Southern tradition at its finest will be on display at the 51st annual Archbold Auxiliary Tea, set for 3 to 6 p.m., on Wednesday at Woodhaven Plantation in Coolidge. 

Twenty years ago, the Archbold Auxiliary annual fundraising tea was held at Woodhaven, and was the first social function at the plantation.

Owned by R. Charles Loudermilk Sr. of Atlanta, Woodhaven Plantation is a 5,000-plus acre property that includes a 20,000 square-foot mansion.  Completed in 1989, the brick mansion with white Doric columns, wide wrap-around porches and the loggia across the rear features dramatic furnishings from southern France and the English Cotswolds. 

The house was designed by Jack Wilson, a Moultrie architect who apprenticed under Frank McCall, and built by the Malory Parker Construction Company of Thomas County. A magnificent circular staircase, built by Bracey Lumber Company, graces the front foyer as you walk into the house.

Tea attendees will enjoy a dome mural of hunting scenes created by Randy Gibbs in the entrance hall along with an 18th-century hunting scene from the school of Deporte depicting the royal hounds of Louis XIV. Woodhaven has a large swimming pool with a pool house and a guest house which includes a great room and four bedrooms, as well as several guest cottages around the golf course.

Woodhaven also features the Summit Building — which is the actual building used for the 2003 G-8 Summit in Sea Island.  Recently disassembled, transported and completely rebuilt at Woodhaven, the Summit Building still displays the G-8 flags.

“We are indeed fortunate to again hold the Archbold Hospital Auxiliary Annual Tea at Woodhaven, the plantation home of Mr. Loudermilk,” said Sue McAnally, 2010 Auxiliary Tea chairman.  “It is hard to believe that it has been 20 years since the annual tea was held at Woodhaven.”

Visitors will be treated to a tour of the plantation with light hors d’oeuvres and tea served at the end of the tour in the Summit Building.  There will be a shuttle available for guests that require assistance. 

The event is open to the general public, but guests are encouraged to contribute to the cause. The majority of money raised each year comes from the donations from individual friends and supporters of the Auxiliary and the hospital.

Contributions from the tea at Woodhaven 20 years ago totaled more than $20,000 with 1,200 guests in attendance; the most successful tea at the time.  Funds raised went to the renovation of the emergency department and trauma unit. Proceeds from this year’s eea will be designated for the family lounge of the new Lewis Hall Singletary Oncology Center and will be matched by a grant from the Adrian and Jessie Archbold Charitable Trust.

“Twenty years ago, the tea at Woodhaven was extremely successful and we anticipate that the 2010 tea will be another success,” said Doris Smith, 2010 auxiliary tea co-chairman. “I would like to extend my personal thanks to Mr. Loudermilk for allowing the Auxiliary to again enjoy their gracious hospitality and the use of their majestic plantation home and facilities.”