God-Fearing Criminals

God-Fearing Criminals is the story of a family living in Dawson County, Georgia at the turn of the century; it centers on the youngest child, Ben. From Ben's birth, a difficult "breach delivery," he lived an idyllic boyhood. When Ben's best friend Wesley, marries, Ben meets and falls in love with the maid of honor, a vivacious beauty named Martha. The story of their courtship and ultimate marriage follows. With the onset of the Depression and the resulting hardships, Ben and Wesley become involved in the moonshine business, joining Zeke and Luke who are skilled distillery operators. After a raid on Ben and Wesley's distillery, the Federal Government brings a conspiracy case against them, a messy business to be sure. Throughout all of the challenges and hardships, at the center of their lives is the Church, along with the weddings, births, and deaths that are an important part of everyday life.

At the heart of God-Fearing Criminals is the story of family life in rural Georgia, the happiness and sadness that community and the times bring to their lives.

J.M. Burt was born in 1928 in Dawson County, Georgia. After serving in the Air Force, he worked for Lockheed Martin Company in Marietta, Georgia, retiring in 1987. He and his wife, Nettie, have three children; Jonathan, Noel and Karen. They currently live on a small farm in Cherokee County, Georgia.