Bernard and Sheila Barnard celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary May 4. The couple married in Nahunta First Baptist Church in 1963, and they have two children: Bernie Barnard Jr. and his wife Kim, who live in Pooler, and Bruce Barnard and his wife Angie, who live in Vidalia. The Barnards have five grandchildren and one great-grandson.
In 1976, the Barnards moved to Hinesville, where they built the Shoney’s Restaurant and Shoney’s Inn. Over time, this grew to 15 motels and hotels in three states. They eventually sold these enterprises and built a Holiday Inn Express in Carrollton and a Quality Inn and Suites in Asheville, N.C. The Barnards sold those around 1998 and retired to Brunswick.
They currently live on Blythe Island in Brunswick.