Leaisha Phillips
Jesup—Leaisha Phillips, 54, of Jesup died Nov. 20, 2022.
The Glynn County native had lived in Wayne County all of her life and was a 1986 Wayne County High School graduate. She was an employee of The Press-Sentinel.
She had a kind and gentle spirit that allowed her to befriend anyone, her famiy said, adding that she had a huge love for animals, especially her fur baby, Sadie.
Her parents, Morris and Vicki Phillips, preceded her in death.
Survivors include a son, Matthew (Tara Adcock) Phillips of Jesup; a sister, Laura (Tim) Sloan of Jesup; three grandchildren, Connor, Chase and Kinley; three nephews, Dylan (Karsyn) Sloan, Evan (Makenna Dent) Sloan and Jarrett Sloan, all of Jesup; a cousin, Kimberly Daniels; and special friends, Julie Roberson, Harriet Chapman, Buffy Pye and Kimberly Dudley.
Funeral services were held Nov. 23 at Rinehart and Sons Chapel with the Rev. Gerald Greenlee officiating. Interment followed in Pinecrest Memorial Cemetery. Active pallbearers were Dylan, Evan, Jarrett and James Sloan, Hunter Roberson and Randy Mobley.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Sara Elizabeth Kinchen Hires
Jesup—Sara Elizabeth Kinchen Hires, 68, of Jesup died Nov. 18, 2022, under the care of Altamaha Nursing Home and Hospice of South Georgia.
The Wayne County native was of the Church of God faith and a retired paraprofessional with the Wayne County Board of Education.
She loved the beach, horses and spending time with her family.
She was preceded in death by her husband, George C. Hires, and her parents, John and Elizabeth Kinchen.
Survivors include her daughter, Denise M. (Brian Stroud) Rollins, and son, Harvey Jr. (Christie) Rollins, all of Jesup; three grandchildren, Koal Rollins, Emma Rollins (Pong) Ngiebkratoke and Kameron Blythe; and a brother, Johnny Kinchen of Pennsylvania.
Graveside funeral services were held Nov. 21 in Pinecrest Memorial Cemetery.
Honorary pallbearers were the staffs of Altamaha Nursing Home and Hospice of South Georgia.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Billy Leggett
Odum—Billy Leggett, 74, of Odum died Nov. 20, 2022.
The Wayne County native was of the Church of God faith. He was a bricklayer for 46 years. He loved to find a hole in the creek and go fishing. The kindhearted man always loved to joke and “cut up” with his friends and family. He was an avid Indianapolis Colts football fan.
He was preceded in death by his son, Billy “Bubba” Leggett Jr.; his parents, Lum and Estelle Leggett; two sisters, Marie Wall and Janice Smith; and a brother, Bobby Leggett.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Nita Leggett of Odum; a daughter, Pam (Donnie) Powell of Odum; two grandchildren, Cody Powell and Summer Powell, both of Odum; two sisters, Mary (Richard) Waher of Jesup and Wilma (Steve) Beverly of Odum; three brothers, Charlie (Brenda) Leggett, Don Leggett and Larry (Kay) Leggett, all of Jesup; and several nieces and nephews.
Graveside funeral services were held Nov. 23 in Odum City Cemetery with the Rev. Guyvie Beasley officiating. Active pallbearers were his nephews, Greg, Tyler, Timmy, and Charles Leggett and Gary and Ricky Waher.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of South Georgia Building Fund, 1625 Sunset Blvd, Jesup, GA. 31545.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Rita Denison Whitted
Screven—Rita Denison Whitted, 64, of Screven died Nov. 21, 2022.
The Wayne County native was a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist church in Patterson and was an employee with Wayne Memorial Hospital. Her favorite pastime was being “Nana” to her grandchildren and fishing when she could.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Troy and Nadine Denison.
Survivors include her husband of 21 years, Michael Whitted of Screven; two sons, Quinton Mackee of Patterson and Eric Whitted of Newnan; a brother, Terry (Opal) Denison of Screven; grandchildren, Connor and Jordyn Mackee and Tristram and William Whitted; nieces and nephews; and cousins.
Funeral services were held Nov. 25 from Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Joe Carr and Rev. I.B. Boyette officiating. Interment was in Screven City Cemetery. Active pallbearers were her family.
Family will receive friends one hour prior to services at the funeral home.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Mozelle Grantham Robertson
Jesup—Mozelle Gran-tham Robertson, 98, of Jesup died Nov. 25, 2022.
The Wayne County native was a member of First Street Christian Church and a longtime homemaker.
She was predeceased by her husband, Benjamin H. Robertson; two daughters, Patrician Ann Robertson and Mary Lee Robertson; and a son, Arthur Robertson.
Survivors include two sons, Ben Robertson of Jesup and Colvin (Jeanette) Robertson of Hortense; three daughters, Sue (Jerry) Cole of Guyton, Linda Manning of Jesup and Audrey (Johnny) Flowers of Jesup; 15 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Graveside funeral services were held Nov. 28 from Jesup City Cemetery with Pastor Colvin Robertson officiating. Active pallbearers were Richard Arnheiter, Herschel Tyre, Ben Robertson Jr., Joseph Robertson, Patrick Martin and Matt Robertson. Honorary pallbearers were her grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of South Georgia Building Fund, 1625 Sunset Blvd, Jesup, GA., 31545.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Susan Kay Fancher
Jesup—Susan Kay Fancher, 61, died Nov. 25, 2022.
She was born Sept. 13, 1961, in Claycomo, Missouri, to the late Naomi and Frederick Havens. She attended the University of Missouri at Kansas City, where she graduated with a master’s degree in pharmacy. She was a pharmacist for 30-plus years, with the majority spent at Wayne Memorial Hospital and Harvey’s in Jesup, in addition to a few others throughout the state of Georgia.
Because she had a very loving and caring heart, she “never met a stranger.” She always went above and beyond for not only her loved ones but also her patients, coworkers and anyone she met, her family said.
Survivors include her husband of 38 years, Timothy Fancher of Augusta; sons, Kyle Fancher of Jesup and Eric (Christina) Fancher of Houston, Texas; a sister, Judy Havens of Kansas City, Missouri; a brother, Dennis (Tamara) Havens of Kansas City; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.
Memorial services will be held today (Dec. 1) at 6 p.m. at Howard & Jones Funeral Home in Jesup with the Rev. Rebecca Duke-Barton officiating.
Interment will be private.
Family and friends may sign the guestbook online at www.jesupfuneralhome.com.
Howard & Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Renetta Mae Geiger Jacobs
Waynesville—Renetta Mae Geiger Jacobs, 89, of Waynesville died Nov. 24, 2022, at Hospice of the Golden Isles.
She was born July 21, 1933, in Brunswick to James Felton Geiger and Daisy Cochrell Geiger. She has lived in Brunswick, Darien and Montana. For the past five years she has made Waynesville her home.
She was a homemaker who enjoyed gardening, painting, coloring, playing games with her grandchildren and talking with anyone about the Lord.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Leon Jacobs; siblings, Paul Geiger, Albert Geiger and Rebecca Brigdon; a granddaughter, Kasey Armstrong; and great-grandchildren, Brittany Armstrong and Israel Pelletier.
Survivors include her children, Rita (Bill) Harper of Jesup, Bruce (Polly) Jacobs of Darien, Rhonda (Harold) Smith of Waynesville and Chet (Sondra) Jacobs of
Waynesville; seven grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Nov. 29 from the gravesite at Palmetto Cemetery, where her children shared fond memories and sang her favorite hymns.
Chapman Funeral Chapel & Crematory of Brunswick was in charge of arrangements.
William Louis Murphy
Jesup—William Louis Murphy, 77, died Nov. 24, 2022, in Waycross after an extended illness.
He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend.
He was born to Louis and Thelma Murphy on Jan. 16, 1945, in San Diego, California. After high school, he served in the United States Navy and then served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Australia and Washington State. After his mission, he met his wife, Charlotte Unruh, in Seattle, Washington. Together, they had five children, Erika, Sean, Robert, Michael and Megan. The family moved to Connecticut in 1985 and then transferred in 1990 to Jesup, where he was employed by Rayonier in information technology until his retirement in 2003.
After retiring, he opened Magnolia Printing, where he enjoyed restoring and printing heirloom-quality photos, paintings and other memorabilia. He had a heart of service, was thoughtful and generous, and loved helping others, his family said.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, his brother, Dennis, and his son, Sean.
Survivors include his brother, Kim Murphy; children Erika Martin, Robert (Susana) Murphy, Michael Murphy, Megan (Ken) O’Bara; grandchildren, Nathan, Kenny, Sebastian, Jacob, Joey and Kevin; and his dog, Hope.
A funeral service will be held Saturday, Dec. 3, at 2 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Jesup. Burial will follow in Pinecrest Cemetery in Jesup. The family will receive friends Friday, Dec. 2, at the Miles-Odum Funeral Home in Waycross from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m.
Sympathy may be expressed by signing online at www.milesodumfuneralhome.com.
Miles-Odum Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.