Vernon Dwight Drury
Jesup—Vernon Dwight Drury, 66, of Jesup died April 14, 2022, under the care of Hospice of South Georgia.
The Albany native was a member of Altamaha Baptist Church and a U.S. Army veteran, who served a tour in the Iraq War. He served his country with honor and distinction for more than 26 years, to include his most cherished assignment, serving as an Airborne Ranger in the 1st Ranger Battalion from 1978 to 1981.
In addition to his military service, he was the owner and dealer of Walker Chevrolet, and later partner at NeSmith-Walker Chevrolet.
He was active in his community by serving as president of the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce and as a member of the Jesup Downtown Development Authority, Altamaha Wildlife Association, and Boys and Girls Club of America and by initiating the Wayne County High School Student Chamber Board. He also helped build the soccer programs in Wayne County.
He continued to support the military through his business and finished his military career in the Joint Communications Support Element (JCSE) at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, where he was still jumping out of perfectly good, running airplanes at the age of 55. (RANGERS LEAD THE WAY “RLTW.”)
The family man loved to fish, cook, farm and vegetable-garden but especially loved to host get-togethers for his friends.
His parents, Vernon Ellis and Ouida Green Drury, preceded him in death along with his brother, Doyle Carson Drury.
Survivors include his wife, Ty Surrency Drury of Jesup; two daughters, Holly Humphrey of Jesup and Lauren (Pete) Amis of Winder, and their mother, April (Mark Lewallen) Drury of Jesup; four grandchildren, Morgan Humphrey, Riley, Walker and Wyatt Ellis Amis; bonus children, Claire (Avery) Reddish and Ethan (Mary Grace) Stanfield; bonus grandchildren, Ash Reddish and Hudson Stanfield; and several other extended relatives.
A private celebration of life will be held by the family at a later date.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Carolyn Surrency Sebring
Jesup—Carolyn Surrency Sebring, 91, of Jesup died April 15, 2022.
The Wayne County native was a member of New Hope Freewill Baptist Church and was a longtime employee with Allied Chemical in Brunswick. She enjoyed gardening, cooking and being with her family.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Glenn H. Sebring; her daughter, Patricia “Pat” Hodge Ogden; and her parents, Eddie and Hattie Surrency.
Survivors include a daughter, Judy (Keith) Davis of Jesup; five grandchildren, Jeff, Shaun and Lindsay Ogden, Michael Kersey and Shannon Lastinger; great-grandchildren, Taylor, Jesse, Marlie, Shaun, Tyler, Sammie and Brody; a son-in-law, Wyman Ogden; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held April 19 at New Hope Freewill Baptist Church with Pastor Tim Horne officiating. Interment followed in Pinecrest Memorial Cemetery. Active pallbearers were her family. Honorary pallbearers were members of the Senior Adult Sunday School Class of New Hope Freewill Baptist Church.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Leland Charles Franklin
Jesup—Leland Charles Franklin, 72, of Jesup died April 11, 2022.
The Wayne County native was a member of Cornerstone United Pentecostal Church. He was a former employee with Georgia Narrow Fabrics and enjoyed family time, hunting, fishing and tinkering.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Irvin and Louise Franklin; his brothers, Eugene, Billy and Dickie; and his sisters, LaFaye, Grace and Margie.
Survivors are his fiancé, Debbie White, of Waycross; a daughter, Melissa (David) Owens of Odum; a son, Dana (Jennifer) Long of Midway; a sister, JoAnne Bennett of Screven; grandchildren, Katelyn and Madisyn Kent, Hadley and Mallory Long; extended family, Heather Dowling and Haley (Scott) Livingston, and their children, Lillie and Marlee; and several nieces and nephews.
Graveside funeral services were held April 16 in Screven City Cemetery with the Rev. Ray Worley officiating. Active pallbearers were David Owens, Dana Long, Hadley Long, Shawn Herndon, Chad Oliver and Steve Long.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
James W. “Jim” Hodges
Jesup—James W. “Jim” Hodges, 83, of Jesup died April 15, 2022.
The Wayne County native was a charter member of Grace Assembly Church of God and was a retired 20-year senior chief veteran with the U.S. Navy.
For many years, he was known as a kind, caring EMT employee with the Wayne and Pierce counties and Okefenokee ambulance services. He also enjoyed fishing and wood working.
He is predeceased by two sons, Dale and Mitch Strickland.
Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Betty Wiggins Hodges of Jesup; a daughter, Rena (Quincy) Conner of Jesup; sons, Randy (Kim) Fennel of Issaquah, Washington, Raymond (Kim) Fennel of Peachtree City, Rusty (Melody) Hodges of Jesup, Ryan (Sheila) Hodges of Waycross; brothers, Vernon Hodges and Gary Hodges both of Jesup, Timmy Hodges of Douglasville and Allen Hodges of Bloomingdale; sisters, Martha Helms of Milledgeville; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Graveside services with military honors were held April 18 from Pine Crest Memorial Cemetery with Pastor Dale Bange and the Rev. Stanley Todd officiating. Active pallbearers were friends and family.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Larry Eugene Woodward Jr.
Jesup—Larry Eugene Woodward Jr., 62, died April 18, 2022.
The Wayne County native was first a great loving and understanding father and grandfather. His daughter shared some special thoughts, “He knew the true meaning of love and where it comes from. This was taught and demonstrated to his one and only child. He had a heart that was bursting with so much love. He loved his family very passionately with every fiber of his being, and he was so full of love. My Dad always placed his struggles aside when he saw a friend, neighbor or even a stranger in need. No matter if the need was food, a few dollars, or just some good words to inspire and to lift spirits. It made him feel good to help others and life was about loving his family and helping others. My Dad was known for his sense of humor and said he would always be a kid at heart. He was truly a great person and a great friend to many. He was a rare, genuine and special person. He was special and made me special. I am his daughter, and I am him. He is greatly loved and will be missed very deeply. Larry Jr. has gone through the gates to meet his heavenly Father, get his wings, and will be back here soon to watch over me and his grandchildren and all those he loved.”
Survivors include his daughter, Pamela Woodward of Jesup; two grandchildren, Jayden and Delilah; and sisters, Deborah Barnhill of Jesup and Rita Butler of Davenport, Florida.
Funeral services will be held today (Thursday) at 11 a.m. at Rinehart and Sons Chapel with Pastor Richard Dobson officiating. Interment will be at New Hope Cemetery.
Family will receive friends from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. prior to the services at the funeral home.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Faye Elizabeth Poole
Jesup—Faye Elizabeth Poole, 72, died April 11, 2022, at home under the care of Hospice of South Georgia Inc.
A resident of Jesup for the past 28 years and a former resident of Baxley, she was born on May 9, 1949, to the late Winston and Frances Cooper Mobley. She was a lifelong member of Gum Branch Baptist Church and loved singing in her younger years.
She loved her family and would do anything she could to help the ones she loved. Her sense of humor, was second to none and she always loved joking around and having fun.
Survivors include her husband of 28 years, Herman Poole of Jesup; daughters, Dana Eason of Baxley and Kristina (Wesley) Dixon of Dublin; sons, Terry (Josh) Porterfield of Kentucky and Tony (Tina) Porterfield of Fort Payne, Alabama; two sisters, Cindy (David) Thornton of Gum Branch and Kay Coffman of Baxley; a brother, Wayne (Kim) Mobley of Hinesville; and a host of grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and other extended-family members.
Funeral services were held April 14 at Howard & Jones Funeral Home in Jesup with the Rev. Stanley Todd, the Rev. Richard Grice and the Rev. David Bohannon officiating.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Hospice of South Georgia, 1625 Sunset Blvd., Jesup, GA 31545; ARF of Jesup, 8678 Hwy. 301 S., Jesup, GA 31545; or Shriners Hospital, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607.
Family and friends may sign the guestbook online at www.jesupfuneralhome.com.
Howard & Jones Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.