In response to COVID-19, five local organizations came together to collect and document the pandemic within Thomas County. The collective work of the Jack Hadley Black History Museum, Pebble Hill Plantation, Thomasville Center for the Arts, Thomas County Public Library, and Thomasville History Center has been ongoing since June and now continues with the results of the new academic competition for students. The Thomas County Chronicles COVID project was designed to collect community materials that tell our stories during the pandemic. The photo-essay competition captured student perspectives on the pandemic and the ways it has changed their day-to-day lives.  

The History Center is grateful for the participation from students at Thomas County Middle School, Thomas County Central High School, and the Scholars Academy. More than 120 projects across several categories were submitted. The Thomas County Chronicles COVID partners judged projects on their photographic impact and creativity, the students’ composed words, and relation to the theme.  

The students created first-hand records of their community that document the stories of the ongoing pandemic and how our community has adapted.  Each submitted project will be added to the growing #ThoCoChronicles collection, which will be housed at the Thomasville History Center but will be shared collectively with all of its partners and be made available for researchers once they are processed and cataloged

The winners are:

Senior Division (Grades 9-12)  

First place overall: Kayandra Moore, 10th grade, Thomas County Central High School (PPE) 

Second place: Naima Battle, ninth grade, Thomas County Central High School (Education) 

Third place: Brayden Vickers, ninth grade, Thomas County Central High School (Food Industry) 

Junior Division, fifth grade, Thomas County Middle School   

First place: Aiden Wright (Public Health) 

Second place: (tie) Celia Perry (Celebrations) and Conner Hewett (PPE) 

Third place: Chandler Strickland (Food Industry) 

Junior Division, sixth-eighth grades, Thomas County Middle School  

Overall winners 

First place: Andrew Robertson, sixth grade (Family Life)  

Second place (tie): Emily Proctor, eighth grade (Thank You) and Heali Patel, eighth grade (Public Health) 

Third place: Aiden Miranda, seventh grade (Family Life) 

Junior Division Category Winners:  

Celebrations:  

First place: Christian Nixon, sixth grade;  

Second place: Milagro Moran Lopez, sixth grade 

Third place: Ta’Nya White, sixth grade  

Education:  

First place: Azaria Donnelly, eighth grade  

Second place; (tie) Meghan Moncrief, eighth grade;  Jada Pinkins, eighth grade; Laylen Hines, seventh grade  

Third place: Harmony Walker, eighth grade  

Family Life:  

First place: Andrew Robertson, sixth grade 

Second place: Aiden Miranda seventh grade 

Third place: Lola Parker, seventh grade 

Food Industry:  

First place: Lillian Oaksford, seventh grade 

Second place: Nathan Jarrett, eighth grade  

Third place: Hudson Wynn, sixth grade  

Personal Protective Equipment: 

First place: Spencer Webb, eighth grade 

Second place: (Tie) Brooks Bone, sixth grade and Morgan Cullison, sixth Grade 

Third place: Zach Williams, seventh grade  

Public Health:  

First place: Heali Patel, eighth grade 

Second place: Bowen Dennard, eighth grade 

Third place (Tie): Katelyn Bradshaw, seventh grade and Turner Page Woody seventh grade (Scholars Academy) 

Sports/Extracurricular Activities:  

First place: Kayla Bruce, sixth grade

Thank You: 

First place: Emily Proctor, eighth grade

Second place: Caleb Davis, seventh grade

Winning projects will be featured at thocochronicles.org and will appear on Thomasville History Center social media channels.  

The students’ participation in this project ensures that their voices, experiences, and artistic expressions will be woven into the fabric of this moment’s larger story. It is the History Center’s hope that this competition will inspire reflection and introspection and provide a meaningful way for individuals and the community to process the upheaval and uncertainty that all are experiencing.    

Below is a little more information about the Thomas County Chronicles COVID project partners: 

The Jack Hadley Black History Museum’s main objective is to get the message to young people that Black Americans have done great things to help build and shape America’s goals and dreams. The organization believes that all children, regardless of race, need to know the accomplishments of Black men and women in American history. The museum’s main mission is “to document, preserve and exhibit African American History of Southwest Georgia, including state and national history as well.” 

Today, the collection is on exhibit at the Jack Hadley Black History Museum in Thomasville, and features over 5,473 pieces of Black American artifacts. The museum has a traveling exhibit of approximately 500 artifacts that has been on exhibit at local schools in Southwest Georgia and North Florida. Find the museum on Instagram and Facebook using @hadleyblackhistorymuseum to follow its updates on programs, research projects, and images from its photographic archives. For more information, visit www.jackhadleyblackhistorymuseum.com, email jackhadleyblackhistorymuseum@rose.net, or call (229) 226-5029. 

Pebble Hill Plantation is a historic home with a history that dates back to 1825. The plantation was established by one of Thomas County’s founders, Thomas Jefferson Johnson. At the turn of the century, the Hanna family of Cleveland, Ohio purchased the property and enjoyed it as winter home and sporting plantation. Pebble Hill is open to the public today due to the generosity of its last owner, Elisabeth (Pansy) Ireland Poe, who willed that her home be opened to the public. Pebble Hill opened in 1983 to visitors from the community and around the world. 

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Pebble Hill offers visitors tours of the main house and grounds. With a tour guide, adults and students ages Pre-K through 12th grade learn the rich history of this historic site and the people who once lived and worked here and how they were committed to this community, its culture, and its natural resources. 

For more information, visit the Pebble Hill website www.pebblehill.com, call (229) 226-2344, or visit on Facebook and Instagram using @pebblehillplantation 

Thomasville Center for the Arts is committed to encouraging artistic expression and purposeful creativity to connect people to one another through arts education, performances, public art, and exhibitions. Visit the Center at the historic East Side School building at 600 East Washington Street or online at thomasvillearts.org.  

The Thomas County Public Library was the first official “library” established in Thomasville, Georgia was on February 16, 1880 and became a truly free public library on January 1, 1964. It became its own entity and an established regional library system on July 1, 1988. Serving Thomas County, Georgia, the TCPLS is headquartered in Thomasville, Georgia with neighborhood branches in surrounding towns of Boston, Coolidge, Meigs, Ochlocknee and Pavo. 

TCPLS is a part of the Georgia Public Library Service (GPLS) which is the state library administrative agency and a unit of the Board of Regents, University System of Georgia. The Library also provides assistance with genealogy research and classes for learning to use computers and the Internet. 

Thomasville History Center was formed in 1952 and opened a museum within the Flowers-Roberts House in 1972. Since 1972, Thomasville History Center’s collections have grown to include more than 500,000 artifacts and archival materials and eight historic structures. The History Center, in partnership with the state of Georgia, also operates the historic Lapham-Patterson House. its board, staff, and growing membership invite you to join them in their dedication to ensuring that the appreciation of the area’s unique history remains an intrinsic and unbroken thread connecting the past and future through settings that advance its story.  

Find the History Center on Instagram and Facebook using @thomasvillehistory to follow daily updates on current programs, research projects, and images from its photographic archives. 

For more information, visit www.thomasvillehistory.org, email history@rose.net, or call (229) 226-7664.