I grew up on a family farm in Buford off Friendship Road in south Hall County which has now been in our family for six generations. Much of who I am today can still be traced back to the people, experiences, and influences I encountered growing up on that farm. As a child, much of my time was spent working alongside my parents, Paul and Jenny, my two older siblings, Tim and Tina, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends from the community. We were blessed to live within a half of a mile of both grandparents and even one great-grandparent. Every Sunday, we all attended the same church, Friendship Baptist Church. The importance of legacy was lived out before and around me. I graduated from West Hall High School in 1992, and the day after graduation I started a summer job at Peoples Bank & Trust. I would go on to earn an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration from Gainesville College and a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and Accounting from North Georgia College, but early in high school, I felt strongly that God had some type of calling on my life to serve Him and others through the local church, so I would ultimately earn a Master’s of Divinity through New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. I could have never imagined that God would have allow me the privilege to live, work and serve in the same community that raised me.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
A little over 25 years ago I married my best friend, Traci Phillips Williams of Flowery Branch. She is the daughter of Bob, who is deceased, and Billie Phillips. Bob was a 1952 graduate of Buford High School. Traci and I have been blessed with three children, John Alan–22, Emmaline–20, and Andrew–15. John Alan is a 2020 graduate of Buford High School and is in his fourth year at Georgia Tech studying industrial engineering with an emphasis in finance and computer science. Emmaline is a 2021 graduate of Buford High School and is studying finance at Kennesaw State. Andrew is a freshman at Buford High School and enjoys playing baseball anytime possible. God has graciously allowed Traci and I to raise our family in and around the communities that impacted our lives. A deep commitment to Jesus Christ, His Word and His will are foundational to the family legacy we received and desire to pass on.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
After 31 years, I am still working my summer job at Peoples Bank and Trust. It has been an amazing place with some of the finest people to work alongside and to serve. At the bank, we take great pride in serving people, because people matter. I am eternally grateful that the bank has allowed me the ability to also serve our local community as a minister at local churches. Over the last 25 years I have served two local churches as associate pastor. For the last 12 years, our family has been blessed to attend and serve Ivy Creek Baptist Church here in Buford. This has been a tremendous blessing and has allowed me to worship and serve alongside some of the finest people in the world. An added bonus is that our Senior Pastor, Dr. Craig Dale and his family, are some of mine and Traci’s dearest friends.
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
We are so fortunate to have many fabulous restaurants. We love Rico’s, Bravo’s, Aqua Terra, Barebones, Baking Grounds, Lola’s and numerous others. We also frequent other restaurants in the area such as Moonie’s BBQ, La Casa del Taco, Fish Tales, and Peyton’s Pie. Buford and the surrounding areas are a far cry from the early 80’s when we had the Buford Steak House and McDonalds.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
All of my work experience has been in the Buford area. Starting from working on our family farm, to working as an electrician’s helper with my uncle and cousin’s company, to washing golf carts at the old PineIsle Resort, and ultimately coming to work at Peoples Bank & Trust. I feel incredibly blessed to have been afforded such amazing experiences. God has been especially gracious to also allow me to serve and minister in local churches in the Buford area.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
My grandparents, Grover and Elsie Puckett Harrison, Aline Williams, and Ruby Puckett were all incredibly interesting. They all lived through two world wars, the Great Depression and were each a part of the Greatest Generation. My grandparents worked on farms, in the Bona Allen Tannery and Harness Shop or for Southern Bell. They did not have extensive educations, but they were incredibly wise, humble, and hardworking.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
Traci and I love to travel together and with our children. We have been blessed to see some amazing parts of God’s creation, but we have yet to visit the Holy Land. We hope to visit Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Galilee and the surrounding areas which have impacted thousands of years of history and are foundational to who we are and our legacy.
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
I love sports movies, especially those based on true stories. The last movie we saw was Sound of Freedom, and I highly recommend it. It is challenging and thought provoking and will be well worth your time and money.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
The wisest person who ever lived said, “What does it benefit a person to gain the whole world and lose their soul!”
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
I hope for our family to visit all 30 MLB stadiums. We have visited 11 so far.
Q: What is your go to band when you can’t decide what to listen to?
Zac Williams and Anne Wilson are two of my favorite musicians right now.
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
Obviously, I am partial to Peoples Bank and its almost 40 years of serving the Buford community, but some of my fondest memories as a child were visiting Jerry Brown Chevrolet and Moss Equipment Co. to see the new trucks and tractors.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
Tim Tebow has always intrigued me. It would be fabulous to sit down at Aqua Terra for lunch with Tim and hear about all the amazing stuff he and his wife are doing to help people around the world. I have great admiration for him and his unashamed ambassadorship of Jesus Christ.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
Our community offers us so many opportunities. I love being able to work in the same community where I attend church and serves some of those same people. It is special to be able to sit at one of our local restaurants for lunch or dinner and be able to chat and greet other patrons whom you know from work, church, sports, or your neighborhood. Yes, Buford has grown, but the distinct community feel is still very present!
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
My goal and prayer is that the Lord would allow Traci and I to continue to work and serve at Peoples Bank and Ivy Creek so that we could ultimately retire from both.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
When I was 28 years old, I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, so for the last 20 or so years I have taken daily and weekly medicines to control the effects. I am blessed that it stays managed most of the time.
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
The Hawaiian Island of Kauai
Q: Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
I love Easter and Christmas. These holidays celebrate events that are so important to me, and they include time spent with family, extended family and so many friends.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
Nothing in this life is ever perfect. There is always someone or something that is better or someone to point out a certain flaw. However, in Jesus Christ we find perfection, identity and worth.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My wife is my biggest cheerleader, but she is a great accountability partner who challenges me to be the best version of who God created me to be.
Q: What is one or two of your favorite smells?
Fresh baked bread and anything my mom or wife cooks!
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Home is a haven where you are loved unconditionally and don’t have to perform!
