At the annual Glennville Chamber of Commerce banquet on the evening of February 6, 2025, at First Baptist Church of Glennville fellowship hall, several awards were presented that recognized individuals whose businesses and lives have made significant contributions to the community, especially this past year.
Small Business of the Year Award-The Proper
The Proper, a coffee shop that opened in early 2024 and owned and operated by Caleb Folsom, was voted by Chamber members for the Small Business of the Year Award, which was presented by Glennville Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kim Craft.
This new shop offers a delightful array of coffees and other beverages as well as shelves full of inviting books and a comfortable lounge area. The environment is welcoming to all and often stimulates some interesting and meaningful conversations among the customers. Folsom's goal is driven by a desire to glorify God in interactions with others. He is humbled by all that God is accomplishing through his coffee shop in Glennville.
Other nominees for the Small Business of the Year Award were Angela James Boutique and The Farmer's Daughter Plant Nursery.
Angela James Boutique is named after the brother sister duo of Angie Woolard and her brother, Jamie Smith, and this boutique shows their love of fashion to which the community has positively responded. The Farmer's Daughter Plant Nursery is owned and operated by Keith and Whitney Groover of Glennville and carries a wide variety of shrubs, trees, fruit trees, and citrus trees, as well as seasonal plants.
The City of Glennville was voted by Chamber members for the Large Business of the Year Award. Originally called Philadelphia for its meaning of "brotherly love," the initial community consisted only of one church, one school building, and a Masonic Lodge. Today, Glennville has 4000 acres within its city limits and a population of approximately 5000.
Once known as the "Tomato Capital of the State," it continues to be agriculturally based, but now the famous Vidalia Sweet Onion rules as the crop, with Tattnall County producing over half of that acreage each year. However, it is also home to Armstrong's Cricket Farm, the oldest cricket growing business in the United States; Rotary Corporation and Duramatic Products; Fries Farms; Botanical Sciences; Mascot Pecan Company; and dozens of retail shops and smaller companies.
The City employs a staff of about 50, with a strong and vibrant fire department, police department, and public works department, among others. Their city staff is always working behind the scenes to support the many events and activities throughout the year, which adds to the success of each one.
Other nominees for the Large Business of the Year Award were Canoochee EMC and Georgia Power. Founded in 1938, Canoochee EMC is a member-owned electric cooperative serving over 18,000 members across nine Southeast Georgia counties, in which Tattnall is included; Canoochee is supportive of the many organizations and projects in the county. Georgia Power is the largest electric subsidiary of Southern Company, America's premier energy company; it serves 2.7 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties.
Whitney Groover was selected by the Chamber Board members as this year's recipient of the Rising Star-Young Entrepreneur Award, which is given to one individual each year who has not only shown great business skills and fresh new ideas with their newly started business, but has also found ways to give back to their community.
Whitney is the daughter of Danny and Patsy Ray, who along with Danny's brother, Gary, own and operate Ray Farms. Whitney and her husband, Keith Groover, began The Farmer's Daughter Plant Nursery by their home in the Mendes area in 2022. They have continued to grow and expand their business and items for sale, sharing their knowledge and love of plants with their customers.
The second annual Legend, Leader, & Life Well-Lived Awardwas presented to Terry and Pam Waters. This award recognizes those who have embodied the spirit of volunteerism and "giving back" to the community; shown continued, significant, long-term contributions to both the business and civic communities; and have made a deliberate and focused effort to improve the quality of life in the community. Last year's first recipient was Dr. Troy Rahn.
Terry and Pam Waters were owners of The Glennville Sentinelfrom January 1981 until June of 2016, when they sold it to Russ and Dawn Rhoden. Pam served as editor during their ownership. One county-wide newspaper resulted, The Journal Sentinel, which was sold to Morris Multimedia several years later. Pam has continued to be active in the newspaper, spanning a 44-year career.
Terry, although retired from a 46-year civil service career, has not only been a supportive spouse during their 55-year marriage, but he has assisted in whatever endeavors Pam participated, many times working behind the scenes. These include the Glennville Sweet Onion Festival, where Pam served as Chairperson for many years; Glennville Rotary Club; Glennville Lions Club; Glennville Chamber of Commerce; Glennville Downtown Development Authority; and the Glennville Garden Club, among other projects. They both continue to be active in many of these organizations today. They are also members of First Baptist Church of Glennville where Pam co-teaches a children’s class on Wednesday evenings.
Terry is also a charter member of the Tattnall County Shrine Club and a member of Philadelphia Masonic Lodge #73 A&FM. In addition, he retired from the Georgia National Guard as a CW4 after 36 years of service.
Terry and Pam have three sons. The oldest, Shawn, is deceased; Ryan lives in Valdosta, Georgia, and Brandon lives in Texas. Their daughter, Dixie, is a junior at Tattnall County High School. The couple have two granddaughters, Macy Waters Barrow and Liz Waters, and two great-grandchildren, McKinley and Gunner Barrow.
Another part of the program included the induction by City Attorney Hugh McCullough of the 2025 Glennville Chamber of Board of Directors, which are as follows: President-Amy Terrell (who was unable to attend due to illness); Immediate Past President-Marie Dubberly; Vice President-Jennifer Ball; Secretary-Marie Brock; Treasurer-Candace Copley (also unable to attend due to illness); one-year directors-Donna Blocker and Dylan Mulligan; and two-year directors-Hannah Miller and Jessica Santana.
Chamber Director Craft gave the official welcome; Chamber volunteer Lynda Goodell led in the Pledge of Allegiance; greetings were from Jennifer Ball; and invocation and blessing were by Board Member Dylan Mulligan who introduced the award nominees.
Tattnall 4-H members Dawson Cromer, Jenna Braun, Americus Arnold, and Kaitlyn Eason assisted in guiding guests to their tables and with door prizes, and residents of Promise of Hope-Tattnall served the delicious meal that was provided by The Farmhouse. Desserts were provided by Paula Held.
Chamber Board member Donna Blocker welcomed the new businesses/Chamber members in 2024: Angela James Boutique; Babe Cave Creations; Cove Scents Candle and Perfume Studio; ForeverLawn Low Country; GV Grocery, Tobacco, and Vape Shop; Layne’s Outdoors; McGriff Powerwash; Naomi’s Creative Designs; Optim’s Dr. Wickstrom; SERVPRO of Dublin/Vidalia/Claxton; Sweet Pea's; The Farmer's Daughter Plant Nursery; and The Proper.
Kim Craft thanked the many sponsors for the banquet: $500 Platinum-Georgia Power, Glennville Bank, Terrell's HVAC, and Glennville Rotary Club; $400 Gold-Armstrong's Cricket Farm, Georgia Crop Insurance, Glenvue Health & Rehab, Mascot Pecan Company, South Georgia Bank, and Farmhouse Restaurant; $300 Silver-City of Glennville, Fries Farms/Claxton Poultry, The Proper, Canoochee EMC, State Farm-Agent Caughey Hearn, and The Proper; and $200 Bronze-Brannen Family Funeral Services, Tattnall Insurance, W. Brian Threlkeld & Associates, Nature's Choice, Adams Poultry & Hardware, and Donald Fountain.
Door prizes were donated by Babe Cave Creations, Cove Scents Candle & Perfume Studio, and McCurdy's on Main.
For more information on the Glennville Chamber of Commerce, please contact Executive Director Kim Craft at 912-654-1616 or cell 912-237-6386, or email of director@glennvillechamber.org.
