Author: Submitted

Mrs. Debra Faye “Debi” Ricketson Ward, age 59 of Douglas, passed away, Thursday morning, November 28, 2019 at her residence following a short illness. Mrs. Ward was born July 10, 1960 to the late Alvin Ricketson and the late Doris Elizabeth Rozar Ricketson. Other than her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Ronnie Ricketson, and an aunt, Lois Strickland. Mrs. Ward, a native of Douglas, was a bus driver with the Coffee County Board of Education. Survivors include: Her husband, Gary A. Ward of Douglas; son Anthony Jefferson and wife Mandy of Brunswick; daughter Amber Fowler and…

Bonnie Lou Stone, age 74, of Douglas, passed away on Wednesday November 27, 2019 at Coffee Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Stone was born on May 11, 1945 in Coffee County, the daughter of the late Curtis “Buddy” Kirkland and the late Myrtice Harper Kirkland. She worked as an inspector for P.C.C. and was a member Trinity Non-Denominational Church. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Mann Kirkland and Dexter (Boy) Kirkland; and two sisters, Geraldine Lott and Linda Kirkland. Survivors include two daughters, Pam Stone of Douglas and Tammy Carpenter (James) of Vienna; son,…

Ms. Imogene Faulkner Smith, age 81 of Douglas, passed away Sunday morning, December 1, 2019 at her residence following an extended illness. Ms. Smith was born August 4, 1938 to the late Reason Faulkner and the late Mamie McNeal Faulkner. Other than her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer Smith and a son, Jerry Dewayne Smith. Ms. Smith, a native of Irwin County, was a homemaker. Survivors include: Children: Elmer Ricky Smith and wife Wanda of Broxton, Michael Tyrone Smith of Douglas, and Alicia Jean White and husband Jackson of Douglas; special friend Donnie Sears of…

Ms. Frances Pheil Roberts Sanders, age 76 of Douglas, passed away late Thursday afternoon at Vista Park Health and Rehabilitation following an extended illness. Ms. Sanders was born January 18, 1943 to the late James Pheil and the Lonie Lucille O’Steen Pheil. Other than her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, B.H. Pheil, and a nephew, Bryant Pheil, Jr. Ms. Pheil, a native of Coffee County, was a graduate of South Georgia State College with her degree in nursing. She worked as an RN with Archbold Memorial Hospital in Thomasville for over 25 years. She was also…

Thomas “Tommy” Stanley Flanders, age 63, of Douglas, passed away on Thursday November 28, 2019 at Langdale Hospice House in Valdosta. Mr. Flanders was born on January 21, 1956 in Coffee County, the son of the late Thomas Delma Flanders and the late Evelyn Caves Flanders. Tommy was the owner/operator of Mid-South Feed in Alma and a member of R.O.M.E.O. Breakfast Club in Douglas. He was also a member of St. Luke Baptist Church in Alapaha. Survivors include his wife, Nelda Cribb Flanders of Douglas; daughter, Natalie Flanders Mizell (Kenny) of Douglas; grandson, Jarrett Thomas Mizell of Douglas; brother, Pee Wee…

Mr. Paul Andrew Adams, age 54 of Nicholls, passed away Sunday afternoon, December 1, 2019 at Coffee Regional Medical Center following a short illness. Mr. Adams was born June 19, 1965 to the late Cornelius Adams and the late Thora Wood Adams. Mr. Adams, a native of Andrews Air Force Base in Prince George’s County, Maryland, was the owner and operator of Adams Lawn Care and Landscaping. He was of the Baptist faith. Survivors include: Children: Adrien Adams of West Green, Sarah Adams Young and husband Chad of Nicholls, Katie Adams and Emily Adams, both of Nicholls; former wife Fran…

Mr. Seaborn Cothern, age 75 of Douglas, passed away late Wednesday afternoon November 27, 2019 at his residence following an extended illness. Mr. Cothern was born December 1, 1943 to the late Nathaniel Cothern and the late Mary Jane Taylor Cothern. Other than his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Avie Dixon Cothern; six brothers, L.G. Cothern, L.R. Cothern, G.W. Cothern, Sammy Cothern, Winky Taylor and Jugg Taylor; and two sisters, Anita Davis and Joanne Shupe. Mr. Cothern, a native of Broxton, was a retired diesel mechanic with Elixir Industries. Survivors include: Children Seaborn Cothern, Jr. and…

Excitement and anticipation were growing throughout the basketball gymnasium recently on the Douglas and Waycross campuses as students, faculty, staff and community members waited for the entrance of the new South Georgia State College (SGSC) mascot. Amid cheers and applause, SGSC president, Dr. Ingrid Thompson-Sellers, and student leaders led the new mascot, Talon, also known as Tally, onto the court complete with dramatic special effects and lighting. For those in attendance, the dramatic reveal made the experience even more exhilarating. With the release of the 2019-2024 Moving Forward Strategic Plan, SGSC embarked on a mission to increase awareness of and…

We want to congratulate Amelia Crockett, Muskan Minhas, Glenn O’Steen, and Justin Strickland for all receiving a blue ribbon, and Jeremiah Brantley, Dawson Miller, and Ishika Sadarangani for all receiving a red ribbon with their 4-H mini-booths in the Okefenokee Agricultural Fair in Waycross during the week of November 12-16. Jeremiah Brantley’s booth was on Real Estate Agents, Amelia Crocket’s booth was on Hearing Aids, Dawson Miller’s booth was on World War II planes, Muskan Minhas’ booth was on diabetes, Glenn O’Steen’s booth was on train locomotives, Ishika Sadarangani’s booth was on eating healthy, and Justin Strickland’s booth was on…

Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler reports that the Southern Georgia region added to its labor force in October. At the same time, the annual and monthly numbers for employed residents increased in October, preliminary numbers for the 18-county region showed. “October was a great month for Georgia and our local communities,” Butler said. “We continued to create jobs and people gained employment – often at record numbers.” Nationally, the unemployment rate climbed in October to 3.6 percent, an increase of 0.1 percentage points. The nation also grew to its labor force by 325,000, increased employment by 241,000 and added more…