Earl G. Davis
Jesup—Earl G. Davis, 92, died Aug. 14, 2023, under the care of Hospice of South Georgia.
He was a Wayne County native and a member of Calvary Baptist Church and the Senior Adult Sunday School class. He was a 1950 graduate of Jesup High School. During his high school career, he was captain and halfback of the 1948-1950 Jesup High football team and also went to state in track.
He was in the Marines for two years during the Korean Conflict. After 36 years, he retired from ITT Rayonier.
In 2002, he and his brothers were inducted into the Wayne County Sports Hall of Fame. He also took great pleasure in coaching the Wayne County Recreation Department football teams.
He was preceded in death by his former wife, Shirley G. Davis; a daughter, Karen K. Davis; his parents, William and Fannie Thomas Davis; brothers, Rex, Joseph, Bill, Jack, Thomas, Harry, Burley and Ken Davis; a sister, Vee D. Donahue; and a son-in-law, Michael Knight.
Survivors include his wife of 43 years, Martha C. Davis of Jesup; a son, Gordy (Babbie) Davis of Jesup; a daughter, Krystal D. Knight of Jesup; two stepchildren, Al (Peggy)Dixon of Richmond Hill and Sandra (George) DeCaro of Edgewater, Florida; a sister, Barbara D. Roberts of Brunswick; four grandchildren; seven step-grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held today (Thursday) at 11 a.m. at Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Pete Boyd and the Rev. Vann Dempsey officiating. Private burial will be in the Jesup City Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be the Davis family. Honorary pallbearers will be staff of Hospice of South Georgia.
Visitation will be held one hour before services at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of South Georgia, 1625 Sunset Blvd, Jesup, GA 31545 or Calvary Baptist Church, P.O. Box 9, Jesup, GA.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Carolyn “Jane” Edenfield Snyder
Jesup—Carolyn “Jane” Edenfield Snyder, 82, of Jesup died Aug. 12, 2023.
The Wayne County native attended New Hope Freewill Baptist Church and was a 1959 graduate of Jesup High School.
She worked many years as a paraprofessional at T.G. Ritch Elementary School. Visits to her classmates and family were her favorite times.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Gilbert E. “Duke” Snyder; parents, Acie and Marie Edenfield; sisters, Catherine Livesay, Janette Morris and Charlotte Moody; and a brother, W.A. “Bill” Edenfield.
Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer (Jesus) Jimenez of Jesup; sons and daughter-in-law, Charles (Kim) Snyder of Jesup and Stephen Snyder of Pooler; granddaughters, Paige Mobley and Victoria Jimenez of Jesup; sisters, Sandra Pye, Judy (Larry) Watson, Dana (Middie) Hickox, all of Jesup; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Aug. 16 at Rinehart Chapel with Elder Randy Strickland officiating. Private burial followed in Pinecrest Memorial Cemetery. Active pallbearers were her family. Honorary pallbearers were her classmates.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of South Georgia, 1625 Sunset Blvd., Jesup, GA 31545.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Kristopher Clayton Sweat
Odum—Kristopher Clayton “Clay” Sweat, 32, of Odum died Aug. 13.
Born in Waycross, he was a lifelong resident of Wayne County and was a 2008 graduate of Wayne County High School.
He loved his family and adored his daughter. Together they were “two peas in a pod.” He was a loving, caring and funny individual who loved to laugh and who would help anyone in a time of need, his family said.
Survivors include his daughter, Zayda Lee Sweat of Odum; his mother and stepfather, Sheila Hires Grantham and Jeff Grantham of Odum; his father and stepmother, Henry and Golda Sweat of Jesup; two sisters and two brothers-in-law, Maranda and Lucas Smiley of Jesup and Stormi and Jacob Schuyler of Jesup; a niece, Raylan Garrison of Jesup; two nephews, Benny Schuyler of Jesup and Landon Smiley of Jesup; maternal grandparents, Earl and Freida Woodcock of Jesup; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
Private funeral services will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to Freehart Center, 446 W Plum St, Jesup, GA 31545
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Sonuya Davis Tatum
Screven—Sonuya Davis Tatum, 85, of Screven died Aug. 13, 2023.
The Pierce County native had lived in Wayne County most of her life and was a member of Old Bethel Baptist Church.
She reared seven children, but when they reached adulthood, she worked various jobs at Screven Elementary School. Some favorite hobbies were crocheting, flowers and reading.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Curtis Tatum; a great-grandson, Maddux Howard; and a son-in-law, Barry Collier.
Survivors include five daughters, Karen Collier, Vickie Johnson, Lisa (Gary) Massey and Della (Spud) Swain, all of Jesup, and Lori (Wayne) Atkinson of Screven; two sons, Jammie (Mandy) Tatum and Eric (Lisa) Tatum, all of Screven; 17 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Jeanette Davis, Edna Faye Bourquine and Iris Aspinwall; a brother, Joe (Wanell) Davis; sisters-in-law, Alva (Tommy) Barrow and Margaret Blalock; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Aug. 15 at Old Bethel Baptist Church with Pastor Mark Ledbetter and the Rev. Donnie Mullis officiating. Interment followed in Ritch Cemetery. Active pallbearers were grandsons, Travis Denison, Leslie Griffis, Shawn Thornton, Franklin Tatum, Chad Tatum and Seth Swain.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Carl J. Thornton
Jesup—Carl J. Thornton, 80, of Jesup died Aug. 11, 2023.
The Pierce County native had lived in Wayne County for most of his life and was a former foreman with Hendrix Hauling. He finished his working career as a painter for Harris Real Estate. He loved to fish, hunt and work in the garden.
He was preceded in death by his brothers, Vernon, Earl and James Thornton.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Pearline “Pug” Thornton of Jesup; two daughters, Kathy (Michael) Blocker and Sherry (Gary) Simmons, both of Jesup; a son, Charles Lynn Jr. of Jesup; two sisters, Josephine (Russell) Colvin and Louise (Billy) Outler, all of Winter Haven, Florida; six grandchildren, Michael (Heather) Blocker Jr., Hunter Blocker, Stacy (Joseph) Hargrove, Mandy Simmons, Teri Bailey, Lawrence “Bubba” Middleton; eight great-grandchildren, Clayton, Bryson, Kinsley, Xander, Kai, Zachery, Chase and Rileigh.
Funeral services were held Aug. 15 at Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Joe Gardner officiating. Interment followed in Pinecrest Memorial Cemetery. Active pallbearers were Michael Blocker Jr., Hunter Blocker, Chase and Zachery Bailey, Dave Thornton and Mike Thornton. Honorary pallbearers were the staff of Harborview Health Systems.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Earland “John” Wentworth Jr.
Jesup—Earland “John” Wentworth Jr., 72, of Jesup died under the care of Hospice of South Georgia on Aug. 10, 2023.
The Florida native had lived in Wayne County the past 50 years and attended Calvary Baptist Church. He was a retired engineer with the Georgia Department of Transportation. He was an umpire for the Wayne County Recreational Department for many years.
Some favorite hobbies included golf, playing cards, fishing, chess and reading.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Earland and Lillian Wentworth; his son, Earland John Wentworth III; a sister, Lindia O’Neal; two brothers, Norman and Cecil Wentworth; two stepsons, Ben Harris and Carey Lee.
Survivors include his wife of 17 years, Joan Lindell Wentworth of Jesup; a son, John (Courtney) Wentworth of Lakeland, Florida.; two stepdaughters, Rhonda Lee and Elizabeth (John) Smiley; two stepsons, Tommy (Jacki) Lee and Terry Taylor; three sisters, Denise Mahoney, Christine Collins and Judy (David) Johnsen; two brothers, David (Christy) Wentworth and Billy (Christine) Wentworth; and several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
A celebration-of-life service was held Aug. 13 at Rinehart and Sons Chapel with Pastor Pete Boyd officiating.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
David Richard Warnock
Jesup—David Richard Warnock, 53, died Aug. 10, 2023, at Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah after a lengthy illness.
A resident of Jesup for the past 28 years, he was born on Dec. 3, 1969, in Glenwood. He spent his early years in Soperton and served his country in the United States Army after graduating from high school.
He worked several different jobs throughout his career as a salesman including positions with Palmer Tire, Schwan’s Company and Lance. He was strong willed, determined and loved picking and joking around with his family and friends. He was also an avid reader and enjoyed playing chess in his spare time.
He was preceded in death by his mother Jackie Warnock.
Survivors include his wife of 32 years, Teri Warnock of Jesup; two sons, Kristopher (Meagan) Warnock of Rincon and Dakota Warnock and significant other, Kattie Perkins of Jesup; one daughter, MeKylee Warnock of Jesup; father, Garland Warnock of Soperton; grandchildren, Layla, Kristopher, Jr., Lucy, Robbie and Naomi; siblings, Julie Ross, Jon Warnock, Denise Warnock, Patty Akridge, Chris Ryals, Kristy Swearingen, Lea Beecher and Robert Swearingen; a special niece and nephew, Zoa and Zeke Chavis; and a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family members.
A memorial service was held Aug. 12 at Howard & Jones Funeral Home in Jesup with Pastor Scott Hatten officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to help the family with funeral expenses.
Howard & Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Linda F. Smith
Jesup—Linda F. Smith, 76, died peacefully on Aug. 10, 2023 at home surrounded by her loving family after an extended illness under the care of Hospice of South Georgia.
A resident of Jesup for most of her life, she was born on June 12, 1947, in Jacksonville, Florida, to the late Leonard Robinson Sr. and Ouida Leggett Robinson.
She worked in business management for most of her life and did taxes. In her younger years, she enjoyed two-step dancing and bowling, and she always liked playing cards in her spare time.
More than anything else, she loved spending time with her family.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Calvin Smith Sr.; her grandson, Jason Capps Jr.; and her three brothers, Jim, John and Danny Robinson.
Survivors include her five daughters, Tina (Anthony Pace) Barber, Jeannine Watts, Teresa (Ernie) Westberry, Kathleen Capps and Theresa Smith; one son, Calvin (Jessica) Smith Jr.; one sister, Janice Ryan; grandchildren, William (Farrah) Barber Jr., Robbie Barber, Dewey (Tatiana) Beaver Jr., Cheryl Prescott, Celena Westberry, Ashley (Zachary) Gruse, Katelin Capps, Gracie Capps, Ashely Smith, Alexandria Crews, Miranda Smith and Damian Smith; great-grandchildren, Amos Barber, Jacob Barber, Seth Barber, Jeannie Beaver, Delia Beaver, Tegan Gruse, Asher Gruse, Marley Gruse, Peyton Gruse and Gabrielle Stubbs; and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family members.
Memorial services will be private.
Howard & Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.