• Rinehart & Sons
Roy Purvis
Jesup—Roy Purvis, 93, died Oct. 28, 2025.
The Coffeeville, Alabama, native was born to William Leonard and Eva Huggins Purvis. He had five siblings, including a twin brother. He was sworn into U.S. Navy service as a fireman. From there, he served aboard the USS Laertes AR-20. His tour of duty included being stationed in Sasebo, Japan, and areas of South Korea. He received honors including the National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal and United Nations Service Medal.
His civilian life after leaving the service included employment with the Surveying Drilling Company of Houston, Texas, where he was involved in drilling of oil wells in his home state of Alabama. This experience led to his interest of all aspects of well drilling but with a focus on water wells and irrigation systems. He drilled his first water well in Alabama.
His career in water wells led him to relocate to Jesup, where he founded Purvis Well & Pump in 1967. His well-drilling career included drilling, installation and maintenance of water wells and pumps throughout Alabama, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.
He lived in Jesup with his wife, Janice, of almost 71 years. They were surrounded by a close network of family, including their children Kevin (Donna) Purvis of Statesboro and Martha (Howell) Clements of Odum; grandchildren, Justin Lee, Maryn (Clay) Chandler, Christopher (Ashlyn) Purvis, Adam Purvis and Logan Purvis; great-grandchildren, Callan and Ausley Chandler and Teddy Purvis; and many special nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Nov. 1 from Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Randy Priutt officiating. Interment followed in Odum City Cemetery with presentation of the U.S. flag and Masonic Rites. Active pallbearers were his grandsons and great-grandson.
Memorials may be made to Shriners Children’s Hospital, P.O. Box 947765, Atlanta, GA 30394 or to donate.shrinerschildren.org.
The family expressed its gratitude to Southern Manor Senior Living of Statesboro and Ralph Cowart and his compassionate staff for their excellent care.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Anne Ritch Miller
Jesup—Anne Ritch Miller, 70, of Jesup died Nov. 2, 2025.
The Appling County native had lived in Wayne County most of her life and was a member of Jesup First United Methodist Church and Circle No. 5.
She retired from the Georgia Department of Labor and enjoyed reading, shopping, having lunch with family and friends, and cooking. Her home was her safe haven.
Her parents, T.G. and Mary Anne Ritch, preceded her in death.
Survivors include her husband of 43 years, Mark Miller of Jesup; a sister, Nancy Miller of Jesup; a brother, Tom (Ashlyn) Ritch of St. Simons Island; nieces and nephews, Carrie (Steve) Molinari, Katie Bennett, Flynn (Brook) Miller, Whitney (Matthew) Brookins, Mary Lynn Ritch, Thomas (Kristen) Ritch; and a cousin, Jan (Gary) Peel.
A celebration-of-her-life service will be held today (Thursday) at 11 a.m. at Jesup First United Methodist Church with Pastor Rebecca Duke-Barton officiating. Private interment will be in the Jesup City Cemetery.
Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials should be made to Jesup First United Methodist Church, 205 E. Cherry Street, Jesup, GA 31546.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
• Out of town
Barbara Christoffers Owens
Barbara Christoffers Owens walked in a lot of shoes.
She was born Dec. 7, 1932, daughter of Bernhardt Christoffers, a chemist turned entrepreneur and business owner, and Gertrude Murray Christoffers, among the first women to enlist in the Navy in the first World War.
In her baby shoes, she grew up as Babs, daddy’s little girl, and a little sister to Bert, military pilot; Donald, veteran and civilian doctor; and Dorothy, noted Florida artist, first on Long Island, New York, then later in Keystone Heights, Florida, where her family relocated about the time of the World Wr II. Her ninth birthday coincided with the infamous Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Too young to serve at the time, she still grew up when everyone laced up their boots as part of the “Greatest Generation”. She spoke often of the blackouts and rationing and especially how everyone looked out for each other. Most of all, she would recall how she and her friends would get together and play records and dance either at their houses or at the Keystone Pavilion. Such were the earliest recollections of when she buckled on her dancing shoes.
In high school, she was fitted for glass slippers as the first May Queen, the city’s once-upon-a-time beauty pageant. In her saddle oxfords, she earned an associate of arts degree from Stetson University in secretarial skills, meanwhile slipping into office pumps to work as a secretary on campus. While there, she married Byrns Lezelle Owens and so strapped on gospel sandals as a preacher’s wife, and she later worked logistics for Standard Oil while putting her husband through seminary. In house slippers, she reared three children, Kyle, Erin and Eric.
She entertained and ministered to Apollo engineers and their families at the pastorium in Cocoa Beach, planted a new sustaining congregation in Oldsmar, worked as a secretary and bookkeeper to Clay County schools, and served on the Keystone Heights City Council.
As a widowed empty nester, she helped organize and manage the local chapter of the Singles Club, and she dedicated time at AMVETS. In the evenings, when she would finally take her shoes off, she spent time talking with the Lord in prayers that were audible across the house.
At the end of her life, you could say she had slipped into a pair of ruby slippers: She just wanted to go home. Jesus called her from her own bedroom on the evening of Oct. 16, 2025, with her children around her. She left very big shoes to fill.
• Howard & Jones
Teofila Jimenez Mendoza
Jesup—Teofila Jimenez Mendoza, 46, affectionately known by her family and friends as “Teo,” died suddenly on Oct. 27, 2025, from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident.
A resident of Jesup for the past 21 years and former resident of Indianapolis, Indiana, she was born on Dec. 28, 1978, in Mexico. She was a very hard worker, cleaning houses for many years before opening her own business (along with her husband), a food truck, Taco Del Ranchito, which the two have operated for the past 13 years. She attended the Alpha and Omega Pentecostal Church for more than 10 years.
In her spare time, she loved shopping, and she was always a lover of animals. Her caring nature made her the most loving daughter, wife, mother and grandmother, her family said.
Survivors include her husband of 31 years, Noe Cosco of Jesup; two daughters, Martha Cosco Jimenez and husband, Abraham Ochoa of Jesup and Rosa Cosco Jimenez and husband, Jenner Valdez of Brunswick; one son, Angel Cosco Jimenez of Jesup; two grandchildren, Jarrett Valdez Cosco and Raelynn Valdez Cosco both of Brunswick; her mother, Balbina Mendoza; her father, Fernando Jimenez; siblings, Abraham Licona of North Carolina and Herman Licona, Senovia Jimenez, Felisita Jimenez, Trinidat Jimenez and Caritina Licona all of Mexico; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other extended-family members.
Funeral services were held Oct. 29 at Howard & Jones Funeral Home in Jesup. Interment followed in Sunset Oaks Memorials.
Active pallbearers were Noe Cosco, Henry Riano, Jenner Valdez, Abraham Ochoa, Abraham Licona and Gabriel Jimenez.
Howard & Jones Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
• Howard
Melvin Cecil Drury
Odum—Melvin Cecil Drury, 79, died Nov. 3, 2025, in Savannah.
Born in Waynesville, he lived in Wayne County most of his life. He retired from Union Camp in Brunswick after 30 years of service and, along with his first wife, owned and operated Maida June’s Restaurant in Nahunta for more than 15 years. An outdoorsman, he enjoyed gardening, working in his yards and carpentry.
He was a member of Fellowship Baptist Church in Jesup and attended Faith Chapel SCMC.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Maida June Drury, and siblings Geneva Taylor, Nadine Rooks, Marty Drury, Sonny Drury and Benny Drury.
Survivors are his wife, Edna “Kitty” Drury of Odum; a daughter, Barbara Ann Branch of Michigan; a son, Dylan (Misty) Drury of Jesup; a stepdaughter, Tammy (Stacy) Thornton of Jesup; sisters Marie (Winston) Drury of Woodbine and Patsy Moody of Brunswick; a brother, Jimmy Drury of Hortense; grandchildren, Isabella Drury, Chloe (Chase) Korzenok, Bradyn Drury, Chase (Tiffany) Thornton; great-grandchildren, Kelli (J.R.) Johns, Madi Johns, Owen Johns, Anna Mitchell and Jordan Thornton; and several nieces and nephews.
Celebration-of-life services will be held on Saturday, Nov. 8, at 2 p.m. at Faith Chapel SCMC in Jesup with the Rev. James Carter officiating.
The family will receive visitors at the church.
Family and friends may sign the online register at www.howardfuneralga.com.
Howard Funeral Home of Ludowici is in charge of arrangements.