• Rinehart & Sons
Betty Jo Moxley
Jesup—Betty Jo Moxley, 78, of Jesup died peacefully on Jan. 27, 2025, after a short illness surrounded by her loved ones.
She was known as “Nana” to all who loved her. She was a Christian and a charter member of Anderson Drive Baptist Church. Whether you rode her school bus, knew her from Hospice of South Georgia, or had just met her, you immediately became family. Her love for other people and her giving heart inspired her to start a campaign called the “Love Bet.” This involved taking flowers to the nursing homes and hospice patients.
She was always there for anyone who needed assistance and so enjoyed serving and giving to others. She loved her family with her whole heart, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, her family said.
She was preceded in death by her mother and father, George “Buck” and Eunice Thompson; a sister, Mona Phillips; a brother, Truett Thompson; and a nephew, Chris Gold.
Survivors include her husband of 60 years, James Moxley of Jesup; a daughter, Kim Roberson of Jesup; a son, Kevin (Stephanie) Moxley of Jesup; grandchildren, Haley (Chris) Denison, Kelly (Greg) Browning, J.T. (Madison) Roberson and Hannah Moxley; great-grandchildren, Layla, Molly and Carter Denison; a sister, Lisa (Dale) Lanham; and several nieces and nephews, and other extended family and friends.
Funeral services were held Feb. 1 from Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. George Moxley (nephew) officiating. Interment followed in Pinecrest Memorial Cemetery. Active pallbearers were Kevin Gold, Cody Watson, Wayne Moxley, Greg Moxley, Pat Stanfield and Wesley Stanfield.
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.
Tammy Ann Griffis Spell
Jesup—Tammy Ann Griffis Spell, 61 of Jesup died Jan. 30, 2025.
The Wayne County native was a member of Unity Church of God and former employee with the Wayne County school system.
She enjoyed sewing, traveling and spending time with her family.
She was predeceased by her father, Max Griffis.
Survivors include her husband of 22 years, Mark Spell of Jesup; two daughters, Stephanie Lish of Jesup and Tiffany (Sarah) Fanucci-Lish of Augusta; two sons, Josh Sellers of Hortense and Ryan (Mari’e) Lish of Donalsonville; her mother, Barbara Griffis; a sister, Donna (Greg) Mallard; a brother, Tim (Heidi) Griffis of Shellman Bluff; a stepson, Phillip (Tabitha) Spell of Jesup; several grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Celebration-of-life services were held Feb. 3 from Unity Church of God with Pastor Calvin Anderson and the Rev. George Moxley officiating. Interment was in the Jesup City Cemetery. Active pallbearers were Kohl Wilder, Cody Adams, Mike Deike, Robbie Griffis and Brad Privett. Honorary pallbearers included the staff of Davita Dialysis.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Kidney Fund, Attn: Lynn Siemers, 11921 Rockville Pike, Suite 300, Rockville, MD 20852.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Robert “Bob” L. Hatcher
Royal Palm Beach, Florida—Robert “Bob” L. Hatcher, 85, of Royal Palm Beach, Florida, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, died peacefully on Jan. 23, 2025, at Cornerstone Hospice in The Villages.
He was born in Collins and was in the 1957 graduating class at Jesup High School. He married his childhood sweetheart, Judy, in Jesup before moving to Palm Beach County in 1959. He retired from BellSouth with 35 years of service. After retirement, he and his wife enjoyed traveling around the country.
Family and friends remember him for his loving and caring nature and his sense of humor. His life was blessed by his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, his family said.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Julean (Judy) D. Hatcher.
Survivors include three children Shay (Scott) Brandenburg of The Villages, Shane (Marybeth) Hatcher of Jacksonville, North Carolina, and Sonja (Keith) Honkala of Lantana, Florida; five grandchildren, Keith (Abigail) Brandenburg, JB Brandenburg, Robby (Amanda) Hatcher, Chrissy Hatcher and Justin (Mariah) Eggen; and six great-grandchildren, Charlie and Evelyn Brandenburg, Lily, Luca and Robby Jr. Hatcher, Landon Hatcher and Heath Eggen.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Cornerstone Hospice & Palliative Care, 601 Mariposa Way, The Villages, FL 32162.
Memorial services will be held Saturday, Feb. 8, at 11 a.m. at Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home with the Rev. Pete Boyd officiating. Private burial will follow at Jesup City Cemetery.
Family will receive friends from 10 a.m.-11 a.m. prior to services at the funeral home.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
George James Moxley Jr.
Jesup—George James Moxley Jr., 81, died Feb. 2, 2025.
There will never be another James Moxley. The Bible verse James 1: 19-22 is the way he lived his life: selfless and loving, just like Christ, his family said. He was a member of Anderson Drive Baptist Church and loved his Savior and his family, and instilled his way of life in his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who called him “Papa.”
A star football player in high school, he married his high school sweetheart, Betty Jo Thompson Moxley, who always said No. 50 on the program was No. 1 in her heart. They were married for 60 years, and she preceded him in death by six days.
After graduation, he began working for his father-in-law, Buck Thompson, where he became a master carpenter. Whether it was repairing an item for family or a project for his great-grandchildren, he loved to build.
He also enjoyed gardening and was proud of his beautiful garden. He also liked to fish the river and in later years his son’s pond. Fishing was always accompanied by a trip to Parker’s to get a “co-cola” prior to the day’s fishing trip. He and Betty often shared the “co-cola” on the river bank. He will be greatly missed, his family said.
In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his mother, Eva Byrd Moxley; his father, George (Marie) Moxley; a sister, Valerie Deloach; and a brother, Silas Moxley.
Survivors include a daughter, Kim Roberson of Jesup; a son, Kevin (Stephanie) Moxley of Jesup; grandchildren, Haley (Chris) Denison, Kelly (Greg) Browning, J.T. (Madison) Roberson and Hannah Moxley; great-grandchildren, Layla, Molly and Carter Denison; sisters, Eloise (Durwood) Stanfield, Emily (Jeff) Roberson; a brother, Otis (Sandra) Moxley; special sisters-in-law, Anna Lee Moxley, Vicky Thompson and Lisa Lanham; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held today (Thursday) at 11 a.m. from Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home with the Rev. George Moxley (nephew) officiating. Interment will follow in Pinecrest Memorial Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Wesley Stanfield, Pat Stanfield, Wayne Moxley, Greg Moxley, Cody Watson and Andy West. Honorary pallbearers will be Glenn (Dody) Jackson and Darell (Genelda) Denison.
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.
• Howard & Jones
Chris Smith
Jesup—William Christopher Smith, 51, died Jan. 26, 2025, of injuries sustained in an auto accident while doing what he loved the most, riding his buggy and enjoying the outdoors with the ones he loved.
A native and lifelong resident of Jesup, “Chris” or “Chrissy,” as he was affectionately known, was born on May 22, 1973, to the late William Shelton Smith Sr. (“Cookie”) and Imogene Robertson Smith. He was educated in the Wayne County school system, graduating from Wayne County High School in 1991 and receiving a bachelor’s degree from Georgia Southern University in 1995.
After college, he began a career at Rayonier, where he worked faithfully for more than 25 years, earning the title of lead operator of C Machine.
He was blessed with a high level of intelligence and intuition. He was passionate, strong and caring. To know him was to love him, and likewise, he loved in return, his family said. He was always willing to lend a helping hand to others, and he loved to make jokes, laugh and have fun with those he loved. He was the life of the party, and he loved to sing and dance.
In his spare time, he enjoyed almost any outdoor activity including hunting, fishing, boating or just hanging out by the pool, grilling and having a good time.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Deborah Winn Smith; a sister-in-law, Angie Landon Smith; and a niece, Taylor Brooke Smith.
Survivors include his wife, Courtney Smith of Jesup; six children, Zachary Smith of Madison, Zoe Smith of Macon, Bria Huffman of Statesboro and Brady Huffman, Eliza Puccio and Davis Puccio, all of Jesup; a brother, Shelton (Kathy) Smith of Jesup; a sister, Jennifer (Steve) Beasley of Jesup; two nieces, Mallory (Josh) Dixon and Stephene (Luke) Harrell all of Hortense; and numerous great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins and other extended-family members.
Visitation will be held Friday, Feb. 7, from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at Howard & Jones Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Howard & Jones Funeral Home in Jesup with the Rev. Dickie Waters officiating.
Interment will follow in Pinecrest Memorial Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Doug Raulerson, Jason Priester, Chris Altman, Wade Collins, Justin Goarcke and Zach Morgan.
Howard & Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Linda Womack Hall
Jesup—Linda Womack Hall, 79, died peacefully on Jan. 29, 2025, at Hospice of South Georgia after a lengthy illness.
A resident of Jesup for most of her life, she was born on Jan. 22, 1946, in Jenkins County to the late Garth Womack and Irene Free. She worked at Sullivan’s Department Store for more than 30 years as the Estee Lauder consultant, earning herself the title of the “makeup and perfume lady.”
She was a member of Anderson Drive Baptist Church and also the Order of the Eastern Star. In her spare time, she enjoyed working in her yard, tending to her plants and spending time with her beloved family.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Bennett Hall; brothers, Daniel and Milton Womack; and a sister, Nancy McCarter.
Survivors include her son, Jeff (Ginger) Hall of Jesup; two daughters, Denise Blackmon and Buffie Hall (Mark) Mutchler, all of Jesup; a sister, Miriam (Vernon) Hardy of Swainsboro; grandchildren, Justin Hall and fiancé Olivia Highsmith of Jesup, Josh Hall of Jesup, Kaleb Hall of Jesup, Chrissy (Eric) Fancher of Houston, Texas, Haley (Joey) Henderson of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Hanna (Logan) Anderson of Jesup; great-grandchildren, Jaelyn, Easton and Jedd Hall and Ryder Highsmith; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other extended-family members.
Funeral services were held Feb. 3 at Howard & Jones Funeral Home in Jesup with the Rev. Chuck Jonas officiating.
Interment followed in Pinecrest Memorial Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Joey Henderson, Vernon Hardy, Wade Womack, Jerry Hall, Bryant Lewis, Justin Hall, Josh Hall and Gene Hall.
Family and friends may sign the guestbook online at www.jesupfuneralhome.com.
Howard & Jones Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Donald Wiggins
Jesup—Donald Wiggins, 83, died peacefully Jan. 30, 2025 at Landmark Hospital in Savannah after a brief illness.
A native and lifelong resident of Jesup, he was born on July 2, 1941, to the late, Thomas “Red” Wiggins and Annie Dukes Wiggins.
He worked as a brick mason his entire life and was highly skilled in his trade. He and his group of dedicated employees laid brick all over Jesup, Wayne County and the surrounding counties, becoming well-known for the exceptional quality of the work they produced. His legacy will continue to stand for years to come as a monument to the work ethic he possessed, which was second to none, his family said
In his younger years, he enjoyed fishing and camping in his spare time.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife,
Lou Ann Anderson Wiggins; three daughters, Kathi Turner, Melinda Wiggins and Anna Caldwell Woodard; three brothers, Wayne, Earl and Ed Wiggins; a sister, Lorine Wiggins; and his great-grandson, Dustin Gelinas.
Survivors include his son, Tony Wiggins of Jesup; two daughters, Cindy (Ray) Gillis of Ringgold and India (Steve) Immke of Champaign, Illinois; a brother, Roy (Marie) Wiggins of Jesup; two sisters, Betty Lou Hodges and Avis (Ronnie) Lewis all of Jesup; grandchildren, Lisa, Billy, Ricky, Caren, T.J., Kyle, Shandon, Lindsay, Leia, Devin, Tyler, Taylor and Joshua Tyler; and a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family members. He is also survived by his special friend and former spouse, Betty Smith Montgomery, and longtime friend, companion, Jim Mitchell, who was always there to lend a hand when he needed him.
A memorial service will be held Sunday, Feb. 9 at 1 p.m. in the chapel at Living Waters Ministry, 236 Leadership Lane, Jesup, GA 31545. His daughter Cindy Gillis will officiate.
Family and friends may sign the guestbook online at www.jesupfuneralhome.com.
Howard & Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.