Sherry Thornton Wasdin
Patterson—Sherry Thornton Wasdin, 73, of Patterson died June 29, 2023.
The Chicago, Illinois, native had lived most of her life in Appling County and attended Screven First Baptist Church. She was retired as an administrative assistant from the Wayne County school system. She enjoyed fishing and shopping in her spare time. Her husband of 54 years, Dwayne Wasdin, preceded her in death.
Survivors include two daughters, April (Ron) Regier of Escanaba, Michigan, and Shay Wasdin of Patterson; a son, Jeremy (Shanda) Wasdin of Bristol; seven grandchildren, Ridge Purcell (fiancée, Mallory Duncan), Leslie Purcell, Jose and Jesse Zarraga, J.J. Wasdin, and MacKenzie and Christian Regier; an expected great-grandson, Walker Ridge Purcell; two sisters, Dixie (Frank) Poppell of Colorado and Shellie Gay (Mitchell) Bohannon of South Carolina; a brother, Drew (Tina) Thornton of Jesup; and several nieces and nephews.
Graveside funeral services were held July 3 in Lake Chapel Cemetery in Patterson with Elder Jason Deal officiating.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Eugene Daniel Eden
Statesboro—Eugene Daniel (Gene) Eden, 66, died on June 28, 2023, at home in Statesboro under the care of his family and hospice.
He was born Aug. 17, 1956, in Adel, the youngest of five children. Gene was preceded in death by his mother, Julia Merle (Dixie) Stewart Eden; his father, John Frederick (Fred) Eden III; and his brother Robert W. Eden.
He is survived by his wife, Sarah Allen Eden, and son, Daniel Allen Eden (Hanna), as well as brothers John F. Eden and Stewart R. Eden and sister Linda Merle Eden (John) Sparks, along with many adoring nieces and nephews.
He attended Claxton High School through his junior year and Wayne County High School for his senior year, graduating in 1974. He received a bachelor’s degree in education and master’s and specialist’s degrees from Georgia Southern College and was a teacher and counselor at Southeast Bulloch High School for some 30 years. He was a popular “color announcer” for the SEB football team for many years.
He married Sarah Allen, the woman of his dreams, in 1982, and they have lived in Statesboro together since then.
Gene had a huge life force and loved to laugh; he always knew how to make everyone he met feel loved and important. He was the least jealous person on the planet, according to his family, and was affectionately known as “Gene, Gene, The Dancing Machine” by many.
A celebration of life will be held July 15 at 6:30 p.m. at The Barn at Olde Homeplace, 924 Johnny Brannen Road, Statesboro. In lieu of flowers, Gene requested donations be made to a cancer research fund of the donor’s your choice. Friends may sign the online register book at www.joineranderson.com.
Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home & Crematory in Statesboro is in charge of arrangements.