Celebrating South Georgia heritage

Valdosta State University's South Georgia Folklife Project and South Georgia Writing Project are helping students from Cook County discover their heritage.

On Saturday, Jan. 26, from noon until 2 p.m., at Cook County Middle School, students and educators will share the results of a special folklore and writing curriculum developed to assist students in writing about South Georgia.

According to Laurie Sommers, director of the South Georgia Folklife Project, the writing project builds on the premise that people write best when they write about people, places and traditions of their lives.

In addition, the traveling exhibition of ?Folklife of the Georgia Wiregrass? will be on display. This exhibit features photographs and information that interprets the traditional agricultural, religious and community life of South Georgia from the 1970s to present.

A special musical tribute will begin at 1:30 p.m. by Henry Rutland and Paul Masses, of Thomas County, to honor Cook County fiddlers Red Lindsey and John R. Griffin.

The public is invited to view the student's displays and hear readings from their work. The exhibit will be on display at Cook County Middle School, during regular school hours, through Feb. 25.

For more information, contact Laurie Sommers at the South Georgia Folklife Project at 229-293-6310.