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Ribbon cutting held for Devine Fashions
Devine Fashion

Hinesville, GA – The Liberty County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting for Devine Fashion’s on Wednesday, July 7th at their location, 21 Isle of Wight Suite C, Midway.

Chamber Board Member Karen Bell, welcomed those in attendance and introduced Pamela Liverman, owner of Devine Fashion’s.

Mrs. Clemontine Washington, the Mayor pro tempore for the City of Midway, welcomed Mrs. Pamela Liverman and Devine Fashion’s to Midway and wished them luck.  Mrs. Liverman, joined by her husband Antonio and son thanked guests for attending and shared their excitement about the opening. Acknowledging, “family is the backbone of her business”.

Devine Fashion’s is dedicated to providing you with affordable fashion that will make you standout and feel incredible. Visit them Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. 

Established in 1976, the Liberty County Chamber of Commerce’s mission is to support new and existing business, trade and industry within Liberty County, while increasing the cultural, civic, educational and overall quality of life of its citizens. The Chamber and its’ 500 members are committed to enhancing the local business climate and maintaining a high quality of life in the community. 

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Williams reflects on Carter's legacy
Al Williams
Al Williams

During the contested and contorted Democratic gubernatorial primary in 1970, Al Williams backed the candidacy of Carl Sanders early on.

But when Daddy King, as Williams called him, the Rev. Martin Luther King Sr., put his support behind a state senator from southwest Georgia, Williams followed suit.

And he stayed a fervent and ardent supporter of Jimmy Carter and called him a man “of great integrity.” A national funeral service for Carter will take place Thursday at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., followed by a private service later that day in his hometown of Plains. 

“I met him, by happenstance, in 1970,” Williams said of meeting Carter. “He just asked me if I could support him. And I thought, that’s very strong and that impressed me.”

Their paths crossed again in 1972. Carter was governor, and Williams was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention. “This was the first convention that the governor of Georgia didn’t hand pick the delegates,” Williams said.

Just as Carter’s term in office was ending, Williams went to meet with the governor with state Sen. Mel Traylor, whose district included Liberty County. 

When they get ready to leave, Sen. Traylor asked Carter what his plans were after office. Carter told them he was running for president.

“Mel and I walked away from his office and walked down the steps and before we got to the last step, we started laughing so hard, I thought security was going to come get us,” Williams recalled.

Both Traylor and Williams thought Carter’s declaration of running for the highest office in the world was one of the craziest ideas they had heard.

“Shows you how much we knew,” Williams said. “He was a smart man, and he had discipline and determination.”

Williams went to bat for Carter again, all over Georgia and all over the South, campaigning for him in South Carolina, Alabama and Florida. Williams was appointed to the electoral college, the first African American from southeast Georgia to be chosen, and as such, back then, his name was on the ballot.

For those who were students of the late Sampie Smith at Bradwell Institute, they learned quickly that only one man in the history of Liberty County had ever voted for president of the United States – Al Williams. And Williams – as the only member Georgia’s electoral college delegation ever from Liberty County – cast his ballot for Jimmy Carter.

Williams said he also had a good relationship with Carter’s grandson Jason Carter, and brought the late Rosalyn Carter to Liberty County to help campaign for Jason when he ran for governor.

As governor, Carter overhauled and reorganized the state government.

“He made a lot of enemies,” Williams said, “but he shaved a lot of fat off the hog.”


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