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Lifelong waterman to be Guinea grand marshal

Steve Michael Kellum, 66, a lifelong waterman born and raised in Maryus, will be honored as grand marshal for the 32nd annual Guinea Jubilee. This year’s festival is scheduled for Sept. 23-24 on the festival grounds near the Abingdon Ruritan Club, Bena.

Kellum attended Achilles Elementary School and began crab potting alone in a 16-foot flat bottom skiff when he was 14, according to Jubilee spokesperson Tara Thomas.

His first major business purchase was 10 coils of wire he bought for $90. His boats of choice were 16- to 20-foot skiffs because the smaller boats can work inshore and up in the shallow water of the coves.

According to the 2011 Guinea Jubilee program, Kellum oystered and haul seined in the winter with his brother while still crab potting and shedding soft crabs in the summer months. He has been shedding soft crabs for 25 to 30 years.

When he’s not working the water, Kellum also makes crab pots, hangs gill nets and haul seine.

He and his wife, Dale C...

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