MLILY Mattresses in Americus, GA

AMERICUS, Ga. (WALB) - The future of the historic Furlow Grammar School in Americus is still undetermined, but that doesn’t mean city officials and local preservationists aren’t taking steps now to preserve the rich history of this building.

This building has been a school site since 1859. It’s a few blocks away from the center of Downtown Americus, which has been undergoing significant revitalization. Local preservationists hope to tackle the Furlow Grammar School at some point.

The original building was first used as a female-only college in 1879. Then it was the city’s first public school in 1880, which was demolished to create the current building in 1914. The Board of Sumter Historic Trust is designed to preserve historic buildings like this one.

“This is inside the historic District, but that is, you know, we approve alterations to the exteriors of buildings in the historic District,” Charles Crisp, Sumter Historic Trust board member, said.

The building is currently owned by the city of Americus. They have their own preservation commission and ordinances.

WALB reached out to the Americus city manager about any future plans for the school site, and they responded quote, “Currently, we do not have any plans for the location of the former Furlow Training School.”

“We hope, with our other positive developments that we are seeing within blocks of here, that this will make this more attractive for others. We would hate to lose this; it’s a pretty significant historic building,” Crisp said.

Furlow Grammar School is part of the history of Americus, and something many local residents would like to see saved.

According to local leaders, while the condition of the building is undeniably bad, they think it’s still salvageable.

“It needs to have something done with it. The building a lot of the interior at this point is probably lost, but the exterior walls are solid. It can have something to done with it,” Crisp said.

WALB also reached out to the city manager about any possibilities for the site’s future, and they said in a statement, quote, “Currently, we do not have any plans for the location of the former Furlow Training School.”

“I would hate to see it demolished because eventually, the building gets in such bad shape that you don’t have any choice. I don’t think that it’s there just yet, but it’s on the way,” Crisp said.

According to the Board for Sumter Historic Trust, they hope this building could become something that would generate revenue, or be used for additional housing.

“People seem to like this sort of thing. We certainly see not just here but you go anywhere in the state, there is a revival of interest in downtowns, and a revival of interest in old residential sections,” Crisp said.

Copyright 2023 WALB. All rights reserved.

This comes as 1 in 6 Georgia adults have low literacy skills, according to Georgia After School Network.

AMERICUS, Ga. (WALB) - Schools and community leaders in Americus are now prioritizing reading skills, and they’re launching new innovative programs to do it. This comes as 1 in 6 Georgia adults have low literacy skills, according to Georgia After School Network. WALB reports on how today’s “Jubilee Symposium” at Furlow Charter school is issuing a county-wide challenge.

This space is more than just a room full of leaders, educators, and students. It’s a collaborative effort to provide solutions to help increase not only the literacy rate here in Americus, but in Georgia overall.

Americus-Sumter Reads, which is scheduled to start in the coming months, is a program by the city of Americus, through the Georgia Municipal Association. It will work to improve literacy rates using city resources, like libraries. They mayor will also have a book club to reach students.

Sanah Jivani is a servant at heart. To improve literacy rates in Americus, she says you don’t need a lot to make a difference... you just need to be willing to serve.

“When I first started my service journey, I started with little to no resources. And I think sometimes you think you might need fame, accolades, and resources to serve. But I want to show people that whoever you are, you can make a difference,” said Sanah Jivani, Founder of Love Your Natural Self Foundation in Washington D.C.

When it comes to literacy initiatives, elected officials also play a role in South Georgia education.

“So I think what we have heard here today around the importance of literacy and literacy-wide community initiatives as well as the importance of engraining service into students while they are younger, so they can become productive citizens of the community serving the community,” said Allyson Drinnon, Field Representative for Congressman Sanford Bishop.

Statistics show that the average reading level for a third grader in Georgia typically falls between 12 and 25 percent. However, Clarke County, Athens, GA leaders are trying to increase the current status from 20 percent to 60 by 2027... and they are urging other counties to follow suit.

“There is a correlation between third graders who are not reading on level and eventual high school dropout. Statistically, third graders not reading on level are four times more likely to drop out of high school,” said Matt Stevens, Senior Director of Community Impact, Athens, Georgia.

To find out how you can help support the county-wide challenge of the Jubilee Symposium at Furlow Charter school you can click here.

Copyright 2023 WALB. All rights reserved.

AMERICUS, Ga. - Before former first lady Rosalynn Carter made her way to Atlanta Monday, she was honored in the county she grew up in and by her alma mater.

It was a somber moment at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center in Americus as current and former members of Mrs. Carter’s Secret Service detail walked alongside her for the final time.

"I'm glad the family included us in the ceremony today," said William "Bill" H. Bush, a former Secret Service Agent for the Carters.

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Rosalynn Carter's motorcade rides through Americus.

Bush spent 21 years with the Carters. He was one of the honorary pallbearers who carried Mrs. Carter out of the medical center where she received treatment over the years. The moment was emotional for him.

"I was just thinking about all the good times we had and there were a lot of them," he said.

After being loaded into the hearse, the former first lady and her family drove through downtown Americus as a few hundred people lined the street to pay their respects.

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Rosalynn Carter's motorcade rides through Americus.

"Our town is a small town, but we all came together and we wanted to support Plains, which is just a few miles away," said Nadine Pope.

"It's very tender, and I think because it is just one of those moments in life where you are able to honor a great lady," said Joy Webb.

Several people drove more than an hour to be here for the procession. One man says he took part in former president Jimmy Carter’s inaugural parade in the 70’s and walked just a matter of feet from Mr. and Mrs. Carter.

"I thought it would be fitting that I was here for the end of her journey," said Dale Stone.

Mrs. Carter's motorcade stopped at Georgia Southwestern State University where she went to school. Two wreaths were placed next to her bronze statue in front of the Rosalynn Carter Health and Human Sciences Complex.

For those who made the trip to Americus, it was a moment they may never forget.

"It's very important to honor her legacy because she was such an amazing woman and did so much for so many people," said Susan McCranie.

AMERICUS, Ga. (WALB) - On Monday, plenty of people in Americus got to say their final farewells as the 39th first lady of the United States Rosalynn Carter was escorted to places where her impact is still felt today.

She was transported to the Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta to lie peacefully in repose. Her remains will return to Plains on Wednesday where she will be buried at the Carter home.

A lot of people still pondering over how to properly say goodbye to the former First Lady of the United States.

“Mrs. Carter was a very gracious woman. I was just up at the hospital there. We had a viewing her in the casket and it was very emotional,” said Bill Bush, Carter Family retired U.S. Secret Service agent

Whether it’s a heartwarming message of thankfulness or a form of respect through red, white, and blue, people are making sure to honor the powerful woman who’s often referred to as Steel Magnolia.

“You talk about great people and they’re not really great because of the titles that they hold or positions that they may have had,” said Sanford Bishop, Georgia Representative. “What’s most important is servitude and I guess measured by the standards of greatness that Jesus set. That he was great among you shall be a servant and greatness shall be serviced onto all. Rosalynn Carter and Jimmy Carter, throughout their lives, have demonstrated that greatness.”

The city of Americus was chosen for the first day of her memorial service, mainly because of her lasting legacy at her Alma Mater. You could argue Georgia Southwestern State College (GSW) is where she became a leader – a leader who had a voice in national policy and was respected on the world stage.

Her name and memory are literally embedded into the campus. Neal Weaver, GSW president, got to lay wreaths near the bronze statue of Rosalynn.

“It’s a big loss for the institution because she loved this place so much. She dedicated a lot of her time and energy to being here and to making sure that this campus continued to provide the opportunities for other students that it provided for her. So we’re going to miss that,” he said.

While many said they weren’t lucky enough to meet Rosalynn Carter in person, they say they’re grateful to see Rosalynn in her final transition. For many, it was their last chance to be this close to her.

“We’re just grateful for the opportunity to be able to witness a historic moment. We share in the thoughts and prayers with them and certainly, the days and weeks to come will be tougher than this actual moment of missing her,” said Diadrda Powell, an Americus resident.

Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter once said “Kindness is the connections that links us All together”. Many nationwide would agree that Mrs.Carter’s legacy has not only linked us all together but also made the world a better place. Lenah Allen, WALB, your hometown news source.

Copyright 2023 WALB. All rights reserved.

Her motorcade passed through West Lamar Street around 10:45 a.m. and lasted a few minutes. The people gathered to remember her "warm" personality.

AMERICUS, Ga. — On Monday morning, crowds formed in downtown Americus to witness the motorcade of former First Lady Rosalynn Carter.

The motorcade began with a brief departure ceremony at the Phoebe Sumter Medical Center, and then passed through West Lamar Street around 10:45 a.m. and lasted a few minutes.

The motorcade was en route to Atlanta, where Carter lies in repose at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library. There, the public can gather to pay their respects.

But in Americus, dozens stood outside — on a chilly morning — to pay their respects. One of them was Jelena Seay.

She was born and raised in Americus, and she said the Carters had a large impact on her hometown.

"We always saw them everywhere, so it was just like they wasn't a stranger to us at all," she said.

In 2018, President Jimmy Carter preached at Maranatha Baptist Church and Seay's nine-year-old son asked if they could go.

She said they weren't the only ones who were excited to see the Carter family.

"There were so many people and we had to sit in the overflow room but at the end of the ceremony my son and I got to meet him and first lady Carter and it was an amazing feeling to actually be in there presence," she said.

While she can't remember what President Carter preached about that day, or what the couple said to her son afterwards, she still remembers how they made her family feel.

"They were so warm and inviting," Seay said.

But even though the weather along the motorcade route was not quite warm, volunteers assembled to help do their part to keep people warm.

Volunteers from the Fuller Center for Housing were passing out free coffee and accepting donations on behalf of the ministry, which builds housing for those in need.

John Payne greeted those who stopped by and said while he never met the Carter family, he knows many people who had great relationships with the couple.

"It's impacted Americus pretty big," he said.

Jody Wade, the group's president, says they wanted to honor Mrs. Carter's memory with some southern hospitality

"Linda and Millard Fuller started Habitat for Humanity, and you know well that Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter joined up with them and helped put that on the map worldwide," he said. "This is our way of saying, 'Thank you,' for all the work the Carters and the Fullers have done."

According to the Carter Center, the public is invited to pay respects as Mrs. Carter’s body lies in repose in the library-museum lobby from 6 to 10 p.m. Monday.