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Donna Ross has joined Hurst & Hurst as a staff bookkeeper. After retirement from governmental accounting and human resources in the field of education, Donna decided she has an interest in staying connected in the business world and keeping her brain active. She began her education with an accounting diploma from the technical college now known as Wiregrass. She has earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Georgia Southwestern University. Donna and her husband Allen enjoy their numerous children and grandchildren. Founded in 1966, Hurst & Hurst CPAs has built a tradition of excellence spanning over…

Day one of the NJCAA national swimming championships is in the books and the South Georgia State College Hawks are positioned well for a top three finish. The meet is taking place in Buffalo, New York. On the first day of the meet, the Hawks had several top eight finishes. Leading the way early in the meet were breaststrokers Jessilyn Graham and Chris Mazier. Graham had a fourth place finish in the 50 breast, resetting her record time with a 30.88, and an eighth place spot on the 50 free. Mazier finished sixth in the 50 and added another sixth place…

David Wayne McKinnon, age 64, of Douglas, passed away on Saturday March 2, 2019 at Coffee Regional Medical Center. Mr. McKinnon was born on February 25, 1955 in Douglas, the son the late Carl Jesse McKinnon and Hazel Pauline Brown McKinnon. Mr. McKinnon worked as a maintenance manager with Wayne Farms and was preceded in death by three brothers, Randolph McKinnon, Carl McKinnon and James McKinnon. Survivors include his wife, Connie Diana McKinnon of Douglas; son, Jamey McKinnon (Elizabeth) of Douglas; daughter, April McKinnon of Ocilla; grandchildren, Ashton McKinnon, Kody Burch and Jaylen McKinnon; two brothers, Russell McKinnon of Douglas and Edward McKinnon…

Brenda Horton, age 59, passed away on Sunday March 3, 2019 at Dekalb Medical Center. Mrs. Horton was born on June 30, 1959 in Coffee County, the daughter of Betty Ruth Grantham Whitley and the late Charles Edward Whitley. Mrs. Horton was a homemaker and a member of First Assembly of God. Survivors include her husband, John Horton of Nicholls; three sons, Mark Horton (Lindsey) of Alma, Alex Horton (Sonja) of Nicholls, and Justin Thomas of Nicholls; mother, Betty Whitley of Douglas; two brothers, Bruce Whitley (Melissa) of Douglas and Brian Whitley (Tammy) of Douglas; seven grandchildren, Kaid Horton, Mason…

Richard Lee Ansel, age 83, of Douglas, passed away on Tuesday March 5, 2019 at Pruitt Health in Ocilla. Mr. Ansel was born on July 14, 1935 in Lexington, Ohio the son of the late Wayne Ansel and Ruth A. Stubbs Ansel. He worked as a salesman with Walmart, was a veteran of the United States Army serving during the Korean War. Mr. Ansel was of the Catholic faith. He was preceded in death by a grandson, Jacob Ansel. Survivors include his wife, Debra Ansel of Douglas; three sons, Ricky Ansel Jr. of Lewiston, Maine, Michael Ansel of Douglas, and…

The basketball coaches of the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association (GCAA) have selected three members of South Georgia State College’s (SGSC) men’s basketball team for postseason awards. Skyler Baggs, Charles Botchway, and Keyshaun Street were each named to the GCAA’s second team All-Region. Baggs was also named to the All-Defensive Team. Baggs, a 6’5” redshirt sophomore from Brunswick, averaged 14.3 points and 11.2 rebounds per game for the Hawks (15-14-1, 7-8-1). His rebounding average was tops in the GCAA, and he led the other rebounding categories as well – offensive rebounds (143), defensive rebounds (194), and total rebounds (337). Baggs…

The Walton Family Foundation has listed Douglas in the top 100 Most Dynamic Micropolitan areas of the nation. In its February 2019 report, Most Dynamic Micropolitans, the foundation analyzed all 531 micropolitan areas in the United States. Douglas ranked 75th overall. That places the city in the top 15 percent nationally. It should also be noted that Douglas was ranked third of all micropolitan areas in Georgia, behind Calhoun ranked 20th and Jefferson ranked 27th. A micropolitan area is defined as a labor market area in the United States centered on an urban cluster (urban area) with a population of at…

William “Ned” Edward Smith, 82, died peacefully surrounded by his family on Friday, March 1, 2019. He was born in Nicholls, and served in the US Air Force for four years before beginning a career as an electrician in various paper mills. His passion in life was always cars and he became a full time car dealer in 1975 when he purchased the Pontiac-GMC dealership in Jesup. He remained a car dealer in some format for the remainder of his life, up to age 81. Ned’s favorite past-times were spending time with family, fishing and going to the Ocala…

Janice Elaine Hamilton Day, age 58, of Broxton, passed away on Tuesday February 26, 2019 at her residence. Mrs. Day was born on March 17, 1960 in Jacksonville, Florida, the daughter of the late Donnie and Reatha Adams Hamilton. She worked as a registered nurse since 1993 working for the United States military and later with Coffee Regional Medical Center in the Labor and Delivery Department. Mrs. Day was a member of Providence Baptist Church. Survivors include her husband, Jerome Day of Broxton; two daughters, Jennifer Floyce Day Childers (Zane) of Ocilla and Michelle Martinez Jones (Doug) of…

Madison Reece Hampton, age 18, passed away on Saturday March 2, 2019 at Augusta University Medical Center. Reece was born on May 21, 2000 in Ocilla, the daughter of Michael and Suzan Tanner Hampton. Reece was a 2018 honor graduate of Coffee County High School where she played on the tennis team and an active member of FCCLA. She attended South Georgia State College and was a member of Stokesville Baptist Church. Survivors include her parents, Michael and Suzan Hampton of Douglas; brother, Tanner Hampton of Douglas; grandparents, Donnie and Marilyn Tanner of Douglas and Emmett and Brenda…