Howard
Lance E. Lanier
Ludowici—Lance E. Lanier, 61, died Sept. 29, 2022.
He was born in Jesup and lived in Long County for the past 22 years. He retired from the Georgia Department of Transportation and worked several years in signal maintenance for the city of Hinesville.
An outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and piddling.
He had a huge heart and was known to do favors for family, friends or even strangers any time a need arose. He attended the Church of God of Prophecy.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Mollie Lanier, and his siblings, Glenda Miller and Eric Lanier.
Survivors include his wife, Melissa Poppell Lanier of Ludowici; a son, Joshua Lanier of Statesboro; sisters, Linda (Ken) Freeman of Brunswick, Annette Coulson of Brunswick and Rita Duncan of Jesup; a brother, Curtis (Katie) Lanier of Tampa, Florida; several nieces and nephews; and his fur child, Finley Lanier, and all of his other fur babies.
Graveside services were held Oct. 4 Davis Cemetery in Long County with the Rev. Michael Poppell and the Rev. Danny Stilwell officiating.
Family and friends may sign the online register at www.howardfuneralga.com.
Howard Funeral Home of Ludowici was in charge of arrangements.
Rinehart & Sons
Andrew Mark “Andy” Ledbetter
Jesup—Andrew Mark “Andy” Ledbetter, 56, of Jesup died Sept. 28, 2022.
The Chatham County native had lived in Wayne County most of his life. He was a graduate of Wayne County High School and received his electrical engineering degree from Georgia Tech.
He was an employee with Rayonier. He was an avid hunter and enjoyed anything mechanical.
He was predeceased by his wife, Stacy Jones Ledbetter; his mother, Mary Bennett Ledbetter; and a brother, Frank D. Ledbetter Jr.
Survivors include a daughter, Cobi Ledbetter of Jesup; a grandson, Marcus Daniels of Jesup; parents, Franklin and Gloria Ledbetter of Eatonton; three sisters, Susan (Matt) Schlagel of Kansas, Lisa Hanson of Texas and Mary Ann Oberster of Stockbridge; two brothers, Jeff Ledbetter of Eatonton and John Ledbetter of Texas; a sister-in-law, Kim Ledbetter of Richmond Hill; and several nieces and nephews.
Celebration-of-life services were held Oct. 1 at the Rinehart and Sons Chapel with the Rev. Mark Ledbetter officiating.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Odean “Odie” Bennett Lightsey
Screven—Odean “Odie” Bennett Lightsey, 81, of Screven died on Oct. 2, 2022, after a courageous battle with Lewy Body Dementia and under the care of Hospice of South Georgia.
The Wayne County native was a faithful member of Screven First Baptist Church, Senior Adult Ladies Sunday School Class and Skillet Sisters Kitchen Ministry. She also would always volunteer to hold and rock a baby in the nursery and visit church members who were sick or in the nursing home.
Her talents were many, including cooking great meals for family, friends and church, as well as sewing everything that her children wore.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Leaburn Lightsey; her parents, Jim Henry and Tommie Lee Bennett; two brothers, Labon and Denny Bennett; a sister, Ima Jean “My Jean” Harris; and two great-grandchildren, Madison and Tanner Smith.
Survivors include two daughters, Pam (Don) Paradice of Vidalia and Shay (Gene) Roland of Jesup; a son, Lee “Stump” Lightsey of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; a brother, Jimmy (Annette) Bennett of Screven; extended children, Sharon (Eric) Mack of Collins, Billy Davis of Lyons and Janet (John) Royal of Screven; and several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, a great-great-grandchild, several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Oct. 5 at Screven First Baptist Church with the Rev. Stanley Todd, the Rev. Gerald Greenlee and the Rev. Durwood Miller officiating. Interment was in the Enoch Bennett Cemetery in Screven.
Active pallbearers were Byron Cowart, Sammy Stover, J’Mark Smith, Ben and Trey Lightsey and Matthew Paradice. Honorary pallbearers were the staffs of Harborview Nursing Homes of Blackshear and Jesup.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
William “Keith” Tucker
Jesup—William “Keith‚“ Tucker, 57, of Jesup died Oct. 2, 2022.
The Claxton native had lived in Wayne County most of his adult life and was a member of Union Church of Claxton.
He was in the construction business. The outdoorsman enjoyed fishing, cooking and spending time with his friends.
Survivors include his daughter, Heather Tucker (Jack Browning) of Odum; a companion, Mary Davis of Jesup; is mother, Edith (Bill) Eccleston of Scottsboro, Alabama; his father, Elton Tucker; a sister, Janet (Wendell) Walker of Statesboro; a brother, Randy Tucker of Scottsboro; grandsons, Jesse Ogden of Odum and Trinton, Ashton, Colton, Connor, Rhett and Caylom Manning, all of Jesup; stepsons, Justin and Michael Manning; and several other extended-family members.
Celebration-of-life services were held Oct. 5 at Rinehart and Sons Chapel with the Rev. Ryan Wilson officiating.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Charles “Hollis” Ellis
Jesup—Charles “Hollis” Ellis, 73, of Jesup died Oct. 2, 2022, at his home, surrounded by his family.
He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church and served in the children’s church for many years. He loved the little children, and they loved “Mr. Hollis.”
The 1968 Wayne County High School graduate was a Rayonier retiree. Some favorite pastimes were fishing and hunting. He loved being a cowboy and roping with other local cowboys. He especially loved rounding up the cows on Little St. Simons Island.
His parents, Clarence G. Jr. and Lois Lott Ellis, preceded him in death, along with a granddaughter, Callie Grace Ellis.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Alda Lastinger Ellis of Jesup; two sons, Derek (Rici) Ellis of Sweeny, Texas, and Perry (Candice) Ellis of Lake Jackson, Texas; four grandchildren, Baylie (Lane) Pressler and Wyatt, Kady and Kayce Ellis; a sister, Roslyn Dowdy of Jacksonville, Florida; a brother, Guyton (Jean) Ellis of Panama City Beach, Florida; and several other extended-family members.
Celebration-of-life services will be held Oct. 8 at 10 a.m. at Calvary Baptist Church with the Rev. Vann Dempsey and Pastor Pete Boyd officiating.
The family will receive friends immediately after the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Calvary Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 9, Jesup, GA 31598 or Hospice of South Georgia, 1625 Sunset Blvd., Jesup, GA 31545.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Howard-Jones
Dorothy Longwell Kiel
Augusta—Dorothy Longwell Kiel, 57, affectionately known as “Dottie” died Sept. 19, 2022, after an extended illness.
She was born on Jan. 25, 1965, to the late Charles “Chuck” Longwell and Julia Tyre Longwell. Throughout her life she had lived in Dothan, Alabama, Naples, Florida, and most recently in Augusta. She worked in sales for AT&T for nearly 20 years before her retirement two years ago.
She enjoyed watching football and spending time with the ones she loved the most.
In addition to her parents, her sister Susie Mae Cox, preceded her in death.
Survivors include her three sons, Matthew (Samantha) Longwell of Augusta, Adam Vanvorous of Naples, Florida, and James (Brittnie) Kiel of Greeneville, Tennessee; two brothers, Charles “Butch” Longwell of Guyton, Oklahoma, and Joseph Glynn Longwell of Oregon; five grandsons; two granddaughters; three aunts, Shirley Jones of Jesup, Nettie Hathaway of Anderson, South Carolina, and Ruth (Hugh) Harrison of Hortense; one uncle, Fred Tyre of Waycross; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other extended-family members.
Graveside memorial services will be held Oct. 8 at 1 p.m. in Big Creek Cemetery.
Family and friends may sign the guestbook online at www.jesupfuneralhome.com.
Howard & Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Nettie Tyre Hathaway
Anderson, South Carolina—Nettie Tyre Hathaway, 79, died Sept. 30, 2022, at AnMed Health in Anderson, South Carolina.
A resident of Anderson, South Carolina, for the past 14 years and former resident of Naples, Florida, for 21 years, she was born on Feb. 11, 1943, in Screven to the late Jake and Beulah Brown Tyre.
She worked as a hair dresser, but more importantly, was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother and grandmother. She always loved children. She devoted herself to her family. Her favorite times were spent with the ones she loved.
Her love of family was only second to her love of the Lord Jesus Christ. She was an active member of Bible Baptist Church in Anderson, South Carolina, for many years where she attended church nearly every time the congregation assembled in addition to volunteering with Vacation Bible School every summer.
In her spare time, she enjoyed crocheting.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Retired Sergeant First Class Ronnie Dean Hathaway; a daughter, Nettie Aidorn Hathaway; brothers, James, Earl, Bobby, L.W. and Vernon Tyre; and sisters, Julia Longwell, Bertha Hatcher and Evelyn Graham
Survivors include her two sons, Tony (Julie) Heath of Anderson, South Carolina and Jason (Kristen) Hathaway of Charleston, South Carolina; two sisters, Ruth (Hugh) Harrison of Hortense and Shirley Jones of Jesup; a brother, Fred Tyre of Waycross; grandchildren, Caitlin Sorber, Austin Frese, Ashley Heath and Bailey Heath all of Anderson, South Carolina, Michael, Zachary, Karissa and Justin Schwind all of Charleston, South Carolina, Kayla Alderman of Naples, Florida, Suzanne Hathaway of Alabama and Jacob Hathaway of Rhode Island; great-grandchildren, Aria Foster, Paul Parker, O’rien Frese, Triton Frese, Raelynn Floyd and Kallie and Kaisen Schwind; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family members.
Graveside memorial services will be held Oct. 8 at 1 p.m. in Big Creek Cemetery.
Howard & Jones Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Out of Town
Matthew Paul Hiltman
Atlanta—Matthew Paul Hiltman, 35, died on Aug. 25, 2022 of a heart attack.
He was the son of Paul Dennis and Dianne Waters Hiltman of Atlanta. He was the grandson of Mary and Paul Hiltman of Glendale, California, and of Von Herman and Lee M. Waters, both formerly of Jesup and Glennville.
He was born on Feb. 22, 1987, on a trip to Asheville, North Carolina, and died in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, on Aug. 25, 2022, of a heart attack.
He struggled with serious mental illness—depression was diagnosed at 12, and, in his late 20s, he was also diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The mania pole was easy to treat, but for him the depression was persistent. Much of the time, even in his happiest years, life was effortful for him. Most people would not have known that, a testament to his strength and courage.
He achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, graduated from Paideia School in Atlanta in 2005, and bought a condo with his own earnings at the age of 21. He graduated from Georgia State University with honors and was accepted to law school. But, most important, he was a kind, honorable man with exacting standards, his family said.
He loved jousting and sword-fighting and worked at Medieval Times for five years. He was head knight at the age of 23. He appeared on the History Channel show Full Metal Jousting. He jousted all over North America with Shane Adams and the Knights of Valour, until mental illness thoroughly crippled him at the age of 28.
Every possible medication and many treatments were tried without lasting improvement. In May, he underwent Vagus Nerve-Stimulation implantation surgery. The family said it could tell he was getting better, as could he. He was invited to joust for the month of August in Mexico after years of hibernation in his home. He worked to get himself back in physical shape. His doctor approved it, and the family was glad to support him in doing something he loved. No reasonable person would have suspected two clogged arteries.
The family asks others to be respectful and kind to anyone who lives with mental illness, a physical illness of the brain, as NAMI asserts. Living with SMI (serious mental illness) requires courage, strength, education and considerable family support. Be patient and persistent, the family says. There is help and there is hope. He not only survived serious mental illness, but he was also beginning to thrive again.
Survivors include his parents, Paul and Dianne; his brother and best friend, Will; uncles, Allen and Steve (Sheila); and cousins, Corey, Jessica and John Waters (Deborah, mother) and Halen Waters, daughter of David Waters (deceased) and Angela Waters Clayton. His beloved cat, Luna, misses him terribly. Many friends and family, from multiple circles, treasured him and mourn his untimely passing.
Celebration-of-life services were held Oct. 2 at Central Congregational United Church of Christ in Atlanta.
Memorial donations may be made to The Paideia School, Central Congregational UCC, Clubhouse Atlanta, or NAMI DeKalb. All are communities that loved and supported him and that much good in the world, the family said.