Rev. Theo Arnett
Jesup—The Rev. Theo Arnett, 92, of Jesup died Feb. 15, 2023.
The Franklin native and longtime resident of Wayne County was a member of Jesup Church of God. He had served in the Church of God ministries for more than 68 years, serving in churches in North and South Georgia and Virginia. He also served his country in the U.S. Army. He was well-known as a ministering pastor and served many years as a district overseer and on many state council boards. His degree in ministry from Lee College helped him to hold many stations in the Church of God ministries, and his love for His Lord and people he served left his mark on many communities.
His lifelong love and wife of 67 years, Mavis Phillips Arnett, preceded him in death.
Survivors include his daughter, Vickie (Drew) Davis of Jesup; a son, Dale (Debra) Arnett of Baxley; a sister, Dorothy A. Newsome of LaGrange; five grandchildren, Adam (Cassie) Griffis, Nicole (Nic) Brannen, Jeremy (Stephanie) Griffis, Melody (Brent) Westberry and Paxton Arnett; seven great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Feb. 18 at Jesup Church of God with Pastor Scott Hatten and the Rev. Mickey Tomberlin officiating. Interment followed in Pinecrest Memorial Cemetery with full military honors. Active pallbearers were his family.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Jesup Church of God, 444 Sunset Blvd., Jesup, GA 31545.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Dorothy Davis Rouse
Screven—Dorothy Davis Rouse, 98, died Feb. 16, 2023.
She was born in Thomas-ville in 1924 to Joseph Cleveland Davis and Clara Cofield. She had three sisters and one brother. She was married to James B. Rouse for 67 happy years.
For most of her adult life, she was a hairdresser, caregiver and great babysitter for her family. She loved and adored all her children and grandchildren.
Her husband preceded her in death along with her parents.
Survivors include two daughters, Kathryn “Kitty” Rouse Barkoskie and Betty J. “Jimmie” Rouse Batten; four grandsons, Carl Jr., Jamie Barkoskie, Timothy Batten and Andreu Batten; sons-in-law, Carl Barkoskie and Merrill Batten; one granddaughter, Kimberli Batten Garcia; several grandchildren, who all called her “Nana”; and several nieces and nephews.
Graveside funeral services will be held Saturday, Feb. 25, at 1 p.m. in Screven City Cemetery with the Rev. Stanley Todd officiating. Active pallbearers will be her family.
The family will receive friends at the cemetery.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Janet Lynn O’Neal
Jesup—Janet Lynn O’Neal, 64, of Jesup died Feb. 20, 2023, after a lengthy illness.
The Wayne County native was of the Church of God faith and a homemaker. She was centered on her family and would remind them daily, “I love you to the moon and back.” “Mama Janet” was how the children’s friends knew her. She spoiled everyone she came in contact with.
She was preceded in death by her sister, Brenda Waters; two brothers, Joe and Drew O’Neal; and her granddaughter, Hannah Barwick.
Survivors include five daughters, Teresa (Jeffrey) Barwick, Brandy Dixon, Brigette (Wesley) Mansfield, Nikki (Kelly) and Denise (Tony) Feliciano; a son, Clifton (Tammy) Dixon; two stepsons, Bradley and Steven Gilbert; several grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; two brothers, Jack O’Neal and Lloyd O’Neal; and several nieces and nephews.
Private memorial services will be held at a later date.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Gregory Thomas Houston
Jesup—Gregory Thomas Houston, 57, died suddenly on Feb. 19, 2023 at Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah.
A native and lifelong resident of Wayne County, he was born on Oct. 14, 1966, in Jesup to the late George Houston Sr. and Frances Thomas Houston. His work ethic was second to none. He was a member of the Millwright Union No. 1256 of Atlanta and owned and operated Greg’s Towing. A lifelong University of Georgia Bulldogs fan, when he wasn’t working, he enjoyed spending time with the ones he loved the most, his family.
In addition to his parents, his brother, George Houston Jr., preceded him in death.
Survivors include his wife of 27 years, Darlene B. Houston of Jesup; two daughters, Tracy Tyre of Jesup and Cassie Ingersoll of Savannah; one brother, Gerald Houston of Jesup; grandchildren, Caleb, Michael, Sabastian and Sophia; great- grandchildren, Zoey and McKinzey; and numerous nieces and nephews, including a very special niece, Melanie Houston, and her children, Jayda, Alexis and Tristen; nephews, Bradley and Clayton; and a niece, Summer. Also surviving is a host of extended- family members and friends too numerous to mention.
A memorial service was Feb. 22 at Howard & Jones Funeral Home in Jesup with the Rev. Stanley Todd officiating. The family received friends immediately following the service at the funeral home.
Family and friends may sign the guestbook online at www.jesupfuneralhome.com.
Howard & Jones Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Gordon “Yank” Riendeau
Screven—Gordon “Yank” Riendeau, 86, died Feb. 20, 2023, at Wayne Memorial Hospital after a brief illness.
A resident of Wayne County for nearly 65 years, he was born on April 5, 1936, in Saxons River, Vermont, to the late George and Hazel Flanders Riendeau. He served his country in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. After returning home to the States, he took a job driving trucks, which he worked until retirement when he began a second career, farming. He grew watermelons, corn and all types of vegetables on his land. His work ethic was second to none. He was a hard worker and he kept busy raising cattle and working odd jobs on the farm. He instilled these values in his children and grandchildren and expected them to give 100 percent when they did a job.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son William Michael Riendeau; his daughter-in-law Tina Thornton Riendeau; and siblings, Betty, Patty Ann, Tickie, Joe, Sonny, Freddy, Larry, Arthur and Sandra.
Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Irene Edenfield Riendeau of Screven; three children, Chris Riendeau of Screven, Robert (Jennifer) Riendeau of Waycross and Tina Riendeau (Tony) Smith of Screven; grandchildren, Christopher, Ashley, Dylan, Miranda, Amy, Nicole, Taylor Tracy, Michael and Elijah; great-grandchildren, Mackaylee, Cameron, Hunter, Ivory, Daxton, Destany, Brian, Gracie, Kaycee, Ellie Mae, Wyatt, Atley and A.J.; siblings, Donald, Florence and Lucy; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other extended-family members.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, Feb. 25, at 2 p.m. at Howard & Jones Funeral Home in Jesup with the Rev. Donnie Mullis officiating. The family received friends one hour prior to the services at the funeral home.
Private interment services will be held in the Riendeau Family Cemetery.
Family and friends may sign the guestbook online at www.jesupfuneralhome.com.
Howard & Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Zakkary Sebastian Johnson
Jesup—Zakkary Sebastian Johnson, 24, affectionately known by his family and friends as Zak, died Feb. 3, 2023.
A resident of Jesup for most of his life, he was born on March 30, 1998, in Rochester Hills, Michigan. He worked in construction for most of his life building houses and roofing. He expressed himself artistically through his wood working and also enjoyed wood burning. He enjoyed fishing and other little things in life, such as taking time to stop and pick flowers for the women he loved and spending time with his family and friends.
Survivors include his son, Braiden Worth-Johnson of Jesup; mother, Jennifer Johnson of Jesup; brother, Chene Johnson of Jesup; and numerous extended- family members.
Memorial services will held at a later date.
Family and friends may sign the guestbook online at www.jesupfuneralhome.com.
Howard & Jones Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Fred Surber
Jesup—Fred Surber, 85, died peacefully on Feb. 16, 2023 at home under the care of Emerald Coast Hospice.
He was born on Feb. 2, 1938, in St. Petersburg, Florida, to the late Richard and Marie Elizabeth Knowles Surber.
He had lived in several different places during his lifetime, including the past 16 years in Jesup. He was a jack of all trades and could do almost anything he set his mind to. He worked numerous odd jobs, including a taxicab driver, a shrimper and a minister for the Lord. In his final ministry, he was well-known for carrying signs to warn the motorists traveling through Jesup of the end of days and of the wonderful love of the Lord, Jesus Christ.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Victoria Catt; six brothers; and two sisters.
Survivors include his children, Marie Garcia of Jesup, Anna Beltran of Perry, Florida, Marsha Barney of Jesup, Wanda Garcia of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Penny (Danny) Sagastume of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Fred “Butch” Miller Jr. of Missouri, Larry Surber of Homosassa, Florida, and Steve Surber of Homosassa, Florida; sisters, Betty Lou Shelton of Homosassa, Florida, Myrlee Rinehart of Crystal River, Florida, Jane Skinner of Inverness, Florida, Mary Booher of Beverly Hills, Florida and Norma Gene Posey of Old Towne, Florida; 26 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other extended-family members.
Graveside funeral services were held on Feb. 22 in the Screven City Cemetery with the Rev. Josh Tillman.
Howard-Jones Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Iris Aspinwall
Waycross—Iris Aspinwall, 82, died Feb. 14, 2023, at Harborview Satilla in Waycross. She was a retired homemaker and the Grand Royal Matron for the Royal Order of the Amaranth for the State of Georgia.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Roger C. Aspinwall.
Survivors include her son, Roger C. Aspinwall; two grandchildren, Roger C. Aspinwall and Dakota Shane Aspinwall; and two great-grandchildren, Roger C. Aspinwall and Callen Aspinwall.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Nobles Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.
Roxie Litton
Baxley—Roxie Litton, 76, of Baxley, died Feb. 19, 2023, at Wayne Memorial Hospital.
She was born on May 7, 1946, in Screven to the late Ottis Griffis and the late Isabel Thornton Griffis.
She was a member of Spring Branch Baptist Church and was a retired parole investigator for the state of Georgia.
She was preceded in death by her husband, the Rev. Ronnie Litton; a son-in-law, Jeffery Carter; a grandson, Michael Carter; brothers, Raymond Griffis, Curtis Griffis, Albert Griffis and Colvin Griffis; and sisters, Valrie Jones, Leottie Thornton, Vinnie Graham and Ruth Devereaux.
Survivors include daughters, Stephanie (Steven) Allen and Sabrina Carter all of Baxley; sisters, Evon Byrge of Savannah, Lydia (Hubert) Hart of Mineral, Virginia, Kathyrn (Lonnell) Wright of Screven and Linda (Bob) Kimbrell of Mershon; sisters-in-law, Jean Griffis of Baxley and Ellawene Griffis of Screven; and grandchildren, Haley (Charlie) Driggers, Hunter (Kendall) Allen and Olivia Carter.
Funeral services will be held today (Thursday) at 2 p.m. from the Chapel of Swain Funeral Home with the Rev. Rick Brown and the Rev. Joe Ferguson officiating.
Interment will follow in Omega Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Hunter Allen, Charlie Driggers, Matt Griffis, Marc Devereaux, Paul Graham and Kim Thornton.
Honorary pallbearers will be the Davita Dialysis employees, Hospice of South Georgia, and all family and friends in attendance.
Swain Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.