• Rinehart & Sons
Carol Griffis Waters
Jesup—Carol Griffis Waters, 66, of Jesup died Aug. 22, 2024, under the care of Georgia Hospice Care.
The Wayne County native was a Christian and a retired secretary with Ace Pole Company in Blackshear. She loved to go fishing, visit the beach and dote on her grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob Waters, and her mother, Carolyn Bland.
Survivors include a daughter, Amy (Gene) Ivey of Jesup; a son, Michael (Melanie) Griffis of Brunswick; two stepdaughters, Mandee and April Waters; four grandchildren, Hunter (Caroline) Jernigan, Logan Jernigan (fiancé Martina Weaver), Case Griffis and Aaron Ivey; three great-grandchildren, T.J. Jernigan, Grey Jernigan and Griffin O’Quinn; her father, David (Sandy) Griffis; five sisters, Tina (Brad) Privett, Missie Counts, Tabitha (Earl) Beaver, Dawn (Paul) Zmuda and Megan (Nate) Jones; several nieces and nephews; and a special family friend, Brad Thomas.
Funeral services were held Aug. 27 from Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Dale Bange officiating. Interment was in Pinecrest Memorial Cemetery. Active pallbearers were Brad Privett, Joey Harrison, Dustin Counts, Timmy Griffis, Robbie Griffis and Chris Brantley.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Dorothy Witcher
Landon
Statesboro—Dorothy “Dotsey” Witcher Landon, 70, of Statesboro died under the loving care of Ogeechee Area Hospice on Aug. 22, 2024.
The Wayne County native lived in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and Amelia Island, Florida, for the last 20 years, but had a collection of precious beach memories that spanned a lifetime.
She was a Christian, an educator, a beach music and shag dancing lover, a dedicated wife, and a devoted mother to her daughter and her kitties.
She graduated from Wayne County High School and pursued her college education at Brunswick Junior College. She went on to get a master’s degree in education from Georgia Southern and returned once more to Georgia Southern for an education specialist’s degree.
She eventually retired from the Chatham County school system and found joy in listening to music, laughing with friends and spending time at the beach.
In 1973 she married the love of her life, Donald “Bim” Landon, and they embarked on a 52-year journey together. She was incredibly charming and had a magnetic personality that was both brilliant and relatable.
She was preceded in death by her father, P.R. Witcher, and her mother, Christine Harvey Witcher Swinnie.
Survivors include her husband of 52 years, Donald “Bim” Landon; a daughter, Christine (Al) Chapman of Statesboro; a brother, Bob (Lynda) Witcher of Charleston, South Carolina; grandchildren, Landon Chapman and Reid Chapman; as well as two nieces and two great-nephews.
Celebration-of-life services were held August 27 at Rinehart & Sons Funeral Home with Mitch Sutton and the Rev. Tim Horne officiating.
Interment followed in New Hope Cemetery. Active pallbearers were her family and friends. Honorary pallbearers were all of her fellow shaggers.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Emery Dorothea Alday
Jesup—Emery Dorothea Alday, infant daughter of Sammy and Rachael Alday, died Aug. 26, 2024.
Survivors, in addition to her parents, include maternal grandparents, Greg (Nissa) Shannon of Hardinsburg, Kentucky, and Kathy (Rick) Berkland of Villa Rica; great-grandmother, Barbara Day of Ocala, Florida; maternal great-grandparents, Dayon and Vicky Taylor of Crossville, Tennessee; paternal grandparents, Ricky (Gina) Alday of Donaldsonville; paternal great-grandmothers, Faye Grice of Donalsonville and Virginia Jones of Iron City; several aunts and uncles, Hannah, Abigail and Rebekah Shannon, all of Hardinsburg, Jonah, Gabriela and Bianca Carter of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, Isaac and Alexandria Carter of Murray, Kentucky, Kellee Alday of Donalsonville; and numerous great-aunts, great-uncles, and friends.
Memorial services will be held Saturday (Aug. 31) at 2 p.m. at Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home Chapel with Brother Greg Shannon officiating. Guests are asked to wear bright colors for the service to honor Emery.
Family will receive friends one hour prior to services at the funeral home.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
• Howard & Jones
Cleo Sutton Poppell
Odum—Cleo Sutton Poppell, 98, passed away peacefully on Aug. 22, 2024, at home under the care of GHC Hospice surrounded by her loving family.
A native and lifelong resident of Wayne County, she was born on June 27, 1926, to the late Andrew L. and Nellie Bennett Sutton. She worked for many years at the Manhattan Shirt Factory and also at Ford Motor Company in Jesup, but the majority of her life was devoted to caring for the people she loved.
Although she never had children of her own, she truly possessed a mother’s heart and was always drawn to children, who were likewise drawn to her. She graciously gave her time to children of all ages. She always had a home-cooked meal ready, and her supply of candy was plentiful at all times. She was a longtime member of Odum Baptist Church, where she attended the Adult Ladies Sunday School Class.
She was also the oldest living member of the Odum Garden Club. In her spare time, she enjoyed gardening, putting up vegetables and fishing. She could catch a fish just about anywhere and could shoot a rifle as well as she could fish. She was loving and caring, yet strong and protective.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Raynell Poppell; siblings, Audrey Sutton Howell, Andrew “Andy” Sutton, Bennett Sutton, Meta Sutton Long and Alton Sutton; a host of nieces and nephews; and a large extended family.
Funeral services were held Aug. 25 at Howard & Jones Funeral Home in Jesup with Chaplain Ryan Wilson officiating. Interment was at Pinecrest Memorial Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Chance Warren, Mike Long, Tommy Howell, Rob Poppell, T.J. Sutton and Ryan Sutton. Honorary pallbearers were members of the Odum Garden Club, the members of the Adult Ladies Sunday School Class of Odum Baptist Church and hospice nurses and CNAs of GHC Hospice.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Georgia Hospice Care, c/o GHC Foundation, P.O. Box 15665, Savannah, GA 31416.
Family and friends may sign the guestbook online at www.jesupfuneralhome.com.
Howard & Jones Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
• Community Chapel
Mary Ruth Stewart Merritt
Jesup—Mary Ruth Stewart Merritt, 94, died Aug. 15, 2024.
She was born on Jan. 3, 1930, to the union of the late the Rev. Arthur William Stewart and Mary Etta Morris Stewart in Mount Pleasant. She was the only girl of four brothers. At an early age, she was baptized and became a member of the local Baptist church in Mount Pleasant. She later became a member of Bright Star Baptist Church in Brunswick. In 1950 she met and was joined in holy matrimony with the late Theodore “Shade” Merritt, who affectionately referred to her as “Russ.” In this union, the couple was blessed with one son, the late Gregory “Greg” Othello Merritt. Later joining her husband and son, she became a member of Mount Mariah AME Church in Jesup for more than 50 years. She served her church on many boards and auxiliaries, including serving for decades as the church treasurer.
She attended elementary school in Wayne County; Saratoga Springs, New York; and Cleveland, Ohio. She later returned to Mount Pleasant and graduated from Wayne County Training School. After high school, she attended Albany State College, known today as Albany State University. She was a proud Albany State Golden Ram. She was a member of the Albany State track and field team. She was quick to tell you, “I always could run now.”
She graduated and received a bachelor’s degree in home economics and education. After graduating, her first job was teaching in Waycross the “colored” World War II veterans returning home. Later, she taught school at Screven Elementary School. After a few years in Screven, she taught in Jesup, where she remained until she ended her career after 36 years in 1988, retiring from Orange Street Elementary School. She was an affectionate teacher regarding every child she taught as one of her own. She would often say, “That’s one of my former students.” She genuinely loved children and would quickly well up in tears with the news of any misfortunes involving a child.
She was very active in the community, including esteemed organizations such as the Wayne County Retired Educators Association and the Order Eastern Star, and she was a founding member of the Stewart, Buggs, and Harris Family Reunion, beginning in 1972. She championed many causes, such as St. Jude Children, Shriners Children Hospital, Easter Seals, the American Heart Association and Paralyzed Veterans, just to name a few.
She was preceded in death by her husband and son, Theodore and Gregory Merritt; parents, the Rev. and Arthur W. Stewart; brothers, Samuel David, Wilbert, Joe Nathan and George Othello; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Frank Merritt and Julia Thomas Merritt; and a host of brothers-in-law and sisters-in-laws.
Survivors include her four grandchildren, Mavis” Dee” Dionna Merritt, Melvis “Mary” Maryetta Meritt, Gregory “GO” Otthello Merritt Jr., and Tiffany” Tiff” Louise Merritt; three great-grandchildren, Nasir Thornton, Micah Rherr and Alora Merritt, all of Brunswick; one great-great-granddaughter, Amina Thornton of Jacksonville, Florida; a loving and devoted nephew and niece, Arthur and Clara Stewart of Hinesville; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held Aug. 24 at Bennett Union Missionary Baptist Church.
Community Chapel Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
• Out of town
Edwin Faine
Davis Sr.
Pearson—Edwin Faine Davis Sr., 86 of Pearson died Aug. 16, 2024, at his home following an extended illness.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Ferra Lee Fountain Davis; a daughter, Regina Davis; a grandson, Carlton Taft; a brother, Aaron Davis; and a special cousin/friend, Jerry Davis.
Survivors include his wife of 62 years Janice Vickers Davis of Pearson; children, Edwin (Shelli) Davis Jr. of Jesup, Tracy (Jesse) Mizell of Axson and Gary Vickers of Axson; grandchildren, Brett (Candace) Mizell, Cole Davis, Addi Davis, Tori Davis, Greg Vickers, Brandon (Whitney) Spivey, Marshall (Megan) Mizell, Tyler Mizell, Sydney Mizell and Ryan (Erica) Madray; great-grandchildren, Vince Lane and Vada Mizell, Emmett Lott, Caston Martinez, Dylan and Jordan Mizell and Charlie and Cannon Madray; and several nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Funeral services were held Aug. 19 at Ozias Freewill Baptist Church with the Rev. Larry Johnson and the Rev. Michael Johnson officiating. Interment followed in Sweetwater Cemetery.
Relihan Funeral Home in Pearson was in charge of the arrangements.