September 4, 2019 Page 7C
iR l orter
By Diane Glidewell
news@mymcr.nef
When God speaks, Margie Bry-
ant listens. On a Sunday morning
a few weeks ago she was still in bed
when she knew that she should do
something for Donna Wilson and
A.J. Jefferson. Donna gave one of
her kidneys on Aug. 16 so that A.J
who had been on the kidney donor
list for two years and had been on
dialysis for nine hours a day since
June, could get a kidney, which he
did on Aug. 15.
Margie had the vision that she
wanted to have a Fashion/Talent
Show that would bring the com-
munity together for an evening of
fire while it gave people a chance
to do something for Donna and
A.J. She got busy and, with the
help ofalot
of volunteers
and sponsors,
put together
the Fashion/
Talent Show
Fundraiser on
Saturday, Aug.
24.
On Aug. 28
Margie present-
ed checks for
$1,500 each to
Donna and the
fam ofA.I.
at United Bank
of Forsyth.
Her goal for
the fundraiser
was $3,000.
She was just a
little short, but
donors stepped
up to makeup
the difference. As principal of Mary Persons, Dr.
M,wgie said she Jim Finch's wardrobe is graded
knows there by 1,200 teenagers each day.
are things that (Photo/Curtis Jenkins)
A.J. and Donna
need and things that will make
them more comfortable as they
recover, and these checks will help
provide them.
Margie said she told Donna to
have someone come dean and do
housekeeping for her during the six
to eight weeks she is not supposed
to do any heavy lifting. Donna was
able to come to United Bank to
accept the check. She said she is re-
covering well and is working from
home. Her husband, Jeff, is telling
her not to dotoo much.
A.J s grandparents, Rosemary and
Kenny Walker, accepted the check
for him. He is still at Children's
Hospital as the medical staffmoni-
tors him to make sure his body is
accepting his new kidney. Rose-
mary said A.J. would like to come
to Mary Persons first home football
game on Aug. 30, but his doctors
have told him that he should stay
away from crowds and public areas
to avoid exposure to viruses and
infections that his body is not ready
to fight right now.
Rosemary said A.J. is known as
the "Big Kid" at Children's Hospi-
tal because at 6'5",
about 200 pounds,
the 16-year-old is
considerably larger
than most of the
other patients. She
said the hospi-
tal removed the
footboard from
his bed to make it
fit him better. She
said he is doing well
but wants to come
home.
Donna, a mother
of four, heard about
A.J1s need for a kid-
ney and, although
she did not know
him personally, she
volunteered to be
tested to see if she
would be a match.
Of 19 possible
donors who volun-
teered, Donna was
the closest match
and went through
several months of
follow-up testing and counseling.
When she was told that her kidney
was not a dose enough match to
be more than a two or three-year
solution for A.J she advocated that
they register with the pair-a-donor
database. Through it she agreed to
give her kidney to someone on the
Pastor Jarvis Barrion modeled his own brand of clothing. (Photo/Curtis
Jenkins)
Pictured, left to right, are Dr. Margie Bryant, Anita Mathis, Donna Wilson and Marilyn Smith.
list if A.J. got a kidney that was a Sponsors of the Fashion/Talent Caldwell, Rayceen King, Mary :
closer match. Within two weeks a Show included: Pastor Nathan Goodman Watts, Roxie Dewberr
kidney was found for A.J. Gordon, Southern Smiles, All State- Tangi Smith, George Moreland,
With both surgeries successful Jane Penniugton, Rev. Charles Juanita White, Dr. Linda Thomas, .
so far for Donna, who like Margie Dumas & St. Luke A.M.E. Church, Angda Boykin, Julius Yates,
lives in Culloden, and A.J Margie Margie Bittick, Leighanne Mitchell, Doris Gantto Tommy Chambliss,
fdt her call to do something spedal Candice Lewis, Preston & Sally JackieSmith, EulaBrown, Jordan
for them. She first thought of using Bentley, Trae & LaToya Johnson, McCord, Jalen McCord, Johnnie
the old schoolhouse in CuUoden Pastor David Blalock, Dr. Mike Sylvain, Melvin Lawrence, Jackie
for the event but then had the op- I-tickman, Jr Dr. Welton O'Neal, Jordan Holmes, Armisha Smith,
portunity to move it to the bigger Dr. Margie Bryant. Dorothy Worthy, Pastor Hildridge :
Board of Education auditorium in Pastor Rufus Whatley, Union Bush, Marilyn Smith, Minnie ."
Forsyth. Margie expressed particu- Hill Baptist Church, Culloden Goolsby, Alberta Love, Joseph &
lar appreciation for Mary Persons Volunteer Fire Dept Belinda Pena- Farrie Smith, Catherine Mays, ':
Principal Dr. Jim Finch and Mon- mon, Pastor Cleveland Jarrell & Alice Robinson, Renee Rutherford '
roe County Schools Superinten- Greater Friendship, Ralph Moore, -Hickrnan, Sara Jean Ray, Cynthia "'
dent Dr. Mike Hickman; they both Pastor Leonard & Wrights Grove Gray, Chief Ben Ponder, Donation
contributed their time and great Baptist Church, Lisa Hichkad, of corsages: The Flower Shoppe-
stage presence as models and also Pastor Michael Davis & St. Phil- Cherylyn Baggarley (Macon).
helped to pull the event together, lip A.M.E. Church, Pastor Lesia Event Helpers: Yvonne McGhee,
She said the whole Hickman family Atwater &Judah Ministry, Project Anita Mathis, Angela Watson,
was very supportive. Impact & Colette Chambliss, Alvin Danita Harvey, Gwen Byrd.
Margie reached out tO individu: Smith. ."I thank you for the generous
als, churches and other organize- Donations: Hazel Barkle% Con- donations given and for the partici-
tions and advertised the Fashion/ nie Gantt, Miriam Rails Smith, pants who donated their time and
Talent Show by word of mouth and Freida Barkle); Bobby Smith, Jenise talents rendered for a great cause '
Facebootc Watts, Georgia Freeman, Grady said Margie.
"Everybody was giving me ideas '
said Margie. "We had fun. 3-his is
just the way the Lord uses me"
The Mistress of Ceremonies was
Pamela Brown. Austin Walker
of DJ85 Entertainment provided
music. There was entertainment
by mimes Jasmine Moore and
Brandon Moore and the Foxx City
Line Dancers. Martha McAfee was
the audience participation dance
leader.
In addition to Finch and Hick-
man, other, fashion models were
Coach Brian Nelson, Kenneth
Walker, Cindy Mombler, Pastor
Cleveland Jarrell, Pastor Tyrone
& Elect Lady Betty Harris, Pastor
Jarvis Barrion, Rev. Dr. Barbara
Stewart Reid, Charlie Smith, Justin
& Kaylah Castlin, Janet Smith-
Bush, Xanthe Jihan Hood, Gracey
Burney-Carswell, Alicia Beckham,
Twyla S. Holmes, Mable Bentley,
Minister Rickey Manning, Hsa
McIntosh, Christine Penning-
ton, Lady Sham Fletcher, Collette
Chambliss and Della Bradley:. Pictured, left to right, are Yvonne McGhee, Rosemary Walker, Anita
Mathis, Dr. Margie Bryant, Marilyn Smith and Kenny Walker.
Georgia Power Regional Vice Presi-
dent Ron Shipman and Extemal Af-
fairs Manager Cassandra Cox recently
presented a donation of $25,000 to
Ronald McDonald House Charities of
Central Georgia.
The support from Georgia Power
will provide care and support for
families of seriously ill, critically
injured or medically fragile children
being treated at area medical facili-
ties, including the new Beverly Knight
Olson Children's Hospital in Macon.
The non-profit is in the process of
completing its building expansion to
support even more children who are
receiving care at the hospital and their
families. Since opening in 2002, the
Ronald McDonald House has served
over 6,500 families for over 57,000
nights, from 131 Georgia counties, 28
states and eight countries.
The Georgia Power Company and
the Georgia Power Foundation are
committed to improving the health of
the state's communities and the well-
Ron Shipman and Cassandra Cox of Georgia Power (center holding check) pres-
ent a $25,000 donation to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ga.
being of its citizens. The company and
the foundation partner with organiza-
tions and programs designed to meet
a variety of community, family and
individual needs. In 2018, Geor-
gia Power and the Georgia Power
Foundation contributed more than $5
million to health and human services
organizations and non-profits across
the state.
A TRANE COMFORT
SPECIALIST IS AS
RELIABLE AS THE
TRANE THEY ARE
405 College Street, Forsyth, GA INSTALLING.
Clay and
