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went on the computer and researchedAgent Orange andPTSD (Post Traumatic StressSyndrome) because all themonument activity made mesuddenly curious. I shouldhave done that a long time ago.Now I know more about whatthey went through. This projectprovided therapy for the veteransand their families-maybeeven for the whole community.”“Before we did this monument,”Richard said, “Icouldn’t make myself go lookat the Vietnam War Memorialin Washington, D.C. I wasthere and had several opportunities,but I always made excusesfor not going. After wededicated the memorial, I wentand took my grandsons withme. We spent a few days there.This time it felt right.”Phil plans to take his grandsonin March, 2011. Both Richardand Phil were woundedin Vietnam. Richard waswounded when his oldest sonwas but a baby; he didn’t evensee him until the baby was tenmonths old. Richard wasawarded the Purple Heart forhis combat wound.The core group of veteranshas been very loyal. Mostlythey are the same ones thatcame to that first January meetingin 2008. They are still veryactive and invite other veteransto join them. The group meetsthe last Tuesday of everymonth at 6:30 at Village Pizza.The second phase of the projectis underway right now and thegroup is raising money to fundit. They want to place a lifesizedinfantry soldier to standthere guarding the wall. Philand Richard are hoping to finda used statue, maybe on aclosed military base, becausebuying a new one costs about$30,000. They do assortedfundraisers, such as going toWal-Mart once a month on thefirst Saturday with items tosell.Yearly the JDVA puts outflags at least seven times inmemory of the veterans: MemorialDay, Flag Day (June14), July 4, September 11, VeteransDay (November 11),Christmas, and New Years.They also help the LumberCity group with placing theirflags along the streets.Richard Stone remainspresident of the Jeff Davis Veterans’Association, Roy Andersonis vice-president, DianaDaugherty is secretary-treasurer,Bill Ryle is publicist, andB.J. Hand is sergeant-at-arms.The two chaplains are CarrollWalker and Harold Faulk.They welcome all visits to theirwebsite at JDCVA.com.Phil tells me that they havea special celebration plannedfor Memorial Day this year.They expect the community tobe well pleased. I’m sworn tosecrecy, but I agree and I encourageevery one to watch forit.“Just think,” Richard said,“all of this was inspired by agroup of school children whowanted to honor veterans. Theprograms in the schools havegrown, too, and all the schoolshave gotten involved. I’venever seen anything like it anywhereelse.”How wonderful to knowthat patriotism is alive andthriving in Jeff Davis County.The vision of Phil Merritt andRichard Stone certainly helpedit to grow. They just needed alittle nudge from some localchildren. ∏18Mature Living Winter Edition
THE LEGENDARY STORY OFObediah’sOkefenokBy Helen GardnerImagine what your lifewould be like without technology.Nothing powered by electricity.Go around your houseand look at all the electricaldevices, and think of what youwould do if these things weregone. What would yourkitchen be like without a refrigeratorand running water? Supposeyou didn’t have an autoand horses, boats, or walkingwere your only means of traveling.Back during the early1800’s looking after a housewas hard work, because therewere no labor saving devices,and water often had to bebrought in from a well afterbeing drawn by hand or froma nearby stream. Fires had tobe laid and lit and lighting wasby candles or oil lamps.On small family farms, allmembers had to take part in thework, which would begin earlyin the morning and continueuntil sundown.These were the signs of thetime when Henry Obediah Barbermoved his family to theouter edge of the greatOkefenokee Swamp.A towering 6’6" figure, hewas perhaps as unique as theplace he called home. He wasmarried the first time to NancyStephens who died in 1874. Hethen married Matilda Tatum in1875. She died in early part of1898. They had nine children.Then in the later months of1898 he married for the thirdtime to 26 year old Martha AnnKnight. They divorced in 1907.He was the father of twentychildren.Obediah was born in BryanCounty on July 25, 1825, sonof Isaac and Frances Barberand the grandson of MosesBarber. He and his first wifestarted their life on the northeastedge of the Okefenokee ona 490-acre farm that theybought. They had 11 children.From 1857 to 1870 heserved as a Justice of Peace, thefirst in Ware County, and thenin Pierce County when his districtwas made a part of Pierce.He also served as a Privatein the 24th Battalion, GeorgiaCalvary during the Civil War.In 1870, he sold his farm,resigned his public office, andmoved his family six milesacross the prairies of the northernOkefenokee to a new farmon the northwestern edge of theswamp located in Ware. Herehe built a log home, and soonhad a large herd of cattle andhogs, and a reputation as abrave bear hunter. There aremany stories about Obediahbut the most famous was thetale of his battle with a bear.Obediah, like most swampersin his era, had cows and hogsthat ran free in the pineywoods. His hogs mostly rangedalong the edge of the swampin an area known as the FiveMile “P’int”. He kept a closeMature Living Winter Edition 19
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Page 6 and 7: feature storyPassing His Blessings
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Page 29 and 30: talented.”Edie took piano lessons
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Page 43 and 44: nity volunteers that believe charit
Page 45 and 46: Still Searching for a CureToday, as
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Page 51 and 52: out of respect for what’s happene
Page 53 and 54: Helping a Parent After the Loss of
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Page 63: Good “Ole” HumorGoing Visiting:

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