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GIVING HOPE con't from p. 2
THE WATERS CALL con't from p. 28
The church remains active although very
small. The Presbyterian Church has a wonderful
minister, Elizabeth Forester who is always
providing new activities. There are no stores,
just the post office shared with Foxfire. As
for real estate, Annette shares, “There are no
comparables because nobody sells. Nobody
sells. Nobody buys. We don’t have a lot of new
people coming into this area because most
people retire to the surrounding areas for the
amenities of a community. I would be hard
pressed to say it’s growing, but it’s not dying.”
Once flourishing as a destination place, now
the destinations are outward. Annette shares,
“If you were to ask, ‘Where do you live?’ I’d say,
‘Florida,’ But I spend almost as much time here
because where your family is—here are your
roots. I always end up coming home because of
family ties.”
Local farming keeps things fresh as they
grow a lot of peaches, berries, soybeans, sweet
potatoes, tobacco, etc. Moving quickly into
the future, solar farming and organic farming
are taking root. Farming today is very different
from 40 years ago when the family actually did
the farming, and everybody helped everybody.
Today most of the family farms lease to big
farmers who do very mechanized farming.
Many acres have been planted in pines because
as the farmers age and realize their children are
not going to farm, they plant timber; allowing
their heirs to harvest the pine straw and timber.
Through all of the changes, some traditions
such as the Homecoming keep drawing people
home. Betty McConnell, who attended school
with Annette, comes from Arizona each year
to partake. Growing up on a farm because her
dad was a farmer, Betty shares, “Growing up
in Jackson Springs offered a close knit, caring
community. We all knew what the other families
were doing; there was a feeling of warmth and
caring wherever you went in the community.
It just pulls you in.” While enjoying a good
childhood, things weren’t always easy as Betty
continues, “We were in survival mode because
we lived off the farm from 1945 through 1964. I
remember the only things we bought from the
store were coffee, sugar, and salt—the basics.”
Betty attended West End School for 12 years,
studied computer science, and worked most of
her career in Arizona. Although she left the farm,
the simpler times call her home each year.
Annette grew up in Jackson Springs as well.
Her mother Sarah Ruth taught in the Moore
County schools for 33 years; her dad WM farmed.
Growing up with her brother Kenneth, Annette
attended the West End School from 1st grade to
12th grade with 26 people in her graduating class.
Earning a Masters in Sports Psychology, Annette
has taught at Vassar, Smith and Penn State where
she also coached women’s golf. After that she
accepted a position as the Director of Education
for the National Golf Foundation in Palm Beach
County, Florida. She soon missed teaching and
became an independent contractor for a private
club in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Annette
smiles, “I teach golf from November through
April, six days a week. Why not? I spend my days
in beautiful surroundings; around wonderfully
nice, friendly people, doing what I love. And, I
THE WATERS CALL continued
live only three miles from the beach.”
Still calling Jackson Springs home for half
the year, Annette tells, “This is the story I tell my
golf friends when they say, ‘Well, you grew up
around Pinehurst; you must have played.’ No. I
did not play golf because I grew up on a farm,
and farming and golf were mutually exclusive
because they both took all day in the nice
weather. But growing up here I observed people
did three things: they raised tobacco; they raised
peaches; or they played golf. It did not take me
long to see who was having the most fun!"
Also teaching at Pine Needles for Peggy Kirk
Bell when she’s in town, Annette remembers the
early days of dating and hitting golf balls at the
Knollwood Range. As for favorite course? “Oh,
Pine Needles is my favorite course forever and
ever!” Golfing advice? “Quit over-thinking. Just
swing hard in case you hit it. Then go find it.”
Annette continues, “Most people are way, way,
way too controlling in their golf game as they
try to control the uncontrollable; how can you
do that? Try to swing in rhythm, look at the golf
ball, and then realize that for most people our
amount of angst, anger and anxiety about our
golf game is not relative to our amount of talent,
skill, and practice. This is something you do for
fun—so make it fun.”
No matter the era, the Springs, golf, and
this amazing community will continue to
thrive. Where the healing waters flow, Jackson
Springs boasts of grander days past. And yet it
maintains a more important boast—the people
remain the heart and soul of the community.
As Annette sums up her favorite thing to do in
Moore County, I am sure from Samuel Jackson
to Lonnie Smith and Preacher McDuffy; from
Mr. Page to Mr. Tufts; from Sarah Ruth and WM
Thompson to Betty McConnell, they would
all agree their MOST favorite thing is, “To be
at home and visit with family and friends.” As
locals continue to hearken to the calling waters,
the best part of coming home is the people.
Annette Thompson & Betty McConnell.
Jackson Springs Presbyterian Church.
group of many Latino children who also brought
along their younger siblings to enjoy the pizza
together. As the relationships blossomed, needs
presented. The Dents began to realize that
the kids had homework to do, but they could
not do their homework because they did not
understand it, and their parents did not speak
English. When they decided to help the children
for about 15 minutes before church, the children
would pull out their whole weeks’ worth of
homework! Beth realized, “Wow! This is a lot
bigger need than we thought.” The need pierced
their hearts; God wouldn’t let them drop it.“If
this is a need that God has laid on our hearts,
then we just have to step out.” Beth smiles, “God
uses willing people. You never know when the
simplest of things will open an incredible door!”
After a year had passed, they began looking
for a building... with no success. Just when Beth
was about to give up, a friend mentioned, “Have
you checked out the building on Thurlow Lake
Road?” The building was something they could
afford, so they renovated the building and
invited the kids. Beth laughs, “We did not know
what we were doing. I am not a teacher. I do
not speak Spanish. God showed me that He just
needs someone who is willing. I am sure He had
a good laugh; and I had a good laugh too.”
As the Youth Central team began to build
trust with the families, the children came for
tutoring. Initially, a large group of high schoolers
who had pretty much quit the school system
came. With so many gaps in their education,
the teens struggled to catch up. Beth and her
team soon realized the importance of reaching
the elementary children who became the
focus of Youth Central born in 2008, officially
established in 2010. In 2011, they obtained a
501c3 status under an organization called Christ
Central Ministries out of SC which keeps them
financially accountable. Beth assures, “God has
provided miraculously; every need has been met.”
The name for Youth Central grew out of the
ministry where kids are central. Beth explains, “I
want Youth Central to be a place where anyone
from any church feels comfortable helping and
children feel comfortable coming. The vision
GIVING HOPE con't. p. 32
THE WATERS CALL con't. next column
Beth Dent, Youth Central Director.
p.30 The Pinehurst Gazette, Inc. No. 129