Lester THOMAS
Born: 11 Jul 1940 in Appling Co, GA
Died: 24 Nov 2009 in Chatham Co, GA
Burial: Ten Mile Creek Baptist Church Cemetery
Lester Thomas, 69, died Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009 at Candler Hospital in Savannah. Lester was born July 11, 1940 in Appling County, to the late Dillard and Chappel Mae Rowell Thomas. He was a member of Woodlawn Baptist Church where he served as an usher and was self employed by Thomas Garage for many years. He was preceded in death by his twin brother, Vester Thomas. He is survived by one sister, Nell Sapp of Baxley; three brothers, David Lee Thomas and Curtis D. Thomas, both of Baxley and Carroll Ray Thomas of Bloomingdale; a special aunt, Ollie Rowell of Baxley; several nieces and nephews also survive. Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, Nov. 27 from Woodlawn Baptist Church with the Revs. Tommy Lowery and Brad Park officiating. Interment followed in Ten Mile Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. Active pallbearers were Carroll Sapp, Dale Sapp, Jeremy Sapp, Scott Sapp, Wayne Thomas and Richard Dean. Honorary pallbearers were members of Woodlawn Baptist Church. Musical selections were rendered by Woodlawn Baptist Church Choir. Arrangements were under the direction of Swain Funeral Home.
Randall Gary WHITE
Randall Gary White, age 56, died Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009. Mr. White was born Aug. 3, 1953 to the late Tom Dorsey and Okella Johnson White. He was a member of Baxley Church of God where he played guitar with the choir for several years. Randall was a veteran of the United States Army. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Lisa Marie Cason and three brothers, James, Tommy and Darrell White. He is survived by his wife, Sheila A. White of Baxley; one daughter and son-in-law, Sophia and Jeffery Butler of Lookout Mountain, TN; one sister, Hilda Cichon of Baxley; brother and sister-in-law, Charles and Sue White of Baxley; sister-in-law, Myrna White of Baxley; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Barbara and J. F. Floyd and brother-in-law, James Earl (Buddy) Fussell, all of Hazlehurst; two grandchildren, Sydney and Brooke Butler and several nieces and nephews also survive. Funeral services were held at 4:00 p.m. Friday, Nov. 27 at Baxley Church of God with Pastor Lamar Lee, Pastor Monty Lassiter and Kevin White officiating. Interment followed in Omega Cemetery. Active pallbearers were Kevin White, Mitch White, Jimmy White, Neal White, Joey Hiers and James Tomberlin. Honorary pallbearers were The Young at Heart, Homemakers and Sanctuary Sunday School classes and band and choir of Baxley Church of God. Musical selections were rendered by the Baxley Church of God Choir. Arrangements were under the direction of Swain Funeral Home.
M.A. DIXON
Born: 01 Jun 1935 in Appling Co, GA
Died: 27 Nov 2009 in Appling Co, GA
Burial: Piney Grove Freewill Baptist Church Cemetery, Appling Co, GA
M.A. Dixon, age 74, died November 27, 2009. Mr. Dixon was born June 1, 1935, to T. I. and Mary Lou Pope Dixon. He was a lifelong resident of Appling County, and attended Piney Grove Freewill Baptist Church. He was a veteran of the United States Army, having served in Germany and was retired from farming. Survivors are: his wife, Esther Walker and one son, Alex Dixon both of Bristol. Three sisters, Sue Nell Holley of Baxley, Dot Tillman of Surrency, and Gaye Doke of Brunswick; two brothers, Robert Dixon of Surrency and Charles Dixon of Bristol. Funeral services will be held Monday, November 30, 2009, at Piney Grove Freewill Baptist Church at 2:00pm. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The Rev. Larry Langford, Rev. J.E. Blanton, Rev. Steve Hughes and Rev. Stanley Todd will be officiating. Active Pallbearers: Terry Edingfield, Jr., Dillon Edingfield, Chris Johnson, Jeff Doke, Chris Tillman, and John Allen Tillman. Honorary Pallbearers: Hospice of South Georgia and Graduates of Surrency High School 1953. Visitation was at Swains Funeral Home, Sunday, November 29th from 6pm 8pm. Family will assemble at 2548 Piney Grove Road, Bristol, Ga. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Swain Funeral Home.
Wilton Yawn
Wilton Yawn of Baxley, died Saturday, November 28, 2009. Mr. Yawn was born on December 20, 1945 in Appling County, to the late George Clinton and Georgia Mae Carter Yawn. He was a member of the Baxley Church of God and was retired from Murray Forestry. He was preceded in death by brothers, Milton, Benny, Wayne, and Wilbert Yawn and a sister, Monnie Harrell. Survivors are: his wife LaTrisha Carter Yaw of Baxley; 2 daughter and sons-in-law, Niki & Chris Kelley of Bainbridge, and Angie & Jason Baxley of Baxley; 9 sisters, Udene Varnadore of St. Pete, FL; Wynette Yates of Tallahassee, FL, Thelma Herndon & Judy Williams both of Surrency; Linda Cook of Uvalda; Janie Deen, Donna Miles, Gwen Turner, & Lisa Stone, all of Baxley; 3 brothers, Royce Yawn of Bristol; Randy Yawn and Roy Yawn both of Baxley; 2 grandchildren, Gabby Hardee and Jasanna Baxley; 3 special grandchildren, Jeri Ann & Ryker McDaniel and Hannah Crosby. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, December 1, 2009, at 3pm, at the Swain Funeral Home. Intermittent will be held at the Omega Cemetery. Active pallbearers: Jessie Murray, Ferry Murray, Michael Crosby, Garret Crosby, Jason Kauger, Cory Yawn Honorary pallbearers: Employees of Murray Forestry, J. W. Murray, Jerome Murray, Brandon Murray, Lonnie Gibbs, Ken Hayes The officiating ministers are Rev. Lamar Lee & Rev. David Price. Visitation will be Monday, November 30 from 6pm 8 pm at Swain Funeral Home. Family will assemble at the residence, 138 Lackawanna Street. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Swain Funeral Home.
Dr. Jack D. Shuman
Dr. Jack D. Shuman, age 85, died at his residence Friday, November 27, 2009. He was born in Toombs County May 16, 1924, and had resided in Appling County, since 1953. Dr. Shuman was the owner of Shuman's Chiropractic, and he was retired after fifty years of practice. He served in the United States Air Force and was a World War II Veteran. He was a member of the Gideon International, the Kiwanis Club, and served as Commander of the V.F.W Club. Dr. Shuman was a member of the George Chiropractic Association. He was a member the First United Methodist Church where he served as the Sunday School Teacher of the Men's Sunday School Class and he also served on the Administrative Board of the church. He was the son of the late Troy Shuman and Ethel Williamson Shuman. He is survived by his wife of sixty-two years, Sally Shuman of Baxley, one daughter, Dr. Jan and husband Jack McKay of Vidalia; two sons, Dr John Shuman of Vidalia and Jack T. and wife, Debra Shuman of Baxley; one brother, Felton Shuman of Vidalia; grandchildren, Ashley Shuman of Valdosta, Ava and husband Chris Dorminey of Willacoochee, Jacquelyn McKay and husband Andrew Lomalschinsky of London, England; great-grandson Luke Dorminey of Willoochee. Graveside services were held Saturday, November 28, 2009, at 3:00 P.M., at Lakeview Memorial Gardens in Vidalia, Georgia with Rev. Allen Miller officiating. Active pallbearers were Glynn Pearce, Devin Pearce, Jerome Murray, Chris Dorminey, Kevin Parker and James Godfrey. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of David E. Miles Funeral Home.
Jack Leland Warren, Jr.
Jack Leland Warren, Jr., 84, of Brunswick (Glynn Co), died Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009 at Southeast Georgia Health System in Brunswick. Jack was a native of Appling County, and had lived in Brunswick most of his life. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church, Brunswick Lodge 717 F & AM and the 18th member of V.F.W. Post 2588. Mr. Warren served with the United States Navy during World War II and was retired from F.L.E.T.C. as maintenance supervisor. He was preceded in death by his wife, Veronia Hayes Warren. Survivors include one daughter, Sarah Gwyn (Charlie) and one son, Pat Fraser (Nan), all of Gaston, S.C.; two sisters, Faye Girard of Brighton, Michigan and Ann Warren Radford (James J.) of Boca Raton, Fla.; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews also survive. Funeral services were held Friday at 1:00 p.m. in the chapel of Chapman Funeral Home in Brunswick with the Rev. Ed Hurst officiating. Burial followed in Palmetto Cemetery with Masonic rites. In lieu of flowers, the family requested donations to the Shriners Hospital for Children. Chapman Funeral Chapel & Crematory of Brunswick was in charge of arrangements.
Maggie Spivey "Granny" Cowart
Maggie Spivey "Granny" Cowart, 87, died Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009 in St. Joseph Hospital in Savannah, after a short illness. Ms. Cowart was born in Appling County, on Sept. 11, 1922 to the late Bill and Ruth Campbell Spivey. She was a charter member of Baxley Freewill Baptist Church where she served as a deacon's wife and a faithful worker in all phases of the church. She was known as "Granny" to everyone. She was preceded in death by her husband of sixty-two years, Jesse Cowart; sons, Jerry and Billy Cowart; grandson, Bryan Everett and brothers, Billy Ray "Sam" and Ralph Spivey. Ms. Cowart is survived by four daughters and sons-in-law, Lila and Winston Everett, Helen and Lindon Lightsey and Jan and Larry Whitley and Deanna Cowart, all of Baxley; 18 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Laura and Margie Spivey of Baxley and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Funeral services were held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7 at Baxley Freewill Baptist Church with the Revs. David Amburgey, Rick Brown and Lamar Lee officiating. Interment followed in Memorial Freewill Baptist Church Cemetery. Active pallbearers were grandsons: Tim Varnadore, John Gardner, S. Forrest Cowan, Kevin Lightsey, Caleb Karnoutsos, Andy Dowdney, Alan Everett, Jim Avera, Mark Varnadore, Tyler Avera, Craig Lightsey, Keith Thomas, Josh Griffis, Micah Avera, Drew Dowdney, Hunter Lightsey and Davin Lightsey. Musical selections were rendered by Rev. Lamar Lee, Rev. Monty Lasseter, Rev. Javan Anderson, Andy Dowdney and Freda Jones. Arrangements were under the direction of David E. Miles Funeral Home.
William Lee
William Lee, 81, died Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009. William was born Dec. 27, 1927 in Ulster County, New York and had resided in Baxley, for the past 15 years. He was a retired welder and was employed by Selco before his retirement. William was a World War II Army Veteran and was a member of Oak Grove Church of God. He was the son of the late Oren and Loretta Brown Lee. Mr. Lee was preceded in death by his wife, Lucille Lee, daughter, Jennifer Lee and grandson, Stephen Lee, Jr. He is survived by one daughter, Jenny Ludwig of Milton, Fla.; five sons and daughters-in-law, William D. and Margarete Lee of Gondalas, LA, Matthew and Bonice Lee of Baxley, Mark and Halley Lee of Milton, Fla., Stephen A. and Sheila Lee and William O. Lee Jr., all of Baxley; one step-daughter, Freddie Hovatter of Baxley; two brothers, Alfred Lee and Stuart Lee, both of New York; eleven grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren; and two special friends, Debbie Starkweather of Pace, Fla. and Ann Jackson of Baxley also survive. Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8 in the chapel of David E. Miles Funeral Home with the Rev. Dennis Bryant officiating. Interment followed in Appling Memorial Gardens. Active pallbearers were Scott Lee, T. J. Beecher, Mark Lee, Scott Ludwig, Shawn Lee, Shawn Morris and Tyler Kersey. Honorary pallbearers were Dr. Cezar and staff and the staff and students of the Sunshine Center. Musical selections were rendered by Debbie Taylor and Al Lowther. Arrangements were under the direction of David E. Miles Funeral Home.
James Googe
James Googe, 72, died Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009 at Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah, GA. James was born May 13, 1937 to the late John Wesley and Lucille Sumner Googe. He was a member of Midway Baptist Church and was a veteran of the United States Army. James had been employed by Piggly Wiggly as a meat cutter for several years and was the owner of Googe's Egg Farm where he was known as the Eggman. He was currently employed by Thompson Farm Supply. Mr. Googe was preceded in death by a daughter, Pam Googe. He is survived by his wife, Patti Carter Googe of Baxley; two daughters, Lynn and husband, Freddy Gardner of Broxton and Jennie Googe of Baxley; one son, Michael James Googe and wife, Antela, of Pooler; one sister, Faye Cowart of Darrien; one brother, Wade D. Googe of Rockhill, S.C.; six grandchildren and several nieces and nephews also survive. Funeral services were held at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10 at Midway Baptist Church with the Rev. Freddy Gardner and Rev. Chris Hall officiating. Interment followed in Midway Baptist Church Cemetery. Active pallbearers were Matt Gardner, Josh Gardner, Josh Landmon, Caleb Googe, Robbie Gill and Michael Beecher. Honorary pallbearers were Sheriff Benny DeLoach, Freddy and Renee Stallings, Dr. Errol Graham, Dr. Garland Martin, Mendie Branch, employees of the Baxley Post Office, employees of Thompson Farm Supply, Don Webb and Sunday School Class of Midway Baptist Church, Max and Helen Gardner, Rowdy and Patti Gribbles and Pat Baxley. Musical selections were rendered by Sherry Beach, Freda Jones and Max Gardner. Arrangements were under the direction of Swain Funeral Home.
Mrs. Frances Fowler HERRIN
Died: Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia
Frances Herrin, 69, died Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009 at Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah. Mrs. Herrin was born March 16, 1940 in Appling County, to the late Joel Dalton and Katie Carter Fowler. She was a member of the Baxley Church of God, Retired Educators and the Ladies Ministries of the Baxley Church of God. Frances was Surrency High School Homecoming Queen in 1958. She was preceded in death by a sister, Dorothy McBride. She is survived by her husband, James Herrin of Baxley; daughter, Tammy Herrin Howell of Valdese, NC; two sons, Jeff Herrin of Bluffton, S.C. and Greg Herrin of Baxley; four sisters, Ima Dean Herrin of Baxley, Velma Ruth Griffin of Surrency, Martha Contos of Hazlehurst and Linda Hutcheson of Ludowici; three brothers, Dalton Fowler of Baxley, John Fowler of Athens and Arthur Lee Lightsey of Greensboro; six grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews also survive. Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10 at Baxley Church of God with the Revs. Lamar Lee, Bob Blackwell and Brett Howell officiating. Interment followed in Zion Church of God Cemetery. Active pallbearers were Winton Herrin, Stanley Griffin, Lee Fowler, Dr. Don Williamson, Richie Sharp, Kevin Contos and Tohn Herrin. Honorary pallbearers were Retired Educators and nieces and nephews. Musical selections were rendered by Carter Howell, Rev. Lamar Lee, Rev. Monty Lasseter, Rev. Javan Anderson, Rev. Eddie Tomberlin, Rev. Mickey Tomberlin, Rev. Robbie Tomberlin and David Williams. Arrangements were under the direction of Swain Funeral Home.
