STONE MOUNTAIN HOSPITALITY EARNS PRAISE FROM ACTRESS

WARM TRIBUTE TO AUTHOR GEORGE COLETTI FROM ACTRESS MARLA GIBBS 

"Stone Mountain: The Granite Sentinel," Has An Impressive New Fan

By Doc Lawrence

DR. GEORGE COLETTI WITH ACTRESS MARLA GIBBS

STONE MOUNTAIN, GA—Dr. George Coletti, the noted author and Stone Mountain civic leader, earned some prestigious praise from a television and movie actress for his acclaimed Civil War historical novel, Stone Mountain: The Granite Sentinel. Actress Marla Gibbs who soared to stardom in the feisty maid role on the popular ground-breaking CBS comedy "The Jeffersons,” stated in a letter to Dr. Coletti and wife Susan, a city Councilwoman in Stone Mountain, that she “fell in love with the characters,” in his book, “which kept me up nights.” Ms. Gibbs, who was in Stone Mountain late last summer for the filming of the highly anticipated movie, “Grantham and Rose,” added that “you are quite a historian George.” Ms. Giibbs observed in her letter that Coletti’s book  “helped me understand Georgia a whole lot better as well as the perplexity of the various feelings and loyalties of the slave.”

Coletti’s book tells the story of Civil War Stone Mountain and wartime events in Georgia, incorporating both historical and fictional characters: Families torn by war, the invasion of a massive army, the circumstances of slaves before and after emancipation, and the grief and suffering that accompanies war. “These are complicated subjects, “ said Dr. Coletti. “Nothing enlightens today’s readers better than a story based on facts and circumstances that actually happened.”

The friendship between George and Susan Coletti and Marla Gibbs began as the result of true Southern hospitality. The Stone Mountain area was the location of filming of the movie and the prominent couple extended resources to the cast and crew including an old-fashioned Low Country Boil accompanied by fine wines from France, Italy, Spain and the United States.



DR. GEORGE COLETTI



In "Grantham and Rose." Marla Gibbs is cast opposite young superstar Jake T. Austin. The 17-year-old star portrays a young man struggling to find his way as an adult in New York City when a petty crime thrusts him into the company of a feisty 81-year-old African-American woman (Gibbs), who teaches him about life and love, and together they take a road trip back to their Georgia roots.

The film also stars Tessa Thompson ("For Colored Girls"), Lisa Winters and Ryan Spahn, who also penned the script, and is directed by Kristin Hanggi, a 2009 Tony Award nominee as Best Director for the Broadway musical "Rock of Ages." 

Marla Gibbs, famous for her dry wit, charmed locals during her work on the movie. She expressed gratitude in her letter for the Coletti’s “assistance on our little film and all your wonderful hospitality. I really feel a closer connection to Stone Mountain and all the beautiful people we met.”

Marla Gibbs can be seen on network television in a new series, “The First Family." George Coletti’s book, Stone Mountain: The Granite Sentinel, is available in bookstores and online.