Smoke on the Square big success
The annual Smoke on the Square Barbecue Cook-Off was held last Saturday with three categories: chicken, ribs, and Boston butts.
The Grand Champion Team was Big Racks Barbecue consisting of Brian and Brooke Belcher , Randy Harper and Chris and Hope Jones.
Reserve Champion was the Stompin’ Donkey Team consisting of Jeff Schramm and Preston Harris.
First Place in Chicken Barbecue went to BG’s Smokehouse. Second Place went to 2 Hand Smoke and Third Place to Big Racks Barbecue.
In Ribs, First Place went to Stompin’ Donkey. Second Place went to Twisted Tails Barbecue, and Third Place went to Bayshore Porkers.
In Boston Pork, First Place went to Big Racks Barbecue. Second Place went to Stompin’ Donkey and Third Place went to 2nd Hand Smoke.
The Schley Community Foundation sponsored the event along with a lot more sponsors. The Foundation held a raffle for a Masterbuilt Smoker, won by Brenda Underwood of Sumter County. The Unity Christian Fellowship Church held a raffle for a 30-06 Remington Rifle, won by Priscilla Wohrley.
There were three categories of sponsors. Premier Sponsor was Chad Paint and Body Shop. There were nine Boss Hog Sponsors and 15 Buddy Sponsors.
To top the day off, the Rainbow Garden Club placed a fall and Halloween scene in the City Park made of hay bales and scarecrows.

Historical society has special Christmas gifts
The Ellaville-Schley County Historical Society has some special Christmas gifts.
The historic coffee mugs are real special. The day will come when people will say they wish they had gotten some. The mugs are available at Ellaville Floral Shop.
To order several mugs, let Kim at the florist or me know and we’ll make sure they’re here for Christmas. We have already sold 25 mugs to a local individual for Christmas.
All proceeds will go to preserve local history. For more information call me at 22-937-2116.

Braswell family holds reunion
The first Braswell family reunions were always held in Andersonville where it all began. Since then everyone has moved north to Atlanta, so reunions have been held there. As family members passed away, it seemed unimportant to have the gathering and the reunions fell by the wayside.
In 2015, several of the cousins got together and reminisced about old times and the reunions. They decided that their children were missing out on knowing their relatives and decided to do what they could to make these reunions happen again. Everyone wanted to have it back in Andersonville, and show their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren where it started.
On Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, the descendants of George and Martha Janie Braswell assembled in the little village of Andersonville. They had lunch at the Town Hall with the tables ready to serve barbecue, hot-dogs, slaw, pasta salad, potato salad, broccoli salad, pickles, tea, water, Cola Cake, Key Lime Cake, fried pies, and White Wine Cake. There was no shortage of food.
They recognized the eight sisters and one brother and their descendants in attendance and reminisced with stories about each one and what they meant to each.
They walked off the big meal by visiting the cemetery (original site of St. James Pennington Episcopal Church on Ga. Highway 195, also known as the Little Log Church). A wreath was placed in memory of those ancestors. Some family were visiting the cemetery for the first time.
A big thank you goes to Wilbur Justice who does so much for the family. He cleaned off the cemetery by removing trees from the cemetery and drive way.
Many family members had to get back on the road because they came from a good distance, but those who could stay met again on Sunday, Oct. 21 to have a good, old-fashioned sermon that was delivered in “their” church, family member, the Rev. Terry Braswell Jr., great-grandson of George and Martha Braswell.
Music was provided and lead by Andy King, another great-grandson, accompanied by Jerry Braswell, a grandson. They all enjoyed singing old-time favorite hymns such as “I’ll Fly Away,” “Amazing Grace,” “Victory in Jesus,” and “Bless Be the Tie.” Their hearts were blessed by song and words of God.
Children of George and Martha Janie Braswell were remembered: Mary Elizabeth Buchanan, Myrtle Virginia Mitchell, Janie Rose Ragsdale, George Willie Braswell, Gertrude Cordelia Causey, Susie Anna Wesleyan Hurst, Frances Lois Barron, Dora Pearl McCall, and Mattie Lou Brown.
Descendants of their children that attended this event were; Wilbur and Vicki Justice, Brian Justice, Jo Patterson, Jason and Dawn Justice, Liberty and Dixie Justice, Robert and Kay Brown, Wanda and Dessie Powers, Star Gaddy and Ryder and Maverick Gaddy, and Virginia Newcomb. all of Ellaville;
Mary Katherine and Sergio Carrano of Fort Benning; Rebecca Justice and Conner and Madeline Justice of Macon; Chad Brown Americus; Iris and Joe Menendez, Joey Menendez and Adriana and Colton Menendez, of Navarre, Florida; Jacob Menendez and Charlotte Menendez of Hoschton;
Gary and Susie Ray of Tupelo, Mississippi; Terry and Stephanie Braswell of Villa Rica; Julie King and Andy King, and Jerry and Gloria Braswell of Douglasville; Mary Kate King of Warner Robins; April Hilliard and Hadley of Andersonville; Barry Hall of Richmond Hill; and Larry and Abbigail Paine of Memphis, Tennessee.

Nancy McMath Young lives in Ellaville.