GwinnettForum | Number 26.32 | May 5, 2026
The 2026 MOST VALUABLE GWINNETTIAN AWARD goes to Kathryn Parsons Willis of Duluth. The inscription on the plaque reads: “For her lifetime of civic and cultural leadership in Gwinnett County activities in all walks of life; for her acumen in business and professional life; and for her continuous support of the Duluth community, particularly in her early inspiration for the development of the Duluth Fall Festival; for her work on the Downtown Development Authority Board; for her years of service on the Gwinnett Hospital Authority and its Foundation; for her commitment on the Peachtree Christian Hospital Board; for her dedication in many ways to the Duluth First United Methodist Church; and for her efforts helping mankind in numerous other ways.” Presenting the award is Elliott Brack, publisher of GwinnettForum. Previous winners of this award have been Louise Radloff of Lilburn and Phillip Beard of Buford.
TODAY’S FOCUS: Norcross seeks comment on Piedmont Pathway
BRACK: From Porchfest to the Derby to Keillor
SPOTLIGHT: Lail Family Dentistry
ANOTHER VIEW: One endless summer and finding a new friend
FEEDBACK: Early computer days were exciting times
UPCOMING: Enrolling at Georgia Gwinnett changed everything
NOTABLE: Peach State Cares Foundation awards scholarships
RECOMMENDED: Garm, the Hostage by Rudyard Kipling
OBITUARY: Ronald Carl Rice
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Connell spearheaded library in Grady County
MYSTERY PHOTO: Check out the building high on a mountain
CALENDAR: We Hold These Truths is May 7 at Hudgens Center
Norcross seeks comment on Piedmont Pathway
The City of Norcross invites residents, business owners, and community stakeholders to attend an upcoming open house to learn more about and provide input on the Piedmont Pathway Project.
The open house will be held Tuesday, May 12, at 6 p.m. at the Cultural Arts and Community Center, 10 College Street. Attendees may drop in at any time during the event.
The Piedmont Pathway is a proposed 2.1-mile shared-use path and linear greenspace that will connect Jimmy Carter Boulevard to Mitchell Road and the Norcross Greenway. The project is currently in the planning phase, with ongoing analysis and community engagement helping shape its direction and design.
The City is actively seeking public input as part of the planning process, which includes evaluating potential trail alignments, greenspace concepts, and implementation strategies.
Mayor Craig Newton says: “The U.S. Forest Service notes that greenways can increase nearby property values, typically in the three to five percent range, with the strongest impact within a quarter to half mile distance of the trail. This is a great opportunity for our community to help shape a project that will enhance connectivity, recreation, and access to greenspace in Norcross. We encourage everyone to attend, share their ideas, and be part of the process.”
During the open house, participants will have the opportunity to:
- Share ideas and priorities;
- Ask questions about the project; and
- Provide feedback on potential concepts and next steps.
Previous community engagement has highlighted interest in amenities such as shaded areas, seating, and improved access points, as well as concerns related to safety, connectivity, and environmental preservation.
Feedback gathered during the Open House will help guide the project’s vision, design, and future implementation as the City continues working toward a comprehensive concept plan.
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From Porchfest to the Derby to Keillor
By Elliott Brack
Editor and publisher, GwinnettForum
MAY 5, 2026 | Gwinnett’s first Porchfest had a perfect day for people to mingle, listen to music and enjoy themselves at no admission charge on Saturday in Norcross.
Mayor Craig Newton says that there was “A great turnout with the community coming together to enjoy all the bands and other groups there. It was a good thing for Norcross, and the downtown restaurants and shops were busy. We really appreciate all the hard work that goes in planning this first event of its type. It should be even better next year.”
The month of May returns with a certain pleasure for many Georgians: it’s Vidalia onion time. Oboy! Are they tasty! Years ago, asking people for their favorite way to enjoy the bulb, we always got a chuckle from the recipe from the late Harold Humphries (of Humphries Concrete): “Take a Vidalia, and peel off the outer ring and toss aside. Cut the Vidalia in quarter inch slices. This goes well with about anything.”
Saturday’s 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby saw the first time a female trainer won the race. Cherie DeVaux, 44, won the race with Golden Tempo. She has been a trainer since 2018, and was born at one of the horseracing meccas, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., so it’s natural for her. No wonder she’s a winner!
About 1959, in Frankfurt, Germany, several of those of us in the military attended a horse race at the Galopprennbahn Niederrad, where races take place 5-6 times a year. One of the guys bet a Trifecta combination, won a potful of money, and took the whole group of about 10 of us out to a Chinese restaurant near the Bahnhof.
That long-ago event came to mind when we saw the payout for the Kentucky Derby Trifecta. You bet three horse’s number in the race and if the race ends in the order you picked, you hit the jackpot. At the Kentucky Derby, the Trifecta winner was 19-1-22 (horses Golden Tempo, Renegade and Ocelli.) What makes for a high Trifecta payout is for one horse of the three to have long odds of winning. The third place horse, Ocelli, went to post at 70-l. The payout for a 50 cent bet: $5,625.39! Someone made out like a bandit!
Garrison Keillor tells us that Sunday was the birthdate of the man who wrote, “A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise”—Niccolò Machiavelli, born in Florence (1469). He had an early career in politics when Italy wasn’t a unified country, but rather a collection of allied city-states. He wrote The Prince in 1513 as an instruction manual on obtaining and holding onto power. In his treatise, he wrote that morality was irrelevant when it came to running a state. He didn’t advocate evil for its own sake, and believed rulers should stick to the good whenever possible. But he also said they should be willing to perform evil acts when it became necessary to hold onto their power and maintain the security of the state.
Hmmmm. Seems like we have heard of leaders like that!
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Lail Family Dentistry
The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Lail Family Dentistry has been serving the community in Duluth and Gwinnett County for 53 years. Being the longest serving dental practice in the county, our roots run deep within our community and will continue to do so for generations to come. The doctors at Lail Family Dentistry are all members of the Lail family and are here to provide for you and yours. If you are in search of a traditional, hometown dentist that utilizes the latest dental techniques and technology while also exemplifying the utmost sense of professionalism, timeliness, and hospitality, we would be glad to welcome you to our practice. For more information, please visit our website at drlail.com or phone (770) 476-2400.
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One endless summer, and finding a new friend
By Billy Chism
Former publisher, White County News
TOCCOA, Ga. | The first summer I remember with clarity was between my second and third grades. I had attended Pelham Elementary School in southwest Georgia, and finally understood that June, July and August meant no school.
When the school year ended in early June 1959, I was eight years old. In my first two years at Pelham Elementary, I met a number of other students. But there were none I could call a friend, unlike my older brother, Neal, who was blessed with friends.
Neal was 12, four years older than me. There must have been 15 other boys his age who lived on Tennyson Street or minutes away by bike. This gang of boys, when summer came, romped through the woods in our backyard, played army at the barn behind Bill Hand’s house, and went camping with the Boy Scouts.
As for me, I tried to join in. They would have nothing to do with me. I didn’t understand, but no matter. I had my own bike and made good use of it.
Most weekdays, I would pedal to downtown Pelham, where a world of wonders awaited. Usually, my little dog Spot would run along beside my bike. My main stop: The Hand Trading Company, a four-story department store built in 1918 by Pelham’s founder, J.L. Hand. Inside Hand’s was everything you could possibly want… groceries, clothing, hardware. There was even a drug store inside, with an old-fashioned soda fountain.
Across the street from Hand’s was the Hand House, a magnificent two-story Victorian home with beautiful gardens surrounding the property. My dream was to get inside the ornate cupola atop and look over the town.
Back home, Spot and I would venture into the woods, and sometimes go to a spring. The spring was not like you might imagine. No clear water bubbled up. It simply was a circular body of dark water, six feet in diameter, surrounded by pines, oaks and a bay tree. Sometimes I would poke a long stick into the murky water, to see if I could hit bottom. I never did.
Water from the spring almost invisibly seeped across a muddy patch. The water slowly became a small, clear stream. Crayfish darted in the cool water, while dragonflies and damselflies floated from flower to flower.
Then, one afternoon—out of the blue—my brother asked me to walk up Tennyson Street with him. Summer was coming to an end. He wanted to visit his friend Zane Bair. He told me Zane had a little brother, John, my age.
I remember meeting John. We sat in his sandbox and quietly talked. As it would happen, we were placed in the same third-grade class. John and I became best friends, and I spent many hours at his home the next few years. The Bair family became an important part of my life.
In retrospect, I have my late brother to thank for that.
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Early computer days were exciting times
Editor, the Forum:
Yes, from years ago, I remember Dennis Hayes and Hayes Microcomputer Products very well. My first paid writing assignment was to interview Dennis for the spring Comdex issue of InfoWorld magazine.
At the time, I was a proponent of the biggest competitor of the Hayes modem, the PMMI (Potomac Micro-Magic, Inc.). Both the PMMI and Hayes came out around 1977 for the S-100 bus computer (the computer configuration for anyone who wanted expandability and flexibility).
What ended up giving Hayes the edge was when they came up with a simple instruction set (the “AT” commands) that anyone could understand and use to make the modem dial and connect. With a Hayes modem, you could use a “dumb” terminal to easily connect to a remote computer bulletin board or timeshare service.
At that time, computers were my passion. I saw the first “personal computer” show at the Chicago Merchandise Mart in 1978. I was fortunate enough to live in Chicago, which was a hotbed of computer hobbyist activity.
Members of our local club, CACHE (Chicago Area Computer Hobbyists Exchange), developed the first computer bulletin board system and first practical protocol for transferring files over modem. (That was Randy Suess and Ward Christensen.) As things progressed, another Atlanta-area company, Microstuf (Bob Strong and Les Freed), produced the cutting-edge Crosstalk communications software that worked well with both Hayes and PMMI modems.
Those were exciting times.
– Sherwin Levinson, Lawrenceville
Taxpayer suggests Gas South better spot for confab
Editor, the Forum:
I did a Freedom of Information (FOI) request about the cost of the annual Gwinnett Senior Leadership Conference held in Athens. It costs the taxpayer a million dollars to send 1,000 Gwinnett County Public School employees for a 2.5 day meeting.
The FOI cost me $215. It was two sheets of paper. It took six hours and eight business days to provide me with the information. This was why there was push back on E-Splost. There seems to be poor accountability.
Then to raise this: why isn’t GCPS supporting the Gwinnett economy? No reason why Gas South District couldn’t host the conference. And that would have saved the taxpayer $342,000 in hotel charges and $28,000 in reimbursable mileage, as the FOI shows. Check out what I found with the FOI request in these two documents below.
- Attachment 1: Records request results
- Attachment 2: Records request cost
– Cathy Loew, Peachtree Corners
Recalls older days when reading current issue
Editor, the Forum:
Reading about Don Balfour, Dennis Hayes and Jeff Sliz today is like reviewing a 1980 copy of the Gwinnett Daily News.
– Norman Baggs, Sugar Hill
Simmons letter is grossly unfair to TSA workers
Editor, the Forum:
I think David Simmons’ article is grossly unfair to TSA workers. These days, with so many essential household items being far more costly than they should be, many Americans, and not just TSA employees, have a hard time meeting their monthly expenses. So, chastising TSA workers for not saving for coming government shutdowns is unfair. Instead, maybe calling Congress and the president dumb as stumps for continuing to create this problem would make way more sense.
– Louise Stewart, Norcross
Here are the figures on what TSA employees make
Editor, the Forum:
Is the guest article titled “Are these long-term federal employees dumb as stumps” a satire?
TSA Agents in Atlanta entry level are paid $39,576 and $47,000, and midlevel (3-5) years are paid $50,000 – $60,000 (More). Assuming a TSA agent’s salary is $55,000. Here are average expenses assuming TSA agent has a family with one school-age child:
Salary: $55,000.00
-
- Federal Income Tax: $4,868.00
- Georgia State Income Tax: $2,680.00
- Total Taxes: $7,548.00
After Tax Salary: $47,452.00
-
- Housing : $24,000.00
- Food $12,000.00
- Utilities: $3,000.00
- Transportation Marta: $822.00
- Before & After School Care: $5,820.00
- Expenses: $45,642.00
Net Income: $1,810.00
– Robert Richardson, Peachtree Corners
Thoughts after reading David Simmons’ letter
Editor, the Forum:
Reading David Simmons’ thoughts on federal government employees, I couldn’t help but notice the poor state of affairs of people working for a living. Decades of corruption, solipsistic domestic policies and unchecked currency debasement have left our country in a sorry state.
Government employment historically traded off some upfront remuneration for additional ancillary benefits and stability, the latter of which Mr. Simmons contends has not been the reality of late for federal positions.
Private enterprise may have been solid employers, but they are looking quite anemic especially if they are not operating adjacent to favored areas of governmental priorities. Many small businesses are struggling to stay afloat and operate with a skeletal crew. Larger companies have consolidated and the remaining positions within the extant companies are now drawing from a global recruitment pool. Your promising hometown kid, and even seasoned veterans, find themselves asking for “too much” in compensation.
An honest tally of the math between income and living expenses will reveal to any conscientious person that an increasing number of jobs in the United States currently do not pay enough to sustain a comfortable lifestyle, much less support a functional family. Precarious income sources and the continued loss of the dollar’s purchasing power mean more people will eventually find themselves underwater financially, including those who did all the “right things.” Perhaps that’s one of many reasons why we are seeing a revolving door of feckless and miserable employees nearly everywhere.
The younger generations are facing higher barriers than ever before to surmount in starting independent life especially if they are unable to rely upon generational wealth and/or nepotism. I invite those who are skeptical of that claim to try starting your adult life over from scratch today and experience it for yourself. This is not the world of yesteryear.
– James Lee, Duluth
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Enrolling at Georgia Gwinnett changed everything
For Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) student Coréon Johnson, the plan after high school seemed simple: go straight into the workforce. Instead, that path led him somewhere unexpected and transformative. “I got a job at Walgreens, and some students who worked there told me about GGC,” he says.
That conversation changed everything. After a shift one day, Johnson went home, talked with his mom, applied and was accepted at GGC. Because of the pandemic, his orientation took place online, but in August 2021, he stepped onto campus for the first time.
“GGC became a utopia for me because I got to be around people my age,” he says. “There were students talking, walking around campus, music playing; it was the college experience.”
At first, Johnson commuted, attending classes and heading straight home. But over time, he began to immerse himself in campus life. By 2024, he moved into the residence halls and became a resident assistant. His involvement only grew from there, earning him the title of Homecoming King in 2025 and election as president of the Student Government Association.
Nicknamed “Mr. Georgia Gwinnett Coréon,” Johnson is known as the quintessential all-around student. But behind his success is a story shaped by resilience.
“My dad was always telling me that I wasn’t good enough,” he says. “He would call me the weakest link in my family.”
After his parents separated, Johnson, his mother, and siblings experienced homelessness, at one point living out of a Mini Cooper for weeks. He credits his mother’s perseverance for helping them overcome those hardships.
One pivotal part of his journey was joining the Elite Scholars program. “It was a foundation for me. It’s a community where you get guidance,” he says.
Through that program, Johnson found mentors in Dr. Brandon Lewis, associate professor of curriculum and instruction, and Allen Clarke, assistant director of the Student Center. “They showed me what I could become,” he says. “I want to pay that forward by helping build people up.”
His experiences have shaped a powerful perspective: validation is temporary, but purpose is lasting. “People forget things that you’ve done on campus, and I’ve learned that what counts is the impact you make on your community,” he says. “When I joined Kappa Alpha Psi, my brothers taught me that the letters don’t change you. It’s about how you focus and lift others. Life is bigger than yourself.”
As he prepares to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in management, Johnson is already looking ahead. This fall, he will attend Georgia State University J. Mack Robinson College of Business to pursue his master’s degree.
“GGC helped me figure out who I am,” he says. “Know your end goals and see it through. When one door closes, another will open, but you have to seek it. It’s okay to fail because you can change course and learn from it.”
Piedmont Hospital expands primary care to Duluth
Piedmont has expanded access to primary care in Gwinnett County with the opening of its new location, Piedmont Primary Care of Duluth. The clinic, located at 6340 Sugarloaf Parkway, Suite 350, is Piedmont’s Physicians of Eastside’s fourth primary care location in Gwinnett County. Other clinics are in Lawrenceville, Lilburn and Snellville.
The new practice will help address the growing need for timely access to primary care services in the region. Piedmont leaders say expanding the network of primary care providers will help the community stay ahead of long-term health needs by making preventative care and routine visits more convenient for patients.
Primary care providers (PCPs), including doctors and advanced practice practitioners, are essential in helping patients manage their overall health. PCPs conduct regular checkups, develop disease prevention plans, coordinate care, and diagnose and treat illnesses, injuries and other health conditions.
Gwinnett chairman joins board of statewide ACCG
Gwinnett County Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson was recently elected to serve on the 2026 – 2027 Board of Managers for the Association County Commissioners of Georgia. Hendrickson will serve as one of three National Association of Counties Board representatives for the Peach State, representing all 159 Georgia counties which are members of NACo. Other Georgia NACo Board Representatives include Henry County Chairwoman Carlotta Harrell and Monroe County Commissioner Lamarcus Davis.
Peach State Cares Foundation awards scholarships
The Peach State FCU C.A.R.E.S. Foundation is proud to announce the recipients of its Annual Scholarship Program. This year the C.A.R.E.S. Foundation awarded a total of $272,500 in scholarships to high school students, professionals seeking career advancement, and educational organizations across Georgia and South Carolina – reinforcing its commitment to education, community growth, and developing future leaders.
Ryan Hawk, Peach State’s executive director of Business Development and Community Outreach and Foundation president, says: “At the heart of the Foundation is a mission to support education, the arts, and charitable organizations throughout our service area – helping create brighter possibilities for the communities we serve. These students represent the future of our communities, and we’re honored to support their continued academic journeys.”
The Career Advancement Scholarships honor Peach State’s founding visionaries and their dedication to education, hard work, and community support. This year’s recipients from Gwinnett County include: Daniel Aniceto, Jasmine Favors-Contreras, Lisa Moody, Chelsey Murphy, and Shauntee Smalls.
Demonstrating the credit union’s strong commitment to education and community leadership, this year’s recipients include: Jakob Guerrero, North Gwinnett High School, Rick Cost Student Scholarship; Dayona James, South Gwinnett High School, Dr. Frances Davis Student Scholarship; Ava Mills, Loganville High School; Gary Hobbs Student Scholarship; Anna Rodriguez, Peachtree Ridge High School, Legacy Student Scholarship; and Marvin Ross, Apalachee High School, Dan Cromer Student Scholarship.
Garm, the Hostage, by Rudyard Kipling
From Miriam Machida, Watkinsville: For readers who like dog stories—Lassie, Rin-Tin-Tin, White Fang, Old Yeller—I suggest Garm, the Hostage by Rudyard Kipling. Published in 1899, Garm is a bull terrier owned by Stanley, a soldier in India. Garm’s name derives from Norse mythology. Garm was the dog who guarded the underworld. This Garm’s super power is that he loves his master so much that he would protect him at all costs. Kipling depicts Garm as so smart that he seems to clearly understand human speech. The action that propels the story is that a soldier named Stanley gives Garm to a fellow soldier with the understanding that Garm should never, never be returned. Read the story to find out how this makes Garm a hostage. Kipling shows in this story, and several others about dogs, how important dog companions are to their masters. Garm deserves his own movie.
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Ronald Carl Rice
Ronald Carl Rice, 87, died at his home in Peachtree Corners on April 19, 2026. He was born on August 1, 1938 at the West Side Sanitorium in York, Penn. to Carl Luther Rice and Virginia Belle Webb Rice. Ron was a humble man with musical gifts and a keen wit. He was a devoted husband, father, and teacher who left a strong legacy with countless choristers and organ students throughout his 57-year career in church music.
Ron showed musical talent by beginning piano lessons at five years old. Music defined almost his entire life. Ron’s family moved to Sharonville, Ohio, a suburb of Cincinnati, when he was 10 years old. He became the paid organist at Madisonville Methodist Church in Cincinnati when he was 15 years old.
Ron earned his Bachelor’s degree in music from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music in 1960 and married Judith Marion Spear, a fellow student. They had their first child, Jorgia Celeste, on New Year’s Day, 1962. Ron earned his Master’s degree from the Conservatory that same year. He then served as the organist-choirmaster at Sixth Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C.
In 1963, Ron was accepted as a student at the College of Church Musicians at National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. He studied organ with the masters, including Leo Sowerby, Paul Callaway, and Richard Wayne Dirksen. In 1964, a son, Carl Ronald Rice, was born at the Seventh Day Adventist hospital in Takoma Park, Md.
Ron graduated from the National Cathedral with the title “Fellow of the College of Church Musicians” in 1966. He became the first full-time organist-choirmaster at Christ Church, Georgetown.
In 1967, Ron was selected from many candidates across the country to be the first full-time organist-choirmaster for the Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta, where he served for eight years.
Ron moved to become the organist-choirmaster for St. John’s Episcopal Church, College Park, Ga. He also taught organ and music theory at Georgia State University; Morehouse College; Columbus College; and Kennesaw State University.
He became the full-time accompanist/organist for the Atlanta Boy Choir under the direction of Fletcher Wolfe in 1975. It was also this year that he and his wife, Judith, were divorced.
One of Ron’s organ students at Georgia State University was Tracey Elaine Rouse Dye, and they courted for five years before marrying on September 4, 1982. Ron left St. John’s in 1983 and worked for the State of Georgia in the Parks and Recreation Division. It was the first non-music job he had ever had and he loved (almost) every minute of it.
Ron and Tracey’s son, Michael Jonathan Rice, was born on December 7, 1984. Ron became a stay-at-home-dad. He said he had achieved his career goals and wanted to support Tracey in her career goals. They moved to Dallas, Texas in 1986 when Tracey took a job with Texas Instruments. Ron was recruited into action again by his friend, Gerald Near, who was organist-choirmaster at St. Matthew’s Cathedral. Gerald wanted to switch gears and devote more time to composing, and he said that there was no one he would relinquish the bench at the Cathedral to other than Ron. It was a wonderful, high-church experience with an all-paid choir, mostly made up of vocal students from Southern Methodist University plus Tracey. She sang in the choir and Michael became an acolyte.
In 1993, Tracey was recruited to Discovery Toys, so they moved to Concord, Calif. in the East Bay. Ron worked at All Souls, Berkeley and then at Good Shepherd Lutheran in Concord.
In 1995, Tracey joined The Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta. Ron worked at many churches including Decatur Presbyterian; St. Jude’s Episcopal Church, Marietta; Roswell Presbyterian Church; Mary Our Queen Catholic Church in Norcross; and Christ Church Episcopal, Norcross.
Finally, in 2010, Ron hung up his vestment. He often remarked how he had reached his ultimate goal of being organist-choirmaster of a cathedral so early in his career, and then he had a bonus second cathedral position. After serving churches for 57 years, he decided that he would take a break and “worship the holy porch” on Sunday mornings.
Ron loved all things British, Gothic architecture (especially the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. and Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City), English cathedrals, British comedy, Aeolian-Skinner pipe organs, English choral music, and PCC streetcars.
The freedom of not having to play weekly church services allowed Ron, Tracey, and Michael to travel, especially after Tracey retired from The Coca-Cola Company in 2011. They visited Puerto Rico, Italy, the Hawaiian Islands, had a cross-country Canadian train trip, a European River Cruise from Budapest to Prague, plus lots of smaller trips to the North Georgia mountains and nearby beaches in Hilton Head and the Florida panhandle.
Ron got the scare of his life when he was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver in 2009. He was told he might not live another two years, but he was diligent in taking care of his health and defied all odds by living another 17 years. But eventually, it was the cirrhosis, combined with moderate dementia and all of their complications, that took his life. By the time he reached 87, he was astounded with his good fortune. His was a good life, well lived, and a blessing to all he knew.
Survivors include his wife, Tracey and son, Michael, of Peachtree Corners; daughter, Jorgia Celeste Rice Northrup (Curtis) of Gainesville, Ga., and their son Albert Spear Northrup (Kirsten) of Denver, Colo; son, Carl Ronald Rice (Gail who died 1/1/26); and their children Melissa Gail Wilson (Jeremy), and their children, Logan Dale Wilson and Annalise Gail Wilson of Bethlehem, Ga.; plus another daughter, Jennifer Michelle Rice of Statham, Ga.; sister-in-law, Donna Rouse Lockman (Freddy) of Thomasville, Ga., their daughter Kelley Elaine Lockman Hill (James) and children, Andrew David Gauger and Alessandra Corinne Gauger of Durham, N.C; their son David Wayne Lockman (Kelly) and their children Mary Allison Lockman, and Charles Jacob Lockman, of Thomasville, Ga.; and former wife, Judith Marion Spear Rice Vaughn of Cumming, Ga.
The Episcopal Burial of the Dead Liturgy, officiated by The Rev. Edgar Otero, will be held at the Columbarium Niches in the Abbey section of historic Westview Cemetery, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 9, 2026. Westview Cemetery is located at 1680 Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard, Atlanta. Later that same afternoon, a Celebration of Life reception and open house will take place from 1 to 5 p.m. at the family home, located at 4582 Outer Bank Drive, Peachtree Corners.
Finally, Ron remarked in his 300-page autobiography that the hymn-tune “Angel Voices” was his favorite hymn-tune out of the thousands he had played. The text is especially appropriate as we send him off to the heavenly angel choirs. The notations are his from Hymns Ancient and Modern.
Connell spearheaded library in Grady County
For almost 50 years, Wessie Connell introduced generations of Grady County children to the power of knowledge. Without any formal education beyond high school, she created an award-winning library system in Cairo, Georgia, and was a leading advocate of free access to information for all people. Her desire to expose children and adults to the joy of reading led her to develop innovative ideas that are now standard in public libraries: children’s story time, summer reading clubs, book mobiles, and branch libraries.
Wessie Gertrude Connell was born in Cairo on November 21, 1915. She excelled in school. During her first year at Peabody College in Nashville, Tenn., she became ill with rheumatic fever and was prescribed bed rest, during which she read the Harvard Classics. Impressed with her self-taught education, two Cairo citizens asked her to become the city’s first librarian. She started Cairo’s first library in 1939 with 110 books housed in a small room above city hall.
She promoted the library by visiting local schools with the 4-H clubs and telling children how books were full of exciting stories and ideas. As her collection grew, she stocked books in businesses, general stores, and gas stations, which functioned as branch libraries to increase outreach to her users.
Connell believed that all people should have access to knowledge, whatever their race or ethnicity. Despite community opposition, she provided books and library services to Black children in segregated schools. She quietly took books to the schools, held story hour herself, and encouraged Black families to keep books in their homes to loan to others since segregation prevented their routine use of the library.
Connell understood that to make a library vital to the community she had to be a politician as well as a librarian. She regularly attended city council meetings and developed personal friendships with city leaders as well as with leaders throughout Georgia. After years of advocating for a real library to be built in Cairo, Connell finally received her wish. In 1964 the family of local businessman Walter Blair Roddenbery donated $185,000 to build a new library in his memory. This was no ordinary library but a classical structure with white Greek columns; inside, users could sit in restored leather couches to read under antique chandeliers.
Because of Connell’s tireless determination to build a first-class library system, she received numerous awards both locally and nationally over her lifetime. Connell never officially retired but became ill with cancer and died in 1987 at the age of 72. Her final honor came in 2002, when she was inducted posthumously into Georgia Women of Achievement.
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia article online, go to https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
Check out the building high on a mountain
It’s a mountainous area on the water, but where is it? And what’s that building on the tall mountain across the way. Try to figure it out, then send your answer to ebrack2@gmail.com. Be sure to list your hometown.
Allan Peel, San Antonio, Texas recognized the recent mystery photo. “It’s T of the Catedral de Santa María de la Sede, more commonly referred to as the Seville Cathedral, located in the heart of Seville, Spain. My wife and I actually saw this majestic site in person, back in June 1978 when we spent three weeks road tripping in the southwestern part of Spain on our honeymoon!
“The Seville Cathedral is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world. Its history is fascinating as it is a historical example of the structural transition from Islamic to Christian architecture. Before the cathedral existed, the site was occupied by the Almohad Mosque, completed in 1198. When the Christians conquered Seville in 1248, they “consecrated” the mosque as a cathedral rather than tearing it down immediately. But by 1401, the mosque was in serious disrepair, and the cathedral’s chapter decided to build a new, massive church, one that would inspire people to transition to Christianity. It took over a century to complete (1402–1506), but because it was built on the rectangular footprint of the original mosque, it lacks the typical “cross” shape of most Gothic cathedrals, resulting in its massive, boxy volume.
“The cathedral houses the tomb of Christopher Columbus. For a long time, the Dominican Republic claimed that they had his real remains. However, DNA testing in 2006, and again in 2024, confirmed for certain that the remains in Seville are indeed those of the explorer. Ironically, Columbus traveled almost as much after death as he did in life, moving from tombs between Valladolid and Seville in Spain, then to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, then to Havana, Cuba, and finally back to Seville. Once again, Columbus proved that the world really is round … even after his death!!”
Also recognizing the photo were George Graf, Palmyra, Va.; and Jay Altman, Columbia, S.C. The photo came from Sharon LeMaster of Decatur via Susan McBrayer of Sugar Hill.
- Share a Mystery Photo: If you have a photo that you believe will stump readers, send it along (but make sure to tell us what it is because it may stump us too!) Click here to send an email and please mark it as a photo submission. Thanks.
We Hold These Truths is May 7 at Hudgens Center
Snellville’s Commerce Club meeting will be May 5 at noon at City Hall. At this meeting, the club annually awards two $1,000 scholarships, one each to students from South Gwinnett and Brookwood High Schools. Students are members of the FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) and Distributive Education of America, who compete by writing an essay for judging.
The Norcross PDC (people drinking coffee) meets each Wednesday at 8:15 a.m. at the 45 South Café in downtown Norcross. The May 6 meeting will feature Rep. Scott Hileton, of House District 48. The event is free and visitors are welcomed.
We Hold These Truths is a community Partnership with Out of Hand
Theater and Create Gwinnett to be held at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, May 7, at the Hudgens Center for the Arts in Duluth. As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, this program offers a ready-to-implement opportunity for communities to layer meaningful engagement into existing or planned programming.
Toast to Braselton will be held on May 8 starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Braselton Civic Center, 27 East Lake Drive. This dinner and auction is a fundraiser to benefit the Downtown Development Authority and Braselton Main Street program. Cocktail attire with a touch of Vegas flair is encouraged.
The exhibit, Reflections at the Rectory, opens on Saturday, May 10, at 17 College Street in Norcross. Painting, drawing, multimedia, ceramics and photography of art classes at the two Norcross cluster high schools will be shown.
Food Truck Tuesdays is returning to Lilburn City Park for a lively, flavor-packed celebration of food, music and community spirit. Starting Tuesday, May 12, from 6 to 9 p.m., the park will come alive with the sights, sounds and tastes that make this event a local favorite. It continues on the second Tuesday of the month through October. The season kicks off May 12 with high-energy live music from The Trilby Brothers Band.
Curious what Braselton has to offer? The Town of Braselton invites residents and visitors alike to experience it firsthand at Meet Me at the Mill, a new interactive community experience designed to showcase Braselton’s Welcome Center and historic mill museum. It will take place on May 13 from 5 to 7 p.m.at The Mill, 16 Frances St, Braselton. Learn about Braselton’s hidden geocaching adventure throughout downtown. For those interested in guided experiences, a walking tour will be led during the event beginning at 5:30 p.m. with no reservation required. Visit explorebraselton.com to snag free tickets.
Speaker at the Southwest Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce Thursday Thought Leaders will be Dr. Glenn Cannon, president of Gwinnett Tech. The luncheon meeting will be at the Hilton Atlanta Northeast in Norcross on May 14 starting at 11:30 a.m. Dr. Cannon will highlight the latest initiatives in high demand fields shaping the next generation of talent.
Where There’s a Will by Joe Simonelli is now playing at Lionheart Theatre and continues through May 17. In this comedy, William Shakespeare is accidentally transported to the modern world, where he lands outside the home of Gordon Coleridge, a struggling playwright with writer’s block, a pushy manager, and an estranged girlfriend. Shows are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays at 2pm, with an added Saturday matinee on May 16 at 2pm! Tickets are $18/$20.
Gwinnett Master Gardeners will hear on May 18 at 7 p.m. at the Bethesda Senior Center from Trecia Neal, a biologist and Monarch Watch Conservation specialist,who studied at the University of Kansas on May 18 at 7 p.m. at the Bethesda Senior Center. She will discuss the biology and ecology of the Monarch, why the migration is endangered, current conservation efforts, and how you can help. For more than three decades, Trecia brought her passion for biology to life at Fernbank Science Center in Atlanta, inspiring countless students and colleagues before retiring in 2017.
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