A place to share happenings in Macon & what the Mulberry community is up to!

Something you'd like highlighted? Email to Millie Thompson.

Macon Volunteer Clinic is holding a Tennis & Pickleball tournament on Monday, October 20 at Idle Hour Country Club. Players of all skill levels are invited to come play to support MVC! Tournament details and registration information can be found here.

You are invited to join Macon Volunteer Clinic in bringing their new building to life with a community mural! On Friday, October 24 from 3-7 pm , MVC will be having an interactive mural installation on their parking lot retaining wall, along with a trunk-or-treat, food trucks, music & more. You can come add your own mark to the design - don't forget to wear your costume!

Many of us remember Caleb Esmond, the young pianist who blessed us with his singing in the Ainsworth Memorial Choir and with his wonderful piano playing while he was a student at Mercer. Caleb is currently completing a Doctorate in Piano Performance at University of North Texas while he begins his teaching career at New Saint Andrews College in Moscow, Idaho.  He has just recorded a new CD album of Christmas hymn arrangements to be released November 10.  Price will be $10, but is available for $5 to anyone who signs up to pre-order before the November release date. To get your name on the pre-order list,  you can call the church office or text Harold Chapman at 478-954-5139.

A Bicentennial Moment

In anticipation of Mulberry’s upcoming Bicentennial Celebration in 2026, the Leonard Hill Cochran Historical Room presents a moment of Mulberry history.

In 1971, the Macon District United Methodist Churches began supporting an Inner-City Ministry, with Bobby Brenner as minister located at “His House.” Brenner requested that a clothing bank be established and Paula Motes, UMW vice- president, led the UMW’s response to this request. C. W. Hancock, Mulberry’s pastor, approved the location.

In 1978, W. O. Powell, District Superintendent, called a meeting of Methodist ministers to discuss a “downtown ministry." 

By 1980, Helen Henry, Mervyn Dasher, Tommy Jean Griffith, Sonia Murphy and Gwen Sell, concerned about the poor, began meeting for prayer and Bible Study. This group visited ministries in Columbus Rome and Savannah and also made a survey of needs in Macon.

Bill Hurdle asked for help with the poor and transients and “snack packs” were assembled by Helen Matthews. Sheriff Ray Wilkes asked for help with the jail library. And in response to these needs, the ladies established the “Outreach Office” and Bill Hurdle announced that an Outreach office had been established at Mulberry and was open from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. dealing with need related to food, rent and utilities. By 1981, the Board of Missions of the South Georgia Conference  also allocated funds to the Mulberry Outreach.

In 1982, the UMW sponsored at Christmas Tour of Homes which raised $6,000. A $10,000 grant was given by the E. J. Grassman Trust Fund plus another $3,000 grant from the Carling Foundation Children’s Fund.  

The Sunday prior to Thanksgiving, 1983, was designated for Methodists to bring food for Outreach. 1985 saw the kitchen remodeled at a cost of $8,000, 1986 a birthday party was held at Central Correctional Institute. 

1987, a Board of Directors of Macon Outreach was organized. And in 1988, the first annual Outreach dinner was held.

In 1989, Martha Bowman UMC chose Outreach for its mission project and instituted the $.37 Club. 

In 1990, new names were adopted for Outreach services – Downtown Kitchen, The Shop on Mulberry, Groceries Plus and Beyond Bars. Mulberry UMW’s published cookbook ,“Under The Mulberry Tree”, was sold at the “Mulberry Celebrates The Arts” event and proceeds raised $20,000 for Outreach.

In 1992, the Doll Project was initiated and dolls sold at the Cherry Blossom Festival. Plus a 50-60s Party and Dance raised funds for Outreach.

Nancy Lee Cater was appointed director in 1993 and planning for Handicapped Accessibility initiated and Outreach began serving breakfast once a week. The “Flood of 1994” saw Macon Outreach become one of three agencies designated by The Red Cross for distribution of emergency food.

And in 1996, the first radio telethon with 26 stations participating, celebrated Macon Outreach's 25th anniversary.

Memorial Fund

In memory of Susan R. Middlebrooks by Ralph C. Douthit

In memory of Susan R. Middlebrooks by Albert P. Reichert, Jr.

In memory of Susan R. Middlebrooks by Dr. N. Tyrus Ivey

In memory of Susan R. Middlebrooks by Scott Sell

In memory of Susan R. Middlebrooks by Frankie W. Lynch

In memory of Susan R. Middlebrooks by Bryan and Lauren Leskosky

In memory of Susan R. Middlebrooks by William and Carolyn Epps

In memory of Susan R. Middlebrooks by John R. Johnson

In memory of Susan R. Middlebrooks by Jane Willingham

In memory of Susan R. Middlebrooks by Ray Pippin

In memory of Susan R. Middlebrooks by the Howard and Amelia Holleman Fund of the Community Foundation of Central Georgia

In memory of Susan R. Middlebrooks by Pam and Andy Young

In memory of Susan R. Middlebrooks by Martha Dodd