. Idon’t consider that anymore. He keeps meyoung. He’s always wanting to do some-thing, and I think that’s good. It keeps yourmarriage from getting stale.”

Andy says marriage has matured him.“I’ve grown up and I’ve come to appre-

ciate her more. You take each other forgranted sometimes. I did that once. Butopen heart surgery will either tear you apartor bring you closer together. It cementedus,” he said, referring to Suzanne’s surgery,which required a two-year recovery period.She died on the table twice, and this madeAndy all the more appreciative of his brideand the life they share.

“It got really ugly. But through a lot ofpraying, she’s still with me,” he said.

“He was my slave driver. There weredays I didn’t want to get up because it justhurt too bad. But he kept pushing,”Suzanne added.

“We feel like we’re the most blessedpeople in the world,” Andy said. “We’rehappier than a lot of couples who have beenmarried half the time we have. I talk to guysat work all the time who are unhappy andjust frustrated with their spouses.” Headded that he and Suzanne just genuinelylike each other.

The couple is only apart when he hasto work or has a church meeting. They areactive at St. Anne’s in Tifton, and say thatfaith and family have played a large role innot only their lives as individuals, but intheir marriage as well. Having each other,as well as the support of family and theirchurch has helped them deal with Suzanne’shealth issues the past few years.

“I am reconciled about my health. I amgoing to live my life and do all the things Iwant to do,” Suzanne said. “If we’re on theroad and something happens, fine, I washaving a good time.”

“I joke and say I’m married to agypsy,” Andy said. “But my biggest fear islosing her. I can go through this life butbeing without Suzanne…I can’t handle it. Iknow how close I am to losing her and itscares me to death.”

But the couple is quick to say that nomatter what life throws at them, they aregrateful to have found each other, and theycontinue to have a sense of humor aboutlife in general, as well as their age differ-ence.

“I had a good friend who told me Iwas crazy to marry him. But she told melater on that I had the right idea. She said,‘You won’t have to take care of him, andyou won’t have to bury him. I used to thinkyou were crazy, but now it makes sense.’ Ifthis hadn’t been right, I think God wouldhave let me know,” Suzanne said.

Suzanne said when they get “the look”from people, she just thinks to herself,“You don’t know me and you don’t knowour lives. You don’t need to worry aboutthis. We have it under control.”

Andy gets a kick out of the occasionalcomment that perhaps he married Suzannefor her money.

“I say, she was a clerical at Target. It’sa good job, but you don’t get rich doing it,”he said. “When I fell in love with her, I fellhard. She’s a beautiful woman, inside andout. I am more in love with her now thanthen.”

“I want to say to people, don’t knockit if you haven’t tried it,” Suzanne said.


The Olivers spend a lot of time on theirscreened-in porch, just talking and“watching the world go by,” they say.Photo by Angye Morrison

812931810406


For Bobby Rowan, it was love atfirst sight.

He started describing the eveningthat changed his life: “Let’s go back toDecember 1948. On or about the 10thwe went to a cottage prayer meeting.That was a Thursday.”

Cottage prayer meetings, or com-munity prayer meetings, were set up totake place at area houses.

“It was a little four-room bunga-low. She was sitting up on a sewingmachine and I thought she was theprettiest thing. I cast her an eye and awink.”

They were but 16 and 17. Despitebeing at the same community prayermeeting, the two were unfamiliar witheach other, their residences being onthe opposite sides of the Berrien-Cookcounty line. Bobby hailed from BrushyCreek in Cook. Thelma was from WestBerrien.

For Thelma, it was love, but sheadmits she did made him wait. “Ofcourse, I kind of played hard-to-get. Iwanted to be sure.”

But get her Bobby did and 18months later, on June 10, 1950, theywere married in her parents’ home.

Flash forward 63 years later andthey are still together. They still finishsentences for one another and Bobbyeven has their anniversary down to theexact hour.

Their home is filled with mile-stones of their years together. Betweenthe seats of their love seat is a quiltwith their names and wedding datestitched. That was a gift for their 60thanniversary. A wall of their bedroom iscovered. There is their wedding picture.Then, there is their 25th. Their 50th. Inthe center is the document that unitesthem all: the marriage license itself.

Now settled in their home since

2006, for a time they were constantlyon the go.

After the ceremony, the couple de-cided to begin their wedded life inLenox. Their oldest child, Judy, wasborn and the two felt ready to move upa bit – to the other side of town. Theyhad been renting a duplex for $15 permonth, but decided to move into ahouse. Such moves do not come cheap;Bobby said it increased their paymentto $19 per month, but “we were verywell pleased to have a place of ourown.”

Life in Lenox would be short.Bobby started construction work,which uprooted the family to WarnerRobins, where he worked for RobinsAir Force Base. Soon, they would be inOak Ridge, Tenn. A little over threeyears later, they would be back insouth Georgia, but life had changedquite a bit.

It’s not the mileage...it’s the scenery along the way that counts

FEATURE

story & photos by BECKY TAYLOR

The beginning:Bobby Rowan and Thelma Purvis were married on June 10, 1950.

50 years together From their 60th anniversary.The Rowans have added three years since.


Lovin’on the loveseat. Bobby and Thelma Rowanare still in wedded bliss after 63 years. Opposite: Their marriage license is the

centerpiece to a wall of memories.


810839811510

“Our family had doubled,” Bobbysaid. Twins Gary and Larry were bornin 1954 and their third son Don camealong in 1956.

Having sold their house inLenox when they left, theybought land on the other side ofthe New River, in BerrienCounty. There, they had a fourroom house for a family of six,but Bobby had plans.

“I built something wecould add on,” he said, addingthat he gradually increased thehouse’s 800 square feet to2,700. It would be home forthem for the next 48 years.“We felt blessed by the Lord,”he said.

Their four kids grew up,and started their own fami-lies. The Rowans have eightgrandchildren and six great-grandchil-dren. Beaming, Thelma mentioned thatthey were expecting everyone the week-end of June 22 for an anniversary party

and reunion at Shoney’s.After 63 years of bliss, they have

their theories on why their marriagehas lasted.

For Bobby, it was theability to make the best of things.

“Life is what anyone makes of it.We were to determined to make the

best life possible,” he said.When asked what he would advise

young couples, he emphasized faith.“[They have to] put God first in their

life. Their lifetime mate comesnext. Keep God and church inyour life. Make it very impor-tant.”

He also believes thatlearning to be flexible hasaided his marriage. “It’s not50/50. You have to go beyondsome of the time.”Thelma agrees, admitting thatearly in their marriage she hadto learn to roll with the travel.She laughs about the long sta-tion wagon rides down pre-in-terstate Georgia, memorizingevery mile of U.S. Highway 41.“You have to learn to say ‘OK’

a lot of the time,” she said.“He’d say, ‘I need to move.’ I’d

say that scared me, but I want to gowhere you want to go.”


JourneyFEATURE

to thealtarIT ALL STARTED WITH A LOOK. Before the friend-ship, the first phone conversation, awkward and nervousfirst date, first kiss and “I love you’s,” meeting the parentsand the one-year anniversary, there was something abouta look that began a now seven-and-a-half-year journey.

Being that I was a senior, a very involved and focusedstudent and a cheerleader all through high school, I neverreally noticed the talented junior football player with thenumber 24 printed on his uniform. Mind you, my highschool (Turner County High School) is not big at all, butyet, he and I somehow never came in contact with one an-other.

Ironically, his parents’ house was located on the samestreet as my great aunt’s home. Growing up, I would visitmy aunt often to play with my cousin who was a yearyounger than me, but I never imagined that the quiet guyliving in the “blue house” sitting only a few houses downthe street would one day ask me to marry him.

As graduation was approaching my senior year, theguy I never noticed and who never really noticed me, spot-ted me one day while at football practice. He says thatday as I was running around the school track with thecheerleading squad, he looked up and realized that he did-n’t know who I was. He then asked his teammates aboutthis mystery girl who he had never met.

This first look soon led to our first phone conversa-tion after he asked me one day if he could give me a call.A friendship quickly developed.

Passing each other in the halls became something welooked forward to. By our first date, it was obvious thatwe were smitten with each other. I would even find myselfscribbling “Latasha Ford” in my notebooks.

Knowing full well that he liked me, I was timid atfirst because for one thing, my daddy, loving and caring ashe is, can be pretty strict when it comes to his daughtersand the word “dating” (my 13-year-old sister doesn’t havea chance). Mama, on the other hand, is more laid back,but don’t let that sweet, small lady fool you, she can laydown the law when required.

However, the day he met my parents and sister, Iknew he was the one by the end of the night. My mamawanted to know who his parents were, and she approved.His well-mannered upbringing was also a plus. Myyounger sister instantly loved him. He was caught offguard when a little girl with long pigtails came runningaround the corner from her room and jumped into his laplike she had known him forever. Wide-eyed and smiling,she wanted to know everything about him.

by LATASHA EVERSON • photos contributed

But the big test was my daddy. Withme not really dating much at all, Daddynever really had to worry about me bring-ing boys around the house. So he was curi-ous to find out what teenage boy hadcaught his daughter’s eye.

As I introduced him to my parents, mydaddy smiled because, surprisingly enough,he had already met him before. Breathing asigh of relief, I knew then that he was theguy for me and that our relationship wouldgo far. I had an overwhelming feeling thatwe were meant to be and that maybe thiswas all fate.

When I met his family, Iknew my test would be hismother, because with himbeing the baby of the fam-ily, he had to a “mama’sboy.” When he introducedme to his mother, I knewthen that I had guessedright. Same as my mama,she wanted to know whomy parents were, and sheapproved. My good man-ners, of course, alsopleased her. I was alwaystaught being respectfuland polite gets you far inlife.

After meeting his folks and learningfrom him that they liked me, that feelingagain came back — this had to be fate.Then 17 years old, we both saw a future inour relationship early on.

The toughest time during our relation-ship was when we went from seeing eachother almost every day to mostly just talk-ing on the phone when I went off to collegeat Georgia Southwestern State University inAmericus and him going off to college inArizona the following year.

I cried when I left home, knowing Iwould miss my family and of course, him.Even though I was only a couple of milesaway from home and would be returningthere on the weekends to work and visit, itseemed as if I was a million miles away.

He would make special trips to Ameri-cus to come visit me on campus, and when Iwent home on Fridays, I would go to hisfootball games to see him play.

When he left for college, my heart feltempty. I had heard that long distance rela-tionships tend to not survive, but we wereup for the challenge to prove otherwise. Iadmit, it was tough, but those who last arethe ones who are committed. I saw the dis-tance as a test. It was up to us.

When he returned home the secondhalf of my sophomore year, our relationshipgrew even stronger. On Valentine’s Day, hevisited me in Americus, bringing balloons,candy and a teddy bear. I was very appre-ciative of the gifts, but for some odd reason,I was expecting him to propose and he did-n’t immediately. I already had a promisering he had given me in high school.

The day of our engagement comesback to me vividly. We were in my carheaded to a restaurant. He was driving, andwhen we parked the car, he handed my keys

MAY•JUNE 2013 | TiftonScene 15

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to me. Not realizing it, I somehow ended upthrowing the keys in my purse and thenproceeding to put my purse in the trunk ofmy car. As he locked the doors from insidethe car, it hit me that I had just thrown mykeys in my purse, which was now in thetrunk of my car.

Realizing what I had done, all he coulddo was shake his head. I, on the other hand,was so upset that I had just ruined thenight. We tried calling a locksmith but wereunsuccessful. I ended up calling my parents,who had a spare key to my car. They could-n’t believe what I had done. Mama and myolder cousin figured they would just drivefrom Ashburn to Americus and bring thespare key.

I felt bad that because of me, they hadto drive all that way. As we waited for theirarrival, we sat outside and chatted. I keptapologizing for ruining Valentine’s Day. Hecould only laugh. At some point as I wassitting in his lap, I felt a small box in his leftpocket. Immediately, my mind thoughtabout a ring. Trying not to show my ex-pression, I got up and began walkingaround, but he knew.

Soon my mama and cousin arrived.After we all had a good laugh about thewhole key situation, they returned to Ash-burn. At this point, I wasn’t hungry any-more. All I could think about was that ring.

After we ate at another restaurant, wereturned to my dorm room, and he ap-peared nervous. Then after a few minutes,he got down on one knee and asked me themillion dollar question. In response, I criedand said “yes.” Although that day didn’t goas smooth as planned, it’s something I’ll al-ways remember and will tell our future chil-dren and grandchildren.

Now that we’ve grown even more andare getting married this August, I’ve foundthat planning a wedding, no matter howsimple or small, can be very stressful. As anews reporter working long hours, it getssomewhat difficult to find the time to plan,but having a great, supportive family has

taken part of the load from me.Both families have really pitched in to

make our day as special as we want it be,and we’re very much appreciative. He and Ihave never been fond of having a huge wed-ding. It’s not for us. The way we feel foreach other is bigger than any-over-the-top,expensive ceremony. In the end, it will comedown to what comes after the wedding day— the rest of our lives.

As the big day grows nearer on my cal-endar, I find myself ready for that nextchapter of our lives. What we have learnedfrom most married couples who have beenmarried for many years, including our par-ents, is that communication is very impor-tant in having a long and successfulmarriage. We have been through a lot inour relationship over the years, and I’vefound that although we’re young, we knowhow to communicate and learn from eachother.

I still remember the 17-year-old highschool girl that I was, falling in love andknowing that one day, I would becomeMrs. George G. Ford III. It was fate.

It will end the way it all started — witha look. As I walk toward him on the day ofour marriage, I will look into his eyes andhe into mine and we both will know thatwe’re in this together, and the rest of ourlives will be just another journey.

“...we have learned frommost married couples whohave been married for

many years, including ourparents, that

communication is veryimportant in having a longand successful marriage.”


Grand romances launch and rekindle awayfrom routines, so stories are told, and thatincludes home-state bed and breakfast inns.Girlfriend getaways happen there too, and

solo trips dedicated to peace and quiet.Families? Absolutely in some fine inns but

that’s a fact to check first – if you want to takethe kids, and if you want to be gone withoutanybody else’s kids.

The inn itself can be a complete destination,no need to venture forth for sightseeing.Proprietors like people, so conversation’s

always possible. They’re generally savvy, too, andrecognize the need for solitude.Save yourself the cold research; I’ve already

warmed up each of these so if you like, start a“Summer Lovin’” bucket list of inns in Georgia.This is but a bare beginning.

TRAVEL

by CHRISTINE TIBBETTS • www.TibbettsTravel.com

Lovin’ Summer...in snazzy inns with sumptuous breakfasts too!

ASKA LODGEBLUE RIDGEwww.askalodge.net706-632-0178Mary Jo and Bob Stamper,proprietors

This two-story lodgecomes with a certified masternaturalist so be ready forbirds and flowers, theessence of North Georgiaflora and fauna all around.

Fifteen hummingbirdfeeders line the expansiveporches; I couldn’t count somany hummers. Choose be-

tween wicker or wooden, café tables orrockers for claiming the view.

Aska Lodge offers four guest rooms, allup stairs, and each with different grandviews. Binoculars provided on every porchand balcony.

Blankets by the door for chilly earlymorning coffee times, or evenings after firepit marshmallow roasts.

In addition to woods, trails, roadwaysfor hikes, intriguing gardens of glass orchocolate-themed plants, and bottle treesabound.

Leave the pets at home and your chil-dren 10 and under. Bring your breakfast ap-petite with you. My zucchini cheddarfrittata with smoked turkey sausage, carrotjam and banana bread one morning was ac-tually surpassed the next day with a smokedGouda spinach soufflé and sausage rolls.

BLUE HERON INNDARIENwww.BlueHeronInnGACoast.com912-437-4304Jan and Bill Chamberlain, innkeepers

Painted buntings provide a solid timeto stay here; they migrate through fromApril to October. Truth is, however, some-thing’s always flying by, including blueheron.

Four bedrooms in the main inn andtwo cottage options too. Marsh everywhere,and quick access to the ferry to Sapelo Is-land.


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Casual comfort you can envision here,with proprietors delighting in the marshes,their birds and wildlife, the sounds andscents of this location 11 miles from down-town Darien.

Embrace seclusion. They’ll be embrac-ing abundant growing seasons, applyingfresh foods to breakfast recipes. Hope youget there for sweet potato pancake morning.

Challenges? Should you choose thewooden swing overlooking the marsh, ashort trail from the house. Or, the pair ofred Adirondack chairs looking towardSapelo Island?

Back to the house each one, no re-minder of the world, only abundant marshgazing and musing.

1884 PAXTON HOUSE INNTHOMASVILLEwww.1884paxtonhouseinn.com229-226-5197Susie Sherrod proprietor

Brand new worlds are possible withshort, simple drives. Choose this inn closeto home and leave the cares of home be-hind.

A winter cottage in 1884 for wealthynortherners traveling south, Paxton HouseInn abounds with four-poster beds made of

cherry and ma-hogany, pencil-post style andmassive ones too.

Expect 12-foot ceilings,eight-foot doorsand a dozen fire-places, each withdifferent mantelsand stone or mar-ble.

ProprietorSusie Sherrod, aretired ArmyNurse CorpsColonel, sharesfine tales aboutthe antiques andfamily heirlooms.

“The collections chronicle my life,” shesays. We’re not talking trinkets here; Pax-ton House Inn is filled with Lladro porce-lain, Russian nesting dolls, Miessen glass,Italian hand-painted pottery, intricateenamel boxes, Hummel figurines and muchmore.

Breakfast was a work of art: the china,colors of the fresh fruits, flowers on thetable and sunshine streaming in graciouswindows.

ASHFORD MANORWATKINSVILLEwww.ambedandbreakfast.com706-769-2633Mario Castro and Dave Shearon,proprietors

Love the notion of sleeping in amanor? It presents a different tingle from aninn or house.

There’s one in Watkinsville, 1883Queen Anne style and manners, standingtall on 10 acres of gardens and green, ter-races and seating. Shakespeare even hap-pens on this lawn.

Breakfast isn’t simply sumptuous – it’sserved whenever and wherever you like:your room, the dining room, pick a porchor a terrace. With others, or solo.

“We’re very high service oriented,”proprietor Dave Shearon told me. Thattranslates to choices: ground floor accessi-ble room, selected pet-friendly rooms, cot-


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tages with suites, privacy and seclusion orconvivial opportunities.

This grand manor with all its lawnsand terraces feels like a secluded garden,but emerge on the city side of the tall fronthedge and find yourself a 10-minute driveto Athens or a half-minute walk to eightrestaurants.

Wi-Fi is easy, no password, and musicon the porches is gentle and alluring. Eggsare fresh from the Manor chickens, and tra-ditions of great benevolence from thefounding Ashford family in 1893 continue.

Visited, not overnight:Highly recommended summer lovin’

and year-round delights based on mystrolling, roaming, inspecting and dining,but not sleeping (yet.)

MARTYN HOUSEELLIJAYwww.martynhouse.com706-635-4759JoAnn and Rick Lucas, proprietors

Twelve-foot ceilings, luxurious linens,fine dining, farm-to-table style, secludedbedroom and seating area plus verandah,hot water on demand bathroom with envi-ronmental toilet.

Some might call this glamorous camp-ing; Martyn House likes glamping. Propri-etor JoAnn Lucas selected the tents andtheir fabrics in India, reflecting the bold andsensuous colors of that vast land.

She and photographer husband Ricklive in the 1930s farmhouse on these 18acres, and that’s where they serve breakfast.

I’ve walked through each glampingtent, and danced and dined at a dinnerevent featuring at least a dozen North Geor-gia farm purveyors.

This is elegance, upscale and connectedto Mother Earth.

JAMES MADISON INNMADISONwww.JamesMadisonInn.com706-342-7040

Seventeen guest rooms and two suitesmake the James Madison Inn the largestSummer Lovin’ recommendation, yet it feelspersonal on a scale that’s inviting.

Downtown Madison is the location,easy access to Town Park filled with events,to antique and other shops, the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center, fascinating 1811

Heritage Hall and a secret-garden kind offitness walking path.

Does it matter knowing Madison wasthe USA president 1809-1817? Seemed ap-propriate to look that up. Seems more rightto check in and go to the spa bearing hisname.

Each luxurious room has a safe largeenough to hold a laptop, selections of booksby local authors and rain showerheads intile showers with teak stools, and all theother amenities you’d expect too.

Chairs are particularly interesting inpublic spaces—their fabrics and size andshape. Do stroll around the Inn, allowingtime to enjoy the art.


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43726 West 2nd Street, Tifton, GA • 229-382-0541 • www.badcock.com

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Here’s a day-by-day account of ourrecent journey:

• DAY 1:In the springtime, there is no better

beauty spot in Georgia than CallawayGardens. My brother, Tim, and his wife,Lynne, launched our excursion with ablue-sky afternoon tour of the Gardens in-cluding the Azalea Bowl and the SibleyCenter.

Tim (ABAC Class of ’79) is the exec-utive vice president at Callaway andshould really work for free just for the op-portunity to admire God’s creation in sucha magnificent setting every day. We hit theazaleas at their peak, and the wow factorwas off the charts. Everywhere we turned,it was a picture post card.

Definitely put Callaway Gardens onyour stay-and-see Georgia tour. It’s awe-some.


TRAVEL

gentle rain soaked the green countryside as the rhythmic sound of the rails providedperfect harmony to my inner being. It was contentment personified on a recent springafternoon when my family took the train from Atlanta for a weekend in New Orleans.

Add one more link on your bucket list. Ride the Amtrak Crescent. For some passengers, thejourney began at New York’s Penn Station and wound its way through Philadelphia, Washington,D.C., Charlotte, N.C., Atlanta and Birmingham before reaching New Orleans.

For our party of five, the trek began at 9 a.m. on a Thursday in Atlanta and ended at 8 p.m. inNew Orleans. The ride on the Crescent was just one leg of our five-day trip. My wife, Kris, and Ilove to travel and have written many times about our Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College tripsto Italy, England, Croatia, Turkey, Ireland, Scotland, Canada, New York, Hawaiiand Alaska.

Diane Kilgore directs the ABAC travel program and has some terrifictrips lined up this fall to the Smokies, South Africa, Boston, Britain andIreland, New England, Rome and the Classic European Markets. Signup by calling ABAC at 229-391-5070 or visit the website atwww.abac.edu/travel.

Taking the train toNew OrleansA

by MICHAEL CHASON

Callaway Gardens should be on everyGeorgian’s vacation itinerary this summer.


• DAY 2:My brother, Mitchell, joined us for a

pre-dawn trip to Atlanta from Callaway.We hunkered down on our very comfort-able seats on the Crescent while coaxingthe conductor to do his famous “allaboard.”

As it turned out, we had an entire carto ourselves for the Atlanta to Birming-ham leg. Each seat had plenty of leg roomand even a pull out section like your dad’srecliner. Our conductor said he workedfour days on and five days off. He was onthe train when it left New York at 2:15p.m. the previous day. Our one-way ticketfrom Atlanta to New Orleans was only$58.

Our train had two diesel engines, twosleeper cars, two dining cars, one luggagecar and four coaches. I’m definitely tryingthe sleeper on a future trip. The Crescenthas a top speed of 79 miles an hour. Westopped in Anniston, Birmingham and

Tuscaloosa in Alabama, Meridian, Laurel,Hattiesburg and Picayune in Mississippi,as well as Slidell, La.

It’s fascinating to watch the littletowns roll by and to see sites such as theused car lot where each car was totallyyellow from the pollen, a hillside cemeterywhich sloped toward a lake like looking ata drive-in movie, and a farm supply busi-ness with a horse and cow on top of thebuilding.

We waved to the workers at a masstransit bus factory as they reclined onmetal picnic tables while eating theirlunches. We celebrated Tim’s birthdaywith party hats and had the conductorsnap our picture.

I watched two movies on the iPad,took a long nap, read a book and ate asandwich in the dining car. This has to bethe most relaxing form of travel known toman.

We crossed Lake Pontchartrain at

sunset and rolled into New Orleans wherethe Superdome and the New OrleansArena were all lit up.

A quick check-in at the MaisonDupuy hotel in the French Quarter andthen we were off to a late night dinner ofgumbo, shrimp po boys, and jambalaya.And of course, our first stroll down Bour-bon Street.

Bourbon Street is unlike any otherstreet I have ever visited in the world.Raucous. Bawdy. People having fun. All ofthe above...and a whole lot more.

• DAY 3:Up early for the short walk to the

Cafe Du Monde for beignets and coffee.Definitely a must when you go to NewOrleans. Get that powdered sugar all overyou. It’s great.

The French Quarter Festival was infull swing while we were there, and thearea around Jackson Square a block off

Jackson Square in New Orleans provides the heartbeatof the annual French Quarter Festival.

the Mississippi River was hopping. This was my first visit to NewOrleans so I expected a parade. I got one at mid-morning com-plete with jazz bands, parasols galore and bead-tossing at its best.A classic moment.

We took the trolley down St. Charles Street past the campusof Tulane and had lunch at The Camellia Grill. Sat on stools at theold time lunch counter and devoured fabulous hamburgers. Theafternoon meant people-watching along “Old Man River” includ-ing a man walking his pig.

We took supper at the Acme Oyster House. My brother ate adozen raw while I opted for the fried shrimp. Excellent. Get thereearly.

Nobody has to go to the movies on Friday night in New Or-leans because the show is on Bourbon Street. Music. People. Policeon horseback. It’s all there.

• DAY 4:Breakfast on the second floor veranda afforded me a chance

to watch actual street sweepers with brooms and dust pans pickup a lot of the leftovers (no people, just their souvenirs) from thenight before. Then along came a water truck that wet down bothsides of the narrow street.

Found a bench at Jackson Square to watch the artists set upand the palm readers ply their trade. At least 50 times, one black-bearded early bird near my bench said, “first reading free. If I’mwrong, it’s on the house. Start with your past and work to yourfuture.”

Lots of people carrying coffee or Bloody Marys. Guy dressedin his Bart Simpson costume right in front of me on the street cor-ner as another gentleman outfitted completely in pink featherswalked by. Street musicians abound, each with a cardboard boxso you could reward them with some folding money.


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Jazz bands and parasols make a parade inNew Orleans something really special.


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All the while, jazz music acts as thebackground sound and the cry of the steamwhistle from the authentic paddle-wheeleron the Mississippi adds to the cacophony ofnoise which assails the senses in a goodway.

My wife attends a Cajun cookingschool while I converse freely with a gen-uine Cajun on my bench. He describes thehorror of Hurricane Katrina. Our city tourguide later in the day says 300,000 peopleleft New Orleans after Katrina. Many ofthem never came back.

We saw the Ninth Ward which ourguide said became the bottom of a pondwhen Katrina dumped 22 feet of water on aplace that was already eight feet below sealevel. The houses are small, some of themstill marked with the day they were in-spected post-Katrina.

In another section of town with verynice houses, a huge hole is still in the roofof one house where the owner hacked hisway out to sit and wait for the helicoptersto rescue him and his family. He never fixedit because he never returned.

Some porches have baby blue ceilingsto keep away mosquitoes and wasps be-cause the insects think the ceiling is the sky.Many houses are made of cypress becauseas the guide says, “we live in the water, noton the water.”

The cemeteries are all above groundwhere as many as five families share a singletomb. A scene in the movie, “Double Jeop-ardy” was filmed here as were scenes from“Easy Rider,” “Live and Let Die” and“Ghost Rider.”

The tour takes us down MagazineStreet which is jam-packed with antiqueshops. In another area, we see the home ofvampire author Anne Rice. We stop at awonderful park and eat more beignets. Ourguide tells us that the Haitians broughtvoodoo to the city, and that the Germansplanted live oak trees.

At night, we dine in style at Brennan’s,a longtime New Orleans landmark. Thesteak is superb, and the show that thewaiter puts on for the trademark bananasfoster dessert is fantastic.

• DAY 5:A monsoon-like downpour wet blan-

kets us every step of the way on our drive tothe airport. Twelve hours on the train toNew Orleans turns into a 56-minute planeride on the way back to Atlanta.

From the splendor of Callaway to theswing and sway of “The Big Easy,” wemade some wonderful memories. Howabout you? Grab an ABAC trip and gosomewhere today.

Chason is director of Public RelationsEmeritus at Abraham Baldwin AgriculturalCollege.

Bananas Foster with a Fame atBrennan’s in New Orleans.


382-4321814648


Most high school softball playerswould dream of having the year AdrianaDurden had in 2012. She helped her TiftCounty Lady Devils squad make the statesoftball tournament, while being named theRegion 1-AAAAAA Player of the Year. Shewas also the first-team All-Region 1-AAAAAA pitcher and the Tift County De-fensive Player of the Year.

To earn those accolades she was 12-1on the pitching mound. In 91 innings ofwork, she struck out 145 batters, while onlywalking five. In 16 games, she allowed 14earned runs and posted a 1.08 ERA.

Incredibly, while most players thathave those types of seasons are usually sen-iors — and in some cases, juniors — Dur-den was only a freshman, which means shewill be back on the mound in 2013 forcoach Taylor Wilkins’ Lady Devils.

As a sophomore, Durden is hoping forsimilar success individually this coming sea-son, but she also hopes that success willhelp her team to have a big campaign.

“I definitely want to go farther thanthe first round of state this season,” said

Durden. “And I want to win the regionagain this year.”

Wilkins feels like Durden will be a bigreason for another run at the region title.

“A, as we call her, is a great younglady and a tremendous teammate. For hav-ing as much success as she has had thisearly in her high school softball career, sheis very humble,” said Wilkins. “She is a lit-tle on the quiet side but her performance inthe circle speaks loudly. Her demeanor onthe field is always steady, never too high ortoo low. I think that has a lot to do withher success. She will be a huge part of ourattempt to repeat as region champs here in2013.”

The Lady Devils prepared for the 2013season with a lot of summer practice andgames against other teams around SouthGeorgia.

“The summer practices are fun andgood for us. They help bring us closer as ateam,” said Durden.

Asked about her best friend on theteam, and Durden gave an appropriate an-swer for a pitcher.

“I would say it is (Tift catcher) Taylor(Simmons),” the sophomore said with asmile.

The battery of Durden and Simmonswas a good one last season. Durden said shehas two key pitches, a rise ball and a curveball, and Simmons was a master at handlingboth.

With her tremendous success in 2012,Durden realizes if she keeps her work up onthe mound she could be soon drawing at-tention of college coaches.

“I have to get my grades up and workhard in the classroom,” said Durden. “Iwould love to earn a college scholarship.”Wilkins feels like his petite pitcher has agreat future.

“Don't let her size fool you. Dynamitecomes in small packages. Without questionshe is a game changer and certainly a pleas-ure to coach. If she continues to work hardand stays humble, which I'm sure she will,the sky is the limit,” said Wilkins. “I believeshe has only scratched the surface on howgood she can be. She is definitely one tokeep an eye on over the next few years.”

After stellar freshman campaign,Tift’s Durden hoping for big

sophomore season

SPORTS

by STEVE CARTER


EVENTS

photos by LATASHA EVERSON

At the opening of the testing center at theUnitedWay’s Betty Jo Roach CommunityCenter on Fourth Street in June, many localreaders came out to test their knowledgeon what they had read in support of the2013 Summer Accelerated Reader (AR)Testing Program. The program will runthrough July 25. The goal is to reach 5million AR points by the end of this year.

photos by ANGYE MORRISON

Kids are lovin’ summer at the Tifton-Tift CountyLibrary. In addition to reading books on their own,kids can attend activities at the library like therecent visit by Mama Koku, who told the childrenthe story of “Where theWild Things Are,” the 1963children’s book by Maurice Sendak. The storytellerbrought the story to life for the room full ofchildren by using hanging masks, and gettingthem involved portraying the characters. Childrenfrom all over Tift County attended the event.

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tifton scene, july/august 2013

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