The first guest on Wednesday's “Mornings unPHILtered” show was Rebecca Kennerly, who told host Phil Boyum about Friday's “Saving Graces” show at the Averitt Center. The show will feature four solo women performers — Kennerly, Dr. Betty Smith Franklin, Susan Jackson and Kay Watkins — each telling a story about a woman's passionate journey of love, loss, and redemption.
    Franklin, a drama teacher at the Averitt Center, will perform “Storm,” “This Old House” and “When The Role is Called Up Yonder.”
    Watkins, a storyteller from Atlanta, will perform “With This Ring.” Then Susan Jackson, an academic evaluator at Georgia Southern, will perform “Thera Mae's Offering,” which was written in 1921.
    Finally, Dr. Kennerly, who is originally from Detroit, and is currently a professor at Georgia Southern, will share her research about roadside shrines. These markers usually have to deal with the death of a loved one.
    They will be sharing stories, songs, and their insight into life. The period covered is from 1837 to 2003.
    Kennedy said Tim Chapman, the director of the Averitt Center, really pushed her to bring the show to the center.
    Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. show are $16 for box seats, $14 for general admission and $10 for children's tickets. For more information, call the Averitt Center at 212- 2787.
    Boyum next welcomed Jeff Chapman, a Republican candidate for governor, to the show. Chapman is from Brunswick.
    Chapman just finished up his third term as a State Senator, and served as Glynn County Commissioner before that. He said he is very familiar with Georgia politics.
    Chapman said he believes Georgians need a form of government that doesn't dole out favors, and listens to the needs of the people.
    He said he became angry by the way he was treated by government officials, so he decided to run for the top state office to make changes to the very foundation of state government.
    Also, Chapman confirmed that he will attend the Republican Party “Meet and Greet” to be held at the Statesboro High School on Friday from 5 to 6:30 p.m., before participating in the gubernatorial debate at Statesboro High beginning at 7 p.m.
    Sherry Smith, president of the Southeast Bulloch Middle School Parent Teacher Organization, was Boyum's final guest Wednesday. She came on to talk about the “Are You Smarter Than A Middle Schooler” show.
    The show will held this Thursday at the Middle School Cafeteria starting at 6:30 p.m. There also will be a drawing for special gift basket as part of the end of the year PTO organization fundraiser, which includes a “Splash in the Boro” summer pass.
    As people enter the school, they will be given a special number, and as the game begins numbers will be called and those people will get to play in the game and see if they are “Smarter Than a Middle Schooler.”
    
    “Mornings unPHILtered” airs live Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on statesboroherald.com and also simulcast on WWNS-AM 1240 on the radio. You also can listen anytime at BoroLive.com on statesboroherald.com