THOMASVILLE – Dwayne and Donna Burchett have another year of bragging rights as the First Presbyterian Chili Cook-off champions.

Arriving at the fourth annual First Presbyterian Chili Cook-off five hours before the start of the event Saturday, the husband and wife, who make up the group “Double D’s,” put together the winning chili recipe for the second consecutive year. A crowd favorite, the Burchetts sold out of their chili within two hours of the cook-off’s 11 a.m. start.

“We are probably one of the only ones here who cooks on site,” Dwayne Burchett said. “All of our chili cooks here. Everybody else kind of brings theirs in pre-cooked. We have been cooking this recipe for the past three years. It’s really no recipe. You just keep adding a touch of this and a touch of that until you get it. That’s why you start so early in the morning.”

Thomasville Rotary Club, which took home the people’s choice selection, finished second, and Calvary United Church Of Christ earned third place. The cook-off had eight contestants.

Proceeds from the chili cook-off, sponsored by the Thomasville Medical Center Heartburn Treatment Center, will support four local food pantries – Cooperative Community Ministry, His Laboring Few, Fairgrove Family Resource Center, and St. Stephen’s Missionary Baptist Church.

Trying to knock off the Double D’s, St. Stephens Missionary Baptist Church, led by the Rev. T. Marquis Ramsey, competed in its first cook-off. Ramsey said the church decided to compete in the event because it’s one of the recipients of the proceeds.

“We decided to join in with everyone else who is interested in helping us to help the community,” Ramsey said. “We hope that it sends a really good message that we care and everybody supports us. By doing this and giving back shows the genuineness of our hearts.”

The Thomasville Fire Department also participated in the chili cook-off for the first time because proceeds went to charity.

“The recipe is one we kind of made up,” said Bradley Hardister, a Thomasville firefighter. “It’s a little bit of everything in it. We had a lot of people liking our chili – a lot of people coming back for more.”

Phil Griffin, chairman of the First Presbyterian Men of the Church, was pleased with all of the contestants.

“I think it might be the best chili that I think we’ve had in four years,” Griffin said. “I’ve tasted them all.”

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