History

Cypress Pond has a great story. It was originally founded by the Tarver Family that also founded the nearby famous Pinebloom and Tarva Plantations. The Tarver's plantations were known as, "outstanding in the community for luxury and hospitality" per a radio program on the family. Henry Andrew Tarver served as Albany's mayor for three terms. Gerald Lawhorn moved his Aunt Mamie's house to its current location at Cypress Pond.

More recently, Cypress Pond was brought again into the forefront of world class status as the late philanthropist and inventor of the electronic gas pump payment system put millions of dollars into the plantation as his personal home. Gerald Lawhorn was a longtime supporter of the Boy Scouts of America, and an Eagle Scout himself. Quoted from the Dedication section of the 2009 Boy Scouts of America "Growing Up Right, Growing Up Strong" book, "On June 6, 2005, Gerald was given the greatest test of his life. He was diagnosed with ALS/ Lou Gehrig's disease and told he had six months to get his affairs in order. Of course, he was initially shocked and devastated by the blow, but in the true spirit of a "Be Prepared" Scout and man of faith, and with the support of loving family and friends, he quickly set to work on some of the most important projects of his life. He had, in typical fashion, turned a death sentence into a zeal for life that was nothing short of miraculous. In the next two and a half years, he started initiatives for networking support for people who have been diagnosed with ALS and their families, a Christian outreach project, and ScoutParents. Later he would comment that he had been focused by his circumstances and had achieved more in the last two and a half years than he had in the last 10."

Like the Tarvers, Mr. Lawhorn was known as a gracious host to many. Former Chairman/CEO of AT&T, Ed Whitacre wrote, "I've been on a lot of hunts and seen many places- yours is at the tops. We had a great time." (Read entire note, here). Rex Tillerson, Chairman and CEO of ExxonMobil also personally thanked Gerald, saying, "The hunting was great run and the company and conversation were even better...Thank you again for an enjoyable outing." (Read entire note, here).

The legacies that the families of Cypress Pond have left are substantial and proud, and shall be left to another now to carry on.