Author: Submitted

Mrs. Linda Marie Hollis, aged 72, of Douglas, Georgia, passed away on Saturday, December 18, 2021, at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. Mrs. Hollis was born on April 24, 1949, in Coffee County, Georgia, to the late Jimmy Spires and Addie Ruth Sayer Spires. Survivors include: Husband; Rev. Jimmy Hollis of Monticello, GA , Son; James Hollis III (Leslie) of Monticello, GA, Brother; Jerome Spires, Seven Grandchildren; James Hollis IV, Tyler Hollis, Katrina McKinney, Mathew Hollis, Katie Hollis, Marisa Hollis, Carson Hollis, as well as ten Great-Grandchildren. Mrs. Hollis was preceded in death by her parents, Jimmy Spires and…

Bishop Eldridge Lee “Buddy” Turner, age 85, of Douglas, Georgia passed away peacefully on Friday, December 17, 2021, at his home with his family by his side. Bishop Turner was born on August 2, 1936, in Alabama to the late Hubert Lee Turner, Willie L. Vera. Baker Turner. Bishop Turner was preceded in death by his first wife Voncile V. Higginbotham Turner; daughter Marsha Hines; three sisters; Lois Golden, Doris Gilmer, and Rosa Mae Cherry. “Buddy,” as he was called by many of his friends, left home at a young age of 15 on his quest for life. Bishop…

Caregivers and staff are giving back this Christmas to the neediest in our community with the annual Coffee Regional Medical Center Giving Tree. Each year, hundreds of ornaments are placed on the Giving Tree, each identifying a special need in the community. Employees and caregivers can take an ornament and fulfill the need identified on the ornament. The ornaments represent The Coffee County Food Bank, The Good Deeds Club of Coffee County, Families Together, and Called to Care of Coffee County. Caregivers and staff joined together to donate an impressive 325 boxes of cereal, 95 coats, 100 packs of…

Mr. Mardick Henry “M.H.” Pope of Douglas, Georgia passed away on Friday, December 17, 2021 at his home surrounded by family and friends following a great long life of 99 years. Mr. Pope is preceded in death by his Parents, Wright Mardick and Mellie English Pope; Wife, Mary Lee Harper Pope; Daughter, Teresa Pope; Son, Tony Pope; Grandson, Michael Pope; Great Grandson, Dylan Bowman; and all of his older ten siblings, Willie, Wright, Jewell, Albert, Eudora, L.G., Kate, D.W., Sam, and Walker. Mr. Pope was born the youngest of eleven siblings, December 11, 1922 in Douglas, Georgia. He was…

The South Georgia State College Hawks split their two games during the B-Mac’s 2021 Basketball Christmas Classic this weekend in Waycross. SGSC got as close as two points (55-53) in the second half Saturday afternoon against Gulf Coast Community College, only to watch the Commodores pull away for a 74-63 win. Zae Wiggins led the Hawks (10-3) Saturday with 18 points, followed by Turahn Thompson’s 12 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. AJ Spencer rounded out the top scorers with 11 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. Field goal shooting and rebounding proved to be the differences…

The Community Foundation of Coffee County, an affiliate of Community Foundation of Central Georgia, has awarded $10,000 in grants to four local nonprofit organizations through its annual grant program. Grants provide funding to nonprofit organizations working to address critical needs and opportunities in Coffee County and the immediate surrounding area. Here are the 2021 grant program recipients: Friends of General Coffee State Park received $5,000 for new fencing around its historic animal farm site. Boys and Girls Club received $2,000 for its Workforce Readiness Program for labor eligible students. Coffee County Food Bank received $2,000 to purchase supplemental food.…

The Coffee County School System will be conducting a Substitute Teacher Workshop on Wednesday, January 12, 8:00 AM – noon in the boardroom of the central office, 1311 South Peterson Avenue. Prior to the workshop, all applicants are required to register in person at the Board of Education office. While registering you will be given an application packet and asked to complete the criminal background pre-screening. Registration will begin on Wednesday, January 5, between the hours of 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The school system does offer flexible hours, a daily rate of pay, selection of schools and…

Dr. Glyn Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of Unison Behavioral Health, has announced his retirement effective December 31, 2021. Dr. Thomas’s decision to retire brings a close to a remarkable 17 years of faithful service through his humble and compassionate leadership. Tiffany Henderson, Unison’s current Director of Behavioral Health, has been appointed as forthcoming CEO, effective January 1st. “Dr. Glyn Thomas has been a highly effective & dedicated CEO, and Unison’s rising position in the state amongst CSBs has proven so,” stated Mr. Eugene Dyal, Chairman of Unison’s Board of Directors. Dr. Thomas has served the Unison community in several capacities over the years, including his role as Chairman of…

Coffee County Farm Bureau Young Farmer Chairman Walt Pridgen is serving as chairman of the 2022 Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee. This is the third and year of Pridgen’s term on the committee. Pridgen owns four poultry houses and helps manage 12 others owned by his family. He grows hay and corn for feed and raises cattle as a part of a collaborative farm with his father, Jeffrey. Walt is president of South Georgia Cattlemen, speaks to other organizations to promote agriculture and volunteers as a judge for area FFA events. He serves on the…

Thanks to support from Whitehead Industrial Hardware of Valdosta, Wiregrass students who are preparing to graduate now have the tools needed to go to work. Recipients of the Whitehead Distinguished Tradesman Award received a plaque and a $250 credit to purchase tools for their new careers. “It’s a great honor to have the opportunity to present each of these deserving individuals with the Whitehead Distinguished Tradesman Award,” shared Jonathan Miller, Whitehead Industrial Hardware Principal. “All of us here at Whitehead salute the modern tradesman and believe in the importance of recognizing the hard work and success of these students. Skilled…