At the Heart of Summerville: Dora Ann Reaves and the Story Behind a Beloved Photograph
A lifelong storyteller, Dora Ann Reaves has spent her life capturing the spirit of Summerville in words, in photographs, and in the moments that matter most.
The Woman Behind the Lens
When retired journalist Dora Ann Reaves looks at the photograph she took decades ago of Mrs. Evelyn Segelken in Azalea Park, it brings back more than just memories of a single day. It captures the essence of Summerville itself, a town of kindness, beauty, and people who care deeply for one another.
“I have very fond memories of that day,” Dora Ann shared. “My mother came with me for the interview because they were best friends, and I knew the key to getting Mrs. Segelken to relax and talk would be my mom. I still keep a copy of that photo in my home office.”
Behind Mrs. Segelken in the image bloom the ‘Pride of Summerville’ azaleas, a salmon-pink variety developed by her husband, George Segelken, a nurseryman who helped shape the park that remains one of Summerville’s most beloved spaces.
The Legacy of the Segelkens
In 1935, George Segelken donated 33,000 azaleas to help create Azalea Park during the Great Depression, an effort that would eventually turn Summerville into a springtime destination. His Pride of Summerville blooms became a local hallmark, and today, a memorial plaque honors his contribution to the town’s identity and its annual Flowertown Festival.
For
Dora Ann, the portrait of Mrs. Segelken isn’t just a beautiful photograph; it’s a symbol of friendship and community, a connection between generations of Summervillians. “Whenever somebody new showed up at church,” she remembered, “she was always the first one at their door with a home bake. She was a great lady. A really great lady.”
A Life of Storytelling
Dora Ann’s instinct to preserve the stories that shape her community comes from decades in journalism. After graduating from Summerville High in 1964, her sixteenth school thanks to her military family’s frequent moves, she attended Winthrop and later joined The Evening Post, eventually retiring from The Post and Courier in 2006 after 36 years.
She covered everything from the Charleston hospital workers’ strike to the beginnings of Spoleto Festival USA, earning a reputation among her colleagues for her sharp wit, integrity, and deep compassion for the people she wrote about. “I loved every minute of it,” she said in her interview.
Even after retirement, her storytelling never really stopped. While living in West Ashley, Dora Ann once prayed, “Dear Lord, if I could live anywhere, I’d like to live at Shepard Park in Summerville.” Not long after, the opportunity came, and she made her home near the park she had admired for years — the same neighborhood where she still finds inspiration among her camellias and quiet streets.
Dora Ann began documenting the town she has long called home: its people, its history, and the art that continues to enrich it.
Ties to Art and Community
Dora Ann and her husband, Jim, became deeply involved with Sculpture in the South, helping foster Summerville’s impressive collection of public sculptures that today line the paths of Azalea Park. Together, they have celebrated the kind of art that, much like Dora Ann’s photography, turns ordinary moments into lasting memories.
While she speaks humbly of her contributions, her quiet influence is easy to see — in her photographs, in her support for the arts, and in the way she captures Summerville’s heart through stories worth remembering.
A Town Remembered Through Its People
Dora Ann’s life is woven into Summerville’s own story: from her days as a reporter to her work supporting the arts, and that unforgettable afternoon in Azalea Park with her mother and Mrs. Segelken. Her photograph, now recognized by many locals, stands as a visual reminder of what makes Summerville special — its people.
Because in the end, it isn’t just the azaleas that make the town bloom. It’s the hands that plant them, the neighbors who share them, and the storytellers like
Dora Ann Reaves who keep their beauty alive.
