Hazel Evors Anderson
Screven—Hazel Evors Anderson of Screven died Feb. 16, 2022 at the home of Billy and Dianne Waters, where she had resided for most of the last 14 years.
She was a lifelong member of O’Quinn Baptist Church and loved Jesus with all of her heart and enjoyed reading her Bible daily as well as Christian novels. She lived the Word of God, her family said.
She loved her family dearly, as they were her whole world. She especially enjoyed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She had many friends and a big heart that loved everyone.
Her pastimes were fishing, cooking, canning and helping others.
She was predeceased by her husband of 60 years, Robert C. Anderson; great-granddaughter, Chloe Grace Matthews; siblings, Chester Evors, Jessie Evors, Ester Lewis Evors, Pearl Kemp, the Rev. Claude Evors, Raymond Evors, Mildred Overstreet and Johnny Evors; and many nieces and nephews.
Survivors include a daughter, Dianne (the Rev. Billy) Waters; two sons, Ronald (Judy) Anderson and Carroll (Anne) Anderson; a brother, the Rev. Eugene (Helen) Evors; grandchildren, Melody (Derrick) Sinclair, Belissa (Mark) Wagastad, Derek (Nikki) Waters, Renata (Alex) Falanga, Ashley (Shane) Matthews, April Anderson, and Neelie (David) Sutton; great-grandchildren, Will, Joshua, Jackson, Sarah, Makenna, Hayden, Tara, Kayla, Sabrina and Daniel; and a great- great grandchild, Miya.
Funeral services were held Feb. 20 at O’Quinn Baptist Church with the Rev. Billy Waters, the Rev. Eugene Evors and the Rev. Gerald Greenlee officiating. Interment followed at the O’Quinn Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Lawrence Goober, David Evors, Kevin McReady, Joshua and Jackson Wilson, Will Waters, Jonah McReady and Chase Grantham.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Riley Allen (R.A.) Griffis
Ocoee, Florida—Riley Allen (R.A.) Griffis, 91, of Ocoee, Florida, died Feb. 17, 2022, after short illness.
He was born on Oct. 4, 1930, to Robert Roscoe and Mildred Carter Griffis in Wayne County, K’ville.
He had lived in Florida since the early 1940s and was a professional cabinet maker and installer. He was a Korean War Army veteran.
He was predeceased by his parents, Robert and Mildred Carter Griffis; sons, Larry Allen Griffis Sr., and Steve (Charlotte) Griffis; and brothers, Carl (Merle) Griffis, Mack Henry (Oreeda) Griffis, Leonard (Alice) Griffis, Wilton (Christine) Griffis and Jack Griffis.
Survivors include his wife of 71 years, Margaret Walker Griffis; grandchildren, Allen Griffis, Shawn Griffis, Joyel Walker, Jason Griffis, Justin Griffis, Lee Griffis; great-grandchildren, Harlee, Griffis, Hayden Griffis, Hart Griffis, Nina Waller, Leah Griffis, Madison Griffis and Peyton Griffis; a sister-in-law, Betty Griffis; and a daughter-in-law, Kathy Griffis Palmer.
Funeral services were held Feb. 21 at Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Mark Griffis officiating. Interment followed at Big Creek Cemetery. Active pallbearers were grandchildren.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Mary Jocelyn “Jo” Royal Yeomans
Jesup—Mary Jocelyn “Jo” Royal Yeomans, 83, of Jesup died Feb. 21, 2022.
The lifelong resident of Wayne County was a member of First Freewill Baptist Church and was lovingly known as a most gracious, compassionate lady in her caring for family and friends.
She was a former employee of the Wayne County Board of Education and went on to spend 31 years as a case worker with Pineland Mental Health. She was known for her pleasant and caring personality as “Miss Jo.” Her fun times were spent playing canasta with many friends and her “Lady Bug Group.”
She was predeceased by her parents, Bill and Mildred Royal, and sisters, Judy Yovu and Karen Linder.
Survivors include her husband of 64 years, Earl Yeomans of Jesup; three sons, Tony (Suzanne) Yeomans of Hoboken, Bill (Traci) Yeomans of St. Marys and Mark (Marnie) Yeomans of Athens; seven grandchildren, Dustin (Nicole), Grayson (Elyssa), Tristan, Mason, Lucy, Carson and Raleigh Yeomans; a great-grandson, Hudson Yeomans; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Celebration-of-life services were held Feb. 23 from First Freewill Baptist Church with special friend the Rev. Tim Horne and pastor Randy Valandingham officiating. Interment followed in Pinecrest Memorial Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were grandsons, nephews, Jerry Jones and Russell Bailey. Honorary pallbearers were the Senior Adult Class of her church and the members her Lady Bug group.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Freewill Baptist Church, 795 South 1st Street, Jesup, GA 31545.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
John Needham
Jesup—John Needham, 75, of Jesup died Feb. 15, 2022.
The Scotland native had lived in Wayne County the past 65 years and was a Catholic. He was a retired Rayonier employee and enjoyed outdoor life and visiting flea markets.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Mary Montgomery and Thomas Needham, and his brothers, George and Thomas Needham.
Survivors include a daughter, Brittany (Logan) Edgy of Waynes-ville; two sons, Chris (Candice) Needham and Kevin (Lisa) Needham, both of Jesup; sisters, Myra (Jim) Stewart, Alice Ronald and Irene (Robert) McGonigle; three grandchildren, Ashlyn, Tiffany and Steven; two great-grandchildren, Addison and Kasen; two step-grandchildren, Cheyann and Jackson; and several nieces and nephews.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Nadean Brannen Westberry Stephens
Baxley—Nadean Brannen Westberry Steph-ens, 87, died Feb. 21, 2022.
She was a lifelong resident of Appling County. She was retired from the Appling County school system after 30 years of service and a member of Piney Grove Free Will Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday School and was a choir member for many years.
She was preceded in death by her husbands C.E. (Gene) Westberry of 37 years and James W. Stephens of 29 years; daughter, Dolores Westberry; and parents, Don and Inez Brannen.
Survivors include daughters, Deborah Lightsey of Bristol and Donna (Daniel) Douglas of Madison, Florida; grandchildren, Brandon (Kimberly) Lightsey, Brooks Lightsey, Charlie (Tenesa) Lightsey and Shana (Jake) Tompkins, and Drew (Erin) Douglas; great-grandchildren, Harley, Grant, Carter and Luke Lightsey, Karsyn Bennett, Charlie Hugh Lightsey and Haidyn and Henry Tompkins; two stepdaughters, Sandra (Tommy) Batten and Genelda (Darrel) Denison; one stepson, Danny (Glenda) Stephens; five step-grandchildren, Pamela Jaworski, Thomas Batten, Nancy Hutchenson, Douglas Stephens and Bronze Denison; and nine step-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held today (Thursday) at 11 a.m. from Piney Grove Free Will Baptist Church with Pastors David Young and Tim Horne officiating. Interment will follow in the Piney Grove Church Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be grandsons Brandon, Brooks and Charlie Lightsey, Drew Douglas, Jake Tompkins and Mark Thornton. Junior pallbearers will be Grant, Luke and Carter Lightsey. Honorary pallbearers will be the Piney Grove FWB church family and all friends attending.
The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. to-11 a.m. at the church.
Memorial donations may be made to Piney Grove Free Will Baptist Church Building Fund, 1944 Piney Grove Church Road, Bristol, GA. 31518.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Larry Edward Coleman
Jesup—Larry Edward Coleman, 71, died peacefully on Feb. 21, 2022, under the care of Hospice of South Georgia and his loving family.
A native and lifelong resident of Wayne County, he was born on Nov. 30, 1950, to the late Edward and Ruth Harris Coleman. As a young man, he worked on the family farm, cropping tobacco and working hard to help his family.
He was a member of the 1968 Wayne County High School graduating class and worked for 20 years at Interstate Paper Company in Riceboro.
At the age of 3, he began his lifelong love of music. Music was his passion. He taught himself to play the piano, guitar, drums and trumpet, and he could play just about any other instrument you gave him. He was a staple in Wayne County Productions and played to a packed crowd every year at Odum Day and during the Old South Farm Days in Walthourville.
His musical talents took him all over the Southeast as he played gigs on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, and Tybee Island. It has even been said that he could sing an Elvis Presley song better than Elvis himself!
When he wasn’t playing music on the road or working, he took time to teach other young aspiring musicians the things he had learned and was influential in the lives of many of his students.
He loved to “wheel and deal” almost as much as he loved music. He was a regular at yard sales and pawn shops as he searched high and low for a deal. It seems as though he would rather trade than buy on most occasions. He also enjoyed fishing, history and visiting with his friends and family, whom he would always encourage to come by and visit.
He was a longtime member of Odum United Methodist Church, which is where his love of music began so many years ago.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his twin brother, Jerry Henry Coleman; his sister, Janice Meaders; and his stepdaughter, Joyce Ennis.
Survivors include his wife of 36 years, Shirley Coleman of Jesup; two daughters, Christy (Harper) Johnson of Jesup and Shelli (Russ) Carter of Baxley; three stepchildren, James (Raeleen) Stewart of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, Darryl (Jeanine) Stewart of Pembroke and Jody (Melissa) Stewart of Guyton; grandchildren, Kayla Overstreet, Sydney Herrin and Nicolas Carter; great-grandchildren, Bryce and Wyatt Phillips; nieces, Carrie Howard and Dawn Meaders, both of McDonough; a nephew, Kevin Meaders of Atlanta; and a host of stepgrandchildren, step-great-grandchildren, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins and other extended-family members.
Funeral services will be held today (Thursday) at 11 a.m. at Howard & Jones Funeral Home with the the Rev. Darryl Carter and the Rev. Don Cunningham officiating.
Interment will follow in Liberty Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Russ Carter, Nicolas Carter, Jody Stewart, Harper Johnson, Kevin Meaders and Sydney Herrin. Honorary pallbearers will be the staff of Hospice of South Georgia.
Remembrances may be made to Hospice of South Georgia, 1625 Sunset Blvd. Jesup, GA 31545
Family and friends may sign the guestbook online at www.jesupfuenralhome.com.
Howard & Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Isaac Colvin Griffis
Odum—Isaac Colvin Griffis, 81, of Odum died Feb. 20, 2022, in Jacksonville, Florida.
He was born April 6, 1940, in Appling County to the late Ottis Lee Griffis and the late Isabelle Thornton Griffis. Before retirement, he was a supervisor at Rayonier. He was a member of Baxley Church of God, the Georgia Sheriff’s Association, the Appling County Touchdown Club and the National Rifle Association and was an avid Appling County High Pirate fan and supporter.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Edith Long Griffis; daughter, Pamela Griffis Kinchen; and siblings, Raymond Griffis, Curtis Griffis, Albert Griffis, Valerie Jones, Vinnie Graham, Ruth Devereaux and Leottie Thornton.
Survivors include his wife, Jean Dykes-Griffis of Baxley; sons and daughters-in-law, Isaac Matthew “Matt” and Jan Griffis, Timothy Colvin “Tim” and Tammy Griffis, Daniel Andrew “Drew” and Anslee Griffis, Gary and Janet Dykes and Jeff Dykes, all of Baxley; sisters and brothers-in-law, Evon Byrge of Savannah, Lydia (the Rev. Hubert) Hart of Mineral, Virginia, Kathyrn (Lonell) Wright of Screven, Roxie Litton of Baxley, and Linda (Bob) Kimbrell of Mershon; grandchildren, Brittany Roberson, Ashley (Jim) Perry, Zack (Aaryn) Griffis, Gracie Griffis, Brandon Griffis, Ben Griffis, Amanda Love, Katie (Jeremy) Wiggins and Kylie (Jared) Fields; great-grandchildren, Jax Griffis, Colt Wiggins, Case Wiggins, Jaxton Fields and Ember Fields; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Feb. 23 at Baxley Church of God with the Rev. Lamar Lee, the Rev. Mark Ledbetter and the Rev. Rick Brown officiating.
Interment followed in Big Creek Church Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Zack Griffis, Brandon Griffis, Ben Griffis, Marc Devereaux, Don Griffis and Armon Griffis.
Remembrances may be made to St. Jude (www.stjude.org/donate).
Swain Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.