Ken and Julia Butler have called the Traditions community home since 2017, but their roots in Northeast Georgia run deep. Both native Atlantans from DeKalb County, Ken and Julia have spent their entire lives in this region, building a family, careers, and a legacy that now spans generations.

Their journey together began in 1977 when they married, embarking on a life filled with love, hard work, and dedication. This past October, they celebrated 47 years of marriage, a testament to their enduring partnership. Over the years, they’ve been blessed with three children—Brooke, Ken III, and Brett—and now boast a lively brood of 14 grandchildren. Their family is rounded out by four beloved fur babies: dogs Mavis, Beau, Kobe, Chloe, and two cats, Pierre and Mr. Miyagi.

The Butlers’ deep family ties are evident throughout Traditions, where their son Ken III moved with his daughters—Piper, Presley, Portlyn, and Page—in 2019. Following closely, their daughter Brooke and her husband Seth, along with their blended family of six—Landon, Lennox, Maverick, Wyatt, Izzy, and Lily—also made Traditions their home. Meanwhile, their son Brett, his wife Rachel, and their four children—Brett Jr., Kellen, Declan, and Coraline—live just around the corner in Winder.

Sunday evenings at the Butler household are a joyful affair, where family members gather for dinner, swimming, football, and card games. Summers often find them at their cherished lake house on Lake Hartwell, a favorite spot for creating lasting memories. The Butler grandchildren keep Ken and Julia on their toes with a packed schedule of activities, from soccer and football to wrestling, baseball, and competitive cheerleading. When dining out, the family gravitates toward Mexican and Italian cuisine, enjoying the communal experience of sharing a meal.

Julia Butler’s journey as a self-taught business entrepreneur is as remarkable as her family life. She credits much of her business acumen to her husband, Ken, who had a distinguished 40-year career at Aaron Rents. As COO, Ken played a pivotal role in expanding the company’s lease purchase division from 12 stores to over 2,000.

Julia, meanwhile, channeled her skills into various accounting and staffing positions before deciding to start her own business ventures. Recognizing the importance of being at home with her children, Julia began an in-home daycare. As her children grew and attended school, she expanded her entrepreneurial efforts by founding a maid service, which quickly grew to 50 homes per week. To address the challenges her staff faced in finding quality child care, Julia purchased two daycare centers, providing a valuable employee benefit that attracted and retained top talent. After many successful years, she eventually sold both the maid service and daycare centers and moved on to work in school nutrition programs.

In addition to her entrepreneurial pursuits, Julia played an active role in the Parkview Touchdown Club, where she served in various capacities, including treasurer, VP, and secretary. Ken worked closely with the coaches on team statistics. Together, they helped raise funds for the club and enjoyed witnessing Parkview’s state championships in multiple sports. “Those were incredibly fun days and such an awesome community to raise children in,” Julia reflects. “We were able to get to know some phenomenal people through our kids, which made for so many happy memories that will stay with me over my lifetime.”

As their children graduated from high school, Julia seized a new business opportunity in 2001, joining forces with her daughter Brooke to start Taylor Brooks Hair Salon and Spa in Johns Creek. This venture allowed Brooke to pursue her passion for hair design and color. In 2012, they expanded their enterprise by opening Piper Lillies Gift Shop next to the salon. When Brooke moved to the Hamilton Mill area in 2015, the mother-daughter duo expanded into a second Taylor Brooks Salon and Piper Lillies Gift Shoppe location to continue serving their growing clientele.

Ken retired from Aaron Rents in 2014 but didn’t stay idle for long. He purchased All-Pro Golf Carts, a successful business he now runs alongside his sons, Ken III and Brett, with locations in Lawrenceville and Braselton.

The Butlers feel incredibly blessed to have their children and grandchildren living nearby. “This community reminds me of where we raised our kids, and that is exciting for the whole family,” Julia says. “I hope that my kids and grandkids will make great memories like my husband and I made.”

Ken and Julia Butler have created a lasting legacy, not only through their successful businesses but also through the close-knit family they’ve lovingly nurtured. They take pride in working alongside their adult children and dream of one day passing these ventures on to their grandchildren. As they continue to enjoy life in Traditions, surrounded by those they love, they eagerly anticipate making even more cherished memories together in the years ahead.