Howard-Jones
Brynslet Araya Sellers
Screven—Brynslet Araya Sellers, 10, died Sept. 14, 2022, at Wayne Memorial Hospital after a courageous eight-year battle with heart disease, earning herself the title of “Heart Warrior.”
A native and lifelong resident of Wayne County, she was born on April 19, 2012. She was a fifth-grader at Screven Elementary, where she excelled academically as an honor-roll student despite health problems from the heart transplant she received at the age of 2.
She attended Unity Church of God and was a faithful Sunday school participant. In her spare time, she enjoyed reading, doing arts and crafts, and working on computers. She dearly loved owls.
“She was brave, strong and courageous. She was wise beyond her years, and although she struggled with her health, she never showed it, and she never gave up. Her loving and graceful demeanor lit up every room she entered, and her favorite times were spent with her family—the ones she loved the most,” the family said.
She was preceded in death by her grandfather, Jimmie “Papa” Sellers.
Survivors include her mother and father, Thomas “Tommy” and Courtney Sellers of Screven; siblings, Dawson, Nolan, Reese, Chrislin and Leighana Sellers, Mykaile and Cezar Pash, Jade O’Neill and Jaxon and Gemma Brown, all of Screven; her paternal grandmother, Deloris Browning of Screven; maternal grandparents, Michael and Teresa Lynn of Jesup; maternal great-grandparents, Elouise Freeman, Delores Peel, Donnie Lynn and Harry Lynn, all of Jesup; her biological mother, Amanda Hiltzman of Texas; a special aunt that was more like a sister, Ashlyn Sellers of Screven; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins and other extended-family members.
Funeral services were held Sept. 17 at Unity Church of God with Pastor Calvin Anderson officiating.
Interment followed in Akin Baptist Church Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Brent Messer, Caleb Lynn, Brandan Davis and James Hardee. Honorary pallbearers were members of the fifth-grade class of Screven Elementary.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Foundation, 1575 N.E. Expressway, N.E. Atlanta, GA 30329 or online at www.choa.org.
Family and friends may sign the guestbook online at www.jesupfuneralhome.com.
Howard & Jones Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Rinehart & Sons
Joan Bennett Williams
Jesup—Joan Bennett Williams, 85, of Jesup died peacefully on Sept. 19, 2022.
She was born and raised in Wayne County and was the eldest of the Bennett “8 Js”—Joan, Jimmy, Judy, Jerrie, Jack, John, Jane and Jan.
She was a longtime member and Sunday school teacher at Altamaha Baptist Church. She enjoyed her career at American National Bank, where she found time to squeeze in some teller duties while socializing with the customers. Later, she worked at Rayonier and loved to tell stories about the people she would talk to and work with from all over the world while handling her shipping duties.
She was preceded in death by her husband, George Willard Williams; her parents, James Cameron Bennett and Jessie Lee Brannen Bennett; and a brother, James “Jimmy” Bennett.
She loved her family, children, brothers and sisters, and her greatest gift was making each one of them feel as if they were her favorite. As much as she loved her family, her greatest love was for her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. What a great example she has left for us all, her family said.
Survivors include four children, George Willard (Charlotte) Williams II of Fernandina Beach, Florida, Marion Williams of Brunswick, Cameron (Kellie) Williams of Senoia and Missy (Harry) Devlin of Hortense; grandchildren, George Willard (Marlena) Williams III, Charlie Williams, Emily Williams, Sarah Ashley Williams and Ashley (Zack) Mulherin; other extended grandchildren, Sarah, Mary Beth, Will, Madeline and Maggie; four great-grandchildren, George Willard IV, Brooke, Wesley and Daniel Williams; six siblings, Judy Oglesby of Brunswick, Jerrie Glawe of Rockford, Illinois, Jane (David) Durrence of Waycross, Jan (John) Oglesby of Brunswick, Jack “Hoppy” (Pam) Bennett of Sacramento, California, and John (Sue) Bennett of Brunswick; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
A homecoming graveside service will be held today (Thursday) at 11 a.m. in Union Baptist Church Cemetery, 50 Aiken Road, Jesup.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Altamaha Baptist Church Building Fund, 6622 Oglethorpe Road, Jesup, GA 31545.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home of Jesup is in charge of arrangements.
Community Chapel
Eddie Mae Boone Burns
Savannah—Mother Eddie Mae Boone Burns, 84, of Savannah died Sept 6, 2022.
She was born in Jesup on Sept. 21, 1937.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Tom and Helen Boone; 14 brothers and sisters; her husband, Elder William Burns; and one daughter, Martha Eugene Burns Turner.
Survivors include her children, daughters Marian Louise Miles and Elizabeth Jones Brown; a son, Mark (Sondra) Burns; eight grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Sept. 11 at Community Chapel Funeral Home of Jesup. Interment was in Sunset Oaks Memorial Cemetery.
Community Chapel Funeral Home of Jesup was in charge of arrangements
Nobles
Loretta Lynn Pearcey
Jesup—Loretta Lynn Pearcey, 54, died Sept. 14, 2022, at HCA Florida Healthcare in Jacksonville, Florida, after a short illness.
She was a native of Appling County, living the past 22 years in Jesup. She was a homemaker, loving wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend and an animal lover.
Survivors include her husband, Brian Pearcey; a daughter, Anastacia Griffin; parents, Ernest Lee Gibbs and Glenda Sue Landon; two sisters, Susie (David) Bryant and Virginia (David) McKay; a brother, Andrew (Katelyn) Gibbs; and several nieces, nephews and other family members.
Funeral services were held Sept. 17 from Nobles Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Tim Horne officiating.
Interment followed in Surrency City Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Josh Austin, Ernie Austin, Andrew Gibbs, Johnny Morris, Dave McKay, J.E. Gibbs, Eugene Austin and Michael Gibbs.
Honorary pallbearers were all in attendance.
Memorial contributions may be made to www.wags-rescue.org.
Nobles Funeral Home and Crematory was in charge of arrangements.