Augusta, GA

Augusta Commission enters debate over future of dilapidated First Baptist Church downtown

Published

1 year ago

February 5, 2025

Augusta Commission enters debate over future of dilapidated First Baptist Church downtown

The Augusta Commission’s discussion on the future of a downtown church Tuesday prompted questions about how the city’s Historic Preservation Commission executes its duties.

The old First Baptist Church at the corner of Eighth and Greene streets has been listed as endangered for several years by local and state historical preservationists eager to see the ornate 1902 structure saved.

The dispute over the property has sparked criticism implying that the HPC sometimes singles out owners publicly and not just the state of properties.

“The HPC has acted lawfully and appropriately per the Historic Preservation Ordinance for Augusta, Ga.,” board vice-chairman Dave Barbee told Augusta commissioners Tuesday. “The HPC is in the business of saving historic structures, not demolition by neglect.”

Augusta real-estate executive Joe Edge bought the First Baptist property in 2020 intending to renovate it, five years after the city condemned the dilapidated building.

In January, the HPC cited the property for several code violations and directed Edge to begin addressing the violations within 10 days. Edge responded by filing a certificate of appropriateness to demolish the old church, which stands on the site where the Southern Baptist Convention was established in 1845.

Edge has contended that he has paid for extensive repairs to the property, although city code enforcement officials seem to have no record of permits showing the work.

District 3 Commissioner Catherine Smith Rice and District 7 Commissioner Tina Slendak, who attended the January HPC meeting, said the commission dealt with Edge in an imperious manner.

An HPC counsel “drilled this particular owner of this church like he was in a courtroom,” Rice said, who added the line of questioning “felt like it was personal.”

District 6 Commissioner Tony Lewis also said he was at the meeting but takes issue “with the notion that (Edge) was bashed in any way. That’s not how I perceived it. I perceived it as looking for answers to a problem.”

“People have said we’re stepping out of bounds, we’re targeting,” Barbee said. “That’s the furthest thing from the truth. All we’re looking at is the building and that’s it.”

Augusta Planning and Development Director Carla Delaney suggested a more collaborative approach toward problem-solving between then HPC and property owners. Her department works with the HPC in a support role.

“A lot of times the complaint I get back as the director is that the individuals who don’t have the ability to hire an architect or pay for arbitration end up dropping and withdrawing,” she said. “So we need to look at a way to revisit this so we have the opportunity for those with less resources to be able to move forward and be able to meet the needs of the HPC.”

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Augusta, GA

Willie James Tanksley Obituary April 16, 2026 – G.L. Brightharp & Sons Mortuary

Published

4 hours ago

April 18, 2026

Press Room

Willie James Tanksley Obituary April 16, 2026 – G.L. Brightharp & Sons Mortuary

With deepest and heartfelt sympathy, G. L. Brightharp & Sons announces the transition of Mr. Willie J. Tanksley who entered into rest April 18, 2026.

Mr. Tanksley, a native of Richmond County, was a 1985 graduate of the Academy of Richmond County. He was a member of Greater Young Zion Baptist Church where he served in the Brotherhood Ministry.

Survivors include his wife, Sabrina Tanksley; two daughters, Ashley Tanksley and Taylor Tanksley; siblings, Elise Tanksley of Augusta, GA, Wilhelmina Roland of Atlanta, GA, Terry Tanksley, Tommy Tanksley, Watler Tanksley and Elder Claude (Kimberly) Tanksley all of Augusta, GA; an aunt, Frances Tate; an uncle, James Tanksley; mother-in-law, Sandra Harrison of Beech Island, SC; father-in-law, Jimmy (Elnora) Bing; three sisters-in-law, Fonda Rainey, Nicole Harrison and Nina Bing; a brother-in-law, Eric Bing; a host of nieces , nephews, along with other loving relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Greater Young Zion Baptist Church with the Rev. William A. Blount officiating. Interment will follow at Walker Memorial Park. Viewing will be held from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM Monday at the funeral home.

The family will not be receiving visitors at the home. We ask that you continue to pray for them during this time.

Professional Services are under the compassionate care of G. L. Brightharp & Sons Mortuary-North Augusta.

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Augusta, GA

Funeral held for former Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree

Published

16 hours ago

April 17, 2026

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Funeral held for former Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Former Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree’s funeral was held on Friday morning.

The funeral began at 11 a.m. at Good Shepherd Baptist Church, the Rev. Karlton Howard officiating.

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Interment will follow at Noah’s Ark Baptist Church Cemetery in Waynesboro.

A viewing was held on Thursday at Good Shepherd Baptist Church from 2-6 p.m.

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Classmate remembers former Sheriff Richard Roundtree ahead of funeral
Funeral announced for former Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree

News 12 first learned of Roundtree’s passing on April 11. He’d been in a metro Atlanta hospital with serious medical issues.

Several people spoke during the funeral service, but one deputy in particular spoke of Roundtree’s leadership.

“He was more than a sheriff. He was an innovator. He looked for better ways to serve. He led with integrity, courage and genuine commitment,” said the deputy.

Roundtree, 57, was the head law enforcement officer in Augusta for more than a decade − and when he took office in 2012, notably no sheriff had been like him.

He was the first African American elected to the title, something he spent a career working toward.

He was highly visible in the community, where he could frequently be seen in a vest, working a crime scene along with his deputies.

Former classmate Clarence Brown said he was proud of Roundtree for his work.

“I was proud of him for, for actually, you know, getting to that level. But at the same time I realized that that’s a heavy weight, especially being from the community, um, and, and to draw in the community,” Brown said. “And so I wanted him to know that there was somebody in his corner that didn’t need anything.”

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Augusta, GA

Augusta man missing for more than a week, family seeks answers

Published

1 day ago

April 17, 2026

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Augusta man missing for more than a week, family seeks answers

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A 74-year-old Augusta man has been missing for more than a week, and his family says they are desperate for answers.

Alex Paulos was last seen on Ring camera footage on Ansley Court on April 8. Richmond County deputies said he was driving a white Nissan Frontier pickup truck with a license plate reading RPV-4222. The last reported sighting of him was in his neighborhood.

Neighbors Shay and Rodger Byers have lived across the street from Paulos for years and say they spoke with him often.

“Alex is always a gift for gab,” Rodger Byers said. “When he came over, I realized that there was more to his visit than just paying us for lawn care. And so I started talking to him for about 3 hours.”

Byers said Paulos was struggling before his disappearance.

“Alex was pretty distraught about the condition of his home,” Byers said. “I was really concerned about Alex’s mental state. I offered multiple times, probably 20 times to get him help.”

Both neighbors and family say his mental state and lack of communication are fueling their concern. A neighbor and close friend called his daughter, and that call sparked the search. Before that, the family says Paulos had been struggling with his home situation and the recent loss of his brother.

“There’s just been a lot going on for him mentally and emotionally,” said Jennifer Lewis, Paulos’s daughter. “If you know him, you know that he is bubbly and fun and doesn’t meet a stranger.”

Lewis said the family is trying to remain hopeful.

“I’m an optimistic person, so I want to try to stay as optimistic as I can,” Lewis said. “I mean, but yeah, we’re worried. I mean, it’s just a long time.”

The family says since posting on Facebook, they have received an outpouring of support from the community, including people resharing the post, which has been especially helpful during this time.

Anyone who has seen Alex Paulos or his white Nissan Frontier is asked to call Richmond County deputies.

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