Local woman gets overwhelming response from letters

Becky Holland

AMERICUS — When B.J. “Betty” Wright of Georgia Avenue responded to an plea in this newspaper for people who might be willing to share or know of someone willing to share stories and pictures of a special outdoor garden or something, little did she know what she was getting into.

Wright’s front yard, full of flowers, plants and just beautiful things, was featured in a June 24 issue of the Times-Recorder, and ever since that day until today, she has received an overwhelming number of responses from people in the community.

“My neighbor and friend had told me I should call in and I wasn’t really sure about it,” Wright said on Thursday, and then she thought about it.

Her flowers had been a sort of therapy and became a passion for her after retirement from her work at Magnolia Manor and when her mom, Essie Volley, died.

“I started the garden in my mom’s memory. The flowers by the mailbox are for her, so I thought we could take pictures of that and talk about it,” Wright said, laughing.

“But then the article came out and people started coming by, stopping me, and mailing me cards and letters, telling me how they read the article, how they had stopped the house and how pretty everything was.”

Wright poured just a portion of the letters she had received on her carport/patio table.

“Look at these. This one lady wrote and said she enjoyed the article and how she couldn’t get out in her yard anymore.”

Wright shook her head, “ I never thought this would have made any difference to anyone, but it seems like it has brought joy not just to me, but to others.”

And if that is the case, then Wright is glad. “I was in Wal-Mart and a cashier called my name, and she said, “Mrs .B.J., your yard is so pretty. I just moved into a house, and I was wondering if you could help me with my yard.” And then, this elderly white gentleman came up to me in the post office and told me how he had seen the article and that the flowers were beautiful. A man playing the lottery in the store up the street told me he had seen the article.”

Wright continued, “Black, white, male, female. They all have told me about it and ridden by. This guy was doing a survey out here, and his wife wanted to come with him so she could see the yard. I was in the grocery story and this lady told me she took the time to come see my yard.”

Wright has been asked to offer advice and suggestions for planting and flowers in different yards, and she just laughs and gives out her number and offers to do something. “It is too late to do any bedding plants, but we might could look into something for the Fall, maybe,” she said she told one person.

“My husband, C.J., has enjoyed it too. He is the one who loosens the dirt in the yard for me, and does all the hard labor, brings out the bags and pulls weeds with me.” Wright had to give her husband credit.

And of course, the good Lord, who Wright said, “Without Him I could do none of this.”

Looking out at her front yard, where some of the flowers have wilted a bit because of the heat, she smiles, “I am glad it brought joy to others and I thank everyone for their cards and letters.”

Shaking her head, she walks back to the house, “The article ran on June 24 and here it is July 9 and people are still coming and calling. Amazing.”

If you have a beautiful yard or have a suggestion of a yard that would make a good story for our In the Yard feature, call 229-924--2751, ext 224 or e-mail Becky Holland at becky.holland@gaflnews.com.

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