Robert E. “Bobby” Wingate
Jesup—Robert E. “Bobby” Wingate, 84, died March 8, 2022, at home under the care of his loving family and GHC Hospice.
A resident of Jesup since 1964, he was born Feb. 7, 1938, fifth child to the late Thomas Bryan Wingate and Lila Coker Wingate. He spent his early years in Ludowici, where he enjoyed the charm and love of his small-town roots. Everyone loved him. His family doted on him constantly, and when they weren’t around, there was always someone else taking time out to show their love.
After graduation from Long County High School in 1957, he took a job with Rayonier from which he would retire 42 years later in 2000.
He was a true “jack of all trades.” After retirement, he enjoyed traveling and had been all over the world with the love of his life. Their explorations took them to many foreign destinations, including the Holy Land, Switzerland, Spain and Germany, as well as countless other places in the United States and abroad.
He was an avid hunter and fisherman for his entire life and enjoyed camping. His neighbors say he always had an immaculate landscaped yard.
He was an active member of Jesup First Baptist Church for more than 60 years.
Of all the things he loved, he loved his family more than anything else. He made time to watch ball games whenever he could, and he took time out to stop and enjoy the “little things” in life.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Wingate (A.D.) Wasdin; brother, Billy (Joy) Wingate; sister-in-law, June Wingate; and brothers-in-law, Ray Gordon, Wilbur Goff and Graham Laidlaw.
Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Wilene Goff Wingate of Jesup; a daughter, Leisa Wingate (Rob) Fennel of Jesup; a son, Rob (Melissa) Wingate of Jesup; a brother, Tommy Wingate of Ludowici; a sister, Elouise Wingate Gordon of Jesup; a sister-in-law, Marjorie Goff Laidlaw of Jesup; grandchildren, Brianne Mitcham and fiancé, and Mario, Ridge and Hannah Fennel, all of Jesup, Elyssa Wingate (Grayson) Yeomans of Brunswick, Clark (Ashley) Wingate of Brunswick and Jett Wingate of Jesup; great-grandchildren, Bristol and Sadie Mitcham, Kash Fennel and Hudson Yeomans; step-grandchildren, Cole, Addi and Tori Davis; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other extended-family members and special friends.
Funeral services were held March 11 at First Baptist Church with Dr. Michael VonMoss officiating.
Interment followed in Pinecrest Memorial Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Ridge Fennel, Clark Wingate, Jett Wingate, Philip Laidlaw, Michael Laidlaw, Zane Wasdin, Tommy Wingate, Danny Wingate, Kerry Wingate, Stephen Wingate, Bill Wingate, Mike Wingate and Tony Gordon.
Honorary pallbearers were Dr. Lance Hendrix and staff, the Howard “Bo” Warren Sunday School Class, the Golden Rulers Sunday School Class, XYZ Senior Adults all of First Baptist Church, members of the Long County High School Classes of 1956 and 1957, and members of the Local No. 787 union and the C.C. Rider Camping Club.
Remembrances may be made to the Capital Campaign Fund or the Meals Ministry at First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1115, Jesup, GA 31598.
Howard-Jones Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Patricia “Pat” Hodge Ogden
Odum—Patricia “Pat” Hodge Ogden, 66, of Odum died March 9, 2022, under the care of GHC Hospice.
The Wayne County native was a caretaker for many babies and children. She loved to watch television, especially wrestling, and decorating using a rooster theme.
She was predeceased by her father, Sammy Hodge.
Survivors include her husband of 49 years, Wyman Ogden of Odum; three sons, Jeff Ogden, and Shaun “Shorty” Ogden, both of Odum, and Lindsay Ogden of Jesup; four grandchildren, Taylor and Tyler Ogden, Shaun Ogden and Jesse Ogden; her mother, Carolyn Surrency Sebring of Jesup; a sister, Judy Hodge (Keith) Davis of Jesup; a niece, Shannon Lastinger; and a nephew, Michael Kersey.
Graveside services were held March 12 in Pinecrest Memorial Cemetery with the Rev. Dickie Waters officiating.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Chard Best
Jesup—Chard Best, 44, of Jesup died suddenly on March 13, 2022.
He was a former resident of New York and had lived in Jesup most of his life. The U.S. Army veteran was a lead operator in the finishing room at Rayonier. He owned and restored furniture for his Vintage 1977 Company. Family meant everything to him, and his life revolved around them.
Survivors include the love of his life, Mandy Best of Screven, and their children, Kaitlyn, Corey and Ian; parents, Tony and Deborah Best of Brooklyn, New York; two brothers, Shawn and Elon Best, both of Brooklyn; his parents-in-love, Curtis and Kathy Wireman of Odum; a sister-in-love, Melissa (Tay) West of Bristol; two brothers-in-love, Eric Wireman and Curtis Wireman Jr., both of Jesup; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Celebration-of-life services will be held today (Thursday) at 11 a.m. in Rinehart Chapel with full military rites. Interment will be private. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the funeral home.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Janie Lou Yeomans Harrell
Jesup—Janie Lou Yeomans Harrell, 89, of Jesup died March 11, 2022.
The Wayne County native was the eldest member of Gardi Baptist Church and a homemaker. She retired after 16 years of employment with Rayonier and enjoyed crossword puzzles and working in her yard.
She was predeceased by her parents, Onnie (Kel) and Anna May Yeomans; brothers, Kennic, Barnell and Cecil Yeomans; sister, Rosalie “Midget’’ Harter; and son-in-law, Butch Bishop.
Survivors include two daughters, Dana Bishop of Brunswick and Terri (Jim) Buie of Jesup; a son, Billy Harrell of Jesup; grandchildren, Josh Bishop, Jessica (Stephen) McGregor, Clint Dyal, Chelsey Shaver and Alania Greene; eight great-grandchildren; sisters, Mollie Saxon, Jeanette Marr, Nellie (Ronell) Roberson and Paula Miller; a brother, Onnie (Carolyn) Yeomans; a sister-in-law, Claire Yeomans; and many nieces and nephews.
Graveside services were held March 12 from Gardi Community Cemetery with the Rev. Stanley Todd officiating.
Family received friends at the cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of South Georgia, 1625 Sunset Blvd, Jesup, GA. 31545.
Specials thanks to the Fourth Floor nurses and CNAs of Wayne Memorial Hospital and Hospice of South Georgia.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
James Tyre
Odum—James Tyre, 77, of Odum died March 12, 2022.
The Wayne County native was a member of Red Hill Baptist Church and a retired AT&T employee.
He was known for his unique sense of humor. He loved anything old, history, geography, farming, but most of all, his family and animal friends. In fact, he was described as a farmer trapped inside of his BellSouth truck.
He was preceded in death by his son, John Benton Tyre; his parents, Ernest and Penny Sapp Tyre; and a sister, Udeen Bearden.
Survivors include his wife of 40 years, Virginia Tyre of Odum; two daughters, Amanda (Dave) Farmery of Marietta and Anne Tyre of Smyrna; a stepdaughter, Amanda (David) Cook of Cornelia; his animal children; grandchildren, Thomas (Michele) Farmery of San Diego, California and Claire Farmery of Marietta; a step-grandson, Jeremy Adams of Los Angeles, California; sisters, Ernestine Reddish of Hardeeville, South Carolina, and Zeda Tyre of Odum; a sister-in-law, Jeannette Garnto of Millen; nieces, Penny Raymond and Barbara Quinn; two great-nieces; a great-nephew; and many dear friends.
Funeral services were held March 16 at Rinehart and Sons Chapel with the Rev. Timothy Hall and Pastor Alan Morgan officiating. Interment followed in Red Hill Cemetery. Active pallbearers were his family and friends.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Marcus “Glenn” Clark
Jesup—Marcus “Glenn” Clark, 75, of Jesup died March 14, 2022.
The Glenwood native had lived in Wayne County for most of his life and was a building contractor and avid outdoorsman.
He was predeceased by his wife, Linda Martin Clark; an infant son, Dennis John Clark; son-in-law, Chris Smith; and his parents.
Survivors include daughters, Tammy (the Rev. Kevin) Crowell of Fenwick, Michigan and Tanya Smith of Jesup; son, Mark Clark of Jesup; seven grandchildren, Madison (Jesse) Horton, Jenna Crowell, Julia (Daniel) Arney, Gaige Clark, Hunter Smith, Caleb (Savanna) Smith and Alyssa Smith; several great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Friday, March 18, at 11 a.m. at Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Kevin Crowell officiating. Interment will be in Jesup City Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be family.
Family will receive friends from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. prior to services.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Beverly Hires
Blackshear--Beverly Frances Hyers Johnson Hires, 86, of Blackshear, formerly of Jesup, died March 14, 2022, at Memorial Satilla Health.
Born in Patterson on Nov. 26, 1935, she had lived in Pierce and Wayne counties all her life. She was a 1953 graduate of Patterson High School. She would go on to further her education by graduating from South Georgia College in Douglas. She also attended the University of Georgia--Waycross Campus, as well as Georgia Teachers College in Statesboro (Georgia Southern University).
Her first teaching job was in Charlton County, where she taught home economics. After her first year, she accepted a position with the Pierce County Board of Education, teaching at Patterson High School for a short time.
She then made a career move from teaching to running her father’s feed mill in Odum, which she did for many years.
She was affectionately called “Aunt Bev” by so many. She spent her last years being a homemaker and faithful church servant at Patterson Baptist Church. She was a former Sunday school teacher and member of the Joy Class.
She is known by those who loved her in both her “hometowns” of Jesup and Patterson as one of the kindest, most genteel Southern ladies around. She loved her friends and family and often celebrated the greatest moments of their lives with a beautiful tray of her famous homemade divinity and fudge.
Her doctors and their staffs were often gifted with these beautiful trays of sweets and talk about “Aunt Bev” and her true Southern graciousness to this day.
She spent her last two years at Harborview Pierce, where she welcomed her new family of friends and caregivers. She served as residents social chairman and delighted in planning events for all those around her. She was immediately surrounded by love and treated everyone there as her family. “Aunt Bev” will truly be missed by all, her family said, and as one Harborview staff member wrote in tribute, “There will always be a hole in their hearts because Aunt Bev was one-of-a-kind.”
In her younger years, she enjoyed traveling to the mountains with her beloved husband Bert, meeting lifelong friends for dining and dancing at Disney World, collecting antiques from all over the world, and writing beautiful cards to family and friends on all their special occasions. She was kind and thoughtful and generous and loved her nieces and nephews as if they were her own children, including an extra-special grandmotherly relationship with Maggie and Jad Denison, her family said.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Clifford Columbus and Elouise Griner Hyers; her first husband, Lupie Johnson; her second husband, Bert Hires; a brother, Cleve Hyers; and a niece, Anna Lisa Keith.
Survivors include two sisters, Margie (Jim) Bland of Jesup and Claudia Boatright of Blackshear; a brother, Ed (Diane) Hyers of Patterson; a sister-in-law, Inez Hyers of Patterson; 11 nieces and nephews who were like her children, Carla (Terry) Tuten, Holly (Scott) Yeomans, Merry Gayle (Lin) Boat-right, Dr. Richie (Ava) Bland, Joy (Dr. Lex) Kenerly, David (Arria) Bland, Lanna Denison, Ro (Rebecca) Aldridge, Horace (Christy) Moore, Bethanne (John) Trombetta, and Cecilia Hyers; numerous great-nieces and great-nephews; and several other relatives.
Funeral services will be held today (Thursday) at 11 a.m. from the Patterson Baptist Church with the Rev. R.C. James officiating and family comments from Asher Kenerly.
Active pallbearers will be Jad Denison, Austin Hardy, Cliff Knowlton, Asher Kenerly, John Lex Kenerly, David Bland II, Josh Anderson and Tyler Murray.
The family will be receiving friends at the church one hour prior to the service.
Interment will be in the Patterson Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Patterson Baptist Church, 5770 E. Main St., Patterson, GA 31557 or to the Blackshear Elementary School, 5217 Highway 121, Blackshear, GA 31516.
Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online register at www.pearsondial.com.
Pearson-Dial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.