Author: Submitted

Mr. Ira L. Aldridge, Jr. age 72 of Douglas passed away Tuesday afternoon, March 30, 2021, at his residence following an extended illness. Mr. Aldridge was born August 25, 1948 to the late Ira L. Aldridge, Sr. and the late Marjorie Bittaker Aldridge. Mr. Aldridge, a native of Coffee County, was employed as the chief deputy with the Coffee County Sheriff’s office. He was a veteran of the US Army during the Vietnam War. He was also a member of Saving Grace Ministries. Survivors include: Wife, Theresa Cribbs Aldridge of Douglas, GA, Son, Michael Shane Aldridge and his wife…

Brenda M. Driver, age 69, of Wray, Georgia passed away on Saturday, April 3, 2021 at her residence. Mrs. Driver was born on February 19, 1952 in Coffee County, Georgia the daughter of the late Archie Merritt and Mildred Kight Merritt. Mrs. Driver worked as a psychologist with the Coffee County School System and was of the Baptist faith. Survivors include her husband, Herbert Driver of Wray, GA; daughter, Heather Taylor (Derrick) of Leesburg, GA; two grandchildren, Alex and Maggie Taylor of Leesburg, GA; several cousins. The family will receive friends Tuesday, April 6, 2021 from 3:00 p.m.…

Rhoda Lott Hunter, age 95, of Douglas, Georgia passed away on Monday, March 29, 2021 at The Landings. Mrs. Hunter was born on December 4, 1925 in Coffee County, Georgia the daughter of the late Donnie and Rachel Merritt Lott. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence John Hunter Sr, sister, Mary Alice Lott Hendry and, four brothers, Oswald “Bud” Lott, Alfred Lott, M.J. Lott and, Johnny Lott. In her early years in education she began teaching in the Irwin County Schools, later to teach at Hebron School in Coffee County. In…

Linda Joyce Lott Lloyd, age 62, of Douglas, Georgia, passed away on Monday, March 29, 2021 at Coffee Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Lloyd was born on August 15, 1958 in Coffee County, Georgia the daughter of the late Winfred and Addie Mae Carver Lott. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Freddie Lott and a granddaughter, McKinleigh Joe Cichirillo. She worked with Fleetwood Homes. Survivors include daughter, Heather Cichirillo (Joe) of Douglas, GA; son, Shawn Merritt; grandchildren, Lagan Cichirillo, Toni Beth Cichirillo, Olivia Merritt and, Shelby Merritt; two brothers, Jerry Lott (Kay)…

CRH Cardiology Group is pleased to announce the addition of two new Interventional Cardiologists. They join an elite group of cardiologists, who, as a group, offer a wide array of cardiology services to South Georgia. Manish Bansal, M.D., F.S.C.A.I., F.A.C.C. is a highly trained Interventional Cardiologist holding multiple board certifications. Dr. Bansal is Board Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Interventional Cardiology, Cardiovascular Diseases, Internal Medicine, and Board Certified in Nuclear Cardiology from the Board of Nuclear Cardiology. These certifications require the physician to continually validate expertise and knowledge in the field, which ensures the physician…

Coffee Regional Medical Center is celebrating National Donate Life Month throughout April. We join hundreds of organizations in Georgia and across the United States in spreading this life-saving message. The month-long celebration commemorates those who have received or continue to wait for lifesaving transplants, as well as organ donors who save and heal lives. Today, more than 108,000 men, women, and children await the opportunity for renewed life through organ donation. Hundreds of thousands of more people will benefit from tissue, cornea, and blood donation annually. Over 4,000 of those waiting for a suitable donor are our friends and…

Nursing leaders at Coffee Regional Medical Center (CRMC) gathered to celebrate a commitment to excellence and launch the Shared Governance Council at CRMC. A program founded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the Pathway to Excellence is a multi-year journey that requires leadership and collaboration to achieve patient safety and clinical practice goals. The journey includes seating a Shared Governance Council as a platform for shared decision making and clinical policy development. The council will foster collaboration between nursing leaders and staff throughout the CRMC organization. It will also ensure healthcare-related decisions are made by the individuals caring for…

Dr. Kavita Kothari, Assistant Medical Director of Unison Behavioral Health, was recently awarded the prestigious William “Bill” Richards Rural Psychiatry Award for 2021 by the American Psychiatric Association. This award recognizes individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the treatment of patients and the practice of psychiatry in rural and/or remote geographic areas. Senior Management of Unison congratulates Dr. Kothari on this outstanding accomplishment. Unison Behavioral Health provides quality mental health, substance use, and developmental disability services in Atkinson, Bacon, Brantley, Charlton, Clinch, Coffee, Pierce, and Ware Counties. For more information on services, visit www.unisonbehavioralhealth.com.

The Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association has selected South Georgia State College’s Bryce Brown as this season’s final Division I Men’s Basketball Player of the Week. Brown, a 6’8″ redshirt sophomore from Lawrenceville, Ga., averaged 14 points, 6.5 rebounds, one assist, one steal and four blocks in two games against Gordon State. Brown set a school record for eight blocks in one of those games. For the season, Brown is averaging 14.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and shooting 59 percent from the field and 78.9 percent from the free throw line. These percentages as well as total blocks (25) place…

The City of Douglas would like to encourage citizens to attend or become a part of various city committees and boards. At the present time, there are vacancies on the Airbase Preservation and Development Committee and the Keep Douglas Beautiful Board. Each board has its own criteria and qualifications for volunteers to become a member. The following is a list of April 2021 meetings for City of Douglas Boards and Committees. Airport Commission – No meeting. Land Bank Authority – April 8, 2pm, Ashley Slater House, 211 S. Gaskin Avenue. Airbase Preservation and Development Committee – April 12, 12pm,…