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Mrs. Price is the widow of Burt Price, a former Trustee of Bethany (1972-1996) as well. She served on the Board following Mr. Price’s death due to Alzheimer’s in 1996 and remained an active member of the Board until she was extended Emeritus status in 2010. She has always maintained her commitment to the principles and Mission of Bethany throughout her support when Mr. Price led the Board and followed that with nothing less when she became a member herself. A long-standing member of the Primitive Baptist denomination, she remained active in all denominational activities including the annual Bible Conference at Epworth By The Sea, the annual Music Workshop, and Associational meetings throughout. She and the Price Family established the Burt Price Scholarship & Education Program at Bethany to assist in obtaining and retaining qualified and educated Staff members in Skilled Nursing and Assisted Living care, and the Scholarship continues to provide the same for the Staff of The Lodge at Bethany.

Mrs. Bird served as a member of the active Board of Trustees from 1994 until she was extended Emeritus status in 2013. She was a faithful member of the Board as well as a committed member of the Metter Primitive Baptist Church and her Community of Metter, Georgia. Having served for many years as the Extension Officer in Candler County, Georgia, Mrs. Marcile was also affectionately known as the lady of Biscuits, having established her own Marcile’s Biscuit business and seeing them placed in such national chains as Publix. She and her husband, Dr. George Bird, owned the Bird Drug Company in Metter and were always instrumental in serving the healthcare needs of others.

Mr. Smith served on the Board of Trustees of Bethany for sixty-two (62) and as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for over four decades, until 2012. During this time, he saw Bethany grow from the humble beginning of Faith Cottage Bethany Home for Ladies, the addition of Bethany Home for Men in 1951, and the addition of Bethany Assisted Living in Vidalia in 1999. Mr. Smith served faithfully, with a vision to carry forth the Mission of the organization that was founded in 1923. He followed the footsteps of those founding individuals that made up the Board originally and had a dream that would be fulfilled in 2016 when Bethany opened the doors to The Lodge at Bethany in Statesboro, Georgia, his home town and county. Mr. Smith continues to serve Bethany in his role as Trustee Emeritus most vividly in the commitment to pray for the continued Mission of Bethany.

Mrs. Hughes began her service on the Board of Trustees in January of 2014 served as the Secretary and Treasurer for the Board until her resignation in December of 2020. She graduated from Georgia Southern University with a BS in Education degree followed by a Master’s Degree in Education and an Education Specialist Degree. Mrs. Hughes is a retired Georgia educator. She taught school in Bryan and Bulloch counties for twenty (20) plus years and served as a math consultant and Director of the Georgia Department of Education Technology Training Center with First District Regional Education Agency until her retirement in 1998. For twelve years following her retirement she and her husband, Don owned and operated Green Acres Lawn Care and Landscaping, Inc. Currently Mrs. Hughes is actively involved as a volunteer at Ogeechee Area Hospice and The Lodge at Bethany. She is a member of the Statesboro Primitive Baptist Church where she served on the finance committee and assisted in teaching an adult Bible Study class.

Mr. Akins was elected to the Board of Trustees in June of 2017. Mr. Akins has a Bachelor of Science Degree with a Major in Math from Georgia Teachers College, a Master’s in Education with a Major in Administration from Georgia Southern College and an Education Specialists Degree in Educational Leadership also from Georgia Southern College. His professional career spans forty years in the field of education, where he was active holding professional memberships in a number of Professional Associations, including First District Association of Elementary School Principals (President 1984-1985), Georgia Association of Elementary School Principals, Southeastern Council of Elementary School Principals, Georgia Association of Educational Leaders (Board of Directors 1983-1986), National Association of Elementary School Principals (State Representative 1986-1992), and the Professional Association of Georgia Educators, and has since retiring from the Georgia School System also held Professional Memberships in the Tattnall, Bulloch, and Georgia Retired Educators Association (Governing Board 2007-2011),and the Bulloch Retired Educators Scholarship Foundation. He has been a Member of the Brooklet Primitive Baptist Church since 1955 and has served in a number of capacities in the church and Primitive Baptist Denomination, including most recently serving as the Chairman of the Southern States Bible Conference of the Denomination. Mr. Akins brings expertise and experience to the Board and compassion for serving others.

Mr. Akins was elected to the Board of Trustees in June of 2017. Mr. Akins has a Bachelor of Science Degree with a Major in Math from Georgia Teachers College, a Master’s in Education with a Major in Administration from Georgia Southern College and an Education Specialists Degree in Educational Leadership also from Georgia Southern College. His professional career spans forty years in the field of education, where he was active holding professional memberships in a number of Professional Associations, including First District Association of Elementary School Principals (President 1984-1985), Georgia Association of Elementary School Principals, Southeastern Council of Elementary School Principals, Georgia Association of Educational Leaders (Board of Directors 1983-1986), National Association of Elementary School Principals (State Representative 1986-1992), and the Professional Association of Georgia Educators, and has since retiring from the Georgia School System also held Professional Memberships in the Tattnall, Bulloch, and Georgia Retired Educators Association (Governing Board 2007-2011),and the Bulloch Retired Educators Scholarship Foundation. He has been a Member of the Brooklet Primitive Baptist Church since 1955 and has served in a number of capacities in the church and Primitive Baptist Denomination, including most recently serving as the Chairman of the Southern States Bible Conference of the Denomination. Mr. Akins brings expertise and experience to the Board and compassion for serving others.