PUBLISHER
Red Door Design & Publishing, LLC
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Stephanie Williams
CREATIVE | DESIGN
Elizabeth Beasley
Stephanie Williams
ASSISTANT MANAGER
Nikki Anderson
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING
AND MEDIA RELATIONS
Logic4Design
SALES
Dottie Hicks
Randall Montague
Daphne Walker
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Michael Nancy Edge
Renée Martin
Beverly McClellan
Ann Owens
Tonya Parker
Teri R. Williams
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Lillian Morse Burton
Ruth English
Logic4Design/Eric Love
Ciria Villalobos/Rose Colored Lens
Daphne Walker
PROOFING
Beverly McClellan
COVER PHOTO
Susanna Haynes
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.
F R O M T H E P U B L I S H E R
pressing the pause button
Most people can recall vivid memories of where they were when they received
any kind of life-changing news. When COVID-19 became a reality to us, Tommie
and I were sitting in one of our favorite restaurants in Rome having a traditional
plate of tonnorelli amatriciana. We commented to the waiter on the lack of
patrons, and he shared the news. The Prime Minister had just issued an order for
the entire country to go into lockdown that night, and the restaurant would close
for the next two weeks. The waiter shook his head, and predicting the future, he
said, “but we know it will be much longer than that.”
We had just loaded our calendar with weekend plans to finish out our time
in Italy, but none of that would happen. Along with 60 million Italians we went
home that night, shut the door and settled in for 12 weeks of confinement.
Many of our Georgia friends sent thoughts and prayers and asked what it was
like in anticipation. Italy’s strict guidelines limited outdoor time to quick grocery
runs and 20 minutes per day of exercise within 200 meters of the house. We had
movement papers and regular police checks on the street to make sure there was
compliance. The tourists disappeared, the pigeons took over the streets, the city
became eerily quiet. As America would soon come to know, when we did go out,
we learned how to shop while wearing masks and gloves, we waited in long lines
several meters apart for our turn in a store, and we sanitized everything. The one
difference we noted is that Italians only buy what they need, so we had plenty of
toilet paper!
At times life was tedious. My children continued school online. Tommie
and I worked from home. Some days, I had to take phone calls in the bathroom
because there were trombone lessons happening in the living room, drama class in
a bedroom and a zoom call in the dining room of our apartment. But, we learned
that life can be put on pause and still go on. In the pause, I picked up painting
again, we read books, we listened to music, we had long conversations, and most
importantly, time moved a little slower.
As we were finally coming out of lockdown, the terrible news of Ahmaud
Arbery and George Floyd hit like punch in the gut. COVID-19 gave us time to
pause. These events gave us time to think about the future, teach our kids some
really good lessons, and craft a plan for change to make our community whole
again.
It feels at times like we are being tested on our ability to love and care for
one another. And maybe that is a good thing. 2020 has taught us the value of
relationships and how much we rely on them. It has taught us the importance of
respecting different perspectives. It has taught us how to slow down a little and
enjoy what we have been given. It’s also showed us that together, and with love,
we can overcome anything. We see this profoundly our stories-the ones we share
and the ones we are making.
keeping the stories alive,
Stephanie Williams
Executive Editor
To share a story, send a note, or just get information:
toombscountymagazine@gmail.com • (912) 293-0063
For more stories, visit us at
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www.toombscountymagazine.com
Toombs County
M A G A Z I N E
To discover more that Toombs County has to offer,
see our business index on page 143!
6 TOOMBS COUNTY MAGAZINE
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