Obituaries

9.18.25

• Howard & Jones   Earl Winston Purcell Jr. Jesup—Earl Winston Purcell Jr., 76, died peacefully on Sept. 10, 2025, at Hospice of South Georgia after an extended illness surrounded by his loving family.

9.11.25

• Howard & Jones   Ethan Benjamin Salazar Jesup—Ethan Benjamin Salazar, 20, died peacefully on Sept. 7, 2025, surrounded by his loving family after a courageous  battle with cancer. A resident of Jesup for most of his life, he was born on July 23, 2005, in Hollywood, Florida.

9.4.25

• Rinehart & Sons   James “Twyman” Vickers Jesup—James “Twyman” Vickers, 78, of Jesup died Aug. 28, 2025. The Alma native had lived most of his adult life in Wayne County and was a member and deacon of Anderson Drive Baptist.

8.28.25

• Rinehart & Sons Henry “Grady” Marr Jesup—Henry “Grady” Marr, 80, died Aug. 20, 2025, surrounded by the love of his family and the care of Hospice of South Georgia. He was a U.S. Army veteran who worked many years at Rayonier in the machine room.

8.21.25

• Rinehart & Sons   Dr. Derrell Rentz Jesup—Dr. Derrell Rentz, 83, of Jesup died Aug. 14, 2025 under the care of Hospice of South Georgia. The Duval County, Florida, native and U.S. Air Force veteran had lived in Wayne County since 2002.

8.14.25

• 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.

8.7.25

*Rinehart & Sons   Roger McColloch Jesup—Roger McColloch, 77, of Jesup died Aug. 2, 2025. A native of Missouri, he had lived in Wayne County most of his adult life and was an Army veteran, having served his country in the Vietnam War.

7.31.25

• Rinehart & Sons   The Rev.  Gerald Wayne “Rooster” Manning Jr. Jesup—The Rev.  Gerald Wayne “Rooster” Manning Jr., 53, of Jesup died July 22, 2025. The Wayne County native was the pastor of Memorial Baptist Church and former owner of Manning Tire and Grocery in Gardi.

7.24.25

• Howard & Jones   Jimmy Paul Davis Sr. Jesup—Jimmy Paul Davis Sr., 78, died peacefully on July 18, 2025, at home while surrounded by his loving family under the care of Hospice of South Georgia. He was born on June 1, 1947, to the late Albert and Lois Beasley Davis.

7.17.25

• Royal   Eliza Darden Jesup—Eliza Darden died quietly July 9, 2025 at Memorial Health University in Savannah. A visitation will be held at Bennett Union Missionary Baptist Church from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m July 18.