page 1 - Mature Living in the Southeast

he takes it in stride. He doesn’t visited almost every state andwant to be on medication; he over twenty foreign countries.thinks he might have that one She remembered once meetinggreat idea and it might be suppressed.So, we just have to Nixon on The Wharf in Sanformer President Richardremind him where his shoes Francisco.are and stuff like that. He’s “Lamar recognized him,”very smart, studying internationalbusiness. He has taken nice man.”Edie told us. “He was a veryChinese, Italian, and Spanish. Both Edie and Lamar haveHe loves culture and is very a strong sense of communityopen minded.”involvement. Edie has been“Steven is very analytical, very active for the last three tovery organized. He’s probably four years in the East Georgianot quite as open minded about Fellowship of Christian Athletes.some things. He is a naturalservant leader. He was more “Lamar just felt it was ainterested in sports in high really great cause, because youschool. But they’re both great reach so many kids. It’s beenChristian boys, very busy and shown that if you don’t reachactive on campus.”them at a particular age thatTaylor worked on a politialcampaign in Atlanta this portunity. We decided to makeyou’ve really missed the op-ummer and is a freshman a donation, then Brad Lane (theentor at Georgia. Steven reentlyhelped work on an Ex-to know if I would serve on theorganization’s director) wantedreme Home Makeover project board, and I did. I’ve been inn South Carolina. Both like to charge of the banquet for theunt, have dogs, and recently last three years, and I’ve met aent with their father to Kanason a hunting expedition. other counties that I didn’tlot of wonderful people inow that they’re back at know before.”chool, Edie says she no longer Edie served on the Tattnallollows their progress the way and Evans County 4H AdvisoryBoards and was a mem-he did in high school.“Have I even looked at ber of the Leadership Georgiaheir grades online?” she Class of 1997. She participatedsked. “No; I don’t even want on the scholarship pageanto worry about that anymore. boards for Miss Tattnallf they asked me to review a County and Miss PCA. An activemember of the UGAaper, I would do it, but theays of worrying about grades Alumni Society, she participatedin the school’s Capitalre over. We have saved forheir college from the time they Campaign Committee for theere born. I told them, ‘This Archway to Excellence, a publicmovement that raised overs your certain amount ofoney; it should be plenty to $500 million in five years. Sheet though school, even if you and Lamar are active atant to go to pharmacy or med Reidsville Baptist Church,r law school. How you use it where Lamar is Chairman ofs up to you.’ They’ve done Deacons.ery well so far.”Edie works with the YoungWith their newfound freedomas “empty nesters,” per-church. She also has a passionMarried Couples class at thehaps the Smiths will continue for assisting young familiesto travel. Lamar and Edie have with personal finance and in-28 Mature Living Winter Editionvesting, and she has workedwith young adults and teenagerson personal financeprojects.She also sings in the churchchoir. As a matter of fact, musichas always been a big partof life for Edie.“In my mother’s family,”she recalls, “there were sevenaunts and uncles. They allplayed and sang, and that’swhat we did when we got together.We got out the oldPrimitive Baptist hymnal andsang. One of my cousins isband director in Ware Countyand was recently namedTeacher of the Year there.When I was four or five, wewould come home fromchurch, and she would pick outthe hymns on the piano. Shealways dragged me along, andshe taught me how to play guitar.Daddy’s mother was also