Royal
Rev. Paul Joseph Bailey Jr.
Jesup—The Rev. Paul Joseph Bailey Jr., 72, of Jesup died on Nov. 1, 2022, at Wayne Memorial Hospital.
He was born on June 23, 1950, to the late, Paul Joseph Bailey Sr. and Doris Hudson Bailey in Jesup (Doctortown). He was educated in the Wayne County Training School and graduated in the Class of 1967. Upon graduating from high school, he attended Savannah State College, where he received a bachelor’s degree in physical education. He later enrolled in ITC Seminary School, where he received his master’s degree in theology.
He was first a member of Bennett Union Missionary Baptist Church in Jesup. He then became a member of St. James Baptist Church in Ludowici, where he served as a Sunday school teacher, trustee and deacon. He later became an ordained minister and served as the pastor of St. John Baptist Church in Waycross for eight years before his health began to fail.
Aside from being a minister, he was employed as a shift superintendent at Rayonier where he worked for 34 years before retiring. In his free time, he enjoyed golfing and spending time with his family. He was also a member of Altamaha Lodge 321 in Jesup.
He was preceded in death by both parents, Paul and Doris Hudson Bailey Sr.; a sister, Betty Washington; and two brothers, Bobby Bailey and Israel Snyder.
Survivors include his loving wife of 48 years, Christine Mallard Bailey of Jesup; two sons, Terrance (Latoya) Bailey of Waycross and Ryan Bailey of Jesup; four grandchildren, Nailah Bailey, Madison Bailey, Harper and Mariah Bailey; two brothers, Charles (Linda) Bailey of Offerman and Zachary (Deborah) Bailey of Jesup; sisters-in-law, Ann (Joseph) Chestnut of Port Charlotte, Florida, Sylvia Cooper of Palatka, Florida, Arlene Mallard of McDonough and Dr. Dolorse Mallard of Ludowici; brothers-in-law, Eddie (Betty) Mallard of Dumfries, Virginia, Daniel Washington of Offerman and Gerald Mallard of Ludowici; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends who will miss him dearly.
Funeral services were held Nov. 7 at Bennett Union Missionary Baptist Church.
Royal Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Rinehart & Sons
Joel W. Davis
Jesup—Joel “J.W.” Davis, 85, of Jesup died Nov. 7, 2022.
The Douglas native was a U.S. Army veteran, having served in the Vietnam War. He was an employee of ITT Rayonier and attended Memorial Baptist Church.
He was predeceased by a grandson, Micah Neal Davis Steedley; a brother, Robert Elton Davis; a daughter, Felicia Ann Davis; and his parents, Oris and Idelle Davis.
Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Ava Nell Peterson Davis of Jesup; a daughter, Debbie Davis (Walter) Jones of Jesup; two sons, Joey (Cindy) Davis of Appomattox, Virginia and Tony (Betty) Davis of Jesup; a sister, Pauline Davis Smith of Douglas; 11 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Nov. 9 at Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Wayne Manning Jr. officiating. Interment was in George Cemetery. Active pallbearers were family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Wounded Warrior Project, 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300, Jacksonville, FL 32256.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Ray Allen Watson
Pooler—Ray Allen Watson, 68, of Pooler died Nov. 1, 2022.
The Wayne County native was a painter. He loved to play the guitar, fish, ride, feed and take care of horses.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Roscoe and Eva Watson; his son, Henry Watson; and sisters Faye Seymour and Leisa Watson.
Survivors include four sisters, Frances Wilson of Brooklet, Lynette (Jasper) Shearouse of Pooler, Ann Haymans of Brooklet and Sheila (Kenny) Drew of Black Creek; a brother, Ronald Watson of Monroe; and several nieces, nephews and other extended relatives.
Graveside funeral services will be held today (Thursday) at 10 a.m. in Flint Branch Cemetery with the Rev. Jimmy Lord officiating.
Active pallbearers will be his family members.
The family will receive friends at the cemetery.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Miles-Odum
Errol Gordon “Dinky” Strickland
Jesup—Errol Gordon “Dinky” Strickland, 81, of Jesup died Oct. 30, 2022 at his residence.
He was born in Jacksonville, Florida, to the late Lucious J. Stickland Sr. and the late Amy Reddish Strickland and made Waycross, Blackshear and Jesup his home for many years. He enjoyed listening to old time country music.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Jeanne Strickland Jenkins; two brothers, Lucious J. Strickland Jr., James R. “Bo” Strickland; and a nephew, Willis A. “Billy” Strickland Jr.
Survivors include a brother, William A. “Bill” Strickland Sr. of Keystone Heights, Florida; nieces and nephews, Jan Jenkins-Hart, Malcolm Jenkins, David Jenkins, Mary J. Cabe, Amy Whitley, Lucious Strickland III, Gina Strickland Plummer; a first cousin, Jerry Strickland; and numerous other relatives.
Graveside services were held Nov. 4 in Big Creek Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Big Creek Primitive Baptist Church, 918 Big Creek Church Road, Odum, GA, 31555 or the Salvation Army, 977 Tebeau St. Waycross, 31501.
Sympathy may be expressed by signing online at www.milesodumfuneralhome.com.
Miles-Odum Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Howard-Jones
Sylvia McDonald Hope
Jesup--Sylvia McDonald Hope, 79, died Nov. 6, 2022, at Select Specialty Hospital in Savannah.
A resident of Jesup for most of her life, she was born on March 11, 1943 in Macon to the late Sam S. and Lucille Graves Hewatt McDonald.
In addition to her parents, her grandmother, Blanche De Lay Hewatt, preceded her in death.
Survivors include her daughter, Traci Jones of Savannah; a son, Anthoni W. Jones of Key West, Florida; two grandchildren, Rayna and Wesley Owens, both of Savannah; a brother, Steve D. McDonald of Mandarin, Florida; and two special friends, Louise Paulson of Roswell and Dr. Sylvia Petterson of Boca Raton, Florida.
Services will be private.
Remembrances may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or online at www.stjude.org or to the Disabled American Veterans at www.dav.org.
Family and friends may sign the guestbook online at www.jesupfuneralhome.com.
Howard & Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.