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A6 | THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2025 The Eatonton Aessenger www.msgrnews.com Obituaries Letters to the Editor SEE MORE LETTERS » PAGE AS Rodney Douglas Redd Enjoyed an Eatonton Juneteenth Rodney Douglas Redd, 42, passed away on June 21, 2025, surrounded by his family, friends, and loved ones. A celebration of life will be announced at a later time Rodney was a devoted husband to his high school sweetheart, Jamie Redd. Together, they shared 18 beautiful years of marriage and built a life full of love, laughter, and unwavering partner ship. He was the proud father of three precious daughters: Ashlyn (12), Alaina (7), and Abigail (5)—his pride, joy, and greatest legacy. A graduate of the University of Georgia, Rodney earned his degree in Agricultural Education and spent ten years in the classroom. He had a passion for teaching and a heart for his students. Known for his patience, humor, and steady guidance, he left an enduring mark on every life he touched in the classroom. In 2017, Rodney joined the Teamsters Union, where he found a true brotherhood. He thrived in his role, mentoring others, lending a helping hand whenever needed, and earning the deep respect of his coworkers. He loved the camara derie and purpose that came with being part of the union. Rodney was also a gifted craftsman- amazing with his hands, whether welding, woodworking, or fixing anything that needed it. He had a deep love for the outdoors and found peace in hunting, fishing, and time spent in nature. A man of strong faith, Rodney was a devoted member of Bible Fellow ship Church, where he found spiritual strength Obituary Policy The Eatonton Messenger publishes obituaries for a small fee. The notices here are provided by families and funeral homes. Send information to obits@msgrnews.com. Call 706-485-3501 or visit www.msgrnews.com for more information. ome May those who have lost a loved one find strength in the love of family and in the warm embrace of friends. McCommons Funeral Home Callaway Funeral Home, and Georgia’s Lake Country Crematory "Over 100 Years and 5 Generations of Family Funeral and Cremation Service” FUNERAL HOMES - MONUMENTS - PREARRANGEMENTS - CREMATORY 706.453.2626 706.486.4138 109 W. Broad St • Greensboro, GA 30642 208 N. Rhodes St • Union Point, GA 30669 mccommonsfuneralhome.com • lakeoconeecrematory.com- callawayfuneralhome.com 1 Lake Oconee's Onsite Crematory 11 CDERNARD'S (706)485-4494 IILY FUNERAL ) F CA CARE / Eatonton, GA _ www.bernardsfamilyfuneralcare.com "Service as good as its promise" Vining Ivy Hill 1670 N. Funeral Homes .ne 1 Street, Eatonton, GA 31024 706-485-3303 St., Milledgeville, GA 31061 478-452-2148 In Your Time of Need, Call us Save THOUSANDS on Funerals A New Way, Guaranteeing Better Service Eatonton, GA 706-485-3281 WWW.HURTSFUNERALHOME.com UH6 ./ € 2& and a sense of commu nity that deeply enriched his life. Rodney is survived by his beloved wife Jamie Redd; daughters Ashlyn, Alaina, and Abigail; his sisters Felicia Sayers and Stacy Redd; his Aunt Vickey Redd, Aunt Pam Redd, Uncle Terry Redd (Lisa); and his grand mother Carolyn Greene. He was preceded in death by his father David Redd, mother Beth Sims, Grandfather Rodney Greene, grandmother Betty Redd, and Aunt Rita Huff. Rodney’s life was one of love, faith, service, and quiet strength. His deep devotion to his family, students, coworkers, and church community will live on in the many lives he touched. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Bible Fellowship Church To express condo lences and sign the guest book please visit www. williamsfuneral.net Williams Funeral Home of Eatonton has charge of arrangements. Dear Editor, This past Saturday, I had the opportunity to visit Eatonton to partake in the festivities commemorating and honoring Juneteenth. The spirit of joy, together ness, celebration, and love was heart-warming and soul nurturing. The day was the perfect display, and example, ofunity, community, and extended family. The weather was perfect, and although rain clouds periodically threatened with the possibility of ending the event, the clouds instead offered moments of release from the sweltering sun. The panel discussionwas a wonderfulopportunity for the sharing of thoughts, ideas, concerns, and sugges tions for individual, familial and community growth; enrichment and progress. Those four panelists, on stage, were like chefs in a kitchen, following one menu passed down from different family lineages, collaborating to offer up deliciously pleasing food for the mind and soul. Gimme some of that cornbread, collard greens, macaroni & cheese, and black-eyed peas! Their mental food was complemented by the delicious food offered by the vendors present, offering mouth-watering delights for the body. And lastly, but most importantly, the children. The laughter and free-spirited play of the children was the most significant and greatesttribute to the spirit and commemoration of Juneteenth. An optimistically joyful spirit passed down from the past that is etched in the annals of the future that is assured through, in, and with the babies. Juneteenth 2026! Timothy Aaron-Styles Athens STMA to host annual Founder's Day The Steffen Thomas Museum of Art (STMA) will host its annual Founder’s Day Celebra tion from 4-7 p.m. on Saturday, July 12. The STMA Founder’s Day honors the museum’s founder, Sara Doug lass Thomas, as well as serves as an important fundraising event for the privately run museum in rural Buckhead. This year’s event will specifically raise funds for future art educa tion programs and free admission for local public schools, with a focus on in-depth art programing in conjunction with the upcoming exhibi tion (July 22 to Jan. 3, 2026), “Steffen Thomas: Exploring his Brother hood Credo.” Founder’s Day guests will have the opportu nity to preview this new exhibit before it opens to the public. In recognition of the importance of art educa tion, STMA annually honors an outstanding art educator with the Charlie Bonner Award for Advancing Art Educa tion. This year’s Bonner Award will be presented posthumously to Richard J. Olson, Professor of Art Emeritus, University of Georgia. The award will be received at the Found er’s Day event by members AWARDS CONTINUED FROM » A1 second-place awards in education writing for The Bulletin. For special issues, Lake Oconee News earned a third-place award with credit going to McCurley, Tocher, and Lurie. They also won a third-place award in special issues for The Bulletin. Tocher received a first- place award for Photo Essay, and Brandy Round received third place in the same category for The NOTICE TO THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF PUTNAM COUNTY, GEORGIA Notice is hereby given that on Monday, June 30, 2025, logic and accuracy testing of the ballot marking device units (BMD), precinct scanner units (ICP), cen tral count unit (ICC), and poll pad voting systems will be conducted in the Board of Elections & Registration Conference Room, located at 117 Putnam Dr., Suite D, commencing at 10:00 AM and continuing day to day until all units have been tested and prepared for the July 15, 2025 Democratic Primary Runoff for Public Service Commissioner Districts 3. This testing shall remain open for observation and members of the public are entitled to be present during the preparation and testing of the voting equipment. This notice is given in accordance with provisions of Official Code of Georgia Annotated and rules of the State Election Board of Georgia. Board of Elections & Registration Putnam County 06/26;07/03 CONTRIBUTED An example of the abstract work of Richard J. Olson, Professor of Art Emeritus, University of Georgia, who will posthumously receive the Charlie Bonner Award for Advancing Art Education during this year's annual STMA Founder's Day celebration. of Olson’s family. In addition to being a beloved professor of painting and drawing at the Lamar Dodd School of Art, Olsen was a Vietnam War veteran helicopter pilot. Olsen’s “Wall Series” of abstract paintings featured rich symbolism associated with his time in military service. A special exhibit of his work will be on display at STMA, thanks to the generous loan from his collectors. Founder’s Day raises funds through ticket sales, raffles, and a silent auction. Event tickets Jones County News. The Jones County News reporter Greenberry Moore won second place in feature writing. Lake Oconee News won second place in maga zine product, credited to Lakelife Magazine Editor Lynn Hobbs and Lurie. Lake Oconee News also earned a third- place award in the same category, attributed to McCurley and Lurie. LON’s Leigh Lofgren and Hank Segars also won first- and second- place awards in maga zine photography, respectively. and raffle tickets can be purchased through the museum’s website at stef- lfenthomas.org/shop] by calling 706-342-7557, or visiting the museum in person at 4200 Bethany Rd., Buckhead. Raffle items are avail able for viewing on the museum’s website and the silent auction for them will be conducted online until July 12. Items avail able include exclusive Steffen Thomas artwork, free visits to local attrac tions, a Germany-themed basket from Bavaria, a personalized reverse painting on glass of your SCHOOLS CONTINUED FROM >: A4 and challenges before they become severe and within our schools. Most debate for the past several decades has focused on the gun safety/gun control side of the geometrically expanding tragedy. The average male “tween” and teen have consumed thousands of hours of violent video gaming, movies, and frequently even pornography intended for more mature pet from a local artist, Steffen Thomas gifts and books, artwork donated for the event by artists from previous exhibits, and more. Visit stef- fenthomas.org for details. The SIMA Founder’s Day program includes a presentation by members of the Sister Cities Inter national delegation from Atlanta that visited Bavaria earlier this year to screen the “Steffen Thomas: Rock & Chisel” film for the first time outside the United States in Steffen’s home country. Filmmaker Jesse Freeman will lead the presentation, with highlights added by Oliver Gorf, execu tive director of Goethe Zentrum, a German- French language school in Atlanta. The trip was made possible by a grant from The Halle Foundation, Sister Cities Atlan- ta-Nuremburg, and the cities of Nuremberg and Furth, Steffen Thomas’ hometown. The Founder’s Day dinner will be catered by a local chef who is adding a touch of Germany to the meal. A special presenta tion of Thomas’ work from his 1972 trip to Germany also will be on display in the STMA Hall Gallery, including several pieces never before exhibited. — Contributed audiences.The internet is filled with dark and cult cultures that seem to reward manifestos of anger at the world with recognition and even some strange sense of belonging. For most young men I encounter in high school and college, eye contact, handshakes, and even the normal social inter actions of daily life seem quite foreign. This has concerned me for more than a decade, and while I mentor and even take away phones or tablets on occasion, our society and greater community need to be stepping in more here as well. We can turn our schools into Fort Knox, at consid erable expense of limited resources, or we can make sensible security enhance ments while working to reduce the feelings of isolation and rejection expressed by so many of these broken young men. For Colt Gray, we are too late, but for poten tially hundreds more with similar feelings of anger, suicide, or leaving their mark by taking innocent lives, we still have time.So, we are hardening the targets, and that is a good thing. Now, let’s go strengthen and better support our young men. There is still time for that, too. RUSSELL W.WALL | ATTORNEY AT LAW 122 North Main St. Bte B. Greensboro, GA Office:706-453-0089 Fax:706-453-0094 - Email: russell@rwwlaw.com
