• Rinehart & Sons
Melvin Wade Rowell
Hortense—Melvin Wade Rowell, 68, of Hortense died Aug. 21, 2026. Surrounded by his loving family, he peacefully completed his long-standing fight with cardiovascular disease and gained his heavenly reward, his family said
Deeply rooted in Brantley County, he was proud to be from Hortense, which served as the backdrop of his childhood that instilled a love of hunting, fishing and the outdoors. As an adult, he turned that love to a focus on shooting sports. He was known for his trick shooting, and many were witness to him shooting a dime out of the sky with a .22LR rifle and pistol. Progressing to shotgun, he focused on clay target sports, introducing and mentoring countless individuals to the games of skeet and sporting clays. And yes, he would also shoot clay targets out of the sky with a .22LR.
Born with the gift of gab, he regularly entertained friends and family with stories from his childhood and young adulthood. He “never met a stranger” and lived his life to the full. Suffering his first heart attack at the young age of 39, he said he lived on “bonus time and would spend that time with good people.” He strived to fill each day with love and laughter. The outpouring of love from his friends and family in his final days served as a true testament to the impact his life had on his friends, family and community.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Allen and Abbie Rowell; grandparents, Baxter and Ada Rowell and John and Anna Griffin; brothers, Emory Rowell and Mickey Rowell; and a sister, Sylvia Rowell Wingate.
Survivors include the love of his life, his wife Mary Weaver Rowell; his three children, Jeremy Rowell, Melissa (Cannon) Petitjean and Nathan Rowell; four grandchildren, Peyton Strickland, Garrison Strickland, Gerald Rowell and Andrew Rowell; ex-in loves, Elizabeth (Chuck) Strickland and Amanda Meyer; two bonus daughters, Stacy (Ricson) Alcantara and Kristen Keene; four bonus grandchildren, Taylor Alcantara, Noah Alcantara, Joshua Keene and Jordan Keene; a brother, Jerry Rowell; three nephews, Michael (Kim) Wingate, Paul (Libby) Rowell and Curtis (Niki) Rowell; a niece, Laura (Jerry) Mullis; and many more relatives and loved ones.
Funeral services were held Aug. 25 at Rinehart Chapel with the Rev. Jonathan Mann officiating. Guest speakers were Pastor Keith Brown and Associate Pastor Ritchie Self. Interment was in the Satilla Cemetery in Hortense. Active pallbearers were Mark Shuman, Trevor Brown, Morris Worth, David Harvey, Kevin Whiteman and David Nichols. Honorary pallbearers were Brad Arrington and the Mossy Pond family.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to Little Memorial Baptist Church, 106 Little Memorial Rd., Hortense, GA 31543 or Hospice of South Georgia, 1625 Sunset Blvd., Jesup, GA 31545 in honor of Melvin Wade Rowell.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
• Howard
Robert William “Bob” Cannon Jr.
Jesup—Robert William “Bob” Cannon Jr., 75, died on Aug. 13, 2026, in Savannah.
Born in McIntosh County, he lived in Southeast Georgia most of his life, settling in Wayne County in 1988. He retired from the Georgia State Patrol as a sergeant with 21 years of service and was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran.
After retirement, he owned Guardian Investigations, where he was able to minister to numerous individuals through his decades of service. He was past president of Two-Way Sport Fishing Club and past president of Shivers Hunting Club, and he was a member of Darien Masonic Lodge No. 137 F.&A.M., knighted in the York Rite and Alee Temple Shrine.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Sr. and Lois Harbin Cannon and Mary “Suge” Cannon, and his brother, Victor Cannon.
Survivors include his devoted companion of 19 years, Wanda Williams of Darien; sons, Robert “Rob” (Lauren) Cannon III of Brunswick and Zachary Cannon of Jesup; a sister, Faye (Bruce) Moody of Riverdale; a brother, Ralph (Cheryl) Cannon of Molena; grandchildren, Liam Cannon and Stella Mae Cannon; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Aug. 22 at Howard Funeral Home in Ludowici. Burial with GSP Honors followed in St. Andrews Cemetery in Darien.
Family and friends may sign the online register at www.howardfuneralga.com.
Howard Funeral Home of Ludowici was in charge of arrangements.
Barbara Jean Stoddard
Jesup—Barbara Jean Stoddard, 76, of Jesup died Aug. 10, 2026, at her residence under the care of Hospice of South Georgia.
She was born on Nov. 12, 1949. She was a member of Blanton Grove Church of God. She was a retired CNA and dedicated many of her years in the medical field, helping others. She was a longtime talented seamstress who made beautiful things with her hands. She also liked to experiment with new recipes, baking and spending time with family. She found great joy in the outdoors on her front porch with her plants, listening to the birds, and feeling the sun on her face.
Her family was her greatest joy, and she loved her family with a devotion that shaped every part of her life, but her greatest love was serving the Lord. She was an amazing mother and the best Nonnie and great-grandma, her family said. She lived a life of courage and was a true warrior with unshakable faith. She passed with peace and grace, surrounded by her family she so dearly cherished.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Stoddard III; parents, Eva and Danny Grantham; and her brothers, Bobby Grantham, Dan (Junior) Grantham and Kenneth Grantham.
Survivors include her four children, Sherry (James) Herrin, Tammy (Gary) Waher, Shiela (Don) Herrin and Buster (Leslie) Stoddard; siblings, Larry (Robin) Grantham, Marvin (Laura) Grantham, Billy Grantham and Tony Grantham; grandchildren, Ashley (Scottie) Graham, Clarissa Waher, Brooke (Brad) Grant, Dylan (Jamie) Stoddard, Elyssa Stoddard and Blayne Herrin; and a host of step-grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Her family added that she was deeply loved andwill be missed and never forgotten. “Your love will live on through us all.”
Funeral services were held Aug. 12 at Blanton Grove Church of God. Burial followed in Piney Grove Cemetery.
Family and friends may sign the online register at www.howardfuneralga.com.
Howard Funeral Home of Ludowici was in charge of arrangements.
• Howard & Jones
Carl Emmett Scarborough Sr.
Odum—Carl Emmett Scarborough Sr., 90, died peacefully on Aug. 24, 2026, at home surrounded by his family under the care of Hospice of South Georgia.
He was born on Sept. 2, 1935 in Keokee, Virginia, to the late George M. and Bertha Barker Scarborough. He spent his early years there and later served his country in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. While enlisted at one of his military duty stations, Fort Stewart, he met the love of his life on a blind date. Shortly after his release from the active duty service, he made his way back to Georgia, where the two were soon married. The couple moved to Savannah, where they lived for many years while he was employed with Union Camp Corporation before moving to Odum nearly 51 years ago.
He was a hardworking man who could do just about anything he put his mind to do. He was a true “jack of all trades,” and in his spare time, he stayed busy in his yard, which was awarded the honor of being the Garden of the Month. He also enjoyed fishing, photography, ceramics and painting pictures.
He was a longtime member of the Odum Church of God. He devoted time regularly for personal Bible study, and he always put the needs of others above his own. He was a loving man, although he could be hardheaded at times and set in his ways. He always devoted himself to those who he loved the most, his family said.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Debbie Scarborough Deen; a grandson, Phillip Bacon; an infant brother, James Scarborough; and siblings, Madeline Collier, Jack Scarborough, Donald Scarborough, Billy Scarborough, Audrey Cooper, Bobbie Sue Rosell and Joy Wiggins.
Survivors include his wife of 69 years, Helen Aspinwall Scarborough of Odum; one daughter, Carla Thomas and fiancé, Richard Kamppi of Bloomingdale; two sons, Carl (Vicki) Scarborough and Nathan (Amy) Scarborough all of Odum; one brother, George (Janice) Scarborough of Kingsland; grandchildren, Becky Patterson of Bloomingdale, Joey (Erica) Scarborough of Odum, Brandon (Natalie) Scarborough of Louisiana, Tyler Thomas of Baxley, Alexis (Zack) Long of Odum, Nick (Taylor) Child of Odum, Tyler Child and companion, Maddie, of Jesup, Kami (Randy) Mobley of Odum, Zack Mallard of Odum and Clint (Christina) Mallard of Odum; and a host of great-grandchildren, a great-great-grandchild and a host of nieces, nephews and other extended-family members.
Funeral services will be held today (Thursday) at 2 p.m. at Howard & Jones Funeral Home in Jesup with Joey Scarborough and the Rev. Justin Moriarty officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the services at the funeral home.
Interment will follow in Piney Grove Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Josh Flowers, Phil Kay, Wayne Aspinwall, Mike Aspinwall, Nick Child and Brandon Scarborough. Honorary pallbearers will be Tyler Child, Zack Long and Tyler Thomas along with the staff of Hospice of South Georgia.
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 is in charge of arrangements.