Everyone should have a place that they can go to at any time and call it HOME. There is only one such place for me: Union Point. 

It is just a few miles east from Newton County down I-20. 

The city celebrated its 120th birthday with a special celebration last weekend. To honor the occasion, I have decided to dedicate this column about why Union Point will always be home to me. 

Over that century-plus time frame, Union Point has gone through numerous changes and transitions. Today, it does not have a Wal-Mart. There is not a big shopping center. Not even a red light can be found within the city… just caution lights. 

There is a Dollar General, a few convenience stores and other local businesses on Main Street. 

What makes Union Point home for me is not in any of those things, though. It is the people within the community that makes Union Point home. 

First and foremost, the majority of my immediate family lives there. My parents, my brother, my grandparents, all three of my aunts and a few of my cousins are there and I get to see them all of the time. 

For all of my life, I have lived nearly equidistant between both of my grandparents’ houses where we will gather for Thanksgivings, Christmases, birthdays and other special events. 

Whenever I am around family, I am reminded of all the good times we have shared. Only Union Point holds the memory of my brother and cousins playing football and basketball in my Nanny and Papa Hubbard’s back yard. It is in Union Point where I can remember my great aunt on my mama’s side, who we called “Dot,” hitting a home run off my older brother, Justin’s, pitch in my Nanny Long’s front yard. 

What fond memories those are. 

Then, I attended both Pre-K and elementary school in Union Point, too. In fact, at the Pre-K, I met my lifelong friend, Michael. 

During those years, I had some excellent teachers. Mrs. McGill, Mrs. Walker, Mr. Rushing, Mrs. Moon, Miss Brown, Miss Branyan and many others come to mind. They invested in me at an early age and helped me in my studies — especially math and science.

The motto of my elementary school — Union Point Elementary — was, “The school that begins with U,” which is a play off the school's acronym U.P.E. and is geared toward the students who fill its classrooms.

I still go back to my old elementary school and visit and give back anytime I can and it is always a great time. 

Another favorite place of mine back home is the church I have regularly attended my entire life: Union Point Worship Center. 

I listened to the man who is still my favorite preacher/pastor of all time, Rev. Johnny Barrett, when I was a child. I remember going up to the choir and, at 8 years old, I preached my first sermon in my home church. 

My church family will always hold a special place in my heart.

There are a plethora of other people and places where I have many great memories stored in my mind. 

On Main Street, there is my great friend, Miss Sally. Down the road from there is the local pharmacy that one of my former high school classmates, Liddy, is operating today. At the city hall, Miss Susan and I used to have wonderful conversations about local events. 

One of my good friends, Paul, lives in Union Point. He and I, along with Michael, will meet up every so often to hang out and catch up with one another. 

I am sure I will leave someone out of this column, but my point is this: What makes your hometown HOME is not the businesses or stores. It is the people who have made a lasting impression on you. 

It is the people who you have known your entire life and consider them your extended family. It is the people who may have helped you out a time or two when you needed it. 

Above all, it is the people who entered your life at some point and are still there today no matter the distance between you. 

So, while the small town of Union Point may not have a lot to offer on the surface, I promise, if you stay around for a while, you will find we have all we need. 

Union Point is my home and there’s no place like it.