Donnie Thigpen is a very interesting person and the author of Standing on the Solid Rock, a book about his life and how he and his wife, Cheryl, have dealt with the unexpected. It is a fascinating tale about living in Suwanee as well as a sweet love story. We recently sat down with Donnie at Brown Bag Deli to learn more about his life and the story behind his book.
Please tell us about yourself and your history in Suwanee.
I was born and raised in the cotton fields of South Georgia in a large family of seven boys and two girls. We grew up very poor and my dad struggled with alcohol throughout his life which was detrimental to the structure of our family. Our childhood did not produce fond memories, unfortunately. Of the nine children, only two of us are alive now. Some died tragically and others battled with cancer. My dad died at an early age and my older brother owned a steel fabrication shop in Suwanee on Burnette Road (it was a dirt road back then).
In 1965, my mother decided to move to Suwanee with my younger brother and sister and me. She bought a house trailer and we moved onto the steel fabrication shop property when I was in 10th grade and attending North Gwinnett High School. When I was seventeen, I met my sweetheart, now my wife, Cheryl, who lived across the creek in a nice big home. I knew instantly that she was very special. I wasn’t sure that she would even date me! We graduated high school and she went to Mercer University and I went to Southern Tech. I got an associates degree in civil engineering and she stopped day school and began night school so that she could work and I could continue going to college. We had very little money and I wanted to marry her. We went to tell her parents our plans and they tried to talk us out of it! Eventually, we married at Suwanee First Baptist Church on Eva Kennedy Road and made Suwanee our home.
I served on the city council for three-and-a-half years in the late ’70s. I was also the assistant chief of the volunteer fire department. David Pierce was chief. We raised our children here and were very involved in sports. We built a huge 6,000-square-foot house and my son Jamie called it “the country club” because it had everything you’d want: woods to play in, a lake, and a swimming pool. Our home became a gathering place for other kids.
Cheryl started developing multiple sclerosis and began having trouble walking up and down stairs, so we decided to downsize and moved to Hall County in 1999 into a home that would be more accessible for her. Even though we no longer live in Suwanee today, we still consider it home because of the many friends and family that are still here along with our church family at Shadowbrook Church, where we are charter members.
My book, Standing on the Solid Rock, took two years to write, and I am not really an author. I asked myself what I could do to honor God and also to be a good encouragement to others. I believe that God had a plan and purpose for my life that I wasn’t aware of as a child, but He set the foundation in my childhood for who I would become later in life. I think His plan was for me to fall in love with my wife and take care of her. A large portion of this book was written in the early morning hours between 4 and 6 a.m.
This book would never have happened without my dear friend, Becky DeWitt, who gave countless hours to this project. She was the go between me and the publisher. She handled all the necessary details and communications to get this to print. She is a blessing. I hope that people will read something in the book that would inspire them and help them to persevere, not turn and run. Many marriages that suffer because one spouse has serious health issues don’t stay the course together. I made the book short on purpose so that it could be easily picked up and read and hopefully inspire others to love well. I hope that it will be a great keepsake for my grandkids and I plan to do some speaking engagements.
What is your favorite restaurant in Suwanee and what do you love there?
Longhorn Steakhouse, not necessarily because of their steaks, but they have excellent salads.
How big is your family?
We raised three sons here and they all graduated from North Gwinnett High School. We have six grandkids.
Who is the most interesting person you’ve met in Suwanee?
James Burnette. I served with him on city council and he was also the building inspector. He had had some tragedy in his life and seemed to move past it.
If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
Israel. It would be amazing to stand in a place where Jesus stood. I often regret that I didn’t put that on my agenda many years ago when Cheryl could still walk.
What is the first movie you remember seeing in a theatre?
I don’t remember the first one I saw, but my favorite movie is Caddyshack. I have seen it numerous times and it still makes me laugh!
What advice would you give a crowd of people?
Put God first in your life.
What is something on your bucket list?
I’ve always wanted to catch a big fish in Alaska. I had a trip booked for myself and my sons about 20 years ago but called it off because one of my employees passed away.
If you could take anyone to lunch (dead or alive) who would that be and where would you go?
President Kennedy. I think he would be fascinating to talk to and I would take him to a local restaurant for some nice comfort food.
What is your favorite music? Name three bands you would like to see.
Country music is my favorite and would love to see Brooks & Dunn, Alabama again, George Jones and Tammy Wynette.
What local business makes you the most nostalgic about Suwanee?
The old pulpwood yard that’s been here many years and is still breathing life. Another would be Metal Products on Main Street in Old Town.
How do you enjoy your time now?
I like to cook and I enjoy a round of golf with my sons. I enjoy spending time with my six grandchildren. I am not a big reader, but I do like to study.
What is your favorite thing about Suwanee?
The people here and the friendships we have made. We love the location and it feels very safe here.
Would you rather speak to a crowd of 500 or sing to a crowd of 50?
I would rather speak to 10,000 people!
Where do you see yourself in five years?
I am 73 years old and hope to still be in good health five years from now. God has blessed me in so many ways and I am able to do most anything that I want to do. Because I am a caregiver to my wife, it’s even more important that I stay healthy and strong. I help her to bed, bathe her, and completely take care of her. I don’t feel 73!
What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I love the opera! It brings tears to my eyes to hear the voices of opera singers. People think that I’m weird to say so, but I LOVE it.
