Local Folks

Local Folks: Emily Johnson

Local Folks: Emily Johnson

Emily Johnson is a third-generation Jacksonville native who’s holding onto a dream and working hard to fulfill it. “My goal is to eventually live in Five Points,” she said. Johnson is a full-time occupational therapy assistant at HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital, formerly Orange Park Medical Center. She began working there last year after having […]

Local Folks: Numa Saisselin

Local Folks: Numa Saisselin

Since 2012, Mr. Numa Saisselin has been president of downtown’s historic Florida Theatre, a non-profit organization and one of the most attended theatres in the world. “Our business is better than it’s ever been,” he said. Numa and his wife, Laurie, moved from New Jersey to Avondale 10 years ago specifically for his position at […]

Local Folks: The Burnham Family

Local Folks: The Burnham Family

Jen and Brandi Burnham are the owners of Lush Leaves, a San Marco plant nursery. They opened their Hendricks Avenue doors in 2019. In addition to selling organically grown houseplants there, they offer workshops and classes, host discussions at local garden clubs, and plan vendor events that promote other businesses within the community. “Our outside […]

Local Folks: Khoranhalai J. Washington

Local Folks: Khoranhalai J. Washington

Khoranhalai J. Washington’s first name is Hawaiian, though she is a native of Durham, North Carolina and still has 144 cousins there. Six years ago, she married a Navy man from Tallahassee, Florida, Dean Washington. For four years, the Washingtons lived on the NAS JAX base near Ortega, while Dean was stationed there. “We would […]

Local Folks: Emily Bellock

Local Folks: Emily Bellock

Emily Bellock is a native of Connecticut who moved down to the Jacksonville area for a job with the PGA Tour. She lived at The Beaches, at first, before moving to Riverside about a decade ago. Over the years, she has held a variety of titles within the PGA organization. Today, Emily is the director […]

Local Folks: Linzee Ott

Local Folks: Linzee Ott

Community Engagement Coordinator at Office of the State Attorney, 4th Judicial Circuit. That’s the somewhat mysterious title held by San Marco’s very own Linzee Ott. She is often asked, “What the heck does that mean?” It’s a position that was custom made for her. She calls it “a God thing” the way the story unfolded. […]

Local Folks: Rebekah Suwak-Worsham

Local Folks: Rebekah Suwak-Worsham

As the vice president of marketing and communications for Goodwill of North Florida for the past two years, Rebekah Suwak-Worsham spends most of her work time behind the scenes. Other than at grand openings for new locations and at the annual Striving to Succeed event, which she described as “a ton of fun,” Rebekah is […]

Local Folks: Chris & Ashley Woolston

Local Folks: Chris & Ashley Woolston

Chris and Ashley Woolston are a dynamic couple. They are fun, active and community minded. They are San Marco residents who have a passion for children, pets and the outdoors. Chris is originally from England. Ashley is a native of Gainesville. They are both employed at schools in St. Johns County. Chris works at Rawlings […]