Katie Krell
reporter2@greenepublishing.com
How does one go from PE teacher to woodworking connoisseur in just the matter of a few months? For Bubba Carroll, this was the case, and he has never once regretted that decision.
Carroll, a Madison local, graduated from Valdosta State University with a degree in special education. He began teaching and coaching at Madison County High School in 2001, later moving to Madison Academy, now Madison Creative Arts Academy.
In an interview, Carroll reminisced about growing up, talking about how his granddad made every single Christmas present out of wood from hand. Carroll would spend his summers with his granddad, learning the skill with the help of a master. “I've always known how to do it,” Carroll commented. In 2017, Carroll's wife, Stephanie, wanted to bring back the Christmas tradition, making their own gifts for family and friends. After posting their creations on Facebook in 2018 and gaining an overwhelmingly positive response, Carroll started receiving requests for pieces. In that same year, he was encouraged by his wife to start his own business, later given the name Southern Rust Woodworks.
The woodworking business began as a Facebook page, taking requests from anyone and posting pictures of what was made. Carroll and his family have worked their way up, selling in stores in Madison, Tallahassee and even a store in South Carolina. They finally bought their own building in 2020, when Stephanie quit her job to help run the store full time. The store is called The Depot, and can be found in the old post office building, in Lee
Although some items come and go within the store, Southern Rust Woodworks always keeps home décor items in stock, including anything from farmhouse tables to decorative trinkets and everything in between. Anything found in the store can be customized to the tastes and preferences of the buyer.
Southern Rust Woodworks offers interactive classes for those who want to try their hand at designing. Classes are held at the store in Lee and at High Cotton, in Tallahassee. Southern Rust Woodworks will also come to any provided house or location to lead classes, bringing all needed materials with them. Anyone interested can take a class for any item available in the store, as long as space provides, and precut pieces and materials are supplied.
Carroll has been happily married to his wife, Stephanie Carroll, since 2003. Together, they have two teenage children – Ashton, a rising senior at James Madison Preparatory High School, and Lexi, a rising sophomore at James Madison Preparatory High School.
Stephanie is the decorating genius behind the scene, in charge of in-home décor and sales. Both of Carroll's children do whatever they can to help around The Depot, with both his daughter and son working at the store and his son helping out in the wood shop. Carroll's father, Frankie Carroll, also started working in the shop after his retirement, helping him and his son make anything found in the store. About this, Carroll said, “This is really a family operation. I could not have done this without them.”
The Depot by Southern Rust Woodworks is located at 465 SE Seaboard St., in Lee. Items from their store can also be found at Southern Blooms by Kim, in Madison; Grace and Cloth Mercantile, in Madison; High Cotton, in Tallahassee and Sweet P General, in Townville, S.C. If you would like to buy a piece or ask any questions, message Southern Rust Woodworks on Facebook.