Recipients of The King Association Community Service Awards, from left, are: The Peanut Butter & Jesus community ministry, represented by Becky Rogers, Harvey Morgan, Tony McBrayer, and Robbie McBrayer; J.J. Jackson, a choreographer and musician who works with young people; and Priscilla Prince, a community volunteer who aids families in South Tifton.

LOCAL SERVANTS,

PB&J MINISTRY RECOGNIZED ON M.L. KING DAY

By BONNIE SAYLES and FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Several Tifton residents and a local community ministry organization were honored Monday during Tifton's Martin Luther King Jr. Day observances.

During the annual MLK Day breakfast at the Tift County Recreation Department, PLIGHT Inc. presented two Spirit of Service Awards – to Travis Butler and Wasdon Graydon Jr.

Afterward at the MLK Day Commemorative Service at Springfield Missionary Baptist Church, The King Association recognized J.J. Jackson, Priscilla Prince, and the Peanut Butter & Jesus ministry organization with Community Service Awards.

PLIGHT, which stands for Proud Loving Individuals Giving a Hand to Teens, hosts the annual breakfast. Its guest speaker Monday was Donnie Carter of Adel, facility manager for the Tifton Housing Authority.

The organization recognized Travis Butler and Wasdon Graydon Jr.

“Travis came to PLIGHT hitting the ground running,” said Melissa Hughes, a PLIGHT member and Tift County commissioner.

“He is a young man that came in working, setting up all social media, taking pictures, and attending meetings regularly. He encourages other young people to not only attend the PLIGHT meetings but to join PLIGHT.”

Butler is the son of PLIGHT President Loretta Brown. “We are sure he gets his energy and drive to serve from her,” Hughes said.

Graydon, PLIGHT's other award recipient, has been a large financial supporter of the organization for years. Members said that without Graydon's support, PLIGHT's tutorial program would suffer, affecting a number of children.

“With the aid of Mr. Graydon, PLIGHT is able to have children attend class after school with certified teachers to receive the help they need to go to the next level in their grades,” said Hughes.

“Both of these individuals are outstanding community leaders that are willing to serve.”

At the commemorative church service, The King Association’s Community Service Awards recognized J.J. Jackson, Priscilla Prince, and Peanut Butter & Jesus.

Jackson was recognized for "unselfish sacrifice and dedication to Tifton-Tift County youth and children.” He is in his 34th year as a choreographer and musician for a variety of local organizations, and is in his seventh year with the Tift County High School Blue Devil Brigade Marching Band.

Jackson is a TCHS graduate with an accounting degree from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. According to the award, he is “what we call a Tifton original who earned his place in history by the pure force of his savvy innovation, drive, larger-than-life personality, and passion to fashion, discipline, and improve the lives of adults and youth alike through music and dance.”

Priscilla Prince was recognized for her dedication to the community, particularly in South Tifton. She can be spotted checking on and advising parents and children about positive social habits and healthy living. She helps run Patricia's Blessed Closet, Markasha Coleman Easter Eggstravaganza, and the Y-USA Feeding America program.

“In her spare time, she is seen giving out food, shoes, candy, coats, etc,. on the corner of Southern Avenue and MLK Jr. Drive,” according to the presenters.

“Priscilla is a true servant that lives up to the ideal to fight against poverty, just as Martin Luther King Jr. did in his life,” the presenters said.

Peanut Butter & Jesus was envisioned by Pastor Harvey Morgan with two donated vans in 2017 to give hope to children and senior adults faced with the challenge of food insecurity, providing them a bag lunch and inspirational message every Saturday.

In 2020 during the pandemic, the community ministry served 102,453 lunches to hungry children and seniors in Tift County. The feeding program is also a way to bring positive, spiritual messages to local children.

FORMER CHULA MAN DIES IN PLANE CRASH IN VA MOUNTAINS

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

A former Chula man, a 1986 Tift County High graduate, died Wednesday night in the Virginia mountains in the crash of a small, single-engine aircraft he was piloting, authorities say.

Roger C. Mangham, 54, of Wilsonville, Ala., was killed when his plane went down at approximately 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11, in the Union Springs area of Rockingham County, Va., nestled in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley.

Mangham was the only person on board.

According to flight radar, the plane left Winchester, Va., at about 6:20 p.m. Wednesday. They report they lost contact with the plane at about 7:10 p.m. Virginia State Police and the Rockingham County, Va., Sheriff’s Office were unsuccessful in locating the plane Wednesday night and suspended the search until Thursday morning, when the plane was recovered.

The Federal Aviation Administration and Virginia State Police are continuing to investigate the incident.

Mangham grew up in Tift County and spent much of his youth involved in livestock competition. After graduating from Tift County High, he attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Valdosta State, and the University of Georgia.

He owned and operated Mangham Truck and Equipment in Calera, Ala. 

Mangham is survived by his wife of 34 years, Mandi Moore Mangham; his three daughters, Krysten Gunn of Wilsonville, Ala.; Brooke Spanjers of Waverly Hall, Ga.; and Emily Cowart of Adel; his granddaughter, Sawyer Leigh Gunn of Wilsonville; and his parents, Dennis and Angie Mangham of Wilsonville; and JoAnn Gantt of Tifton.

His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Chula.

CARDEN SUMMERS NAMED

STATE SENATE BANKING COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN

State Sen. Carden H. Summers, R-Cordele, has been named chairman of the Georgia Senate’s Banking and Financial Institutions Committee. 

Summers’ district includes Tift County.

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and the Senate Committee on Assignments announced the new standing committee chairs for the first session of the 157th Georgia General Assembly. 

“I want to congratulate the committee chairs and members on their appointments, which were based on their areas of expertise and background in addition to ensuring each committee is adequately prepared to address the needs of Georgians,” Jones said.

Summers is a real estate developer, farmer, and small businessman.

GA PEANUT FARM SHOW FOCUSES ON PRODUCTS, RESEARCH

The 46th annual Georgia Peanut Farm Show and Conference opens Thursday at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center. The show ­hours will be 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Peanut farmers and those involved in the peanut industry will be able to learn more about the latest products, services, and peanut research; the show is sponsored by the Georgia Peanut Commission.

The UGA Peanut Team will present an educational peanut production seminar from 9-10:30 a.m., entitled "Learning from the 2022 Growing Season – Impacts of TSWV." Farmers will have the opportunity to earn private or commercial pesticide applicator certification.

An Industry Seed Seminar will be held 10:35-11:35 a.m., sponsored by the American Peanut Shellers Association Committee on Variety & Seed Development, Southern Peanut Farmers Federation, and the Georgia Peanut Commission. Growers will be able to learn about peanut varieties available for 2023 and varieties on the horizon.

During lunch, the Peanut Commission will present a short program beginning at 12:15 p.m. with award presentations and an update from the National Peanut Board in Washington, D.C.

The Georgia Peanut Commission, in cooperation with the OneBlood, will host a blood drive from 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. during Thursday's show. 

For information, contact the Peanut Commission at 229-386-3470 or online at www.gapeanuts.com

AG MUSEUM EXHIBIT SHOWCASES MAPS FOLDED INTO CLOTHING

A random search on the Internet provided inspiration for a retired South Georgia educator to revisit her passion for art.

Marie Salter spent 25 years as a teacher and media specialist in the Dougherty County School System. While looking online for art to decorate her granddaughter’s room, she came across unusual dresses made from maps of London and San Francisco. This piqued the interest of the former fine arts student from the University of Georgia, and Salter soon began exploring the idea.

The result will soon be on display at ABAC’s Georgia Museum of Agriculture. “Marie Salter’s Second Act” opens on Saturday, Jan. 21, with gallery tours, an informal talk led by the artist, and a tea and scones drop-in reception from 1-3 p.m.

Salter’s rare pieces showcase vintage and contemporary maps folded into 3-D clothing, which are also thematically tied to the map’s content and age. After initially being intrigued by what she found online, she began experimenting with Christmas paper before she started collecting maps. Each piece takes Salter approximately eight hours of detailed work.

“Each one of Marie’s pieces also carries a ‘pun very much intended’ name, which is tied to the content of the map, and the piece of clothing folded out of it,” said GMA Curator Polly Huff.

Salter’s work has become popular in the region. She won a Best of Show Award at the 2021 Southwest Georgia Regional Art Exhibit & Sale, and many of her pieces reside in the homes of private collectors. She recently obtained an 1873 map of Georgia and a vintage produce map of the state. Both have been folded into dresses, named “Georgia Girl” and “Pretty as a Peach,” and will be a special feature of her exhibition.

“We thought the 1873 map would be a perfect centerpiece for the exhibit because our historic village portrays life in wiregrass Georgia during that time, between 1870 and 1910,” Huff said.

Each of the unique pieces on display at the GMA Gallery exhibit will be available for sale. After the initial opening Jan. 21, the exhibit will remain on display through April 1 at the annual Folklife Festival.

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

“Morris" is one of several vetted feral cats that need a release location in a barn, shed, or warehouse. He is available at the Tift County Animal Shelter. To adopt Morris and to see other pets available, visit the shelter between 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, or call 229-382-PETS (7387).

OFFICER GETS $100 REWARD FOR ARREST, CONVICTION OF JEWELRY THIEF

~ JAN. 19, 1912

Officer J.O. Thrasher received a $100 reward Jan. 19, 1912, after the arrest and conviction of J.W. Jones, who pleaded guilty to breaking into J.E. Cochran’s jewelry store on Nov. 29, 1911, on Tifton’s Main Street and absconding with 63 watches, six gold bracelets, and numerous other pieces of jewelry. When captured, Jones (aka Jason W. Daniels) had much of the jewelry in this possession and more was located in Atlanta, where it had been pawned. The thief was sentenced to 10 years in the state penitentiary.