Author: Submitted

Raymond “Ray” Payne Hand, 83 of Jesup died Monday, December 30, 2019. The Coffee County native and former resident of Savannah was a member of Crossroads Church of God. The 46-year retired Church of God pastor was a U.S. Air Force veteran. The avid reader, family man and student of the Word pastored East Savannah Church of God for 26 years and several other churches in the area. He was predeceased by his two sisters, Agnes Lewis and Anna Ruth Peterson; three brothers, John Allen, Vernon and Cecil Hand. Survivors are his wife of 59 years, Gennell Christian Hand…

On Wednesday, January 1, 2020, the GBI’s Douglas Regional Office received a request from the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office to assist with a death investigation. At approximately 12:50 a.m., Coffee County 911 received a call regarding a possible deceased male, later identified as Vann Brown, 39, at 1200 Woodrow Harper Road in Ambrose. Brown had been in an altercation and sustained injuries which were believed to have caused his death. Brown will be transported to the GBI Crime Lab in Macon where an autopsy will be performed and a final cause of death determined. The investigation is active…

The No. 25 South Georgia State College Hawks finished their non-conference schedule Monday night with a 94-78 win over Summer Hill Post Graduate Academy. It was the fifth consecutive win for the Hawks (13-1). SGSC broke the game open early, building an 11-0 lead in the first three minutes. The Hawks took a 49-34 lead into the locker room at halftime only to see that lead shrink to six points more than once in the second half. Summer Hill hit 14 three-pointers (54 percent) over the course of the game and shot 80 percent from the free throw line.…

Mary Catherine Smith, age 61, of Douglas, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 26, 2019 at her residence. Mrs. Smith was born on November 13, 1958 in Sanford, Maine, the daughter of the late Joseph Pruett and the late Lorraine Farrell Pruett. Mary was a retired decorated veteran for the United States Army as an LPN for 24 years. She was a retired instructor for Wiregrass Technical College. Mary truly lived life to the fullest through simple pleasures, sitting on the beach, playing pool and cards online. Her latest pleasure was spending as much time she could with her wonderful…

Mrs. Patricia Faye Solomon Harper, age 61 of Ocilla, passed away Saturday morning, December 28, 2019 at Coffee Regional Medical Center following an extended illness. Mrs. Harper was born April 28, 1958 to Mary Frances Solomon Bennett and the late Raymond Solomon. Mrs. Harper, a native of Coffee County, was a homemaker. She was of the Baptist faith. Survivors include: Her husband, James Wade Harper of Ocilla; sons, Raymond McKinnon and Michael McKinnon, both of Douglas; mother and stepfather, Mary Frances Solomon Bennett and Rev. Roby J. Bennett of Douglas; sisters, Connie McKinnon and June Adams, both of Douglas; grandchildren,…

Mr. Eric Gonzales, age 26, of Pearson, passed away Saturday, December 28, 2019 in Tifton. Survivors include: Father, Javier Gonzalez of Pearson; mother, Leticia Ledezma of Pearson; brothers, Israel Tello and Moses Tello; sisters, Claudia Tello, Marina Tello, and Jasmine Tello. Funeral services for Mr. Gonzales will be held Saturday, January 4, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Pearson with Rev. Jose Luis Velazquez. The interment will follow in Sweetwater Cemetery in Pearson. Visitation for Mr. Gonzales will be held Friday, January 3, 2020 at Relihan Funeral Home from 6:00-9:00 p.m. Relihan Funeral Home in Pearson is…

Mr. Edison Crosby, age 66 of Willacoochee, passed away Sunday afternoon, December 29, 2019, at his residence following a brief illness. Mr. Crosby was born May 27, 1953 to Dorothy Mae Jewell Crosby and the late Thomas A. Crosby. Other than his father, he was preceded in death by siblings Sue Ellen Crosby, Talmadge Crosby and Kyllis Crosby. Mr. Crosby, a native of Coffee County, was retired from the Department of Transportation in the Maintenance Division. He was a veteran of the US Army having served his country during the Vietnam War. Survivors include: His wife, Velda Buchanan Crosby of…

Mr. Jimmy Sanders Clements, age 77 of Douglas, passed away suddenly Thursday afternoon, December 26, 2019, from injuries received in an auto accident. Mr. Clements was born January 5, 1942 to the late Ernest Clements and the late Mary Katheline Knowles Clements. Other than his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Frances Willene Ethridge Clements who passed away, July 20, 2019 and a brother, Ernest “Ben” Clements, Jr. Mr. Clements was a native of Telfair County. He had been employed with Rayonier as a lumber cutter. He attended Covenant Christian Church. Survivors include: Sister, Martha Rivers and…

Mr. Johnny Brown, age 69 of Willacoochee, passed away, Saturday, December 21, 2019 at Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Fla., following an extended illness. Survivors include: Daughter Selena Corbitt and husband Jason of Dunellon, Fla.; son James Henry Brown of Willacoochee; wife Possum Brown of Willacoochee; sisters Ann Spivey and husband Donnie of Pearson and Ellen Smith and husband Robert of Pearson; six grandchildren and several other relatives also survive. Funeral services for Mr. Brown will be held Sunday, December 29, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. at Willacoochee United Methodist Church with Rev. Hogan Waldron officiating. The interment will follow in the…

Mr. James Albert Brannon, age 86 of Douglas, passed away Tuesday afternoon, December 24, 2019 at St. Joseph/Candler Hospital in Savannah following a short illness. Mr. Brannon was born February 10, 1933 to the late James Byron Brannon and the late Edna Earl Peebles Brannon. Other than his parents, Mr. Brannon was preceded in death by his wife, Wilma Jean Dugins Brannon, and a daughter, Melanie Delaine Brannon Hires. Mr. Brannon, a native of Henry County, Ala., had lived in Douglas for many years. He was a logging contractor and he was a US Navy veteran, having served during the…