The Garden Club of Georgia, Inc.

Meet Caroline Silcox, Georgia's President

2011-2013: "Our Garden of Georgia"
Written by Hal Silcox

Caroline Silcox

I first met this charming lady in late 1953. At that time I was not aware of what a wonderful, talented, loveable and fun person she would grow to be. After all, she was just a shy high school senior.

It took me several years to realize what a gem I had met. Caroline and I married the summer before her senior year at Agnes Scott College in Decatur and my senior year at Emory University School of Dentistry. We have two children, Elizabeth (Beth) Maentz of Winnetka, Ill. and Dr. D. Hal Silcox, III of Atlanta, one granddaughter, Elizabeth Silcox and three grandsons, Tom Maentz III, Dan Maentz and Hal Silcox IV.

In 1961, after two years in the Army Dental Corp, we chose Gainesville as our home. Caroline's Gainesville and Hall County family history dates to the early 1800s. There she taught American and Georgia History at Gainesville Junior High School until she felt her young children needed her more than the school.

As the children entered school, free time allowed her to participate in some of her favorite community activities such as the Crabapple Garden Club (twice president), Gainesville Chorale, First United Methodist Church Flower Guild and Gainesville Junior League. After eleven active years in the Junior League, serving in several board positions including president, she became a Sustaining Member.

As Beth, then Hal, entered college, Caroline was employed by Hall County as a Voter Registrar and Jury Commissioner.

While involved with flower arranging at our church she was privileged to attend National Garden Clubs Flower Show School and the Church Flower Arranging Workshop at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. Caroline is a Master Flower Show Judge, and a member of the Creative Study Club and the North Georgia Council of Flower Show Judges.

Known by many as "the flower lady", Caroline started her freelance business, "Designs Beautiful" in 1989. The business supplied arrangements and flowers for large and small weddings, receptions, parties, civic functions and yes, funerals. Since the Garden Club of Georgia, Inc. became her focus, Caroline has served as chairman of two Flower Show Schools, Symposium Chairman, Laurel District Director, two terms as GCG Assistant Treasurer, Treasurer, Trustees Chairman, First Vice-President and now your new President.

Caroline and I enjoy traveling, especially discovering new, interesting places and people in "Our Garden of Georgia." It's always wonderful, though, when we safely return to our home on Lake Lanier.

It is a place we enjoy, with areas to grow things and woods to deflect the noise of civilization—except for the many boats on the lake. What a privilege it is to live in Georgia!