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By Lora Smiley
Special to the Effingham Herald
If you've ever been to Meldrim, chances
are you've encountered an interesting, and certainly
unique, vehicle on the main road.
"Just about every afternoon I can
be seen riding around Meldrim on the limousine golf cart
that I bought for spending time with Granny, slap full
of silver-haired ladies from around Meldrim," said
Stephen R. Newsome, a lifetime resident of Meldrim and
Meldrim Civic Club President. "I always get
everyone stirred up when I tell them that it is getting
harder to tell them apart since everyone's hair is the
same color now. That tickles them every time."
Newsome is well known throughout
Effingham county for his community service to the small
town he loves so dearly. And he makes sure to let
everyone know that the credit for his success is due to
one special little lady.
"I'm the man I am today because of
Granny," Newsome said. "My grandparents -
along with the Meldrim Community's help - raised me from
the time I was six months old; and I still live in the
same house where my grandparents raised me in this great
little community. I couldn't imagine growing up anywhere
else."
Newsome said that his love and
appreciation for his small town is what inspired him to
become the Meldrim Civic Club president three years ago.
"Since I became president of the
Civic Club, my one goal for the Civic Club and the
community has been this playground," Newsome said,
referring to his plans to improve the Memorial Park
dedicated to victims of the 1959 Trestle Disaster.
"From the very beginning, I wanted to do it. I
don't have children, so it's not like I'm benefiting
from getting new playground equipment. It's just for all
of the kids - I do it for them."
According to Newsome, the process of
fundraising has been rewarding but also demanding.
"The most challenging thing is
keeping everybody involved," Newsome said.
"You start something, and if it starts getting
anywhere, each time we do one fundraiser everybody
thinks that's it. We're trying to raise $55,000 and
that's a huge amount of money for somewhere like us to
be raising."
Newsome said that the Meldrim Community
alone has raised $12,500 in funds for the playground
enhancement. His hopes are to receive matching funds
from the county.
"If that happens - if they will at
least match what we've done - then we'll be able
to make it happen this year," Newsome said.
"And that will be great."
Although the Memorial Park upgrade and
caring for his grandmother consumes most of his time,
Newsome still finds time to help his community members
on a more personal level.
"We're just a huge family.
Everybody looks out for each other," he said.
"If somebody needs something they don't have to go
around asking for it - everybody just comes and does
it."
Newsome said that community closeness
and neighborly love is what Meldrim is all about.
"Sometimes I get fussed at for
cutting my neighbor's grass," he laughs. "Last
time I went and cut the whole yard, I thought they were
gone. As soon as I came around the front they were
sittin' on the porch just a shakin' their hands at
me."
Newsome quickly added that he did it out
of kindness and love of the couple who has lived next to
him for 34 years.
"Not that it needed cutting but I
just do it," he said. "It's just like that
around here with everybody. It's how it's always been.
According to Newsome, he is constantly
amazed that people in the community regard him so
highly.
"I was in Pooler City Hall and gave
a lady a barbecue dinner flyer and she saw my name on
it." he recalls. "And she said, `That Stephen
Newsome - he is a really good guy`. Stuff like that,
without even knowing that it was actually me standing in
front of her. I said, yeah, he's alright sometimes and
then introduced myself to her surprise. As honored as I
feel, I don't get it, but it still makes you feel good,
you know?"
Newsome said that even with the
compliments and warm sentiments, he is still the same
honest, simple man he always was.
"I sacrifice a lot to stay home and
take care of granny, but she sacrificed a lot for me
too," he said. "I'm only able to work two days
a week, but I know how to get by. I've gotten rid of
extra stuff so it's not hard to get by for me."
Newsome looked down and laughed.
"Look at these shoes. Aren't they hideous? My
wife's tried to throw them away several times and I've
actually gotten them out of the trash because I love
them," he said. "They're just so easy. You
just step in them and go. But they're hideous
though."
Newsome said that his primary focus
right now is taking care of his grandmother, who was
diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease four years ago.
"I will continue to do what I can
for Meldrim and Effingham County as a whole. Maybe one
day I will choose to do something official, but I'm not
sure that time has come yet," he said. "For
now I will stick to taking care of Granny and all of my
"grass roots" efforts for Meldrim. I do have
my hands full but as most people know, don't ever count
my out."
For more information about the Meldrim
Civic Club or the Meldrim Memorial Park improvement,
contact Stephen Newsome at (912) 661-2248, or visit www.meldrim.com.
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