In 2015, I reached out to my friends Jones Hooks and Woody Woodside with exciting news: Joel and I were on the hunt for a second home on the coast, and Jekyll Island was at the top of our list. My connection with Jones goes way back to our days on Capitol Hill—Jones with Congressman Bo Ginn and me with Senator Herman Talmadge. Fast forward nearly fifty years, and it’s thanks to Jones, his wife Stephanie, and the late Woody Woodside that Joel and I decided to make Jekyll our part-time home. Their friendship has been a treasure over the years.
In 2017, Joel and I found our dream home at The Cottages at Jekyll Island and began living there part-time. The community at The Cottages welcomed us with open arms, and I’ve made lifelong friends who have shown me a few of the island’s hidden gems: the oldest tree, the grandmother’s tree, the tree you can stand under, the Silo, and the bird sanctuary in the Jekyll Island Campground.
Once settled, I asked Jones, then the Executive Director of the Jekyll Island Authority, if there were any special projects he was passionate about that hadn’t made it through the budget. He mentioned several, and I was immediately on board: preserving the Chichota Cottage ruins, building a bioswale along Beachview Drive at Tortuga Jacks to prevent flooding, planting wildflowers on the Downing Musgrove Causeway to beautify the drive and promote pollination, and refurbishing the Captain Wylly Pond for beautification and as a haven for turtles and birds.
Joel retired in 2020 and, sadly, passed away at the end of 2023. I retired in June 2024 and look forward to spending more time on Jekyll. Our favorite memories were our beach walks at sunrise and sunset. My favorite routes are from The Cottages north to Driftwood Beach, north to the Fishing Pier, and west from Driftwood Beach to the bike trail through the marsh to the Fishing Pier, all while enjoying the birds and their songs.
On June 8, 2024, surrounded by family and friends, we dedicated a bench in Joel’s and my honor. Though Joel was no longer with us, his spirit was present. I chose a beautiful spot under a large oak canopy with hanging Spanish moss near the entrance to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. The plaque reads:
Supporting various JIF projects has been a source of pride, but my true passion lies with the Georgia Sea Turtle Center (GSTC). Turtle season is my favorite time of year. There’s nothing more thrilling than tracking nesting sea turtles, watching a turtle lay her eggs, observing GSTC staff take nest inventories, and witnessing a ‘Turtle Boil’—when hundreds of hatchlings emerge from their nest and make their way to the ocean.
Meeting the dedicated GSTC staff, including director Michelle Kaylor, veterinarian Dr. Sean Boylan, and the entire hospital and education team, especially the Night and Day Ride with Patrol teams, has been a joy.
Giving back brings me immense pleasure, whether it’s to my local Elberton community, St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, Elbert Memorial Hospital where I worked for 25 years, or enhancing the beauty of Jekyll. I’m thrilled to support the Jekyll Island Foundation and work with new-found friends like JIF executive director Dion Davis and executive assistant Matt Humphrey. They do an incredible job, and JIF and its Board Members have made a significant impact on Jekyll Island over the years.
The Foundation and Board are truly dedicated to their mission of conservation, preservation and education on and for Jekyll Island. I am honored to be part of this exceptional group of people from across Georgia and beyond. I encourage you to get involved with the Foundation and support the fantastic work they do.