Ashley Began As A Hardware Business In Pelham, Ga In 1915.
The Founders of the company were the late Moses Wright Turner, Sr and his late son Moses Wright Turner, Jr.
Growing Strong Through Generations
What began as a hardware business in Pelham, Georgia in 1915 has expanded into a network of exceptional furniture stores serving Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Virginia through Ashley.
The Founders of the company were the late Moses Wright Turner, Sr., and his son the late Moses Wright Turner, Jr. Despite the bad economy during the Great Depression and World Wars I and II, the company continued to grow. Over the years, the family branched out, adding two more furniture stores, one located in Bainbridge in 1940 and another in Tifton in the 1950’s. Scott R. Turner came home and became involved in the business at the Pelham store.
January 1, 2002, Russell Turner and Scott Turner opened their first Ashley store in Tallahassee. A second store was opened in Mobile, Alabama in October of 2003 and a third store was opened in Pensacola, Florida in March 2004. The Ashley division saw enormous growth in 2006 through 2007 with the opening of stores in Biloxi, MS; Spanish Fort, AL; Greensboro, NC; Winston-Salem, NC; Thomasville, GA; Opelika AL; Columbus, GA, and Burlington, NC. In 2014, a new Ashley store was opened in Albany, GA. In 2015, the Danville, VA store was acquired. In October 2017, we opened the first Ashley Outlet in Greensboro, NC. The Macon, GA, and Warner Robins, GA locations were acquired in November 2018.
Spring of 2020 brought more growth to the company with the acquisition of five new locations. Crestview, FL; Dothan, AL; Enterprise, AL; Ft. Walton Beach, FL; and Panama City, FL were added. And again in 2022, there was even more growth with the acquisition of four Jacksonville locations: Town Center, North, Orange Park, Regency Outlet, and one more Georgia store, Brunswick, bringing the total number of stores to twenty-eight.
A Commitment to Quality and Service
We are proud of the broad range of distinctive home furnishings offered through Ashley. Hard work, passion and pride in providing our customers with the best product, for the best value, with the best service translates into providing our customers with the best experience.
Our goal at 1915 South is to provide a superior level of service for our customers and in the industry. With our steady growth, we have been named as one of the Top 100 Furniture Stores in America. Our proud past and drive have allowed us to grow and to provide many new jobs in Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Virginia. We are proud to be a part of your community and look forward to servicing our customers and neighbors for many years to come.
Meet The 1915 South Team
Russell Turner
Owner and Chief Executive Officer
Russell, a native of Pelham, Georgia, and a graduate of Brookwood School in Thomasville, is the fourth-generation leader at 1915 South. In 1989, he graduated from High Point University in High Point, North Carolina, with a degree in Home Furnishings Marketing and Business Administration.
Upon his return to Thomasville in 1991, Russell began working with his father, Scott Turner, and today is honored to serve our vibrant community. Along with his wife of 30 years, Susan, and three children, Garland, Anne Scott, and Hill, Russell is involved with Brookwood School and First Presbyterian Church of Thomasville, holding positions of leadership in both. In addition, he was a long-time board member of the Georgia Home Furnishings Association and is its past President.
Steve Gracik
President
Steve joined the team in 2001 just prior to opening 1915 South’s first Ashley store in Tallahassee. Steve has over 36 years in the retail furniture industry and has helped grow 1915 South into one of the largest independent furniture retailers in the country.
Steve enjoys eating and drinking good wine.
Steve graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University and lives with his family in Pensacola, Florida.
Chad Fitzgerald
Chief Financial Officer
Chad joined 1915 South as the CFO in 2009 and has helped grow the company into one of the largest retail furniture companies in the United States. Chad oversees accounting, IT and human resource activities. Prior to joining 1915 South, Chad began his career as a CFO and Operations Manager in manufacturing and distribution.
Chad enjoys fishing, hunting, raising Labrador retrievers, college football and coaching youth sports.
Chad graduated from Valdosta State University with a degree in Accounting and lives in Coolidge, GA with his family.
Melanie Stephens
Chief Operating Officer
Melanie Stephens is the Chief Operating Officer for 1915 South. Melanie started with the company in 2003 and was immediately hooked on understanding the operations of the company and coming up with ideas on how to improve. Being part of such growth over the years has been an incredible journey and one that has been such a blessing in Melanie’s life!
Melanie has been married for over 25 years to her best friend, Cameron. Together they have two children that spark such joy in their lives. Her daughter Paxton lives in L.A. and her son Preston lives in Thomasville, GA. Both are thankfully taller than Melanie.
Melanie’s hobbies include eating, helping others tidy their homes and lives, and watching random shows on Netflix.
Bill Dixon
Vice President Merchandising and Marketing
In his current position, Bill oversees and directs all merchandising, marketing, sales training, omni channel sales and consumer credit responsibilities for 1915 South.
Bill is a 40+ year veteran of the furniture retail business. Bill has a long-term relationship with Ashley Furniture Industries. Bill served as a member of the Board of Directors for a public manufacturing company servicing the manufactured housing, recreational vehicle and hospitality industries. He serves as the Treasurer of the Board of Directors of a not-for-profit organization that serves the needs of the intellectually disabled.
Bill is married with 3 children and in his leisure time enjoys golf, coaching youth sports, travel and all spectator sports.
Jon Nobles
Regional Sales Manager
Jon is focused on sales growth, process improvement, guest experience and measurable results for 1915 South. He works to unleash the capabilities, creativity and passion of 1915 South team members.
Jon brings over 25 years of retail and multi-unit experience working at specialty and big box nationally recognized retailers leading teams to significant growth.
Jon is an avid supporter of college football, he also gets plenty of exercise as a daily runner and enjoys spending time with his family and friends. Jon graduated from Clemson University with a degree in Human Resources.
Greg King
Regional Sales Manager
Greg believes in inspiring the love of home for our guests and enriching the lives of those around him in any way that he can. Servant leadership is at the forefront of his management style and his main driver when dealing with the sales teams. Building a strong team culture of growth through relationships has been the main reason for his success over his 35-year furniture career. His favorite leadership quote is “Leadership is an action; not a position.”
Greg has been married to his wife Allyson for 36 years and they have 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren, all boys! Greg says it’s okay to call him “PopPop”. In their spare time, he and his wife love spending time on the boat. She gets some sun while he fishes for new content for his small Fishing YouTube channel.
Chris Taylor
Regional Sales Manager
Chris joined the team at 1915 South after nearly 18 years working with our stores as a trusted business partner. Chris has more than 26 years in the home furnishings industry and has worked with leading retailers, manufacturers, and suppliers nationwide. He started his career at Furniture Today, one of the furniture industry’s leading business publications, in 1997 and launched their first electronic newsletter, eDaily, in 2000.
Chris, his wife Karen, and their family live in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He enjoys time with his family, Wake Forest sports, the occasional round of golf, multi-colored spreadsheets, and using unnecessarily complicated words. He is also a “Double Deacon” having earned both his undergraduate degree and MBA from Wake Forest University.
Kim Cornish
Director of Visual Merchandising
A long term employee, Kim has served 1915 South in many roles over the last 20 years. Her sales experience and design expertise led her to pursue visual merchandising and showroom design at 1915 South. Currently, Kim manages the visual merchandising team, who make 1915 South’s Ashley stores inspiring and welcoming to customers across the South.
Kim graduated from Florida State University and lives in Thomasville, Georgia with her family.