I dedicate this work to my daughter Alix Frangeul Alves aka Chew, without whom this project would not have existed. Our filiation and sensitivity have allowed us to find ourselves at the heart of a poetry we could never have imagined if Driftwood Beach hadn't revealed its magical and mysterious beauty to us. I produced this long work over a period of eight years, through seasons glorified by my enthusiasm to create and others darkened by the disappearance of family members during the covid19 pandemic (from cancers not covid...). My strongest desire has been to show a possible intellectual and spiritual path as a "living" and "surviving" person... First to my daughter, and of course to others, young and old.

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                    A tribute to these spirits that remain and continue to shine: Julia "the adorable" Poyda, Guy Beury, Robert Dupré Jr, as well as to the late, wonderful people who were my two talented friends Kristina French and Mary Burns (owner of Java Cabana Coffeehouse, a place for poetry and live music). A warm thought to my partner in crime Martin D. Nash from Atlanta, sadly gone early 2022. He made me love Atlanta Midtown, day and night, where I was able to take urban and graphic photos that I would use for a next chapter of The Life of Drifwood Lady.

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                      Of course my family, who have always supported me in difficult times. My mother, Michelle Dupré Beury, and my brother Arnaud Frangeul, not forgetting my daughter's mother, Maria Alves da Conceiçao, an incarnated generosity and a great mother.

 

                     I'd like to give a shout-out to all the friends I've met on my wanderings through the Deep South, especially those in Georgia, Florida and Tennessee:

I'd really like to tell you about the man who brought me to that amazing Driftwood Beach. Mr John Hoy, a man as solid as the frameworks he's built over the decades, who has traveled and visited America. He and his wife, Robin, welcomed me and helped me discover the richness of southern culture, including the natural beauty of this enchanting southeastern Georgia. Many thanks to you both. Special thought to the sweetest Brigid & Jonathan Buck.

Still in Brunswick, in the historic district with its colonial houses, the Parker/Heavilin family also gave me a lot of support in my quest for finds. I'll never forget the Friday Night Burgers and Oyster Roasts in their garden: an example of friendship, community spirit and solidarity. And let's not forget the freshly caught and deliciously enjoyed shrimps. Thank you very much so Lori, Lindsey and Matthew.

And a special wink to Candice "Poppy" Brown, born and raised in Georgia. And to Susan Bates, owner of Tipsy's in Brunswick, GA for her continued smile to me.

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Other close friends include Nicole Whitlock aka MS. Nickki, powerful singer, the real juke joint woman from Wild Bill's, Memphis,TN. She believed in me, as did Thomas Léon, my French "brother" from Florida: both musicians like me. Blues music brought us together and will continue to do so. Then there's "the last but not least", Paul McGovern from Jax Beach, FL, who gave me great support in the way of a compassionate and caring man, as well as his family.

I would also like to thank the Shuman family, especially Tina, a biologist and professor at the University of Florida, who is passionate about the animal and plant worlds of this sublime coastal region. She introduced me to this luxuriant nature...

Kim Auburn, one of my long-time Florida friend. Thank you for your great support always.

Amy Marasco another long-time friend, she knows.

Kari Marie Gardner for the beautiful inspiration and the meeting of two artists, I could say of an artist and his muse too. 

Jeff Malone, a blues fan, drummer and Florida producer of Muddy Waters' first son. As well as other musician friends from the local scene such as Karl W Davis (who showed me some gorgeous places of nature and folks in Southeast Georgia), Jim Barcaro, Bryan Spradlin, Jack Corcoran, Mama Blue, Cody Walker, John Peavey (and his sweet family), John Parker Urban Band, Michael Markowitz, Amy & Dillon Basse, Jim McKaba and Josh Miller to name but a few, as well as photographers Jeff Holland and Frank Allen Sr in particular.

Anthony "Chuck" Oliva and his wife Patty, thank you for having put out this documentary about the music scene on Amelia Island and Fernandina Beach,FL: "O Amelia!". Very well done!

Not forgetting the very welcoming and incandescent duo Farley Palmer & Adam Floyd of New Smyrna Beach, organizing the fun Florida Harmonica Championship (which I won early October 2013).

Irina Kushner for her support to the local blues scene (I've been in) and to my art creation. Two friends of Irina who became mine forever: Gail & Bobby the blues lovers.

A special feeling to my close friends in Tennessee:

From Memphis and around: MS. Nickki, Nashid Rasul, Wesley "White Lightning" & Dana, Klay Lester, Matthew Hasty, Zeke Johnson, Cedric Burnside, Daddy Rich, Big Don Valentine, Eric Gales, Vandana Botta, Elizabeth Laws Fuller, Harriet Snowden, Tim Sampson (Communications Director, Soulsville Foundation) and Jack "Mastermind" Simon.

From Knoxville: Steve Michel, Tim Spencer, Howell & Polly Sharp Doka, Michael Gill and his wife Evelyn, all blues supporters and lovers, plus the Knoxville Museum of Art staff I was part of in 2017, and Dawn Patelke from the Alliance Française of Knoxville.

She, he, they welcomed me, reached out and gave me a chance. I'm infinitely grateful to them. So I had to "give back", offer in my own way, what all these friends and supporters had given me, even indirectly. Driftwood Lady is intended to symbolize the spirit of freedom I felt living with and thanks to them in this colorful and trustful Southeast. All these women and men inspired me, enabled me and encouraged me to create the story, the dream that is Driftwood Lady of Jekyll Island.

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             I'd also like to pay tribute to another committed woman who inspired me: the Beach Lady (Marvyne Elisabeth Betsch, 1935-2005). An opera singer turned environmental activist, she devoted herself body and soul to the preservation and protection of American Beach in Florida, located 60 miles south of Jekyll Island.

She donated her substantial inheritance to support environmental causes worldwide. She sold her family home to donate the money to charity and spent time living with friends, sometimes in a caravan. She even lived on American Beach for a while. Six feet tall, wrapped in bright colors, draped in jewelry made from shells and beach stones, she was always ready to share her passion for the landscape and its history, and quickly earned and adopted the nickname Beach Lady. Betsch's advocacy for American Beach had considerable and lasting results. More infos: https://www.nps.gov/people/mavynee-beach-lady-betsch.htm

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A big thanks to my friend Nicolas Fleurance, web designer and head of the NF W&D agency (Rennes, France), who rightly advised me on the improvements to be made to this site at the end of its construction phase.

https://www.nfwebdesign.com/contacts

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A wink to Mariette Cassourret, President of the Maison des États Unis - Association Nantes-Seattle-Jacksonville - which maintains and develops existing twinning relations: lamaisondesetatsunis.wordpress.com

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                  There are a number of essential organizations that I'd like to thank, because they all share a common mission: to preserve the magnificent Jekyll:

- The Jekyll Island Authority is an autonomous entity of the State of Georgia, responsible for the overall management and care of Jekyll Island. : https://www.jekyllisland.com/authority/

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- The Jekyll Island Foundation is dedicated to raising funds for conservation, preservation and education initiatives on and for Jekyll Island. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. It is the official partner of the Jekyll Island Authority.

https://jekyllislandfoundation.org/about/foundation/

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- Save Jekyll (IPJI) : The Initiative to Protect Jekyll Island State Park (IPJI) was founded in September 2006 with the aim of canvassing public opinion on the redevelopment of Jekyll and enabling the island's many friends to work together to help preserve the park and shape its future. An all-volunteer, non-profit association with a modest beginning, IPJI has passed 10,000 members representing more than 350 Georgia towns, 49 states and 12 countries. Winner of three prestigious awards in recent years, IPJI has become a model of citizen action that works.

http://www.savejekyllisland.org/MissionStatement.html 

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- Golden Isles CVB : their mission is to promote the Golden Isles - St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Jekyll Island, Little St. Simons Island and the port town of Brunswick - as a nationally recognized resort destination. Promoting the highest quality visitor experience and protecting the economic sustainability of the community.

https://www.goldenisles.com/about-us/

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