• Rinehart & Sons
Ira “Kent” Townsend
Jesup—Ira “Kent” Townsend, 76, of Jesup died Sept. 22, 2024, under the care of Cotton Grove Estates and GHC Hospice.
The Florida native had lived in Jesup since 1993 and was a member of the Church of Christ, where he served as an elder.
He was born in Jacksonville, Florida, to Ira Edge and June Havener Townsend. He graduated from Forest High School in Jacksonville in 1966 and from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in 1972. His Army military career included a tour in Vietnam with several commendations. He also served as the company commander of President Gerald Ford’s Clemency Program in 1974-75, which took him to Indiana where he met his wife.
He was employed by Irvington-Moore in Jacksonville after the military and later worked as an engineer for Weyerhaeuser Company in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and the Rayonier Lumber Mill in Baxley.
In his spare time, he enjoyed reading the Bible, working the stock market and gardening.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Dale Townsend.
Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Sherry Townsend; two sons, Jerrett (Jennifer) Townsend of Jesup and Lt. Col. Jeb (Jessica) Townsend of Caldogno, Italy; three grandsons, Jet, Edge and Lincoln Townsend; two granddaughters, Jaycie and Aurellia Townsend; three brothers, Keith (Rita) Townsend of Jacksonville, Kirk (Marylnn) Townsend of Keystone Heights, Florida, and Daryl (Missy) Townsend of Middleburg, Florida; two brothers-in-law, Jack (B.J.) Plunkitt of Indianapolis, Indiana, and Steve (Cindy) Plunkitt of Imlay City, Michigan; a sister-in-law, Mary Townsend of Jacksonville; and many nieces and nephews.
Celebration-of-life services will be held Friday (Sept. 27) at 11 a.m. at Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home Chapel with his brother, Daryl Townsend, officiating. Interment will follow in Pinecrest Memorial Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be family.
Family will receive friends from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. prior to services at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Cotton Grove Estates, 249 Joe Naia Road, Jesup, GA 31545.
The family would like to thank the owners and care givers of Cotton Grove Estates for the loving care they provided for him.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Idoma Swain Johnson
Baxley—Idoma “Doomer” Swain Johnson, 87, of Baxley died Sept. 23, 2024.
The Waycross native grew up in Jesup and was a Pentecostal believer. She was a homemaker and loved to crochet, spend time with her family, and watch the Game Show Network.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Dan Johnson; two daughters, Sheila Johnson and Phyllis Hall; a son, Danny Johnson; two sisters, Bobbie Jean Knight and Irene Mobley; and a brother, Edward Swain.
Survivors include a daughter, Charlotte (Chris) Hall of Baxley; 13 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; several great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Sept. 25 at Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Stanley Todd officiating. Private interment was in Spring Grove Cemetery.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.