Samantha Backman, left, and Tony Jackson pose for a photo in Bennie’s Alley Friday afternoon. They met electronically on Facebook and later in person in Brisbane Australia.

Love was the reason Samantha Backman left Brisbane, Australia, on May 11.

Valdosta was her destination.

Tony Jackson, a magician and native of Valdosta, met Backman on Facebook, responding to posts after a mutual friend made the connection between the two.

“Forty-three days after meeting on Facebook, writing back and forth every day, Tony told me that he was going to marry me,” said Backman. “My ego was like, What are you doing? This is a man from Georgia, with different ways. I’m in Australia; how do you make this work?”

Backman, a comedian, doctor of toxicology, businesswoman and self-help consultant, knew that the relationship established with Jackson over the internet had allowed the couple to create a bond that transcended physical beauty or attraction.

“We went a whole year without actually meeting each other,” said Backman. “We were in constant communication. Normally, when you go into a relationship, you would have the physical aspect immediately. You get warm and fuzzy with someone so that anything that peeves you off doesn’t matter. Because as soon as you’ve got the touch, you forgive them, and the next thing you know, you’re both jumping each other’s bones. But you never really resolve those issues.”

According to Backman, there were days when she felt horrible but constantly looked forward to a conversation with Jackson.

“We talked about everything we could possibly talk about,” said Backman. “Because there was the heart and soul connection, the love was so intense that I felt it around me. I could walk out feeling the love and I was content with (our relationship) to wait.”

Backman explained that the human heart is the organ that vibrates at the highest frequency.

“Most of us use our ego; we chat when we’re actually disconnected. The best way to connect with each other, or God, or the Source, is through the heart,” she said.

Jackson, who had never used Facebook before, described the encounter with Backman as “ … just amazing. Since day one, we began to connect mind, heart and soul. We really didn’t need pictures; we were like two blind men leading each other. We don’t necessarily have to see each other in order to feel or understand the vibrations.”

The couple married over the phone, with three witnesses each, on Jan. 11, before either had actually met in person.

“Love finds its way in the strangest of circumstances, and I think it’s wonderful that we can go into a relationship and fall in love on heart and soul and not get caught up on a look,” said Backman. “We had no ego; we weren’t out to impress anyone. It was purely a heart-to-heart connection.”

Jackson, who is currently employed at Pilgrim’s Pride, said that Backman’s attitude, along with her ability to look beneath the surface of things, was the reason for his attraction.

“Being realistic, it was her writing and unique way of looking at things,” said Jackson, “in addition to our connection of heart, soul and mind.”

Backman, who owns female menstruation product businesses in Taiwan and India, is known as the “Vagina Doctor” for her work with women in other countries. When she arrived in Valdosta on May 11, she found South Georgia customs to be a bit of a challenge to get used to.

“I got bored within a week because I’m such a workaholic,” said Backman, who plans to host talks with different organizations while in town.

Backman and Jackson will be married again this weekend — in person. Future plans for the couple are not set in stone but will likely involve travel to India and Australia.

“He’s coming with me; I’m going to take him on the road to pimp out his magic show,” joked Backman.

Backman candidly approached the interracial aspect of their marriage.

“That was the first thing I noticed when I saw him in person … that he was even blacker than in the photos. It’s really funny when you see photos of us. I glow in the dark and he’s blacker than black, like night and day, or Yin and Yang, or hot and cold. It’s a balance that works.”

“It’s not about looks though,” continued Backman. “The fact that it’s an interracial relationship doesn’t mean anything to me, but we do get some odd looks from time to time.”

Backman, who has been married twice previously, stated, “My first husband died early, my second husband just wouldn’t die, so this will be the last one.”

This is Jackson’s first marriage, one that his family welcomes. Backman’s family, on the other hand, was not quite as open to the idea.

“They were worried about all of these things, especially since it was an online relationship,” said Backman. “My four children were wondering if he wanted my money, or if he was dangerous, never mind the fact he lived half the world away. I do understand now why some animals eat their young.

“Now I’m just crazy about him and I’ve come to get used to all of his particularities.”