Jim Corbin: The Everywhere Man (and Why Newton County’s Better for It) – Episode 70
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If you’ve ever been to a ribbon cutting, a Chamber luncheon, a Rotary event, or basically anything happening in Newton County… you’ve probably seen Jim Corbin.
That’s exactly why we wanted him on Episode 70 of The Town Square Podcast.
At first glance, Jim is just one of those familiar faces who’s always smiling, always shaking hands, always showing up. But once we sat him down at the mic, it became obvious: Jim isn’t “everywhere” because he’s bored. He’s everywhere because he’s living on purpose.
His story is part small-town Southern, part entrepreneur, part community-volunteer superpower… and part “I shouldn’t be here, but God kept me here for a reason.”
And somehow—because Jim is Jim—we still managed to weave in hot sauce, barbecue competitions, moonshine experiments, disc golf gear, and a (wild) Newton County history lesson about Dried Indian Creek that none of us will forget.
From South Carolina roots to Clayton County hustle
Jim’s story starts with family movement and working-class grit.
He was raised early on in Beach Island, South Carolina (Aiken County, right across the river from Augusta). His dad worked in the propane industry, and when a business opportunity pulled the family toward Atlanta, they relocated. Eventually, Jim’s father started his own propane business in Clayton County—back when Clayton was still pretty rural.
That entrepreneurial energy clearly stuck.
Jim followed a path that blended education and skilled trade, eventually spending 45 years in the heating and air industry, including 32 years running his own business in Clayton County while raising a family.
It’s the kind of story a lot of folks can relate to: work hard, build something, take care of your people, keep showing up.
But then… life took a turn.
2018–2020: Kidney failure, a fall, and a diagnosis that changed everything
In 2018, Jim’s health took a major hit: kidney failure.
Even with that, he kept working and powering through. He made it through the chaos of 2020 like the rest of us… but then on October 2, 2020, he fell, hit his head, and ended up in the hospital.
That fall exposed something bigger.
During testing—in the middle of COVID—Jim found out he also had leukemia, while dealing with a brain bleed and being on dialysis.
At that point, it was a stacked list nobody wants:
Kidney failure
Dialysis
Brain bleed
Leukemia
ICU
Long hospital stay
Jim ended up being sent to Emory, where he stayed for 75 days. At one point, he woke up in the ICU and found out he had a Do Not Resuscitate order on file.
That’ll make a man pray.
Jim described it as a moment that became very real, very personal, very spiritual:
“You brought me back twice. There must be something you have for me.”
And that line—more than any title or hobby—might be the real center of Episode 70.
“I got out of the hospital and didn’t even know I was retired.”
One of the most jaw-dropping parts of Jim’s story is what happened while he was still in the hospital.
While Jim was fighting for his life, his family handled business—literally.
His son, son-in-law, daughter, and wife sold his company while he was in the hospital. Jim told us:
“So when I got out, I was retired and didn’t even know it.”
Afterward, he faced a long recovery, including six more months of chemo even after leaving the hospital. He had to rebuild basic strength—wheelchair, walker, cane, then walking again.
Once he started regaining his footing, Jim and his wife sold their home (after a guy randomly approached wanting to buy it), moved closer to family in Covington—especially to be near their granddaughter—and Jim started asking a question that a lot of people face in a new season:
“What am I supposed to do now?”
The “Pepper’s” chapter: marketing, hot sauce, and making the rounds
When Jim was able to start working again, he connected with Pepper’s Heating & Air, a local company that had impressed him. He spent about a year and a half doing marketing for them—going to events, Chamber functions, building relationships, promoting the brand.
And this is where the story gets extremely Jim Corbin.
Because Jim didn’t just market the company with flyers and business cards…
He helped create a custom hot sauce as a marketing tool.
A local hot sauce maker—Petreaux’s Gourmet Hot Sauce—worked with Jim to create a custom label for Pepper’s. Jim handed out little bottles everywhere, and it became this perfect “Jim” thing: fun, memorable, and somehow effective.
Even after Pepper’s sold (and Jim didn’t go with the sale), the hot sauce connection stayed relevant because the maker’s products are still available—Jim even tells you exactly where to find them at Publix.
That detail tells you everything about how his brain works.
Habitat for Humanity: the mission he believes he was “saved for”
While the Pepper’s chapter explains why you saw Jim all over Newton County for a while… Habitat explains why he’s still everywhere now.
Jim’s connection to Habitat goes back decades. He first got involved in 1988, when Habitat partnered with industry groups to build homes—including a project connected with Jimmy Carter in Atlanta.
Jim described being a small business owner back then—just him, a helper, and a phone-answering admin—and still showing up to do the work. That early experience stuck because Habitat isn’t a “free house” model. Jim explained the key idea:
Sweat equity + affordable mortgage
Habitat homeowners aren’t handed something for nothing. They contribute time—often around 250 hours—working on their home, other homes, the ReStore, or wherever they’re able. And the home is typically financed with 0% (or low) interest depending on the affiliate.
Jim loved the dignity of that model.
Why Newton County now
A big update from the conversation: Habitat is being re-launched locally as part of Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity, serving multiple counties (rather than a tiny one-county affiliate that can burn out over time).
Jim highlighted three major focus areas:
New home builds (the one everybody knows)
Home repairs
Including “Brush with Kindness” (ramps, decks, paint, accessibility work)
And major repairs that can be significant (roofing, HVAC, plumbing, electrical)
3. Veterans home repair support
Including programs connected to The Home Depot Foundation’s support of critical home repairs for veterans through Habitat’s Repair Corps program
Jim also made it clear: if someone hears this episode and needs help, he’s the kind of guy who’ll point you in the right direction.
Miracle League: “Every kid ought to be able to play baseball.”
If you’ve listened to the podcast for a while, you know we’ve talked about the Miracle League of Newton Countybefore. Jim got involved the way a lot of people do:
He heard about it, it hit a nerve, and he couldn’t not help.
Jim’s why is simple and powerful:
“Every kid ought to be able to play baseball.”
Miracle League games are built for joy: two innings, everyone hits, games end in a tie, and the atmosphere is pure fun. Jim volunteers as a buddy, meaning he’s out there on the field helping an athlete run bases, field safely, and enjoy the experience—whether that means pushing a wheelchair or quite literally “taking one for the team” when a ball comes your way.
It’s one more place where Jim’s “everywhere” reputation is really just another way of saying:
He’s present where it matters.
Alcovy CASA: being the constant in a kid’s chaos
Jim also serves as a CASA volunteer through Alcovy CASA, which advocates for children in foster care in Newton and Walton counties .
He explained CASA in a way that cuts through the acronym:
When everything in a child’s life changes—placements, parents, attorneys, schools, routines—the CASA volunteer is the constant.
They spend time with the child, track what’s happening, and submit reports that the judge relies on to understand what’s truly best for that kid.
Jim shared a heavy story about his first CASA case, including how the child had been in the system for years, had an enormous case history, and eventually ended up incarcerated. It was sobering, honest, and full of compassion.
And even after that experience, Jim’s response wasn’t “I’m done.”
It was: “I want another kid.”
That tells you exactly who he is.
Barbecue life: judges, contests, and a whole subculture you didn’t know existed
If you thought Jim was just a casual “I like ribs” guy… no sir.
Jim is deeply connected to competitive barbecue:
Memphis-style contest culture
Georgia’s contest circuit
KCBS events
Master judge credentials
Teams, trailers, overnight cooks, blind judging, all of it
He explained how judging works (including the class requirement), the difference between sanctioning bodies, and why so many teams do it even when it costs them more than they make.
And Jim being Jim, he made it personal:
He’s cooked long enough to have strong sauce opinions (vinegar sauce forever)
He’s got a Komodo-style smoker (Primo / Big Green Egg world)
He’s even got moonshine stories—and a strong preference for apple pie moonshine
The funniest part might be how this “hobby” also becomes a relationship network. He talked about the barter system: judges don’t get paid, but they do get fed… and friendships are built one bite at a time.
Tennessee Squire: the most Jim Corbin title imaginable
Somewhere in the middle of all this, we discovered Jim is also a Tennessee Squire—a Jack Daniel’s “fan club” / honorary society that comes with memorabilia and (symbolically) a tiny plot of land at the distillery in Lynchburg.
Jim explained you have to be recommended by another Squire, and that there’s a special Squire room at the distillery.
And because the universe loves irony, Jack Daniel’s also hosts a major barbecue event… that Jim has judged.
He even let us in on the key perk:
The Jack Daniel’s judging goodie bag includes… a bottle of Jack.
Not all volunteer gigs are created equal.
Disc golf: the “new golf” chapter (and Newton County course talk)
After Jim’s health battles, regular golf became harder—especially with blood pressure issues and fatigue. Disc golf became a perfect fit: less time, less strain, still competitive, still outdoors.
He talked about:
Beaver Park in Mansfield as a great beginner course
Yellow River Park in Porterdale as his favorite (quiet, scenic, along the river)
City Park being more challenging and tournament-heavy
He also mentioned the local culture around disc golf—the gear, the discs (drivers/midrange/putters), the techniques, and the “don’t call it frisbee” rule that disc golfers take weirdly seriously.
And yes, he even modified his old golf cart for disc golf.
Of course he did.
Rapid fire fun + a Newton County history bomb
We wrapped the episode with some rapid fire questions, local shout-outs, and a surprise twist:
Local BBQ shout-outs
Jim gave love to:
Smoke Friendly BBQ (off GA-212)
Bradley’s BBQ
…and confirmed his love for Fresh Air BBQ in Jackson.
24 hours in Newton County
His advice was simple and honestly kind of perfect: go look at the old homes, the antebellum history, and take in the character of the community.
Dried Indian Creek story
Then Jim drops a piece of local lore about the origin of the name Dried Indian Creek—a story tied to early 1820s Georgia settlement, removal of Native people, and a violent incident that supposedly led to the creek’s name.
It’s the kind of story that makes you pause—not because it’s entertaining, but because it reminds you that local history holds both beauty and darkness.
And that’s part of what we do on this podcast too: talk about the real stuff, not just the shiny stuff.
Why Jim does all this
At the end, we asked the question behind the whole episode:
Why serve? Why keep showing up? Why help people?
Jim’s answer was honest and deeply personal:
After surviving leukemia, a brain bleed, and kidney failure… he sees his life as something he’s been given back for a reason.
So he’s spending it like it matters.
And Newton County is better for it.
Links Mentioned in the Episode
Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity: https://schabitat.org
Alcovy CASA: https://www.alcovycasa.org
Miracle League of Newton County: https://www.miracleleague.com
Petreaux’s Gourmet Hot Sauce (Dragon Sauce): https://petreauxsgourmethotsauce.com
Georgia Barbecue Association: https://www.bbqga.org
Memphis Barbecue Network: https://memphisbbqnetwork.com
Sponsors
Main Street Land & Properties
770-787-5520
Bizzy Bee Exterminators
(800) 273-4958
