Letters policy
Send by e-mail to letters@gainesvilletimes.com (no attached files, please, which can contain viruses); fax to 770-532-0457; mail to The Times, P.O. Box 838, Gainesville, GA 30503; or click here for a form. Include full name, hometown and phone number for confirmation. They should be limited to one topic on issues of public interest and may be edited for content and length (limit of 500 words). Letters originating from other sources, those involving personal, business or legal disputes, poetry, expressions of faith or memorial tributes may be rejected. You may be limited to one letter per month, two on a single topic. Submitted items may be published in print, electronic or other forms. Letters, columns and cartoons express the opinions of the authors and not of The Times editorial board.
Phoebe Vickers was a name quite familiar to readers of The Times. Often her letters would appear in the letters to the editor column. They were generally nostalgic letters, speaking of her many blessings, times past, or what she loved about the community (everything from the Hall County Senior Center to church to a beautiful day).
She was a happy, blessed lady who loved God and her family, and loved to write. And the readers loved her letters just as much. So many people would come up to her and thank her for her light, happy columns, something to help them reminisce or brighten their day, Always a positive note for these troubled times. Even former Times columnist Jim Chapman mentioned her letters in his last article.
Phoebe Vickers was my grandmother. Unfortunately, she passed away suddenly on Friday as she was traveling to see her beloved family. Though this is obviously a devastating loss for our family, it is also a loss for Hall County.
I only hope Times readers remember the happy thoughts she contributed as a legacy. And maybe, just maybe, her letters made a difference.
Lacey Cochran
Mill Spring, N.C.
Editor's note: The following is a recent submission by Phoebe Vickers, a longtime author of letters to this page. We share her family's loss and offer our condolences to her friends and family.
I would like to express a sincere thanks to The Times for printing my letters from time to time.
This has brought so much joy into my life because I have met the most wonderful people who read The Times and mention my letters. They say they recognize my name from the paper. If it brings any delight to anyone, it is a great blessing to me.
I definitely enjoy The Times myself and have from the first day that it was printed.
Phoebe Vickers
Flowery Branch