• Rinehart & Sons
Kenneth R. “Skip” Grantham
Jesup—Kenneth R. “Skip” Grantham, 78, of Jesup died Aug. 7, 2025.
The Wayne County native was a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church. He was a retired Civil Service employee and an Army National Guard and U.S. Army veteran with 38 years of service to his country.
His favorite pastimes were fishing, visiting others on his golf cart, camping and being with his family.
He was predeceased by his parents, Harvey and Lessie Grantham; sisters, Sherry Goins, Eloise Odum, Barbara “Bobbie” Westberry; brothers, Gene, H.N. (Jr.), Jimmy and David (Bones) Grantham; a stepson, Joey Gest; and a sister-in-law, Dot Cameron.
Survivors include his wife of 35 years, Ann Mathis Grantham of Jesup; a son, K.R. “Chip” (Kim) Grantham of Jesup; a stepson, Matt (Deena) Gest of Jesup; two sisters, Senneth Duggar of Acworth and Sandra Watford of Jesup; grandchildren, Marshall (Jessica) Grantham, Lorren (Ricky Jack) Hall, Haley (J.J.) Sapp, Clayton (Haley) Gest, Weston (Bree) Gest, Ashley (Foz) Haque, Josh (Tiffany) Woods; 16 great-grandchildren; several wonderful nieces and nephews; sister-in-laws, Kitty Grantham, Debbie Davis, Jonelle McGauley; and a sister-in-law, Pam (Foy) Harter.
Celebration-of-life services were held Aug. 11 from Rinehart and Sons Chapel with Pastor Charles Drury and the Rev. Thomas Drury officiating. Interment with military honors followed at Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery. Active pallbearers were family and friends.
Memorials may be made to Bethlehem Baptist Church, 5303 Bethlehem Road, Jesup, GA 31546.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Philip S. Trumbull Jr.
Jesup—Philip S. Trumbull Jr., 69, of Jesup died on Aug. 9, 2025 in the Inpatient Unit of Hospice of South Georgia.
The New York native had lived in Wayne County most of his adult life and was a retired employee with the SeaPak Company. He loved to watch NASCAR and any kind of sports, including hockey, but he most loved spending time with his family and loving on his animals.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Phil Sr. and Rose Trumbull, and sisters, Pansy and Christine.
Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Carole Holmes Trumbull of Jesup; a son, Philip S. Trumbull III of Savannah; a sister, Crystal Trumbull of Wisconsin; a brother-in-law, Steve (Penny) Holmes of Florida; several nieces and nephews; and a special goddaughter, Kennedi Fuller.
Funeral services will be held today (Thursday) at 11 a.m. at Rinehart Chapel with the Rev. Dale Bange officiating. Private family burial will follow in the Sunset Memorial Oaks Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be his family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of South Georgia, 1625 Sunset Blvd., Jesup, GA 31545.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
• Community
Corine Jenkins Johnson
Jesup—Corine Jenkins Johnson, 88, of Jesup died on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in Snell-ville. She was born Nov. 5, 1936, in Walthourville to the late George and Pauline McDuffy-Jenkins. She was educated in the public schools of Wayne County and graduated at the top of her class in 1955. She was also the homecoming queen of the class of 1955 at Wayne County Training School.
After high school, she obtained technical certification from Waycross Technical College in 1968.
Johnson was a faithful member of Bennett Union Missionary Baptist Church for the past 70-plus years. During this time, she served as a member of choir No. 2, the church missionary board, the pastor’s aide committee and the church building fund team and faithfully in her role as a Deaconess.
She was the wife of the late Deacon James E. Johnson Sr.
Her employment and community service history includes serving as a dental assistant in her initial work years in the late 1950s, as a Kirby vacuum cleaner agent in the early 1960s, as a department of family services representative in Reidsville and in the mid 1960s she was amongst the first cohort of African-American women hired at ITT Rayonier (now RYAM) in the early 1970s. It is here that she progressed to become the lead chemical lab operator and from which she retired after 30 years of service.
Johnson was a founding member of the Wayne County Branch of the NAACP, founding member of the Sisters Taking Action, and founding member of the Rosa Wiggs Chapter of the Eastern Star.
Without question or pause, she was a loving and sweet person who earned the respect of everyone who knew or met her, not to mention those who had the pleasure of tasting her “slammin” sweet potato pies, her family said.
She was always willing to help anyone in need and poured her heart and soul into her family, community, neighbors and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Pauline Jenkins; her loving husband of 54 years, James E. Johnson Sr.; her sons Gary L. Johnson Sr. and James E. Johnson Jr., and her daughter Valerie M. Johnson Counts.
Those who remain to cherish her life and to continue her legacy include her daughters, Latonya Johnson Murphy and Katonya Johnson King; her son, Adair Tyrone Johnson; 10 grandchildren; and a host of great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
“No doubt, she will be forever missed, remembered, and loved,” her family said.
Community Chapel Funeral Home is in charge of funeral arrangements. Viewing will take place Aug. 15 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Aug. 16 from noon to 1 p.m. at Bennett Union Missionary Baptist Church, located at 401 W. Pine St., Jesup.
The homegoing celebration service will begin at 1 p.m. immediately after the final viewing. After the service, the fellowship repast will take place in the church social hall, followed by a horse-drawn carriage procession of honor to the burial at Jesup City Cemetery.