• Howard & Jones
Lenton Dean Thompson Sr.
Jesup—Lenton Dean Thompson Sr., 82, affectionately known as “Big Pappa Dean,” died peacefully on Feb. 17, 2025, at home.
A native and lifelong resident of Wayne County, he was born on Dec. 18, 1942, to the late, Lenton and Pauline Batten Thompson. He graduated from Jesup High School and served his country in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam Era.
After returning home to the states, he worked for Rayonier Advanced Materials for more than 15 years before starting his own business working as a contractor. He was a true jack-of-all-trades and could do almost anything he put his mind to. He was an expert at framing, painting, electrical and plumbing.
In his spare time, he enjoyed fishing, doing puzzles, piddling around the house and watching the University of Georgia Bulldogs on television.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his former wife, best friend and mother of his children, Dale B. Lamb; a son, Lenton Dean Thompson Jr.; and two sisters, Sandra Pounds and Cheryl Sweat.
Survivors include his son, Jody Wayne Thompson of Jesup; three grandchildren, Brooke Kinna of Jesup, Dylan Thompson of Athens and Madison Thompson of Jesup; great-grandchildren, Katee, Kennedy, Daxton, Maxen and Docton; and a host of nieces, nephews and extended family members.
Services will be private.
Family and friends may sign the guestbook online at www.jesupfuneralhome.com.
Howard & Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Chrystine Elizabeth Gaines
Jesup—Chrystine Elizabeth Gaines, 43, affectionately known as, “Chrys,” died Feb. 16, 2025, at her home in Jesup.
A resident of Jesup for the past several years and former resident of Centerville, Iowa, and Mountain Home, Arkansas, she was born on June 7, 1981.
She was a homemaker who loved sewing, music and watching movies. She always had a sweet and gentle spirit, and she always loved her fur babies and spending time with the ones she loved the most, her family.
Survivors include her husband, Charles Gaines of Jesup; a son, Sam Devore of Centerville, Iowa; parents, Wilson and Linda Rigler of Mena, Arkansas; sister, Anneliese Kulakofsky of Mena, Arkansas; grandchildren, Tobias and Ellie, who is “on the way”; numerous siblings; and other extended family members.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 8, at 2 p.m. at Howard & Jones Funeral Home in Jesup with the Rev. Rebecca Duke-Barton officiating.
Family and friends may sign the guestbook online at www.jesupfuneralhome.com.
Howard & Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
• Rinehart & Sons
Linda Leonard Anderson
Jesup—Linda Leonard Anderson, 70, of Jesup died Feb. 21, 2025, after a long illness at Regency Hospital in Macon surrounded by her family.
The Wayne County resident was a retired labor and delivery nurse who loved to read, quilt and shop.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 36 years, Dale Anderson; her granddaughters, Katelyn and Ashlynn Anderson; a grandson, Zachary Harrill; a sister, Sandra Crummey; a brother, Richard Leonard; and a nephew, Andy Jones.
Survivors include two daughters, Paula (Alan) Carter of Odum and Aleshia (Clint Patterson) Newkirk of Winnemucca Nevada; two sons, Carl David (Lynn) Anderson of Brunswick and Mac (Jennifer) Anderson of Jesup; grandchildren, Alexis (Alex) Buser, Morgan Harrill, Madison (Chris) Dandaneau, Josh (Taylor) Anderson, Logan (Hanna) Anderson, Conner Anderson, Sarah (Seth Kersey) Anderson, Brandon (Maddux Jenkins) Newkirk, Kayla Newkirk and Olivia Carter; great-grandchildren, Blythe, Blair, Brayten, Finley and Kora; two sisters, Arlene Herndon and Catherine Bennett; a brother-in-law, Paul (Sylvia) Anderson; her four-legged companion, Reese; special nieces, Angie Knowland and Kristy Unger; a special nephew, B.B. Anderson; and special family friends, Robert and Angie Lane, Carrie Roberson, Cathy Snow and Molly McLaughlin.
Funeral services were held Feb. 24 at Rinehart Chapel with the Rev. Tim Brantley officiating. Interment followed in Priester Cemetery. Active pallbearers were grandsons, Josh, Logan, Conner Anderson, Brandon Newkirk, Chris Dandaneau and Alex Buser.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Tabitha’s Place, 247 S. 2nd Street, Jesup, GA 31545 or Spring Grove Freewill Baptist Church, 960 Spring Grove Rd., Jesup, GA 31545.
The family will receive friends at 1576 Fred Carter Rd., Odum, GA 31555.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Doug Pye
Jesup—Doug Pye, 61, of Jesup died on Feb. 24, 2025.
He was an active member of New Life Church and a retired electrician. His grandchildren were the “apples of his eye.” Gardening and taking care of his chickens were also his favorite pastimes.
He was preceded in death by his father, Horace Pye; a sister, Diane Pye; and a brother, Donnie Pye.
Survivors include his wife of 36 years, Eleanor Pye of Jesup; a son, Alex (Tiffany) Pye of Jesup; grandchildren, Owen and Allie Pye; a sister, Debbie (John) Murphy of Rock Hill, South Carolina; three brothers, Horace Pye of Jesup, Deryl Pye of Jesup and Danny (Christina) Pye of Michigan; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Feb. 26 at Rinehart Chapel with Pastor Justin Drawdy and Ricky Pruitt officiating. Interment followed in Piney Grove Cemetery. Active pallbearers were Alex Pye, Ricky Pruitt, Justin Drawdy, Stephen Drawdy, Jacob Pitts and David Forbes. Honorary pallbearers were members of the Food Bank Ministry Team.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Food Bank Ministry at New Life Church, 1255 Joey Williamson Road, Jesup, GA 31545.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Grady H. Rudd
Jesup—Grady H. Rudd of Jesup, 98, died Feb. 22, 2025.
He was the son of Pamelia and Tillman Rudd from Covington County, Alabama, and was the last survivor of the families’ four sons and one daughter. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II at Mayport, Jacksonville, Florida, and remained in Jacksonville as a mechanic with Riverside Chevrolet from 1955-1973. He and his wife moved to Jesup in 1973 where he was employed with Carter Dredging Company until his retirement.
He was known for his readiness to lend a hand in labor and was pleased to give away 80 percent or more of his garden’s output to acquaintances.
He was a faithful attendee at Trinity Baptist Church and enjoyed playing with his grandkids, fishing, tending his garden, repairing his farm and lawn equipment, and picking up a “to go” meal at Family Traditions Steakhouse (Western Sizzlin) every day.
He was predeceased by his wife, Alice Rudd, in 2022.
He is survived by a son, Harold (Susan) Rudd; a daughter, Dinah (Jimmy) Byars; a grandson, Chad (Kim) Byars; a granddaughter, Elizabeth (Chad) Duncan; four great-granddaughters; and a half-brother, Ronald Rudd.
Private family interment will will be held today (Thursday) in Riverside Memorial Park, Jacksonville, Florida.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Trinity Baptist Church, 2061 Spring Grove Road, Jesup, GA 31545.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Nancy Dart Grooms
Jesup—Nancy Dart Grooms, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend, died in the great care and facility of Hospice of South Georgia on Feb. 23, 2025. She was 72.
She was a retired special education teacher of both Florida (her early career) and Georgia, retiring from the Wayne County school system. She loved and took pride in her job and every student who came through her classroom left their fingerprints on her heart. She would confess that her students made her into the woman she was, her family said.
She loved to sew, quilt and craft. If not crafting, one could very well find her shopping for future craft projects. She was a “happy camper” who loved camping, the water and being outdoors with her husband, family and friends.
The love, care and impact that she had on the lives of those around her will be one of her lasting legacies, he family added.
Known by her grandchildren and close friends as “Nanny,” has joined her parents, Jack and Ida May Dart, and her brother, Jackie, in Heaven.
Survivors include her husband of almost 40 years, Tom Grooms of Jesup; daughters, Amy (John) Justice of Jacksonville, Florida, and Tonya Grooms (Ryan) Summers of Sparta, Missouri; and son Brian of Columbia, South America; grandchildren, Megan Summers of Republic, Missouri, Baily Summers of Canyon, Texas, Zach Peterson of Jacksonville, Florida, and Dylan Peterson of Jacksonville, Florida; a sister, Pam McDonald of Jesup; a brother, Randy Dart of Atlanta; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
A celebration-of-life service will be held Friday, Feb. 28, at 2 p.m. at O’Quinn Baptist Church in Screven.
In lieu of flowers, send donations to the local “Night to Shine” event, which is an unforgettable Prom Night experience centered in God’s love for people with special needs. Click the link to donate or send a check to Turning Point Worship Center, 1810 S. Palm Street, Jesup, GA 31546 and in the memo write “In Memory of Nancy Grooms.” https://app.securegive.com/TurningPoint/main/donate/category?cats=10369&amts=false&recurring=true.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.