“I grew up in McWilliams, Alabama, close to Oak Hill, in Wilcox County. I have lived here all of my life. My first intention was to leave and go into the Navy, but I went to college instead. I came back and taught school for 30 years. I started with kindergarten, then reading and math.  I became an assistant principal and then a principal. 

I also worked at this Oak Hill Grocery store part-time for 24 years and opened every Saturday. One morning, I was wearing my apron and sweeping off the lot. It was such a nice and peaceful moment that I looked at the store and thought, ‘I wouldn’t mind owning this one day.’ Things fell into place, and I bought the store in 2012. The original building dates back to the late 1800s. 

This is the only grocery store in a 14-mile radius. There were other small stores in this area, but they closed down. The nearest grocery store is in Camden, the county seat.  My prices are a little bit higher than the big grocery stores, but you won’t have to drive 14 miles to get a loaf of bread or a carton of milk. Pineapple, Snow Hill, Rosebud, and Darlington are some of the little communities around here, and this store is important to them.

Oak Hill is a small community with a population of about 85. We have antebellum homes and historical churches. It’s a rural area, and the drive is 20 to 30 miles to the nearest school or factory. Logging is the main industry, and we cater to deer hunters. 

During the pandemic, I realized this store is on the front line of serving people and helping them through. It takes a lot of time, but thankfully my wife is understanding. It’s how we care for others.”

Robert