Georgia Witness

by Stephen Doster

represented by Jeanie Pantelakis

published by Deer Hawk Publishing

Georgia Witness is a compilation of 25 interviews from some of the most influential Georgians of the 20th and 21st centuries giving us a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes stories through the eyes of each significant narrator. It is amazing to read of how they became famous and what they have accomplished in their lifetimes – and it’s not over yet!! Fearless, courageous, daring, unstoppable and cutting-edge, they paved the way for all of us.

Griffin Bell:  Former Attorney General.  Possibly the last interview of his published.  He died of pancreatic cancer shortly after providing this narrative.  He recalls the disparity between black and white schools and the disproportionate influence of counties on general elections.

Ruby Crawford:  Advocated advancement of women in professional jobs.  Recalls days of passenger train travel.  Appeared on What’s My Line and Oprah.

Willie Mae Robinson:  From Sapelo Island.  Civil Rights activist.  Descendent of Bilali Muhammad, a Muslim slave who was oversaw operations on Thomas Spalding’s Sapelo plantation.  His writings are housed at the University of Georgia Hargrett Rare Book Collections Library.

Bill Brown:  Descendent of Continental Army soldier.  Family owned lumber mills after the Civil War.  His great-uncle befriended poet Sidney Lanier.

Irene Cordell:  Margaret Mitchell was a neighbor and childhood friend of Irene’s mother.  Margaret was there for Irene’s birth, and Irene was present when Margaret was struck by the car that killed her.  Irene descends from Major William Horton, James Oglethorpe’s second-in-command.

Sam Massell, Jr.:   The only person of Jewish faith elected mayor of Atlanta (1970-1974).  Recalls cross burning in his yard and Atlanta synagogue bombing.

Patrick Demere:  Descendent of Raymond Demere who served under General Oglethorpe at decisive battle that repelled the Spanish from Georgia and North America.

William Ladson:  Family owned sawmill operations in south Georgia.  Served in Korea where he worked with future North Korean leader Kim Il sung.

Floyd Faust:  Record setting minor league baseball player who recalls a time when professional baseball teams in small towns were common.

Lucian Sneed:  Member of the Georgia Tribe of Eastern Cherokee.  Discusses ancestors and treatment of Indians in Georgia.

Clarice Strother:  Her family’s hardware store is one of the oldest family-run businesses in the state.

Vic Waters:  A musician who toured with James Brown and Dick Clark’s Caravan of stars.

Chuck Leavell:  Rolling Stones keyboardist, former Allman Brothers Band keyboardist, and renowned land conservationist.

Pat McDonald:  Drummer for the Charlie Daniels Band.

Ron Edenfield:  Recounts life growing up at Reidsville State Penitentiary.

Harriet Gilbert:  Discusses Macon in the 1930s and ‘40s.  Descendent of Sylvanus Landrum, who preached to Confederate and Union soldiers during the Civil War.

Bob Woodward:  Remembers Augusta during the days of segregation.  Took a road trip to see aging blue singer Lizzie Miles.

Ted Dennard:  Began with one beehive as a teen, served as Peace Corps beekeeper instructor, and now owns the Savannah Bee Company.

Lewey Cato:  Master mechanic for the Georgia & Florida Railroad.

Bootie Wood:  Describes life on the campaign trail when her father ran for governor of Georgia in 1954.

Charles Gowen:  Recalls a 1920s trial in which he represented a black entrepreneur.

Sonny Gibson:  Speaks candidly about the current status of race in Georgia.

Dot White:  Governor Thompson’s secretary during the infamous “three governors controversy” of 1946-47.  Friend of Minnie Pearl and Pearl impersonator.

Oscar Cruz:  Migrant worker who has worked Georgia’s onion and cotton crops for 27 years.

Mack Mattingly:  Former United States Senator.  Reflects on what makes Georgia a place that still attracts people.

Billy Winn:  A Columbus native, journalist and historian whose great-great-grandfather drew up the original plans for Columbus and served as a physician to both whites and Creek Indians.    As a news reporter, Winn covered much of the civil rights movement, including press conferences with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other leaders as well as Dr. King’s funeral.