Jesup is a small town of about 10,000 souls, approximately 20 miles south of Hinesville, built on the banks of the Altamaha river. Its major employers are a Rayonier paper mill, the Wayne County School system, and the Wayne County Regional Medical Center. Less well-known, perhaps, but also important, is a federal corrections facility there.
I first became aware of Jesup through my family’s wholesale business, which had three long-time retail customers there: Hodges Hardware, Rogers Hardware, and Murphy Builders Supply. I think only Murphy Builders Supply is still in business now.
That was back in the day before there was a Wal-Mart there. I worked many of their orders, during my summers in high school and college; and later realized the value of those orders when I managed the credit and collections side of the business, after college. They always bought a lot and paid promptly, so I never had worries about any of them. As was the case with most of our customers across the three states we served.
I later got to know Jesup from two other angles. The first was their annual “Dogwood Festival,” held in April, at “Cracker Williams” Park, about a block east of downtown, just south of the big Baptist Church on Cherry Street.
It was the typical smalltown arts-and-crafts festival, with bounce houses for kids, concessions stands that sold hamburgers and hot dogs, egg rolls and candy cotton, etc., and a small arts exhibition in the community center. They also had a small stage where local bands would play, and young girls would put on clogging or dance routines. My wife and I always enjoyed going when we could. It was a great family-oriented event, and usually well-attended.
We later came to know Jesup again from our connections through Rotary, as it was also the last home to Margaret Jacobs, one of our recent District Governors. She was a remarkable woman. Born and raised in the small town of Fossil, Oregon, she went on to become the first female chemist at General Foods, and had a long and storied career with a number of firms worldwide after that.
When a job transfer eventually brought her to Jesup, she applied to transfer her Rotary Club membership to the local club there, but they were not used to having women members, as Rotary was for many years an all-male group. When their bylaws were finally changed to admit women, she proved her worth, and was later elected the first woman president of that club. Several years later, she was elected District Governor of the 42-county, 62-club District #6920, and served with distinction.
My wife had the honor and privilege of being asked to serve as Margaret’s District Trainer (basically equivalent to being her executive assistant), and worked closely with her to implement various initiatives and projects that were the hallmarks of Margaret’s year as governor. What a thrill that was, and totally unexpected!
Margaret also extended a great kindness to me personally, the year she was District Governor. I suffered a stroke in January of that year, which left me with considerable left-side weakness for some months afterward. Because I was wheelchair- bound for nearly six months, until I was able to walk again, my wife and I had decided to skip the annual district conference held that April at the Jekyll Island Convention Center, as I did not want her to have to push me all over that huge facility for three days.
Margaret would have none of that, and told me I was coming! She made arrangements with a local medical equipment company, whose owner I believe was a member of the Jesup Rotary Club, to bring an electric wheelchair to the convention center for me to use – at no charge – so that we could come and I would be able to get around on my own. What a great kindness that was! I will always be thankful for that courtesy she showed me. But, that was Margaret.
How interesting that my wife and I would intersect, not once, or twice, but three separate times with folks in a small town a bit south of where we lived. All good people, and a blessing in each instance.
How lucky we have been, to have had those opportunities!
Rafe Semmes is a proud graduate of (“the original”) Savannah High School and the University of Georgia.