Farms, their oldest daughter, Mary Gen,
started 9th grade in school in Statesboro. It
was a first for both Rita and her daughter. A
signal of change. Surely, nothing speaks of
the changing seasons like raising children.
As difficult as it may be, seasons of change
are an important part of our growth. The
Williams clan has done as much growing and
learning in the past three years as the flower
garden itself. “We’re constantly planting,
harvesting, turning over, and planting again,”
said Rita. “And every seed, plant, and flower
are prayed over.”
Chickens peeked at pebbles near the
second old barn on the property once known
as the “prisoner’s barn.” “During the forties
and the fifties, if you had a nonviolent
criminal, they would allow them to serve
out their time working on farms to pay off
their debt to society,” said Rita. “This barn,”
pointing to a wooden structure across the
way, “had a cot and a little washroom where
the prisoner stayed.” She smiled. “Mike and
Mason say they’re going to remodel it to get
away from all the women.”
On the way home from WilMor Farms,
I remembered something Rita had said
when talking about the house: “Everywhere
I look I have a memory of my father here.
I really don't have that anywhere else.”
The house in Lyons where she grew up and
where she and her mother lived in the years
that followed her father’s passing burned
to the ground. Rita was in her first year of
college and home for the weekend when it
happened.
“We don’t know what the future will
look like,” said Rita. Their daughter Josie
has a chronic illness. Even though there are
future decisions to make, she’s doing well.
And one year ago, Rita suffered a sudden
“spontaneous coronary artery dissection”
(SCAD). Thankfully, with help from Dr.
Higgins and the staff at Meadows Regional
Medical Center, she was able
to put the event behind her. Now, she’s
running wide open again.
With each season and through every
change, the Williams family continues to
grow, their roots running deep like the
flowers that will bloom in the coming
spring. Whether to brighten a room, shift
the atmosphere with color and fragrance, or
comfort a hurting heart, according to Rita,
“Everyone needs flowers.” TCM
ABOVE Mike and Rita Williams on their family farm near Metter.
60 Toombs County Magazine
WilMor Farms Flowers can be purchased locally at
Pittman Farms. To learn more about WilMor Farms visit:
Facebook and Instagram @wilmorfarmsflowers