The Ledger

By Becky Holland

COCHRAN — Candace Wells-Summerall describes her move from Savannah to Cochran as her “Hallmark movie moment.”

Four years ago, she left a larger city for a much smaller community where her family had roots. She originally came to help her mother with an old family home, then found a local job and, over time, built a life that became deeply connected to Cochran and Bleckley County.

Today, Wells-Summerall serves as chief operating officer for The Mule Barn, White Canopy, The Warehouse, Impromech, and Middle GA Commercial A/C & Appliance Repair. She also serves as chair of the Cochran-Bleckley Chamber of Commerce.

Before that, her career included time as city clerk for the City of Cochran and work with Great Oaks Bank.

It has not been a perfectly straight path, and Wells-Summerall is fine with that.

As a young person, she watched plenty of 48 Hours and thought forensic science might be in her future. She began taking biology classes, but after seeing just how many people were headed in that same direction, she reconsidered.

What remained consistent was her interest in people.

Wells-Summerall is an encourager and a motivator. She is more comfortable helping other people help themselves than putting herself at the center of the story.

In fact, she would often rather hear someone else’s story than tell her own.

She wants to know where people come from, what they have experienced and what has shaped them. She also wants to be a safe space for others — someone who encourages people to be themselves and move forward with confidence.

Logical and steady by nature, Wells-Summerall has a way of being a calming presence when life gets noisy or complicated. Her wit and lightheartedness are part of that gift, bringing a little brightness into ordinary days.

That same people-centered approach carries into the way she views community.

Wells-Summerall believes Cochran is what it is because of its people. She encourages residents to support small businesses, buy local and get involved rather than simply standing on the sidelines.

She also believes the level of customer service offered by local businesses is something the community can be proud of.

For Wells-Summerall, involvement is not complicated. It is showing up, supporting others and helping strengthen the place you call home.

Those who know her professionally may already see someone efficient, knowledgeable and capable. Spend a little more time with her, though, and another quality becomes just as obvious: humility.

Wells-Summerall is far more comfortable working behind the scenes than drawing attention to herself.

Away from work and community involvement, she enjoys literature, mahjong, punch needling, pickleball and daylilies. She jokingly refers to some of those interests as her “old lady hobbies.”

She is also the mother of five children and grandmother of one.

If Wells-Summerall could give advice to her younger self, she would keep it simple.

Have fun. Do not worry so much. Things are not always as serious as they seem in the moment.

“We always come out on the other side,” she said. “It may not be the picture you have for yourself, but in the end, it works out.”

And perhaps the simplest advice of all:

“Be you.”