Miscellaneous Beaufort County, South Carolina Obituaries

Early South Carolina Marriages Search

Collis D. Griffis
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Collis David Griffis, 73, died Jan. 15 at Shands Hospital in Gainesville. He was a native of Appling County, Ga., and lived in Jacksonville most of his life. He was a retired floor finisher.
SURVIVORS: his wife, Fannie W. Griffis of Jacksonville; two daughters, Margaret Fletcher and Alicia Camilletton, both of Jacksonville; two sons, David Griffis and Jimmy Griffis, both of Jacksonville; three sisters, Doris Fulton and Beatrice Graham, both of Jesup, and Shirley Sacicio of Birmingham, N.Y.; four grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
VISITATION: 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at Jacksonville Memory Gardens Funeral Home.
FUNERAL: 2 p.m. Wednesday at Jacksonville Memory Gardens Chapel in Orange Park.

Thomas G. Groover
HINESVILLE -- Thomas Glenn Groover, 76, died Jan. 14 at Liberty Regional Medical Center. He was a lifelong resident of Liberty County. He was a member of First Baptist Church, the Pairs and Spares Sunday School Class and Consite Retirees Breakfast Group. He was a World War II veteran of the 8th Army Air Force and served as an engineer on a B-17 bomber that was shot down by a German M-109 over Germany. He was then captured and spent 15 months as a P.O.W. He was awarded several medals, including the Purple Heart with an oak leaf cluster and a P.O.W. medal. He retired from the National Guard after more than 22 years of service.
SURVIVORS: his wife, Marjorie B. Groover; two daughters and sons-in-law, Pat and Joseph S. Ashmore and Barbara and Terry Wheeler, all of Hinesville; a brother, Olin H. Groover of Ludowici; three sisters, Wilma Tabb of Texas, Audrey Mayer of Columbus and Eleanor Woodall of Ludowici; eight grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
FUNERAL: 2 p.m. today at First Baptist Church, burial in Hinesville Cemetery with full military honors.
REMEMBRANCES: First Baptist Church in Hinesville.

Former Savannah Recreation Director Carl Hager dies
Former longtime Savannah Recreation Director William Carlton "Carl" Hager, 87, died Jan. 15 at Memorial Health University Medical Center. The native of Greenville, Mo., lived in Savannah most of his life. He attended public schools and played football for Savannah High School, and was the only local player to make the 1931 all state first team. He attended Norman Park College. In 1938, he moved to Pine Mountain Valley and worked for the WPA, organizing recreation for seven counties. In 1942, he became recreation director for the city of Brunswick. In 1950, he became recreation director for the city of Savannah. During his 24 years in the post, he accomplished many firsts: building the first public tennis courts at Daffin Park, organizing the first girls' basketball tournament and the first fast-pitch softball league for adults, installing the first picnic tables in the city parks, establishing archery at Bacon Park and assisting in the decision to build Memorial Stadium. Hager also was the motivating factor in the building of the Pony League Stadium in Daffin Park. He organized Little League baseball in the city and organized the city's slow pitch tournament, which ultimately became a state tournament and included women's slow pitch softball. He was first president of the Georgia Recreation Society, first leader of the Georgia Municipal Association and first co-chairman of the Special Olympics in Savannah. He was inducted into three Halls of Fame: the Greater Savannah Hall of Fame in 1990, the Hall of Honor of the Georgia Amateur Softball Association and the Georgia Recreation Society Hall of Fame. Hager was a member of Landrum Lodge No. 48, F&AM, and attended Richmond Hill United Methodist Church.
SURVIVORS: two daughters, Patty Anderson of Tybee Island and Elaine Tuten of Midway; two sons, Jimmy Robbins of Richmond Hill and Larry Robbins of Savannah; eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
VISITATION: 6-8 p.m. today at Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel.
FUNERAL: 2 p.m. Tuesday at Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel, burial in Bonaventure Cemetery.
REMEMBRANCES: American Heart Association, P.O. Box 15515, Savannah, GA 31416-2215; or American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 13117, Savannah, GA 31416-0117.

Marie Hogge
HILTON HEAD ISLAND -- Marie Hogge, 82, died Jan. 15 at Preston Health Center. She was a native of New Orleans and moved to Hilton Head Island in 1974 from Houston. She had been a reporter, author and free-lance writer. She was an organizer of the Hilton Head Island League of Women Voters.
SURVIVORS: her husband, Arthur Hogge; three sons, Arthur Clifton Hogge III of Las Vegas, Jeffrey Reynolds Hogge of Los Angles and Michael Hogge of San Jose, Calif.; a daughter, Kathy Wilkie of Seattle; a sister, Ethel Hahn of New Braunfels, Texas; eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. MEMORIAL MASS: 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Francis Catholic Church, interment in St. Francis Columbarium. The Island Funeral Home.
REMEMBRANCES: American Lung Association, 6555 Abercorn St., Suite 217, Savannah, GA 31405.

Rosa Lee Johnson
BRUNSWICK -- Rosa Lee Johnson, 72, died Jan. 14 at Hospice of the Golden Isles. She moved to Brunswick in 1972 from Jesup. She was housekeeping supervisor with Southeast Georgia Regional Medical Center for many years. She was a member of Sterling Church of God and active in the Ladies Ministry.
SURVIVORS: two sons, Larry Johnson of Atkinson and Lynn Johnson of Blackshear; four daughters, Diane Ellis of Brunswick, Donna Tinnermon of Atlanta, Katherine Winters of Brunswick and Wanda Fowler of Waycross; a brother, Jesse Williams of Jesup; a sister, Lizzie Connors of Jesup; a grandchild, David Keen Jr. of Atlanta; and several nieces and nephews.
FUNERAL: 11 a.m. today at Sterling Church of God, burial in Pinecrest Cemetery in Jesup. Brunswick Memorial Park Funeral Home.
REMEMBRANCES: Hospice of the Golden Isles, 1692 Glynco Parkway, Brunswick, GA 31525.

Leonard Kent
STATESBORO -- Dr. Leonard Kent, 86, died Jan. 15 at Bulloch Memorial Hospital. The Emanuel County native lived for many years in Chicago before moving to Statesboro 15 years ago. He was a graduate of South Georgia Teachers College (Georgia Southern University) and received his M.B.A. and Ph.D from the University of Chicago. He was a retired professor of economics and statistics and held numerous education and corporate positions through his career. He was a member of numerous Economic and Statistical Associations and a Navy veteran of World War II.
SURVIVORS: his niece, Mary Bowen Hendrix of Metter; and three nephews, John Robert Bowen and Barney Bowen, both of Metter, and Sam L. Brannen of Statesboro.
MEMORIAL SERVICE: 3 p.m. Tuesday at Hodges-Turner-Anderson Funeral Home; the family will receive friends after the service.

John O. Milner
John Otis Milner, 70, died Jan. 15 at Candler Hospital. He was a native of Henry County, lived in Savannah most of his life and attended Savannah schools. He retired from Union Camp after 35 years and the Savannah-Chatham County Board of Education. He was a member of Tremont Temple Baptist Church.
SURVIVORS: his wife, Nellie Milner of Savannah; three daughters, Darlene Milner of Miami, Sheari John and Irene M. Harding, both of Savannah; a son, John E. Milner of Virginia Beach, Va.; a sister, Lenora Milner of Savannah; five grandchildren, a great-grandchild, a nephew, aunts and other relatives. Bynes-Royall Funeral Home.

Elizabeth B. Melcher
Elizabeth Jean Buffon Melcher, 76, died Jan. 15. The native of Signal Mountain, Tenn., lived in Atlanta for 10 years and then resided in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., for 30 years. She moved to Savannah less than one year ago. She was a graduate of the Girls Preparatory School in Chattanooga, Tenn., and Sullins College in Bristol, Va. She was a volunteer nurse during World War II in Chattanooga. She was a member of Christ Episcopal Church, Ponte Vedra, serving on the Altar Guild. She was also a member of the Garden Club of Ponte Vedra.
SURVIVORS: her husband, Theodore R. Melcher of Jacksonville, Fla.; a daughter, Donna Dunlap Pullum of Mountain View, Hawaii; a son, Jac Harold Dunlap Jr. of Cooper City, Fla.; grandchildren, Jessica Sognier Osborne of Savannah, Eva Dunlap Pullum of Mountain View, Jordan Dunlap, Matthew Dunlap and Jacqulyn Dunlap, all of Cooper City, Fla.; two great-grandchildren, John Sognier Osborne and Emily Ann Osborne, both of Savannah; and several nieces and nephews.
MEMORIAL SERVICE: 11 a.m. Saturday at Christ Episcopal Church, Ponte Vedra, with a reception after the service. Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel.
REMEMBRANCES: Christ Episcopal Church, 400 San Juan Drive, Ponte Vedra, FL.

Arnold C. Poole
SUMMERVILLE, S.C. -- Arnold C. Poole, 95, died Jan. 15 at Ashley Crossing Nursing Home in Charleston. He was a native of Donovan in Johnson County, Ga., but lived in Moncks Corner since 1987. He was a machinist and millwright in the lumber business in Vidalia, Ga., Metter, Ga., Lyons, Ga., and Riceboro, Ga. He was employed by the Southeastern Shipyards in Savannah during World War II. He operated businesses in Riceboro and Collins, Ga., before retiring. He was a Presbyterian and a former Worshipful Master of Hinesville Masonic Lodge No. 271, F&AM.
SURVIVORS: a daughter, Geraldine Harmon of Summerville; a daughter-in-law, Joan Poole of Columbia; two sons, Harry C. Poole of Goose Creek and Edward C. Poole of Wadmalaw Island; 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
VISITATION: 7-9 p.m. Tuesday at Carter Funeral Home, Oglethorpe Chapel, Hinesville, Ga.
FUNERAL: 11 a.m. Wednesday at Carter Funeral Home, Oglethorpe Chapel, burial in Dorchester Cemetery with full Masonic rites.

Oneita Robinson
Oneita "Honey" Robinson, 83, died Jan. 15 at Savannah Beach Nursing Home. She was a native of Savannah and a member of St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church. She served with the Deaconess Board, Willing Workers Committee and the Hospitality Club. She was a life member of International F&AM Masons and Order of Easter Stars, Ruth Chapter No. 3.
SURVIVORS: her husband of 65 years, Clarence A. Robinson Sr of Savannah; two sons, Clarence A. Robinson Jr. and Samuel Robinson, both of Savannah; two daughters, Miriam D. Butler of Atlanta and Juanita Greene of San Francisco; a sister, Ruth C. Johnson of Savannah; a son-in-law, Jack Butler of Atlanta; a daughter-in-law, Barbara Robinson of Savannah; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, including Rev. William Pugh of Washington, cousins and friends. Williams & Williams Funeral Home.

Ellis H. Stokes
GUYTON -- Ellis H. Stokes, 88, died Jan. 15 at Candler Hospital. The Chatham County native was a member of Sand Hill Baptist Church and Joy Sunday School Class. He retired from the city of Savannah's Park and Tree Division.
SURVIVORS: two sons and daughters-in-law, Barney and Minnie Stokes of Guyton and E.W. and Myrtle Stokes of Garden City; a brother, Leon Stokes of Savannah; three sisters, Mary Futch and Gertrude Lehwald, both of Savannah, and Margarite Bryant of South Carolina; 11 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, seven great-great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
VISITATION: 6-8 p.m. today at Thomas C. Strickland & Sons Funeral Home, West Chatham Chapel, Pooler.
FUNERAL: 11 a.m. Tuesday at Sand Hill Baptist Church, burial in the church cemetery.
REMEMBRANCES: Sand Hill Baptist Church Building Fund, 1936 Sand Hill Road, Guyton, GA 31312.

Mildred Stroud
ATHENS -- Mildred D. Stroud, 81, died Jan. 15. She was a native of Bulloch County and the widow of Colon Stroud. Before moving to Athens, she lived in Savannah for 26 years and moved to Lake Wales, Fla. in 1975. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Lake Wales and a former member of Wilmington Island Baptist Church. She attended Cornerstone Church of God in Athens.
SURVIVORS: her son and daughter-in-law, the Rev. Robert and Gail Sheppard of Athens; two stepdaughters, Shannon Brangham of Jacksonville, Fla., and Wanda Mercer of Lutz, Fla.; a brother, John W. Donaldson of Savannah; two grandsons, Scott Sheppard of Atlanta and Greg Sheppard of Cleveland, Tenn.; and three great-grandchildren, Torri, Mica and Hope Sheppard.
MEMORIAL SERVICE: 7 p.m. today at Lord and Stephens Chapel, East; the family will receive friends after the memorial service.
BURIAL: 10 a.m. Wednesday in Lake Wales Cemetery; the family will receive friends after the graveside service.
REMEMBRANCES: Cornerstone Church of God, 2150 Lexington Road, Athens, GA 30605.

Rebie Thompson
MILLEN -- Rebie Alice Brinson Dailey Thompson, 71, died Jan. 16 at home. She was a native of Jenkins County. She retired from the packaging department of Jockey International. She was a member of Oak Hill Baptist Church and Ladies Adult Sunday School Class.
SURVIVORS: two sons, Edward Thompson of Millen and William S. Thompson of Columbus; two brothers, Felton Dailey and Azzie Dailey Jr., both of Millen; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
VISITATION: 7-9 p.m. today at Crowe-Fields Funeral Home.
FUNERAL: 4 p.m. Tuesday at Oak Hill Baptist Church, burial in the church cemetery.