Author: Submitted

Little Miss Kensley Elaine Tucker, of Ocilla, Ga. passed away Wednesday, February 16, 2022, at Coffee Regional Medical Center in Douglas, Ga. She was born in Tifton, Ga. on March 13, 2020, to Shane and Crystal Purvis Tucker. Kensley was a ray of sunshine to those around her. She was loved by all who met her and will be greatly missed. Comfort and peace come from knowing that she was welcomed into Heaven by her sister, and together they are playing and laughing and watching over all their family until the day they will be together, again, never to…

Mrs. Mary Giddens Rackley, age 94 of Pelham, Ga. passed away, Monday, February 14, 2022, at Parkway Nursing Home in Pelham, Ga. following an extended illness. She was born in Pearson, Ga. on December 22, 1927, daughter of Willie and Bessie Lee Solomon Giddens. Mrs. Rackley lived in the South Georgia area, including Pearson, Waycross and Pelham, where during that time she raised her children, alongside her husband, while being a homemaker and also working at McNeal’s Distributors and Baptist Village Nursing Home, as an office secretary. She was a member of Union Hill Congregational Christian Church and enjoyed…

Mrs. Bonnie Stapleton Conley, age 80 of Douglas, GA passed away early Friday morning, February 18, 2022 at Coffee Regional Medical Center following a short illness. Mrs. Conley was born August 25, 1941 to the late Wilbert Stapleton and the late Eva Troup Stapleton. Other than her parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters: Inez Stallings and Elizabeth Stapleton. Mrs. Conley, a native of Hazlehurst, GA, was a homemaker. She was a member of Rocky Pond Baptist Church. Survivors include: Her husband: John Lark Conley of Douglas, GA 2 Children: Laurie Schmit of Douglas,…

Mrs. Brenda Louise Hutto Massey, age 69 of Douglas, GA passed away Friday, February 18, 2022 at Coffee Regional Medical Center following an extended illness. Mrs. Massey was born June 30, 1952 to the late Vermie Hutto and the late Mazie Paul Hutto. Other than her parents she was preceded in death by her husband Larry Massey and a sister, Linda Paul. Mrs. Massey, a native of Ocilla, Irwin County, GA. had worked as a waitress for a number of years, before retiring from Pit Stop Restaurant in Tifton, GA. Mrs. Massey was of the Baptist faith. Survivors…

Mrs. Carolyn Jean Strickland Lott, age 76 of Douglas, passed away Tuesday afternoon, February 15, 2022, at Coffee Regional Medical Center following a short illness. Mrs. Lott was born November 21, 1945, to the late Carlton Edward Strickland and the late Sara Jane Kight Strickland. Other than her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Lott, Sr.; a grandson, Brandon Lott and 2 brothers: James Earl Strickland and Bobby Strickland.Mrs. Lott, a native of Ware County, GA, was a homemaker. She was Baptist by faith. Survivors include:2 Children: Raymond Lott, Jr. and wife Crystal of Douglas,…

Mrs. Mozelle Brown Pridgen, age 74 of Broxton, passed away Tuesday morning, February 15, 2022, at her residence following an extended illness. Mrs. Pridgen was born February 20, 1947, to the late William F. Brown and the late Nellie Jernigan Brown. Mrs. Pridgen, a native of Ocilla, GA, was a retired secretary with the Tift County School Board. She was a member of Rocky Pond Baptist Church. Survivors include: Her Husband: Carroll Pridgen of Broxton, GA 1 Daughter: Kimberly Paige Fountain and husband Shane of Tifton, GA 1 Son: William Shane Pridgen and wife Nikki…

Mr. Jesse George Gillis, age 71 of Nicholls, GA, passed away Sunday, February 13, 2022, at Coffee Regional Medical Center following an extended illness. Mr. Gillis was born July 17, 1950, to the late Gaston Gillis and the late Frances Mills Gillis. Other than his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Linda Batten GillisMr. Gillis, a native of Douglas, GA, was self-employed with his own sawmill. He was a veteran of the United States Army having served during the Vietnam War. Survivors include:1 Son: Jesse Gaston Gillis of Nicholls, GA 2 Sisters: Carrie Jean…

It was a battle of the GCAA’s top two teams that didn’t disappoint. Jarrel Rosser of Georgia Highlands hit the game winning shot with 3 seconds remaining in regulation to give the Chargers a 74-73 win Thursday night over South Georgia State College. The final 52.2 seconds of regulation saw the Hawks (19-8, 8-5) erase a five-point deficit (72-67) on consecutive three-pointers from Zae Wiggins. Wiggins’s second shot from behind the arc brought a large home crowd to its feet and gave SGSC a 73-72 lead with 9.6 seconds left in the game. After Rosser’s basket on the ensuing possession,…

Coffee County Schools recently held a certification workshop for those individuals interested in becoming a teacher. Presented by Kim Clayton, Director of Personnel and Public Relations, those in attendance not only were educated on the “Steps to Teaching” but also had the opportunity to hear from various teachers from the district who had been “career switchers” and completed an alternative certification route. Coffee County Schools will be holding their annual Teacher Job Fair on Saturday, March 12, 9:00 AM – Noon in the Performing Arts Center of Coffee High. All of the district administrators will be in attendance…

In preparation for the 2022-2023 school year, Coffee County Schools will be hosting a Teacher Job Fair on Saturday, March 12, from 9:00 AM – Noon, at the Preforming Arts Center on the campus of Coffee High School, located at 159 Trojan Way. All of the elementary, middle and high school system administrators will be present to conduct informal interviews. The school system is interested in interviewing applicants from all teaching fields, with special emphasis in the area of General Curriculum and Adaptive Special Education, Early Childhood, Middle and Secondary content areas of math, science, social studies, language arts, English…