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Kimberly L. Benton, age 49, of Willacoochee, Georgia, passed away on Monday, April 20, 2020 at her residence following an extended illness. Mrs. Benton was born on July 12, 1970 in Coffee County, Georgia the daughter of Patricia Ann Mancil Hurst and the late Ivy W. Hurst, Sr. Kimberly was a fourth grade teacher with twenty-four years of service with the Coffee County School System and was a member of New Harmony Grove Baptist Church. Survivors include her husband, Larry Benton of Willacoochee, GA; daughter, Ashlyn Benton of Douglas, GA; son, Zane Benton of Norfolk, VA; mother, Patsy Hurst of…

Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that the Southern Georgia region’s unemployment claims spiked in March. Due to the effects of COVID-19, all regions and counties throughout the state saw a dramatic incline in initial claims along with the unemployment rate. “Although we are seeing the effects of COVID-19 throughout the state in spikes in unemployment, we are working very diligently to come up with solutions to get Georgians back to work as soon as it is safe to do so,” Butler said. In the Southern Georgia region, the unemployment rate increased in March to 4.7 percent, an…

The COVID-19 pandemic and shelter-in-place order have changed our everyday lives in ways that we never could have imagined. Those of us who are not included in the most vulnerable population to catch the dreaded virus may find ourselves going stir-crazy and experiencing cabin fever, but at least we are at home with our spouses and children. Unfortunately, many of our elderly population who are most susceptible to being infected by the coronavirus are isolated in nursing homes or senior living facilities, without being able to receive visitors like their friends, family, and community volunteers. However, despite massive obstacles…

A large number of area college students have found themselves at home during our nation’s COVID-19 pandemic. Wiregrass Georgia Technical College has moved many of the college’s popular summer core classes online for Summer Semester. Students seeking to continue their college education this summer while at home can look at the list of courses offered online through Wiregrass Tech. The college offers these courses at a tuition rate of $100 per credit hour, with small class sizes with and local instructors. Most courses through Wiregrass will transfer to other colleges/universities; courses such as ECON 1101 Principles of Economics, ENLG 1101 Composition…

Mrs. Beth Thompson Higgs, age 86 of Pearson, Ga. passed away Monday, April 20, 2020 at her daughter’s home in Waycross, Ga., following an extended illness. Survivors include: Sons Elisha Higgs, Jr. and wife, Winnie of Millwood, Ga., Sam Higgs of Axson, Ga., Gregory Higgs and wife, Laurie of Axson, Ga.; daughters Linda Gail Vickers and husband, Dan of Pearson, Ga., Ellen Altman and husband, Terry of Waycross, Ga., and Beth Ann Lee and husband, Chuck of Pearson, Ga.; brother Horace Thompson and wife, Carol of Millwood, Ga.; sister Alice Hardee and husband, Roy Lee of Millwood, Ga.; 16 grandchildren;…

Mr. Bruce Allen Harper, age 57 of Willacoochee, passed away Monday, April 20, 2020, at his residence following a short illness. Mr. Harper was born November 29, 1962 to Eugene Harper and the late Treva Lou Cruce Harper. Mr. Harper, a native of Jacksonville, FL, had been employed with a cargo trailer plant. Survivors include: Son, Allen Harper II of Douglas, GA; daughter, Amber Beard of Waycross, GA; father, Eugene Harper of Willacoochee, GA; brother, David Harper of Willacoochee, GA; grandchildren, Isabella Beard and Caleb Beard both of Waycross, GA; several cousins and many friends. A memorial service and inurnment…

Mr. William Billy Beasley, age 64 of Douglas, passed away early Tuesday morning, April 21, 2020 at his residence following an extended illness. Mr. Beasley was born November 6, 1955 to the late Preston Beasley and the late Doris Eulane Odum Beasley. Mr. Beasley, a native of Coffee County, had been a self-employed carpenter for many years. He attended the First Baptist Church and Douglas Christian Fellowship. Survivors include: Son, Dr. William Levi Beasley of Douglas, GA; siblings Gladys Medders and husband Lamar of Douglas, GA, Homer Beasley and wife Ada Nell of Broxton, GA, Herman Beasley and wife Janice…

By Amanda Hayes Jessie Tillman “J.T.” Anderson was born on June 28, 1942, to the late Tillman and Opal Minix Anderson. Upon his passing on April 16, 2020, at age 77, J.T. had lived through several major illnesses and surgeries. He was believed to be one of the oldest living persons in the United States, and quite possibly the world, with Down’s syndrome. And our community of Douglas, Georgia, was privileged enough to claim him as our very own. J.T. may have been a person of “special needs,” but he was also certainly a man of “special deeds.”…

Now is a good time for students to get started or move ahead as summer semester 2020 will be completely online for South Georgia State College. Following the guidance of the University System of Georgia, SGSC will adjust fees for summer courses reflecting the recent shift to online delivery. Students will only be charged two mandatory fees: the institutional fee and the technology fee. Students registered for summer 2020 online courses will notice tuition rates will reflect the same rate as face-to-face delivery costs. Tuition rates apply to online classes offered by SGSC, not to eCore courses offered through the University System…

School nutrition programs are champions when it comes to flexibility. When Georgia implemented the COVID-19 Shelter in Place Order, the Coffee County School Nutrition Program had to take its adjustment skills to a new level. What started out as a mission to maintain breakfast and lunch service for their average 4,700 customers per day, has evolved into service for almost 11,000 children per day, throughout the county. Every school nutrition program has to adjust to changes in federal and state guidelines, product shortages and substitutions, staffing challenges, etcetera. The current pandemic has brought in a multitude of unforeseen challenges. Systems…