Joan Beasley
Jesup—Joan Beasley, 72, died peacefully on April 20, 2023, at Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah after a lengthy illness.
A resident of Jesup for nearly 54 years and former resident of Savannah, she was born May 21, 1950, in Greer, South Carolina.
She graduated from Savannah High School in 1968 and moved to Jesup soon after, where she worked as a secretary for Fred Fender Logging for many years. She was loving and friendly. Her outgoing and fun personality made her a joy to be around, and she truly never met a stranger, her family said.
She loved flowers, and she spent much of her spare time working in her yard, tending to flowers and plants. She attended several local churches regularly, including Unity Church of God.
She was preceded in death by her father, T.O. Waters, and her mother and stepfather, Grace and Fred Coudray.
Survivors include her husband of 54 years, Gary Beasley of Jesup; daughter, Jenny Beasley of Jesup; brother, Mike Waters of Benton, Tennessee; stepbrother, John Coudray of Jesup; aunt, Betty Witthuhn of Greer, South Carolina; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and other extended-family members.
Graveside funeral services were held April 24 at Pinecrest Memorial Cemetery with the Rev. Calvin Anderson officiating. The family received friends following the services at the cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Unity Church of God, 1580 Sunset Blvd., Jesup, GA 31545.
The family would like to express a special thanks to longtime friends, Eloise Freeman, Aldean Kay, Kay Odum and Euree Wilcox.
Family and friends may sign the guestbook online at www.jesupfuneralhome.com.
Howard & Jones Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Helen Pauline Manning
Jesup—Helen Pauline Manning, 66, died peacefully on Sunday, April 23, 2023 at home under the care of Hospice of South Georgia, Inc. surrounded by her loving family.
A native and lifelong resident of Wayne County, she was born on Sept. 25, 1956, to the late Robert and Helen Eason Rozier. She was a graduate of Wayne County High School and worked in the medical records department at Wayne Memorial Hospital for many years. She loved animals of all kinds, but there was always a special place in her heart for birds. She raised and cared for several exotic bird species over the past 30 years. She also enjoyed being outdoors working, cutting grass and taking care of her yard. She was truly “one of a kind” and a lot of fun to be around, her family said.
In addition to her parents, her two sisters, Diane Rozier and Alice “Bit” Edenfield, both preceded her in death.
Survivors include her children, Melissa (David) Owens of Odum, Shawn Herndon and fiancé Tina Hires of Odum, and Lisa Wallas of Columbia, South Carolina; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Wilford (Cindy) Rozier and William (Judy) Rozier, all of Jesup; grandchildren, Christopher Manning, Justin Wallace, Ainsley Wallace, Katelyn Kent, Madisyn Kent and fiancé Holden, Damien Vickers, Hunter Harris, Brayden James and Riley Marshall; and great-grandchildren, Maeley Vickers and Knox Trantham.
Graveside funeral services were held April 25 at Jesup City Cemetery with the Rev. Calvin Anderson officiating. The family received friends immediately following the service in the cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Dana Long, Holden Trantham, Dustin Rozier, Derek Rozier, David Owens and Deris Kent. Honorary pallbearers were grandchildren and the staff of Hospice of South Georgia.
The family would like to give a special thanks to the staff of Hospice of South Georgia for the loving care they provided her during her final days. “Each of you went above and beyond the “call of duty,” especially Nicole Causey and Lindsay Dent,” the family said.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Hospice of South Georgia, 1625 Sunset Blvd., Jesup, GA 31545.
Family and friends may sign the guestbook online at www.jesupfuneralhome.com.
Howard & Jones Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Jeffrey Charles Wheeler
Jesup—Jeffrey Charles Wheeler, 61, of Jesup, formally of Cherry Flats, Covington, Pennsylvania, died unexpectedly due to health complications on April 20, 2023.
He was born May 4, 1961, in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, graduating from North Penn Junior-Senior High School in 1979 where he excelled in track and field. He finished seventh place for all-time points held overall. After graduation, he served in the Army for four years.
He was known for his charm, his hard work ethic and his heart of gold. He was delighted to give a helping hand to anyone at any time. He also enjoyed cooking and following his favorite teams, the Dallas Cowboys and Penn State. He was a supervisor for McDaniel Vending and Food Services.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Monica Wheeler.
He was a son of Larry and Joan Pierce Wheeler of Cherry Flats, Covington; a father to Katrina (Nuno) Wheeler of Danvers, Massachusetts, Jeffrey (Christina) Wheeler of Milford, New Hampshire, and Shawn (Nicole) Wheeler of Blossburg, Pennsylvania; a beloved brother to Debbie (Jim) Hepler of Waneta Lake, New York, Danny (Kyong) Wheeler of Jesup and Kyle (Beth) Wheeler of Lynn, Massachusetts; several grandchildren, nieces, nephews and his former wife and mother of his three children, Mary Powers Wheeler.
“You will live with us in memory for evermore,” the family said.
A memorial service will be held at a later date
Family and friends may sign the guestbook online at www.jesupfuneralhome.com.
Howard & Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Levy Martin “L.M.” Lane
Jesup—Levy Martin “L.M.” Lane, 72, of Jesup died April 24, 2023.
The Ware County native had lived in Wayne County most of his life and was of the Baptist faith. He was a U.S. Army veteran. He worked as a trucker for McKenzie Tank Lines, Hendrix Hauling and Grant Lewis trucking companies. He also was a longtime employee with Deep South Industrial Company.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ellis Martin and Lizzie Lane; four sisters, Annette Moseley, Eloise Earhardt, Merlene Lane and Gail Spell; and four brothers, Robert, James “Jimmy,” George and Wayne Lane.
Survivors include his wife of 21 years, Tammy Woodcock Lane of Jesup; two daughters, Tammy Scott of Durham, North Carolina, and Christina (Andy) Campbell of Baxley; a son, Levy “Lee” Martin (Samantha) Lane II of Hortense; seven grandchildren, Hunter, Jet, Edge, Bowden, Nathan, Shelbi and Luke; two stepchildren, Chad (Rosie) and Stan (Dana) Robson; five step-grandchildren, Logan, Dalton, Peyton, Hunter and Shay; two brothers, Harry (Anna) Lane and Gene (Susie) Lane, all of Jesup; numerous nieces and nephews; and a beloved furbaby and companion, “Sassy.”
Graveside funeral services will be held today (Thursday) at 11 a.m. in Mill Creek Cemetery, 5611 Lynch Rd., Patterson, GA 31557 with the Rev. Wayne Manning Jr. officiating.
Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. today (Thursday) at Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home of Jesup is in charge of arrangements.
Ruth Jacqueline Wright
Madray Springs—Ruth Jacqueline “Jackie” Wright died on April 22, 2023, under the care of Coastal Manor Nursing Home and Georgia Hospice Care.
She was born on Nov. 28, 1931, in Red Springs, North Carolina, and graduated in 1949 from Kings Mountain High School. She was married to the late Lester “Jack” Wright of Kings Mountain on July 2, 1950, and lived in Swannanoa, North Carolina, from 1951 to 1998.
She worked as an executive secretary for Beacon Manufacture Company in Swannanoa from 1952 to 1974 and as a teacher’s aide for Black Mountain Elementary School in Black Mountain, North Carolina, until 1979, while also serving on the board of directors at the Swannanoa Public Library. She was a member of Swannanoa First Baptist Church, where she served as sunday school teacher and taught a Women’s Bible study group.
She and her husband, Jack, moved to Madray Springs Community in Wayne County in 1999 and became members of Altamaha Baptist Church, where she made many friends in the church and community. Some favorite hobbies included reading and studying God’s Word for hours, enjoying birds and flowers, and traveling, especially to the Holy Land and Switzerland. She also loved taking her grandchildren fishing and teaching them to swim.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Jack Wright; along with parents, Haskel and Selma Wilson.
Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Terry (Rodney) Healy of Kingsport, Tennessee; sons and daughters-in-law, Lester O. (Kathy) Wright Jr. of Anderson, South Carolina, Keith C. (Lana) Wright of Jesup, and Bob (Kathy) Wright of Asheville, North Carolina; eight grandchildren, Mark (Elizabeth) Wright, Leesha (Chris) Wolfe, Mark Medford, David (Ashley) Healy, Adam (Jennifer) Medford, Patrick Wright, Josh (Jennifer) Wright and Rachel Wright (Chris) Arnold; eight great-grandchildren; eight great-great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren;
Graveside funeral services will be held Saturday, April 29, in Altamaha Cemetery with Pastor Deven Mixon officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hearts, Hands and Hope for Haiti C/O Phyllis Newby, P.O. Box 1045, Blowing Rock, NC 28605 and the Altamaha Baptist Church Building Fund, 6622 Oglethorpe Road, Jesup, GA 31545.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Dorothy Knight Hobbs
Jesup—Dorothy Knight Hobbs, 85, of Jesup died April 19, 2023.
The Wayne County native attended Little Creek Baptist Church and was a homemaker. She enjoyed flower arranging and crafts.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward A. Hobbs; her son, Charles E. Hobbs; parents, E.C. and Lillie Knight; a sister, Frances K. Rowe; and a brother, Roy (“Buddy”) Knight.
Survivors include a daughter, Brenda (Steve) Jones of Lakeland, Tennessee; a son, Doc Hobbs of Jesup; seven grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; several step-grandchildren; several step-great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Milva Knight; a brother-in-law, Larry Rowe; a daughter-in-law, Mary Hobbs; three very special lifelong friends; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services were held April 24 at Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home with the Rev. Wayne Manning Jr. officiating. Interment will be in Knight Family Cemetery on E.C. Knight Road in Jesup. Active pallbearers were her family.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Christine Herrin Teston
Jesup—Christine Herrin Teston, 87, of Jesup died April 24, 2023, under the care of Cotton Grove Estates and Hospice of South Georgia.
The Tattnall County native had lived in Wayne County most of her life and was a member of Blanton Grove Church of God. The avid reader advanced in her schoolwork enough to graduate when she was 15 years old and married the love of her life that same year.
She began her career with Wayne Memorial Hospital in the medical records department and then worked as office manager for Dr. R.A. Pumpelly III. She retired as bookkeeper for the Wayne County Health Department.
The master seamstress could match any retail dress in detail and style. Her talents continued with crocheting, cross stitching and macramé. She was a very devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend to her family and friends.
Her husband and father of her children, Vernon Herrin, preceded her in death after 42 years of marriage. She was also preceded in death by her second husband, Ernest Teston; two brothers, J.B. and Eugene Wrenn; and an infant granddaughter, Elaine Stanfield.
Survivors include two daughters, Jeanine (John) Hauger and Brenda (Hammer) Stanfield, both of Jesup; stepdaughter, Becky Schmackpfeffer of Jesup; a stepson, Jimmy (Tina) Teston of Jesup; three grandchildren, Andrea (Jon) Willis, Gregory and Casey Stanfield, Matthew Groover, all of Jesup; great-grandchildren, Jasper Stanfield, Brady and Lane Willis, Kaceley and Cayson Stanfield; step-grandchildren, Neely (Horace) Chatham of Midville, Chris (Miranda) Teston of K’ville, Danny (Brittany) Schmackpfeffer of Brunswick, Storm Teston and Skylar (Sergio) Tlacuatl; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held today (Thursday) at 2 p.m. at Rinehart and Sons Chapel with the Rev. Dale Bange officiating. Interment will follow in Pinecrest Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be Gregory and Casey Stanfield, Matthew Groover, Jasper Stanfield, Brady and Lane Willis and Cayson Stanfield. Honorary pallbearers will be the staffs of Cotton Grove Estates and Hospice of South Georgia.
Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Cotton Grove Estates, 249 Joe Naia Road, Jesup, GA 31545 or Hospice of South Georgia, 1625 Sunset Blvd., Jesup, GA 31545.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mary Wood Mackey
Americus—Mary Wood Mackey, 100, died peacefully April 22, 2023, at Perfect Care in Americus.
Born Nov. 9, 1922, in Chauncey, she moved to Macon as a young child and lived there until her marriage to Shelton S. Mackey in 1941. After his service in the U.S. Navy, they moved from San Diego, California, to Dawson, where they raised their family and owned and operated Mackey’s Grocery until 1969.
After selling the grocery store, they moved to Americus for 10 years and then to Lake Blackshear, returning to Americus in 2006. She loved and was deeply devoted to her family. She also made many dear friends in each of the places she lived.
She is survived by two sons, Shelton S. (Sandy) Mackey Jr. of Leesburg and Alan (Louise) Mackey of Americus; a daughter, Jane M. (Harry) Yeomans of Decatur; nine grandchildren and their spouses, Linda M. (Alan) Kersey of Naperville, Illinois, Sandford (Carla) Mackey III of Fredericksburg, Virginia, Chip (Melissa) Mackey of Warner Robins, Hill (Tammy) Mackey of Leesburg, Justin Mackey of Dalton, Ansley Yeomans and Angela Riccetti of Decatur, Neal (Beth) Yeomans of Chesterfield, Virginia, Laura (David) Erickson of Auburn, Alabama, and Chris (Jennifer) Hunter of Columbus; 22 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.
The family would like to give a special thank- you to her family of caregivers and staff at Perfect Care.
A graveside service will be held today (Thursday) at noon at Macon Memorial Park in Macon.
Memorials may be made to Perfect Care Memorial Fund, 114 Sullivan Dr., Americus, GA 31709.
Mathews Funeral Home of Americus is in charge of arrangements.