Early life

From his birth in North Carolina, he lived in many places until settling in Perry Georgia where he graduated from High School, met his wife to be, and began building the life shown in his journey's. His appreciation for gardening, horticulture, and design was cultivated early spending summers with his beloved grandfather Hubbard K. Gayle at his Cardinal Hill Nursery in Frankfort Kentucky.

Later years brought the farm life at Malatchie Farms outside of Perry Georgia where his quiet love for animals was formed and his unconditional love for family was nurtured growing up with his siblings and accepting the role of big brother. He lettered several years at Perry High School suffering a severe knee injury that plagued him until his passing eventually preventing him from joining the Marine Corps.

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural School, ABAC, accepted him and hearing the stories we all understood why they asked him to leave as from our perspective he spent far too much time pranking the student body and no where near enough time studying.

The University of Georgia accepted his transfer with some persuasion from some unknown political friends of his parents and there his studies improved significantly under the guidance of several professors that took him under their wings.