• Rinehart & Sons
Althea Murray Yates
Jesup—Althea 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 she retired 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; sisters-in-law, Barbara Murray (Bud) Collins of Screven, Janet Murray of Hilton Head Island; a son-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 was held May 17 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 were 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 was in charge of arrangements.
Barbara Ann Dollar Simmons
Jesup—Barbara Ann Dollar Simmons, 78, died Feb. 6, 2025, after a brief illness.
She spent her youth traveling around the country with her parents and siblings.
Her father, Preston O. Dollar Jr., built natural gas compressor plants for Dresser Engineering. Her mother, Bertie Mae Dollar, was a homemaker and an avid antique hunter.
The family moved to Perry, Florida, when she was in high school. She met her husband, John O. Simmons, there as well as her best friend and sister, Seamelia (Aaron) Brannen Hendry. She served on the homecoming court her senior year. She was also a member of the Civil Air Patrol and learned how to pilot small planes. She hated flying in later years and always said the reason was that she wasn’t the pilot and didn’t trust anyone else.
She held many jobs through the years, but her favorite was during the years she spent at Wayne County High School. She was a member of the Jesup Shrine Club Women’s Auxiliary. She loved her church and church family and was always involved in any event at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.
Her greatest accomplishment was the strength and values she instilled in her family. She was the family’s “queen,” and she ruled its kingdom with dignity, grace and a strong stubborn love, the family said, adding, “She is greatly missed, but we all know she is now with her Lord and singing His praises.”
She was preceded in death by her husband, John O. Simmons; her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Bruce and Debbie Simmons; her sister, Penny (B. Garland) Cupp; and her much-loved son-in-law, Robert Brantley Anderson Jr. Her brother, Preston O. Dollar Jr., passed away shortly after her.
Survivors include her son, Dr. Jon P. (Melissa) Simmons; daughter, Lynn Anderson; her a grandson, Preston Simmons; a granddaughter, Arden Simmons; sister, Kathy Dollar Womble, and many cousins, nieces and nephews. She is also survived by a very special adopted in love son, Carl (Tyrina) Reddick, and very special adopted-in-love daughters, Kandice Taylor Peacock, Shani Hires, Daphne Manning and Tina Manning.
She cherished her numerous friends, fellow Shriners and church family.
A celebration-of-life service will be held on Saturday, May 24, at 2 p.m. at St Paul’s Episcopal Church in Jesup with Father Nathan Wilson officiating.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Cliff J. Sheffield Sr.
Yulee, Florida—Cliff J. Sheffield Sr., 81, of Yulee, Florida, died on May 14, 2025, at home with his family and under the care of Community Hospice.
The Wayne County native had lived in Nassau County most of his life and was a retired master electrician. He was of the Baptist faith and enjoyed helping others with his huge heart guiding him.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James Archie and Lottie Sheffield, and three brothers, Earl, David and Harold Sheffield.
Survivors include two sons, Clifford Sheffield Jr. of Yulee and Mitchell Sheffield of Jacksonville; two granddaughters, Rhesa Sheffield and Angel Sheffield; a sister, Caroline Koch of Jesup; a companion of 18 years, Linda Crews of Yulee; and several nieces and nephews.
Graveside funeral services were held May 19 in Ritch Cemetery with Pastor Bryan Gill officiating.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Carolyn Adams Hughes
Jesup—Carolyn Adams Hughes, 88, died peacefully at her home after a lengthy illness on May 18, 2025, surrounded by her loving family under the care of Hospice of South Georgia.
She was a devoted Christian and member of the Calvary Baptist Church and often expressed how much she loved her church family and how much support they provided as her health declined.
She was born in Eastman, and as a young child, she moved to Madray Springs, where her father owned a community store. She attended Jesup High School and performed as a majorette. After graduation in 1955, she married her high school sweetheart, James Brian Adams. They raised three children and were together for 38 years, until his death in 1993.
She was an elementary school secretary for 30 years. It was a rewarding job for her because of her love for children. She was adored by her children and grandchildren, and she loved being known as the family baby whisperer.
In 1999 she married Bobby E. Hughes, and they were together for the remainder of her life. They enjoyed traveling, especially group trips with their church family.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James Brian Adams; her parents, Clarence and Iris Dunn; a brother, Genell Dunn; and sisters, Betty Platt and Faye Collins.
Survivors include her husband of 26 years, Bobby E. Hughes of Jesup; a daughter, Teresa (Fred) Plitt of Valdosta; a son, Bruce (Suzanne) Adams of Guyton; a daughter, Pamela (Lou) Roller of Old Town, Florida; grandchildren, Justin Parrish, Rebecca Parrish, Katie Adams (Patrick) Watson, Blake (Jessy) Adams, Kylie Adams (Tyler) Clark, Adam (Jenny) Thomas and Stephen (Rachel) Thomas (Rachel); 12 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held May 21 at Calvary Baptist Church in Jesup with the Rev. Pete Boyd and the Rev. Vann Dempsey officiating. Graveside services followed at Pinecrest Memorial Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Jim Franklin, Fred Holland, George Moody, David Paul, Carl Rozier and Brad Westberry. Honorary pallbearers were the Hospice of South Georgia Caregivers.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of South Georgia, 1625 Sunset Blvd., Jesup, GA 31545 or Calvary Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box, 9, Jesup, GA 31598.
Rinehart & Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
• Howard & Jones
Mary Jane Hickox Heath
Screven—Mary Jane Hickox Heath, 82, died suddenly on May 17, 2025, at Wayne Memorial Hospital.
A resident of Wayne County for the past 65 years, she was born on April 5, 1943, in Pierce County to the late Melvin and Catherine Johnson Hickox. She was a seamstress by trade and had worked at the shirt factory in Jesup for several years when she was young. As time passed, she took a job as a school bus driver and also began making custom drapes and helping to decorate homes all over the area, especially on St. Simons Island.
In her younger years, she enjoyed camping and taking trips to the mountains in her spare time, and she always enjoyed gardening, shelling peas and “shuckin’” corn. She was a loving and devoted mother who cherished the time she spent with her family, especially her grandchildren.
She was a member of the Screven Church of God for more than 50 years.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her son James Neal Thompson and her siblings Julia Lawton, William Hickox, Ann Scott, Russell Hickox and Stevie Hickox.
Survivors include a son, Jody (Karen) Thompson of Jesup; two daughters, Delinda (Kenny) Goober of Screven and Shelli Thompson of Hinesville; siblings, Glenda Hickox of Alma, Kathleen (Marvin) Gill of Offerman, J.D. Hickox of Patterson, Wendell Hickox of Florida, Clayton (Tracy) Hickox of Florida, Layton (Petra) Hickox of St. Marys, Michael (Lana) Hickox of Ellabell and Raymond (Melinda) Hickox of Patterson; 11 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other extended-family members.
Funeral services were held May 20 at Screven Church of God with the Rev. Jerry Herndon and the Rev. Scott Hickox officiating. Interment followed in New Home Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Aaron Thompson, Jonathan Thompson, Mike Lawton, Brian Stevens, Ronnie Hickox and Bryan Gill.
Family and friends may sign the guestbook online at www.jesupfuneralhome.com.
Howard & Jones Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.