Deaths

Sherry Virginia “Sher” Wilkes Townsend, age 53, of Savannah, died Wednesday, May 17, 2017, at St. Joseph’s Candler Hospital in Savannah. Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 20, 2017, at Southerland Funeral Chapel, with interment in Bowers Cemetery in Empire.
Mrs. Townsend was a native of Port St. Joe, Florida, of the Christian faith, a 1982 graduate of Jones County High School, a graduate of Tidewater Technical College in Virginia and was the administrator at The Place At Pooler in Pooler. She enjoyed cooking for her family, trips to Tybee Beach and was a huge fan of Gone with the Wind. She was the daughter of the late Shirley Carroll Lucas & Raymond Wilkes.
Survivors include her husband, Steve Townsend of Savannah; two daughters, Lori Leavell (James) of Locust Grove and Kristi Aracri (Domenic) of Macon; four step-daughters, Jamie Stieg (Joey), Tabatha Townsend, Glinda Vincent (Tim) all of Loganville and Jordan Bone (Tyler) of Cartersville; ten grandchildren, Charlie Leavell, Tucker Leavell, Lorelai Leavell, Domenic “Jr.” Aracri, Josie Stieg, Ally Stieg, Stella Easley, Cara Vincent, Bentley Vincent and Bryson Bone; two brothers, Wally Lucas and Raymond Wilkes and one nephew, James Lucas.
Serving as pallbearers were James Leavell, Domenic Aracri, Mike Duck and Tim Vincent.
Stokes-Southerland Funeral Home of Eastman was in charge of arrangements.

Barbara Elizabeth Ponder Smith, age 99, died Thursday, May 18, 2017. Funeral services were held on Monday, May 22, 2017, at McRae United Methodist Church with Reverend David Blalock and Reverend Jason Dickerson officiating. Internment followed in Oak Grove Cemetery in McRae.
Mrs. Smith was born in Rhine, and graduated from Wesleyan College in 1938. Her husband, Dr. Frederick Augustus Smith of McRae, preceded her in death. Mrs. Smith was a member of the McRae United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday school for many years and was also a member of the Lyonnia Garden Club of McRae and served as president. She was an avid bridge player, a member of McRae Duplicate and her local bridge group. Her husband, Dr. Frederick Augustus Smith of McRae, preceded her in death.
Mrs. Smith is survived by her four children, Barbara Ponder Smith Cook (Travis) of McRae; Frederick Augustus Smith, III (Karen) of Atlanta, Cathy Mizell Smith Elkins of Athens and Carolyn Faye Smith of Statesboro; three grandchildren, Barbara Catherine Cheek (John) of Atlanta, John Morgan Cook (Annie) of Gray and Hope Mizell Elkins of Phoenix, Arizona; three great-grandchildren, Travis James Cheek and Caroline Elizabeth Cheek of Atlanta and Tallulah Cook of Gray and one step-great-grandchild, Canon Moncrief of Gray. 
The family would also like to thank Mrs. Smith’s caregivers for their dedicated service and loving care; Bernice Whitehead, the late Sara Moring, Ann Johnson, the late Cynthia Patrick, Connie Austin, Pearl Riley, Louise Chapman, Billie Scarborough, Latrish Underwood, Mattie Lambert, Frederica Kellam, Celonia Pace and many others. The family would also like to thank Dr. Brian Siddall, Brena Siddall and the staff of McRae Manor for their excellent care and compassion.
Vaughn Funeral Home of McRae was in charge of arrangements.

Mitchell Lawrence Conley, age 82, of Rhine, died Saturday, May 20, 2017, at Serenity Hospice in Dublin.
Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 23, 2017, at Southerland Funeral Chapel, with Mr. Bobby Ryals and Reverend Tim Moorhouse officiating, with interment in Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.
Mr. Conley was a lifelong resident of Dodge County, a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church and former owner and operator of Mitchell Conley Logging, Inc. for over 53 years. He was a longtime employee of Ocmulgee Construction Company in McRae and enjoyed hunting and fishing. Mitchell was the son of the late Dollie Spires Conley and Arthur Lee Conley.
Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Myrtle Newman Conley of Rhine; daughter, Ramona Conley Woodard of Rhine; son, Dwayne Conley of Eastman; six grandchildren, Slade Woodard, Lance Woodard (Shunna Lyons), Ramonica Oxley (Matt), Brandy Dowdy (Jake), Jennifer Conley and Derek Conley (Amitie Hussey); six great-grandchildren, Taylor Woodard, Jared Woodard, Logan Woodard, Aniston Dowdy, Jacob Dowdy and Ralie Grace Conley; sister-in-law, Vivian J. Hancock of Dublin, and brother-in-law, Randall Newman (Trudy).
Serving as pallbearers were Jerry Yancey, Slade Woodard, Lance Woodard, Graham Royal, Vernon McDuffie and Junior Hilliard. Sheryl Bearden and Reverend Tim Moorhouse were the musicians for the funeral service.
Stokes-Southerland Funeral Home of Eastman was in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Jeynelle Dowdy Haynes, age 85, of Rhine, died Monday, May 22, 2017 at her residence.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 24, 2017, at Hopewell Baptist Church in Rhine, with Mr. Bobby Ryals and Reverend Roswell Chapman officiating, with interment in Hopewell Baptist Church Cemetery.
Mrs. Haynes was born in Rhine and was a member of Hopewell Baptist Church. She was a retired civil service employee at Robins Air Force Base with over 20 years of service and lived in Warner Robins for many years before moving back to Rhine in 2005. She loved her husband and her family and enjoyed spending time with them. Mrs. Haynes was the daughter of the late Daisy Reaves Dowdy and Tom Pete Dowdy and was preceded in death by a son, Harris Haynes and a brother, Welton Dowdy.
Survivors include her husband of 68 years, Harold Haynes of Rhine; one daughter, Betty Puckett (Tommy) of Rhine; two sons, Luther Wayne Haynes (Diane) of Nantahala, North Carolina and Gerald Haynes (Sherrie) of Warner Robins; one sister, Shirley Dix of Rhine; 11 grandchildren, Darin Haynes, Ginger Jones (Scott), Mathew Almand (Bridgette), Dan Almand, Lamar Wallace (Jennifer), Andy Puckett (Holly), Joy Williams (Derek), Dwayne Smith (Teresa), Lynn Moore (Drew), Rhonda Neff (Danny Eberhardt) and Ashley Haynes (Chad Greathouse); 18 great grandchildren and a caretaker and friend, Elizabeth Brown.
The family may be contacted at the Haynes residence, 1752 Adam Springs Road, Rhine, and will receive friends in Hopewell Baptist Church from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 24, 2017.
Serving as pallbearers are Lamar Wallace, Abel Wallace, Andy Puckett, Danny Eberhardt, Dwayne Smith and Chad Greathouse. Betty Sue Bowen and Bobby Ryals are the musicians for the funeral service.
Stokes-Southerland Funeral Home of Eastman has charge of arrangements.

Louise Tomberlin Selph, age 91, of Vidalia, formerly of Lake Sinclair, died Tuesday, May 9, 2017 at Community Hospice House in Vidalia.
Funeral services were held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, May 12, 2017, at Southerland Funeral Chapel, with Reverend LaDon Connell and Reverend Ronnie Moore officiating, with interment in Sugar Creek Congregational Methodist Church Cemetery.
Selph was born in Irwin County and a graduate and valedictorian of Mystic High School in Irwin County. She was a charter member of Sugar Creek Congregational Methodist Church and an associate member of Lakeshore Community Church at Lake Sinclair. Selph was former employee of Stuckey’s Inc. and a retired employee of Robins Air Force Base.
Selph was daughter of the late Effie Bell Snow Tomberlin and James Oliver Tomberlin, and was preceded in death by her husband of 58 and one-half years, Grover H. Selph.
Survivors include two daughters, Gail Hollingsworth (Charles) of Vidalia and Grace Smith (Greg) of Warner Robins; one son, Andy “Bo” Selph of Vidalia; eight grandchildren – Tony Mullis (Barbie), Andrea Chase (Lans), Shirley Kilgore (Tommy), Eric Selph, Caren Gladden (Jack), Rachel Meyer, Steve Selph (Rachel) and Dustin Selph; several great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; six sisters-in-law, Nita Tomberlin of Winter Haven, Florida, Monette Selph of Milan, Geraldine Selph, Dicie McLean, Jackie Spires and B.J. Selph, all of McRae.
Serving as pallbearers were Jack Gladden, Tony Mullis, Tommy Kilgore, Eric Selph, Robert Tomberlin and Lans Chase.
Stokes-Southerland Funeral Home of Eastman was in charge of arrangements.

William “Dub” Atkins, age 78, of Chauncey, passed away Thursday, May 11, 2017, at Coliseum Medical Center.
Funeral Services were at 2:00 p.m., Monday, May 15, 2017 at Hardy-Towns Chapel with Reverend Billy Baker and Reverend Tim Nardi officiating.
Interment followed in Chauncey Cemetery.
Visitation was from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 14, 2017 at Hardy-Towns Funeral Home.
Atkins, a retired construction contractor, was born April 11, 1939, in Ocala, Florida, to the late Mesba Moore and Wallace Adkins.
Atkins is survived by his wife of 55 years, Joanne Dobbs Atkins of Chauncey; five children, Linda McLain (Johnny) of Baxley, Brenda Higgins (Odell) of Baxley, Gloria Atkins of Brooklet, Dub Atkins (Lisa) of Valrico, Florida, and James Atkins (Dell) of Chauncey; five siblings, Linda Wilbanks (Ben) of Danielsville, Kathy Parrish (Doc), Jay Atkins (Tammy) and Billy Atkins of Ocala, Florida; special friend, Penny Diaz; 14 grandchildren, Haley, William, Bryan, Benjamin, Morgan, Heather, Abbie, Ben, Kandi, Marcie, John, Shane, Ashlee, and Tyler and six great grandchildren, McKenzie, Briceson, Maddie, Aspen, Cora and Bailee.
Those serving as pallbearers were Andy Newsome, Mike Patterson, Steven Sutton, Joel Hanson, Troy Purvis and Lynn Sheffield.
Hardy-Towns Funeral Home of Eastman is in charge of arrangements.

Essie Pearl Woodard Smith, age 84, of Eastman, died Friday, May 12, 2017, at Fairview Park Hospital in Dublin.
Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, May 15, 2017, at Southerland Funeral Chapel, with Reverend Daniel Cook officiating Interment was held in Greenlawn Memorial Park Cemetery.
Smith was a native of Eastman, a member of Cottondale Baptist Church and was a retired employee from Standard Candy Company. She was a longtime co manager of Sugar Creek Nursery with her husband, a textile worker for over 15 years at Eastman Cotton Mill, a former worker at Dogwood Gardens and an employee of Goody’s Inc. for several years. Smith was daughter of the late Essie Howell Woodard and John Olin Woodard, widow of J.B. Smith and was preceded in death by 11 siblings, Wynelle Justice, Myranelle Fountain, Ann Sanders, Ruby Wright, Betty McCranie, Lewis Garland Woodard, Billy J. Woodard, Johnny Woodard, William Woodard, Robert Horne and Benjamin A. “Bobby” Horne.
Survivors include one sister-in-law, Marie Wright of Eastman;
Serving as pallbearers were Delacey Brantley, Robbie Horne, Thurman Horne, Jerry Woodard, Brinson Woodard, Donald Wright, Tony Wright and Bill Woodard
Stokes-Southerland Funeral Home of Eastman was in charge of arrangements.

Larry R. Mullis, age 68, of Eastman, died Friday, May 12, 2017, at the Medical Center of Central Georgia in Macon.
Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 16, 2017, in Southerland Funeral Chapel, with Reverend Myron Parkerson officiating. A committal service was held at 3:00 p.m. at Good Hope Cemetery in Naylor.
Mullis was a native of Lowndes County, of the Baptist faith and a retired textile worker at the Eastman Cotton Mill. He was an automobile mechanic, an accomplished aircraft, automobile and boat painter and an avid motorcyclist and fisherman. He was son of the late Mildred Moore Mullis and Russell Dewitt Mullis, and was preceded in death by a sister, Patricia Wiggins.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Linda Hendrix Mullis of Eastman; three sons, Larry Wayne Mullis (Lara) of Valdosta, Michael Ray Mullis of Eastman and James Joel Mullis (Monica) of Hahira; four grandchildren, Anna Marie Lee, Christopher Wayne Mullis, Neva Mullis and Nathan Mullis; two great-grandchildren, Harley Mullis and Ryder Mullis; two sisters, Rhonda Hall of Monticello, Florida and Susan Clark of Boston; one brother, Rusty Mullis (Joanne) of Ray City; three sisters-in-law, Jeanell English, Ramona Evans (Jack) and Mary Dean Hendrix, all of Eastman and one brother-in-law, Clayton Hendrix of Eastman.
Serving as pallbearers were Brandon Sisk, Todd Hendrix, Wade Driver, Christopher Wayne Mullis and Nathan Mullis.
Stokes-Southerland Funeral Home of Eastman was in charge of arrangements.

John William “J.W.” Dennis, age 85, of Eastman, died Sunday, May 14, 2017 at his residence.
Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at Southerland Funeral Chapel, with Greg Cook and Stephen Grantham officiating. Interment will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery.
Dennis was born in Cochran, a dedicated member and former song leader of Ocmulgee Baptist Church, a former machine operator at Standard Candy Company for over 16 years and a retired head mechanic at Opelika Manufacturing Inc. for over 30 years. He was the son of the late Essie Raffield Dennis and Charlie B. Dennis, and was preceded in death by a son, Larry Dennis, a grandson, Chris Coursey and four sisters, Maude Kilcriss, Bertha Wynn, Pauline Dennis and Essie Mae Wynn.
Survivors include his wife of 35 years, Ruby Peacock Dennis of Eastman; two daughters, Carol Ledbetter (Donny) of Douglasville and Kathy Purvis (Jeff) of Eastman; one son, David Coursey (Cathy) of Eastman; three grandchildren, Joah Purvis, Nick Ricks (Brittany) and Sarah Pham (Hien); two great-grandsons, Kaleb Collins and Jackson Pham; three brothers-in-law, Harvard Peacock (Peggy) of Georgetown, FL, Radford Peacock (Sue) of Warner Robins and Caulion Peacock (Brenda) of Dublin.
The family will receive friends in Southerland Funeral Chapel from 1:30 p.m. until 3:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 17, 2017.
Serving as pallbearers are Wallace Mullis, Michael Peacock, Benjie Peacock, John Peacock, Don Foster and Joah Purvis
Stokes-Southerland Funeral Home of Eastman has charge of arrangements.

Ronnie Lee Oxley, age 60, of Eastman, died Wednesday, May 3, 2017 at Heart of Georgia Nursing Home.

A memorial visitation was held at 5:00 p.m., Saturday May 6, 2017, at Liberty Baptist Church Social Hall. Reverend Tony Howell officiated.
Oxley was born in Eastman, of the Holiness Faith, a former carpenter and a retired painter. He enjoyed country music, fishing and was an excellent handyman.

Oxley was son of the late Betty Virginia Dunlap Oxley and Arthur Lee Oxley. His brother, Marty Oxley and a nephew, David Floyd preceded him in death.

Survivors include his daughter, Stacy Oxley (Julius Hendrix, Jr.) of Eastman; son, Matt Oxley (Monica) of Eastman; one granddaughter, Rebecca Vincent of Eastman; two sisters, Karen Beasley (Alvin) and Bettie Jo Wright (Ronnie) both of Eastman; one niece, Gina Wright of Eastman; three nephews, Kevin Beasley, Phillip Beasley and Gabriel Oxley, all of Eastman.

Stokes-Southerland Funeral Home of Eastman was in charge of arrangements.