Jasper LaDon “Don” Crawford
Jesup—Jasper LaDon “Don” Crawford, 70, died peacefully on Nov. 4, 2023 at Hospice of South Georgia surrounded by his loving family.
A resident of Wayne County for most of his life, he was born on April 14, 1953, in Waycross to the late Jasper J. and Aline Lee Crawford.
He worked for more than 40 years with Interstate Paper in Riceboro before retirement. He was an avid outdoorsman who spent countless hours cutting wood on his sawmill, growing vegetables in his garden and coon hunting; however, his favorite times were spent with the ones he loved the most, his family.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his infant granddaughter, Skylar Alexis Knowles.
Survivors include his wife of 30 years, Diane Harless Crawford of Jesup; children, LaDon Jasper (Celina) Crawford, Rebecca (Alex) Bailey, Jessica (Shane) Jones, Kristin Deegan (former husband Mike) and Haley Knowles, all of Jesup; two brothers, Delane (Eva) Crawford and Anthony (Lydia) Crawford, all of Jesup; a sister, Cindy (A.G.) Lebkucher of Calhoun; grandchildren, Kayla Jarrard, Kasey Crawford, Spencer Turner, Aiyana McKee, Chanz Roland, Rena Roland, Mallory Knowles, Dentley Jones, Olivia Deegan, Hudson Deegan, Jonas Ritzenthaler and Joshua Walker; one great-grandson, Sawyer Roland; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other extended-family members.
Funeral services were held Nov. 7 at Howard & Jones Funeral Home with the Rev. Elliott Aspinwall officiating.
Interment followed in Odum City Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Brian Crawford, Geoffrey Crawford, Shane Jones, Kasey Crawford, Spencer Turner and Mike Deegan.
Family and friends may sign the guestbook online at www.jesupfuneralhome.com.
Howard & Jones Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Eddy Adel Lane Jr.
Ellijay—Eddy Adel Lane Jr., 74, died peacefully Nov. 6, 2023, at home surrounded by his loving family.
A resident of Ellijay for the past four years and formerly a resident of Wayne County for most of his life, he was born on Jan. 15, 1949, in Bruns-wick.
He graduated from Wayne County High School in the class of 1967, where he played baseball on the championship team, even serving as team captain. He then served his country in the United States Army before returning home, where he began a career with General Electric as an engineer. He worked faithfully for the company for 36 years, until his retirement in 2012.
In his spare time, he enjoyed golfing and watching sports on television. He was an avid University of Georgia Bulldog and Atlanta Braves fan, although he enjoyed watching the University of Alabama play.
He was preceded in death by his mother and stepfather, Vivian and Bart Mixon; his father and stepmother, Eddy Lane Sr. and Rosemary Lane; his brother, Earl Lane; and his stepbrother, Jimmy Plunkett.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Linda Eason Lane of Ellijay; three daughters, Angel (Eddie) Smith of Augusta, Amanda (James) Cramer of Dawsonville, and Danielle (Brian) Bennett of Jesup; two sons, Ron Lane of Lavonia and Brian Lane of Ellijay; two brothers, Clinton (Jackie) Lane of Fayetteville, North Carolina, and Billy Jo (Brenda) Lane of Jesup; two half-sisters, Lisa (Clay) Kicklighter of Jesup and Tammy Lane of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; two stepbrothers, Gary Plunkett of Leesburg, Florida and David Plunkett of Jesup; 18 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other extended-family members.
Visitation will be held Friday, Nov. 10, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Howard & Jones Funeral Home in Jesup.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. at Howard & Jones Funeral Home in Jesup.
Interment will follow in Odessa Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Dalton Corley, Blake Cramer, Micah Cramer, Payton Lane, Chase Lane Eli Wynn, Gavin Lane and Garrett Lane.
Family and friends may sign the guestbook online at www.jesupfuneralhome.com.
Howard & Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Phillip Matthew Thompson
Jesup—Phillip Matthew Thompson, 47, died suddenly on Nov. 4, 2023, at home after a brief illness.
A native and lifelong resident of Wayne County, he was born on March 12, 1976. He was a truck driver by trade, having worked for several local trucking companies and also several larger national companies throughout his career. He volunteered his time as a firefighter and first responder for many years and was also an ordained minister.
He “never met a stranger,” and in his spare time, he enjoyed fishing and spending time with his family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, Lee Henry Thompson.
Survivors include his mother, Marilyn Theaker of Jesup; sisters, Laney Hutchinson of Jesup, Hope (Jay) Theaker of Ohio and Dana Riddle of South Carolina; a brother, Michael P. (Alona) Ellis of Columbus, Ohio; uncles, George (Toya) Bryant and Charles (Darlene) Bryant of Jesup; aunts, Sybil (Roger) Harris of Jesup and Pat Bryant of Galloplis, Ohio; his former wife, Leticia Thompson and her sons, Andrew Kaldor and Brent and Brandon Herrigan, all of Powhatan Point, Ohio; and numerous other extended-family members.
Funeral services were held Nov. 8 at Howard & Jones Funeral Home with the Rev. Mike Wilder officiating.
Interment followed in Spring Grove Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were George Bryant, Charles Bryant, Chris Bush, Robert Hahn, Jesse Crews and Charlie Ingerville.
Family and friends may sign the guestbook online at www.jesupfuneralhome.com.
Howard & Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Willie Dell Hamilton Johnson
Jesup—Willie Dell Hamilton Johnson, 94, of Jesup died Nov. 2, 2023.
The Pierce County native lived most of her adult life in Wayne County and was a member of Calvary Baptist Church, the Faithful Friendly Sunday School Class and the Sunshine Group.
She was retired after 30 years with Wayne Memorial Hospital. She enjoyed sewing and being a grandmother.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Frank Johnson; her son, Robert Frank “Bobby” Johnson; a grandson, Shannon Hillard Johnson; a great- granddaughter, Winnie Dougherty; her father, William Hamilton; her mother, Adella (Kelly) Hamilton; brothers, Leroy, Bruce, Grover, Eddie, Edward, W.J. Lamar and Lenwood Hamilton; and sisters, Colleen Hamilton Smith Turner and Margaret Hamilton Hodge.
Survivors include her daughters and sons-in-law, Sandra (Gary) Bunn of Jesup, Terri (Kim) Bennett of Brunswick, and Gerri Carbaat of Jesup; grandchildren, Rob (Beth) Johnson, Gary Bunn Jr., Sean Bennett, Brennan Bennett, Jessica Wolfe (Johny) Dougherty and Chase Wolfe; great-grandchildren, Annsley and Bobby Johnson, Ella and Trey Bunn, Jeston Parinella, Willow Della, Brave and Holli Bennett; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Funeral service were held Nov. 4 at Calvary Baptist Church with the Rev. Vann Dempsey and Pastor Pete Boyd officiating. Private family interment was in Jesup City Cemetery. Active pallbearers were her grandsons.
Memorial donations may be made to Calvary Baptist Church, P.O. Box 9, Jesup, GA 31598.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Mary Minchew Yarbrough
Jesup—Mary Minchew Yarbrough, 85, of Jesup died Nov. 2, 2023.
The Douglas native had lived in Wayne County most of her life and was a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church. She was a homemaker who loved to tend to her flowers in her yard, shop and spend time with her grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl Yarbrough Jr.; her son, Michael Yarbrough; a daughter, Connie Salgado; a granddaughter, Mary Salgado; two sisters, Betty Walters and Jean Wooten; and a half-brother, Leon Minchew Jr.
Survivors include a daughter, Cyndi Stapleton of Jesup and Mark (Tanya) Yarbrough of Odum; grandchildren, Jason, Tory, Cary, Carlie, Morgan and Hannah; 14 great-grandchildren; a stepdaughter, Suzi Hiers of Shreveport, Louisiana; a half-sister, Louise Corbitt of Jacksonville, Florida; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Nov. 6 at Rinehart and Sons Chapel with Elder Thomas Waters and Elder Larry Tillman officiating. Interment followed in Jesup City Cemetery. Active pallbearers were her family and friends.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Richard “Rick” James Hunter Sr.
Palatka, Florida—Richard “Rick” James Hunter Sr., 78, of Palatka, Florida, died on Nov. 4, 2023, at Haven Hospice Roberts Care Center, Palatka.
The son of Robert Hunter and Essie Mae Bell, he was born on Sept. 23, 1945, in Jesup. He was educated and a graduate of the Wayne County school district. He continued his education at Fort Valley State College, earning an associate’s degree. In April of 1982, he graduated from the Florida Highway Patrol Academy, Tallahassee, Florida.
He was employed for 10 years with Florida Furniture Industries. He was employed with the Florida Highway Patrol from March 15, 1982, to March 25, 2007, for an impeccable 25-year career as one of “Florida’s Finest State Troopers.”
He received various accolades, including 2000 “Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Participation in Buckle Up Florida Enforcement Wave,” 2007 “Certificate of Honor,” 2017 Wayne County Training School “Golden Anniversary Diploma” and Certificate of Appreciation for 20 years of dedicated service as a member of the Florida Highway Patrol.
He was a former member of Emmanuel United Methodist Church and attended Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church of Gainesville and Mt. Tabor First Baptist Church of Palatka.
He enjoyed gardening, watching football (especially the Dallas Cowboys), watching tennis, shooting guns and playing solitaire on the computer.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters, Dorothy Hunter, Susie Mae Smith and Sivilla Sims, and a brother, Samuel Hunter.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Phyllis Deloris Hunter; sons, Richard Hunter Jr. and Leon O. (Alexandra) Hunter; a daughter, Tiffeny Hunter Cross; grandchildren, Landon Hunter and Olivia Hunter; brothers, Amos Hunter and Robert (Iris) Hunter; sisters, Rose (Bill) Hutchinson, Lily (Henry) Baker, Robbie Hunter and Edith Hunter; and godchildren, Eugene King and Louis Howell III.
A service in honor of his life will be held Saturday, Nov. 11, at 2 p.m. at Mt. Tabor First Baptist Church, 4900 St. Johns Ave., Palatka, Florida. The Rev. Geraldine McClellan will officiate.
Online condolences may be sent to www.flaggserenitychapel.com.
Karl N. Flagg Serenity Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Ellen Joyce Smith Warner
Winston, Oregon—Ellen Joyce Smith Warner, 90, died in her home in Winston, Oregon, on Oct. 13, 2023.
She was born Jan. 6, 1933, in Odum to Sherod Smith Sr. and Addie Belle Clark Smith. She lived in Georgia until she was 13, when she and her mother moved to Idaho. There, she met Lewis Warner, whom she married in 1951. The two were married nearly 53 years. They had four children together.
She loved doing family history, making quilts and reading.
She was preceded in death by her mother; her father; her beloved stepfather, John M. Wilson; her husband, Lewis; her three siblings, Dorothy Smith Poindexter, Bernice Smith Bates and Sherrod Smith Jr.; her eldest son, John M. Warner; and one granddaughter.
Survivors include her three remaining children, Rebecca L. Babb, Jeffrey D. Warner and Debora S. Warner, all of Oregon; a daughter-in-law, Mary A. Bailey of Oregon; 33 grandchildren; 64 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and good friends.
The family said, “We trust she was met by many friends and loved ones as she returned Home.”
She was buried in Roseburg Memorial Gardens in Roseburg, Oregon.