On July 21, 2026, agents with the Douglas-Coffee Drug Unit arrested Kendall McDuffie, 42, of Eastman, on a cocaine trafficking charge following an ongoing narcotics investigation. During the investigation, McDuffie was identified as a person of interest in the transportation of illegal narcotics. Agents intercepted McDuffie while he was transporting the suspected cocaine, safely surrounded the vehicle, and took him into custody without incident. A subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of a plastic bag containing a large circular white rock substance believed to be a cookie of crack cocaine. McDuffie was charged with trafficking cocaine. He…
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Sandra Lee Stork Mingledorff passed away peacefully at about 8:30 PM on the 28th of July, 2026. She was born the 18th of January 1943 to Dr. A. Robert Stork, MD, and Jean Ann Pippen Stork in Charleston, WV. She and her younger sister, Susan, could rightfully say they were delivered by the Stork. Her childhood was spent at the heels of her father, much like a tomboy, in Logan, West Virginia. Schooling was Logan public schools where she graduated from high school. She attended Hillsdale College, Maris Harvey College, and Marshall University where she studied Library Science and French.…
Casey Smith, age 48, of Douglas, GA, passed away on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. He was born on July 13, 1978 the son of the late Elbert Smith and Mrs. Joyce Moore. His survivors include: step-father and mother, Dan and Joyce Moore of Douglas, GA; two brothers, Wesley Adams of Douglas, GA and Kerry Moore of Douglas, GA; along with several cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by: father, Elbert Smith; grandparents, Aaron and Mattie Mae Adams; and grandmother, Annie Belle Smith. The family will receive friends on Thursday, July 30, 2026 at Sims Funeral Home in Douglas,…
Roy Music, age 75, of Douglas, GA, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. He was born on March 19, 1951 the son of the late Leroy Music and the late Myrtice Spivey. His survivors include one son, Ross Edwin Music of Alma, GA; three daughters, Wanda (Tim) Taylor of Alma, GA, Melissa (Steven) Paulk of Douglas, GA, and Christy Music of Waycross, GA; several grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; three brothers, Glennon (Kathy) Music of Arkansas, Danny Music of Nicholls, GA, and Jimmy Ray (Peggy) Music of Douglas, GA; three sisters, Christine (Billy) Coleman of Baxley, Sue Anderson of Douglas,…
Dorothy Faye Thompson, age 81, of Douglas, GA, passed away on Sunday, July 26, 2026 at Coffee Regional Medical Center following an extended illness. Mrs. Thompson was born on December 1, 1944, in Coffee County, Georgia to the late Willie Jowers and Fronie Jowers. Her survivors include one son, Steven Ray Steptoe; two grandchildren, Bo Ryan Steptoe and Reagan Walsh; seven great grandchildren; siblings Vernell Nipper and Danny Jowers; along with several nieces, nephews, and extended family members. Mrs. Thompson was preceded in death by her husband, N.B. Thompson; parents, Willie Jowers and Fronie Jowers; and siblings, Jeanette Swails, Edward…
Ms. Doris Bilton Szalay, age 96, of Douglas, Georgia, passed away in the early morning hours of Sunday morning July 26, 2026, at Lakeside Senior Care following a lengthy decline in health. Ms. Doris was born May 18, 1930, in Cleveland, Ohio, to the late Edward Albert Bilton and the late Dorothy Elnora Armstong Bilton. In 1951 she earned her bachelor’s degree in music specializing in piano. She was the owner and operator of Gulfstream Associates Printing & Mailing. She was very active in ministries with Rogersville Baptist Church in Rogersville, Tennessee, and 1st Baptist Church in Lake Worth, Florida,…
Three defendants, including one from Douglas, sentenced after pleading guilty to firearms-related charges The illegal sale of firearms and felons in possession of ammunition or firearms results in prison sentences for multiple defendants in separate cases. The sentences imposed in U.S. District Court were announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. They include: Jeremy Nicholas McLloyd, 34, of Douglas, Georgia, was sentenced to 152 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted Felon. McLloyd was found in possession of ammunition during a…
Margaret Traynham Bullington died on July 28, 2026. She lived at Lakeside Senior Living in Douglas, Georgia. A service of celebration and remembrance of her life will be held on Saturday, August 1, 2026 at 2:00 PM at Broxton Community Church. Visitation will be in the social hall from 12:30-1:45PM. Gifts in memory may be made either to the Lakeside Employee Christmas Fund or The United Methodist Committee or Relief. Burial will be at 9:00AM on Wednesday, July 29, 2026 at the Broxton City Cemetery.
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College proudly welcomed Cohort 15 of the Georgia Teacher Academy for Preparation and Pedagogy (GaTAPP) following the successful completion of the program’s Essentials of Effective Teaching training held July 6–17 on the college’s Valdosta Campus. Eight new teacher candidates from school systems across the Coastal Plains Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA) officially began their journey toward earning renewable Georgia teaching certificates through the state’s premier alternative teacher certification program. Participants represent Lowndes County Schools, Colquitt County Schools, Valdosta City Schools, Ben Hill County Schools, and Scintilla Charter Academy. Designed for individuals who already hold a bachelor’s degree or higher in a field…
The Valdosta Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating Bernard Foster, Jr. and Tevan Bivins, who are wanted for murder after a shooting that occurred in the 1500 block of E. Park Avenue. On July 27, 2026, at 4:20 p.m., numerous first responders responded to Prospers Apartments at 1503 East Park Avenue after several people called E911 to report that multiple people were shooting guns inside the complex between two buildings. One witness told the E911 dispatcher that it appeared that someone had been shot, and the victim, who had also been seen shooting a gun, had been…