Page 48 - Wayne County

Language in Art . Her art is also featured in the juried “Trail of Tears Art Show” in Oklahoma this spring. In addition, this past year she received the Distinguished Alumnus award at Gardner Webb Unlverslty for her work in art and as a Cherokee advocate. Her latest accomplishment is the submission in November of a commissioned diptych, “The Cherokee Corn Dance,” for Western Caroliona University’s A.K. Hind Student Center.

It was while at UGA in Athens that Faren met and eventually married her love, Dennis Crews. They moved to his childhood home, Jesup, GA, which has spawned a thirty-seven year journey, so far. “This place accepted me with open arms. I have many dear friends here, which are life’s true treasures.” Her contributions in Wayne County are far too wide to list but include teaching tennis for thirty years, helping set up the Creek Village at the entrance of McMillen Creek walkway, and starting the Pine Forest Country Club Food Drive which has continued now for fourteen years and counting. Passionate about cultivating a humanitarian culture of goodwill, and replicating that passion down the generations, she was a founder of the Wayne County Junior Service League. No matter what her current project, two guiding principles accompany all that she does: frst, never miss an opportunity to be kind, and second, give of yourself. Ultimately, it all goes back to “Gadugi” - helping others.

Historically when cultures are destroyed, the art remains, being passed down through the generations, carrying with it vestiges of not only another culture’s history, but also its values.

As the years have passed, Faren has chosen to give to her community via her art, honoring her heritage with depictions of wildlife and Native American life, but also by spreading her message of “Gadugi” via art to her community in Wayne County, and kindly sharing her culture with her community, giving countless talks to Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, schools, churches, rotary clubs, and women’s groups. “I come from a living culture, with our own language and tradition, and a rich history.” She smiles when she adds, “I get really popular around Thanksgiving, especially among my teacher friends. I have to remind them that I am Indian all year round!” What value will we take away from Faren’s life and art? “It is not about what you have that makes you rich, it’s about what you give away, therein lies the true wealth.” Faren is rich indeed! U WCM