Page 99 - Wayne County

at UGA - dresses and skirts for the ladies.” Getting special written permission to wear jeans, she rode her bicycle to class, then four miles out of town to the barn where Mar Beth Jewel was boarded. It was 1964, and Patricia was home for the Holidays when she became reacquainted with a handsome young man named Sonny. “I had been to Georgia for one quarter,” Patricia said, “and he had been in the Marines.” There appeared to be a mutual interest. Their frst date was on New Year’s Eve.

“Sonny and I both had separate dates for the evening,” Patricia laughed as she relayed the events. “His date ended early, I asked my date to take me home, then Sonny called and we spent the rest of New Year’s Eve together!” Sonny fnished his tour in the Marines; they tied the knot in 1965, and fnished school together. Patricia graduated Cum Laude in 1967, with Sonny following the next year. Settling in Jesup near both of their families, Sonny was now a full partner in Patricia’s dream.

Patricia had a close relationship with Sonny’s mother, Anne, “She was so cool! While most ladies were wearing skirts and dresses, Anne could be found among plants, horses, and cattle, clad in jeans and old fannels.” They shared a common love for the outdoors, fresh air, animals, and all living things.

In 1971, Sonny and Patricia moved to the farm, adding stables and expanding the house, and so Wildwood Stables was born. Patricia was able to continue living her dream, while putting her college degree to use as a second grade teacher, on the side she was also certifed as a riding instructor.

Pursuing their passion, Patricia and Sonny expanded their love for horses into a new business venture: they would purchase, raise, train, and ride horses with the intent to sell them when they matured. Patricia attended an American Saddlebred sale with Marvin Long with the intent to buy two or three promising young horses to train. However, when Age of Aquarius entered the ring Patricia knew she was the one. She spent all of her budgeted