Why an Evening Market in Wedowee?

A Tribute to a Legacy - by Beth Busbin

August 1st holds a special weight in my heart—no matter how hard I try to avoid it, this date always arrives, bringing with it memories I both cherish and mourn. This date is forever tied to my daddy, Louell Wynn Morris, a man whose life and love for farming shaped not just our family but the community around him.

It all started long before I was born, on May 3, 1918, in a small town in Alabama called Mellow Valley, where Winford Hoyt Morris Sr. was born. His story later took him to South Georgia, where he met Illa Belle Wynn, and together they built a life full of love, hard work, and faith. They worked the land in Irwinville, Georgia, raising four sons and one daughter. They lived a humble, hardworking life, always valuing God, education, community, and giving. Winford was an avid basketball fan and who played on the red dirt courts in Clay County.  Illa Belle, was so much more than a farmer's wife, she made their house a home all while working tirelessly on the farm alongside Winford. I do not believe there was anything she could not do. Her home was a reflection of her care, with meals and a warmth that could’ve graced the pages of a magazine. Later in life, we all discovered she was a talented artist who painted beautiful pictures that captured the life in a way only she could.

Every summer, it was a tradition for our family to visit all our Alabama relatives. My grandpa’s roots were incredibly important to him, and that connection to Mellow Valley, to his family, to the land—was a part of who he was. Those summer trips are some of my most treasured memories, and they helped me understand just how much family, history, and Alabama meant to him.

Their son, Louell, my daddy, was the third-born. He was a gentle giant who never met a stranger, a man whose kindness and humility could be felt by anyone he encountered. He worked hard, lived simply, and when it came to family, nothing mattered more. In all my years, I’ve never met anyone with a bigger heart. He was also an entrepreneur at heart—a man who saw opportunity in the everyday, whether it was growing crops for the farmer’s market or raising a few cows. His love for entrepreneurship ran deep, and he always believed in working for what you wanted, even if the profits didn’t always show up in the bank account. What mattered to him was the act of giving, of creating, and of supporting others in their own journeys.

When I moved to Wedowee in 2020, he couldn’t have been happier. Wedowee and Clay County area were the only places he ever considered moving to, other than his farm in Irwinville.

On March 27, 2022, I gave him a hug, not knowing it would be the last. He had unexpected complications after prostate cancer surgery, and on August 1, 2022, he left this earth. I’ve never been the same since, and it’s been a difficult road. But instead of letting grief continue to consume me, I have found a way to honor his memory.

This is why the Evening Market at Four Winds exists. It is my way of keeping his love for farming, entrepreneurship, and community alive. My daddy loved everything about farming—his life revolved around it. Even after he left full-time farming to work for the state of Georgia, he continued to grow crops for the local farmer’s market and raise a few cows. While he never made much profit, he gave away more than he sold, always sharing his bounty with others. His spirit of entrepreneurship, combined with his generosity, left a lasting impression on me and on everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him.

He grew “Goobers” (peanuts), watermelons, cantaloupes, and collards—his absolute favorite. He would have loved this market, and I know he be here, sharing his produce, stories, and entrepreneurial spirit.

This market is a tribute to him, and to all the farmers, big and small, who work tirelessly to feed their communities. It is my way of honoring my daddy’s legacy—of giving back to the land, the people around me, and to the entrepreneurial spirit he instilled in us all. Whether you are a vendor or a patron, I invite you to join us at the first (of hopefully many) Evening Market at Four Winds. Let’s celebrate the demanding work, the dedication, and the love that goes into every seed planted, every crop harvested, and every product shared.

In honor of Louell Wynn Morris, and all the farmers and entrepreneurs who work tirelessly to nourish our world—this market is for you.

The market will be held at Four Winds (the clubhouse at Chimney Cove) Friday, August 1, from 5 - 8 pm.