Thanksgiving

Rob Findley and Jillian Moore organize food at last year's Thanksgiving lunch at the Colbert-Benton Guest House. Organizer Flo Hix said 300 people were served in 2024.

Colbert-Benton House to host community lunch on Thanksgiving Day

Katherine Davis

Thursday, November 20, 2025

More than 300 people came to eat Thanksgiving lunch last year at the Colbert-Benton Guest House. This year, owner Flo Hix is hoping for 500. “The idea is about community,” she said. “Especially people who are alone at the holidays. It’s nice to have them have somebody to talk to.

Sherry Lipinski (left) puts food on the plates of Alyssa (middle) and Chelsea Durie during the Oglethorpe County Library’s first Friendsgiving on Nov. 15. About a dozen teens participated in the event. (Katie Tucker/The Oglethorpe Echo)

No turkey, but plenty of food at Library’s first Friendsgiving

Katie Tucker

Wednesday, November 23, 2022

Nearly a dozen young people gathered with a dish in hand to celebrate the first Oglethorpe County Library Friendsgiving on Nov. 15. The event was open to middle and high schoolers and held in the library’s multi-purpose room.

There was a brother, Bayard, and six boy cousins before 8-year-old Stella NeSmith, who can bark her Bulldog pride with the best of the eight grandchildren. (Eric NeSmith/For The Oglethorpe Echo)

Opinion Column: Celebrating a long life of gratefulness, thanksgiving

Dink NeSmith

Wednesday, November 23, 2022

As family and friends gather to celebrate Thanksgiving, I share my gratitude for this sample of blessings: For Big Dink and Margie, our parents from the Greatest Generation, who were daily lessons in love, compassion, giving, and the values of hard work and a good name.

Our eight grandchildren look forward to the family's Thanksgiving gather and Christmas-morning excitement. Posing with Stella NeSmith are, from left, Hayes Wilson, Bayard NeSmith, Wyatt Wilson, Smith Wilson (standing), Fenn NeSmith, William NeSmith and Henry Wilson. (Submitted Photo)

Opinion Column: It's time to give thanks and an extra hug to each other

Dink NeSmith

Thursday, November 25, 2021

“To us, family means putting your arms around each other and being there.” — Former First Lady Barbara Bush Thanksgiving is Thursday. I am thankful our family is here so that we can put our arms around each other.