Mauldin Body Shop & Towing 3 Generations of Service By Cyndi Braun When WWII ended, Navy veteran Herbert Mauldin was ready to pursue his chosen career. Armed with a set of body shop tools, he started fixing dents and dings, painting exteriors, and repairing wrecked cars. In 1961, he moved his business to Butterworth Road in Canton, and he later added towing and recovery. From those humble beginnings, the legacy of Mauldin Body Shop and Towing began. All in the Family By the early 1970s, Herbert employed his daughter, Debbie, and her husband, John Weaver. Granddaughter Angela joined the family business after she graduated from Reinhardt in 2001.Angela brought her husband, Brian Reece, into the business when they married in 2005; they then introduced Mauldin Body Shops fourth generation when their daughter, Sierra, was born in 2008. This is my life, said Angela, laughing, as she showed pictures of herself at 4:30pm one evening, operating a 75-ton wrecker, and then later the same evening, she was dressed in a formal gown. In three hours, I went from bright yellow and grease to all dressed up for an event. Thats my crazy life. You never know where you might be or when. Towing and Recovery Mauldin Body Shop has been in the towing business longer than any other Cherokee County business. The shop has three heavy-duty wreckers: a 30-ton Kenworth, a 60-ton Peterbilt and a 75-ton Peterbilt rotator that can handle all heavy-duty wrecker needs. Back in the day, Granddaddy always put on our cards no job too large or too small. In those days, the biggest truck we had was a 10-ton, and you didnt need all these big trucks, said Angela, pointing at the wreckers. Dad really grew the wrecker business. Weve had to get bigger trucks to meet the needs in society, and now were up to a 75-ton rotator. Mauldin wreckers assist in emergencies that require moving automobiles, trucks, and heavy construction and farm equipment. They also assist with large animal rescues. All wrecker drivers are trained and certified through WreckMaster, where they learn the latest skills and techniques in the towing and recovery industry. Six drivers are also certified firefighters, including John and Angela. Angelas husband, Brian, is a career firefighter in Cherokee County. Were the only wrecker service in Cherokee County that has all of its drivers trained and certified, said John. We are trained on how to handle all sorts of situations, so we can take the best care of the vehicle, damage-free. John and Angela are committed to training. As the highest-trained female WreckMaster worldwide, Angela was honored as WreckMaster Top 10 in 2010. John was named WreckMaster of the Year in 2005 and was inducted into the International Towing Museum Hall of Fame in 2016. John also travels throughout the southeast to teach a heavy-duty cross-training course for towers and fire rescue. The Body Shop Managed by Debbie Weaver, the full-service body shop warranties all work for the lifetime that the customer owns the vehicle. The shop uses PPG paints to ensure optimum gloss and durability. Trained technicians mix colors by factory computer codes and then custom tint to match the vehicles specific color. The shop also offers paint-less dent removal (PDR), which is needed after hailstorms or door dings. We meet with customers before preparing a detailed estimate to restore the car to pre-accident condition. We fix the vehicle as if it was our personal vehicle, said Angela. My parents used to say if they wouldnt put their daughter in it, theyre not going to give it back to you. Serving the Community An Army veteran and volunteer fireman, John has served his community for more than fifty years. He was the first chief of the Hickory Flat Volunteer Fire Department, and he helped train hundreds of volunteer firefighters. He is chaplain for the Cherokee County Fire Department, a Critical Incident Stress Management counselor, a wellness director for Georgia HERO unit, and an ordained deacon. He also serves as chairman of the operations committee for the Traffic Incident Enhancement Management (TIME) task force. He teaches rescue and recovery operations for various organizations throughout the county and beyond. Angela is a member of the Service League of Cherokee County, Safe Kids of Cherokee County, Ghost Out, and TIME Task Force of Georgia. For the past 25 years, the company has participated in Ghost Out, a county-wide program that promotes safe driving among teenagers. The Next Generation and Beyond My Granddaddy worked here his entire life. Retiring was not an option for him, said Angela. My parents are the same way. They just wont slow down. With Angela at the helm, the next generation is ready to continue what Herbert Mauldin started 56 years ago. Mauldin Body Shop & Towing143 Butterworth Road, Canton770-479-4851MauldinBodyShop.com Facebook.com/MauldinBodyShop/
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