Digital Newspaper for Tifton, Ga., and the Greater Tiftarea

Descendants and family members of Bessie Tift are among those who attended Tift's induction Wednesday into the Georgia Women of Achievement Hall of Fame in Macon. Sitting at center is Tift's granddaughter Catherine Tift Porter. A large contingent of Tiftonites also attended.

WIFE OF TIFTON'S FOUNDER NAMED A GA WOMAN OF ACHIEVEMENT

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

Tifton's original first lady, Bessie Willingham Tift, was inducted into the Georgia Women of Achievement Hall of Fame at a ceremony Wednesday at Wesleyan College in Macon, attended by more than a dozen of Tift's descendants, along with family members, and other Tiftonites.

Bessie Tift, the wife of Tifton’s founder and businessman Capt. Henry Harding Tift, was nominated for the honor by a group of alumnae of Tift College in Forsyth, led by Lettie Watford of Columbus. 

“When Bessie Tift saw a need, she volunteered not only her and her husband’s money, but gave of herself,” Watford said in the nomination letter. “She impacted the community of Tifton, and she was an involved benefactor of Tallulah Falls School, Red Oaks School, and Bessie Tift College.”

Originally named Monroe Female College – Bessie Tift was an 1878 graduate – the Forsyth school was renamed Bessie Tift College in her honor in 1907.

In 1885, Bessie Willingham had married Henry Harding Tift. According to the nomination letter, Bessie Tift, through her husband, was able to donate funds to build churches in Tifton and fund many educational projects.

Bessie Tift served as the first president of the Forsyth college’s Alumnae Association when it began in 1901. One of the projects the Alumnae Association took on was to purchase books for the library, and Bessie Tift gave her own money for this.

When the college was about to go bankrupt, needing $37,000 in 1905, Bessie Tift and her husband pledged the amount to save the college. During the years, they gave a total of more than $125,000 to the college, what would be $4 million today. Although the Tifts' monetary gifts were substantial, “mere money could not accurately portray the love and interest she poured out on the institution,” Watford said.

Also in 1905, Bessie Tift saw a need to help with educational resources in Tifton and held the organizational meeting of the Tifton Twentieth Century Library Club in her home. The club focused on establishing the first public library in Tifton, and it soon joined the Georgia chapter of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC). 

Bessie Tift became an active charter member of the club and was elected president after its first year and remained president for the rest of her life, more than 30 years. 

Now renamed the GFWC Tifton Woman’s Club, the organization remains actively involved in the Tifton community by sponsoring college scholarships, reading to students in classrooms and at the library, establishing and stocking Little Free Libraries around town, collecting food for the local Food Pantry, providing school supplies for teachers, and more.

Shirene Daniell of Tifton, a former state federation president and parliamentarian of the Tifton Club, attended the event and said, “We work with the library. We read books for their story hours. We donate books and have books available everywhere we can donate, because that’s where we started and that’s how we want to continue on.”

Bessie Tift served as a life director of GFWC Georgia, which represents 75 local clubs supporting their local communities. After GFWC Georgia established Tallulah Falls School, a school that operates today, Bessie Tift proposed building a cottage to house students and faculty at the school. She persuaded her husband to supply the lumber for the building. That building stands today as the GFWC Georgia state headquarters. 

Also, Bessie Tift “adopted” a rural school, Red Oak School in Fulton County. She saw a need to help the teachers and students at this school and donated school supplies, clothes, and shoes for the students.

Bessie Tift is the recipient of additional honors and recognition throughout the state. She was a life trustee of the Tallulah Falls School and vice president of its board of trustees, and was a charter member and life member of the Southern Baptist Missionary Union Board. She served five years as president of the Tifton Women’s Christian Temperance Union. She also received horticultural recognition when the Bessie Tift camellia was registered in the American Camellia Society in 2015.

When Tift College merged with Mercer University in Macon in 1986, Mercer and the Tift College Alumnae Association formed a partnership to preserve the Tift College's legacy, according to Christina Huseman, coordinator of Tift Alumni programs. The Tift Scholars Association annually awards a four-year scholarship – the “Bessie Willingham Tift Scholarship" – to a young woman who attends Mercer. The first scholarship was awarded in 1998, and 25 students have received it.

Attending Wednesday's ceremony inducting Bessie Tift were a group of alumnae and a retired professor of Tift College, her last living granddaughter Catherine Tift Porter, and other descendants, Tifton Mayor Julie B. Smith, the GFWC Georgia Chapter state president Kim Sekulow, members of the Tifton Woman’s Club, and great-grandchildren from Tifton and other locations.

As one family member said of Bessie Tift, “She lived a quiet life of service.” 

The Georgia Women of Achievement Hall of Fame was established by former U.S. First Lady Rosalyn Carter and honors deceased female leaders who made a lasting impact on Georgia.

Watch the video about Bessie Tift created by the Georgia Women of Achievement.

LAKISHA PERRY

SEBASTIAN STROZIER

KENDALL MACK

TIFT DRUG BUST NETS 3 ARRESTS, DRUGS, FIREARMS

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The Tift County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday arrested three Tift County residents on drug and gun charges, recovering firearms, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl.

The Sheriff's Office High-Risk Entry Apprehension Team served search warrants on a residence at 717 17th½ St. based on tips from the community and an independent investigation, the Sheriff's Office said.

Arrested and charged are:

• Lakisha Perry, 36, of 717 17th ½ St., with nine felony counts involving trafficking Schedule 2 drugs, possession with intent to distribute Schedule 2 drugs, possession with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of school grounds, and possession with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a housing project.

• Sebastian Strozier, 39, of 3097 4th Ave., with two felony counts involving possession of cocaine and outstanding warrants/parole violation.

• Kendall Mack, 17, of 235 Tifton Eldorado Road with possession of a pistol under the age of 18.   

Anyone with information may submit tips online here, or by downloading the Tift County Sheriff's Office mobile app.

TIFTON POLICE CHIEF SEEKS RAISES FOR OFFICERS

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

At Monday's Tifton City Council workshop, Police Chief Steve Hyman requested a pay increase for current police officers and new hires on the patrol force in order to remain competitive with other local law enforcement agencies.

"We are below the minimum norm," Hyman said, noting that starting salaries for Tifton police officers is $19 to $22 an hour for certified officers while other area departments offer $21 to $24 an hour as starting pay.

"We are competing with local cities, counties, state agencies, and private industry," Hyman said.

He proposed that pay be raised by $3 per hour for current officers and starting salaries for patrol personnel. Hyman said the pay increases would not affect the police chief, assistant chief, records clerks, and administrative assistants.

The Tift County Commission recently raised minimum salaries for new sheriff's deputies to $21.25 per hour and $22.34 for Sheriff's Office investigators.

Hyman asked that pay adjustments for current personnel be effective March 25 so that it would be in April 11 paychecks. He said the increase would have no effect on the current year's budget because of the department's savings from being understaffed this year.

City Council will address the proposal at its regular meeting later this month.

Also during Monday's workshop, Main Street Manager Hillary Culpepper gave an update on Main Street activities. She said there were more than 35 events in Downtown Tifton during 2023, and 25 of them were through the Main Street office. Thus far this year, there have been 10 events downtown with nine through the Main Street program, she said.

Culpepper said the events are a bridge between the community and downtown businesses. She highlighted the success of the Love Local Loyalty Cards whereby shoppers receive a signature on the back of their loyalty cards for every $20 they spend in a Downtown Tifton business. The more one spends, the more signatures he/she receives.

During February, the Main Street office received 801 completed Loyalty Cards, meaning that at least $80,100 was spent during the month at downtown businesses, Culpepper said. A winner will be drawn from the Loyalty Cards to receive a downtown gift basket. That winner for February is expected to be announced today.

Culpepper is seeking an increased adjustment in her budget to expand and further promote Main Street initiatives.

REAGAN BOZEMAN

HALLIE HAGGARD

SARIAH HATHAWAY

JAKE HENDERSON

ADDISON JACKSON

JESSE JONES

COLEMAN MANGHAM

ABBI RICHTER

BETHANY SAMUEL

CAMERON SMITH

MOLLY WELLS

NADIA YAEGER

12 FINALISTS VIE FOR 'YOUTH OF YEAR'

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The Exchange Club of Tifton will recognize 12 of the top local high school seniors as Youth of the Year finalists at a luncheon on Monday, where one of them will be named "Youth of the Year."

The student chosen will receive a plaque and a $500 scholarship. The local winner will be entered in the state “Youth of the Year” competition and compete for a trip to the Exchange Club District Convention in Macon during June. 

The 12 high school seniors were judged on the basis of their extracurricular activities, grades, a short essay, and a longer essay on the "How has the increasing emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion positively impacted American youth?"

A point system was assigned to each of the categories, and points were averaged to determine the winner. All participants will receive plaques and a monetary award in recognition.

Tift County High School students among the finalists are: Sariah Phoenix Hathaway, daughter of Heather & Adam Hathaway; Cameron Smith, son of Marsha Pritchard; Molly Wells, daughter of Lenny & Paige Wells; and Bethany Morgan Samuel, daughter of Lonnie & Davina Samuel.

Tiftarea Academy students among the finalists are: Addison Jackson, daughter of Bill & Donna Jackson; Nadia Yaeger, daughter of Corey & Angie Yaeger; Hallie Haggard, daughter of Ricky & Kari Haggard; Coleman Joseph Mangham, son of Kelley & Kari Collins; Abbi Grace Richter, daughter of Eric & Katrina Richter; Reagan Bozeman,  daughter of Christy & Eric Bozeman; Jesse Derris Jones, son of Reid & Tiffany Jones; and James "Jake" Henderson, son of Jamy & Amy Henderson.

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

ALDI GROCERY TO OPEN IN TIFTON

Aldi has scheduled its ribbon cutting at 8:45 a.m. March 21 for its new Tifton grocery. The store at 1805 U.S. Highway 82 West, will be open immediately following the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Locals can get "sneak peek" of the Aldi grocery the day before on March 20.

The store will be open 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. daily.

KELLY STREET MARKET, a multi-market vendor store, has its grand opening from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. March 16, at 116 E. Kelly St. in Sylvester.

The shop will showcase such items as handcrafted furniture, stylish apparel, and home goods. During the grand opening day, music, cocktails, and snacks will be offered as folks browse the marketplace.

KEEP TIFT BEAUTIFUL'S

MARCH BEAUTY SPOT

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Keep Tift Beautiful (KTB) has named Ag Georgia Farm Credit at 1807 King Road as the March Beauty Spot of the Month.

Pictured with Rosemary Hightower of KTB is Ag Georgia staff Robert Bramblett, Dereck Sumner, LeAnn Lee, Ali Howling, Kim Bullington, Joel Pitts, Whitney Leger, Austin Tyson, and Seth Newell.

Keep Tift Beautiful, a city-county citizens advisory board promotes recycling, community gardening, litter abatement, and outdoor beautification.

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COVID-19 data released from the 

Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) as of March 6:

TOTAL TIFT COUNTY CASES: 7,287 ....................................... TOTAL TIFT DEATHS: 181

CONFIRMED TIFT CASES - 2 weeks: 19 ....................................... DEATHS - Past week: 0

CONFIRMED & SUSPECTED CASES - 2 weeks: 73

TIFT CONFIRMED & SUSPECTED CASES - 2 weeks, per 100K population: 179 

_______________________________________________________________

GEORGIA TOTAL CASES: 2,455,450

GEORGIA CONFIRMED & SUSPECTED CASES - Past week: 4,583

TOTAL GA DEATHS: 36,382 ...................................................... GA DEATHS - Past week: 44 

YOUR GUIDE

TO ACTIVITIES

THIS WEEKEND

IN THE GREATER TIFTAREA

On Sunday, March 10, Daylight Saving Time begins at 2 a.m., when we "spring forward," setting clocks ahead by one hour. Daylight Saving Time will give us more daylight during summer nights, while changing the clocks back one hour in the fall will give us more daylight during winter mornings. In 1966, Congress approved the Uniform Time Act observing Daylight Saving Time, but the legislatures in Arizona and Hawaii rejected changing their clocks.

FRIDAY, MARCH 8

• "A Night of Cabaret," 7:30 p.m., Edwards Hall, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Tifton

SATURDAY, MARCH 9

• Run for Hope 5K & Fun Run, 8:30 a.m., First Baptist Church, Tifton
• Peach State Show Choir Invitational, 8:30 a.m., Tift County High School, Tifton
• Tift County Schools Job Fair, 9 a.m.-Noon, 506 W. 12th St., Tifton
• Community Care Day, 9 a.m.-Noon, Tift County Recreation Department, 401 N. Victory Drive, Tifton
• Downtown Tifton Second Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Downtown Tifton
• 5th Annual South Georgia Wine Festival, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Paulk Vineyards, Satilla Road, Wray
• Free Photos with Easter Bunny, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts, Downtown Tifton
• Fire Ant Pageant, 6 p.m., Turner County Civic Center, Ashburn

ADVERTISE YOUR

YARD SALE HERE!

TO ADVERTISE YOUR RESIDENTIAL

YARD SALE, CONTACT US at 

IHeardIt@tiftongrapevine.com 

or 478-227-7126

Fees are $1 per word, paid in advance

"Rosa" is a sweet girl bursting with energy and happiness. Come visit her and other pets available for adoption at the Tift County Animal Shelter on Highway 125 South, open between 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. For additional information, call 229-382-PETS (7387).