Portrait: Darien, GA
July, 2017
This project was created as part of a workshop run by Charcoal Book Club (formerly Collective Quarterly) called Basecamp. It was an intense, weeklong photojournalism program. Many thanks to my photo editors, Judith Puckett-Rinella and Benjamin Rasmussen, and all the folks in Darien who shared their lives and likeness with me.
“If you stop in a place and just take the time to talk to people and care—people just want to be cared for. And no one does that anymore,” Martha said one night while having dinner with friends at Skippers Fish Camp.
She and her husband, Maurice, moved into a historic house near Tolomato Island on October 31, 1992. “It was a full moon with an appropriate owl just outside the window that night.” Mrs. Garnett, the woman that previously owned the house, lost her husband in 1924 and lived in the house alone until she died in 1960. In the interim, it was a “vacation house” for Martha’s family. “She used to chloroform herself to sleep every night,” she says of Mrs. Garnett.
The bottle is still on a shelf in the kitchen. Martha now lives in the house alone.
Pastor George is the pastor at the First African Baptist Church. It will be 195 years old this December. They have service every 2nd and 4th Sunday. He also makes a mean rack of ribs.
“I was homeschooled. It was really hard because I loved being around people–I had to learn how to be alone.” Joscelyn has lived in Darien since she was 9 years old and began homeschooling in the middle of the 3rd grade. She is frank about her struggle with depression and anxiety.
Sister Ophelia is a member of the congregation at the First African Baptist Church and performs with the Gullah-Geechee Shouters. “We’re performing in Savannah tomorrow!” She is very persistent about Darien’s story being told accurately. “My mother-in-law, Sister Margie B Washington. She’s an encyclopedia about Darien.”
Dee and her husband, George, just built their house in Tolomato Island. She is a waitress during the day at Blue Bay Mexican Restaurant. “We really love it here.” She lists numerous locals that they have become close with including a number of shrimpers. “Really, really wonderful, salt-of-the-earth people,” she repeats.
Lime and his wife, Toni also live in Tolomato Island. They have lived there since 2009. He urgently created a 2-page outline on why, “Darien is so incredible!” Originally, Lime is from England and Toni is from Columbus, Ohio. They have an antique tray with a faded photo of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip on it. He brings her tea on the tray every morning.
“I hate Spanish moss. It’s messy.” Mario said with a grimace. He and his wife, Joanne, are originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He cuts Martha’s grass.
John Wayne Anderson has lived in Darien his whole life. He’s also been a shrimper his whole life. He speaks softly and is astonishingly polite. He says, “Yes, ma’am,” with a subtle head bow.
Bobby and Gina both graduated in 2002 from the same high school. “It’s just home, “ Bobby explains why still lives in Darien.
Brother Abraham grew up in Darien and moved back after living all over the US working construction on bridges. “It’s fine here,” he shrugs. Once a year, he escapes to the Gulf Coast of Florida for a few days to watch the sunset.
Rob and his wife Anita live in the condos by the water near Skippers Fish Camp. They split their time between their house located in the mountains of Georgia and Darien. There is an alligator that follows their Boykin Spaniel, Trout, along the dock every time they board their boat.
Melanie is a ‘life of the party.’ “Sit down and talk to us,” she winks.