Herbert Jewelers Mailbag

editor's Comment

I was not surprised at the outpouring of e-mails concerning the closing of one of our great downtown legacies - Herbert Jewelers. The preponderance of responses were from people who grew up in Fort Valley and moved away, or people who went to school with Dennis back in the 60's. All of us will feel the sense of loss from the closing of this store, because there will be one less tie to the town that we love and grew up in.
 
We can take solace in our memories and the artifacts that we treasure once Herbert's is gone. Thanks to the Herbert Family for a job well done!
 
James Khoury  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 James:  I sent this to Jana and the Herbert's page... but thought I'd like to share it publicly...if you will...

Dear Jana and Herbert's family:

I had a sick feeling this was the big secret. My dad Paul Reehling and I are both so sad...I called dad immediately and I will tell you he got all choked up and said he'd call me later...he wanted to go and "think about this"...I think you know that Herbert's was always my mom's favorite store -- and Dennis one of her favorite people!...my grandmother Rosie Reehling from Baltimore was there a few times over the years and she always talked about Herbert's and what a jewel (no pun intended)of a place she thought it to be.I understand that times change and sometimes you have to know when to say when and move on...but I hate it.

Herbert's is one of, perhaps the most, enduring mainstays in what I think of as the landscape of my life - both growing up in Fort Valley and as an adult living elsewhere...but being able to return to Herbert's to shop and feel a sense of home. I just love, and will miss, being in the store...the way the floor sounds when you walk on it...a familiar smell...the sound of the ancient printer churning out your receipt...the way everything is always in the same place and decade over decade you just automatically know where to look based on what you are seeking....babies, weddings, graduations, a gift for yourself (a personal favorite of mine). Herbert's is like a comfy old pair of sweats -- and I will be so sad not to be able to reach for this piece of home anymore. As my mom Mary Jo said of things like this, "it's the end of an era"...and so it is.

I love you guys...all of you...and thank you for so many great memories...many of which Dennis created for my mom and I wear daily -- as did my mom and brother Paul, and as do my dad, brother John and sisters-in-law and friends I was proud to introduce to the Herbert's brand of charm and beauty. Good luck to each of you on the next journey - wherever that may lead. 

Love,
Rosemary Reehling Jiles 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 
Very sad news for all -- specially our city! Downtown will NOT be the same!

Please add Joyce & Gary Barrett to your e-mail list.

 Many thanks,
 Kay Hardeman Meyer
Fort Valley

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

James, I lost Dennis' email address. Please send it to me. I want to finish my add-a-diamond bracelet!

Thanks,
Gayle Smith

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 

All I can say is WOW!

Wes Wheeler
Americus, Ga.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 
Can't believe Herbert's is closing, well, I guess I can in this economy.  But I hate to see it so bad!!  I know those of you who are close to the Herbert's hate it even worse.  They are such a fine family with their wonderful business!!  I agree it will hurt downtown FV.  I wish that I could come down for the special sale just to see all the folks !!

Caron Smith Peavy
Dalton, Ga. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 
Hi James,
I'm very saddened to hear this news. Thanks for sharing this and many other events that happen in your community. You are truly appreciated!

Donna Hunnicutt Clark
Roswell, Ga. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 James:
 
When I heard the news today I felt like someone had just kicked me in the pit of my stomach.  This is such a very sad occurrence.   I hope that Peggy and Dennis will stay in Fort Valley.  They have always been so kind to us and wonderful contributors and representatives of the City.  Herbert's Jewelers was one of just a few stores of class and distinction remaining on Main St.
 
Dennis, Peggy and their store are part of the last vestiges that made our Country so enduring and remarkable - a small historic family business in the loving hands of two exceptional and down-to-earth Americans - the very foundation of America.
 
What a heart-rending loss.  Everyone who can should stop by the Store on Tuesday or Wednesday to make the final chapter of Herbert's Jeweler's a positive one and to give our thanks and appreciation to this caring and extraordinary couple.
 
Jim and Beth Teabo
Fort Valley 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Dear James,
  
Please post this note on your newsletter.  Thanks for letting me know of the closing of Herbert`s Jewelers.  I will miss the store immensely.  Not only did I shop there, but I liked the repair service that was part of the business.  Dennis and Peggy have been such good friends through the years.  Fort Valley will not be the same without Herbert's.  Thanks for being a "model business". 
 
Ellen Anderson Whitmer of St. Johns, FL  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 
What a loss for all of us.  We all share many good memories at Herbert Jewelers.... from picking out our china and silver when we were getting married, to getting gifts for our children, and our children and us also  getting special graduation presents with the special Herbert Jewelers bows  ....to hinting for our anniversary presents, (and putting a bug in Peggy or Dawn's ear about what I wanted before Mike went there)  ...This is one of the best parts of growing up and living  in Peach County....Byron or Ft. Valley.  We will truly miss this Peach County Institution....
 
Brenda and Mike Gilstrap
Byron, Ga.  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 
 That just breaks my heart.  I bought my first watch there (with my own money) as a teenager after earning money working in peaches.  What an icon!!  Hate to see it go.  Fort Valley has already changed so very much.  I also remember Khoury's store as well.
 
Cornelia Monk Sherrill 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 
I will always have the Herberts. The crystal from my wedding was from Herberts and still is a center of our little family.  My son got married this year and Herberts is where he got the ring for his young bride. You will be missed downtown.
 
Thanks.
The Yingling family

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 
I am so sad, but glad if this is what Dennis and Peggy want.  I remember my Mother buying all of our Christmas jewelry there... my charm bracelet, which I still treasure; my birthstone necklace, as well as my sister's and sister-in-law's; a beautiful Oriental Vase that my ex bought for me from Herbert's....I still treasure all pieces of my history that have come from Herbert's Jeweler's.
 
My Aunt Neva Lowe worked for Dennis's parents for years and also my sister-in-law, Emma Gassett.
 
Herbert's is one of the things that I thought would be here long after me.  So much fun just going in and looking around at all of the beautiful jewelry.  I am sad to know that it won't be there the next time I visit my town, Fort Valley.
 
Best of luck and much love to Dennis and Peggy!
Love,
June (Gassett) Herbst

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The picture of the family was missing son-in-law Doug Senecal........but he sent his best wishes at precisely the right moment (knowing when the appointed time was to be !!!).  He will be here in the next few days but was finishing up a few business calls before coming. 

Thanks for all of the warm wishes......

Peggy Herbert

**********************

Back to kommish.net