Homerville is located midway between Waycross and Valdosta at the crossroads of two US Highways, 84 and 441. Some may be surprised to learn that it’s a nationally known hub of genealogical research. The Huxford Genealogical Society was established in 1972, long before the rise of internet-based search options, but quickly became a major resource. It initially focused on South Georgia and North Florida but as the years went by, it expanded its database. Its founder Folks Huxford (1893-1981) was a lawyer, judge, and Baptist preacher, who spent much of his life compiling the landmark multi-volume genealogical work, Pioneers of Wiregrass Georgia. In 2009, the society merged with Elmer Spear’s Genealogy Library of Madison, Florida, and today is one of the largest privately-owned libraries in the United States, now known as the Huxford-Spear Genealogical Library.
As to Homerville proper, its small downtown is anchored by an historic railroad depot. Its namesake, Dr. John Homer Mattox (1827-1895), came to the frontier area in 1853. By 1859, a small settlement which would eventually bear his name had grown up around his property. After the Civil War, Dr. Mattox gave six acres to the Atlantic & Gulf Railroad, who built a depot known as Station No. 11. On 15 February 1869, it was officially named Homerville and chartered by the state legislature.
Homerville was long a center of the turpentine industry, appropriate for a town in the third largest county in Georgia with far more pine trees than people. Sawmills and lumber have also been important to the community for decades, and now, honey is a big business in the area, thanks to the abundance of native plants that thrive in the nearby Okefenokee Swamp.
My family has a lot of history here. My Great Grandmother and her 5 siblings (Only one of them is still alive) grew up here in the 1930’s & 40’s.
One of my uncles and has son were beekeepers in Homerville.
Lonnie and A C Gibbs.
Both passed away now.
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As for the honey, there’s lots of gallberry in that area.
Gallberry is by far my favorite honey. Growing up in Jeff Davis County, we were surrounded by the plant and in May when the godly nectar was harvested, I can remember almost getting sick eating copious amounts of it. On
e dark night armed with flashlights; we boys removed a frame of honey from a hive. We paid for our sin. Bees only sting once then die, but the venom gland stays on your skin and the stinger continues to pump poison as it pulsates.
My family’s former wholesale hardware business had a long-time good customer here, Homerville Supply. The son of the owner, John Strickland, took over as salesman for our sales territory based out of Waycross, when the long-time salesman for that area eventually retired. His dad eventually closed the business, and John served for a while as Chairman of the Clinch County Commission. Both good people.
Highway 84 was eventually widened from two lanes to four, from Waycross to Valdosta, making that long stretch of road an easier drive. I did not realize it was known for its honey!
Thanks! Very interesting and I’m looking up Jimbo’s Log Kitchen right now 😊