Milltown Murals creator speaking at ABAC Spring Commencement

TIFTON, Ga. — The creator of the historic Milltown Murals project in Lakeland, Ga., will be the featured speaker at the spring commencement ceremony on May 11 at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. Nell Roquemore, who initiated the historic murals project in Lakeland in 1998, will address the 2017 graduating class at the 10 a.m. ceremony in Gressette Gymnasium.  Approximately 258 graduates are expected to participate in the event. Born on March 10, 1924 in Milltown, which is now called Lakeland, Roquemore has lived in Lakeland all her life.  After graduating from the Georgia State Women’s College, now Valdosta State University, Roquemore taught shorthand, typing, and general business at Lanier County High School. From 1945-47, Roquemore was the clerk for the local Selective Service Board.  She returned to teaching for one year before assuming a position as the secretary to the Wing Surgeon at Moody Air Force Base. In 1955, she was selected as the Lakeland Postmaster, a position she held for 13 years. Always active in local civic endeavors, Roquemore served as president of the Lanier County Garden Club in 1967 and was the Mayor Pro Tem of Lakeland in 1973-74.  She published a family book, “Roots, Rocks, and Recollections,” in 1989 and a Lanier County history book, “Lanier County: The Land and Its People,” in 2000. The Milltown Murals depict scenes and residents from Lakeland’s past on full size murals in 41 locations throughout the community.  Roquemore continues to conduct personal tours of the Milltown Murals for special guests.  She also plays the violin on a regular basis at the First Baptist Church in Lakeland. Honored by the Boy Scouts in 2016 with its Distinguished Citizen Award, Roquemore has always had a love for the Boy Scouts since her father, Lawson Patten, donated 184 acres of land for a Boy Scouts camp in Lanier County, now named Camp Patten in his honor. The former Nell Patten married William A. Roquemore on May 8, 1947, and they had five children, Rocky, Pat, Jim, Bob, and Lee. She now has 11 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.  Mr. Roquemore passed away in 1997.

3rd annual state Banana Pudding Festival in high gear

IRWINTON, Ga. — The third annual State Banana Pudding Festival will take place in Irwinton, Georgia on Saturday, April 29. The State Banana Pudding Festival is planned and supported by a community of volunteers working together to create a festival that will help a variety of non-profits in Wilkinson County. Friends of the East Wilkinson County Library, Friends of the Union Church, Happy Hollow Christian Academy, and Paws & Claws just to name a few, will come together to promote each of their causes during various parts of the festival. The Friends of the East Wilkinson County Library are busy planning the 5-K run & 1 mile fitness walk, The Friends of the Union Church, Happy Hollow Christian Academy, New Hope Baptist Church, and the Uplifters are practicing with their best banana pudding recipes for the Pudding Path. Volunteers are putting together a Car Show to benefit Paws & Claws and festival organizers are excited to have the talented Chris Taylor and, coming back to town just for the festival, Drew Moseley for the nighttime entertainment show from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Money from the concert will be distributed to various groups throughout the county. The Festival begins with a 5k run and a bike ride with a 20-mile and a 40-mile option to start off the day beginning at 10 a.m. The festival will go on all day followed by live music and dancing into the night. Mark your calendars and plan on being part of the State Banana Pudding Festival. For more information, call 478-946-1501 or find the State Banana Pudding Festival on Facebook or check out www.bananapuddingfestival.com.

National Day of Prayer to be observed in Dalton

DALTON, Ga. — The Dalton observance of the 66th National Day of Prayer is at noon on Thursday, May 4, on the Whitfield County Courthouse lawn. The theme is “For Your Great Name’s Sake! Hear Us … Forgive Us … Heal Us!” (taken from Daniel 9:19). Singing begins at 11:45 a.m., the prayer service begins promptly at noon and the event concludes before 1 p.m. Everyone is urged to take a lunch break and join in prayer. There will be seating available for senior citizens and attendees are welcome to bring lawn chairs. Attendees will remember in prayer all government leaders (both local and national), those serving in the armed forces, churches and their pastors, and the youth of the community, local coordinator Pastor Rick Spence said.

Suwannee River Paddle for Autism this Saturday

MAYO, Fla. — The sixth Suwannee River Paddle for Autism charity event will be held Saturday at 9 a.m.   The trip will start at the State Road 51 Hal Adams Bridge, just north of Mayo and end at the Suwannee River Rendezvous Resort and Campground.  There will be a concert by the  Saltwater Cowboys. They will play from noon until 5 p.m.  Raffle tickets for a paddle board, a YETI  Tundra 45 cooler and a two-night stay at a River Rendezvous log cabin will be sold for $10. The winning tickets will be drawn at 5 p.m. Raffle tickets will be available all day for a donation of $10 at the River Rendezvous. All proceeds from this charity event will, be donated to the University of Florida – Center for Autism and Related Disabilities.   For more information, visit the event’s Facebook page www. facebook.com/suwanneeriverpaddleforautism or call 386-294-1025.

Outdoor art offered 

VALDOSTA, Ga. — The Arts Guild at Valdosta State University will host “Art on the Lawn,” 1-3 p.m. Saturday, April 29. Admission is free of charge and open to all ages, according to a VSU press release. The Arts Guild is a student organization comprised primarily of art majors and art minors at VSU. “These students are excited to share their knowledge and their love of art with residents from the campus and surrounding community,” according to the press release. Limited supplies will be provided. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own works and materials — watercolors, acrylic paint, paintbrushes, paper, pens, pencils, oil or chalk pastels, charcoals, etc. Items can be found in local discount or craft stores, according to organizers. “Art on the Lawn” will be held at Palms Quad, which is located on the Oak Street side of the VSU Main Campus in front of Palms Dining Center.