The Ledger

By Becky Holland

For Paula Thompson Lewis, moving to Cochran wasn’t just a relocation—it was the beginning of a life that would center around family, community, and purpose.

Lewis, 52, and her husband, Caine, made the move in 2010 when their daughter, Cailyn, was just three years old. What started as a search for the right school system quickly turned into something more.

“We started looking at schools in the area, and Bleckley County was hands down the best,” Lewis said.

At the time, the family had already built a home in Hawkinsville, but they made the decision to sell it to ensure their daughter could attend school in Bleckley County without the uncertainty of being waitlisted.

Lewis was raised in Hawkinsville and graduated from the high school there and her husband graduated from Dodge County High School.

By August 2010, Cailyn had already begun attending Miss Debbie’s Play School, giving the family an early introduction to the community. That December, they purchased a home on Airport Road and officially moved in by March 2011.

“From the beginning, Cochran just felt like home,” Lewis said.

The transition was made even smoother by familiar faces. Lewis had close friends in the area, including her best friend Mandy NeSmith Scott and her husband Michael, as well as one of her husband’s childhood friends, Chan Jones. Over time, those connections grew into a wider circle of friendships through their daughter and the school system.

Professionally, Lewis spent 15 years working as a paralegal and office manager for David Venable and Associates. But her love for the school system—and her desire to be present for her daughter—led her in a new direction.

“I wanted to be on the same schedule as my daughter and be able to spend that time with her, especially summers and school breaks,” she said.

That decision led her to the Bleckley County School System, where she has now worked for 12 years. She currently serves as a licensed speech and language aide at the primary school.

Outside of work, Lewis enjoys shopping, spending time by the pool, organizing and decorating her home, and planning gatherings. But above all, she values time spent with family and friends.

Looking back, she offers simple but meaningful advice to her younger self:

“Slow down and not always be in such a hurry. Children grow up so fast, and those days go by before you even realize it.”

For Lewis, Cochran has been more than just a place to live—it’s been a place to grow, serve, and build a life centered on what matters most.