House Resolution 506
By: Representative Meeks of the 178th
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing and commending Cohen's of Alma on its 100th anniversary; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS, Cohen's of Alma, a cornerstone of the Alma and Bacon County community,
celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, representing a century of dedication to quality
service and community engagement; and
WHEREAS, the legacy of Cohen's of Alma began with Nathan Cohen, who, at the age of 13,
immigrated to the United States from a small village on the border of Russia and Poland in
1913, ultimately settling in Nicholls, Georgia, with his older half-brothers, Julius "Jake" and
William Cohen; and
WHEREAS, with the support of his brothers, Nathan overcame language barriers and
completed his education before establishing his first business venture as a traveling peddler
with a Belgian horse named "Babe"and a wagon filled with goods needed by rural families,
laying the foundation for what would become Cohen's of Alma; and
WHEREAS, in 1924, after years of hard work, Nathan purchased Sandy Mercer's general
store on Dixon Street in Alma, restocked it with apparel, and officially opened Cohen's of
Alma on April 4; and
WHEREAS, his son, Jerald, graduated from the University of Georgia, served in the United
States Army during the Korean War, and joined the family business in 1952 before assuming
management in 1957, overseeing the store's continued growth and success; and
WHEREAS, under Jerald's leadership, Cohen's expanded in 1967 with the purchase of the
Butler Supply location next door, increasing the store size by 3,000 square feet and
introducing the "Roundtable Shop," which specialized in name-brand apparel for work,
hunting, and formal wear; and
WHEREAS, upon Jerald's retirement in 1997, the late Wayne Golden was hired as store
manager, and through the efforts of Mark Cohen, Jerald's oldest son, and his wife, Laure, the
store was once again expanded by an additional 2,000 square feet; and
WHEREAS, today, Cohen's of Alma remains one of the oldest single-family-owned
businesses in the State of Georgia, continuing to serve as a vital part of the Alma-Bacon
County community while maintaining a legacy of integrity, service, and economic
contribution to South Georgia; and
WHEREAS, the Cohen family has given back to the community in countless ways, ensuring
that no local prom, homecoming, or wedding is complete without a visit to Cohen's and
stocking top-quality products that have remained a hallmark of the business for generations.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body recognize Cohen's of Alma on its 100th anniversary, commend the
Cohen family for their century of dedication to the Alma-Bacon County community, and
extend best wishes for continued success.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to
Cohen's of Alma.