• Rinehart & Sons
Tina Brantley
Jesup—Tina Brantley, 61, of Jesup died July 30, 2024.
The Wayne County native was a homemaker who enjoyed working on genealogy and fishing in the Altamaha River.
She was predeceased by her father, William Brantley; a daughter, Elise Torres; and a grandson, Blake Porfilio.
Survivors include a daughter, Erica (Josh) Porfilio of Jesup; two grandsons, Daniel and Donald Profilio; mother, Jeanette Harris of Jesup; a sister, Valencia O’Neal of Brunswick; and brothers, Derrick and DeWayne Brantley of Jesup.
Memorial services are being held by her family.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
David T. Plunkett
Jesup—David T. “Butchie” Plunkett, 66, of Jesup died Aug. 3, 2024.
The Germany native had lived in Wayne County most of his life and retired as a heavy equipment operator.
His hobbies were fishing, cooking, grilling and enjoying time on his boat.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Dan Thomas Plunkett and Rose Mary (Eddie Sr.) Lane; four brothers, Earl Lane, Tommy Plunkett, Jimmy Plunkett and Eddie Lane Jr.; and a sister, Susan Sellers.
Survivors include his companion, Sandy Finn; three daughters, Leslie (Joel) Lindsey, Lisa (Kevin) Hall and Lina (Marty) Johnson; an adopted-in-love son, Mickey (Summer Banks) Finn; two sisters, Lisa (Clay) Kicklighter and Tammy Gosnell; three brothers, Gary Plunkett and Clinton (Jackie) Lane and Billy Joe (Brenda) Lane; several grandchildren, Michael, Scott, Matthew, Alec, Brittany, Grayson, Abelle, Dawson, Austin and Gina; several great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and a special “fur baby,” Rudy.
Funeral services will be held today (Thursday) at 11 a.m. at Rinehart and Sons Chapel with Brother Tommy Reddish officiating. Interment will follow in the Odessa Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be Mickey Finn, Steve Pierce Jr., Josh Goss, Kevin Hall, Lamar Whitley, Clay, Ches and Grayson Kicklighter.
Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the funeral home.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Rene Drawdy
Jesup—Rene “R.L.” Drawdy, 90, died Aug. 4, 2024.
Born in Jesup, he was a 1952 graduate of Jesup High School, playing football for the Yellow Jackets. Over the years, he lived in Wayne and Glynn counties.
He was born to Meldrim Akin and Carrie Drury Drawdy. An Army veteran, he left the service to pursue a career as a land developer, swine farmer and mortician before finally working for the Clerk of Glynn County Courts for 19 years. After retirement he loved working in his yard and gardening.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Helen Marie Luther Drawdy.
Survivors include daughters Janet (Riki) Miller of Mount Pleasant, Kathleen (Creg) Martin of Swainsboro, John Yonkosky and Lynette Gallagher; an aunt, Jeanett Nail Clark; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and cousins. In the last couple of years he inherited a bonus daughter, Anita Pippin.
Funeral services were held at Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home Chapel on Aug. 7 with Pastor Rick Turner officiating. Private interment was held in Akin Memorial Cemetery. Pallbearers were family and friends. Honorary pallbearers were staff members of Hospice of South Georgia.
In lieu of flowers, memorials made to Hospice of South Georgia, 1625 Sunset Blvd, Jesup, GA 31545.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
DeWayne Reddish Sr.
Odum—DeWayne “Chainsaw” Reddish Sr., 71, of Odum died Aug. 4, 2024.
The Long County native had lived in Wayne County 36 years and was a Baptist. He was a retired 42-year employee of Rayonier of Jesup and enjoyed hunting, fishing, farming and wildlife. as well as his pets, Fluffy Mae and Candy Cane. He was known as the “walking chainsaw.”
Survivors include his wife of many years, Karin “Ela” Reddish of Odum; a daughter, Leighann (Omar) Matos of Odum; a son, Lyle DeWayne Reddish Jr. of Odum; their mother, Carol Harris of Jesup; a sister, Cindy (Ricky) Chambless of Ludowici; a brother, Johnny “Long John” (Jan) Reddish of Ludowici; four grandchildren, Bridger, Aaliyah, Natalya and Grayson; and several nieces, nephews and other extended family members.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, Aug. 11, at 2 p.m. from Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home Chapel with Charlie Hinson and the Rev. Brian Smith officiating. Interment will follow in Jesup City Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be family.
Family will receive friends from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. prior to services at the funeral home.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
• Howard & Jones
William Shelton
Smith Jr.
Jesup—William Shelton Smith Jr., 78, affectionately known as, “Cookie,” by his friends and family died peacefully on Aug. 3, 2024, at home.
A native and lifelong resident of Wayne County, he was born on July 20, 1946, to the late William Shelton Smith Sr. and Eula Mae Thornton Smith.
After high school, he proudly served his country in the United States Navy during the Vietnam Conflict in the Gulf of Tonkin aboard two ships—the USS Canisteo and the USS Diamond Head.
Upon returning home to Jesup, he began a career at Rayonier in 1972, working for 36 years before retiring in 2008 as lead operator in the Machine Room. He was a loyal member of the USW Local 787 and also a longtime member of the Crossroads Church of God.
He enjoyed fishing, collecting antiques, and playing cards and scratch-offs in his spare time. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Imogene Robertson Smith; his granddaughter, Taylor Brooke Smith; and two daughters-in-law, Deborah Winn Smith and Angie Landon Smith.
Survivors include three children, Shelton (Kathy) Smith, Chris (fiancé, Courtney) Smith and Jennifer (Steve) Beasley, all of Jesup; one sister, Phyllis (John) Ward of Jesup; five grandchildren, Zachary Smith, Zoe Smith, Mallory (Josh) Dixon, Stephene (Luke) Harrell and Allison Counts; four great-grandchildren, Zander Williams and Braydon, Paris and Jameson Counts; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other extended family members.
Services will be held privately at Howard & Jones Funeral Home with Rayonier retirees serving as honorary pallbearers.
Family and friends may sign the guestbook online at www.jesupfuneralhome.com.
Howard & Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Jones Ward
Nichols Jr.
Statesboro—Jones Ward Nichols Jr., 75, died Aug. 2, 2024 at Southeast Georgia Regional Medical Center in Statesboro.
He was born on Dec. 16, 1948, in Jesup to the late Jones Ward Nichols Sr. and Elleigh Scruggs “Page” Nichols.
He graduated from Wayne County High School in the class of 1967 and furthered his education at Georgia Southern University, earning a bachelor’s degree in political science
He served his country in the United States Air Force before beginning a career in the building supply business, where he worked at several different retailers over the years, including 84 Lumber and Lowes Home Improvement. He relocated several times with his job, living in Charleston, South Carolina and Enterprise, Alabama, before finally settling in Statesboro, where he had been living for many years.
He and his family were faithful members of Salem Primitive Baptist Church, and he enjoyed watching sports, especially his beloved Atlanta Braves, on television in his spare time.
Survivors include his brother, Charles Nichols of Jesup, and his aunt, Rose Marie Weyer of Ocala, Florida.
Graveside funeral services will be held today (Thursday) at 11 a.m. in Screven City Cemetery with Elder Thomas Waters officiating. The family will receive friends after the services at the cemetery.
Family and friends may sign the guestbook online at www.jesupfuneralhome.com.
Howard & Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
• Out of town
Peggy Franzell
Colley Trammell
Jacksonville, Florida—Peggy Franzell Colley Trammell, 69, of Jacksonville, Florida, died at her home on July 21, 2024, of natural causes.
She was born in Appling County on Nov. 18, 1954. She was the daughter of Lewis Franklin Colley and Ruthie Mae Carter Colley. She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers, Dale Colley Sr., Bobby Colley and Dewaine Colley.
Survivors include her daughters, Angie (Kurt) Schlotterbeck of Callahan, Florida, Deana (Ben) Turner of Bangkok, Thailand, and Andrea (Matt) Brummett of Williamsburg, Virginia; grandchildren, Abigail Schlotterbeck, Kailey Schlotterbeck, Elizabeth Turner, Daniel Turner, Benjamin Turner, Andrew Turner, Kayden Brummett, Johannah Brummett and Duncan Brummett; and a sister, Pam (Larry) Mullis of Blackshear.
A memorial service will be held on Aug. 17 at noon at Callahan Methodist Church, located at 449648 US-301, Callahan, FL 32011. A private graveside service will be held at a later date at Ephesus Church of God Cemetery in Baxley.