The former cornerback reflects on memories of growing up in his hometown known as the “Gateway to the Okefenokee Swamp” One of the first things I remember about my hometown of Folkston was wanting to get out But as badly as I wanted to escape as a kid I have fond memories of the place that keep me connected to those roots to this day Folkston is also known as the “Gateway to the Okefenokee Swamp,” a refuge for wildlife and a place for hiking and now I’m on the advisory committee for our bid to make the swamp a UNESCO World Heritage Site working with people to make Folkston a place where people want to stay an entrepreneur who used what little she had for the good of the community Champ Bailey is a Pro Football Hall of Famer who also founded Bailey Companies & Investments and the Champ Bailey Family Foundation This article appears in the Winter 2025 issue of Southbound Extended Search Photo courtesy of Charlton County Sheriff Robert Phillips Three Hilliard residents remain hospitalized after a Thursday plane accident A total of six members of the Franklin family were onboard when the plane lifted left while landing at Davis Field in Folkston Michael and Vickie Franklin are in critical condition UF Health Jacksonville manager of internal and external communications but an update on his condition was not available Friends of the family reported that he suffered a broken femur and had surgery on it Friday morning were examined and released from the hospital The family had traveled just north of Athens according to the plane’s flight path information on Flightradar24 The plane left from North Georgia mid-afternoon causing it to leave the runway just after 4 p.m The plane came in contact with a tree and fuel spilled According to Charlton County Sheriff Robert Phillips firefighters from the Georgia Forestry Commission extinguished the flames Charlton County firefighters and paramedics “rapidly arrived” according to Phillips and extracted one of the passengers All six members of the Franklin family were alert at the crash scene who had traveled in the front of the plane Trauma One helicopters airlifted them to UF Health Jacksonville All of the family members were taken to the hospital The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration began their investigations into the crash today More emergencies occurred in Charlton County during the response to the plane crash including a house fire and the search for a possibly injured bicyclist that was reported by CSX via one of its engineers “(Charlton County Emergency Management Agency) Director Bruce Young called on our Mutual Aid partnership with Camden County Baker County and Nassau County for ambulance and firefighting,” Phillips shared “Those counties responded quickly and we greatly appreciate their assistance.” “Three years ago we responded to a plane crash on (State Road) 121 across from Georgia Forestry and at that time we answered two other calls for emergency services which required mutual aid Read Nassau County Record, Callahan, Florida © 2025 Nassau County Record Don’t miss the exciting event lineup at Okefenokee Farm and unforgettable outdoor experiences in the heart of nature Experience The Farm at Okefenokee with a mule-drawn cart tour through animal paddocks followed by a five-star farm-to-table feast from Congaree & Penn The exclusive event also includes a pre-dinner oyster roast with expertly paired wines More information here Escape to the country for a one-of-a-kind evening at The Farm at Okefenokee and craftspeople before sampling their work at a five-star farm-to-table dinner from culinary partner Congaree & Penn Discover the charm of The Farm at Okefenokee with a curated experience that begins with a mule-drawn cart tour through serene paddocks and vibrant gardens alongside expert artisans and growers Conclude the day with an elegant farm-to-table feast by Congaree & Penn featuring a seasonal oyster roast and exquisite wine pairings G&G’s style director shares beautiful tools and products for a fresh start at home and more must-haves for the backyard and beyond and outdoor adventure come together in a picturesque setting The future of conservation in the South just got a little bit brighter—and not just for salamanders but they’re the craftsmanship of local crustaceans called lawn lobsters The drawls are receiving a lot of flak across the internet but a North Carolina linguist argues they’re actually pretty accurate This website is unavailable in your location It appears you are attempting to access this website from a country outside of the United States therefore access cannot be granted at this time at Southeast Georgia Health System – Brunswick Campus she lived in Folkston most of her life. Mrs Jones worked for the Charlton County Board of Education as a school bus driver as well as a paraprofessional. She loved doing all kinds of crafts specially making gourd people and Christmas ornaments. Mrs Jones was an excellent cook and enjoyed canning and fishing. She loved her children and enjoyed sharing stories with them as well as with her children at school She was a member of Philadelphia Freewill Baptist Church She was the daughter of the late Bernard L and Leah Marie McKendree Shivar. She was also preceded in death by her husband who passed away on August 9th of this year; two grandchildren Survivors include her four sons and daughters-in-law at 11:00 o’clock from the Sardis Cemetery in Charlton County The family will visit with friends immediately following the service Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online register at www.pearsondial.com Pearson-Dial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net