Thad Brackin
Odum—Thaddius “Thad” Cyzyski Brackin, 85, of Odum died March 9, 2024, at Harborview Health Systems-Jesup under the care of Hospice of South Georgia.
He was the owner of Brackin Timber Company for more than 50 years. He was a 1956 graduate of Odum High School and a 1960 graduate of the University of Georgia School of Forestry.
He was predeceased by his parents, Mae Eula and Charles Brackin; his first wife and the mother of his children, Gayle O’Quinn Brackin; and his second wife, Kathleen Batten Brackin.
Survivors include his two children, Lisa Gayle Brackin (Bruce Patterson) and Christopher Brackin (Rosalee Nguyen); a stepdaughter, Cindy (Donnie) Martin; two sisters, Sheila Brackin Tillman and Cheryl Brackin; a granddaughter, Jessica Floyd (McKenzie) Oliver; two grandsons, Charlie Brackin and Clay Brackin; three great-grandsons, Max Oliver, Olin Oliver and Grady Oliver; a nephew, Brad (Lorie) Tillman; and a great-niece, Sophie Tillman.
A graveside service was held March 12 at the Odum City Cemetery. Pallbearers were Scott Cooper, Juan Hernandez, Grady Oliver, McKenzie Oliver, Max Oliver and Olin Oliver.
The family wishes to express its sincere appreciation to Hospice of South Georgia Inc. for its exceptional care of him. Memorial donations may be made in his memory to this agency at 1625 Sunset Boulevard, Jesup, GA 31545.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Alene Reddish Yarbrough
Boca Raton, Florida—Alene Reddish Yar-brough, of Wilton Manors, Florida, died March 4, 2024 at Hospice by the Sea, Boca Raton, Florida.
She was born March 16, 1926, in Odum to Ralph Lester Reddish and his wife, Tempie Mae Westberry. She is the second great-granddaughter of Drew Reddish and his wife, Jane Carter, of Appling County.
She survived all of her seven siblings—Thelma Reddish Brown, Lester Ralph Reddish, Robert Lee Reddish, Mary Reddish Cleghorn, Vernon Randall Reddish, Ethelyn Mae Reddish Welch and Twyla Reddish Flood.
She married Colvin Nelson Yarbrough, son of Leon Nelson Yarbrough, and his wife, Josie Weaver, also of Odum, on July 15, 1947, in Jesup. After living in Jacksonville, Florida, and Macon, they moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in the early 1950s. Her husband died there April 1, 1973, leaving her to raise three children, Carole, Don and Susan.
She already had a full-time job, but upon her husband’s passing she started working a second part-time job to support her two young children still in the home.
In 1954 she started a career at the draft board in Fort Lauderdale. When the draft board ceased operations at the close of the Vietnam War, she began working for the Social Security Administration, helping people obtain their benefits—a job which perfectly suited her personality, to always help others.
She was active in her church. She attended Immanuel Baptist Church, in Fort Lauderdale for decades. After her retirement, she volunteered at the church’s thrift store, which provided clothing to those in need, particularly the homeless. During her formal retirement, she found time to work at Manor Pines Nursing Home, in Wilton Manors, comforting the elderly. She lived the biblical pronouncements “do unto others” and “give aid to the poor, the weakened and the elderly.”
She never missed Sunday church services. Even in her later years, when she didn’t have the physical ability to attend, she watched the service on her iPad.
She is survived by her children, Carole Dianne Yarbrough and husband, Robert F. Schwimmer of Hollywood, Florida; Susan Marie Yarbrough and husband, Roland J. Born of Wilton Manors and Boynton Beach, Florida, and Don Yarbrough of Fort Lauderdale; her beloved nieces and nephews, Ida Perkins of Leesburg, Florida of Norma Ellen Gaddy, Cartersville, Linda Sue Hess of Gainesville, Florida, Robert S. Reddish of Gainesville, Samuel Reddish Cleghorn of Attalla, Alabama, Thomas David Reddish Sr. of Butler, Nancy Peacock of Georgia, Barbara Davenport of High Springs, Florida, Howard Welch of Gainesville, Florida, Christi Flood-Walker of Grand Haven, Michigan, and Joseph Ralph Flood; and many grandnieces and grandnephews.
Her family said it is ever grateful to her home health-aides who lovingly cared for her as though she was their mother for 24 hours a day for the last six months—Tamika Brown, Dorothy, Mala, and Sandra Gonzalez, who was holding her hand at 1 a.m. when she left this earth.
Funeral services were held March 12 at Baird-Chase Funeral Home under the direction of Pastor Brian Webb. Interment to followed at Evergreen Cemetery in Fort Lauderdale.