Rinehart & Sons
Calvin Gene Rinehart Sr.
Jesup—Calvin Gene Rinehart Sr., 74, of Jesup died on Oct. 28, 2022.
The Wayne County native and member of Calvary Baptist Church was a 1966 Jesup High School graduate and received two associate’s degrees, one from South Georgia College in Douglas while playing baseball and then one at John A. Gupton School of Mortuary Science in Nashville, Tennessee. He also attended Georgia Southern College.
His family-owned funeral home, which began in 1931, continued with his addition as part of the “sons” of “Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home.”
He will always be remembered as one who could make people laugh with all of his comical stories and jokes by easing a heavy burden at a time of grief. The avid Atlanta Braves fan also enjoyed hunting, fishing and playing golf.
He was preceded in death by his parents, George William “Bill” Sr. and Eulee Herndon Rinehart, and his brother, George William “Billy” Rinehart Jr.
Survivors include his loving wife of 51 years, Donna Roberson Rinehart of Jesup, a son, Calvin “Cal” Gene Rinehart Jr. of Jesup, and his children, Kenna, Jakob, Rilee and Logan; a daughter, Heather (Chad) Scarborough of Odum, and their children, Wes, Jake and Jed; a sister, Sarah Rinehart Geiger of Odum; a niece, Leslie (Joey) Rinehart Miller of Screven; two nephews, George William (Charlotte) Rinehart III of Jesup and David (Chasity) Geiger of Jesup; several great-nieces and great-nephews; sisters-in-law, Winnie Cooper and Norma (Robert) Odum; and other extended-family members.
Funeral services were held Oct. 31 at Rinehart and Sons Chapel with the Rev. Carl Ledbetter officiating. Interment followed in the Jesup City Cemetery. Active pallbearers were family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Place Road, Memphis, TN 38105.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Dean Harold Wohlgemuth
Jesup—Dean Harold Wohlgemuth, 87, of Jesup died peacefully on Oct. 27, 2022.
He was born in Natoma, Kansas. He served in the Air Force from 1955 until 1959. While stationed at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, he met his future wife, Ann Kay Hilton.
He was a lifelong journalist, freelance writer, public relations representative, photographer and public speaker. He came to Jesup in 1972 as Southeast public relations representative for ITT Rayonier Inc. and made Jesup his home for more than 50 years.
While with Rayonier, he was tasked with establishing a community event that would extend throughout the years. He organized The Falling Leaves Festival, which is now known as the Dogwood Festival. It is still a popular community event today.
An avid outdoorsman, he built a career as a freelance outdoor writer. From 1965 to 1971, he served as chief of information for the Georgia Game and Fish Commission (now the Department of Natural Wildlife Resources) in Atlanta, and was editor of Georgia Game and Fish magazine. His weekly column, Woods N Waters, appeared in The Press-Sentinel for more than 40 years. He has also written for many regional and national magazines, including Outdoor Life, Field and Stream, Sports Afield, Southern Outdoors, Georgia Sportsman, and Archery World.
He was a charter member of the Southeastern Outdoor Press Association and Georgia Outdoor Writers Association of America. He was also a member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA), the nation’s largest professional organization of hunting and fishing writers, since 1967. He was proud to have known and worked with many of the biggest names in outdoor journalism.
He later became the media relations officer at Fort Stewart, where he was responsible for managing all news coverage of Fort Stewart. During Desert Shield and Desert Storm, he worked with news journalists and television networks from around the world.
He was a longtime member of Jesup Presbyterian Church. In his retirement, he served as lay pastor for English Eddy Presbyterian Church in Lyons for more than eight years.
He was predeceased by his parents, Robert J. and Gladys Beck Wohlgemuth; one brother, Warren Wohlgemuth; and three sisters, Miriam Knox, Doris Little and Shirley Marken.
Survivors include his beloved wife of 61 years, Ann Kay Hilton Wohlgemuth; three children, Warren (Jan) Wohlgemuth, Cheryl (Jay) Blevins and Glenda (David) Boone; 12 grandchildren, Ryan (Steven) Travers, Patrick (Ashley) Wohlgemuth, Danny (Bree) Wohlgemuth, Jeremy (Molly) Wohlgemuth, Bailey Alford, Dylan Waters, Blake (Tabytha) Langley, Alex Langley, Cole (Brianna) Winchester, and Jameson, Ivy and Harper Boone; nine great-grandchildren, Tripp, Lane, Lorelei, Fitz, Kaz, Kane, Kate, Trystan and Annalyse; one sister, Lois Goodwin; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Oct. 29 at Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Stanley Todd and the Rev. Pete Ullmann officiating. Interment was in Pinecrest Memorial Cemetery. Active pallbearers were family.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of South Georgia, 1625 Sunset Blvd., Jesup, GA 31545.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Vickie Whiddon Thornton
Jesup—Vickie Whiddon Thornton, 66, of Jesup and former resident of Screven peacefully passed away after a long battle with cancer.
The Tifton native had lived in Wayne County all of her adult life and was a member of Screven First Baptist Church. She retired as a dental assistant and continued working with her husband in his construction business.
She had a few passions in life consisting of her adored husband, her beautiful daughter, grandsons and the beach. She was known to go on an occasional shopping trip or two.
She was predeceased by her parents, Austin “A.K.” and Betty Whiddon.
Survivors include her husband of 47 years, Ray Thornton of Jesup; a daughter, Ragen (Jacob) Lang of Springfield; her grandsons, Jacob Collier and Austin Ridge; a brother, Kyle (Janine) Whiddon of Jesup; and several other family members.
Graveside funeral services were held Nov. 2 in Pinecrest Memorial Cemetery with David Simmons officiating. Active pallbearers were Justin Smith, Eddie Fultz, Kenny Copeland, Mark Sertich, Tony Sutton and Pete Pye.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of South Georgia, 1625 Sunset Blvd, Jesup, GA. 31545.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Joan “Jo” Ogden
Odum—Joan “Jo” Ogden, 86, of Odum died Oct. 29, 2022.
The Wayne County native was a member of Altamaha Baptist Church and enjoyed reading, gospel singing, church attendance, and spending time with family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Joe Terrell and Lucy Durden Ogden, and her twin brother, Joseph Green Ogden.
Survivors include a sister, Sandra O. Page of Odum; a niece, Deidre (Earl) Henriott of Lyons; nephews, Terry (Deann) Page of Statesboro and Tracy (Tomilynn) Page of Hazlehurst; several great-nieces and great-nephews; and other extended relatives.
Funeral services were held Nov. 1 at Altamaha Baptist Church with the Rev. Stanley Todd officiating. Interment followed in Piney Grove Cemetery. Active pallbearers were friends and family.
In lieu of flowers, memorials should be made to Altamaha Baptist Church, 6622 Oglethorpe Road, Jesup, GA 31545.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Howard-Jones
Thomas Dewitt Kinchen
Screven—Thomas Dewitt Kinchen, 93, died peacefully on Oct. 26, 2022, at Wayne Memorial Hospital, surrounded by his family.
A resident of Wayne County for the past 42 years and former resident of Tifton for 25 years, he was born on Jan. 18, 1929, in Lumber City to the late Walter Thomas and Minnie Meade Kinchen.
He farmed his entire life. In his younger years, he worked as a welder for Kelley Manufacturing Company in Tifton before taking on farming full-time, growing tobacco, corn, peanuts and cotton. His work ethic was second to none. At the age of 83, he was still operating a cotton picker, and he operated a module builder until the age of 90.
He was a longtime member of O’Quinn Baptist Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn Ray Kinchen; a brother, James Dillon (Johnie) Kinchen; sisters, Doris (Grady) Lynch and Dorothy (John) Partain; a sister-in-law, Nora Kinchen; and a daughter-in-law, Pam Kinchen.
Survivors include his son, Tom Kinchen of Screven; a daughter, Karen (Carl) Harris of Screven; a brother, Walter Leon “Ras” Kinchen of Enigma; five grandchildren, Chris Harris of Jesup, Kyle (Whitney) Harris of Mableton, Ken (Katie) Harris of Screven, Cale (Melanie) Harris of Screven and Amanda (Kyle) Truelove of Clermont; five great-grandchildren, Kennedy, Houston, Samson, Koan and Zachary; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other extended-family members.
Funeral services were held Oct. 29 at O’Quinn Baptist Church with the Rev. Gerald Greenlee officiating.
Active pallbearers were Chris, Kyle, Ken and Cale Harris, Kyle Truelove and Jeremy Godwin.
Remembrances may be made to Hospice of South Georgia, 1625 Sunset Blvd., Jesup, GA 31545.
Howard & Jones Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Ivory Brooke Flowers
Jesup—Ivory Brooke Flowers, 22, died suddenly on Oct. 29, 2022, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.
A native and lifelong resident of Wayne County, she was born on May 21, 2000. Baptized at a young age into Ritch Baptist Church, she later graduated from Wayne County High School in 2018 and then attended College of Coastal Georgia in Brunswick.
She was a beautiful and loving person who greeted everyone she met with a smile, her family said. She devoted herself to her family, especially her daughter, whom she loved more than anything else.
She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Clifton Sapp and Monna Reddish, and her paternal grandfather, Fulton Flowers Sr.
Survivors include her daughter, Bea Thomas of Jesup; her mother, Tammy Sapp of Jesup; her father, Fulton Flowers of Jesup; a brother, Cane Flowers of Jesup; her paternal grandmother, Jan Flowers of Jesup; aunts and uncles, Tonya (Kevin) Herrin of Screven, Will Sapp of Jesup, Elizabeth Holden of Texas, Michelle (Ricardo) Fields of Jesup, April Teston of Pooler, Nathan (Jordan) Flowers of Blackshear and Kali Flowers of Waycross; her significant other and the father to her baby, Michael Thomas; and a host of cousins and extended family members.
Funeral services were held Nov. 2 at Howard & Jones Funeral Home with the Rev. Benji McReady and Dr. Cheryl McReady officiating.
Interment was in Sunset Oaks Memorials.
Pallbearers were Anthony Thomas Jr., Cameron Blanton, Lloyd Blanton, Ricardo Fields, Jordan Flowers, Jaylyn Burns and Jordan Herrin.
Remembrances may be made to the Bea Brooke Thomas Memorial Account in memory of her mother, Ivory Brooke Flowers, at Interstate Credit Union.
Howard & Jones Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Out of Town
William Perry Parkerson
Brunswick—William Perry Parkerson, 56, of Brunswick died Sept. 26, 2022, in Brunswick.
He was born May 10, 1966, in Jesup to Dr. and Mrs. Bartow D. Parkerson. He was a 1984 graduate of Wayne County High School and a graduate of Valdosta State University, receiving his bachelor’s degree in marketing. While at Valdosta State, he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity and a Zeta Tau Alpha big brother.
After college, he worked with Southeastern Metal Company as a district salesperson, where he worked in Jacksonville, Florida, and Panama City, Florida. He was recognized on several occasions as salesman of the year and was elevated to plant manager while living in Miami, Florida. He was then promoted to district sales representative over the Panhandle.
He was known for his frugality and Southeastern recognized him with his own “Thrifty” award as being the only salesperson who reached the top-performer status with the least expenses.
He returned to his home state to work at Horse Creek Winery in Nashville, and he later moved to Brunswick to be close to his sister and family.
In his free time, he enjoyed the outdoors, hunting and fishing, and being on the water. Additionally, he enjoyed reading, working with his hands, and learning new technology, and his family often utilized his expertise.
Survivors include his parents, Dr. and Mrs. Bartow D. Parkerson of Athens; a brother, Dave (Shannon) Parkerson of Atlanta; a sister, Ivey (Tommy) Parker of Brunswick; nieces, Lauren and Jordan Parkerson; nephews, Cody and Alex Parker; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
A celebration-of-life service was held Oct. 4, with a small family service at Chapman Funeral Chapel in Brunswick with pastor Dana Swain officiating. In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation can be made to New Life Sanctuary at 940 Harry Driggers, Brunswick, GA 31525 or https://www.newlifesanctuary.com/give.
Chapman Funeral Chapel & Crematory was in charge of arrangements.