the DeKalb FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2018 • VOL.

23, NO 47 • FREE

Serving East Atlanta, Avondale Estates, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Dunwoody, Lithonia, Pine Lake, Stone Mountain, Stonecrest and Tucker • A PUBLICATION OF ACE III COMMUNICATIONS

Collinsgivesfromtheheart
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
taylor@dekalbchamp.com

Tucker High School’s

Carolyn Collins has made
it her mission to help those
in need with her “Giving
Closet,” and the community
is thanking her for it.
An anonymous person
recently nominated Collins–
who is a custodian at Tucker
High School–for the 2018-
2019 Life Changer of the
Year award. Life Changer
of the Year is an annual
program that recognizes
K-12 educators and school
employees across the
country.
Collins stocks a closet
with clothing, food,
blankets, personal hygiene
products and school supplies
at the Tucker school. She
describes herself as a part of
a family of givers.
Collins started the Giving
Closet Sept. 24, 2014, after
she discovered two students
at the school were homeless
and living in a car with other
family members.
“Of course I started
crying,” Collins said. “My
heart started going out to
them.”
After informing the
school principal about the
students and feeding the
students, Collins asked if she
could have a place within
the school for the purpose
of taking care of students.
Collins then found a closet
that was used to store mop
buckets and other cleaning
supplies; and converted it
into the Giving Closet.
“When I first started
doing it, [funding] was
g season.
out of my own pocket,”
Collins said. “As [people’s

SEE CLOSET ON PAGE 5

Carolyn Collins showing off part of her “Giving Closet” at Tucker High School. Photo provided by Carolyn Collins

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OPINION
Seasonofcheernotcheeryforall
For those of us who love the holiday
season, it’s our time to shine and
rejoice.
We love the festive feel of the
holiday season, the call for blessings
and giving thanks, the anticipation of
gift giving and receiving, the sparkle in
decorations at homes and businesses
and even attire for all the feasts and
parties. It’s a time when many of us are
nostalgic, reflective and in the mood to
make new memories that we’ll cherish
for years to come.
However as wonderful as this season
can be for so many, not everyone is
sharing this joy.
While many of us can’t get enough
of welcoming family and friends
into our homes, there are others
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who are without a home or safe
shelter and their families are in dire
straits. Children who are in foster
care wonder what the future holds.
Fathers and mothers without jobs or
who don’t make an adequate wage to
support their families worry about the
disappointment instead of glee they’ll
see on their children’s faces. Some
individuals are dealing with serious
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2018 • Page 3
medical or mental illnesses. Others
may be victims of crime that have left
them unable to trust and feel joy. Some
people struggling with addiction may
be uninclined to join in the singing
of Christmas carols and engage in
lively conversations about how they’re
spending the holidays. Some folks have
lost their faith.
Those individuals who struggle
with the gaiety, glitz and continuous
expressions of joy and good will be all
around us. They are our neighbors, co-
workers, church members, passersby,
store clerks, wait staff, etc. and, yes,
even some of our closest friends and
family. Some are visible, but many are
not—either choosing to stay away from
others or finding themselves confined—
by choice or not—to home, hospital or
some other institution. Many people
we encounter are good at hiding their
sadness and dismay.
It’s so easy to get caught up in
celebrating our joy and blessings,
but let’s be mindful this season that
there are many troubled, hurting,
despondent and lost people among us.
Try to tune into the emotions of those
we encounter, being aware that every
“I’m fine” doesn’t tell the whole story.
Offer kindness, a smile, a helping hand,
possibly a meal or an unexpected gift to
someone who needs it most.
If we can each make a small
connection to bring a little kindness to
those who find the world is an unkind
place, we’ll truly be bringing a little joy
to the world.
OPINION DEKALB FREE PRESS • DECEMBER 28, 2018 • Page 4

Classy people from the Classic City

Most of us have a home away
from home, or a second place
we consider home in our hearts
and minds. Mine is Athens,
Georgia. Like Athens, Greece, its
namesake; the Classic City has a
storied history, as well as many
prominent leaders, academics and
athletes living there today. But
what makes most any town unique
and special are its people and this
column is about a small group of
Athens’ finest.
 Mayor Nancy Denson has
been serving the community
and county for nearing four
decades. With several of those as
tax commissioner, Denson can
honorably state that she never
forced a single individual or family
out of their home due to a forced
tax sale. Denson is term-limited
from running again, much to the
chagrin of many in the city, but
her legacy will long live on. Both
northeast Georgia/Athens area
food banks were begun from her
garage. Her family continues in
public service, with one daughter
the longtime city manager of Tybee
Island and another a well-regarded
state legislator as well as formerly
a candidate for mayor of Atlanta. In
or out of politics, the Denson
community service dynasty will
continue.
Another prominent face on
seemingly every billboard in
Athens is that of entrepreneur and
Dawgs super fan Reign Streiter.
His broad grin and clean-shaven
pate call to mind a more congenial
Mr. Clean, with that white T-shirt
replaced by Bulldog colors and
a strong following of friends and
customers. If you don’t see a
Reign sign at most every major
intersection, touting Team Reign,
and spirited, feel-good sayings of
the day; just look for him Between
the Hedges prior to most every
home game kick-off.    clients range from modest first
Reign graduated from UGA, first
becoming an educator. From every
account, he loved teaching and his
students loved him. With a growing
family, he decided he needed to
increase his income, and he then
began a side enterprise of selling
 I don’t think it is entirely Athenian, non-UGA graduates
‘One Man’s coincidental that DeKalb County
government is now led by another
calling on the Dawgs for that one.
Stay classy Athens, and keep
Opinion’ Athenian, Michael Thurmond, on producing leaders and inspiring
who has a long history of public people such as Mayor Denson and
Bill Crane service as well. Georgia’s governor- the Reign Man. Cheers!!
bill.csicrane@gmail.com elect is another Athenian, and  
UGA Bulldog, Brian Kemp. The Bill Crane also serves as a political
former developer, entrepreneur, analyst and commentator for Channel
cars. His approach was unique, as state senator and secretary of state 2’s Action News, WSB-AM News/Talk
he might ask you about your dream also shares that Athens touch of 750 and now 95.5 FM, as well as a
car—that you never owned, or the candor, genuine character and columnist for The Champion, DeKalb
one that got away—as part of sizing approachability. Georgia will be in Free Press and Georgia Trend. Crane
up your needs. good hands. And as this football is a DeKalb native and business owner,
 Within a few years, he moved season draws to a close, I have but living in Scottdale. You can reach
on to more lucrative enterprises, and one request on my list for Santa–a him or comment on a column at bill.
after securing his real estate license, strong Bulldog beat-down on Texas csicrane@gmail.com.
began selling homes. In no time and in the Sugar Bowl. I imagine there
for six consecutive years, the Reign will even be more than a few non-
Man was the top-selling Realtor
in Athens/Clarke County. Though
he was happy making money for
himself and his lead brokers, he
wanted to do more, and to give back
some of the success he was finding
to the community. 
And out of that, a year ago, he
birthed Give Back Realty. Reign
and his team of now 11 other real
estate executives, donate 10 percent
of their real estate commissions to
a growing list of nearly 20 Athens
area charities and nonprofits after
every sale closing. During his first
year in business, this 10 percent
reinvestment has resulted in more
than $100,000 into the coffers of
Athens charities and nonprofits.
 If you do the math on how well
the overall enterprise is doing,
multiply those gifts by 10, and that
would be gross commissions, which
at best are 7 percent of the sale
price of the homes and commercial
buildings being offered. That big
smile of Reign’s rolls over onto a lot
of other faces.
 And though Reign also owns
his own office building, housing
marquee tenants including college
sports broadcast giant, IMG; his
family starter homes, to aiding
former UGA football coaches with
their post-Bulldog after-lives. And
given Reign’s drive, I expect that
Give Back Realty will be expanding
and serving other Georgia markets
in the not-too-distant future.

FREEPRESS
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LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2018 • Page 5

Theflag-drapedcasketofDeKalbCountyPoliceOfficerEdgarFloresinthehearsebeforethefuneral. LawenforcementofficialsfilledAllSaintsCatholicChurchforofficerFlores’sfuneral.PhotosbyCarla

Fallenofficerremembered
Parker

BY CARLA PARKER Conroy said. “He was an example voice, it was almost like he was his excited to see him because I knew
carla@dekalbchamp.com for all of us to emulate.” son.” I could shoot beside him one more
In honor of Flores, Conroy Alexis Flores spoke at his time. I didn’t know it would be the
presented the Flores family a brother’s funeral. last. When we said goodbye, I told
Family, friends and hundreds
medallion of the DeKalb County “He was an amazing brother, him, ‘I’ll see you later,’ and we gave
of law enforcement officials from
Police Department patch and a son, boyfriend, role model and each other a hug. If I’d known that
DeKalb County and across Georgia
medal of honor. most importantly police officer,” the would be the last time, I’d seen you I
gathered at All Saints Catholic
“Each of us owes a great debt younger Flores said. “He was very would’ve hugged you just a little bit
Church in Dunwoody Dec. 18 to
to Edgar. He made a difference. loving and caring. He fought for harder.”
say their final goodbyes and honor
He made DeKalb County a better what he believed in; he fought for DeKalb County CEO Michael
the life of slain DeKalb County
place,” Conroy said while addressing equality and unfortunately in that Thurmond said county and state
Police Officer Edgar Flores, a day
the Flores family. “His legacy will fight, he lost his life.” officials stand united in support of
after what would have been his 25th
live on through those standing Hamilton said Flores was a law enforcement officers.
birthday.
around you. We will all forever be natural at policing. “Let the word go forth that
Flores, 24, was fatally shot after
your family.” “Some people end up policing those who will attack, those who
conducting what was to be a routine
DeKalb County Police Officer and thrive in it,” Hamilton said. seek to do harm, that this will not
traffic stop in Decatur. He had been
Justin Hamilton, who graduated the “Flores did just more than policing. go unaddressed in our county,”
a member of the DeKalb Police
police academy with Flores, shared This is what he was born to do.” Thurmond said. “We stand in
Department for 19 months. DeKalb
stories of their time in the academy. Hamilton said the last time he support of this great hero, Officer
County Police Chief James Conroy
Through tears, Hamilton described saw Flores was a month ago at a Flores, and we stand in sending a
said Flores embodied the type of
how Flores loved his family and shooting range. message to those who disrespect
police officer that every community
talked about them often. “He had a huge smile on his face. our law enforcement that there is no
would want.
“Flores would always talk about If you knew Flores, you knew that place for this in this county, in our
“During his short career with this
his little brother Alexis,” Hamilton smile. His smile was always teeth state or in this nation.”
department, he managed to embrace
said. “He was so proud to hear his and more,” Hamilton said. “I was so
the notion of service to others,”

CLOSET Continued From Page 1

knowledge of the closet] got bigger I started
getting donations from other people in the
neighborhood and churches.”
Upon learning that there were homeless
students in every school, Collins started
contacting students outside of Tucker.
“I don’t know the number of people that I’ve
helped,” Collins said. “It’s quite a few. I just don’t
help Tucker. I help whatever school needs it and
whoever walks off the street to this school. If they
need it, I’ll take care of them. You don’t even have
to be a student you could be a single parent. I’m
going to help them too.”
Collins said the death of her son is an
inspiration to help people. She wants to eliminate
obstacles so students are better able to focus on
their education and bettering their lives.
“They love me,” Collins said about the
students. “They call me grandmama, auntie,
mama. I can talk to them. I’ll cry with them.
Whatever they need, if I don’t have it in my
closet, I can get it.”
Collins and her Giving Closet have made
national news with Collins visiting The Steve
Harvey Show and Good Morning America. She
also has been featured in The Washington Post.
“I just want to help the kids,” Collins said.
“[News outlets are] helping to bring in donations.
It’s not about me. It’s about the kids and I don’t
like to see kids hurt.”
In the future, Collins wants to find homes or
apartments for the homeless. Collins also would
like to have a building to house the Giving Closet.
“It’s just the way I was raised,” Collins said.
“I’m doing it for the Lord. This is my calling
and this is what God wants me to do. And I
appreciate that people are seeing what I do and I
love what I do. And I never want to stop."