Author: Submitted

Mrs. Melinda Sue Stone Hulett, age 68 of Broxton, passed away Friday afternoon, December 28, 2018 at Coffee Regional Medical Center following an extended illness. Mrs. Hulett, a native of Hazlehurst, was born October 28, 1950 to the late Lamar Stone and the late Ossie Ray Stone. Other than her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Douglas L. Stone and Richard Stone. Mrs. Hulett had been a CNA with DeKalb Hospital in Fort Payne, Ala. She attended Broxton Baptist Church. Survivors include: Sons John Hulett of Broxton and Doug Hulett of Sandusky, Ohio; brothers Charles Stone of…

Tommy Wayne Grantham, age 68, of Douglas, passed away on Sunday January 6, 2019 at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida. Mr. Grantham was born on October 10, 1950 in Douglas, the son of the late Willie Grantham and Alma Lott Grantham. He was an independent distributer for the Georgia Times Union and was a member of Rocky Pond Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by a brother, Billy Grantham. Survivors include his wife, Wanda Ann Shook Grantham of Douglas; son, Chris Grantham (Liz) of Douglas; grandchildren, Neely Ann Grantham, Ivey Lane Grantham, and Chapel Maxine…

Robert Lee Teston, age 68, of Douglas, passed away on Saturday January 5, 2019 at Chandler Hospital in Savannah. Mr. Teston was born on February 1, 1950 in Coffee County, the son of the late George Teston and Wilma Harper Teston. He was a retired USDA inspector and was of the Episcopalian faith. In was also preceded in death by a brother, George Willie Teston. Survivors include his wife, Madie Bennett Teston of Douglas; three daughters, Stephanie Johnson (Christopher) of Douglas, Abbey Teston of Douglas, and Kelly Danielle Jewell (Dean) of Broxton; step-daughter, Shawna Harper of Douglas; grandchildren,…

Michael Anthony “Monk” Youngblood, age 54, of Douglas, passed away on Friday January 4, 2019 at St. Josephs-Emory Hospital in Atlanta due to an extended illness. Mr. Youngblood was born on November 20, 1964 in Douglas, the son of Winnette Miller Youngblood and the late William Edwin Youngblood. He was a retired Coffee County sheriff’s deputy and was loved by many of his colleagues in the many Coffee County public safety agencies. Survivors include his mother, Ms. Winnette Miller Youngblood of Douglas; three sons, Michael Andrew Youngblood of Ambrose, Anthony Clay Youngblood and wife Breanna of Ambrose, and…

Kenneth Wade Murray, age 61, of Douglas, passed away on Thursday January 3, 2019 at his residence. Mr. Murray was born on November 11, 1957 in Douglas, the son of the late Clinton Murray and Ruby Inez Rentz Murray. He worked as an electrician and attended Harrell Grove Baptist Church. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Wanda Whitley Murray, and a brother, James Murray. Survivors include two daughters, Kimberly M. Murray of Douglas and Kendra Canfield (Robert) of Adel; brother, Kyle Murray of Douglas; three grandchildren, Noah Canfield, Kameron Canfield…

Virginia Vining Stone, age 91, of Douglas, passed away on Sunday December 30, 2018 at Vista Park. Mrs. Stone was born on November 26, 1927 in Hinesville, the daughter of the late Owen Vining and Mary Eula Riner Vining. She was a homemaker and a member of Church of God of Prophecy in Pearson. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin M. Stone; two grandchildren, Stacy Sutton and Jayson Cribb; great granddaughter, Keisha Warren; son-in-law, Ottis Stone; daughter-in-law, Wanda Stone; and two sisters and three brothers. Survivors include three daughters,…

Charlotte Duckworth Cato, age 62, of Douglas, passed away on Friday December 28, 2018. Charlotte was born on May 2, 1956 in Douglas, the daughter of Joann Bridges Rozar and the late Bobby Claxton Rozar. She worked as a secretary with a Ford dealership and was a member of Faith Chapel. In addition to her father she was preceded in death by a son, Eric Smith. Survivors include her husband, George Wiley Cato of Douglas; son, Chris Rozar of Douglas; mother, Joann Rozar of Douglas; two sisters, Sharon Stone of Douglas and Susan McRae of Newnan; two brothers,…

Dec. 28 – Coffee County K-9 units conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle near Salem Church Road for a tail light violation. During the stop, consent was gained to search the vehicle, and quantities of methamphetamine and illicit prescription tablets were discovered. The driver, Deana Smithers, was arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of a Schedule II controlled substance. The Coffee County Drug Unit announces the following recent arrests: Dec. 28 – K-9 officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle near the intersection of Bowens Mill Road and Highway 158 West on a vehicle…

In November, DyAnna Hayes of Douglas was crowned the 2019 USA National Miss Georgia Teen. Her win now gives her the opportunity to compete for the title of USA National Teen, as well as a $5,000 scholarship, at the national pageant this summer at Disney World in Orlando, Fla. Along with outstanding young women from across the United States, DyAnna will travel to Disney World July 7-13, 2019, for the highly anticipated USA National Miss Scholarship Pageant. Representing Georgia, DyAnna will compete in evening gown, interview, fitness, casual wear, and runway fashion event in order to claim the honor…

The Coffee Community Foundation is supporting fundraising efforts by Wiregrass Georgia Technical College Foundation North to raise funds to expand the Diesel Technician and Commercial Truck Driving programs on the college’s Coffee Campus with a lead gift of $200,000. The demand for graduates from both programs throughout the region and state is the driving force behind the need for this expansion. In South Georgia alone, there are more than 2,000 job openings for CDL drivers and more than 60 available positions for diesel technicians. “Our Diesel Tech program is a direct response to industry need,” said Dr. Tina K.…