Nat Harwell
Nat grew up in the small Georgia town of Greensboro, well before there was ever a Lake Oconee and a Ritz-Carlton Lodge in Greene County. He met his future wife whilst matriculating at then-tiny Georgia Southern College in Statesboro, well before Coach Erk Russell resurrected the football program. Nat, tuba player and band captain, met Louise, co-captain of the Majorettes, and they married in 1973.
Looking for the perfect small town in which to settle and raise a family, the Harwells anchored in Covington and Newton County in 1977. There Nat taught social studies and coached at the middle school level, while Louise, a charter faculty member of Eastside High, put in 33+ years as a science teacher of renown. Nat’s teaching career spanned 22 years in area middle schools while also putting in 13 years with Delta Air Lines and its subsidiary, Atlantic Southeast Airlines. The three Harwell children, Francie, Christie and Davis, planned their career goals, and are graduates, respectively, of The University of Kansas, Clemson University, and Indiana University. All three children are now married and scattered across the USA, allowing Nat and Louise to enjoy trying to spoil their three grandchildren from long distance.
Nat first worked for Delta from 1980-1984, serving in various capacities but ending as the writer for the company’s in-house publication, Delta Digest. He returned to teaching and coaching until the first child reached college age, and served with ASA from 1999-2008 while also teaching. In 1999 Brian Knapp, then editor for The Covington News, asked Nat to write a weekly column, which he did for more than 12 years. Brian and Nat were reunited when Brian was named editor of Newton Community Magazine and asked Nat to contribute articles.
In retirement, Nat and Louise reside in Statesboro, Georgia, roughly two miles from where they first met as students at Georgia Southern. There, they enjoy attending college activities, especially Eagles baseball, as well as frequenting nearby Tybee Island’s beach and selected seafood eateries along Savannah’s riverfront.
Our Own Slice of Americana
Henderson’s Restaurant shuttered its doors in 2017 after lifting the spirits of its loyal customers for more than half a century. Gone but not forgotten, it lives on in the
A Cut Above
Lewis Mason was more than a barber. He was a genuine article, a one-of-a-kind character, an ordinary man of extraordinary quality who made the world a more enjoyable place for
The Cream Rises to the Top
The Rock House Creamery in Newborn turns out a variety of milks and cheeses, and it stands as a throwback to mom-and-pop operations of yesteryear. by Nat Harwell Seeing an
Salt of the Earth
As a sixth-generation farmer, Fred Greer set out long ago to leave the land better than he found it. His life and career may have taken many unexpected twists and
A Man Called ‘Yogi’
Many who have met Gary Wilkerson view him as a treasure, whether they remember him as a star athlete at Newton High School in the 1960s, an umpire who officiated
Stewards of the Land
Crystal Organic Farm sits on roughly 40 acres in Newborn and specializes in fruit, vegetable, flower and medicinal herb production as one of the oldest operations of its kind in
Have Yourself a ‘Berry’ Little Christmas
Steeped in tradition and sincerity, Berry’s Tree Farm has become synonymous with the arrival of the holiday season in Newton County—an honor not lost on the family behind the operation
Head, Heart, Hands and Health
The 4-H organization has aided in the development of youth leaders across the country for more than a century and owes its founding to Newton County. by Nat Harwell Most people
One Mile at a Time
As the Newton County School System’s longest-tenured employees, bus drivers Joe and Shirley Flanigan have been transporting students to and from school for more than four decades. by Nat Harwell