Today’s #MarkerMonday spotlight is on Byron Herbert Reece. The renowned writer, poet, and farmer was born in Union County on this day in 1917. He spent the majority of his life in the North Georgia Mountains, attending Young Harris College intermittently after graduating high school. He went on to publish two novels and four books of poetry over the course of a decade. Bow Down in Jericho, one of collections of poetry, was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 1950. Reece’s life was cut short after he contracted tuberculosis while caring for his parents, leading to his suicide in 1958. He was inducted into the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame in 2001.
Explore the links below to read the full marker text and learn more about Reece’s life and legacy.