Dorothy Jean Aspinwall, 68, died Wednesday, March 24, 2004 in the Appling HealthCare System after an extended illness. She was a native of Wayne County and had lived in Camden County for 37 years, before moving to Appling County in 1993. She was a member of Spring Branch Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence and Bonnie Jane Griffis, and a daughter, Brenda Darlene Aspinwall. She is survived by her husband, J.E. Aspinwall of Baxley; one son, Terry Allen and Elaine Aspinwall of Jacksonville, Fla.; three sisters, Mary G. Grimes of Brunswick, Earline G. Poole of Baxley and Reba G. Leggett of Valdosta; two brothers, Glenn Edward Griffis of Jesup and Larry L. Griffis of Lake City, Fla.; one grandson, Richard Plunk. Funeral services were held Saturday, March 27 at 11:00 a.m. from Spring Branch Baptist Church with the Rev. Chip Woodruff officiating. Interment followed in Pinecrest Cemetery in Wayne County. Active pallbearers were Wayne Bruce, David Fennell, Larry Carter, Stewart Reeves, Michael Sellers and Winton Branch. Honorary pallbearers were Adult Sunday School Class No. 2 of Spring Branch Baptist Church. Arrangements were under the direction of Swain Funeral Home.
Furman T. Ellis
Furman T. Ellis, 84, of Beaufort, SC, passed away Thursday, March 25, 2004 in the Beaufort Memorial Hospital. He was born January 19, 1920 in Hazlehurst. Ellis was the son of the late Clarence G. Ellis and Belle Dixon Ellis. He was a U.S. Navy veteran and retired from civil service at Beaufort Naval Hospital. Ellis helped form American Federation of Government Employees Union in the 1960's for employees of the Naval Hospital and served as AFGE's president for 14 years. He was a mason and was an avid hunter. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Mattie B. Ellis of Beaufort, SC; one daughter, Carolyn J. Young of Baltimore, MD; five sons, Clinton M. Ellis of Bluffton, SC, Clayton R. Ellis of St. Helena Island, Robert F. Ellis of Hampton, SC; James E. Ellis of Lake City, SC and Kenneth W. Ellis of Burton, SC; one sister, Malzie Cleland of Baxley; one brother, Raymond Ellis of Jacksonville, Fla.; 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren also survive. Grave Side services were held at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, March 27 in Satilla Cemetery in Jeff Davis County with the Rev. Chip Woodruff officiating. Miles Funeral Home in Hazlehurst was in charge of the arrangements.
Anthany Lowell Lightsey
Anthany Lowell Lightsey, 44, of Lawrenceville, passed away on March 24, 2004 at his residence. He was born May 5, 1959 to Lowell France Lightsey and Sue Nell Justus Lightsey. Anthany was the grandson of the late Noel Justus and Louellen Justus Prince and Hiram Lightsey and Rena Bowles Lightsey. He was a member of Collins Hills Baptist Church and was a Missionary traveling the world spreading the Gospel. Funeral services were held Saturday, March 27 at 1:00 p.m. in the Beck Funeral Home Chapel in Clayton with the Rev. Billy Driskell officiating. Burial followed in Mountain Grove Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to a charity of your choice. Beck Funeral Home of Clayton was in charge of the arrangements.
Robert L. Overstreet
Robert L. Overstreet, 61, of Baxley, died Thursday, March 25, 2004 at his residence after an extended illness. A native of Moultrie, he had lived in Appling County most of his life. Robert was a member of Altamaha Baptist Church and a retired mechanic. He is survived by two daughters, Brenda Lee Rencarge of Rogersville, AL, and Janet Lee Spires of Chauncey; two sons, Edward Overstreet of Baxley and Robert Lee Overstreet of Winder; one sister, Norma Jean Green of Baxley;12 grandchildren , one great-grandchild and several nieces and nephews also survive. Funeral services were held Saturday , March 27 at 3:00 p.m. from the chapel of Swain Funeral Home with the Rev. Paul Dubberly and the Rev. Lonnie Weaver officiating. Interment followed in the Baxley Graveyard Cemetery. Active pallbearers were Kelly Wendell Bryant, Malcolm Hall, Johnny Nettles, David Rencarge, Tommy Rencarge and Shane Rencarge. Musical selections were rendered by Sandra Nettles. Arrangements were under the direction of Swain Funeral Home.
Jordan Winn
Jordan Winn,19, of Decatur, died Tuesday, March 23, 2004. He was a student at the Open Campus High School and attended church at Central Presbyterian. He loved to fish and snow ski and wanted to race go carts after high school. He is survived by his father, William "Bill" Jordan; mother, Janice "Jan" Jordan; sister, Allison Jordan; aunt, Lyn Weldon and her husband, Jim; and two cousins. Funeral services were held in the Chapel of A.S. Turner and Sons at 1:00 p.m. Friday, March 26 with Dr. Frank Crumpler officiating. Interment followed in Kennesaw Memorial Park. Arrangements were under the directions of A.S. Turner & Sons.
Gloria Jean Bowman
Gloria Jean Bowman, 55, of Baxley, died Monday, Jan. 19 in the Appling HealthCare System after an extended illness. A native of Massachusetts she had lived in Appling County since 1995. She was a member of First United Methodist Church. Mrs. Bowman was born Feb. 14, 1948 to the late Theodore Henry Thrasher and the late Matilda Bradford Kinney Thrasher. She is survived by her husband, Ben Bowman of Baxley; three daughters, Diane Bowman, Wanda Bowman and Sherry Bowman; one son, Teddy Bowman; one brother, Donald Trasher of Taunton, Mass.; and several nieces and nephews also survive. Funeral services were held Thursday, Jan. 22 at 3:00 p.m. from the chapel of Swain Funeral Home with the Rev. Randy Mosley officiating. Interment followed in Omega Cemetery. Active pallbearers were Derek Park, Michael Mayers, Gary Hanson, Greg Hanson, Wally Marr and Kelly Bird. Musical selections were rendered by Cherry Platt. Swain Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Herbert L. "Tip Top" Courson
Herbert L. "Tip Top" Courson, 89, of Jesup, died Monday, Jan. 19, 2004 peacefully at his home after an extended illness. The Appling County native had lived in Wayne County most of his life and was a member of Calvary Baptist Church. He was a retired bread salesman with Tip Top Bread Company of Jacksonville, Fla., and was a former Landscaper, and a U.S. army Veteran of World War II with Military police. Courson was preceded in death by a daughter, Annette Courson. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Estelle S. Courson of Jesup; two daughters and sons-in-law, Jeanette and John Colson of Jacksonville, Fla., Donna and Ruben Martinez of Jesup; three sons and daughters-in-law, Butch and Kay Courson, Robert and Elaine Courson and Johnny and Sheri Courson, all of Jesup; one sister, Clara Wages of Atlanta; two half-sisters, Mary Lee Taylor of Savannah and Odell Dyal of Baxley; one half-brother, Jimmie Courson of Baxley; one sister-in-law, Willie Ruth Courson; 11 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews also survive. Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21 from Rinehart & Sons Chapel with the Rev. Vann Dempsey and the Rev. Larry Harris officiating. Interment followed in Jesup City Cemetery with military honors. Active pallbearers were Joey Venturelli, Justin Courson, Jonathan Courson, Joe Venturelli, John Colson and Weldon Nash. Honorary pallbearers were Charles Stone, Lowell Stone, Kendall Stone, H.L. Spell, Harry Spell, Jerome Wilson, Donald Holland, and the S.L. Mills Adult Mens II Sunday School Class of Calvary Baptist Church. Memorials may be made to the Hospice of South Georgia, 1247 S. First St., Jesup, Ga., 31545. The Rinehardt & Sons Funeral Home of Jesup was in charge of the arrangements.
Ellen Douglas
Ellen Douglas, 90, of Royal Palm Beach, Fla., formerly of Baxley, died Friday, Jan. 16, 2004 in John F. Kennedy Hospital in Lake Worth, Fla. after an extended illness. A native of Tattnall County, she lived in Appling County most of her life, before moving to Royal Palm Beach in 2000. She was a member of Woodlawn Baptist Church and was the owner of Ellen's Upholstery. Mrs. Douglas was born March 21, 1913 to the late Martin Clepphus Moore and the late Debby Herrington Moore. She was the widow of Charles Douglas. She is survived by one son, Foster Sellers, two stepsons, Gerald Sellers and Roe Sellers, both of Savannah; one brother, Herman Moore of Jacksonville, Fla.; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren also survive. Funeral services were held Friday, Jan. 23 at 11:00 a.m. from Woodlawn Baptist Church with the Rev. Al Butler and the Rev. Rick Brown officiating. Interment followed in Omega Cemetery. Musical selections were rendered by Dale Spell, Debbie Griffis and April Hesters. Swain Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Wilfordine Royal Godbee
Wilfordine Royal Godbee, 68, of Port Wentworth, died Thursday, Jan. 22, 2004 in the St. Joseph Hospital in Savannah after a short illness. A native of Appling County she had lived in Port Wentworth for the past 42 years. She was a member of Port Wentworth Methodist Church. Mrs. Godbee was born Oct. 28, 1935 to the late Wilford Royal and the late Lorene Peacock Royal. She was the widow of Carl Benjamin Godbee. She is survived by two sons, Ned Steve Godbee of Port Wentworth and James Keith Godbee of Garden City; two brothers, William Royal of St. Simons Island and Kenneth Royal of Jesup. Funeral services were held Sunday, Jan. 25 at 3:00 p.m. from the chapel of Swain Funeral Home with the Rev. Barry Teutsch officiating. Interment followed in Baxley Graveyard Cemetery. Active pallbearers were Johnny Peacock, Windell Nail, Charles Nail, Chuck Nail, Mike Cleland and Eddie Cleland. Swain Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Richard Theodore Lapham
Richard Theodore Lapham, 96, died at Baptist Village, Waycross on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2004. Richard was born Jan. 27, 1907 in Chicago, IL to Theodore and Harriet Lapham. He spent most of his youth in Chicago where he attended the American Conservatory and took piano lessons from Lee Sims. After the death of his father, the family moved to Bee Ridge, Fla. where he built a home. During WWII he worked for Dooley's in Ft. Lauderdale as a 1st Class Boat Builder. Music was always part of his life and he was a piano player for several dance band and even got to sit in once with The Lawrence Welk Band. He worked as a cabinet maker after the war meeting Lou Jacobs, the clown with Ringling Brothers Circus. They became friends and attended the Lion Club together. He became a Christian later in life and enjoyed playing the organ at several churches. Surviving are his wife, Ruth Lapham; one daughter, Barbara Zumwalt of Indian Rocks Beach, Fla.; one son, John Lapham of Yakima, WA; two step-sons, Fred Purcell of Baxley and Roger Purcell of Canberra, Australia; two grandchildren, Mary and Bear; one nephew, Art Lapham of Green Valley, AZ. He donated his body to science.
