VALDOSTA — A.L. Girardin got into the jewelry business in New York City when he was 14 years old.

It was early in the 19th century and Girardin found himself working for Harry Winston.

On a trip to South Georgia, he met Sallie Virginia Fry, who lived in Fargo.

A.L. proposed shortly thereafter, but Sallie told him she wasn’t ready for marriage yet.

A couple of years later, she said yes.

They married and moved to New York City.

But when Sallie became pregnant, she decided she had had enough of New York.

“It was cold in New York,” said Emil Girardin, Sallie and A.L.’s grandson. “She came back south and said, ‘If you want to live with me, you’ve gotta move down here.’”

So A.L. did just that, joining Sallie and going to work with his father-in-law in the turpentine business.

After awhile, A.L. found himself missing the jewelry business and went to work for the Springer Jewelry Company in Valdosta.

There he met Charles Thompson.

“He (A.L.) really understood the mechanics of the jewelry business. His partner, Charles Thompson, understood the business part of it.”

Together, the two of them bought out the Springer Jewelry Company in 1923, rechristening it Thompson and Girardin Jewelers.

A.L. did repair work, engraving and other mechanical work while picking up on Thompson’s business acumen.

They operated at 109 Central Ave. before moving to 303 N. Patterson St. in 1946.

“My grandfather stayed in it until six weeks before he passed. He was here every day; he kept all the books, paid all the bills.”

A.L. passed the business to his son who then passed it on to his own sons, Emil and William.

Growing up, both sons were heavily involved with the family business.

“I was always doing engraving,” said Emil. “I did a lot of bench repair, worked on the bench as a jeweler. My brother and I were both bench jewelers.”

Emil also worked other jobs, but always knew he wanted to go into the family jewelry business.

“I had other jobs growing up, little jobs here and there. I always enjoyed the jewelry business because of the people, the relationships you have with the customers.”

In 2003, Girardin Jewelers moved to its current location at 3321 North Valdosta Road.

William and Emil stayed partners in the business until William’s retirement in 2007.

Emil followed his brother into retirement in 2013.

Since then, Emil’s step-son, Paxton Morris, who joined the business in 2003, has run Girardin, but when he received an Atlanta-based job offer running a medical group earlier this year, Paxton started talking with Emil about closing Girardin’s doors.

“I’ve enjoyed it. It’s been a lot of fun,” said Paxton. “The great thing of being in the jewelry business is you get to celebrate other people’s occasions: birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, holidays, milestones.”

“I’ve enjoyed it,” said Emil. “I’ve really enjoyed it, but 50 years is enough for a career.”

Throughout those 50 years, Emil has seen the business change.

Inventory that used to be kept by hand is now scanned into computers.

Electric welders have been replaced by laser welders.

But the relationships they’ve built with customers have stayed steady.

Girardin Jewelers has celebrated 50th wedding anniversaries with customers who bought their wedding rings from them 50 years ago.

It’s served the grandchildren of customers who came in decades ago.

Many of those customers have come out to the store since the announcement of the going-out-of-business sale.

“Most of the reactions I’ve received have been very positive. They hate to see us go, but they’re happy for Paxton, happy for me.”