Lee Waters
Lee Waters, 94, of Jesup died in the Hospice of South Georgia Inpatient Unit on Jan. 14, 2025.
The Wayne County native was born Sept. 29, 1930, and was a member of Calvary Baptist Church. In October of 1948, he enlisted in the Army, and in 1950, he was deployed to serve in the Korean Conflict and received several medals.
He was delighted to serve as the grand marshal for the Veteran’s Day parade. From 1955 to 1978, he was employed by the Life of Georgia Life Insurance Company and also developed a trailer park which he operated for about 20 years.
His favorite pastime was fishing. He was an extremely talented woodworker and one of his greatest accomplishments was building his first and only home. After his retirement, he began building bird houses and children’s rocking chairs. For about 12 years, he gifted a rocker to every baby born at Calvary Baptist Church.
He was a man who loved God, country, family and people. He was blessed to live a rich and full life.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Catherine Tyre Waters; his son-in-law, Larry Aspinwall; sisters, Eunice Westberry and Betty Ann Woodard; and a brother, Thomas Waters.
Survivors include his daughter, Pam Aspinwall of Jesup; granddaughters, Emily (Kasey) Stanley of Jesup and Erica (Dan) Brown of San Diego, California; great-grandchildren, Sydney and Harrison Brown, Grae, Callaway, Warner and Dade Jones.
Funeral services will be held Jan. 20 at 11 a.m. at Calvary Baptist Church with the Rev. Vann Dempsey and Pastor Pete Boyd officiating. Interment will follow in Pinecrest Memorial Cemetery with military honors.
Active pallbearers will be David Paul, Fred Holland, Mike Gordon, Mike Highsmith, Jim Franklin and Kyle Cato.
Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of South Georgia, 1625 Sunset Blvd., Jesup, GA 31545.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
• Howard & Jones
Kenneth David Wilkerson Sr.
Jesup—Kenneth David Wilkerson Sr., 57, died suddenly on Jan. 11, 2025, at Wayne Memorial Hospital.
A native and lifelong resident of Wayne County, he was affectionately known by many as, “Sticker.” He was born on April 15, 1967.
He worked as a truck driver and enjoyed fishing and working on four wheelers and ATVs in his spare time. He always enjoyed living life “to the fullest” and was a good friend to many, his family said.
He was preceded in death by his father, Fred Miller; sister, Sheila “Chris” Bearden; brother, Genell Stallings Jr.; and cousin who was like a brother, Bruce Lamb.
Survivors include his fiancée, Kerry McDuffie, of Jesup; children, Stephen (Amber) Wilkerson of Jesup, Kenneth David (Ashely) Wilkerson Jr. of Jesup, Kyle (Jordan) Wilkerson of Jesup, Megan (Adam) Hart of Pembroke, Amie (Lynn) Wilkerson of Jesup, Ryan (McKenzie) Wilkerson of Jesup, and Chandler (Audrey) McDuffie of Jesup; his mother, Alice Miller of Jesup; siblings, Marty (Jeanette) Teston, Eddie Griffis, Beverly Stallings Brown, Marcia (Marlon) Stein and Sharon Lane, all of Jesup; and a host of grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family members.
Funeral services were held Jan. 14 at Howard & Jones Funeral Home in Jesup with the Rev. Don McCrary officiating. Private interment services will be held at a later date in Red Hill Cemetery.
Family and friends may sign the guestbook online at www.jesupfunealhome.com.
Howard & Jones Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
• Rinehart & Sons
Blake Penix
Newport News,
Virginia—Blake Penix, 31, of Newport News, Virginia, died Nov. 27, 2024, in an automobile accident on his way home for the Thanksgiving holiday.
The Wayne County native had lived in Jesup all his life until after graduation from Wayne County High School in 2011. He was a lifelong member of Calvary Baptist Church where his faith was nourished in guiding his lifetime commitments.
A celebration-of-life service will be held Sunday, Jan. 19, at 2 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church with the Rev. Vann Dempsey and Pastor Pete Boyd officiating.
The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. prior to services at the church.
Remembrances can be made to Calvary Baptist Church Children’s Building Program, P.O. Box 9, Jesup, GA 31598.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home of Jesup assisted locally with arrangements.
James Julian Lewis
Jesup—James Julian Lewis, 84, of Jesup died Jan. 13, 2025, under the care of Hospice of South Georgia.
The Wayne County native was a member and deacon of Jesup Primitive Baptist Church. He was the last living child of Foy and Flossie Lewis and a 1959 graduate of Jesup High School.
The former National Guardsman was a retired 30-year Rayonier employee. He also volunteered as a firefighter and assistant coach for the Wayne County Recreational Department.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Marjorie Padgett Lewis; his son, Kevin Lewis; sisters, Frances Lewis Anderson and Vida Lewis Aspinwall Moore; and brothers, Vernon, Elmer, Franklin, Linton, Jerry and Herman Lewis.
Survivors include his loving wife, Carol Joyner Lewis of Jesup; a daughter, Lisa (Bob) Callaway of Collins; a son, Jason (Michele) Joyner of Jonesborough, Tennessee; and several loved grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held today (Thursday) at 11 a.m. at Jesup Primitive Baptist Church with Elder Keith Tillman officiating. Interment will follow in the George Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Benjamin Callaway, Wayne Anderson, Randall Aspinwall, Vernie Lewis, Doug Lewis, Herman Lewis Jr., Len Lewis, Jason Joyner, Garrett Lewis and Dale Lewis.
Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of South Georgia, 1625 Sunset Blvd., Jesup, GA 31545.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Lewis Hazel
Jesup—Lewis “Chunk” Hazel, 76, of Jesup died on Jan. 14, 2025, in the Hospice of South Georgia Inpatient Unit.
The Illinois native had lived in South Georgia many years and the last 29 years in Jesup. He obtained a degree in psychology and was a 41-year retiree with Hunter Army Airfield.
He was known for his dry sense of humor and enjoyed time spent with his sons and grandson fishing on fresh water and offshore.
Survivors include his “doll of a wife of 30 years,” Mary Ross Hazel of Jesup; twin sons, Chuck (Kelli) Hazel of Claxton and Chris (Gina) Hazel of Wilmington Island; a grandson, Andrew Hazel; stepchildren, Andy (Donna) Johnson of Brunswick and Kelli (Warren) Collier of Jesup and their children, Wyatt and Willa; a step-granddaughter, Katie Enslo, and her daughter, Ellie York; a sister, Christy (Michael) Plummer of Savannah; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Celebration-of-life services will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at Rinehart Chapel with the Rev. Dale Bange officiating along with military honors.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to services at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of South Georgia, 1625 Sunset Blvd., Jesup, GA 31545.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.