John and Marjorie Frazier, high school sweethearts who have been married for 53 years, opened their porch to the public on Thursday, December 19, 2024, at 6:00pm to receive a very special guest: Santa Claus.
Their home, which looks like it could be nestled in It's a Wonderful Life's Bedford Falls, was the perfect backdrop for Kris Kringle to drop by before his busiest week of the year begins.
This tradition has evolved over the years since its inception in 1969. Coach Fred Shaver, a Bulloch County living legend, was the first "Santa's helper" who went door to door bringing Christmas cheer to Brooklet residents. As the years passed, Shaver, 90, accepted friend Wayne Pruitt's offer to use his pony, Prince, to navigate the streets.
Prince resembled a reindeer as he, with Shaver and a cart in tow, proudly trotted around. When Prince could no longer go on, he was replaced by a modern golf cart, which made getting around much easier during this special event. Then, as getting in and out of the golf cart for every home presented a challenge for Shaver, Frazier offered a solution.
"Mr. Frazier invited old Santa to come and sit on his porch, so Santa came and sat on the porch," Shaver explained. "Santa missed the last couple of years, so it was good that he got back here."
This continued until 2019, when Shaver retired from his role as "Santa's helper." COVID happened not long afterwards, and the Santa visits ceased until this year.
"We've had people ask us about it so, this year, we decided to revive that tradition," Frazier said.
Santa's new "helper" is a man by the name of Toby Davis. A friend of Frazier's, Davis has ties to the community as well.
"For a number of years, Toby has been the timer and the heart and soul of the Peanut Run," Frazier, the running event's founder, remarked.
Coach Shaver was enjoying the company of friend Jeff Johnson, sipping coffee in a golf cart on the front lawn. Both live just a stone's throw from the Fraziers and greeted guests as they stopped by.
The excitement in the air was palpable, evidenced by the smiles of the children who ascended the steps to visit with Father Christmas.
"After a five-year hiatus, we're back," Frazier proclaimed.
