• Rinehart & Sons
Lee Waters
Jesup—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 Veterans 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, his family said.
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 were held Jan. 20 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 were David Paul, Fred Holland, Mike Gordon, Mike Highsmith, Jim Franklin, Donald Holland and Kyle Cato.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of South Georgia, 1625 Sunset Blvd., Jesup, GA 31545.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Gloria Bennett
Crummey
Jesup—Gloria Bennett Crummey, 74, of Jesup died Jan. 15, 2025.
The Wayne County native was a retired dietician director with Wayne Memorial Hospital and was an avid shopper.
She was preceded in death by her father, Herman Bennett, and her daughter, Rachelda LaDonna Crummey.
Survivors include her mother, Verma Reddish Bennett of Jesup; two sons, Jeremy (Yvette) Crummey and Jay (Tractor) Crummey, all of Jesup; grandchildren, Carlin Ussery, Brandon (Briana) Mullineaux and Noah Mullineaux; great-grandchildren, William and Avery Mullineaux; a sister, Wylene (Mitch) Beverly of Jesup; and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial services were held Jan. 19 from Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Justin Ellis officiating.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Herbert Allen Spell
Jesup—Herbert Allen Spell, 73, of Jesup died Jan. 18, 2025.
The Wayne County native was a member of Little Creek Baptist Church and head caretaker of Little Creek Cemetery. He was a retired CXS machinist and loved his family dearly. He also enjoyed boating, riding motorcycles, and tinkering with motors and lawn mowers
He was known for his compassion for the elderly and widowers, as he would pick them up and ride them around.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Melvin and Dorothy “Dot” Spell, and two sisters, Glenda “Gwen” Strickland and Paulette Harrell.
Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Mary Spell of Jesup; three daughters, Angie (Charles) Roberson of Landis, North Carolina, Sonya (Charles Jr.) Leggett of Jesup and Crystal (Eric) Melendez of Brunswick; a son, Gregory Allen (Shannon) Spell of Savannah; nine grandchildren, Codey, Dusty, Ryan, Eric, Derrick, Jocelyn, Dustin, Brittany and Joseph; several great-grandchildren; a sister, Jean (John) Bennett of Jesup; two brothers, David and Curtis Spell; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held today (Thursday) at 2 p.m. at Rinehart Chapel with the Rev. Shon Cunningham officiating. Interment will follow in Little Creek Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be his grandsons.
Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the funeral home.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
• Out of town
Dr. Keith Taylor
Darlington, South Carolina—Dr. Keith Taylor, 77, of Darlington, South Carolina, died Jan. 3, 2025.
As director of music at Jesup First United Methodist in the 1970s, he expanded the youth choir program to include three handbell choirs, which toured extensively. In 1979, during “The International Year of the Child” global observance, the Charles Wesley Ringers, numbering 12, represented the United States at the “Heirs of the World” concert at Royal Albert Hall in London, England.
The son of the late Wade Hampton Taylor Sr. and the late Catherine Taylor, the renowned musician was born in Orange County, Florida.
He graduated from Shorter College in Rome with degrees in organ performance and history, a doctor of music degree and graduate degrees from the Royal College of Music in London.
He led the growth of music programs at numerous churches, including in Atlanta, Augusta, Calhoun, Jesup and Dawson, as well as Danville, Virginia, and Beaumont, Texas. Most recently, he was minister of music at Trinity United Methodist Church in Darlington and, after his retirement, Welsh Neck Baptist Church in Society Hill, South Carolina.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his wife of 45 years, Joanne Woolf Driggers Taylor, and his brother, Wade Hampton Taylor Jr.
Survivors include a son, Grady (Gloria) Taylor of Evans; a granddaughter, Rachel Taylor of Athens; a nephew, Blake Taylor; and a sister-in-law, Charlotte (Pat) Perry.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in memory of him to a church he served or a music charity of one’s choice.
Kistler Hardie Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.