Author: Submitted

Mary Regina Aycock, age 50, of Winterville, passed away on Sunday, December 29, 2019 at Piedmont Athens Regional Hospital in Athens. Mrs. Aycock was born on September 25, 1969 in Douglas, the daughter of Evelyn Paulk Anderson and the late Eugene Anderson. She was a middle school teacher with Coile Middle School in the Clarke County School System and had taught in the Ocilla, Coffee County and Jackson County school systems. Mrs. Aycock was a member of First Assembly of God in Douglas. Survivors include her husband, Wendell Brian Aycock of Winterville; two daughters, Ragan Aycock and Abbey Aycock, both…

Rosa GwinNette “Gwin” Fitzgerald Carver, age 89 of Douglas, died on Tuesday, December 24, 2019 at Coffee Regional Medical Center in Douglas. Gwin Carver was a member of First United Methodist Church in Douglas where she was an active member, and served as a leader in many areas of ministry. Gwin organized the first weekday Kindergarten program in 1966, when her daughter, Jane, was in the first class, and continued as chairperson of the Kindergarten committee for 12 years. She also organized the first weekday nursery program for four year olds in 1971, when her daughter, Julie, was in the…

The Douglas Mayor’s Youth Council (DMYC) held its monthly meeting on December 19, 2019, at 6pm at City Hall and recognized three outstanding youth in the community. The council also heard presentations from the Boys & Girls Club of Coffee County Region, the Ambitious Young Men (A.Y.M.) and the First Love Yourself Girls (F.L.Y.) organizations about events coming up for local youth. City Clerk, Wynetta Bolder, gave a brief year in review of City projects and various activities the DMYC participated in during 2019. For the month of December, Tyrian Wilson was chosen as the Outstanding Youth Council Member…

Recently, at George Washington Carver Freshman Campus (GWCFC) students were given a chance to do something remarkably life changing for those who have served for our country. A pep rally was held at GWCFC where four teams from the school competed with each other for the spirit stick. The tie breaker for the spirit stick was determined by the team who brought in the most items for “Operation: Veterans Care Package Drive.” These items were delivered to the veterans hospital in Dublin. The items for the veterans were collected in each team’s box in the school’s media center. After all…

CSRA Probation Services President Mike Popplewell believes in the power of technology. “We try to be on the cutting edge of technology for the criminal justice system,” he said. “Our goal is to assist people to successfully complete the terms of their probation. Beyond that, we don’t want them to come back. We want probation to be a positive experience, and if investing in and developing new technology helps that mission, that’s what we are willing to do.” An estimated 4.2 million people are being supervised on probation in the United Sates, and though the U.S. has about five percent…

Ms. Marta Rita Lewis, age 49 of Willacoochee, passed away, Friday, December 20, 2019 at her home in Willacoochee. Survivors include: Daughters Erica Goodman and husband Scott of Ocilla and Jessica Dalton of Douglas; mother Delphia Mae Moody of Pearson; brother Chad Moody and wife Dene of Pearson; grandchildren Jayda Goodman, Chloe Goodman, and Caden Dalton; and several other relatives also survive. Funeral services for Ms. Lewis will be held Friday, December 27, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. at Relihan Funeral Home Chapel in Pearson with Rev. Cliff Kirkland officiating. Visitation for Ms. Lewis will be held Friday, December 27, 2019…

Ms. Margarett June Kirkland, 81, of Douglas, passed away Tuesday, December 24, 2019 under the care of Vista Park of Douglas. On March 17, 1938 she was born in Nicholls to the late Burl Mills and Miriam McKinnon. Ms. Kirkland is survived by her two sons, Victor Kirkland (Teresa) of Nicholls and Tony Kirkland (Loan) of Starkville, Miss.; Daughter Jamie Spivey (Joseph) of Broxton; seven grandchildren, Bryant Kirkland, Jacob Kirkland, Vicki Kirkland, Nicole Edge, Janna Mathews, Jalee Corbitt and Jerren Vickers; nine great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by all her brothers and sisters; Ollie…

Ms. Sandra Lynn Stephenson Kelley, age 74 of Douglas, passed away late Saturday night, December 21, 2019 at Coffee Regional Medical Center following a short illness. Ms. Kelley was born October 31, 1945 to the late Franklin H. Stephenson and the late Maggie Henson Stephenson. Other than her parents, she was preceded in death by a son, Michael S. Kelley. Ms. Kelley, a native of Memphis, Tenn., had been a secretary for a storage and real estate family owned business. Survivors include: Daughter Rhonda Leigh Kelley of Douglas; sister Patsy S. Adsit of Baltimore, Md.; brothers Roy L. Stephenson of…

Mr. Jack Hamilton, age 85 of Nashville, passed away Saturday night, December 21, 2019 at Tift Regional Medical Center in Tifton following an extended illness. Mr. Hamilton was born February 6, 1934 to the late Quillie Hamilton and the late Polly Leavens Hamilton. Mr. Hamilton, a native of Douglas and Coffee County, was employed in home construction. He attended Riverside Baptist Church in Nashville. Survivors include: His wife, Maxine Tanner Hamilton of Nashville; children Ron Hamilton, Don Hamilton and Jacqueline Vickers, all of Douglas; step-children Roy Deen of Milledgeville, Charlie Deen of Austin, Texas, and Angie Dratch of Atlanta; grandchildren…

In an effort to improve student discipline, increase the school’s sense of safety and support positive academic outcomes, the Coffee County School System introduced a new program four years ago titled, PBIS – Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support. Dr. James Banks, Assistant Superintendent, directs the program for the district while Ms. Aubrey Rossignol serves as the PBIS Coordinator. Coffee County Schools is one of 1,200 Georgia schools and 27,000 nationwide that have been trained in PBIS. Implementation of the program has saved countless instructional hours otherwise lost to discipline issues. The premise of PBIS is that continual teaching, combined with…