• Rinehart & Sons
Edwin C. Madray
Jesup—Edwin C. “Ed” Madray, 91, of Jesup died Jan. 20, 2025.
The Wayne County native was a member and life deacon of Jesup First Baptist Church. The 1951 Jesup High School graduate played football, basketball and baseball as a Yellow Jacket.
He also was a U.S. Air Force veteran who served in the Korean Conflict. After his service, he returned to the University of Georgia to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy. He was an avid Georgia Bulldog for life.
He retired from Wayne Memorial Hospital as chief pharmacist in 1998, after selling his pharmacy business that serviced prescriptions for Westbury Nursing Homes in 1989. However, he continued to do fill-in work until he was 80 years old.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Clinton S. “Babe” and Vera Madray, and brothers, Clint and George Madray.
Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Margaret Mundy Madray of Jesup; daughters, Mandy (Steve) Dupree of Macon and Angie (Rick) Givens of St. Augustine, Florida; grandchildren, Daniel and Caleb Dupree; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Jan. 24 at Jesup First Baptist Church with Pastor Brooks Haddock officiating. Interment followed in the Jesup City Cemetery. Active pallbearers were his friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Jesup First Baptist Church, 185 S. Brunswick Street, Jesup, GA 31546.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
•Royal
Albert James Cunningham
Jesup— Albert James Cunningham died on Jan. 15, 2025.
He was affectionately known as “AJ.” He was born on Oct. 15, 1939. His parents were the late Westly Cunningham and Lucille Lyons-Cunningham of Jesup.
He was educated at Wayne County Training School and went on to take up a trade up north, eventually becoming a self-employed contractor.
While living in Rochester, New York, he married and had several children whom he loved dearly.
He later returned to Jesup, where he would live in a rich community until his untimely passing on Jan. 15, surrounded by his loving family.
He maintained dedicated service in New Hope Free Will Church and will be missed dearly by his family, near and far, his family said.
There will not be a wake or visitation.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, Jan. 31, at 11 a.m. at New Hope Free Will Baptist Church, 398 W. Walnut St. Interment will be held in the Jesup City Cemetery.
Royal Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
• Out of town
The Rev. William McLemore
Tucker—The Rev. William “Bill” Pearman McLemore, 87, died Jan. 14, 2025.
He was born in West Point, New York, on Oct. 14, 1937, to Ephraim Hester McLemore and Edith Adeline Pearman McLemore. As the son of an Army colonel, the family moved around a lot during his childhood. He spoke fondly of his time spent as a young boy in Japan, where they lived in a beautiful home with a Japanese family. He had a younger sister, Ann, and younger brother, Timmy.
Some of his best childhood memories were from when they lived at Fort Monroe in Virginia during his high school years. They lived in a two-story brick house, and it was there that he met one of his best friends, Michael Irvine, whose family lived in nearby officers’ quarters. In June of 1959, Mike would become Bill’s brother-in-law when he married Bill’s sister, Ann.
Bill’s mother died when he was 14, and in 1952, his father married Betty Pfieffer. He gained a stepsister, Barbara, and stepbrother, Butch. In 1954, he gained a half-brother, Joseph.
He joined the Army right out of high school in 1955. His three-year Army career started in Korea, where he was stationed for two years. In 1957, he was stationed in Missouri and worked as a command clerk. He was always serious about his religion. He was close to his maternal grandfather and had been interested in his grandfather’s vocation as an Episcopal priest. In Missouri, he became the Episcopal chaplain’s assistant and a licensed lay reader. He began conducting morning prayer services and even preaching sermons. He specifically loved the Episcopal church’s rituals and liturgy. Having the opportunity to help others find God’s love was his calling.
After his discharge, he went to Florida State University, where he met his first wife, Jacqueline Spinks. They married on Dec. 14, 1963. He graduated from Virginia Theological seminary in May of 1965 with a master’s degree in divinity. He was ordained a deacon in June of that year and ordained a priest in April of 1966 at Christ Church in Cedar Key, Florida.
He briefly served at Christ Church in Pensacola, Florida; later at St. Paul’s Church in Jesup; and at Holy Trinity in Auburn, Alabama; and started St. Stephen’s church in Phenix City, Alabama.
Throughout his ministry, he was also an avid cartoonist. His cartoons depicted hilarity from the life of a minister and the workings of the church. They were enjoyed in the bulletins of his various churches. He won first place for cartoons from the National Newspaper Association from cartoons appearing in the Wayne County Press in Jesup. In 2007 he published a book of his cartoons to benefit the Rainbow Village organization, which helps homeless people in the Atlanta area. His cartoons have appeared in four books from GwinnettForum.
On Jan. 6, 2000, he married his second wife, the Rev. Lori Lowe. He retired from active ministry and began working as a supply priest for various churches.
In 1969, he joined the Jesup Rotary Club. He was a member of the Rotary Club in every town where he lived for 56 years. Most recently, he was a member and secretary for the Rotary Club of Tucker.
He is survived by his sister Barbara; brothers Butch and Joseph; his children, Mary Kathryn (Gary), Billy (Natalie), and Christopher (Donna); his stepchildren, Melissa (Stan), David (Brittany) and Justin (Catherine); 11 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sweetheart, Claiborne.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Jacqueline Spinks; his second wife, the Rev. Lori Lowe; his mother and father, Edith and Ephraim; a sister, Ann; a brother-in-law, Mike; a brother, Timmy; and a sister-in-law, Anne.
• Howard & Jones
Lonnie C. Yarbrough
Palatka, Florida—Lonnie C. Yarbrough, 81, of Palatka, Florida, died Jan. 27, 2025, at HCA Florida Putnam Hospital following a brief illness.
A native of Jesup, he served honorably in the U.S. Air Force. He worked with Mead Paperboard Company in Scottsboro, Alabama, for two years before moving to Palatka in 1976 to work with Hudson Pulp and Paper Company.
He retired from Georgia Pacific Paper Company in Palatka as recovery superintendent following 30-plus years of dedicated service.
He was a member of Peniel Baptist Church in Palatka. He was also a numismatist (coin collector) and loved fishing, especially while enjoying one of his Cuban Cohiba Cigars.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas C. Yarbrough and Audie Poindexter Yarbrough; three brothers; and four sisters.
Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Elizabeth “Beth” Yarbrough of Palatka; a son, Mitchell (Jennifer) Yarbrough of Lutz, Florida; a daughter, Nancy Green of Palatka; three sisters, Myrtice McLeighton, Gerry (Bill) Cooksey and Ruby Elliott, all of Jesup; five grandchildren, David Bradley Jr. (Susan Spencer), Austin (Kayla) Bradley, Shaley Looney (Austin Knighton), Haden Yarbrough and Iris Yarbrough; and six great-grandchildren, Trey Bradley, Aria Bradley, Rhylynn Robinson, Aisley Robinson, Laiden Bradley and Brodie Knighton.
Celebration-of-life services will be held Friday, Jan. 31, at 3 p.m. at Johnson-Overturf Chapel in Palatka with Brother Benny Reynolds officiating. The family will receive friends on Friday from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Graveside services and burial under the direction of Howard & Jones Funeral Home in Jesup will be held Feb. 2 at 4 p.m. at Pinecrest Memorial Cemetery in Jesup with Brother Benny Reynolds officiating.
Flowers are gratefully accepted, or memorial donations may be sent to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, St. Jude Tribute Program, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142.
Family and friends may sign the guestbook online at www.jesupfuneralhome.com.
Howard & Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.