Lavonia is probably no different from any other small Southern town, but it’s my town, my observations, my pride. And here’s why :
Postman, making home deliveries, bypasses mailbox, opens back door, places mail on kitchen table——because the recipient is an elderly, home-bound lady who lives alone.
Five downtown pastors meeting regularly, often for lunch : Church of God, Fairview Baptist, First Baptist, First Presbyterian, and First Methodist. Four are white; one is black.
A locally owned beauty shop, a visual of trust between owner/operator and customers. Cash drawer opened for and by any and all. Customers place cash or check in drawer with no instructions, dialogue, or supervision from owner. Loose cash ? No worries.
A city worker who climbed off his tractor to help a stranger who was walking unsteadily. Low blood sugar diagnosed.
Walking Gracie downtown one evening, and someone passing in a car yells out the window, ” Hey, Mrs. Toney “. Happened to be a former FCHS student, black male.
Local premier contractor who built our house recommending potential clients to us for reference. Atlanta folks who asked about the contract. Easy enough : cost for construction written on a napkin——and then built under budget.
Mayor and funeral director one and the same. If he comes calling, you’ll want him to be on city business !
Veterinarian, coming to home early one morning to put down dying dog, in the middle of living room floor, with everybody crying.
Lavonia native, gone for some 50+ years , refusing to sell family property to a potential buyer because the resulting business would not have been an asset for her hometown.
Is Lavonia perfect ? Absolutely not !
But we have more ups than downs, more positives than negatives, more love than hate. It takes a village………………
Wouldn’t mom be so happy to read your words. Your posts help keep me connected to her life, she’s been gone so many years and I still think of her everyday. Thank you for yet another reminder.
Every word is so true. We feel fortunate to have found this small town to call our home.
Nice words about Lavonia, which is also the hometown of some of my Hall family ancestors.
Winder was like that until about 15 years ago. Now, it is just about money 💰 and power.
I wish so much that Sue and I had started our family in the town where Sue was born . Mitchell , Georgia.
Most of her family are still there.
Small towns offer a closeness that cities cannot match. I regret that Lavonia is changing so rapidly, with cookie-cutter housing being thrown up on every corner. We are losing much of our identity, and it is sad.