Two men’s lives and contributions to their community were honored this week.

Minister Willie B. Lewis is a “King Father” and Warren Tyson is a sergeant major in the Timbuktu Celebration.

Timbuktu founder Grady “Mr. Spanky” Whitfield organized the celebration which honors senior citizens at work in the community. A marker in Saunders Park bears the name of each person honored by the Timbuktu Celebration. The marker is by an ancient rose bush transplanted in the park.

Lewis is a retired minister who builds model horse-drawn wagons and works with wood to create various toys and models. He and wife Margaret had seven children. He began carving during World War II so his children would have toys. Raised in Lanier County, he grinded cane as a young man. He and Margaret worked and raised their family for many years in Florida. In 2002, they returned to South Georgia, living in Valdosta. Mrs. Lewis died a few years ago.

Tyson served in World War II, as an Army tanker in Africa, France and Germany. He recalls a meeting with George S. Patton where he carried the general’s legendary pearl-handled pistols.

A few years ago, Whitfield developed the Timbuktu Celebration to commemorate the park’s past and the community’s culture.

Whitfield has shared a legend of the park, of how a spring once flowed there. Flowed so freely that it became a lake where humans and animals would travel great distances to visit its waters.

“The cool liquid healed men’s battles scars,” Whitfield said. “The water made people live a long life. All children came to swim together and everyone enjoyed their visit.”

After the Civil War, the Union’s 103rd Colored Infantry was stationed to occupy Valdosta. The unit stayed near this lake. They reportedly named the area that is now the park Timbuktu.

At a short ceremony, Mayor John Fretti commemorated Whitfield’s work through the Timbuktu Celebration and the contributions of seniors such as Lewis and Tyson.