Author: Submitted

David Virgil Varnedore, age 85, of Douglas, Georgia passed away on Wednesday, August 31, 2022, at Coffee Regional Medical Center. Mr. Varnedoe was born on October 1, 1936, in Douglas, GA to the late Dave Varnedore and the late Inez Brantley Varnedore. Survivors include: Son, David V. (Sharon) Varnedore, Jr. of Douglas, GA, Daughter, Brenda Diane Spivey of Douglas, GA, Daughter, Tammy (Brian) Whitley of Douglas, GA, Daughter, Gail Oglesbee of Douglas, GA, Sister, Sarah Matson of Palatka, FL, Grandchildren, Cassandra (Andy) Powell, Amanda (Matt) Smith, Mark (Hali) Varnedore, Angelique Spivey, Bree Whitley, Dare (Lance) McKenzie, Nellie Whitley,…

Andy James Baisden, age 57, of Hazlehurst, Georgia passed away on Monday, August 29, 2022, at Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah, Georgia following an extended illness. Mr. Baisden was born on August 20, 1965, in Douglas, Georgia to the late Ander Lee Basiden and Eunice Miller Baisden. Survivors include: Three Sisters, Shelia (Lewis ) Harrell of Douglas, GA, Martha (Jerry ) Harrell of Hazlehurst, GA, and Sherry (Roger) Bohannon of Hazlehurst, GA. He was also survived by Several Nieces, Nephews, Cousins, and Friends. Mr. Baisden was preceded in death by his parents, Ander Lee Basiden …

Carlton W. Gillespie, age 89, of Douglas, Georgia, passed away on Tuesday, August 30, 2022, at Coffee Regional Medical Center following an extended illness. Mr. Gillespie was born on September 14, 1932, in Douglas, Georgia to the late Vernon Walter Gillespie and Ore Lee Burnam Gillespie. Survivors include: Wife, Mary Lou Gillespie of Douglas, GA, Son, Byron (Donya) Wade Gillespie of Douglas, GA, Son, Bradley (Angela) Gillespie, Two Grandchildren, Whitley Gillespie, Mason Gillespie, One Brother, Bert (Barbara) Gillespie and several Nieces and Nephews. Mr. Gillespie was preceded in death by: Two brothers, Lonnie Gillespie and James Gillespie. One Sister, Nell Hutcheson; Father,…

Clay Anthony Leedom, age 51, of Hawkinsville, Georgia, passed away on Saturday, August 28, 2022 due to injuries from a motor vehicle accident. Leedom was born on November 4, 1968, to Joseph James Leedom and Lynn Marshell Wright. Survivors include: Wife, Crystal Ann Leedom of Hawkinsville, GA, Mother, Lynn Williams of Douglas, GA, Two Uncles, Freddie Kirkland, Issac Kirkland, Two Sisters, Mary Curry of Douglas, GA, Christina Everheart of Walnut Grove, NC, Five Sons, Devon Leedom, Nicholas Leedom, Mathew LaLond, Ronald Wasion, Jonathan Earnest, Daughter, Mariah Earnest, Two Grandchildren, Killian Leedom, Grayson Leedom. A memorial service will…

Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) is accepting entries of Bermudagrass hay until Oct. 31 for its 2022 GFB Quality Hay Contest. Hay entered in the contest will be tested at a University of Georgia lab using the Relative Forage Quality (RFQ) Test, which provides an analysis of the nutritional value of the hay. Winners will be determined by the RFQ analysis. Winners will be announced at the GFB convention in December. Prizes will be presented to the top five producers. The first-place winner will receive the free use of a Vermeer 604R baler for one year, courtesy of the…

The City of Douglas will hold an open house of one of the restored World War II barracks on Friday, September 9, 2022, from 1:00 pm-4:00 pm. Once utilized as housing for World War II cadets, the Barracks #5 building is hoped to be used for an aviation-type business or aviation-related purposes. The open house is free of charge. In 2020, the Georgia Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Natural Resources awarded the City of Douglas $10,000 in grant funds for building improvements on Barracks #5 in 2020. Funds from the DNR Grant and the City of…

South Georgia State College celebrated the completion of the Powell Hall renovation with a ribbon cutting ceremony on August 23, 2022. Powell Hall, one of the college’s three original buildings on the Douglas Campus, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and holds a prominent place in the history of the institution. Built in 1907, this legacy building was named for Josiah W. Powell, the second principal of the 11th District Agricultural and Mechanical School which became South Georgia College. Powell Hall was initially constructed to house the men’s dormitory. Over the years, the use of…

Nine of the community’s brightest youth leaders took their oath of office for the 2022-2023 Douglas Mayor’s Youth Council on Monday, August 22, 2022. The new group of teen leaders has been busy this summer promoting the youth leadership program throughout our community and even as far as Arkansas. During the summer months, Joana Mazariegos traveled to the city of Crossett, Arkansas and met their Mayor, Crystal Marshall. Joana shared her experiences with the youth council and some ideas to help Crossett begin their Mayor’s Youth Council. Members also set up a booth at the George Washington Carver…

South Georgia State College was recognized as the Campus Spotlight at the Board of Regents monthly meeting on Tuesday, August 9, 2022. The Campus Spotlight is an initiative that allows the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia to learn more about the students, faculty and academic programs at their member institutions. The SGSC presentation entitled “Engaging Community Partners in Students’ Experiential Learning Opportunities” focused on three of its baccalaureate programs, the Bachelor of Science in Elementary and Special Education, the Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, and the Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology.…

A Telfair County woman has been sentenced to federal prison after admitting she participated in a scheme to fraudulently obtain millions of dollars in COVID-19 relief funds. Shakeena Hamilton, 34, of McRae, Ga., was sentenced to 60 months in prison after she previously pled guilty to Conspiracy to Commit an Offense Against the U.S. Government, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Hamilton admitted helping others to fraudulently apply for Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) relief under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and to receiving kickbacks from the co-conspirators in…