Finance Chair, Georgia State Senate Legislative Session

Returning Home

Rome Treasures Its People

November 2, 2024

The magic of Rome extends far beyond the city limits, leaving an impact that continues to captivate individuals who have grown up in the area, ventured elsewhere, and felt compelled to return. From the charming and quaint ambiance of the town to the incredibly tight-knit and supportive community spirit, Rome treasures not only its local businesses and historical artifacts, but also, its people.

Dr. Justin Tanner, an interventional cardiologist at AdventHealth Medical Group in Rome, grew up in nearby Adairsville and graduated from Shorter University before attending Mercer University School of Medicine. In 2021, he and his wife, Janna, returned to his roots in Rome to raise their daughters, Olivia and Lila. “We love the feel and the warmth of the community here,” said Tanner. “You have it when you’re growing up and now with our kids growing up in this area, it makes it even better. It’s a dream come true.”

Tanner and his family enjoy attending many of the festivals around Rome, specifically the Chiaha Harvest Fair – Art festival that occurs annually in early autumn. They also enjoy visiting the park, strolling downtown, and watching the occasional parades. “We enjoy the opportunities here. There’s a small-town feel, but we have these big festivals and events that we can participate in and still be close to home. We don’t have to travel to Atlanta or Chattanooga for the events,” Dr. Tanner said.

As a physician, Tanner loves serving in the community where he grew up. “The people here are so appreciative. It’s rewarding to care for and give back to the same community that cared for me when I was at Shorter and growing up.” With board certifications in cardiovascular disease and internal medicine, Dr. Tanner’s career allows him to engage with the medical community, which he said “is amazing and friendly. Our patients are happy to have good people taking care of them,” Tanner said. “Coming into the office is very rewarding.”

After all the schooling and training, the Tanners strongly felt moving back home to Northwest Georgia was important. “We wanted to grow our family and raise our kids in the same house and with that welcoming hometown feel,” Tanner said.

These young professionals are a testament to the compelling nature of Rome, a place that continues to give to all who come across it. Dr. Justin Tanner and Beth Wellesley are just two examples among many who grew up and were nurtured in Rome, and have returned to raise their own families, while giving back and ensuring the community continues to provide the same opportunities for future generations.

Beth Wellesley, the senior director of eB2B Operations at the Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta, recalls countless family gatherings, riding bikes with friends around neighborhoods, and sporting events that were highlights of her time growing up in Rome. “I can’t look back without mentioning the best of times with friends (we are all still close today) and memories of Schroeder’s dinners – the soft pretzel and ranch should be a standout for all Romans – and high school football
games,” she said.

Wellesley attended the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech Scheller School of Business. She enjoyed living in Atlanta with her husband, Skye, and two children, Jack and Elizabeth. The big city gave her opportunities to advance her career. Still, when deciding where her daughter should attend kindergarten, Rome called her name. The family returned to Rome in 2021. “Becoming a mother coupled with some serious reassessment of priorities during the pandemic really gave me absolute clarity that I wanted to raise my children in a town where we had a strong community and could be a closer family – and my mom and aunts are here too, and my dad is close by – so it’s a huge plus,” she said.

While Wellesley still works in Atlanta, Georgia, her home and social life lie within Rome. “There is so much to love about raising a family in Rome. Community and family are first,” said Wellesley. She also appreciates Rome’s generous spirit when it comes to supporting and contributing to non-profits. The family enjoys riding bikes and scooters on the TRED trails, gatherings with close family and friends and their church community at St. Peters, and supporting local businesses.

Cooper underscored the opportunity to purchase season passes for the Rome Symphony at a fraction of what it might cost to hear similar concerts in major metropolitan markets. He also encourages people to take advantage of a tax deduction for contributions to the symphony.

The orchestra’s Play On! campaign hopes to enhance the Rome Symphony Youth Orchestra and provide funding for the symphony’s annual Young Artists Competition. It’s all part of a concerted (pun intended) effort to introduce younger Romans to classical music.

The Rome Symphony 2024-2025 season opens October 12 with Natural Woman: A Tribute to Carole King followed by The Magic of Mozart on November 16; The Strings of Christmas on December 1; An Evening on Broadway, February 15; Pirates of Penzance with the Rome Shakespeare Festival, April 18 & 19; concluding with Bridgerton: Music in the Garden on the Darlington campus June 7, 2025.

For ticket information call 706-291-7967.
Additional information about the symphony is available at www.romesymphony.org.