VALDOSTA — Jada Hamby, owner of Home and Light, got her start in her career working for Valdosta Lighting at the age of 18.

She spent the next 12 years of her life working for Tom Odom, owner of Valdosta Lighting, before he closed his business and retired.

“Tom took me in as a baby. I was 18 when I started working there. He taught me the industry and trusted me to take on more challenging roles than others would have for someone that young,” Hamby said.

Odom made an impact on the young Hamby.

“I really just loved my job,” she said about working at Valdosta Lighting. “I loved going to work every day. It was a good family atmosphere. It wasn’t an employee-boss relationship; it was just family. Everybody knew their part, and everybody got their part done because everybody respected each other.

“He taught us you treat everyone that walks into your showroom with the utmost respect. It doesn’t matter what their appearance is. You treat everyone like they are the pope.

“When he closed, it was kind of hard to find a home somewhere else because we were such family there.”

After Odom closed shop, Hamby didn’t immediately open a store. She worked a couple of jobs but said she never really found the place where she fit in or a place as meaningful as Valdosta Lighting.

She worked with Celine Gladwin before opening her business June 9. Gladwin is with BFB Gladwin Architects. Hamby said Gladwin made a “huge impact” on her and acted as a role model for her.

“Her employees all looked up to her,” she said. “She employed a lot of young women who were up and coming architects.

“She never had to miss a dance class for her kids. … She is a mother of two small children. She took care of business and family seamlessly. That kind of got my wheels turning. It’s been nice having the freedom as a young mother to have the freedom to be there, to be able to kiss every boo-boo.

“She really made an impact on me seeing how she made her family a priority but got all of her business done, too.”

Being a young mother, Hamby saw the benefits of being a business owner while working with Gladwin. She decided to take up the proverbial torch and open her own lighting business.

Hamby reached out to Laurie Scruggs who worked 25 years at Valdosta Lighting.

“We always joked that nobody could keep us apart for long,” Hamby said about Scruggs. “I always knew that if I opened my own business she would be a part of it. It’s still family, just a smaller family.”

Hamby recognized that Odom left his mark on the town.

“Being a small business owner in the same town for 40 years is an incredible feat,” she said. “Those are large shoes to fill.”

Fortunately, Odom retired when he closed his business. The two are not in competition and Hamby still leans on him as a mentor.

“He supports us a lot as well,” she said of Odom. “When we were opening, I could call and ask a million questions, and he would help me.”

When opening the store, Hamby made a few additions to Valdosta Lighting’s old model. She added furniture, home decor and local art.

“We decided to branch out into home decor and furniture to give our showroom more of an idea center,” she said. “… We work closely with interior designers who come in and do a room all at one time. We like to be an idea center where people can come in and redecorate all in one place.”

Hamby focuses on local artists to support the community.

“When we started out here, I knew that the most important thing to me was to make a difference in the community,” she said. “One of the ways we do that is by supporting our local artists. We even have bath bombs and stuff by local people.”

Hamby sells custom light fixtures produced by manufacturers in the region and participates in local organizations such as the Home Builders Association of South Georgia.

“I’ve always been very active in volunteer work,” she said. “It was one of the things I prayed for, to be successful enough to be able to give back to those that need it. For me, it’s faith, family and lights.”

Hamby partners with several non-profits and organizations such as Called to Care of Lowndes County, an organization that provides for the needs of foster children.

Hamby said she knows opening a brick-and-mortar store in today’s age is a risky move, but is willing to price-match online competitors and believes she and her staff’s customer service skills will give her a competitive edge.

“We price match and order it from the manufacturers. We can find just about anything that is sold online,” she said.

“Our customer service is unmatched. Between Laurie and I, we have more than 40 years of lighting experience. We have both done huge mansions and tiny houses.”

Hamby said there are benefits to purchasing from a showroom like “being able to see finishes and materials first hand,” she said. “You can touch them and see them and judge dimensions for yourself.”

Hamby said the small business community comes together to help a new small business owner.

“There is an excellent community of small business owners. It is second to none. It is truly community over competition,” she said. “If I have a question there is a number of people I could ask that are in the same shoes as me.”

Hamby sings the praises of Lynn Bennett with the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center at Valdosta State University.

“They really made it happen for us,” she said. “(Bennett) helped us tremendously. From the idea, to getting it in writing, to getting it rolling and to making it happen.”

Home & Light, 515 N. St. Augustine Road, Suite G, is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call (229) 469-4070.

Jason Smith is a reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times. He can be contacted at 229-244-3400 ext.1257.