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Elva Faye (Smith) Aspinwall
Dacula—Elva Faye (Smith) Aspinwall, 80, died peacefully at her home in Dacula after a lengthy illness.
She was surrounded by her family, dear friends and loyal furry companions when she went to be with Jesus. She was preceded in death by her mother, Elva Linder Smith; her father, Ernest Hill Smith; and her beloved husband, Albert (Al) Siniath Aspinwall.
She was born in Screven on June 19, 1944. She moved to Jesup after the third grade and graduated as an honor student from Jesup High School in 1962. She attended Georgia Southern University, where she earned both bachelor and master degrees in early childhood education.
She taught elementary school for 35 years in Jesup, where her fourth- graders fondly remembered her reading Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House on the Prairie series after lunch and taking her class on annual field trips to the Okefenokee Swamp.
Survivors include her children, Diana (Ashley) Aspinwall of Dacula and Bert Aspinwall of Bogart; three wonderful bonus daughters, Colleen Madigan, Kelly Schroeder and Jennifer Tyner Aspinwall; four grandchildren, Reagan and Reese Aspinwall and Amanda Kochenash, Matthew and Andy Schroeder; two great-grandchildren, Cora Kochenash and Mason Brown; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Randall and Janice Aspinwall; stepsisters, Lisa Moody Westberry and Lynn Moody; and a stepbrother Steve Moody.
Known affectionately to many as “Mama Faye” or “Nana Faye,” she treasured her “family and friends,” who often became like family to her, her family said.
After retiring, she volunteered at the food pantry at Unity Church of God for several years, earning the Volunteer of the Year award in 2010. She served as a lay pastor and was a member of the bereavement committee at Unity. After moving, she joined Grayson United Methodist Church, where she participated in the Empty Nesters Sunday School Class.
Her favorite pastimes included cooking, shopping, spending time with family and friends, and listening to Elvis.
Funeral services were held April 25 at Unity Church of God with the Rev. George Moxley and the Rev. Ray Hamilton officiating. Interment followed in Pinecrest Memorial Cemetery. Active pallbearers were her family and friends. The Empty Nesters Sunday School Class served as honorary pallbearers.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Faye Aspinwall to Devereux Georgia Ackerman Academy, 1291 Stanley Road, NW, Kennesaw, GA 30152.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Pamela Hodge DeCastro
Jesup—Pamela Hodge DeCastro, 68, of Jesup died April 24, 2025.
The Wayne County native was a Baptist and enjoyed working in the nursing field for several institutions during her career.
She was predeceased by her parents, Fred Hodge and Betty Ruth Mullis Hodge, and her stepmother, Marlene Hodge.
Survivors include two sons, Chris (Amy) Gordon of Jesup and Brandon Gordon; two brothers, Chuck (Tesa) Hodge of Auburn, Alabama, and Art (Melissa) Hodge of Jesup; a stepsister, Shannon (Keith) Turner of Fayetteville; three grandchildren, Haze, Renz and Caleb Gordon; and several cousins.
Graveside funeral service were held April 27 from O’Quinn Cemetery with Pastor Dale Bange officiating.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Delores Drury Jacobs
Jesup—Delores Drury Jacobs, 87, of Jesup died April 23, 2025, under the care of Hospice of South Georgia.
The Wayne County native was a member of Red Hill Baptist Church, a member of the Senior Adult Sunday School Class and a choir member. She also was the salutatorian of the 1956 graduation class of Nahunta High School. She was retired from the Wayne County school system as a paraprofessional and managed several lunchrooms in the Wayne County school system.
She enjoyed her visits to the beach and her life as “MeMe” to all her grandchildren. She was predeceased by her brother, Dewitt Drury.
Survivors are her husband of 67 years, Robert F. Jacobs of Jesup; a daughter, Donna (Russell) Auldridge of Odum; two sons, Gary (Molly) Jacobs of Hartsfield and Jay (Barbara) Jacobs of Jesup; sisters, Darlene Coleman and Shirley (Troy) Nichols, both of Jesup; brothers, Cecil (Barbara) Drury of Jesup, Ronald (Sarah) Drury of Macon, Derwin (Gail) Drury of Jesup; a sister-in-law, Mary Lou Drury of Jesup; nine grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; and many cousins.
Celebration-of-life services were held April 26 from Red Hill Baptist Church with the Rev. Tim Hall and Pastor Alan Morgan officiating. Private family interment followed in Pinecrest Memorial Cemetery. Active pallbearers were her family.
Memorials may be made to Red Hill Baptist Church, 2574 Red Hill Road, Jesup, GA 31545.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Louis Mullins Dent
Jesup—Louis Mullins Dent, 70, died on April 4, 2025, at his home after a long illness due to complications from bladder cancer and COPD.
He was born on Aug. 19, 1954, in Jesup to the late Margaret Mullins Dent and James Calloway Dent. He was a lifelong resident of Wayne County and graduated from Wayne County High School, where he participated in football, baseball and track and remained an enthusiastic Yellow Jacket fan. He retired from RYAM (Rayonier) after 43 years of employment.
He was an avid hunter and fisherman who loved the Altamaha River and the woods. He also loved to hunt on the Flint River with the Cawvey family.
Survivors include his son, James Perry (Calysta) Dent of Jesup; two grandchildren, Dylan and Jada Dent; four siblings, Margaret Marie Dent of Savannah, Jamie Dent (Bob) Segrest of Rixeyville, Virginia, Douglas (Terry) Dent of Athens, and George (Rebecca) Dent of Panama City Beach, Florida; nieces and nephews, Brantley Dent, Megan Dent (Elliott) Zell, William Segrest, Maggie Dent and Mollie Dent (Jacob) Cornell; and great-nieces, Rowan Dent, Mariah Zell and Olivia Martinez.
He is also survived by his stepdaughter, Jennifer Turman (Jared) Smith, and her children, Makayla (Alan) Madray, Ridge Johnson, Rayna (Chance) Rodgers; his stepson, T.J. Turman, and his daughter, Taylor Turman; and his great-grandson, Ryker Rodgers.
The family extends their gratitude to his devoted and loving caregivers at Georgia Hospice Care (GHC).
In lieu of flowers, he requested that memorials be made to Wounded Warriors Project (woundedwarriorproject.org); Georgia Hospice Care, 141 South Macon Street, Jesup, GA 31545; The Agape Ministry at First United Methodist Church, 205 East Cherry Street 31546; or a charity of your choice.
A celebration-of-life service is planned for May 5 at 3 p.m. from Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home with the Rev. Brad Park officiating.
Family will receive friends from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the funeral home.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Nanette J. Watson
Clearwater, Florida—Nanette J. “Nan” Watson, 63, of Clearwater, Florida, died on April 26, 2025.
She was born in Tampa, Florida, in 1961 and resided in the Tampa Bay area for her entire life. She graduated from Tampa Bay Vocational Technical High School in 1979, where she obtained certification in data processing. She worked in this field for a number of years, becoming an employee of Hillsborough County, primarily as a member of the administration in the Hillsborough County school system in various capacities. She served the system for a total of 23 years. Ultimately, she was a member of the staff at the Medical Academy at D.W. Waters in Tampa.
She was enamored with basset hound dogs and owned several throughout her life. She also thoroughly enjoyed going to Venice, Florida (the “Shark Tooth Capitol of the World”), and searching for shark teeth.
A lifelong Christian, she was a continually active member of Beacon of Hope Ministries in Clearwater, where she was one of the pastor’s foremost “right hands.” She had a gift of writing poems, which she willingly shared with those she knew (and sometimes those she did not). She was also well known for buying small gifts or giving encouraging cards to just about everyone she encountered. There are untold stories of lives touched by her show of caring to those around her. She had a heart of gold and would do anything for anyone that she could, according to her family. While she will be sorely missed, it is comforting to her friends and family knowing she went on to her ultimate reward, her family said.
She is survived by her mother, Janet Wrenn; a son, Bradley (wife Brittney); grandchildren, Benny, and Belle; a brother, Kelvin Wrenn; an uncle, James Monroe Aspinwall; and numerous cousins.
Graveside funeral services will be held May 3 at 10 a.m. with the Rev. Justin Moriarty officiating at Aspinwall Cemetery, Bennett Mill Pond Rd., Odum, GA 31555.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that money be donated to: Beacon of Hope Ministries, 2058 Weaver Park Drive, Clearwater, FL 33765.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Gladys Creech Hardee Rowland
Jesup—Gladys Creech Hardee Rowland, 93, of Jesup died April 28, 2025.
She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church, the Joy Sunday School Class and was a retired hairdresser. She enjoyed sewing, gardening and caring for children for many families.
She was predeceased by former husbands, Henry Earl Rowland and Cecil Hardee; two brothers, James C. Creech Jr. and Buck Creech; and a sister, Mary Lowery.
Survivors include a daughter, Sue (Ray) Duhon of Jesup; three sisters, Evelyn Gunter of Sarasota, Florida, Deanie Ellis of Hazlehurst and Shirley O’Neal of Baxley; a brother, Buddy (Gail) Creech of Hazlehurst; grandchildren, Jason (Cristie) Duhon, Christy Bissell; great-grandchildren, Chloe Bissell, Charlotte Duhon and Jack Duhon; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Friday, May 2, at 11 a.m. at the Rinehart Chapel with Pastor Pete Boyd and the Rev. Vann Dempsey officiating. Interment will be in Pinecrest Memorial Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be family and friends.
Visitation will be held an hour before the services at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Calvary Baptist Church, P.O. Box 9, Jesup, GA, 31598.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.