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Have You Met, Yet?

Chef Robert Smith, Grits Cafe's new Executive Chef, is thrilled to be putting down roots in Forsyth. “My wife had always talked about how much she loved Grits Cafe. I finally got the chance to see why she loves it when I traveled here from Orlando for my initial interview. I was offered the position and I quickly relocated, moved in with my in-laws and started working!” (Chef Robert assures us that living with his in-laws has been delightful!)

Originally from New Jersey, Chef Robert brings a rich culinary background to Forsyth, with experience at Walt Disney World, Hilton Hotels, and leading fine dining concepts in Florida. He fell in love with Southern hospitality (and his wife, a Forsyth native—Sarah Barnes!) while working at Disney, and now he’s bringing that same heart and creativity to the Grits kitchen.

Chef Robert is committed to honoring our Southern roots while adding seasonal, inspired touches to every plate. His passion? Blending tradition with a little culinary adventure. “I want to stick to our Southern roots, but get to have some fun exploring—introducing new ideas, flavors, and techniques.”

Long-time General Manager, Leslie Waters, is excited to have Chef Robert’s culinary dedication and extensive experience as the guiding force in the Grits Cafe kitchen. “Robert is very energetic, team oriented and organized. He’s very thoughtful and intentional and he brings enthusiasm and dedication to providing exceptionally delicious experiences to all of our guests.”

Chef Robert is committed to honoring Grits' deep roots—both in the community and in the kitchen. “It’s a great honor to create these dishes that now multiple generations have enjoyed at Grits. Getting to carry on culinary traditions that were originally created over 25 years ago, back in 1999, is just a chef’s dream—that kind of longevity is rare. So, I’m excited to carry that torch forward and to explore some new culinary horizons as well.” We’re excited to explore all the delicious dishes that Chef Robert brings to the table at Grits Cafe!

Books, Feathers, Farmers, and ELVIS! Oh My!

Be prepared to have your heart warmed as we tell a story about Ms. Happy Wyatt. One thing’s for sure about Ms. Happy—she’s a force of nature! A truly homegrown Southerner with a big heart. Ms. Happy works as the marketing coordinator for Georgia Grown down at the Department of Agriculture. For 19 years, she’s been speaking the good word about agriculture, and she has a strong passion for teaching youngsters about the wonders of farming.

A Rooster Named Elvis

Ms. Happy is often found at local schools hosting a special storytime. As she made her rounds, she found that many of the agricultural books she was sharing focused on chickens and how they produce eggs. She loves to teach kids and adults alike about where their food comes from so, they can understand why farming is crucial. Now, you should know that Ms. Happy raised many chickens herself and adores the critters. She decided to spice up her storytimes and bring a chicken along. Next time she packed up her books and supplies, she brought her beloved Elvis, too. Elvis sat on her lap and listened as she read her stories. The students went wild for this rooster! They were entertained and enthusiastic about learning where their food comes from.

Elvis' Legacy: Fabio



Elvis lived to be about 10 years old, which is a long life for a chicken. He left an imprint on the agricultural community here in Georgia and the hearts of hundreds of students. When Ms. Happy discovered Elvis’ passing, she was overcome with emotion, but the first thing she did was quickly grab all the eggs from the pen for incubation, hoping to have another chicken like Elvis. As the chicks grew, Ms. Happy noticed that one of them had an incredible personality. She decided to name him Fabio since his momma was a Silkie, which gave him a big ol’ floof of feathers on his head. Fabio has the same laid-back personality as his daddy, Elvis, and will be making his debut soon, following in Elvis’ footsteps.

For More of Elvis' story, check out our blog!

Something Old, Something New...



We were curious about the facade renovations going on in the neighborhood and asked local historian, Ralph Bass, about 57 North Jackson's history. Then we went straight to Maggie Mae Toney, Eagle Point Accounting's Executive Manager to learn the story on the renovations. Here is what they shared with us.

For more than a century, members of two Forsyth families, the Hardins and the Heads, owned 57 North Jackson Street.

William Henry Head, whose banking offices were next door, probably acquired the property around 1870. Head’s vault, used to secure the currency for his banking operations, remains there today at Burty’s Boutique.

Head’s daughter, Sarah Virginia, inherited the property and in 1906, she sold it to T. J. and Hugh H. Hardin, father and son, entrepreneurs both. The Hardin family kept the building until 2015 when they sold it.

Fires swept this section of the square in the late 19th century. It is most likely just before the fire of 1873 that the present building was erected, for the news accounts speak of the “new brick building” of W. H. Head where the fire stopped.

The building at 57 North Jackson has been variously used, most recently as an accounting office. The post office once occupied the site when Laura Allen Wilder was post mistress. Later, when hats were a necessity for the well dressed Forsyth woman, Lizzie Goggans had a millinery shop on this spot. Her shop was followed by that of Cleo Goggans Darby, who maintained a beauty salon in the rear of the store. The county rented the building for auxiliary offices before the construction of the county annex.

The O. L. Clements Grocery once occupied the building. The Clements Grocery was typical of many small grocery stores in Forsyth, such as Zellner’s Meat Market, Frank Pippin’s Penny Profit Store, U. L. Porch’s Grocery and Roquemore’s Grocery, all before the arrival of the chain stores such as Colonial. These locally-owned stores offered credit to their customers and also delivery service. At Clements, customers could phone in their order and it would be brought to the car. At other times, Jeff Mays was a legendary delivery man in town, using his bicycle to put groceries on the front porch of Forsyth homes.

"We made changes to the front of the building for several important reasons. First, the original front windows were outdated single-pane glass. As a result, the interior would become extremely hot during the spring and summer months, making the space uncomfortable and inefficient. Replacing them with updated windows not only improves energy efficiency but also enhances the overall functionality of the building.

Second, we’ve always been drawn to arched architectural details. The new design reflects our personal taste and love for timeless, classic elements. We’re not interested in following modern design trends—instead, we wanted something that feels warm, inviting, and historically inspired.

Our design choices weren’t pulled from a particular building or source of inspiration. Rather, they came from a combination of what we personally enjoy and what felt right for the character of the building.



Lastly, the brick on the front façade is being painted in an Antique White shade to match the rest of the building. This will create a cohesive and clean look while maintaining the charm we’re going for." 

We love the care and consideration they have put into the project and downtown Forsyth!

The History is in the Details

Although there are barge boards on other gables in Forsyth, those at 96 West Main Street stand out for their elaborately cut decorations.

[Barge boards are those boards running along the edge of a gable of a house.]  

The barge boards on this house were most likely not a part of the original construction but were added when George Ogden Persons significantly renovated the dwelling in the Queen Anne style for his new bride, Alice Leigh Bramblett.  

James P. Harrison had owned the house when he had the local newspaper, the Advertiser, and employed the budding young journalist, Joel Chandler Harris, who lived here with the Harrison family. After Harrison left Forsyth for Atlanta, where he became a successful businessman, he tried for years to sell the property. Eventually George Ogden Persons and his brother Robert Turner Persons bought it.  

In 1899, George Ogden Persons married Alice Leigh Bramblett in the Methodist church across the street. It was a double ceremony, his brother Robert T. Persons marrying Fannie Smith at the same time. The brothers were very close, living most of their lives together.

Like that of his brother, the marriage of George Ogden Persons did not last long. Alice Persons died from tuberculosis in 1905. Her widower never remarried and he soon moved from the house with the decorative barge boards to the house at 91 West Johnston Street where his mother and his brother’s family lived.

—Ralph Bass, local historian

More News...

Friendship of the Traveling Cup

Where oh where have the Forsyth mugs gone?

Point Roberts, WA! 

Point Roberts is a quizzical town. Separated from the rest of the United States by 25 miles of Canada and two border crossings, this almost five square miles of property is south of the 49th parallel, and so it belongs to the US. A single grocery store, a few restaurants, and a very scenic beach make it an interesting place to visit. The county park campground is at the end of the oh so tiny airport, and it's fun to watch the commuter planes skim the tree tops and land on the grass strip as we sip our coffee from our favorite mugs.❤️

—Suey and Peter Stephen

Did You Know?

In the mid-1980s, Dr. Bill and Ann Cummings commissioned local artist Catherine Liles to create two large street scenes for their Left Banque Travel Agency. These “life-size” street scenes once hung on either side of the entry. Each painting depicts a different block of West Johnston Street, using businesses that were present at the time of their creation. None of the businesses shown in the paintings remain today, but they are fondly remembered by many. Ironically, the Rose Theater was not included.

The late Catherine Liles graduated magna cum laude from Wesleyan College with a degree in Fine Arts in 1979. She studied abroad in Italy in 1984 with the University of Georgia, working on her Master of Liberal Studies, which she completed at Mercer University in 1989. Ms. Liles once served on the board of directors for the University of Georgia. Her artwork appears in numerous catalogues and is in many prominent corporate and private collections throughout the Southeast and Europe. A little closer to home, she was also the artist selected for the 1996 Cherry Blossom Festival’s official fine art print.

The Cummings donated these paintings to the Backlot Players after they moved into the Rose Theater in 2004, where they hung for many years. When the theater was damaged by fire in August of 2024, the paintings were removed and put on loan to the City of Forsyth. Today, they hang in City Hall for all to see and enjoy.

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