Skip To Content

People of Fairhope | Meet Cecil Christenberry!

In an effort to honor the people that make the town of Fairhope so special, I am excited to launch a new video series called “The People of Fairhope!”

Communities like ours don’t just happen; they are created by the love, intentionality, and dedication of people who care. It has been an amazing experience so far, to meet these people for myself and to dive a little deeper into their history…and I hope you’ll enjoy the journey just as much! To start us off, it was my joy to interview Mr. Cecil Christenberry, owner of the charming lawn, farm, and garden supply store: Old Tyme Feed.

Interested in Fairhope Real Estate? Tour Fairhope AL Homes for Sale online with Anne Dorman of Mobile Bay Realty 251-656-5758!

Mr. Christenberry considers himself a true Fairhope citizen, having lived here for over 25 years. He and his wife, Linda, grew up in Mobile, both attended Auburn University, and married just 5 days after her graduation! The couple knew they wanted to move to Baldwin County and raise their daughters here, so in 1984, they settled in sweet Fairhope where they have lived ever since. Prior to this, Cecil had extensive experience in the world of garden and livestock, having worked for years for a co-op based out of Atlanta, GA. He always carried with him the vision and desire to begin a similar business of his own, and just a couple years after moving to Fairhope, that vision became a reality.

As Cecil recounts, one gentleman, in particular, was instrumental in this process. Cecil remembers a member of his Methodist church telling him, “There are three people in this church who are able to put those who have the ideas together with those who have the resources.” Fast forward to October of 1987, when Old Tyme Feed held its grand opening and ribbon cutting! Formerly a tranquil cow pasture, the property sat on two-lane Greeno Rd, not far from Downtown Fairhope, but with an open and rural feel all its own.

If you drop by this bustling store today, you’ll find it to be much the same as it has ever been. Its timeless quality is largely due to the principles that Cecil founded it upon: “old fashioned values and friendly service.” Cecil believes that this is what draws people to Old Tyme Feed’s welcoming doors, and he counts it as his mission to brighten his customers’ day… a mission I think we’d all agree he succeeds at! Cecil carried these same values into his role as City Council Member, where he served two terms from 2000-2008. Then in 2014, he was elected for the Baldwin County School Board and will be running again in 2020. As Cecil notes, “I want to be at the table…That is the key because our students are our future.”

Today, in addition to their three daughters, Cecil and Linda have three grandsons and one granddaughter. The family is close and loves to be involved in everything related to Old Tyme Feed. Cecil Christenberry is truly a one-of-a-kind member of this community and has certainly helped to shape Fairhope into the town it is today. Do yourself a favor and come experience the inviting atmosphere of Old Tyme Feed for yourself!

To learn more about Fairhope and what makes our area so special, call Anne Dorman with Mobile Bay Realty @ 251-656-5758!

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.