Howard E. Wasdin
Jesup—Howard E. Wasdin, 61, was tragically killed in a plane crash just short of the William A. Zorn Airport in Wayne County on April 6, 2023, along with his pet companion, Tango.
The Florida native moved to Screven when he was 4 years old and was a Wayne County High School graduate.
He served in the U.S. Navy for 12 years, nine of these as a SEAL. Many accolades came during this time including the Silver Star for gallantry in action and the Purple Heart for injuries sustained in action. He ended his military career as a highly decorated member of the Navy Special Warfare Dev Gru/Seal Team Six, Red Team. After his active service ended, he earned a chiropractic doctorate degree and opened his practice in Jesup. He later entered into his literary work as co-author of SEAL Team Six: Memoirs of an Elite Navy SEAL Sniper, two fictional SEAL books and a Christian sequel to his first book, The Last Rescue: How Faith and Love Saved a Navy SEAL Sniper.
He was a loving, hard-working, kind and doting husband who prioritized his wife in the most amazing ways, his family said. Over the years, he and Debbie enjoyed seeing some of their favorite bands in concert, traveling the world and spending time with their children and grandchildren. “His most wonderful calling, the thing he most excelled at, was being a Papa to his grandchildren, regardless of their ages,” his family said. “He lived the most amazing life, but the most important thing about his life is that HE LIVED.”
He leaves behind a loyal, encouraging, devoted and beloved wife, Debbie Wasdin; a son, Blake (Jordan) Wasdin; daughters, Eryn (Paul) Graeter, Rachel Wasdin, Kara Watson and Allie Alfonso El-Sayed; several grand-blessings, Emma (Graeter) Young, Tripp Harvey, Kayden Wasdin, Banks Wasdin, Jace Wasdin, Viola Alfonso, Zane El-Sayed, Maverick Graeter; two expected future grandchildren; and many special chosen family members including a chosen mother, Sadie Raulerson, and a chosen father, A.C. Musgrave.
Memories-of-his-life service will be held Saturday, April 15, at 11 a.m. at Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home Chapel with Elder Tommy Waters, Steve Eaves, Adriane “Kudu” Parker and A.C. Musgrave officiating.
The family will receive friends an hour prior to services at the funeral home.
Flowers are beautiful, but the family said he would rather donations be made to one of the following: Mercy Flight Southeast, 8864 Airport Boulevard, Leesburg Airport, Leesburg, FL 34788 or Boys and Girls Club of the Altamaha Area, 550 E Orange St., Jesup, GA 31546.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Jean Jackson Pope
Jesup—Jean Jackson Pope, 81, of Jesup died April 7, 2023.
The Wayne County native was a Baptist and currently attended Gardi Baptist Church. With her longtime career with the Wayne County Clerk of Court’s office, she was known for her helpfulness in many people’s lives. Her role as a homemaker and mother was a top priority, along with visiting neighbors on her golf cart.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, J.W. Jackson and J.C. Pope.
Survivors include her son, Bill (Cindy) Jackson of Jesup; daughters, Sherry Pope Carter and Carolyn Pope Coughlin, both of Jesup; sisters, Elizabeth Duncan of Jesup and Rose NeSmith of Nevils; a brother, Charles Johnson of Jesup; grandchildren, Katrina Price, Laine Adams, Trey Davis and Matthew Bishop; eight great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held April 11 at Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home with Pastor Randy Pruitt and Darryl Murray officiating. Interment followed in Flint Branch Cemetery. Active pallbearers were her family.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Gardi Baptist Church, 981 Morning Glory Circle, Jesup, GA 31546.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
John Thomas Boatright Jr.
Jesup—John Thomas “Tommy” Boatright Jr., 65, of Jesup died on April 7, 2023.
The Florida native grew up in Wayne County and was a member of Epworth United Methodist Church. The 21-year retired U.S. Navy veteran served in the Desert Storm War. Golfing was his passion when he wasn’t working diligently at his computer.
His father, John Thomas Boatright Sr., preceded him in death.
Survivors include his wife of 27 years, Adoracion “Dori” Beebe of Jesup; his mother, Emma Jean Boatright of Jesup; a sister, Alana (Edward) Hurt of Gainesville, Florida; four nephews, Brian, Wesley, David and Austin; and stepchildren, Vernon, Ann Margaret and Anthony Beebe.
Funeral services were held April 10 at Epworth United Methodist Church with Pastor Garth Duke-Barton officiating. Interment followed in Georgia Veteran’s Cemetery in Glennville. Active pallbearers were his family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Jesup First United Methodist Church, 205 E. Cherry St., Jesup, GA 31546.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
June Johanna Karpinen
Jesup—June Johanna Karpinen, 92, died peacefully on April 10, 2023, under the care of Georgia Hospice Care.
She was surrounded by family as Jesus ushered her into her eternal home, her family said. She lived her life in New York City, New York, where she worked as a legal assistant for many years. She was a savvy businesswoman and enjoyed traveling around the world. She was especially fond of her Finnish heritage but also enjoyed visiting with her extended family in Georgia.
She was the only daughter of Ellis Karpinen and Ocie Esposita and is also predeceased by a special aunt, Mary Manning Crews, and second cousin Chad Crews.
“June Bug” or “Junie,” as she was affectionately called, is survived by a host of cousins; however, those closest to her were Hilton (Melinda) Crews, Kitty Crews Milikin (Joe Cattani) and Hubert Crews, all of Jesup.
Graveside services were held April 12 in Manningtown Cemetery with Pastor Justin Mitchell officiating. Active pallbearers were her family.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Brandon Thomas Holt
Avon Park, Florida—Brandon Thomas Holt, 38, died on April 5, 2023, at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
A resident of Avon Park, Florida, for the past several years, he was born on Oct. 13, 1984, in Decatur, Illinois. He spent his early years in Jesup and graduated from Wheeler County High School in 2003.
He had an obvious God-given musical talent and was already playing drums in his parent’s church by the young age of 4. From there, he taught himself to play piano, saxophone and 10 other instruments which he used in praise and worship to the Lord.
After high school, he was offered a full musical scholarship to Lee University but declined the offer because he felt the calling of God to ministry on a full-time basis. At 19, he began his full-time ministry as worship pastor at Belmont Assembly of God in Chicago, Illinois. He continued his service for the Lord in the years to follow, serving at churches in Savannah, Georgia and Jacksonville, Florida.
In 2014, after a Periscope livestream session went viral on the internet, he began his full-time traveling ministry spreading the love of Jesus through word and song all over the country. For the next several years, he worked with top names in Christian music and mentored many of today’s young artists.
He married the love of his life in 2018, and the couple continued to travel for several years before settling in Avon Park, Florida, where he served, with his mother and father, as worship leader, youth pastor and executive pastor at The Sanctuary since 2020.
His service for the Lord was incredible, however, equally amazing was his love for his wife and family, his family said. He lovingly cared for his wife during two courageous battles with breast cancer and constantly poured his heart and soul into his daughters, showing them the grace and love of Christ through his actions. Music was his life and his love, but he also enjoyed fishing, being on the water, and spending time with his family and friends.
His grandfather, Jerry Holt, preceded him in death.
Survivors include his wife, Alissa Holt of Avon Park; two daughters, Kinsleigh and Aurora; parents, Jeff and Sherle Holt of Avon Park; a brother, Nicholas Holt of Jesup; grandparents, Betty Holt of Paducah, Kentucky and Emily and Jack Groover of Jesup; and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 14, at Jesup Church of God, 444 Sunset Blvd. Jesup, GA 31545 with pastors, Ben Daily, Mark Filkey, Kevin Powers and Jeff Holt officiating.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Brandon Holt Memorial Fund online at gofundme.com.
Donors may also contact the funeral home for more information at (912) 427-3721.
Family and friends may sign the guestbook online at www.jesupfuneralhome.com.
Howard & Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
John Alan Tillman
Surrency—John Alan Tillman, 66, of Surrency died April 4, 2023, at Satilla Hospice House in Waycross.
He was born May 17, 1956, in Wayne County and was a 1974 graduate of Appling County High School and a member of the football team. He was the CEO and founder of Tillman Poultry Farms and TNT Cattle Company LLC.
He was a former president of White Star Hunting Club and a member of the Tri-County Gun Club. He was also a former member of the Surrency Fire Department, Southern Pullers Association and Cattleman’s Association. He was preceded in death by his father, John Elbert Tillman.
Survivors include his wife, Christina Tillman of Surrency; children, Krystal (Jonathan) Giddens of Surrency, Nicholas (Angel) Dykstra of Baxley; his mother, Dartha Dixon Tillman of Surrency; brothers, Anthony (Tonya) Tillman of Surrency and Christopher (Anna) Tillman of St. Simons Island; grandchildren, Caterina Giddens, Jaxon Giddens, Aiygan Dykstra, Memphis Nobles, Skyler Nobles and Hunter Nobles; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held April 7 from the Chapel of Swain Funeral Home with the Rev. Jonathan Mann officiating. Interment followed in Bethel United Methodist Church Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Dillon Edenfield, Matthew Tillman, Sam Tillman, Scottie Tanner, Bryan Perry and Ryan Perry.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Swain Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.