Honoring a Legacy, Embracing the Future of Springfield Primary Eye Care
SPRINGFIELD, TENNESSEE: (Smokey Barn News) – For more than eight decades, the practice now known as Springfield Primary Eye Care has served the community. Previously operating as Drs. Traughber and Reed and later Drs. Reed and Wilkerson, the practice has built a long-standing reputation for eye care in Robertson County.
This legacy of care began in 1952, when Cross Plains’ own Dr. Lloyd Fyke Traughber returned to Robertson County to practice optometry. From his humble beginnings in the Capitol Theatre building, Dr. Traughber moved the practice to its current location on 506 Willow Street in 1968. With the addition of Dr. David Reed in 1971, the practice continued to build upon its foundation of exceptional care, personal relationships, and a genuine commitment to helping people maintain their ocular health. After Dr. Traughber’s retirement in 1990, Dr. Reed carried on in solo practice in what would become a fifty-year career in optometry.
In 1999, Dr. Jason Wilkerson joined his father-in-law to continue the legacy of exceptional eye care in Robertson County. Over the last twenty-seven years, while many have known Dr. Wilkerson as their optometrist, those who have had the pleasure of knowing him outside the office understand that he has always been much more than that. To his patients, he is a trusted professional. To his colleagues, he is a mentor. To his family, he is a rock. In the community, he has also served as a United Methodist pastor since 2017, and his faith, compassion, and kindness have impacted countless lives.
Over the years, Dr. Wilkerson has cared for multiple generations of families, making every patient feel welcomed, comfortable, and genuinely valued. His service has extended far beyond the practice through his involvement in church ministry, international mission trips, officiating weddings and funerals in the community, and countless other opportunities to serve others. In recent years, Dr. Wilkerson has discerned a deep calling from God to serve as a full-time pastor in the United Methodist Church. To honor this calling, Dr. Wilkerson will transition from his career in eye care to full-time ministry, having received an appointment as associate pastor of Hendersonville First UMC beginning in July 2026.
As he prepares to step into this role as a full-time pastor, Springfield Primary Eye Care expressed its gratitude for the impact he has made on the practice’s patients, staff, and the community. His influence will continue to be felt for years to come as he follows God’s calling into this next season of life.
While one chapter closes, another continues. Dr. Jana Socey, a Springfield native and resident, is honored to carry forward the legacy established by Dr. Traughber, Dr. Reed, and Dr. Wilkerson. She remains committed to providing the same patient-centered care, compassion, and personal attention that generations of families have come to expect from the practice. Springfield Primary Eye Care said it is excited for both long-time and new patients to experience the care and dedication she brings to the community.
Looking toward the future, the practice also announced upcoming renovations to the upstairs portion of its building beginning mid-summer. The updates represent the practice’s ongoing commitment to investing in its facilities and ensuring it can continue serving the community for generations to come.
