• Howard & Jones
Eva Joyce Strickland
Jesup—Eva Joyce Strickland, 79, died peacefully on July 24, 2026, at Harborview Heath and Rehabilitation after a short illness under the care of Hospice of South Georgia.
A native and lifelong resident of Wayne County, she was born on Aug. 3, 1946, to the late Archie Lee and Esther Abbott Strickland. She was a loving and devoted daughter and sister and was like a second mother to her nieces and nephews. She was a faithful servant of God and attended regularly at the Crossroads Church of God.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sisters, Bernice (Bill) Landon and Janie “Glenease” (Ervin) Wiggins, and a brother, James (Margaret) Strickland.
Survivors include a nephew, E. Stanley (Natalie) Efaw; nieces, Mary Efaw and Lynn (Ben) Hatten; a great-nephew, Jonathan (Christy) Efaw; a great-niece, Eleni (Tiffany) Efaw; several great-nieces and great-nephews; and other extended-family members.
Services were held July 27 at Howard & Jones Funeral Home. Private burial followed in the Jesup City Cemetery. Family and friends may sign the guestbook online at www.jesupfuneralhome.com.
Howard & Jones Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Donnie Wheelis
Screven—Donnie Wheelis, 73, died peacefully on July 25, 2026, at home surrounded by his loving family under the care of Hospice of South Georgia.
He was born on Dec. 2, 1952, in Savannah. He spent his early years in Appling County, where he was raised by his grandparents, the late Johnny David Wheelis and Ida May Dubberly Wheelis. After he met and married the love of his life for more than 57 years, the late Deborah Ann Boatright Wheelis, the two relocated to Screven in 1969. He farmed for nearly 20 years before buying a semi-truck that he owned and operated for Fleet Transport for many years, eventually giving up trucking to open his own repair shop, Wheelis Repair Service.
A longtime member of Ritch Baptist Church, he was a faithful servant of the Lord who practiced the principles of Christianity by loving others and putting the needs of his family before his own. He was strong, yet loving, and he always enjoyed a good practical joke or prank. He loved the sport of truck pulling. For many years he could be found pulling trucks and later on working as the tech man with the Southern Pullers Association. When he wasn’t working, he enjoyed adding to his collection of model cars and tinkering with things around the house, but above all, he enjoyed the time spent with those he loved the most, his family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, wife, and sister, Laverne Spell.
Survivors include his children, Johnny (Missy) Wheelis of Odum, Buffie (Vincent) Morales of Screven and Jody Wheelis of Screven; grandchildren, Kassi (Dawson) Odom, Kaylee (Rylee) White, Kensley (Micha) Copeland, Rileigh Morales, Kylie Wheelis and Kasey Morales; two great-grandchildren, Rhett and Reese, plus another great-grandchild-on-the-way, Charlotte; four sisters, Sandra Daniels of Jesup, Nell Williams of Villa Rica, Carolyn Rice of Albany and Faye Wheelis of Albany; and a host of nieces, nephews cousins and other extended-family members.
Funeral services were held July 28 at Howard & Jones Funeral Home in Jesup with the Rev. Calvin Anderson and the Rev. Bryan Gill officiating.
Interment followed in Ritch Baptist Church Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Jordan Hooks, Matthew Hayes, Tony Carter, Marcus Roberson, Mackey McReady, Delma Moseley, Caleb Tyre and Clay Brewton.
Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Southern Pullers Association.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Hospice of South Georgia, 1625 Sunset Blvd, Jesup, GA 31545.
Family and friends may sign the guestbook online at www.jesupfuneralhome.com.
Howard & Jones Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.