• Howard
Mikki Hazel Harris
Jesup—Mikki Hazel Harris, 3, died Dec. 17, 2025, at her home, surrounded by her family and under the care of Hospice of South Georgia.
While the world may have looked at her as disabled, God made her perfect in His image, using each day of her life for His good, and God called her to be a warrior, her family relayed.
She was diagnosed with TRAPPC4, an extremely rare genetic disorder, causing progressive brain atrophy. What the enemy meant for evil, God used it for good, her family said. She was known for her grit and determination, overcoming any physical challenge she faced. It was never a surprise if she took out an X-ray tech with a single kick. Above all, she was known for her incredible ability to brighten the world around her without ever speaking a word. In her three short years, she radically changed lives and drew many closer to Jesus. She exuded joy with her infectious laughter and positive nature. She was loved, but she also gave deep love to everyone she met.
Mikki recently started school at Jesup Elementary, where she loved getting hugs from her friends. She was excited to make new friends with the Blaze Athletics cheer team. Over the past year, she had marked several fun adventures off her “bucket list” she made with her parents, including an airplane ride, a Disney cruise, swimming with dolphins, and her very own Disney princess party. She was always up for a good time with her family, especially her best friends, Mama, Daddy and Hank.
On Dec. 17, she started a new bucket list with Jesus, where she will walk, talk and be free of pain, her family said. She didn’t have to live a lifetime to leave behind a legacy that will never be forgotten. If she could talk, she would tell you to love Jesus with all your heart and to love others as you love yourself, her family said.
Survivors include her parents, Wesley and Tanner Smith Harris of Jesup; a brother, Hank Harris, of Jesup; maternal grandparents, Celeste Whittington Deignan and Michael Deignan of Marathon Key, Florida, and Brian Smith of Statesboro; paternal grandparents, Jada Graham Martin and Stevie Martin of Jesup and John and Christel Harris of Screven; maternal great-grandparents, Mickey and Linda Whittington of Jesup, Judy Smith of Beaufort, South Carolina, and David and Debbie Deignan of Macon; paternal great-grandparents, Michael and Susan Graham of Jesup, Johnny and Toni Harris of Screven, and Carol Cummings of Bogart; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
The family will hold a private graveside service and burial.
A celebration-of-her-life service will be held on Jan. 1 at Calvary Baptist Church in Jesup at 2 p.m. The family will receive friends at the church.
Family and friends may sign the online register at www.howardfuneralga.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of Howard Funeral Home of Ludowici.
• Rinehart & Sons
Clifton Johnson
Jesup—Clifton “Dean” Johnson, 70, of Jesup died Dec. 19, 2025.
The Wayne County native was a Christian and a former auto mechanic with Jesup Ford Mercury, and he was previously employed with the Wayne County Road Department.
He spent the last 30 years as a Madray Springs Fire Department volunteer.
His parents, Isham “Buddy” Johnson and Evon Graham Johnson, preceded him in death.
Survivors include his wife, Terry Ogden Johnson of Jesup; a daughter, Dena (Brian) Lovell of Odum; a granddaughter, Ava Lovell; his beloved dog, Remi; a sister, Gail Lane of Jesup; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Dec. 22 at Rinehart Chapel with the Rev. Jack Lee and Joey Duncan officiating. Interment followed in the Piney Grove Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were his family and friends. Honorary pallbearers were employees of the Wayne County Road Department and Madray Springs Volunteer Fire Department.
In lieu of flowers, memorials should be made to the Piney Grove Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 404, Odum, GA 31555.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
• Howard & Jones
Kevin Coyne
Jesup—Kevin Francis Coyne, 77, died on Dec. 18, 2025 at home.
A resident of Jesup for the past 12 years, he was born on May 8, 1948, in New York, New York to the late Joseph Nicholas Coyne and Mary Elizabeth Hennessey Coyne.
He proudly served his country in the United States Army as a paratrooper, and he became a jungle expert and was a member of the Black Ops. After returning home, he began a career as a mechanic. He was naturally talented in his field and excelled in every position he held. He worked in several different positions over the years while working as a mechanic, including a Green Bus Lines position in New York City and a civilian position at the Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center in Andros, Bahamas. He also worked for The Florida Times-Union and Jacksonville Fire and Rescue, both while living in Florida.
He was a history buff, and he also enjoyed aviation, submarines, building model cars, traveling and visiting museums. He was an expert on the grill and was always willing to lend a helping hand to a friend in need. He was a lifelong Catholic and a communicant of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his two wives, Margaret Hall Coyne and Elizabeth Charlotte Cameron. Survivors include his son, Kevin Patrick (Roseanna) Coyne of Palm Coast, Florida; a daughter, Dawn Wells of Rockledge, Florida; a grandson, Noah J. Coyne of Rockledge, Florida; two sisters, Kathleen Dang of Raymond, New Hampshire and Monica Coyne of Newmarket, New Hampshire; and one nephew, Nicholas Lewis of Pittsfield, New Hampshire.
Visitation was held Dec. 22 at Howard & Jones Funeral home with a rosary service. A mass of Christian burial was held Dec. 23 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church with Father Eder Estrada, Franciscans of Mary, celebrant.
Interment will followed in Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery with military honors rendered by the United States Army.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the American Heart Association, 7130 Hodgson Memorial Drive, Savannah, GA 31406 (online at www.heart.org) or the Wounded Warrior Project, 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300, Jacksonville, Florida, 32204 (online at www.woundedwarriorproject.org).