For Robbie and Marsha King, life at Reynolds is about much more than a beautiful home at the lake. It’s about people, experiences, family, and making memories with the people they love.
Their story began in Savannah, where both were living when they met at the YMCA. Robbie, immediately struck by Marsha’s beauty “inside and out” made the first move by offering to “help” her with one of the exercise machines. There was just one small problem: she didn’t actually need any help. Apparently, the strategy worked anyway.
Marsha remembers being attracted to Robbie’s kindness, caring nature and, as she puts it, his “cuteness.” They married on February 29, 2004, choosing Leap Day because they liked the uniqueness of the date, and because Robbie recognized the considerable administrative advantage of having an anniversary only once every four years.
More than two decades later, they have discovered that their differences may be one of the secrets to their marriage. Marsha possesses an infectious enthusiasm for life and is usually ready to say, “Let’s do it!” Robbie provides the calmer counterbalance, occasionally wondering whether they should first determine if additional insurance might be required.
Robbie grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina, and graduated from NC State University with a degree in economics. His 25-plus-year career in telecommunications concluded in a corporate leadership role with Comcast Business before he retired while living in Augusta, Georgia.
Not truly grasping the meaning of retirement, Robbie soon found himself drawn toward work increasingly centered on leadership and community service. Today, he serves as President and CEO of the Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce, is active in the Rotary Club and other community organizations, and hosts the popular Lure of the Lake podcast, with a new companion podcast, Health at the Lake, coming soon.
He has also acquired another local identity: “Rob, the AI Guy.” After facilitating numerous workshops on artificial intelligence, Robbie has made something of a mission out of helping individuals and businesses become comfortable with a technology that is rapidly changing how we live and work, including, he jokes, some technology-challenged participants who “can barely spell AI.”
Marsha grew up in the Birmingham area and attended Mississippi University for Women in Columbus, Mississippi. While living in Savannah, she worked as the Controller for a large commercial roofing company. These days, she enthusiastically embraces the Reynolds lifestyle. The self-proclaimed “Dancing Queen” loves dancing, boating, walking, traveling, spending time with family and friends, and being what she cheerfully describes as a “social golfer.”
She has another title she particularly enjoys: “The Queen of the Kings.” And it is quite a kingdom. Their three sons are David, Sam and Jordan. David and his wife, Katie, live in Birmingham with their sons Trey, Sully and Will. Sam lives in Montana, where he owns and operates a fly-fishing guide business. Jordan and his wife, Jenny, live in Evans, Georgia, with Andy, Peyton (the family’s only granddaughter), Jordy and Barrett, affectionately known as “Little Bear.”
With seven grandchildren, family time is especially precious. Their Reynolds home has become a place where people naturally gather. Fourth of July is a particular favorite, when family and friends come together to watch the fireworks clearly visible from their porch or walk over to the grass, spread out blankets and enjoy the show.
And getting people to visit Reynolds has never been much of a sales job. Robbie and Marsha had visited the area several times over the years, and when they began seriously exploring places to retire, Reynolds kept rising to the top. They saw a place where family and friends of virtually every age could find something to enjoy, and where many memories could be made together.
In May 2020, just as COVID was changing life everywhere, they made Great Waters home. What they found exceeded their expectations. “The endless opportunities appeal to all ages and lifestyles,” they say.
But for Robbie, the greatest discovery has been the people. “We’ve lived in and traveled to some wonderful places, but this is the friendliest place we’ve ever lived or visited,” he says. “I hear it often on my podcast: everyone comes here for different reasons, but we stay because of the people, and the lifestyle!”
Travel remains another great shared passion. Together, Robbie and Marsha have explored Australia, Europe and Central and South America, including a memorable trip to Portugal last year with a wonderful group of fellow travelers. Ask them to name their favorite destination, though, and you won’t get a list.
Their favorite place is wherever they happen to be.
Rather than simply seeing the sights, they enjoy immersing themselves in the local community and culture, experiencing each destination rather than merely visiting it. In many ways, that philosophy also describes how they have approached life: enjoy where you are, embrace the people around you and make the most of the experience.
For Marsha, Reynolds means “making memories with family, great friends and endless opportunities for socializing.” For Robbie, it comes back to relationships.
After all these years, Marsha says what she loves most about Robbie is “his willingness to be there for people in need, especially me!” And what does Robbie still love most about Marsha? “Her beauty and sweetness, inside and out. That hasn’t changed.” Through all the different chapters, careers, family, travel, community involvement and now life at Reynolds, perhaps the common thread is that Robbie and Marsha simply enjoy doing life together. Their careers, travels and adventures have given them plenty of stories to tell, but ask them to describe the life they have built together in just three words and the answer becomes much simpler:
Love. Laughter. Gratitude.
Grateful for the adventures still ahead. Grateful for a home that draws their children, grandchildren and friends together. Grateful for the people who have become part of their story. Grateful for each other. And most of all, grateful for the many blessings God has given them.
