For more than 50 years, new Valdosta residents have been answering friendly knocks on their doors to be greeted by the many smiling faces of Valdosta Greeting Service. Florence Millians planted the first welcoming seeds in 1956 with her well-known 1950’s style welcome wagon and her capable followers have grown the business into a dynamic service with annual publications and an impressive community presence in Lowndes and its neighboring counties.

Former owners Jeannie Grow, Rose Ware and Beverly Moye all contributed a great deal to the growth of the service, making homes and changing perspectives along the way. Patti Minton and Karen Reissiger, owners since 1994, along with a staff of greeters and volunteers now touch the lives of more than 600 people each year through face-to-face communication and countless others via their FYI South Georgia publication and www.southgeorgianewcomers.com.

Wonder how they make such an impact? Don’t be surprised to see these busy women at Moody Air Force Base orientations, local school open houses or even scouting neighborhoods for moving vans. Each month they knock on doors, delivering to new residents welcome bags full of fun freebies, coupons, information, literature and even samples of local publications like The Valdosta Scene.

When taking a break from making the rounds, they are constantly dreaming up clever ways to help newcomers make South Georgia their home. Why such devotion? These women said they truly consider Valdosta Greeting Service more than a business — it’s a ministry.

“We have been able to help people find jobs, services, schools and homes as well as helping cancer patients find a support system, when they don’t have family or friends to help them,” Reissiger said. “Many times we feel we have received the greater blessings.”

Their ministry reaches out to the community in a multitude of ways, including newcomer groups, bible studies, special programs and a new class “Moving on After Moving in.” Held for the first time last fall, the class follows a DVD series by Susan Miller that focuses on the emotional aspects of relocating from a Christian standpoint.

Ann Fowler was one of the many lives touched by the new class, which will be offered a second time during fall 2009. As the

wife of a base chaplain at Moody, she took the class in an effort to prepare for helping other military families, but was unexpectedly surprised by the positive effect it had on her personally.

“Although I feel like I adjust to moves pretty well, this class really helped me see how I could better help a new community,” said the mother-of-three who has moved five times in 10 years. “It helped me deal with loneliness and taught me how to find a place to be of service in a new location.”

The “Moving on” class and special interest groups like the Book Club, the Lunch Bunch and Moms and Tots give individuals of many interests the chance to make lasting friendships.

Many times, newcomers like Virginia Chapman, who relocated to Valdosta in 2003, are inspired to reach out to others. After her positive experience with the Newcomers Club, she chose to serve on the board and was elected president. The longest serving member of the club is now responsible for “Cares and Concerns” and ensures those in need of sympathy, congratulations and other concerns receive proper attention.

Chapman also decided to serve for many years as a “greeter,” who traveled door-to-door delivering newcomer bags, welcoming new residents. Making people feel welcome was her passion as a greeter and she loved the fact that she was able to “put a face on Valdosta.”

The key to succeeding in a new city is knowing where to go and who to call and VGS’s annual publication FYI*South Georgia is the self-proclaimed “key to the community.” The more-than-directory lists community events and contact information for utilities, churches, newspapers and more for Valdosta, Adel, Hahira, Lakeland, Lake Park, Moody AFB, Nashville and Tifton.



Although Valdosta Greeting service and its publication began by serving just the single city, through the years it has expanded to neighboring counties. Information about each community is available on the company’s Web site, which also provides a business locator, movie schedule, local forecasts and other valuable information.

A new addition to the site is the newcomers’ blog, which gives updates on events and news of which residents can take advantage. Intern Kay Hearn, a VSU senior majoring in public relations, initiated this technological step forward and is working on leaping with Valdosta Greeting Service into the world of online social networking sites like Facebook.

Graphic Designer Kristen Varney has also helped update the company’s image and both help owners Minton and Reissiger stay abreast of other technological advances – those which founder Florence Millians could have never foreseen at the service’s beginning more than 50 years ago.

As Valdosta Greeting Service transforms to better serve residents, those who benefit continue to embrace greeters excitedly with open arms. While the faces have changed through the years, the mission has remained the same – to connect new residents to the community and welcome them with true Southern hospitality. –VS