• Howard & Jones
Norma Louise O’Quinn Poppell
Odum—Norma Louise O’Quinn Poppell, 87, died peacefully on Jan. 16, 2026, under the care of Hospice of South Georgia at Harborview Health System Jesup after a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s disease with Lewy body dementia.
A native and lifelong resident of Wayne County, she was born on Oct. 7, 1938, in Jesup at the Colvin-Ritch Hospital (now Wayne Memorial Hospital), the first of two children, to the late William Volney O’Quinn and Emma Mae Cameron O’Quinn. She was raised near Odum on the O’Quinn family farm dating from the early 1800s, in the Friendship Baptist Church community near the Wayne County and Appling County line. She attended Piney Grove Elementary School in the Piney Grove Community of Odum. She was a 1956 graduate of Jesup High School, and she attended Berry College in Rome.
She was married to her husband, Herbert Leonard Poppell, for 58 years, until his death in 2018. In addition to her husband and parents, she was also preceded in death by her father-in-law, Robie Poppell, and her mother-in-law, Doris Ridgdill Poppell. She was a dedicated and much-loved daughter, sister, wife, mother and daughter-in-law.
She worked for several years with the Wayne County school system in administrative and substitute teacher positions, until 1966, when her husband purchased the old Pearce’s Drug and Hardware in Odum. Jointly, they operated the newly formed business, Poppell’s Hardware Store, and later Poppell’s Hardware and Amoco for more than 30 years, until its closure in the late 1990s. Afterwards, she again served as substitute teacher, as well as a Wayne County election poll worker, for several years before her retirement.
She was a dedicated and active member of Odum Baptist Church for more than 50 years. She enjoyed working in her flowers, taking care of her cats, spending time with her husband at the farm, and spending time with her family. Most of all, she was an exemplary mother, her family said, and she embodied the best of qualities: unconditional love, strength of spirit, and unending generosity which could be seen in her care for her family.
Survivors include her loving son, Ralph Edward Poppell of Atlanta and Odum; her brother, Pete O’Quinn of Jesup; her niece, Angie O’Quinn of Jesup; her special cousin-in-law, Linda Poppell Smith, and husband G.R. Smith of Savannah and Odum; and many other cousins and other extended-family members.
The family expresses sincere appreciation to her dedicated team of caregivers, especially Ellen Dorminey and Barbara Burkhalter, who provided companionship, comfort and care during her lengthy illness.
Funeral services were held Jan. 19 at Howard & Jones Funeral Home with Jeff Chandler officiating. Interment followed in Odum City Cemetery.
Family and friends may sign the guestbook online at www.jesupfuneralhome.com.
Howard & Jones Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
William Wallace Warnick III
Jesup—William Wallace Warnick III, 78, affectionately known as “Bill,” died peacefully on Jan. 17, 2026, at home.
A resident of Wayne County for the past 56 years, he was born on Sept. 22, 1947, in Flora, Indiana, to the late William Wallace Warnick II and Genevieve Hanna Warnick. He spent his early years in Flora, where he graduated from Carroll County High School. After high school, he proudly served his country in the United States Army, working as an aviation mechanic in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969.
Upon return to the States, he joked that he nearly froze to death, even though he was stationed in South Georgia. He began a career shortly after at Sears, where he worked on appliances for 26 years, and he later worked at Wayne Memorial Hospital in the maintenance department for 27 years before his retirement.
He was known as a hard worker. He always had jobs on the side, in addition to his “regular” work. He was instrumental in keeping both theaters in Jesup running by using his knowledge of projectors, and he also operated his own locksmith and home appliance repair business for many years. He truly was a jack of all trades and could fix nearly anything, his family said.
He was an active member of Trinity Baptist Church, where he was bestowed the honorable title of deacon emeritus. He was known as being always easy to get along with and had a soft spot in his heart for animals, especially his beloved canine companion, Blue.
Survivors include his wife of 35 years, Cheryl Westberry Warnick of Odum; one daughter, Kimberly Alam of Hazlehurst; a stepdaughter, Elaine (Ian) Greene of Odum; four grandchildren, Sameer and Aryian Alam and Ellie and Will Greene; two brothers, David (Cindy) Warnick of Martinsville, Indiana, and Charles “Chuck” (Carolyn) Warnick of Thompson Station, Tennessee; a brother-in-law, Jim (Anne) Westberry of Odum; sister-in-law, Sherry (Jerry) Dowling of Odum; two nieces, Elizabeth Landrum and Ashley Coburn; and numerous other extended-family members.
Funeral services were held Jan. 21 at Trinity Baptist Church with the Rev. Terry Jackson and the Rev. Hayward Bass officiating.
Interment services followed in Odum City Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were John Pope, Will Greene, Ian Greene, Garrison Grantham, Miles Starling and Joe Davis.
Honorary pallbearers were deacons of Trinity Baptist Church, Carol Suggs, Rick Davidson, Joseph Arnett, Roger Wiggins, H.L. Spell and Adnan Alam.
Family and friends may sign the guestbook online at www.jesupfuneralhome.com.
Howard & Jones Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.