“Stretch! Touch those toes! Stretch!” The shrill, high-pitched sound of a Fox 40 Classic whistle pierces the air. “Good job ladies! You are improving! Take a water break!”
That’s the voice of Lauretha W. Farr-Best – known professionally as Ms. Weston, later Mrs. Farr, and finally Mrs. Farr-Best who shaped and molded minds and bodies while employed as a Health and Physical Education teacher in the Bulloch County school system from January 1968 - June 2001.
She has worked at Mary Jackson Elementary School (where she taught first grade for nearly two years), and Statesboro Junior High School where, due to integration, six Black teachers were assigned to work there until William James High School was reopened as Willam James Middle School. Her memory brings to mind several principals: J. Adams, J.D. Akins, J. Newman, and H. Tankersley. Farr-Best spent her final years at Langston Chapel Middle School under the leadership of principals J. Newman and J. Tremble. She also worked as a substitute teacher and became particularly fond of students in Special Education classes.
“I kept a little suitcase in the class that included a change of clothes and personal hygiene products for a former student who was frequently in need. He was a sweet little boy who didn’t have much.”
Evonn Key witnessed Best’s passion for students while working with her as a Club PRIDE advisor.
“Mrs. Farr-Best was a dedicated teacher. She loved her students and they loved her because was always willing to help them.”
Former student, Sharon Hill, speaks highly of Best’s nurturing approach.
“Mrs. Farr was my 7th grade Health and P.E. teacher, and I’ll never forget her. She would say, ‘Your parents did not send you to school to fool around. You are here to learn!’ and we did. She tremendously affected me because I could see myself in her. Students need to see positive role models that look like them.”
Farr-Best exposed students to a stimulating and supportive environment that placed just as much emphasis on personal growth as physical well-being.
What began as an uncommon interest for the 8th grade student in Farr-Best’s William James Middle School Health class during a unit on health careers has blossomed into a life’s work for Matthew Lovett, owner of Matthew H. Lovett and Sons Funeral Home.
“Mrs. Farr made us think about our future and encouraged us to pursue our dreams. She was classy, yet motherly. She was the kind of teacher who would listen and provide the encouragement and inspiration that we needed.”
“I wish I could find his written report from 8th grade, so he can have it. I am yet to get rid of my old school stuff!” Farr-Best said.
Mother to daughter, Jessica, Farr-Best is grandmother to four grandsons: Corey, Mekhi, Weston, and Cason; and one honorary son, Paul Denson. She has embraced children from her marriage to the late Charles Best and counts Aneshia, Tangela, and Charles Jr. as part of her blended family.
She has four living siblings: oldest sister Essie is 99; Lula is 95; Betty is 75; brother Richard is 82. Norris III, Bessie, Thomas, Joseph and Jimmy are deceased siblings.
“I’m the ninth child and recently celebrated my 79th birthday by spending the day with family. We enjoyed a delicious meal on the Savannah Riverfront; My family surprised me with roses and chocolate-covered strawberries.”
Farr-Best grew up in the segregated Grovepoint and Canebreak areas of Burroughs, which had a two-room schoolhouse. When it closed, she and her peers were bussed to the segregated Derene Elementary School, approximately 10 miles away from home. She remembers being served out of the “Colored” window at Dairy Queen, and will never forget the sting of tear gas at a 1963 protest rally.
Despite adversities, the Westons prospered. Her father was one of the work crew who performed maintenance of the Seaboard Railroad’s train tracks, while most other men in the community were farm workers. Weston also distinguished himself by using entrepreneurial skills.
“My daddy owned the neighborhood confectionary store,” Farr-Best recalls. “Mama would work the store until he or one of my older siblings got home.”
She also vividly remembers spending time with her paternal grandmother, the midwife.
“When patients came to see Grandma, she’d take them into her bedroom to treat them. She delivered mostly Black children, but delivered a few White babies as well.”
On land founded by slaves, the Westons managed to combat social barriers by providing services to their community.
According to a Savannah Morning News article, “Family Honors African American Midwives,” “On June 14, 1938, under the instruction of Dr. Victor Hugo Bassett, 19 African-American women from the Savannah area received their licenses to practice as midwives. They were among the first African-American women in Georgia to receive their licenses.”
Emma Weston was one of those midwives. She had her beginnings in Burroughs, Georgia, a former town in Chatham County that slaves established. She was the mother to Norris Weston Jr. who would marry Rebecca Glover; their union would produce ten children; the ninth would be the honoree of this article – Lauretha Weston Farr-Best.
A 1963 graduate of Tompkins High School (currently Woodville-Tompkins), Farr-Best entered Savannah State University with interests in nursing and physical therapy. Because the college did not offer her preferred major, she would earn a Bachelor’s Degree in 1967 in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation for grades 1-8.
Farr-Best has not only made her mark in the educational arena, but she is also a star in the community.
She’s been a member of Original First African Baptist Church for over 45 years. She is engaged in the following ministries: Deaconess, usher, former Sunday School teacher, Women of Grace Bible study group, Dietary Committee, and Building Fund Committee. She has served as Secretary, Asst. Secretary, and Vice President to Senior Women of the Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church Association. She’s currently on the PMBA President’s Council and is a PMBA Usher.
Farr-Best served as a General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia, 1st District Usher, two terms as First District Women Vice President, and was recognized for 50 years of usher service.
She has served on the board of the Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity, and Bulloch County Alcohol and Drug Council. She volunteers for the Food Bank Outreach, is a Bulloch County Retired Teachers member, and is the recipient of the 2007 & 2010 NAACP local chapter Community Service Award.
Past accomplishments include being a Club PRIDE advisor, Girl Scouts leader, SMAGADP (drug prevention program), 1998 Dean Day Smith Award recipient, and Community Service to Mankind Award.
These days, Farr-Best is more empowered than ever. She hasn’t stopped; she has just slowed her roll. She enjoys walking, meditating, and reading the Bible and inspirational literature.
Her most recent read is, “Praying Women,” which teaches what to say in conversations with God and reminds her that the journey isn’t over, she’s just shifting gears.