• Rinehart & Sons
John “Tom” Friese
Jesup—John “Tom” Friese, 74, of Jesup died May 6, 2025.
The Sylvania native had lived in Wayne County the past 37 years and was a Baptist. He was a retired employee with R.B. Baker Construction Company and enjoyed his job very much. He also liked to watch NASCAR, fish and spend time with his grandchildren.
Survivors include his wife of 40 years, Laveda Hutson Friese of Jesup; two sons, Tommy (Angelina) Friese and Jason Friese, both of Jesup; a stepdaughter, Renee Howard of Pembroke; a brother, Ed Friese of Sylvania; and grandchildren, Brittny Ballard, Braiden Friese, Erica Stuckey, Kady Jones, Austin, Tristan and Steel Friese.
Funeral services were held May 9 from Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Stanley Todd officiating. Interment followed in Spring Grove Cemetery. Active pallbearers were family.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Reba Jane McBride
Callahan, Florida—Reba Jane McBride, 85, of Callahan, Florida, died peacefully on May 7, 2025.
She was a strong-willed and determined woman who raised four children mostly on her own.
Survivors include four children, Dianne Hightower of Sparks, Rodney (Pam) Bennett of Jacksonville, Florida, Rosaline Hoffman of Callahan and Kim (Tommy) Nettles of Jesup, and grandchildren, Stephen, Jennifer (Josh), Kyle, Jeremy (Christian), Heather, Brittany, Jaden, Cameron, Cassidy, Alyssa, Alana, and Adalyn.
Funeral services were held May 9 at Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Michael Strickland officiating. Interment followed in Red Hill Cemetery. Active pallbearers were her family.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral was in charge of arrangements.
Carlton Harvey James
Jesup—Carlton Harvey James, 85, of Jesup and formerly of Hinesville, died May 9, 2025.
The Wayne County native was a member of Harmony Baptist Church of Baxley and a retired heavy equipment supervisor at Fort Stewart in Hinesville. He was a member of the Hinesville Masonic Lodge No. 271.
He enjoyed farming, fishing and doing lawn work and owned “James Feed and Seed” in Hinesville. He was preceded in death by his wives, Mary Clark James and Luellen James; sons, William, Don and Ronnie Weathers; a brother, Jerry James; a sister, Carolyn Williams; and his parents, the Rev. Baxter and Lucille James.
Survivors include his two daughters, Cindy Miller of Laurens, South Carolina, and Sheila Young of Blackshear; a son, Lee James of Baxley; two sisters, Vaunda Faye (Larry) Ray of Gardi and Teresa (Danny) Corbitt of Richmond Hill; a brother, Tommy (Kathy) James of Brunswick; 27 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren; and 37 great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held May 13 at Rinehart and Sons Chapel of Jesup with the Rev. Lamar Wright, the Rev. Sam Holland and the Rev. Jeff Williams officiating. Interment followed in Old Bethel Cemetery with full Masonic rites. Active pallbearers were nephews. Honorary pallbearers were members of the staff of Harborview Pierce in Blackshear.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Gideons, P.O. Box 602, Jesup, GA 31598 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Pl, Memphis, TN 38105-9959.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Leonard Hughes
Ludowici—Leonard Hughes, 85, of Ludowici died on May 11, 2025, under the care of Georgia Hospice Care and surrounded by his loving family.
The Appling County native had lived in Long County most of his life and was a member of Compass Worship Center in Ludowici. He was a retired crew leader with Interstate Paper Company. Hunting, fishing, gardening and “tinkering” were his hobbies.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 43 years, Linda McReady Hughes; his parents, Lewis and Addie Hughes; a grandson, Charlie Smith; three brothers, Crother “C.C” Hughes, Matthew Hughes and Melvin Hutcheson; and two sisters, Viola Hartley and Oddie Griffin.
Survivors include two daughters, Bernice (Hayden) Deitz of Ludowici and Lenette (Bert) Harper of Lake Havasu, Arizona; two sons, Robbie (Leah) Hughes of Ludowici and Paul Rozier of Alabama; eight grandchildren, Shaunna (Jeff) Shores, Merrill (Mary) Chapman, Chelsea Chapman, Kaylen (Alicia) Deitz, Hunter Pilkinton, Robbilyn (Dakota) Smith, Rikilee Burns and Ashlyn (Earl Blocker) Hughes; 11 great-grandchildren, who were the “light of his life”; a sister, Erma Lou (Cleo) Hadden of Ludowici; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held May 13 at Compass Worship Center with Pastor Byron Powers officiating. Interment followed in Middleton Memorial Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were his family and friends.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Peggy Jones Hartnett
Jesup—Peggy Jones Hartnett, 72, of Jesup died May 11, 2025.
The Chatham County native had lived in Wayne County most of her life and was a member of Cornerstone United Pentecostal Church and served in many capacities with a willing spirit. She was most known as “Grandma” to her family and excelled in her warm sharing of Jesus to all she knew.
She was predeceased by her granddaughter, Brianna Long.
Survivors include her husband of 53 years, Charles “Gene” Hartnett Jr. of Jesup; five daughters, Jennifer (Tony) Mosley, Beth (Chad) Mobley, Sarah Bond, Amy (Matt) Spell and Rebecca Traylor, all of Jesup; a son, Clifford (Christina) Harnett of Smyrna, Delaware; two sisters, Tommie Jones of Jesup and Lisa Porter of Michigan; two brothers, Clay Jones of Seattle, Washington and Joel Jones of Screven; several grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.
A celebration-of-life service will be held today (Thursday) at 5 p.m. at Cornerstone United Pentecostal Church with Pastor Timothy Bush officiating.
Family will receive friends from 4 p.m.-5 p.m. prior to the service at the church.
The family greatly appreciates the services of Hospice of South Georgia and all the many friends who prayed for her in Delaware and in Jesup.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Linda Davis Gordon
Ludowici—Linda Davis Gordon, 71, of Ludowici died May 12, 2025.
The Long County native was a member of Calvary Baptist Church, where she was a faithful choir member. She loved to tell everyone about Jesus. She was a retired postmaster with the Allenhurst Post Office. Her hobbies included ceramics, cross-stitching and quilting.
After Jesus her Lord, her family was her most important part of her life as she enjoyed her time with them and her dogs, he family said.
She was preceded in death by her grandchild, Arlian Gordon; her parents, James and Martha Davis; and a sister, Lillian Alexander.
Survivors include her husband of 54 years, Charles Gordon of Ludowici; a daughter, Becky (Eric) Sizemore of Ludowici; a son, Steven (Trayce) Gordon of Ludowici; two step-grandchildren, Ayrizona (Stephen) Sharpe and Mayzie (Tyler) Kersey; and several siblings.
Funeral services were held May 14 at Walthourville Presbyterian Church with Pastor Pete Boyd and the Rev. Buddy Wasson officiating. Private family burial followed in the Gordon Family Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Calvary Baptist Church, P.O. Box 9, Jesup, GA 31598.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Aletha Murray Yates
Jesup—Aletha Murray Yates, 98, of Jesup died May 13, 2025.
The daughter of Thomas McKinley and Gladys Joy (neé Horne) Murray was the second eldest daughter of eight children. Her Christian memberships began early in her life with Jesup First Baptist Church. She enjoyed making a joyful noise from her pew and served her church in all capacities. She spent many years with her former husband, Charles Augustus Yates.
Her business career began with Rayonier and progressed into overseeing the many aspects of Harper Gas Industries before retiring at age 83.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Mary King; sisters, Margie Tyre, Vera Carter and Nina Jones; brothers, Thomas Laverne, Bernard E. (PeeWee), Kenny and Ricky Murray; and a stepgrandson, Brian King.
Survivors include daughters, Sharleen (Larry) Blocker of Loganville and Peggy (Bob) Smith; a son, Thomas Yates; sister-in-laws, Barbara Murray (Bud) Collins of Screven, Janet Murray of Hilton Head Island; ason-in-law, Randy King; grandchildren, Amy (Ed) Barnes, James (Rebecca) Blocker, Zac Smith, Murray (Joe) Gardner and Jonathan King; step-grandchildren, Melissa Smith, Sam (Heather) Smith and Brandon (Candice) King; and many great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
A “reflection-of-her-life” service will be held Saturday, May 17, at 2 p.m. at Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Felix Haynes and Ed Barnes officiating. Private interment will follow at Pinecrest Memorial Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be family. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the services at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of South Georgia, 1625 Sunset Blvd., Jesup, GA 31545 or to Jesup First Baptist Church, 185 S. Brunswick St., Jesup, GA 31546.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
• Howard
Larry Middleton
Ludowici—Larry Middleton, 80, died May 7, 2025, at his home under the care of his family and GHC Hospice.
He was born in Ludowici and lived in Long County all his life. He was a retired foreman from Rayonier in Jesup after more than 32 years of service. He was a loving husband, daddy and “Pappy” to his family.
To say that he was an avid sportsman would be an understatement, given that he spent many years enjoying hunting and fishing with his family and friends, his family said. Also, he had worked as a funeral assistant with Howard Funeral Home.
He was a founding member of A New Beginning Church after hosting its beginning under an oak tree at his home. He was a godly, fruitful servant, also known as the “Candy Man’ at the church, his family said.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Middleton; parents, Arthur and Rena Middleton; and brothers, Frank, Gary and Wilford Middleton.
Survivors include his wife of 32 years, Marie Harris Middleton of Ludowici; daughters, Marla (Tim) Ekola of Okemos, Michigan, and Tori (Jason) Rogers of Ludowici; sons, Ron (Jerri) McGowan of Ludowici and Brent (Krisi) Middleton of Townsend; a sister, Loretta (Jack) Pye of Jesup; 14 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren (with one on the way); several nieces and nephews; and his faithful K9 companion, Mene.
Celebration-of-life services were held May 9 at A New Beginning Church with Pastors Tom Gardner, Libby Gardner and Tim Gardner officiating.
Remembrances are suggested to A New Beginning Church, 2047 GA Hwy 57, Ludowici, GA 31316.
Family and friends may sign the online register at www.howardfuneralga.com.
Howard Funeral Home of Ludowici was in charge of arrangements.