Herbert Braselton, a 69-year-old member of the family that for 113 years has owned this town except for 200 acres or so, said today he was satisfied that the family had done the right thing by selling it.

''I wouldn't have voted for this if I anticipated that it wouldn't be good for everyone,'' Mr. Braselton said, showing a letter from the buyer assuring the Braseltons that all America would now know who they are and where Braselton is (53 miles north of Atlanta).

''She kind of struck a tender note in our hearts with that,'' Mr. Braselton said.

She is Kim Basinger, the actress. On Monday the 24 family members who own stock in Braselton Brothers Inc. decided that they would sell 1,751 acres of the 2,000-acre town to Ms. Basinger and a group of other investors for $20 million. Ms. Basinger, a native of north Georgia who has been in films like ''The Natural'' and ''9 1/2 Weeks,'' was interested in developing the Braseltons' farmland as a tourist attraction, commercial center and a possible site for film studios, said her mother, Ann Basinger of Athens.

Cradle to grave, life in this town of 500 people has gone on under the paternal gaze and hand of a Braselton since anyone can remember, said Otis McNeal, a resident for 35 years.