• Rinehart & Sons
Randall Maxwell Walker, III
Jesup—Randall “Randy” Maxwell Walker III, 74, of Jesup died Dec. 14, 2024, after having heart issues for the last five years.
He was born and reared in Jesup, where he lived most of his adult life. He also lived in Richmond Hill, Guyton and Beaufort, South Carolina, for several years. He grew up in Jesup First United Methodist Church but his last church membership and baptism were at Community Bible Church in Beaufort. Three years later he was joyfully baptized in the Jordan River in Israel.
He loved the Lord with all his heart and welcomed the opportunity to share his faith with others. He was a kind, warmhearted, loving man who enjoyed spending time with his family.
After graduating from the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in business, he came home to help run and eventually become the dealer of the family business, Walker Chevrolet Oldsmobile that was started in 1934 by his grandfather, Randall Maxwell Walker Sr.
He left the car business in 1997 and then earned his insurance license. He worked in association with DeWitt Insurance Agency in Rincon for several years, until his retirement, when he was passionate about helping senior citizens. Later, in his post-retirement, he worked for Felton Burke of Kingdom Metal Buildings as a salesman until he officially and finally retired.
He was a natural athlete and loved sports. In school, he excelled in baseball and basketball and was very proud of playing on the Wayne County High Yellow Jacket baseball state championship team in 1967. As an adult, he was an avid and excellent golfer. He followed and watched all sports, and he loved the UGA Bulldogs.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Randall Maxwell Walker Jr. and Jean Adams Walker; a brother, Bruce Adams Walker; two brothers-in-law, Don Reynolds Story Sr. and Dwight Drury; and a son-in-law, Lee Lawhorne.
Survivors include his two sisters, Angela Walker Story of Wilmington Island and April Walker Drury of Jesup; nieces and nephews, Adrienne Story Lawhorne, Don “Reyn” (Marie) Story Jr., Holly Drury Humphrey and Lauren Drury (Pete) Amis; great-nieces and great-nephews, Bennett, Luis, Morgan, Riley, Walker and Wyatt.
He was loved by three special women: his friend and soulmate, Polly Ellis; Stephanie Walker; and Brenda Shearouse.
Funeral services were held Dec. 18 at Rinehart Chapel with Schel Paulk officiating. Private family interment was in Pinecrest Memorial Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Community Bible Church, 638 Paris Island Gateway, Beaufort, SC 29906.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Geraldine “Gerry” Phillips Bohannon
Jesup—Geraldine “Gerry” Phillips Bohannon, 91, of Jesup died on Dec. 13, 2024, under the care of Hospice of South Georgia.
The Toombs County native had lived in Wayne County the past 69 years and was a member of First Baptist Church of Jesup and the Dorcas Sunday School Class. She enjoyed many activities in the church and served on many committees.
Wayne Memorial Hospital Auxiliary awarded her the “over 10,000 volunteer hours” for her service. Being an avid gardener and seamstress were her best-known talents.
Her husband of 45 years, James M. Bohannon Jr., preceded her in death.
Survivors include two daughters, Belinda (Daryl) Ray of St. Simons Island and Susan (Randolph) Easterling of Jesup; three sons, Mitchell (Shellie Gay) Bohannon of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, Philip (Vickie) Bohannon of Statesboro and David (Stacy) Bohannon of Jesup; two sisters, Carolyn (Gordon) Peoples of Pooler and Sandy (Kenny) Lamb of Richmond Hill; a brother, Dennis Phillips of Darien; grandchildren, Leslie, Ashley, Jenni, John B., John E., Jessi, Jamie, Brody and Lance; great-grandchildren, Harris, Beckett, Hattie, James, Bane, Ryker and Beau; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Dec. 16 at First Baptist Church with the Rev. David Bohannon and Creston Groover officiating. Interment followed in Pinecrest Memorial Cemetery. Active pallbearers were her family. Honorary pallbearers were Larry Priester, Kyle Keith and John Westberry.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Jesup First Baptist Church, 185 S. Brunswick Street, Jesup, GA 31546 or Hospice of South Georgia, 1625 Sunset Blvd., Jesup, GA 31545.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
• Howard
Carolyn Annette Carter
Hinesville—Carolyn Annette Carter, 84, died Dec. 10, 2024, at Hospice of Savannah.
Born in Bristol, she moved to Liberty County in 1991 and hadlived there ever since. She was known as the organizer of her family and friends. She planned and never missed her class reunions and family reunions every year.
She enjoyed gardening, music, researching genealogy, watching birds and Christmas- time. But most of all, she loved her family, especially her grandchildren. She was a member of Lake Chapel Primitive Baptist Church in Patterson her whole life.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Darwin and Doretha Stanfield Deal, and her brother and sister-in-law, Lynn (Betty) Deal.
Survivors include her husband, Jimmy Carter; daughters and sons-in-law, Cheryl (Kevin) Arnold of Savannah and Debbie (John) Dees of Baxley; sons and daughters-in-law, David (Leisha) Martin of Odum and Greg (Bebe) Martin of Kingsland; a sister and brother-in-law, Elaine (Roy) Bass of Baxley; brothers and sisters-in-law, Elwyn (Nancy) Deal of Anderson, South Carolina, and Eldon (Pam) Deal of Baxley; grandchildren, Blaze (Samantha) Martin of Valrico, Florida, Christopher Martin of Cartersville, J.C. Dees of Savannah, Dylan Martin of Jesup, Zach Martin of Savannah and Josh Martin of Athens; two great-grandchildren, Levi and Shelby Martin of Valrico, Florida; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Dec. 14 at Lake Chapel Primitive Baptist Church with Elder Jason Deal and Elder Sam Bennett officiating.
Pallbearers were Stacy Bass, Jason Bass, Ryan Deal, Dennis Deal, Jimmy Clow and Glenn Shelby.
Honorary pallbearers were members of the Appling County High School class of 1957.
Remembrances are suggested to Hospice of Savannah or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Family and friends may sign the online register at www.howardfuneralga.com.
Howard Funeral Home of Ludowici was in charge of arrangements.
William Edward McCollum
Robbinsville, North Carolina—William Edward (Ed) McCollum, retired captain (United States Marine Corps), 88, died peacefully Dec. 10, 2024, at his home in Robbinsville, North Carolina, with his family by his side.
He was born Nov. 30, 1936, in Wayne County to Troy and Lettus (Griffin) McCollum. He grew up on his family’s farm with his two sisters, Ann and Betty, before the family relocated to Jesup. He enjoyed educational pursuits and played on the Jesup High School basketball team.
He graduated from Golden Gate University with a bachelor’s degree in management.
He proudly served his country in the United States Marine Corps for 32 years, until his retirement on May 31, 1988. During most of his military service, he worked as an air traffic controller. He also spent time as a flight navigator.
His love of being a Marine began at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot-Parris Island in Beaufort, South Carolina. After training, he was stationed at many Marine and Naval bases, often on the East Coast, and three tours of duty for a total of eight years in Iwakuni, Japan. He completed his circuit back at Beaufort.
A man with high energy and intelligence, he could not stay still (or retired) for long. He owned and managed a Sears Catalog store in Jesup for four years. He provided bookkeeping services to small businesses and taught accounting and math for Altamaha Technical College. After his move to Robbinsville in 2004, he worked as a tax preparer with H&R Block and finally with Hometown Tax & Accounting Services.
He was also a very active member of the Masonic Lodge No. 672 in Robbinsville. Also, he was a member of the Robbinsville Oasis Shrine Club and the Franklin Chapter 95 Royal Arch Masons, Doric Council 20 Royal & Select Master, and Waynesville Commandery 69 Knight Templar.
He was predeceased by his parents, Lettus and Troy McCollum; his sister, Ann McCollum Dent; and his daughter, Jessica Nan McCollum.
He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Patty Ditmore McCollum; his sister, Betty McCollum Salter; his daughter, Angel McCollum; sons, Jeff McCollum and Steve (Rhonda) Hyde; and sister, Betty McCollum Salter.
He was a beloved “grandpa” to his grandchildren, Jeremy (Jessica), Cory (Angelina), Tyler, Logan (Riley), Cody, George (Hannah), Dakota, Marla and Riley. He was blessed with several great-grandchildren, Vada, Kiley, Brody, Isla, Annabelle, Hagan, Oliver, Isla, and Braxton. He was anticipating the birth of his first great-great-grandchild, Easton, in February 2025.
Enjoying times with their blended families, Ed and Patty remained friends over the years with Carolyn Herndon Comer, mother of Angel, Jeff and Jessica Nan.
Funeral services were held Dec. 14 in North Carolina.
Additional funeral services were held Dec. 16 at Howard Funeral Home in Ludowici with the Rev. Stanley Todd officiating.
Burial with military honors was held in Pinecrest Memorial Cemetery in Jesup.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Oasis Shrine Club in Robbinsville.
Family and friends may sign the online register at www.howardfuneralga.com.
Howard Funeral Home of Ludowici was in charge of local arrangements.
• Out of town
Cresie Lee White
Idabel, Oklahoma—Cresie Lee (Spradley) White died Dec. 11 at her home in Idabel, Oklahoma.
She was born on May 23, 1945, in Jesup, the daughter of Earl and Emmie (Manning) Spradley. She married Joel “JT” White on June 22, 1963.
She pursued her own education, after having ensured that her three children were on secure career paths. She then obtained her teaching degree and library certification, to later work and retire as the Haworth High School librarian.
She was a beloved and active member of First Baptist Church in Idabel, and found her contribution and time cooking with the church kitchen personally rewarding and appreciated, her family said.
She grew up in South Georgia but has raised her family in Idabel over the last 55 years, having made countless dear friends on her journey.
She especially loved her sewing friends “Sassy Stitchers,” quilting retreats and group trips to distant outlet malls, and Branson, Missouri, show experiences with all of the laughs along the way.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Emmie Spradley, and her first born son, Michael Harley White.
Survivors include her husband of 61 years, Joel “JT” White Jr. of Idabel; a son, Russell Lee (Jenny) White of Springfield, Missouri; a grandson, Mitchell Lee (Emily) White of Springfield, Missouri; a great-granddaughter, Adilynn Grace; a great-grandson, Maxwell Lee; a grandson, Nathaniel Lee White of Springfield; a daughter, Pattie Christine (Greg) Lancaster of Idabel; a grandson, Bryce Lancaster and Rachel of Prosper, Texas; a granddaughter, Abbigayle Lancaster Albrecht and Blaine of Caddo Mills, Texas; a great-granddaughter, Parker Lee; granddaughter, Macie Lee Lancaster; a granddaughter, Madelyn White (Mark) Delp of Earlysville, Virginia; a brother, Delmus Spradley of Jesup; several nieces, nephews other relatives; and many friends and former students.
Funeral services were held Dec. 14 at First Baptist Church in Idabel with Brother Jon Hicks officiating. Interment followed at the Canfield Cemetery.
Online condolences can be shared with the family at www.whitefamilyfh.com.
White Family Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.