Our Story
When DeWitt Insurance Company was founded in 1956, Edgar A. DeWitt Sr. made customer service and personal attention the cornerstone of his company philosophy. A family atmosphere and unparalleled insurance experience made the Springfield office of DeWitt Insurance the first choice for many local businesses and families as they sought to meet their insurance needs.
For over 60 years, the agents and staff of DeWitt Insurance have provided a high level of service to their clients through their extensive experience in the insurance industry and their commitment to client satisfaction. Most of all, DeWitt Insurance strives to continue to foster the founding principles on which the company first built its reputation – client satisfaction, personal service and proper coverage at a competitive price.
1956
When DeWitt Insurance Company was founded in 1956, Edgar A. DeWitt, Sr., of Effingham County, Georgia, made customer service and personal attention the cornerstone of his company philosophy. He began selling Life Insurance products that provided the promise of financial protection through insurance and other related benefits that serve the entire family.
1965
DeWitt expanded into the Property and Casualty business with their appointment to SAFECO Insurance.
1970
DeWitt relocated from Springfield, Georgia and into their new building in Rincon, Georgia. A family atmosphere and unparalleled insurance experience made the new office of DeWitt Insurance the first choice for many local businesses and families. Mr. Edgar’s son, Edgar A. “Al” DeWitt, Jr., landed a job with Fireman’s Fund in San Diego, California as an Insurance Underwriter after serving in the Navy.
1972
As Mr. Edgar continued to build the company, Al and his wife Lenda moved back to Effingham County. It was time to join his father and help with the growing family of insureds.
1978
Al and Lenda purchased the agency. Al expanded service offerings and added of numerous insurance providers, allowing the company to capitalize on its status as an independent agency.
1996
Al designed and began building the three facility office complex on the corner of Highway 21 and Chimney Road in Rincon.
In February, DeWitt welcomed C. DeWayne Ladner, originally from Necaise, Mississippi, as their newest agent. DeWayne was licensed with Massachusetts Indemnity Life Insurance Company for insurance and licensed for securities with First American National Securities. This opened up the opportunity in the agency for financial services, i.e. retirement solutions using mutual funds, IRA’s, and annuities. The agency became a full-circle broker in insurance and financial services for their clients.
1997
In January Al and Lenda moved the agency to a new and final home located at 5877 Hwy 21 South. The complex was one Al dreamed of building after hearing a birthday wish from Lenda. A few years prior, they were driving on Hwy 21 and Al asked Lenda what she wanted for her birthday. They just happened to be driving past an undeveloped two-acre lot, and her response was "why don't you build us a new office building on that vacant lot". Not only did he build DeWitt Insurance a new home, but he designed the complex to house two additional buildings. It became the Southbend Office Complex.
After the untimely death of Al in April, Lenda became the Owner and Principal. Her ability to lead the agency continued to give employees and carriers the confidence needed to ensure that the agency would continue to be an integral part of the community.
In June, DeWayne became the Life and Health Manager and Vice President of the company.
2002
In April, Lenda retired and sold the company to DeWayne Ladner.
In October, DeWayne started a branch office in Diamondhead, Mississippi, just 20 miles from his home town community. His father, Clifford and mother, Mary, managed this agency.
2003
In January, DeWitt acquired the independent Allstate Agency of Rincon, Georgia and added Charles Williamson, former Owner and Principal, to the agency’s staff.
In July, DeWitt acquired the Larry Shearouse Insurance Agency, an independent agency of Springfield, Georgia.
2004
In January, DeWitt acquired the insurance division of regional bank The Coastal Bank, and added their staff to DeWitt.
In December, DeWitt acquired another independent agency, Ryan Lee Insurance Agency of Diamondhead, Mississippi to add to the Mississippi operations.
2005
In March, DeWayne purchased Mississippi’s future and final address at 4338 Park Ten Drive, Diamondhead.
In August, the Mississippi branch faced its greatest challenge after Hurricane Katrina made land fall on the Mississippi Gulf Coast between Bay St. Louis and Waveland, just ten miles from their office. DeWayne was overwhelmed by the local response, and thankful for all the local support from Effingham County residents, business owners, and churches.
2006
In April DeWayne separated the Georgia and Mississippi operations, as it was time for the Diamondhead agency to stand on its own. Clifford and Mary assumed the helm, and with the magnitude of hurricane claims, inspections and customer needs, added Joseph Ladner, DeWayne’s brother, to the team.
In June, DeWayne acquired Stokes Insurance, an independent agency located on Northside Drive in Statesboro. This would be the first branch office in Georgia.
2007
In July, DeWitt moved the Stokes Insurance office to Piedmont Loop and changed the name to DeWitt Insurance Agency of Statesboro.
2012
In October, DeWitt moved their Statesboro office to Hwy 80.
2017
In February, DeWitt moved the Statesboro location to a final home on Gentilly Road, where they now share a building with Vision Financial Group of Georgia. DeWayne co-founded Vision Financial with Certified Financial Planners Scott Bass and Talbert Edenfield to provide DeWitt’s clients a way to plan their futures and have access to financial planning, investing, and retirement planning.
In August, DeWitt acquired Darley Insurance Agency Inc., an independent Allstate Agency in Statesboro, welcoming the Darley Insurance staff to the DeWitt Insurance family.