Never too old to teach new generation

Brewton resident George Painter has retired twice but at 90 years old still works just about everyday in 'The Woodshed' behind his house doing what he loves best – making wooden bowls and other woodworking projects.

Born in Connecticut and raised on Long Island, Painter has spent the majority of his life in Brewton. He spent 22 years in the Navy as a pilot and instructor from 1950 to 1973. He recalled his first Navy cruise turned out to be a cruise around the world.

"We were supposed to go to Korea, but before we got there they signed the armistice," Painter said.

While stationed at Whiting Field in 1952 Painter went on a blind date in January, 1952 with Brewton resident Helen Bracken. The two were married in December, 1952. Helen died in 1998. But it was Helen who brought him to Brewton.

He began working at Brewton Iron Works in 1973 and retired in 1993.

His interest in woodworking began while he was a flight instructor at Whiting Field. He said Jim Nordmeyer, Howard Sankey and he were instructors. He said Sankey's father Ben worked for T.R. Miller Mill Co., and first got him interested in woodworking.

"He's the finest woodworker I've ever known, bar none," Painter said of Ben Sankey. "He showed me what could be done with hand tools and small power tools."

Painter said he bought his first real tools in 1955.

"He'd come over and help me out and give me suggestions," Painter said of Ben Sankey.

He said he started out making things for his children. His house is furnished with furniture and cabinets he made himself.

Now his specialty is mainly wooden bowls.

"They are light and I can handle them," he said.

He said he did his woodworking on the side while working at Brewton Iron Works.

A couple of years ago, Painter was out in his shop behind his house when Ronnie Clark, Sheriff Grover Smith's brother-in-law, pulled up and asked him if he knew Grover.

"I said 'Yea, I know him as sheriff'," Painter recalled.

Clark told Painter that Smith wanted to talk to him about making bowls.

He said the two compared and shared ideas about making wooden bowls and said Smith brought him some wood he'd gotten in North Carolina.

Smith said Painter had done some work for him in the past and a few years ago he started messing around with trying to make some bowls as a hobby.

"I went to see him," Smith said. "George can do anything."

Smith said he wanted to learn how to make segmented bowls with different woods and Painter taught him how.

"I made my first segmented bowl and gave it to Harrison Horton as a wedding present," Smith said.

He said since he first really got to know Painter they have become friends. He said when he retires he wants Painter and him to work with some of the schools on woodworking. He also wants Painter to teach inmates at the county jail the trade.

"I hope when the new sheriff takes over he will allow George and me to work with inmates on the craft," Smith said. "It's a sin that as much as this man knows it's not shared with young people. I hope some of George Painter rubs off on them."

When asked what type of wood he prefers to work with, Painter said "Whatever I can get my hands on."

He said Danny Watson, who has a sawmill near the airport, provides him with wood and that most of his cedar comes from Salem Saloom.

As Sheriff Smith and Painter continued to share ideas, Smith arranged for Painter to talk to students at W.S. Neal High School about woodworking.

He said he first addressed a classroom and then went out to the school shop to demonstrate how he made bowls.

"My way may not be the best way to do it, but it's the way I do it," Painter said.

He said it excited him that several of the students really seemed interested in woodworking.

"I didn't want to get involved in what the teacher hadn't involved them in at the time," Painter said. "But it was nice to see kids interested in woodworking."

He said woodworking is becoming a lost art because so few people have a real interest in it.

Painter said he used to take some of his bowls and other crafts to art shows and festivals but doesn't any more.

"I tried the Choo Choo Market (in Brewton) but they were looking for something to eat, not wood," he said.

He said attending festivals to sell bowls became real work with the loading, unloading and loading again.

Today he spends the majority of his time in his shop doing things he knows how to do, mainly bowls.

Most of his bowls today are given away as gifts. He makes Memory Bowls for families who have lost a loved one and bowls for newborns.

He also gives his handmade bowls as wedding presents that have the couple's name and wedding date inscribed on the bottom.

"I tell the groom, 'if he every forgets his anniversary, look at the bottom of the bowl'" Painter said.

He says he sells very few, noting most are given away as presents.

A lot of Painter's wood work can be found at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Brewton. He says he enjoys the woodworking but doesn't recommend it for someone seeking a source of income.

"All you need is a few tools and you can do a lot of work," Painter said.

In July, 2016 a fire in his workshop destroyed about 20 to 30 years worth of a tools and some old wood work. He's slowly getting new tools.

"I have mostly new tools now," he said. "I hope I live long enough to enjoy them."

Painter said if anyone is interested in woodworking, he'd be glad to walk them through his shop and give them some tips.

"I'd be glad to give them what I know," he said. "It might not be the right way or the best way, but it's my way."

Anyone interested in learning about woodworking can call Painter at 251-513-4297.