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SUPPORTING MY HOMETOWN
Monroe County Founders Day
May IE, 1?21
Passmore: Love the place that nurtured me
By Alexis Passmore
“A small town is a place
where there’s noplace to go
where you shouldn’t”
-Burt Bacharach
w
en I think
about what
I love about
Monroe
County, I am at awe. I don’t
think I can even begin to
come up with the right
amount of words to describe
what this place means to me.
Initially, I resort to think
ing about the little girl who
grew up in Juliette on good
ole McCrackin St. not even
knowing what this county
would have to offer on her
future. So that’s what I’ll
do- I’ll walk you through
how Monroe County has
impacted me in some of the
best ways. I can think back
and reflect on the childhood
I had and the memories
that will never escape my
mind. The chalk art that I
drew with my cousins in
the road to play hopscotch,
the excitement of going to
the Ocmulgee River on a
hot summer day with my
parents and siblings to cool
off, the taste of fried green
tomatoes at the popular
Whistle Stop Cafe (in which
my mama and aunts were
in the famous movie made
here with star actress Kathy
Bates), the sweet refresh
ing pink lemonade that my
Meme made for all of her
grandchildren, the painful
sensation of a pellet gun
hitting my skin shot towards
me and my childhood
bestfriend by my cousins
(that’s why we are so tough
today), the many precious
memories feeding the
chickens and goldfish with
my papa, the family gather
ings around the holidays at
my Grandma’s house over
there on Luther Smith Road
which is no longer here,
and my memories at church
on Juliette Road. There is
so much more I can speak
on, but for the sake of not
writing a novel, I’ll just keep
that short and sweet. Call
me biased, but small town
Juliette and the community
here is the best around.
Moving forward through
my life as I got older, I
began playing softball at the
Monroe County Recreation
Department. Who knew
that those diamond shaped
fields of dirt would hold
such a special place in my
heart? I was only 10 years
old when I found out I
made the Monroe County
Allstars team. This team was
special. From the coaches
Winners of the annual ‘ What I Love About Monroe County”
contest are, from left, Zaria Wilson-second place-youth, Kylie
Seitz-first place-youth, and Alexis Passmore-first place-adult.
Not pictured is Angie Griffin-second place-adult. Todd Tolbert of
Bolder Investment Group started the contest 10 years ago. He is
giving first place winners $225 cash and second place winners
$125 as the county celebrates its 201 st birthday on May 15.
Thanks for Tolbert for sponsoring the contest and to everyone
who submittted essays because Monroe County is a great place.
that served as mentors to the
teammates that I went on to
play school ball with that I
still keep in touch with to
day. Special shoutout to my
father and coach all in one,
Richard Passmore, Coach
John DeGroat, Coach Heidi
Rozier, and Coach Marcy
Sanders for their positive
role model image that they
demonstrated to us. That
team played in Georgia
among many other counties,
and we were so good that we
earned a spot to play in the
World Series in North Caro
lina. Y’all should’ve seen us
out there. There were teams
all over the country playing
against each other, and they
were probably wondering,
“Who is this team from
Monroe County? Where
even is that?” It was a fun
time. I wouldn’t trade those
long, long practices in the
blazing heat for anything in
this world. Later in life, that
same recreation depart
ment popped back into my
life where we played in the
Mary Persons High School
“Paw Print Classic” Tourna
ment. When I tell you that
these were some of the best
memories, you would’ve had
to have been there. All of the
girls I played with were so
talented, but I must say that
Class of 2017 had some
thing special. We won the
Region Championship in
Middle School under Coach
Smith and Coach Simmons,
and later in high school
won a Region Champion
ship against West Laurens
under Coach Grossman
and Coach Trammel. I
can’t forget Coach Ship-
man and Coach Mallory
either. Though they weren’t
coaches my senior year,
they were a huge part of our
success prior years before.
Without Monroe County,
I would not have met such
great friends, teammates
and mentors. I’ll forever
cherish that chapter in my
life. You don’t find that kind
of chemistry on a softball
team too often.
I’ll never forget the
academic part of my life in
Monroe County. Shoutout
to T.G. Scott, Banks Ste
phens Middle School, and
Mary Persons High School
for shaping me into the
woman I am today. I guess
“Once a bear, always a bear”
applies to me considering I
have 10 days until I graduate
from Mercer University with
my Bachelor of Science in
Nursing. As a little school-
aged child, I’ll never forget
my time at T.G. Scott. I had
the best principal and teach
ers ever. They pushed me
to my greatest. Some find
this silly, like my sister for
example, but I won the Math
24 competition that was
held at K.B. Sutton. Nerdy?
Sure. I loved math- not so
much anymore. I think AP
Calculus senior year with
Mrs. Barber did it for me.
In middle school, I was
challenged in many different
ways- not just in the class
room. I can never forget the
mile rim that Coach Penny
pushed us to do. I wish
she’d push me to do it now
so I can get back in shape.
Of all my time as a student
in Monroe County, Mary
Persons was my favorite.
From the inspirational
administration to the Si
admirable teachers to the
student life, it’s bittersweet
that this May marks 5 years
as an alumni. I would hear
people say that they couldn’t
wait to get out of Monroe
County, and while I respect
ed their opinion (because
there is absolutely nothing
wrong with that), I was
always thinking “couldn’t
be me” I guess I love it so
much, because one, I am a
i PASSMORE Page 3C
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