Augusta, GA

George Perkins Sr., an architect of Augusta’s westward residential growth, dies at 95

Published

11 months ago

June 19, 2024

George Perkins Sr., an architect of Augusta’s westward residential growth, dies at 95

George E. Perkins Sr., the architect-builder whose construction of hundreds of west Augusta homes helped shape the city’s postwar growth toward suburban Columbia County, has died at 95.

Perkins died June 15. His wife of 75 years, the former Joyce Banks, died less than three months before.

If Perkins’ name doesn’t sound familiar, the names of his many development projects should. Neighborhoods such as Waverly and Monclair became parts of the city of Augusta through Perkins’ and his partners’ design and construction.

He estimated in his career to have built some 800 homes and offices.

An Augusta native, Perkins grew up on Jenkins Street in Harrisburg, the son of barber O.W. Perkins and Beulah “Pat” Perkins, an interior decorator.

He began working for the Augusta architectural firm Eve and Stulb in January 1950, just weeks after two of his life’s milestones: graduating from Georgia Tech with an architecture degree and marrying his wife.

But it was his acceptance of a junior partnership in The Bailey Co. homebuilding and development firm in 1955 that would chart his professional trajectory. At the time, Bailey was developing Westwick, a neighborhood of several dozen homes off Walton Way near where it meets Aumond Road.

It’s a gift: Augusta Exchange Club awards $100K in grants to area nonprofits

A September 1955 ad in The Augusta Chronicle advertised one of Westwick’s three-bedroom, two-bath homes for $18,750. A randomly selected house in the same neighborhood in 2024 showed an appraised value of more than $500,000.

In 1957, The Bailey Co. split, separating the building component of the organization into Perkins Construction Co.

The two companies spent the late 1950s and early 1960s erecting neighborhood after neighborhood of affordable homes from west of Aumond Road to the Richmond County line, pushing Augusta’s westward expansion to its literal limit.

Some subdivision names are seldom uttered today, such as Sheffield Place and Brynwood. Others are still with us, including Waverly and the ambitiously conceived Montclair, a 500-home development that took 11 years to complete. He also built adjoining subdivisions Crofton and, after creating the George Perkins Co. in 1973, Sugar Mill Woods.

A 5-acre tract Perkins bought in 1975 became the 25-building Professional Village in Martinez a decade later.

Retirement did little to slow Perkins down. A backyard garden with flowers and vegetables became a water-featured showpiece that he maintained for years.

“I see many of my neighbors walking for exercise,” Perkins quipped to The Chronicle in 1999. “For me, gardening keeps me flexible, and flexibility is important for my golf game.” By age 40 he had gotten so hooked on golf that it squeezed out another of his hobbies, hunting.

Nothing, however, stood in the way of the devoted family man’s good works. Perkins’ stewardship at First Baptist Church and Warren Church was exemplary, connecting with teens through Bible studies and backpacking trips. He helped found Augusta’s chapter of Habitat for Humanity, designing and helping supervise the construction of its first house.

His proud membership in the Exchange Club of Augusta, for which he was a past president, lasted 67 years.

Perkins’ memorial service was held Tuesday in Storey Chapel at First Baptist Church, with Dr. Will Dyer officiating. Interment was in the church’s Cremation Garden.

Memorial contributions can be made to First Baptist Church of Augusta, 3500 Walton Way Ext., Augusta, GA 30909; or to The Exchange Club of Augusta Charity Fund, P.O. Box 3884, Augusta, GA 30914-3884.

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Augusta, GA

Local students kick-off summer at End of School Block Party

Published

14 hours ago

May 25, 2025

Press Room

Local students kick-off summer at End of School Block Party

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Summer is starting for our local students.

Augusta Recreation and Parks held their 30th annual End of School Block Party.

It was held at the Augusta Common as a safe space for the community’s youth to have fun at the end of the school year.

We talked to several students about the event.

“I played basketball. I went in there. I went in there and then, yeah, I wanted everything,” said Zi’ion Jones, seventh grader.

The event had music, games and giveaways.

Some of the giveaways included bikes and computers.

Telvin Osborne was fatally shot on Feb. 23, 2025, in Keysville. Hannah Cobb has been arrested.

If you missed out, don’t worry, Augusta is having more family-friendly events all summer.

Additional summer activities:

Candlelight Music Series: Every Sunday evening through August at Augusta Commons, featuring jazz, R&B, soul and funk performances. Admission is $10; kids 13 & under are free.
Food Truck Fridays: Held the first Friday of each month at Augusta Commons, with food vendors, live music, and a kids’ zone.
Movies on the Green: Free outdoor movie nights at Augusta Commons. Upcoming screenings include Mufasa on May 30, Mulan on June 20, Inside Out 2 on July 18 and Lilo & Stitch on August 8.
Fleming Pool opening: Beginning Sunday, May 25, Fleming Pool will be open Sunday through Thursday from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. throughout the summer.

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Augusta, GA

Harlem’s VFW Post visits Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home

Published

1 day ago

May 24, 2025

Press Room

Harlem’s VFW Post visits Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Meals were served up for Georgia veterans who battled on the front lines for our country.

Harlem’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post paid a visit to the Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home on Friday in honor of National Day of Service.

The special catering comes just days away from Memorial Day.

For those who served, this day is a reminder of what the holiday is about.

“Some of them said ‘forget it’…’no…it’s in my head…,’” said Roy Brown, Vietnam army veteran.

To some, it’s a day off from work and a backyard meal, to those who have risked their lives, it’s a reminder of times they will never forget.

“That’s not really appropriate, it’s not ‘happy Memorial Day,’ it’s a day of solemn service. It’s a reflection on our dead veterans,” said Erik Averill, army veteran.

That’s what it’s like for Brown. “I even lost a couple of friends over there, a brother-in-law and one other friend,’ said Brown.

A time for kicking back and relaxing is not what Brown sees the day as.

“Serious… it wasn’t a happy one, let’s put it that way,” said Brown.

Others remember family.

“My grandfather was in World War II. He was also in Korea, unfortunately, he didn’t get to see me serve, so sorry I get to be a big softy,” said Averill.

While it may be a day off for most, remember and give thanks to those who didn’t come back, and think of veterans like this one, who is still trying to protect us to this day.

“Be safe and not to drink when they are on the roads, and try to tell them to think about their families and stuff that they have, and try to stay safe,” said Lofton Reeves, Vietnam army vet.

To all the veterans out there and those who are no longer with us – thank you for your service.

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Augusta, GA

What outdoors lovers can expect this Memorial Day weekend in the CSRA

Published

2 days ago

May 23, 2025

Press Room

What outdoors lovers can expect this Memorial Day weekend in the CSRA

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – It could be at least three more months before the Augusta Canal trail fully reopens after Hurricane Helene left it debris-strewn on Sept. 27.

Not having the trail fully reopened is a bummer for some – especially heading into a holiday weekend and the summer.

Crews are not cleaning this Memorial Day weekend, so it’s fine to kayak and canoe in the water.

But there are some areas to stay away from, like the pumping station.

Leaning trees and cracks in the embankment are hazardous, too.

Augusta Utilities Director Wes Byne says the cleanup process is lengthy and costly — totaling $10 million, including $2 million out of the city’s budget.

Also this holiday weekend, the downtown Riverwalk is still closed due to debris cleanup.

Pendleton King Park is also still closed.

Outside Augusta but stlll popular with local residents is the newly reopened West Dam recreational area at Clarks Hill Lake.

The day-use area has been closed for months for Helene cleanup but reopened Friday.

The park is missing some amenities and structures, such as tables and grills, that were damaged by the storm, but is now safe for visitors.

The reopening makes 40 of 51 Army Corps of Engineers recreation areas at the lake that have at least partially reopened since Helene.

There is still debris remaining in most parks and potential hazards remain, so visitors must use caution and avoid closed areas.

To check the status of Army Corps facilities at teh lake, visit https://www.sas.usace.army.mil/About/Divisions-and-Offices/Operations-Division/J-Strom-Thurmond-Dam-and-Lake.

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