• Rinehart & Sons
Shirley Ann Smith
Jesup—Shirley Ann Smith, 87, of Jesup died suddenly with her family by her side on Oct. 20, 2025.
The Appling County native spent most of her life in Ludowici. She was a member of Elim Baptist Church. She worked in various careers including, health care, sales, childcare and food service. She was a social butterfly who enjoyed keeping up with everyone, spending time with family, shopping, traveling, gardening, getting her nails and hair done and taking care of her various beloved pets.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Alice Virginia Hutto Hutcheson and Coy Lee Hutcheson; her first and second husbands, Arnie Lowell Strickland and James Walter Smith; her son, Gary Lee Strickland Sr.; and her siblings, Juanita Honeycut, Myrtle Lee Turner, Beatrice Nobles, Vernon Walker and Aaron Walker Sr.
Survivors include her three sons, Larry (Lil) Strickland of Starke, Florida, Wilton (Terry) Strickland of Jesup and Fred (Sarah) Rhoden of Jesup; her five daughters, Deborah (Albert) Hosea of Brazoria Texas, Alice Strickland of Jesup, Martha Morton of Galveston Texas, Brenda (Jeff) Farley of Brazoria Texas and Joye (Vance) Epperson of Jesup; 27 grandchildren; 60 great-grandchildren; 11 great-great-grandchildren; and 10 nieces and nephews.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Sheila McKenzie Conner
Jesup—Sheila McKenzie Conner, 76, of Jesup died on Oct. 25, 2025.
The Alaska native and former resident of Atlanta had lived in Wayne County most of her adult life and was of the Church of God faith.
She taught in the Wayne County school system as a substitute teacher, but she mostly supported her husband, who coached the Wayne County High Yellow Jacket football teams.
In her free time, her artistic and creative skills led her to painting, sketching cartoons and cross stitching.
Her parents, Bob and Alice McKenzie, predeceased her in death.
Survivors are her husband of 54 years, coach Paul Conner of Jesup; two daughters, Lori (Todd) Crawford and Caroline (Jeff) Bishop, all of Jesup; two grandchildren, Haley (John) Dennee and Katy (Bryan Purdom) Bishop; two great-grandchildren, Emma and Asher; a sister, Gail (John Linnedmeier) McKenzie of Indiana; a brother, Bobby McKenzie of Atlanta; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Oct. 28 at Rinehart Chapel with Dink NeSmith officiating. Interment followed in the Pinecrest Memorial Cemetery. Active pallbearers were Todd Crawford, Jeff Bishop, Tim, Quincy, Mike and Blake Conner. Coach Conner honored his wife by having his former coaching staffs and the WCHS 1993 football team to serve as honorary pallbearers.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Michael Tyre
Screven—Michael Tyre, 47, of Screven died Oct. 26, 2025.
The Wayne County native was a member of New Hope Freewill Baptist Church and a retired CSX employee. He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his daddy and spending time with his children. He had a big servant’s heart and would help anyone in their yard or basically anything they needed, the family said.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Dub and Wilma Tyre and Waldo and Margaret Denison.
Survivors include a son, Tuff Tyre of Odum; a daughter, Peedy Caroline Tyre of Odum; their mother, Somer (Rick) Chambless of Odum, and their son, Jed Chambless; parents, Steve and Sandra Tyre of Screven; a brother, Tracy (Anna) Tyre of Screven; a sister, Dusty (Tracy) Todd of Vidalia; a nephew, Ben (Oscara) Tyre of Screven; and three nieces, Courtney (Gavin) Jones, Macy and Sarah Grace Todd.
Funeral services were held Oct. 29 at New Hope Freewill Baptist Church with Pastor Tim Horne officiating. Interment followed in New Hope Cemetery. Active pallbearers were Ben Tyre, Nicky Denison, Chris Arnold, Forrest Aspinwall, James Anderson, Justin James, Rick Chambless and Jed Chambless.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to New Hope Freewill Baptist Church, 1240 New Hope Road, Jesup, GA 31545.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
• Howard & Jones
James Monroe Aspinwall
Odum—James Monroe Aspinwall, 94, died peacefully on Oct. 24, 2025, at Wayne Memorial Hospital surrounded by his loving family.
He was born on Aug. 8, 1931, in Jesup to the late Willie Hilliard Aspinwall and Pearl Dunlap Aspinwall. He spent his early years on the family farm in Odum and was educated in the Odum School.
After high school, he was drafted into the United States Army, where he proudly served his country during the Korean Conflict. Once he returned to the States, he began a career working in the upholstery business at Waynline, where he worked faithfully until the business closed.
He had always been a hard worker, and he and his friend had started doing upholstery work on the side. He did one job after another, always working diligently and carefully. The Lord provided, and the customers kept coming. He worked in the upholstery business most of his life, until his health forced retirement.
He always loved serving the Lord, and he guided his life by the principles taught in the Bible. He was fair, honest and faithful. He was a member of Odum Church of God, where he attended every time the doors were open. He believed in doing the right thing every time and cherished the time he spent with the ones he loved the most, his family said.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Wilera R. Reddish Aspinwall, and his siblings Herbert Aspinwall, Willard Aspinwall, Pearl Ogden, Lawson Aspinwall, Minnie Dunn, Elvine Poppell, Matthew Aspinwall, Edward Aspinwall and Bobby Aspinwall.
Survivors include his two daughters, Angela (Dewey) Seymour of Jesup and Cartersville and Abbie Aspinwall of Jesup; one son, Carl Aspinwall of Jesup; a sister, Janet Wrenn of Tampa, Florida; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other extended-family members.
Funeral services were held Oct. 28 at Howard & Jones Funeral Home in Jesup with the Rev. Justin Moriarty, the Rev. Ray Hamilton and the Rev. Varney Aspinwall officiating.
Interment followed in Aspinwall Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Kevin McCrary, Rick Trull, Frenchey Edenfield, Richard Surrency, Tommy Reddish and Ray Hamilton.
Remembrances may be made to Odum Church of God, P.O. Box 126, Odum, GA 31555.
Family and friends may sign the guestbook online at www.jesupfuneralhome.com.
Howard & Jones Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.