About Us
 

Meet The Team Behind The Senior Living Dream

Caring That Matters

 
 
 
 
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Welcome To The Southern Manor Group

Southern Manor Senior Living was founded in 1988 in beautiful Statesboro, Georgia. Southern Manor was the first retirement living center of its kind in Bulloch and surrounding counties. Conveniently located across from East Georgia Regional Medical Center, we are just 45 miles west of Savannah.

Southern Manor and its sister property, The Gardens, are still the only locally owned and operated retirement community of their size. We boast being the region’s only community to offer a National Board Certified Assisted Living Executive Director as well as a National Board Certified Adult Nurse Practitioner to meet the needs of our families, residents, and employees. With 45 private rooms in addition to a large spacious sun room, lobby and lifestyle center, our residents and families will agree we are the very finest in retirement living. Learn more.  >

 
 

SOUTHERN MANOR STATESBORO

 
 

SOUTHERN MANOR CANDLER

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Ralph E. Cowart, Jr. 

Ralph E. Cowart, Jr., ALA-NBC, FACHCA, is a native of Emanuel County, Georgia, and a graduate of Swainsboro High School. He pursued higher education at Ogeechee Technical College before beginning his professional career in the family business, Johnson Funeral Homes. His early exposure to serving families with compassion and dignity laid the foundation for a lifelong commitment to healthcare and senior services.

 
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Ralph E. Cowart, Jr., ALA-NBC, FACHCA, is a native of Emanuel County, Georgia, and a graduate of Swainsboro High School. He pursued higher education at Ogeechee Technical College before beginning his professional career in the family business, Johnson Funeral Homes. His early exposure to serving families with compassion and dignity laid the foundation for a lifelong commitment to healthcare and senior services. Ralph later transitioned into long-term care and rehabilitation administration and subsequently served as Director of Business Development for Gentiva Hospice. In 2011, driven by a deep passion for geriatric care, he acquired Southern Manor Senior Living. Under his leadership, the organization experienced significant growth, including the launch of Southern Manor Companion Care (2015), a private duty service supporting individuals who wish to age in place, as well as the acquisition of Southern Manor at Candler in 2022. A respected leader in the senior living profession, Ralph served as President of the Assisted Living Association of Georgia (ALAG) Board of Directors, having previously held the offices of Secretary, Treasurer, and Vice President. He is also a member of GSLA (Georgia Senior Living Association). He serves on the Board of Directors of the Averitt Center for the Arts, the Emeritus Board of the Statesboro-Bulloch County Breast Cancer Foundation, Habitat for Humanity Bulloch Chapter, and is an active member of the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB). In 2012, Ralph earned dual national certification in healthcare administration and is a member of the American College of Health Care Administrators (ACHCA). In 2017, he was inducted as a Fellow of both ACHCA and the National Association of Long-Term Care Administrators (NAB), recognizing his leadership, professional excellence, and contributions to the field. Ralph is an active member of the Bulloch and Candler County Chambers of Commerce and was honored as one of the Statesboro Herald “Top 20 Under 40” in 2015. He is also a dedicated member of the Kiwanis Club of Statesboro and a founding supporter of the Golden K Kiwanis Club for seniors within his communities. Ralph and his son Preston are members of Statesboro First United Methodist Church, Forrest Heights Country Club, and the Amelia Island Plantation Club.
 

 

Barbara Eloi

Barbara Eloi, Lifestyle Director, brings more than two decades of experience and a deep personal commitment to enriching the lives of older adults. Born in California and raised in a military family, she developed early adaptability and a strong sense of service through living in diverse communities across the country. Barbara and her husband Robert have been married for 31 years. 

 
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Barbara Eloi, Lifestyle Director, brings more than two decades of experience and a deep personal commitment to enriching the lives of older adults. Born in California and raised in a military family, she developed early adaptability and a strong sense of service through living in diverse communities across the country. For the past seven years, Barbara has called Statesboro, Georgia home, where she has dedicated her professional career to senior living and wellness. With approximately 20 years of experience working with older adults—including the last 10 years as a Lifestyle Director—she is recognized for creating purposeful, engaging, and resident-centered programming that enhances quality of life and fosters meaningful connection. Barbara is trained in the Positive Approach® to Care and holds specialized education in public health and gerontology, having completed her studies at Georgia Southern University in 2018. Her academic background, combined with decades of hands-on leadership, has shaped her holistic, compassionate, and outcomes-focused approach to resident engagement and care. In recognition of her dedication to service, Barbara was honored with the Rotary Club of Richmond Hill Vocational Service Award in 2015, an achievement that reflects her longstanding commitment to excellence and community impact. Barbara and her husband Robert have been married for 31 years. Together they are the proud parents of five children and grandparents to two grandsons and, are active members of Bible Baptist Church in Statesboro, where she serves as a Sunday School teacher and choir member. Outside of her professional role, she enjoys photography, sewing, thrifting, and cultivating her growing collection of plants.
 
Senior Living Staffing At It's Best.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Kristy Shuman

Kristy Shuman, ALA–Board Certified, brings more than a decade of dedicated service and a diverse clinical, educational, and operational background to her role as Executive Director of Southern Manor Senior Living in Statesboro. Having been with Southern Manor Group for ten years, Kristy’s career reflects steady progressions.

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Kristy Shuman, ALA–Board Certified, brings more than a decade of dedicated service and a diverse clinical, educational, and operational background to her role as Executive Director of Southern Manor Senior Living in Statesboro. Having been with Southern Manor Group for ten years, Kristy’s career reflects a steady progression of leadership, compassion, and excellence in senior care. Kristy began her journey with the organization at Lakeview Manor, where she served with distinction as both Lifestyle Director and Executive Director, building strong, resident-centered programs and fostering a culture of engagement and quality. In 2023, she relocated to Statesboro to lead Southern Manor Companion Care as Director, expanding in-home services for seniors wishing to age in place. In 2024, she was appointed Executive Director of Southern Manor Senior Living in Statesboro, where she continues to guide the community with a focus on clinical integrity, operational excellence, and heartfelt service. Kristy earned her nursing degree from Griffin Technical College and began her healthcare career at The Medical Center of Central Georgia (formerly Macon Medical Center) in the Surgical Trauma Intensive Care Unit. After nearly a decade in critical care, she transitioned to primary and internal medicine, serving alongside Dr. DeWayne Watkins, M.D., further broadening her clinical expertise and patient-centered approach. Her professional experience also includes service as a Special Education teacher at Faith Christian Academy in Griffin, Georgia, where she was “ Teacher of the Year 2007” , reflecting her lifelong commitment to advocacy, compassion, and individualized care. Kristy founded Hope’s Lighthouse in her hometown where she fostered, sheltered and gave Christian guidance to homeless women and children in her community. She is an active member of the Georgia Senior Living Association and holds Board Certification as an Assisted Living Administrator, underscoring her dedication to professional excellence and regulatory leadership within the senior living industry. Above all, Kristy treasures her role as a mother to Aaron and Alijah, and as “Granny” to Lincoln, Mila, and Madeline, who remain her greatest joy and inspiration.

 

T Blake Nobles

T. Blake Nobles, MBA-HCAD, ALA, is a native of Coffee County who relocated to Bulloch County in 2016 to pursue higher education. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resource Management from Georgia Southern University in 2020, after which he began his professional career within Human Resources.

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T. Blake Nobles, MBA-HCAD, ALA, is a native of Coffee County who relocated to Bulloch County in 2016 to pursue higher education. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resource Management from Georgia Southern University in 2020, after which he began his professional career within the University’s Human Resources Department. Driven by a strong passion for both healthcare and business, Blake continued his education at Valdosta State University, earning a Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Administration in 2023. That same year, he joined Southern Manor Group, where he played a key role in leading employee compliance efforts during the acquisition of Southern Manor at Candler Senior Living. He was subsequently licensed by the State of Georgia in December 2023. With a strong commitment to operational excellence, and team development Blake assumed the role of Executive Director at Southern Manor at Candler at the beginning of 2024. He brings a solid foundation in human resources, healthcare operations, and is dedicated to fostering a culture of compassionate care. Outside of work, Blake enjoys traveling, entertaining family and friends, and spending time with his Goldendoodle, Mabel.