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.
Brick by Brick
Tommy Hailey spent a quarter of a century building the Newton County Recreation Commission into one of the country’s most respected institutions, showing thousands just how far a little imagination
Centennial Milestone
Ramsey Furniture Company has seen much in its 100 years of existence, from the Roaring Twenties to The Great Depression. Through it all, it has served as an economic pillar for Newton County.
A Good Judge of Character
A unique figure in Newton County history, Sammy Ozburn’s reputation as a man of impeccable integrity and honesty led to his gubernatorial appointment as Judge of Superior Court in the Alcovy Circuit.
Clyde’s Essence
When Jennifer Morganthall lost her father in 2018, she commissioned local artist Don Troutman to help keep his memory alive by repurposing his cherished bomber jacket. The results far exceeded her expectations.
Like Father, Like Son
Chris Haymore brought his family name full circle when he was named principal at Mansfield Elementary School in 2016, exactly four decades after his dad was elevated to the same position.
The Price of Freedom
Fifty years after he returned home from the Vietnam War,
three-time Purple Heart recipient Gary Price bears physical
and emotional wounds that will never fully heal. However,
he continues his sacrifice through the tales he lived to tell.
From Omaha Beach to Oxford, a Man for All Seasons
As a 19-year-old in World War II, John Burson saw the worst of humanity on the beaches of Normandy, France. In the decades that have followed, the longtime Newton County resident has maintained an unwavering commitment to community service.
The Quest to Save the Starfish
Having retired from her post as principal at East Newton Elementary School after nine years, Dr. Kim Street Coady—dental hygienist turned beloved educator—has shifted her focus to the literacy crisis in Georgia and beyond.
Paying It Forward
Having grown up in the Covington Family YMCA, Jabari Bennett has chosen to give back by serving the program that has given him so much.