Barbara Sabrina Mansfield
Odum—Barbara Sabrina Mansfield, 54, of Odum died May 16, 2024, at home after an extended illness.
Affectionately called “Missy” by her family and “Barbie” by her friends, she was born to Morris and Carolyn Mansfield in Jesup in 1970. She was a passionate reader who devoted much time to reading, and although she was skilled at writing, she chose not to share her stories publicly and kept them private.
She was preceded in death by her father, Morris Mansfield; her son, Shadeau; and her grandson, Luc.
Survivors include her mother, Carolyn Mansfield; children, Sunshine (Mikell) Downs, Casey (Katie) Hodges and Leah Storme Cady; grandchildren, Morrigan, Dante, Peyton, Mikayla, Ashton, Raeleigh and Emma; sisters, Cassandra Lavelle, Katrina Mansfield and Susan Ratliff; nieces and nephews, Katelyn, Jonathan, Kirstan, Sara and Jacob; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and other extended family members.
Funeral services were held May 19 at Howard & Jones Funeral Home followed by interment at Big Creek Cemetery. The family received friends one hour prior to the services at the funeral home and also at Susan Ratliff’s home in Odum.
Active pallbearers were Mikell Downs, Dante Downs, Gary Mansfiled, Logan Mansfield, Hayden Mansfield and Derrick Sinclair.
In lieu of flowers, donations to help the family with funeral expenses may be made to Howard & Jones Funeral Home.
Howard-Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Dr. Betty Brannen Tyre Harris
Brunswick—Dr. Betty Brannen Tyre Harris, 97, of Bruns-wick died May 16, 2024, under the care of Hospice of South Georgia.
The Wayne County native was a member of Jesup First Freewill Baptist Church and a retired educator with the Bryan and Glynn County school systems. She was also an educational consultant with the Harper & Row Publishing Company.
She enjoyed fishing, reading, collecting recipes and spending time with family at their pond house.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, Robert Harold “Bob” Tyre and Nicholas “Harvey” Harris; sisters, Marell Aspinwall, Marilyn Poppell and Jimmie Lee Szoke; three brothers, Barney Laverne Brannen, Jesse Earl “J.E.” Brannen and Donnell Brannen; and brother-in-law, Gerald Edenfield.
Survivors include two sisters, Sandy Edenfield and Patsy (James) Carter, both of Jesup; three sisters-in-law, Lynn Brannen, Jeanette Brannen and Pat Brannen; a brother-in-law, Varney Aspinwall; and several nieces and nephews.
Graveside funeral services were held May 17 in Pinecrest Memorial Cemetery.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Ruby Lee Fletcher Forester
Jesup—Ruby Lee Fletcher Forester, 93, of Jesup died May 17, 2024.
The Norman Park native had lived in Jesup for many years and was a member of First Baptist Church and the Harmony Sunday School Class.
She was a 25-year retiree with the Federal Civil Service at Fort Stewart in Hinesville, Fort Gordon in Augusta and the U.S. Army Command in Seoul, South Korea. She enjoyed reading, gardening, traveling and family gatherings.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Aubrey Sydney Forester; her former husband, L. T. Barlow; her parents, Henry and Omie Fletcher; and a son-in-law, Kendall Keith.
Survivors include two daughters Rosalind (Bob) Fullerton of Atlanta, and Kathy Keith of Jesup; grandchildren, Kristi (Aaron) Brewer of Kingsland, Kasey (Krystal) Keith of Jesup, Katie (Mark) Day of Watkinsville and Andrew Fullerton of Evans; five great-grandchildren, Caroline and Adam Brewer, Knox and Holt Day, Karson Keith, and Abigail Fullerton; a sister, Betty (Donnie) Howard of Jesup; and many other special family members and friends.
Funeral services were held May 21 at Rinehart Chapel with the Rev. Brooks Haddock and Dr. Aaron Brewer officiating. A private burial for immediate family followed in Pinecrest Memorial Cemetery.
Rememberances may be made to Hospice of South Georgia, 1625 Sunset Boulevard, Jesup, GA 31545 or First Baptist Church of Jesup, Camp Hawkins Fund, P.O. Box 1115, Jesup, GA 31598.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Frances Crawford Rigdon
Odum—Frances Crawford Rigdon, 84, of Odum died peacefully at home on May 20, 2024, under the care of family and Hospice of South Georgia.
The Wayne County native was a member of Calvary Baptist Church and a retired ITT Rayonier employee. While she enjoyed a broad variety of activities, the highlight of her life was spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.
She was an avid University of Georgia Bulldog football fan and also enjoyed spending time playing cards with her canasta supper club group, as well as having social gatherings with her Lady Bug Club.
She also loved to travel, whether it be to Savannah for the day to shop or following a grandchild on his or her latest adventure. Most everyone will say that “Grannie Frannie” was one of a kind.
She is predeceased by her husband of 56 years, Joseph Eugene “Gene” Rigdon; her mother and stepfather, Johnnie and Sumpter Flowers of Odum; and her brother, Douglas Crawford of Carrolton.
Survivors include a sister, Margaret Gignilliat of Odum; a sister-in-law, Cheryl Crawford of Carrolton; daughters and sons-in-law, Teresa (Rock) Morris of Odum, Gena (Joe) Ierardi of Jesup and Angela (Kyle) Owens of Odum; grandchildren, Krystal (Kasey) Keith of Jesup, Kevin (Chelsie) Morris of Jesup, Ashlyn (Zach) Fultz of Odum, Sidney Steverson III of Jesup, Anna (J.T.) Manuel, Alex Ierardi of Plano, Texas, and Bradley Ierardi of Jesup; great-grandchildren, Karson Keith, William Rigdon “Riggs” Fultz, Wren “Rowan” Fultz, Ellison Manuel, Baylor Manuel; and one precious grandson on the way in August.
Visitation will be held today (Thursday) at Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Funeral services will be held Friday, May 24, at 11 a.m. at Calvary Baptist Church with Pastor Pete Boyd and the Rev. Vann Dempsey officiating. Interment will follow in Odum City Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be Rock Morris, Kyle Owens, Kevin Morris, Zach Fultz, Sidney Steverson III, J.T. Manuel, Brad Ierardi and Kasey Keith. Honorary pallbearers are The Lady Bugs, Jack and Jo Godfrey, Canasta Supper Club and the staff of Hospice of South Georgia.
Memorials may be made to Calvary Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 9, Jesup, GA 31598 or to Hospice of South Georgia, 1625 Sunset Blvd., Jesup, GA 31545.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Sonya Pearson Miller
Jesup—Sonya Pearson Miller, 52, of Jesup died May 20, 2024.
The Wayne County native was a member of Parkway Church of God and served on the Wo-men’s Council. She was employed with Healthy Pet of Jesup. In her leisure time, she enjoyed hunting, fishing and all other outdoor activities.
She was predeceased by her parents, Barry and Carolyn Kent Pearson, and two brothers, Mark and Shannon Pearson.
Survivors include her husband of 34 years and high school sweetheart, Scotty M. Miller of Jesup; a daughter, Macee (Jayden) Myers of Jesup; a son, Camron (Chanel) Miller of Tampa, Florida; grandchildren, Oaklee and Slater Myers; and a life-long friend, Patti Holland, of Jesup.
A celebration-of-life service will be held today (Thursday) at 11 a.m. from Parkway Church of God with the Rev. Bill Harper and Pastor Tom Maddux officiating.
Active pallbearers will be Josh Goss, Fred Holland, Dusty Holland, Jonathan Thompson, Tommy Reddish, and Paul Stoneking. Private interment services will be held by her family.
Family will receive friends from 10 a.m.-11 a.m. prior to services at the church.
In lieu of flowers, she requested memorials be made to Parkway Church of God, P.O. Box 1211, Jesup, GA 31598.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Noah Kenneth Bush
Jesup—Noah Kenneth Bush, 8, died May 16, 2024, in Jesup.
Funeral service will be held June 1 at 2 p.m. at Unity Church of God. Interment will be in Sunset Oaks Memorial Cemetery.
He will lie in repose from noon to 2 p.m. prior to funeral time. A public viewing will be held from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. on May 31 at the chapel of Community Chapel Funeral Home of Jesup.
Family and friends may sign the guestbook at www.communitychapelfh.com.
Community Chapel Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Glynn Switzer
Baxley—Glynn Switzer, 79, of Baxley died May 18, 2024, at Community Hospice in Vidalia.
He was born July 21, 1944, in Douglas to the late Dewey Glynn Switzer and the late Lois Pearl Cribb Switzer. He worked in management for Winn- Dixie and Amercord Inc.
He was a member of Lake Chapel Primitive Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon.
Survivors include his wife, Karen Switzer of Baxley; son, Jeff (Tiffany) Switzer of Baxley; sisters, Ann (Wendell) Hutcheson of Jesup, and Elaine (Tim) Ray of Jesup; grandson, Grant Switzer of Baxley; and granddaughter, Tinley Switzer of Baxley.
A celebration-of-life service will be held May 26 at 3 p.m. at Lake Chapel Primitive Baptist Church with the Rev. Sam Bennett officiating.
Visitation will be held today (Thursday) from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Chapel of Swain Funeral Home.
Honorary pallbearers will be members of Lake Chapel Primitive Baptist Church.
Remembrances may be made to Lake Chapel Primitive Baptist Church.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Swain Funeral Home.
Annette Juanita Watson Knight
White Plains—Annette Juanita Watson Knight, 81, died on May 17, 2024, in White Plains surrounded by love.
She was born on June 10, 1942, to the late Thomas Calvin Watson and Doris Thornton Watson weighing 2 pounds, 6 ounces. She was raised on the family tobacco farm with her seven siblings. She married her late husband, Henry Dewey Knight Jr. on Aug. 21, 1963, and they shared 52 years of love and life together.
After marrying, she later pursued an degree in early childhood education at Athens Technical College. She taught for more than 30 years of Head Start in Greensboro, while raising her five children. She made an impact on hundreds of children in her community.
After retirement, she enjoyed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In addition to loving her community and family, she also loved baking, sewing, singing to gospel music and a good fish fry.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry D. Knight Jr; oldest son, Richard Knight; parents, Thomas Colvin Watson and Doris Thornton Watson; and siblings, Mary (Robert) Leonard, Lance Leonard and Tommy Watson.
Survivors include four children, Raymond (Shonda) Knight, Sherrie(Jamie) Hubbard, Rhonda (Phil) Herrington and April (Matt Price) Holt; a daughter-in-law, Lisa Knight; four siblings, Linda (the late Ashley) Edwards, James (Doris) Watson, Larry (Judy) Watson and Earl (the late Dale) Watson; 11 grandchildren, Joshua (Beth) Knight, Christopher Knight, Candace (Derrick) Nation, Austin Knight, Phillip (Amanda) Herrington, Kenneth (Kim Peters) Hall, Destiny (Zach) Kowalski, Brittney (Brandon) Burden, Dallas (Megan) Herrington, Elizabeth (Ty Webb) Holt and Jay Holt; 14 great-grandchildren, Aiden Knight, Lynn Nation, Justin Knight, Dalilah Merritt, Emma Knight, Jacob Knight, Raylan Knight, Warren Nation, Madison Behun, River Knight, Dawson Burden, Cora Herrington, Adley Herrington and Marshall Burden; and many nieces and nephews.
Services were held at Crawford Pentecostal Church May 19 with Pastor Blake Smith and Bishop Wineinger officiating.
Graveside memorial services will be held at a later date at Little Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, 5027 Little Creek Road, Jesup. Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home will handle services.
The family requests that memorials be made to Crawford Pentecostal Church.
Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at www.mccommonsfuneralhome.com.
McCommons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.