Jefferson, Georgia: The Golden Years !
fishh64@yahoo.com
Guest Book/Web-site Communications
Jefferson, Georgia:
The Golden Years !
Memoirs of a teen growing up in the fifties
By Cecil Buffington
Read a FREE Chapter of this novel by clicking below
Jefferson, Georgia: The Golden Years !
Projected release date ~ April 2010
Cecil Buffington Grew up in small-town Jefferson, Georgia, Circa: 1,700 population in 1960. This Journal follows those first 14 years through his eighth-grade year at Jefferson High school. Buffington considers the period from right after World War II until the end of the fifties as the "Golden Age" of Jefferson, Georgia. After reading his riveting story of the unbelievable accomplishments of that time frame and the dedication of many Jefferson citizens to pave the road to the future, perhaps you will agree it was a monumental period of time in the history of the city and Jackson County.
The book mentions several thousand Jefferson residents, that Buffington firmly believes played a major role in the development of the culture and beliefs that were a way of life in his early childhood and followed him into adulthood.
The novel is expected to have strong local appeal. A projected publication date is November, 2009.
On explaining why he chose to write on these early Jefferson years, he explained, "My early years in Jefferson were great learning experiences. I met and was mentored by some wonderful people during this period of my lifetime. Jefferson High School had some wonderful teachers and even better people. Later after I became interested in athletics, I was fortunate to have received stronge influence from that direction.
I want to let those people that are still with us today that served as role models and mentors during this period of my life know that I appreciated the many life lessons they presented to me during those early years. Many, have unfortunately passed on. These great individuals will forever live in the hearts and minds of their loved ones. Through this book the opportunity will exist for those reading the book to learn about those that came before them. The citizen-about-town that never had the chance to meet them. These Jefferson icons and in some cases, virtual legends, should always be remembered for their great contribution to the city. Many served with great sacrifices of time and energy to make the town a better place for all its citizens.
Everyone in Jefferson should know of the history of the city and what it took to make it into the great town that continues to welcome new residents almost every week of the year. I hope this can give them some perspective on what went into their Jefferson heritage.
I also want to just relive in my mind some of those great times and the people that were involved in developing the cultures and expectancies that have stayed with me for over 60 years. During fifty of those years I made my home in Jefferson, Georgia." It has always been, and always will be my "Home."
Click Jefferson City Schools for Board of Education and High School Information
Down the hill by the old courthouse in Jefferson, Georgia
Probably the most prominent building in Jefferson.
"The Square" in Jefferson
The Gainesville Midland Engine beside Jefferson High School. A tradition for over 45 years.
Jefferson High School ~ Circa; 1964
1964 Jefferson Annual ~ The Jeffersonian
Jefferson Civic Center ~ 2009
The Joe Baxter Computer Center at Jefferson High School ~ 2009
The Crawford Long Mural on the wall of the old Commerce telephone office building.
Jefferson Academy ~ Jefferson pre-school 2009
Jefferson High School Class of 1964 ~ 2004 reunion - Bottom Row - Left to Right - Danny Glenn, Betty Edwards Miller, Neda Stringer Biggs, Marie Standridge Casper, Dennis Elrod, 2nd Row - Left to Right - Posey Storey Henson, Julia Stovall Howard, Vickie Ray Dunn, Jackie Spencer Braswell, Gloria Spence Henderson, Guy Dean Parks Benson, Dell Keike Tate, Terry Marlowe, Back Row - Left to Right - Dan Cagle, Barbara Colvard Davis, Thomas Bond, Susan Ethridge Chaisson, Terry Cotton, Cecil Buffington, Tommy Riddle, Pat Head, Tommy George, Danny Wilson, and Charles Crowe.
Jefferson Class of '64 at 1990 reunion - Row 1 - Left to Right - Harold Mauldin, Terry Cotton, Jerry Gearin, Bill Stringer, Peggy Strickland Usry, Row 2 - Left to Right - Saralyn Foster Robinson, Posey Sorey Henson, Dell Keike Tate, Martha Anglin Burns, Gloria Spence Henderson, Mary Ann Johnson Barnwell, Joyce Beatty Wells, Row 3 - Left to Right - Guy Dean Parks Benson, Jackie Spencer Braswell, Barbara Jo Nash, Pat Beatty, Neda Stringer Biggs, Betty Edwards Miller, Julia McEver Kirksey, Ruth Pharris Airlie, Row 4 - Left to Right - Danny Glenn, Sara Massey Hensley, Susan Etheridge Chaission, Pat Head, Johnny Pethel, Terry Marlowe, Brenda Fay Clark Tanner, Back Row - Left to Right - Tommy George, Cecil Buffington, Charles Crowe, Thomas Bond, Tommy Riddle, and Dennis Elrod
Cecil Buffington ~ Age 4 ~ 1949
Cecil Buffington ~ Fourth grade ~ 1955
Cecil Buffington ~ Age 11 ~ 1956 ~ Fifth Grade
Cecil Buffington ~ Age 14 ~ 1959 ~ Eighth Grade ~ Coach Herren's homeroom
The 1947 Jefferson High school Mud Turtles ~ First Row - L-R - Sidney johnson, C.B. Lord, Carrol Dadisman, Dickie Copas, Eugene Toney, Captain James Faulkner, Billy Sailors, Donald White, Bobby Loggins, Second Row - L-R - Coach Frank Snyder, Wylie McEver, Paul Ferguson, Quillian Garrison, L.G. Jackson, Joe Glosson, Garnett Parks, Nathan Woodall, M.C. Simmons, Lloyd Craven, William Phillips, Third Row - L-R - George Davis, David Foster, Jr. Lord, James Medlin, Claudius Thurmond, C.L. Potts, Roy Smith, Harry Bryan, Curtis Segars, and Raymond Adams.
Coach Frank Snyder - 1947-49
Great Dragon Teams ~ The 1954 Region Championship team ~ Row 1 - Dan Hutchins, Robert Taylor, Charles Gilbert, Bobby Manus, J. Gooch, Gus Johnson ~ Row 2 - L - R - Bobby Potter, D. Murphy, Donald Marlowe, Monk Tolbert, Wayne Wages, E. Stancil, Columbus Wiliamson, ~ Row 3 - L-R - Gilmer Glenn, Benny Tompkins, Bucky Johnson, Jerry Black, Webster Samples, C. Fleeman, H. Cooper, Woodrow Stewart, - Not Shown ~ Billy Ricks, Howard Langford and Bobby Nix.
Coach Stoudenmire and Coach Lofton with Quarterback Gene Thurmond.
Coach John Davis ~ 1951 - 1965
A view of the old courthouse
Mr. Morris Bryan Jr.
The NEW Jackson County Courthouse located just outside Jefferson.
Old Jefferson Mills ~ Southworth Division - Now a carpet and furniture outlet.
Jefferson Lumber Company ~ 2009
The Jackson Herald office ~ 2009
Kinney's of Jefferson ~ Built by Tom Crow ~ Purchased by Kinney's in 1950.
A Jefferson Street ~ First store was formerly Ideal Dress shop with Georgia Power next door ~ Now prominent for The Crawford W. Long Drug Store.
The Crawford W. Long Museum.
