About The Eatonton messenger. (Eatonton, Ga.) 18??-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 28, 2025)
» Your hometown newspaper since 1861 The Eatonton Alessenger THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2025 | C3 GWM book review: I Am a Georgia Girl My late University of Georgia law school mentor, Professor Donald Eugene Wilkes, Jr., intro duced generations of his students to the horrifying story of injustice that Ann Hite so thoroughly and powerfully recounts in I Am a Georgia Girl: The Life of Lucille Selig Frank 1888-1957. With compelling research and narrative restraint, Hite breathes life into a history that still resonates deeply and uncomfortably in the South — and far beyond it. Reading this book, I was shocked to be reminded how relatively recently these events occurred. Lucille Frank was born the same year as my grandparents. This is not ancient history. It is a story that unfolded in a Georgia not so far removed from the one I was born into — one in which injustice was ampli fied by antisemitism, mob mentality, and political cowardice. As someone who practiced law in this state and has defended the wrongly accused in a courtroom not far from where these events played out, I was deeply moved and unsettled. I have friends whose families were on both sides of this tragedy — descendants of those who lived with the weight of it, some aware of the truth and perhaps others not. And I pass, too often, a statue on the Georgia State Capitol grounds that honors one of the most culpable figures in this grim tale. That monu ment’s continued pres ence is a reminder of how incomplete our reckoning remains. Professor Wilkes sought to keep this case alive in legal education not to dwell on the past, but to warn us about the fragility of justice in the face of public pressure and prej udice. Hite’s book serves that same purpose for a wider audience. It is raw and painful to read, but necessary. George Santayana’s words: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,” echo here with chilling relevance. Read this book. Remember this story. Ann Hite will the Georgia Writers Museum Meet the Author presenter on Tuesday, Sept. 2, at 7 p.m. after doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $40 each or $35 each for two or more. The event will include drinks and a themed meal created by Chef Brent. Visit Georgia Writers Museum at geor- Igiawritersmuseum.org| to register and pre-order a copy of I Am a Georgia Girl. McCracken Poston is a practicing defense attorney in Georgia and Tennessee and a part timejuvenile court judge. He also is the author of the 2024 book, Zenith Man: Death, Love, and Redemption in a Georgia Courtroom. ANN 1I1TE EORGIA GIRL Lucille Selig Irank 1888-1957 CBLO agents recognized as top performers Boatright Realty Group Coldwell Banker Lake Oconee (CBLO) Realty announced this week that three of its top-producing agents — Brian Quinn, Margie Sorrell, and Joan Weghorst — were each recognized in the 2025 RealTrends Verified rankings. Additionally, the Boatright Realty Group was honored among the nation’s top-performing real estate teams. “This recognition is a reflection of the incredible work ethic and profession alism that Brian, Margie, Joan, and the Boatright Realty Group bring to our clients every day,” CBLO Realty President and COO Jim Willis said. "We're honored to see their commitment to excel lence acknowledged on a national level.” RealTrends Verified, one of the industry’s most Brian Quinn Margie Sorrell Joan Weghorst trusted performance benchmarks, recognizes the top real estate profes sionals in the country based on closed sales volume and transaction sides. To learn more about Coldwell Banker Lake Oconee Realty or its agents, visit cblakeoconee. com, call 706-453-9500, or send email to info® cblakeoconee.com, — Contributed 0 00 00 00 00 00 O 00 00 00 n 00 00 Teach numeration, counting. regrouping, place value KI .0 1 ADSUMUDI DOB 000 EEC BOB CONTRIBUTED Tara Wallace of Robins Financial Credit Union (left) presents classroom supplies and learning tools to teacher Valerie Padgett at Putnam County Elementary School. EAT X -4-• L9CAL Robins Financial grants Putnam teacher wishes Robins Financial Credit Union (RFCU) recently completed the classroom wish lists of two Putnam County teachers through its 4th annual GRANTED program. Jannis Wallace of Putnam County Primary School and Valerie Padgett from Putnam County Elementary School were each recog nized through RFCU’s 2025 GRANTED initiative. — Contributed Come in... and Joy in Art! 706-342-7557 Isteffenthomas.org STEFFEN THOMAS MUSEUM 4200 Bethany Rd Buckhead, GA 30625J FREEMAN! AMICI ZAXBYS 706-923-1910 120 WALMART DRIVE EATONTON, GA APPLY AT AMICICAREERS.COM MEDICAL AND DENTAL INSURANCE, COMPETITIVE PAY, PAID TIME OFF, 401K LAKE OCONEE 706-413-9600 HOURS Monday: 10:00AM - 8:00PM Tuesday - Friday: 7:00AM - 8:00PM Saturday: 8:00AM - 8:00PM coffee - tea - wine - sandwiches - soups - salads - sweet 104 E. Marion Street, Eatonton, GA, 31024 sips31024@gmail.com
