Stephen Newsome strives to make Meldrim a better
place to live.
Sandy Roach
For the Closeup
Stephen Newsome, 32, has lived in the Meldrim
community his entire life. He came to live with
his grandparents, Lucille and James G.
"Gordon" Newsome, when he was 6 months
old.
Today, he volunteers hundreds of hours for
civic projects such as cutting public grass and
erasing foul language posted to the community's
Web site. He wants Meldrim's children to enjoy
the same safe and friendly environment he knew
as a child.
Each generation works to improve things, he
said, but in Meldrim that's a tradition and he
wants to be a part of the process.
Newsome, president of the Meldrim Civic Club,
was a member of the first graduating class at
Effingham County High School in 1990 and went on
to attend Georgia Southern University. He
briefly sought careers in professional baseball
with the Florida Marlins and as a model. He
considered himself an entrepreneur, always
looking for ways to make more money.
Then, in 1996, Newsome's grandfather,
"Papa," died. Two years later, he lost
his father, a man whom Newsome said always gave
him love and strength despite having his own
challenges.
"My grandparents didn't think I noticed,
but there were countless times that they would
go without so that I could have things,"
Newsome said. "Granny would say, 'Gordon,
we can't afford that, Stephen needs a new pair
of shoes next month for school.' I knew I could
never repay them for the sacrifices they made,
but I knew I owed it to them to become a
man."
Newsome began to take responsibility
seriously. He married Jennifer, and brought
"Granny" to live with them. It wasn't
long before Jennifer was diagnosed with breast
cancer and, a few months later, Granny Lucille
was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.
"It changed my life forever,"
Newsome said of the string of events. "For
so long, I was motivated by money because I had
been poor in my youth. These days, I'm motivated
by love for family, friends and community."
Newsome, a freight conductor with CSX
Transportation, halted much of his outside
activities to care for his wife and grandmother.
When Jennifer regained her health, Newsome
expressed a desire to get involved in the
community again. Meldrim Civic Club responded by
electing him president.
To improve communication among his neighbors,
Newsome created a Web site and still keeps it
updated with community activities and news. He
created a history file and archive of the great
train disaster of 1959, placing them on the Web
site (http://www.meldrim.com/),
with local historical societies and in public
libraries. He interviewed town elders,
preserving their memories and vital snippets of
history in archived recordings because he is
passionate about keeping Meldrim the way
"we have always known it."
In addition to his duties with the Meldrim
Civic Club, Newsome also will join his wife and
Team Jennifer for the American Cancer Society
"Making Strides against Breast Cancer of
the Coastal Empire" at 9 a.m. Oct. 30 at
Forsyth Park.
He also plans to cut his long locks next year
to donate to cancer patients in the "Locks
of Love" program. Newsome began growing his
hair several years ago to support his wife when
her cancer treatments kept her from donating to
the project.
In addition to seeing his family and
community happy, what would make Newsome happy?
"I've always had a secret dream to
revive an old, unused Meldrim ball field and
bring first-class baseball tournaments back to
the community," Newsome said. "I never
lost my love for baseball, and it might even be
fun to coach a little; but if it never happens I
still have no regrets. If just one thing I've
done has made a difference for someone else,
then I'm happy."
"I love Meldrim," he added,
"and would never live anywhere else. That's
why I get involved."
Putting Meldrim on the Web
Stephen Newsome provides the Meldrim Web site
as a public service in memory of James G.
Newsome, "Papa," and James G. Newsome
Jr., "Daddy." He purchased street
signs and erected them on area highways,
directing visitors to www.meldrim.com to learn
more about the community.
Copies of the 1959 Meldrim Disaster Archives
have been made available for purchase through
the Web site. All proceeds will go directly to
the Meldrim Memorial Park Fund.
Newsome's Meldrim Web site includes a page
called "Molly's Friends." Molly is one
of four dogs, a 9-foot albino Burmese Python
snake, and 500 or so koi fish that live in the
Newsome household and tolerate his strays.
"I've been rescuing strays for several
years," Newsome said. "I bring them
home until the wife says enough, then I start
looking for foster homes. We've been very
successful seeing the animals get the care they
deserve."
Animal rescue is a pastime Newsome developed
during his wife's illness, as is his profitable
use of a green thumb.
Locals call Newsome's home "Elephant Ear
Corner" with good reason. Gardening with
"Granny" was something he always
enjoyed, but during his down time he learned
raising exotic plants could also be profitable.
He obtained the proper license and shipping
permits, and now shares a small quantity of his
garden with others.
And then there is a 2,500-gallon koi pond at
the entrance to his home that he built and
maintains for Granny's enjoyment.
- Sandy Roach
Barbecue to raise funds for Meldrim
Memorial Park
The Meldrim Civic Club will hold a barbecue
dinner on Friday, Sept. 17, to raise funds in
support of Meldrim Memorial Park.
The park was built in 1961 in honor of the 23
persons who died in the Meldrim trestle disaster
of June 28, 1959. A train derailed and an
explosion followed at the Ogeechee River
swimming site.
On June 26, the Meldrim community gathered in
memory of those lost in the disaster and to
dedicate the park's new shelter, a new
concession building and six new picnic tables.
But new playground equipment is needed, barbecue
organizers said.
"The barbecue dinner fund-raisers have
become a tradition over the years, and it is our
main source of funds to make improvements to
Meldrim Memorial Park," club president
Stephen Newsome said of the organization's drive
to purchase new playground equipment. "We
owe this to our children and to those who are
represented by the park."
Dinners will be available for pick-up from 11
a.m.-2 p.m. Lunch delivery will be available for
orders of 10 or more. Orders can be reserved by
calling 661-2248.
IF YOU GO
What: Barbecue Dinner Fund-raiser
Where: Meldrim Community Memorial Park
When: Friday, Sept. 17
Time: Dinners available for pick up, 11
a.m.-2 p.m. Lunch delivery available for orders
of 10 or more. Phone: 661-2248
Cost: $6 per plate
Benefit: Meldrim Memorial Park Fund
Sponsor: Meldrim Community Civic Club
Directions: Interstate 16 west, Exit 148 (Old
River Road), North Old River Road, right on Bay
Road U.S. 80 West to Effingham County, left at
Meldrim Road 1-1/4 miles
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