Suzy Durrence Coons writes: Growing up we didn’t refer to it as Waters Service Station, it was always Mr. Olen’s* store. As a child we would stop for gas or for some kind of service, Mr. Olen always pumped your gas, and I always got a pack of gum, he continued giving a pack of gum to my daughter on her many visits to Mendes, and If I were with them, yes, I got one too. He was truly a loved man, I can see him now coming out of the store or service bay wiping his hands clean on a red shop cloth, and holding a cigar in his mouth. Loved that man!
*- “Mr. Olen” was James Olen Waters (1920-2001), who also worked for the Georgia Department of Transportation.
Walter’s has been sitting there just like that in Mendes every since i can remember as a child it has not been open unless i was to young to remember, i’m 23 now. The look of it would almost make you imagine a Wally’s Service Station style place from the Andy Griffith Show.
GOD BLESS!
Growing up we didn’t refer to it as Waters Service Station, it was always Mr. Olen’s store. As a child we would stop for gas or for some kind of service, Mr. Olen always pumped your gas, and I always got a pack of gum, he continued giving a pack of gum to my daughter on her many visits to Mendes, and If I were with them, yes, I got one too. He was truly a loved man, I can see him now coming out of the store or service bay wiping his hands clean on a red shop cloth, and holding a cigar in his mounth. Loved that man!
Suzy,
Do you happen to know how I can find any information on the “Waters” that had this store? I’m trying to find my Great Grandparents burial place and am out of leads. My G Grandmother was a Waters and there boys were born and raised in Mendes until they moved as adults.
Thanks,
Dawn Marie