Wilma Jean Steadham, 83, died Tuesday, December 27, 2011. Mrs. Steadham was born in Telfair County, but had lived most of her life in Appling County. She was the daughter of the late William Webster and the late Willie Lee Walker Webster. Mrs. Steadham was a retired seamstress and was a member of the Graham United Methodist Church. Survivors include her two daughters, Sheila Harris of Umatilla, FL and Tammie Polston of Conyers; two sons, Ralph Crosby and Reggie Crosby, both of Graham; sisters, Mary Miller of Greensboro and Geny Covert of Grandberry, TX and a special family friend, Sue Bass of Baxley; 10 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren also survive. Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m. at Graham United Methodist Church Thursday, Dec. 29 with the Revs. David Griffin and Craig Smith officiating. Interment followed in Graham Miller Cemetery. Active pallbearers were Aaron Harris, Eric Sheeler, Shane Crosby, Shawn Crosby, Clay Crosby and Justin Crosby. Musical selections were rendered by Jimmie Ryles and Group. Arrangements were under the direction of Miles Funeral Home in Hazlehurst.
John C. Sailem "Showdog"
John C. Sailem "Showdog" died December 23, 2011. He was born March 20, 1954 to the late Mozell Stone and the late A.C. Fletcher. Early in life, John pursued a career in welding and pipe fitting which required him to travel the U.S.A. and International countries. He married Linda LeCount Sailem Sept. 30, 1977. He was preceded in death by a sister, Peggy Dasher. Survivors include his devoted wife, Linda Sailem; one daughter, Vaneesa Brown; five grandchildren: Michael J. Brown, Alexis K. Brown, Desmond D. Brown, Jamarcus L. Brown and Kalyih L. Brown; one brother, Brook (Sharon) Stone; three sisters, Kathy (Henry) Ryals, Cora Lee Stone and Sarah (Ricky) Jackson; two sisters-in-law, Pauline (Ageless) Mobley and Maxine (Frank) Harrison; two very devoted nieces, Minnie Mobley and Lizann Sailem, along with a special cousin, Sharon Gibson; a dear aunt, Sarah Ruth Mims and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends also survive. Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31 at New Jerusalem Church with Pastor Sarah Mims officiating. Interment followed in Baxley Cemetery. Active pallbearers were Shawn Mobley, Roy Sailem, Rodney Mobley, Shane Mobley, Cedric Sailem and David Sailem. Honorary pallbearers were relatives and friends. Musical selections were rendered by Melvin and the Allstars (Soloists, Melvin and Hubert Mims), Calvin Lee and the New Jerusalem Church Choir. Arrangements were under the direction of Baxley Funeral Home.
Gloria Jean Woodard Nash
Gloria Jean Woodard Nash, 62, died Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011 at her residence. Gloria was born Sept. 10, 1949 in Jacksonville, FL and had resided in Baxley, most of her life. She was a homemaker and a member of Spring Branch Baptist Church. Ms. Nash was preceded in death by her son, Allen Beach and a sister, Pam Woodard. She was the daughter of the Rev. Mike Woodard and the late Sleeta Leigh White Woodard. Survivors include two daughters, Tamara Leigh Brown and husband, Kristopher, of Savannah and Shellie Simmons and husband, Jeffery, of Baxley; her father, Rev. Mike Woodard; one sister, Sue Ellen Woodard of Baxley; one brother, Denny Woodard of Baxley; two granddaughters, Haley and Megan Simmons of Baxley; two grandsons, Bill and Jacob Dittenber of Savannah; several nieces and nephews and other family also survive. Funeral services were held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 24 in the chapel of David E. Miles Funeral Home with the Rev. Gary Conyers officiating. Interment will follow at a later date. Musical selections were rendered by Candice Branch. Arrangements were under the direction of David E. Miles Funeral Home.
Esther Margaret Tooley
Esther Margaret Tooley, 89, died Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011 at Appling Healthcare System. Ms. Tooley was born in Feura Bush, New York and had resided in Baxley, for the past six years. She was the daughter of the late Leroy Vanderbelt and the late Mabel Loucxs Vanderbelt. Survivors include two sons, Larry Tooley and Jeff Tooley, both of Baxley; two granddaughters, Tina Ruiz of Vidalia and Lisa Kight of Baxley; two grandsons, Jeffery Tooley of Orlando, FL, and Madison Tooley of Baxley; four great-grandchildren, Christopher Tooley, Christian Kight, Cynthia Ruiz and Kaci Ruiz. Funeral services will be held at a later date in Feura Bush, New York. Arrangements were under the direction of David E. Miles Funeral Home.
William "Bill" Knight
William "Bill" Knight, 66, of Odum, died Saturday, December 31, 2011, at his residence after a short illness. The Wayne Co. native and former resident of Charlton County, was a member of the Northside Baptist Church and a retired DNR Sgt. for the State of Georgia. He was an avid outdoorsman and was a U. S. Marine Veteran serving in the Vietnam conflict. Survivors are his wife of 44 years, Esther Curtis Knight of Odum; daughter, Kimberly (Bucky) Cawley of Guyton; son, Billy (Melissa) Knight of Odum; three sisters, Laura (Arch) Archuleta of Mt. Airy, MD, Betty Thomas and Mary Bedgood, both of Baxley; a brother, Junior (Annette) Knight of Greensboro, GA; six grandchildren; one great-grandchild; several nieces and nephews. Funeral services were at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 3 from the Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Tommy Daniels officiating and the American Flag presentation by the American Legion Post #311. Interment was in the Little Creek Cemetery. Active pallbearers were: Travis Knight, David Forbes, Randy Thomas, Darrell Taylor, Tommy Forbes, and Robin Thomas. Honorary pallbearers will be: Senior Saints Sunday School Class of Northside Baptist Church. Visitation was held from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, at the funeral home prior to services. The Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home of Jesup was in charge of the arrangements.
Phil M. Jenkins, Sr.
Phil M. Jenkins, Sr., 85, died Tuesday, December 27, 2011 at his residence. Phil, Sr. was born April 28, 1926 to the late Dr. Charles Rush Jenkins and the late Beaulah Hall Jenkins. He was a member of First United Methodist Church and Holmesville Masonic Lodge no. 195. Mr. Jenkins retired after 41 years of service from the City of Baxley water department as a meter reader. He was preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Gladys Tuten Jenkins and friend and companion of 16 years, Mary Ann Vaughn and a brother, Alfred Jenkins. Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, Phil and Betty Jo Jenkins of Baxley; two granddaughters, Terri (Jimmy) Twiggs and Kim (Chad) Wynn, all of Baxley; and four great-grandchildren, John McLemore, Phillip Twiggs, Beth Wynn and Kayla Wynn. Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 29 in the chapel of Swain Funeral Home with the Rev. Thad Harvey officiating. Interment followed in Omega Cemetery. Active pallbearers were Jimmy Twiggs, Chad Wynn, John McLemore, Phillip Twiggs, Rhett Butler, Scotty Turner and Garry Stone. Musical selections were rendered by Freda Jones and Bill Bowers. Arrangements were under the direction of Swain Funeral Home.
Ethelene Mims Hyers
Ethelene Mims Hyers, 83, died Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2011 at her residence. Ethelene was born August 5, 1928 to the late Eddie Brooks Mims and the late Mamie Lou Hall Mims. She was a member of First Baptist Church. Mrs. Hyers was preceded in death by her husband, Fred E. Hyers. Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Betty Jane and Lloyd Gunter of Baxley; one sister and brother-in-law, Georgia and Roy Herrington of Baxley; one brother and sister-in-law, T. M. and Marie Mims of Hazlehurst; one granddaughter, April Gunter Key of Douglas, and 12 nieces and nephews also survive. Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 29 at First Baptist Church with the Rev. Keith Alderman officiating. Interment followed in Zoar Cemetery. Active pallbearers were Zand Murphy, Jared Murphy, Brent Murphy, Danny Scarborough, Reid Lovett and Kyler Herrington. Honorary pallbearers were Queen Esther Sunday-School Class of First Baptist Church. Musical selections were rendered by David Williams and Trish White. Arrangements were under the direction of Swain Funeral Home.
Troy Hartley
Troy Hartley, 88, died Friday, Dec. 23, 2011 at the Pavilion. Troy was born March 29, 1923 in Appling County, and had resided here all of his life. He was an ironworker and painter. Mr. Hartley was a member of Ferry Road Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Emma Lou "Sweet" Rowell and Gladys Rowell and brothers, Harvey Hartley and Johnny Hartley, Sr. Troy was the son of the late D.C. Hartley and the late Sippie Rowell Hartley. Survivors include one sister, Valine Allen of Jacksonville, FL and a nephew, Johnny Hartley, Jr. of Baxley, and other nephews and nieces also survive. Funeral services were held at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 27 in the chapel of David E. Miles Funeral Home with the Rev. Earnest Dyal officiating. Interment followed in Mt. Zion Cemetery in Jeff Davis County. Active pallbearers were John "Choo Choo" Griffin, Josh Yawn, Colley Griffin, Johnny Hartley, Jr., Wiley Ammons and Dwain Carter. Arrangements were under the direction of David E. Miles Funeral Home.
Faye Lavene Eatmon
Faye Lavene Eatmon, daughter of the late Lovell and Anna Eatmon was born March 11, 1954 in Huttig, Arkansas, died Monday, Dec. 26 in the Pavilion of the Appling Healthcare System after a lengthy illness. She attended school in Union County School System. Ms. Eatmon later moved to Baxley, where she was an active member of Mizpah Baptist Church and served on the Usher Board faithfully until her health failed. She was employed with Appling Healthcare System for more than 17 years and then with the Appling County Board of Education Middle School Lunchroom in the food service department until her health failed. She was preceded in death by a sister and brother-in-law, Helen Ferece (Dennis) Andrews. Survivors include her loving husband, Willie Nails; one stepson, James Mitchell; sisters, Linda Dian Eatmon Rodgers of San Francisco, CA and Trudie Charlene Eatmon of Alexandria, LA, Tanya Michea (Skip) Narris of Tyler, TX; one brother, William Roosevelt (Gwendolyn) Eatmon of Silver Creek, Miss.; sisters and brothers-in-law, Helen (Johnny) Jordan, James O. (Maxine) Nails of Baxley, and Retha (Readell) Nunt, Wallace (Bobby) Nails and Milous Nails, all of Toccoa, Katie (Dwight) Moore of Lumber City and Lawyer (Dean) Nails of Uvalda, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends also survive. Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 31 at Mizpah Baptist Church with Pastor James R. Carlyle officiating and Minister Michael Jordan presiding. Interment followed in Mizpah Baptist Church, Blarney Community Cemetery. Active pallbearers were Rozell Nails, Tauvarious Holbrooks, James Mitchell, Antonio Nails, Brandon Jordan and Deon Nails. Honorary pallbearers were Cedric Boddie, Dennis Andrews, Jr., Aaron Eatmon, Austin Andrews, Peyton Andrews, Adrian Eatmon, nurses of the Pavilion and ushers of Mizpah Baptist Church. Musical selections were rendered by Kristy Henry Bennett and the Mizpah Baptist Church Choir. Arrangements were under the direction of Baxley Funeral Home.
Evelyn L. Black Thornton
ne great-great-granddaughter also survives. Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 1 in the chapel of David E. Miles Funeral Home with the Revs. Lester Weldon and John R. Hutto officiating. Interment followed in Mt. Vernon Baptist Church Cemetery. Active pallbearers were Andy Kersey, Farrell Thornton, Jason Medders, Dillon Treat, Jerry Kersey and Wayne Dukes. Honorary pallbearers were friends and members of Carter's Chapel Church of God of Prophecy, Annette Cauley, Mary Baxley, Aletta Floyd, Bernie and Wanda Pierce, Franklin and Ann Barber, Paul and Linda Anderson, Elaine Reeves, Angel Baxley, Aubrey Thompson, Joan Carter, staff of Sarah's Flower Shop, staff of Altamaha Home Health Care, Charline Carter, Jim and Janice Thompson and Al Stanley. Arrangements were under the direction of David E. Miles Funeral Home.Evelyn L. Black Thornton, 77, died Friday, Dec. 30, 2011 in the Bacon County Hospital in Alma. She was born Nov. 23, 1934 in Appling County, and had resided here all of her life. Evelyn was retired and before her retirement she was a seamstress and was employed with Ship-n-Shore for 30 years. She also had worked for the last 14 years with Sarah's Flower Shop. Ms. Thornton was a member of Carter's Chapel Church of God of Prophecy where she had served as a Sunday-School Teacher for 38 years. Evelyn was the daughter of the late J. D. "Jim" Black and the late Flora Butler Black. Survivors include three daughters and sons-in-law, Glenda and the Rev. Andrew Kersey, Wanda and Carl Kersey and Carolyn and Randy Medders, all of Baxley; one son, Harold "Buddy" Thornton of Baxley; three grandsons, Andy Kersey, Farrell Thornton and Jason Medders all of Baxley; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Viola and George O'Neal of Brunswick and Melba and Vernon Thornton of Baxley; ten great-grandchildren and o
