How long have you been in Pickens County?
I've been here since 1970. I went into the navy in 1967 and came out in June of 1970 to work with the Department of Family and Children Services and I worked there 16 years.
Do you still work there?
(Laughing) Oh, no. I am retired. Or, they kicked me out (laughing). I was the director, but I also did casework.
What do you like about the community? Why have you decided to stay here?
Well (laughing), I married into the county and went into the navy. My wife said that she needed a house built up here before I went in so that she and the children could live here while I was gone. So, we built a house. It wasn't complete, but they came back in 1969 and finished up the house and I got off active duty in June and passed the state exam to be director of Department of Family Children Services.
Can you tell me about some of your volunteer work?
Well, since I have been retired I volunteered for transportation and in the beginning it was the Department of Family and Children Services. I volunteered with CLC, that's a literacy program, and I worked at the jail for about five years to help them work on their GED's. We had several take their GED and pass and I am hoping they are doing all right. (Laughing) They haven't been back to jail, not that I know of, anyway.
I worked with Good Samaritan when they were being established. They brought in trailers and I worked with the crew there. I was the gopher. I would see what they needed and go get it shipped or get it and bring it back. That was until we renovated three trailers and Good Sam got started. Then we brought in a fourth trailer and we had to renovate it. I have been involved as one of the maintenance persons there, so I go replace light bulbs and do some of the other work. (Laughing) And I cut the grass. Of course, I volunteer at the church too.
Is that at First Baptist?
Yes, First Baptist in Jasper. I volunteer with the hospital auxiliary and drive the cart. And I am a member of the DAV [Disabled American Veterans]. I am actually the chaplain. In fact, when the DAV gets called for a funeral we do it all at the cemetery. And, of course, we are the honor guard.
Can you explain what the honor guard is?
Honor guard provides the honors for our veterans who have died. That includes some remarks about the veteran, a 21-gun salute, playing of taps and the formal presentation of the flag.
What inspires you to do this volunteer work and to be so involved in the community?
It's just my nature. I have always wanted to help people, long before I got to Pickens County. And, being a preacher gets you involved with a lot of things.
Were you instilled with those values growing up?
I was a Depression kid. I grew up in the early 30's and we were out in the country and everyone was pretty much equal. We lived on my uncle's place. In fact my dad did most the clearing of the property and we didn't have much of anything, so I had some motivation there to get out and do some things. One thing my dad did was saw that we had an education. We didn't miss school to go work in the field.
Was that in Georgia?
No, that was in south Mississippi. I got to Georgia after I went to the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and my wife Ruth came down and enrolled in seminary and we met and
(laughing) everything worked out.
Can you talk about some of the high points in your life and your career?
Well I consider several of them high points. My first pastorhood was in Camak, Ga and that was from '58-'61 and there was a fine community there. I enjoyed it. Then I went to Macon, Ga in April of '61 and was there until June of '67 and that was a fine community. I usually call Macon my second home. That's family down there. There were a goodly number of the church members who were my age or just a little older or just a little younger, so we had a good time and saw progress made. And then I did three years in the Navy. I felt the need to get out rather than make a career. My reason for going in was to make a career because many of my family were sent. They were in the military and I just wanted to serve my country.
What have you been doing since retirement, other than your volunteer work?
Well, that's been it. (Laughing) I have had the opportunity to do what I want to do and nobody has had to pay me.
Is there anything that you are particularly proud of in your life?
I guess being able to finish up my military time with the reserve program. Retiring from the service there, and I'm proud to be in the honor guard.
How do you feel about being nominated for Citizen of the Year?
Well, I think you have got a lot of deserving people in the county who do a lot more than I do who need to get it. I have received several honors and I think it ought to be shared around.
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