7 Things You Should NEVER Do In Thomasville, Georgia | Locals Will Judge You

So, maybe you’ve been thinking about moving to Thomasville or maybe you’re just passing through. Well here are five things you should never do, unless you want to end up sticking out like a sore thumb. Stick around because I’m spilling the tea straight from the locals perspective. These are unwritten rules–things the locals take seriously, And I promise… knowing these will save you a whole lot of embarrassment.

If you’re new here, My name is Leslie Bennett and I am the owner of Bennett Real Estate Company. I help families from all over understand what it’s really like living in Thomasville Georgia. If you’re thinking of moving to Thomasville you can download my relocation guide.

Let’s jump into NUMBER ONE — and if you violate this one, you might not make it out of the Rose Garden alive.

#1: Don’t Pick the Roses

This is basically a CRIME in Thomasville. Unwritten, but VERY real. If you walk up to the Rose Garden or the roses downtown and casually pick one like you’re in your backyard…Honey… prepare for the whole town to gasp. Thomasville is known as the City of Roses, and we take our roses SERIOUSLY here. They’re part of our identity. They’re the centerpiece of the Rose Festival an annual springtime event here in Thomasville, Georgia that includes a parade, street dance, and even a flower show where people can show off their roses. But believe me when I say, they are only for looking and smelling, not touching.

As long as you follow this rule, you won’t get the side eye from strangers, you won’t get lectured by someone’s grandma, and your name won’t end up on facebook!

#2: Don’t Ignore the Wave — It’s a Thomasville Love Language

This is the one that gets newcomers EVERY time. In Thomasville… waving is mandatory, automatic, and expected. It’s part of our DNA.

We’ve got all kinds of waves:

Two fingers off the steering wheel
Full-hand wave
Little head nod wave
The “I don’t know you but I see you” wave
The golf-cart-to-golf-cart wave
And The walking-down-Broad-Street wave

Prepare yourself. You WILL be waved at. by strangers, By neighbors, and By people who simply like your dog.

And, If someone waves at you and you don’t wave back?

Locals immediately think:

“…They must be from out of town.”

“…Do they not SEE me waving?”

“…Bless their heart — they haven’t had any home training”

So Just wave, baby. Even if you don’t know them. Especially if you don’t know them. That’s how we show love here in Thomasville!

#3: Don’t Call It a “Puh-KAHN”… It’s a PEE-can

In Thomasville, it is a PEE-can. Not a puh-KAHN and Not a “where I grew up we said it like this—”

No. Mm-mm. Not here. And we should know, a lot of our residents have pecan trees in their back yard and our area is home to numerous pecan farms and processing plants. If you say “puh-KAHN” around a local, that’s a sure sign you’re not from around here. In fact they may not even know what you’re talking about. We don’t argue about it. We don’t debate it. We simply correct you with love and keep it moving. Don’t try to be fancy. It’s PEE. CAN. You’re welcome.

#4: Don’t Forget to Hold the Door Open

This isn’t optional. This is Southern law.

Whether someone is:

Right behind you
Six steps behind you
Or “kinda close but maybe not close enough”

Still, you HOLD that door open, baby. If you let the door slam behind you? Instant judgment. The kind where people smile politely, but also telepathically ask, “Who raised them?” Holding doors open is how we show respect. It’s just good southern manners. It’s how we tell people, “I see you. And I care.” So don’t skip the door-holding. We WILL notice.

#5: Don’t Mess With the Big Oak

The Big Oak is basically royalty. A 300-year-old Southern queen.It’s one of the oldest live oaks in the United States dating back to 1680 and it’s one of Thomasville’s symbols.

You do NOT:

❌Climb it

❌ Hang on it

❌ Shake a branch

❌ Pull a leaf

❌ Snap a twig

❌ Treat the roots like a playground

You CAN:

✔ Admire it

✔ Stand under it

✔ Take a million pictures

✔ Look like you’re posing for Southern Living Magazine

But if you try to mess with it?

Locals WILL show up out of nowhere — like they teleported — and guide you away from the tree. The Big Oak is sacred. It’s weathered centuries, and To Thomasville locals, It’s a symbol of strength, history, and community pride.

#6: Don’t Bring Bread Into a Thomasville Home Unless It’s Flowers Foods

Now this one is deeply personal…because my mama worked at Flowers Foods for over 30 years. And if she walks into my house and sees bread that’s NOT from Flowers? She freezes, points at the bag, And says, “Les-lie… what. is. THIS?!”

Flowers Foods is a BIG deal in Thomasville.

It’s homegrown. It’s iconic.and goes all the way back to 1919. They make honey buns right here in Thomasville for goodness sake. Buying anything else — especially if you live here — is basically a crime against carbs. So just remember: If you buy bread…Buy Flowers.

#7: Don’t Complain About the Brick Streets Downtown

This is the fastest way to get judged. Say these words out loud: “These bricks are so bumpy aggravating.” or “Why don’t they pave these over?” And watch how fast the locals turn and stare. Our brick streets are HISTORY. They’re beautiful and charming. They were hand laid. They’re older than half the buildings downtown, and they reflect the city’s rich history all the way back when Thomasville was known as the Winter Resort of the South. And they are NOT getting replaced.

Yes… your coffee might spill. Yes… you’ll bounce a little. Yes… your car will make “I’m working hard” noises. But if you insult the brick streets? People will look at you like you just insulted their grandmother. We LOVE our bricks. We PROTECT our bricks. Please whatever you do yall, respect the bricks.