Cecil Jerald Grantham Sr.
Ludowici—Cecil Jerald Grantham Sr., 65, died Feb. 27, 2024, at his home under the care of his family and Hospice of South Georgia.
Born in Orlando, Florida, he lived in Long County for the past 24 years. He was self-employed in construction and lived to hunt and fish. He loved his Lord and serving Him at First Freewill Baptist Church in Jesup. He was devoted to his family and cherished spending time with them, especially his grandchildren.
Survivors include his daughters, Jessica Grantham of Jesup and Caroline (Scott) Gay of Brunswick; sons, Jerald (Kristin) Grantham of Jesup and Dalton Grantham of Ludowici; sisters, Lisa Parks of Uvalda, Cheryl (Raymond) Madray of Jesup and Lori (Kenneth) Whitehead of Columbus; brothers, Jeff (Sheila) Grantham of Odum and Dennis Grantham of Jesup; 14 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 2, at 11 a.m. at First Freewill Baptist Church in Jesup with the Rev. Randy Pruitt officiating. Burial will follow in Bethlehem Cemetery. Visitation will be held Friday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the church.
Active pallbearers will be Jerald Grantham, Dalton Grantham, Alek Gay, Andrew Gay, Scott Gay and Walt Edge.
Family and friends may sign the online register at www.howardfuneralga.com.
Howard Funeral Home of Ludowici is in charge of arrangements.
Norma Lee Rowland Bennett Newsome
Jesup—Norma Lee Rowland Bennett Newsome, 86, died Feb. 21, 2024, under the care of her loving family and Hospice of South Georgia.
She was born in Alamo at just 2 pounds to H.C. and Pearl Rowland. She lived in Wayne County most of her life and met the love of her life, Andrew R. Bennett, at The Strand Theater on Dec. 24, 1953. They married March 19, 1955, and were married until his death in 1996. She then married John P. Newsome until his death in 2003.
She was a member of Spring Grove Baptist Church since 1964 and loved to serve her Lord and church any way she could. She taught Sunday school and was the Ladies Auxiliary president. She loved creating flower arrangements and decorating for special church events and serving at funerals for her beloved church family and community.
She worked at several factories as a seamstress and supervisor and worked at Pat’s Bridal Shop for a number of years. She owned and operated Grandma’s Sewing House and was a talented seamstress, creating simple dresses, pageant gowns, wedding gowns, bridesmaid’s dresses, dance outfits, riding habits for horse competition and quilts. She also enjoyed baking and decorating specialty and wedding cakes.
While raising her two great-grandsons, she was awarded Volunteer Care Giver of the Year Heart of Georgia/Altamaha CARENET Award by former First Lady Rosalynn Carter in October 2008. She also earned 2012 Light of Hope award by the Tri-County CASA association of Wayne, Appling and Jeff Davis counties.
In addition to her husbands, she was preceded in death by her parents; her twin at birth; her brothers, Earl, the Rev. Willard, Charles, Melton, James and Franklin Rowland; sisters, Pauline Holloway, Montene Rowland, Dora Purvis and Emily Beasley; and a great-grandson, Lee Blackmon.
Survivors include her daughter, Teresa (Ben) Wilson of Odum; a son, Blane Bennett of Odum; grandsons, Jonathan (Kasey) Wilson of Guyton, Joseph Bennett of Florida; granddaughter, Dustie (Rickey) Rewis of Alma; great-granddaughters, Aurora Wilson (Grandmama’s Sunshine), and Faith Rewis; great-grandsons, Jeff and John Blackmon; a sister, Virginia Beasley of Blackshear; a brother, Dexter (Ann) Rowland of Callahan, Florida; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services were held Feb. 24 from Spring Grove Free Will Baptist Church with the Rev. Tim Brantley officiating. Interment followed in the Spring Grove Cemetery. Active pallbearers were her family. Honorary pallbearers were her church family, Micky and Linda Wittington, Elise Williams, Jamie Hand, Colleen Oder, Cindy Christo, Ruth Hershberger, Pat Brannen, Patricia Garbutt, Taylor Thornton, Kendra McCray, Stephanie Anderson, Winifred Thrift, Dr. Jeffrey Harris and Dr. Robert Pumpelly.
Memorials may be made to Spring Grove Free Will Baptist Church, P.O. Box 205, Jesup, GA, 31598; Ronald McDonald House, 938, Greene Street, Augusta, GA 30901 or to Shriners Hospital for Children, Office of Development, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Opal “Elvine” Aspinwall Poppell
Odum—Opal “Elvine” Aspinwall Poppell, 98, of Odum died Feb. 25, 2024.
The Wayne County native was a member of Odum Church of God, a homemaker, and enjoyed gardening.
She was the widow of Loyal Poppell and was also predeceased by her son, Leland Poppell.
Survivors include a brother, James Monroe Aspinwall of Odum; a sister, Janette Wrenn of Tampa, Florida; a daughter-in-law, Sue Poppell of Jesup; a granddaughter, Steffany (Cam) Wheeler of Alma; great-grandchildren, Cooper and Connor Wheeler; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Graveside service were held Feb. 27 from Aspinwall Family Cemetery with Pastor Justin Moriarity officiating. Honorary pallbearers were Hospice of South Georgia staff and the staff of Harborview Health Systems.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Danny James Stephens
Odum—Danny James Stephens, 71, of Odum died Feb. 21, 2024.
The Wayne County native was a member of Altamaha Baptist Church and a retiree with Georgia Department of Transportation and worked many years with the Wayne County Sheriffs Office. He was an avid horseman and enjoyed camping and being with his family.
He was predeceased by his dad and stepmother, Junior and Nadine Stephens, and his mother, Zelda Stephens.
Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Glenda Maxey Stephens of Odum; a daughter, Nancy (Joseph) Walraven of Odum; a son, Doug (Michelle) Stephens of Odum; two sisters, Sandra (Tommy) Batten of Rincon, Genelda (Darrell) Denison of Odum; grandchildren, Brittany, J.T., Maddie, Lily, Jeremiah, Jameson, and Knox; one great-grandchild, Daxton; his mother-in-law, Patty Maxey; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Celebration-of-life services were held Feb. 24 from Altamaha Baptist Church with Pastor Bob Richardson, the Rev. Devon Mixon and Keith Wright officiating. Interment was in Altamaha Cemetery. Active pallbearers were David Wilkerson, Dalton Wilkerson, Garrett Flowers, Shorty Stephens, Dell Stephens and Patrick Wright. Honorary pallbearers was the Adult 4 Sunday School Class of Altamaha Baptist Church.
Memorials may be made to Altamaha Baptist Church, 6622 Oglethorpe Road, Jesup, GA 31545.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Brenda Sue Crosby Harrison
Jesup—Brenda Sue Crosby Harrison, 65, died peacefully on Feb. 23, 2024, at Wayne Memorial Hospital.
A native and lifelong resident of Wayne County, she was born on Nov. 23, 1958, to the late Virgil and Claudean Harper Crosby. She loved her family and devoted herself unselfishly to them at all times, homeschooling all six of her children to be sure they received the best education possible.
She also loved music and was a talented musician. She learned to play piano by ear at a young age, playing for several churches over the years, including her most recent assignment at Memorial Baptist Church.
She stayed busy. Even when she wasn’t working, she loved taking trips to the beach, sewing, flowers crafting and taking care of her animals. She was always learning and she cherished the time she spent with the ones she loved the most.
She was a longtime member of Bethlehem Baptist Church but had been attending Memorial Baptist Church most recently.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her infant twin brothers, Alvin and Allen Crosby; her sister and brother-in-law, Geraldine and Archie Teston; her sister, Dinah Darlene Nichols; her brother-in-law, Thomas Pye; and her beloved canine companion, Shadow.
Survivors include her children, Michael Harrison of Palo Alto, California, Brian (Christina) Harrison of Jesup, Joshua (Dessah) Harrison of Brunswick, Issac (Kelci) Harrison of Jesup, Sarah (Allen) “Tadpole” Conners III of Glennville and Jonathan (Miranda) Harrison of Jesup; one sister, Kathy Crosby Pye of Jesup; grandchildren, Adam and Avery Harrison, Ben Harrison, Destiny, Tanner and Hailey Harrison, Zayden, Zander and Zayne Conners and Meritza, Wyatt and Luke Harrison; her former husband and father to her children, Mike Harrison; Rocky, a beloved canine companion of many years; and numerous extended-family members.
A memorial service will be held today (Thursday) at 11 a.m. at Howard & Jones Funeral Home in Jesup with the Rev. Rooster Manning officiating. The family will receive 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 is in charge of arrangements.