Much Ado About Something
Valley Scenes
The Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia celebrated some of our
area’s most marvelous women at their 2013 Women of Distinc- tion event. Betty Wills Whisnant, Lora Davis Warren, LaRae Moore, Adelaide Bush Kirk, Maria Sandri Kent, Kim Giles Jinks, Diane Parkman Hett and Marie Culpepper Bruner were this year’s most deserving honorees. Educators, attorneys, business professionals, non-profit leaders; fabulous women, mentors, wives, daughters, mothers, sisters and most of all, vol- unteers for just about everything in this region—these women represent the shining best in our community. Each year as these women are honored, I’m filled with pride that their accomplish- ments are being honored in such a significant way by an organi- zation that celebrates the accomplishments of girls and women. Continuing to celebrate fabulous women, the Columbus
Botanical Garden kicked off its annual Plant Sale and Garden Market with a reception where they celebrated the commitment and dedication of two most deserving women, Erwin Key and the late Bunny Sullivan. Te members-only reception included a sneak peak and opportunity to buy early (a very good rea- son to join the CBG!) but the loveliest part of the evening came when the extraordinary garden accomplishments of Erwin and Bunny were noted. Erwin was one of the key players back when the CBG became
an independent entity, separate from Columbus Technical Col- lege, as she served on the CTC board and helped lead that seam- less transition. In addition to her own incredible gardening acu- men, she continues to serve the CBG in many ways and remains active in the gardening community. Bunny served in many roles for the CBG and had a most
beautiful garden of her own, which as of last winter, still served the community. Before the family home was sold, we used greenery from her garden for the 2013 Library Foundation Gala and loved having that piece of Bunny’s legacy stay with us still. I’m a enthusiastic gardener and will be in plant heaven if one day I have just half of these women’s gardening skills!
Crystal Ball This year’s Crystal Ball was a trip down memory lane—joy-
fully celebrating with those who have survived and memorial- izing those who are no longer with us. The local chapter of the American Cancer Society commemorated 25 years of the event, recognizing all the honorees who have helped raise millions to support the organization and the people it helps. Some past chairs celebrated the years that they have survived cancer—and some just celebrated, including Sam Wellborn, Jim Buntin, Betsy Leebern, Lucius Morton, Butch Wolff, Bunky Clark, Melissa Tomas, Phillipa Brown, Mary Pat King, Mike Ven- able and Travis Wade. There were several hundred folks also celebrating the lives of
those honorees including Dusty Wellborn, Suzanne Morton, Alap and Pinkie Shah, Sue Ann and Champ Baker, Nancy Bun- tin, Lynn and Wes Ezell, Jim Tomas, Patrick and Trish Regan, Mitchi Wade, Jill Tigner and the ever-so-handsome Walker Mobley, who accompanied his grandmother, Alice Gammage,
72 Columbus and the Valley JUNE 2013
Columbus and the Valley will publish as many photos as quality and space permit. Black and white or color photos may be used. Please identify all sub- jects with a brief description of the event and the date. Mail them to: CVM, P.O. Box 229, Columbus, GA 31902 Those accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope will be returned, however, Columbus and the Valley Magazine assumes no responsibility for care and return of photographs submitted.
by Marquette McRae McKnight
who is not only a past honoree, but was also the executive director and the “face” of the ACS in this area for many successful years. One of the most poignant moments of the night came when a
few survivors told a little bit of their stories, including Erin Scott and Torre Svenson. Erin, who was there with Chris Woodruff, has a wonderful recovery story to tell and I gotta give it to all the sto- rytellers, they too had tears in their eyes as Torre Svenson—just shy of being a teenager—told the crowd her story of fighting cancer at such a young age. Young Torre brought the house down when she noted that her pixie cut hairdo, a result of her treatment, wasn’t exactly a choice she would have made, but there’s not a person there who didn’t think that she was rockin’ that hairdo. She looked ador- able and got to sing with the band too! Others celebrating and remembering good folks lost to this
vicious disease, included Fred and Donna Flandry, Richard and Charlotte Hare, Eleanore and Tyler Townsend, Dennis and Karen Cook, Linda and John Shinkle, Scott and Chris Hill in addition to
At the American Cancer Society Crystal Ball:
(Above) ACS Leadership Coun- cil member Wade Weekley and Alice Gammage, escorted by her grandson Walker Mobley
(Left) Cancer survivors Erin Scott and Torre Svenson
Photos by Margie Richardson
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