By Denise Etheridge
When I interviewed the nice folks who run Leaf Grocery and Deli last month, I took away some charming tidbits of Leaf community history. I also realized during our relaxed, friendly conversation that family ties are strong in White County. It seems many native White Countians are intricately connected through blood and marriage, and close friendships often evolved during childhoods spent with bosom buddies getting into and out of trouble together.
Chaz Sosebee, 33, grew up knowing the previous owners of Leaf Grocery and Deli. He had his eye on the business for several years and bought the neighborhood convenience store and eatery, popular for its biscuits and desserts, in mid-May.
“Leaf is just a special place,” Chaz told me. He described his grocery and deli as having a “country-store feel.”
Leaf Grocery and Deli bookkeeper Dee McAlister and general manager Traci Finley filled me in on the store’s background. They said the current building was built in the 1970s by J.B. Ramey.
Traci was raised a few blocks from Leaf Grocery and used to walk to the store for a soda on hot summer days when the busy intersection was a sleepy four-way with a stop sign. She said the Leaf school stood on the property in the 1930s, adding there is a painting of the school by the late watercolor artist John Kollack.
Traci and Dee said the Leaf community even had its own post office and general store back in the day. Traci added that a cotton gin once operated across the road from Leaf Grocery.
As I listened to their spirited reminiscing, regular customers — friends and neighbors, and sometimes kin — ambled in and out of the store. Hellos, handshakes and small talk were exchanged as people ordered a late breakfast or early lunch. Several patrons came in to pick up pies and cakes they had ordered for special occasions.
As we talked, Chaz mentioned his great-aunt, the late Shirley Black McDonald.
I met Shirley more than 15 years ago when I first reported for the White County News. She used to write the newspaper’s “Looking Back” columns. Shirley always ended her columns with the phrase, “It is a privilege to live in White County.” She was genuine about her love for White County. At the time, I thought Shirley was naive, that there were places in the world just as beautiful as her Appalachian home.
When my husband and I first married, he was commissioned in the Air Force. And, as is common for military families, we made a lot of household moves. We lived in Virginia, Wyoming, Florida and South Carolina. Our family also took road trips from one end of the country to the other. We had overseas tours in Germany and Italy. We met amazing people there and saw fantastic sites.
In time we found our way back to Georgia, settling in Habersham County in 2003. Fifteen years ago, we reluctantly left the area due to unexpected career changes. So when we had the opportunity to return to Habersham last year, we felt grateful. We are finally in a place we can call home.
So, I can now better understand why people who grew up here are passionate about White County, proud of their local history and concerned about changes they see coming.
Denise Etheridge is senior reporter for the White County News.