Family Spotlight: The Lance Family
This month, Stroll Inside the Gates recognizes the Lance family. Haley Lance is originally from McKenzie, a small town in south Alabama; this town is in Conecuh county, which only has one “claim to fame”, the Conecuh sausage. Justin Lance hails from Butler, GA, which is a small town in Taylor county.
Haley received her Bachelor’s Degree in Biomedical Sciences from Auburn University in 2005 and her Doctorate in Chiropractic Sciences from Life University in Marietta, GA in 2009 (attending Auburn is a tradition in her family). Justin attended Fort Valley State University and later Georgia College in Milledgeville, GA where he learned about Georgia’s Lake Country and fell in love with Lake Oconee and the golf opportunities here. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and his Doctorate in Chiropractic Sciences in 2010 from Life University in Marietta, GA.
Justin and Haley met through mutual friends while in chiropractic school in Marietta. At the time, Justin’s friend was dating Haley’s friend. Now both couples are happily married with kids, and the rest is history!
Justin and Haley have 3 children: Benton (15), Ansley Claire (12), and Blakely (10). Benton is in the 9th grade at Lake Oconee Academy, and he runs on the varsity cross country team and plays soccer for his school. Ansley Claire is in the 6th grade at LOA, and, like her brother, is also a cross-country runner. Ansley Claire is also in her 4th year of competition gymnastics with Georgia Elite Gym out of Watkinsville, GA. The youngest Lance, Blakely, is in the 4th grade at Lake Oconee Academy. Blakely plays basketball with LOA’s 3rd/4th grade girls’ team and plays soccer for the Lake Country United FC Girls team. She was one of the original players last year when the team was founded, and they are currently in their 2nd season.
The Lance family wouldn’t be complete without their incredible pets. Trini is the most beloved pet of the family, and Haley lovingly refers to her as her first child and “doghter”. Trini will be 16 this summer and has been a part of the family for as long as the kids can remember. Trini is a rescue and a chihuahua mix, even though everyone thinks she’s pure bred with a better personality than most chihuahuas. Trini was a gift to Haley from her dad, which makes her even more special to Haley. Haley is an avid fan of rescues and mixed breeds, claiming the best qualities are exhibited in these animals. The Lance family also has two other animals: Cane, a beautiful 5-year-old Red Merle Mini- Australian Shepherd who has plenty of energy but is scared of everything, and Callie, a four-year-old long-haired Tortoise Shell Calico cat. Callie is also a rescue and fits the reputation of Tortoise Shell Calicos being extra sassy.
Justin and Haley Lance are both chiropractors and owners at Magnolia Medical Group. They work together in their integrated practice of chiropractic and other select medical services with other talented medical practitioners. Magnolia Medical Group offers many services, including the following: medical weight loss, IV hydration therapy, botox and filler aesthetic services, spinal decompression therapy, permanent makeup services, regenerative cell therapies, various laser services, nutrition counseling, peptide and hormone replacement therapies, and selective concierge primary care. Justin and Haley take a wellness approach to their view on chiropractic care and offer services that are curtailed to the specific needs of the individual and consider preferences for comfort, the latest technology and training, and the individual’s personal health history and goals. The practice is integrated to include medical services that complement chiropractic care and ensure that the patients are receiving the best care from one team under one convenient roof.
Justin and Haley lived in her hometown for about a year after they were married. There, Haley worked with her childhood chiropractor to learn valuable first-hand knowledge about the field. Justin’s love for the Lake Oconee area pulled them back for a visit, and they both decided that this is where they wanted to call home for their growing family. “This area is such a special place to raise a family and a great location to so many sights and places,” adds Haley. “It’s rare to live in an area that you can be at the beach or the mountains within a short drive, and being so close to Athens is an added bonus for Justin, who is such a Georgia Bulldog fan!" Lake Oconee has a small town feel but is full of people that are from all over the United States and come from all walks of life. There aren’t many places that can provide this culture in a small, safe environment we feel is ideal to raise our children in.”
Justin and Haley moved to the Lake Oconee area in 2010 when Benton was 6 months old. They purchased a lot in Reynolds Landing in 2018, and as members began to enjoy all the amenities that Reynolds has to offer. Justin and all the kids play golf, and Haley thoroughly enjoys playing pickleball. The Lance family’s love for the Landing neighborhood prompted them to become full-time residents in the Landing area in September of 2024 when they finally found the perfect house for their family of 5 after house hunting for over a year!
To stay active in the community, The Lances are proud members at Lakeside Church, and Haley is also a member of the Wellness and Recreation Committee with Reynolds. The kids are very active in Lakeside’s youth group and the youth group at First Methodist of Lake Oconee. Haley and Justin’s business, Magnolia Medical Group, is a member of the Greene County Chamber of Commerce.
In her free time, Haley enjoys running, playing pickleball, and working out. If she has extra time, outside of working full-time and raising three kids, she also loves to read. In his spare time, Justin enjoys golfing and driving the boat around the lake while pulling the kids on the tube or wakeboard. With the remainder of his downtime, you can find him sitting on the back porch watching golfers and enjoying the lake views. The kids enjoy a variety of extracurriculars and join Justin and Haley in golf and pickleball whenever they can. As a family, the Lances enjoy traveling and try to mark off a couple of new states every year on their family trips - the kid’s favorite trips usually involve skiing or tropical weather. Justin and Haley are also big concert goers. They try to attend several each year, and Haley has a must-see list of country music legends that she has almost completed!
Benton is an avid fisherman and enjoys fishing on the lake or in one of the ponds located in the Landing neighborhood area whenever he can. Because of this passion, he’s been making his own fishing lures for the past year and has a goal of making this into a profitable side business in the near future. Fishing has also inspired him to begin work on starting a Fishing Team at Lake Oconee Academy. The Lances are currently seeking any local fisherman and boaters who would be interested in helping make this dream of Benton’s a reality.
In addition to their home here in Georgia’s lake Country, the Lances are also owners of a local hunting getaway, Denham Creek Plantation, where they enjoy the outdoors. Denham Creek allows the family to partake in deer and turkey hunting and fishing on the property. All five of the Lances enjoy hunting, and so far all of them have killed trophy bucks, except for Blakely, who primarily enjoys watching the wildlife. This getaway is a great way to spend time together, and it forces them to slow down, be still, and enjoy the quiet serenity and beauty of nature together. Justin has been able to teach the kids about gun and bow hunting safety and the value of being able to live off the land. Haley feels strongly about teaching the kids about respecting nature and not taking for granted what nature provides.
“Reynolds is a community inside a community that offers a sense of peace and comfort for our family,” Haley continues. “There is always something going on for the whole family.” Haley and the kids are regular attendees at the holiday 5Ks offered to Reynolds members, and they enjoy the pools in the warmer months and even the hot tub and indoor pool in the cooler months. The kids also attend summer camps for lessons in tennis, golf, and pickleball. The Lances love to get out on the lake in the warm months and do various water sports on their jet ski and boat, which they love, conveniently storing at the Landing Marina. Justin tries to golf most Friday afternoons with his buddies whenever the weather allows, and Haley plays pickleball with a group during the week. The kids often join in with this group of moms, so pickleball often becomes a family affair. The Lances like dining at the Reynolds restaurants regularly - Richland Pointe and Esse are their favorites. “There really isn’t anything that’s not to love!”
