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SunTrust Banks, Inc. (NYSE: STI) welcomes Adam Smith as Senior Vice President, Food & Agribusiness Relationship Manager within its growing Commercial Banking Division. Smith will cover a range of industries throughout the state and focus primarily on value chain optimization, food and agribusiness manufacturing/processing, distribution and storage; tailoring solutions to help clients achieve their business objectives. Smith, bringing local knowledge and industry expertise, partners with the Agribusiness Industry Specialty Practice, part of SunTrust’s Commercial Banking Division, to deliver industry-focused solutions to help clients grow their enterprise value. Smith, together with SunTrust’s Food & Agribusiness Industry Specialist, Todd Southerland, offers tools…

The Wiregrass Georgia Technical College Testing Center on the Valdosta Campus has been awarded Test Center Certification by the National College Testing Association (NCTA). Wiregrass met the rigorous criteria for certification based on the NCTA Professional Standards and Guidelines, which were developed to guide post-secondary test centers in the delivery of quality testing programs. The Wiregrass Valdosta Campus Testing Center is one amongst a growing number of test centers in the United States and Canada to have completed this intensive certification process. This certification will be in place for five years and can be renewed by demonstrating continued compliance with…

Coffee Middle School appreciates Mr. Bennie Overstreet and the Bonepickers Organization of Coffee County for their support and generous donation to our upcoming STEAM program: Project Lead the Way. The Bonepickers’ partnership in the development of this program will provide students hands-on opportunities in the areas of science, engineering, technology and computer science. We look forward to sharing this new curriculum venture with Mr. Overstreet and the members of the Bonepickers Organization this upcoming school year!

By Kevin Tatum 4-H CLUB MEETINGS With school starting up again for the new school year, it’s time to get back to our monthly 4‑H meetings with our 4-H members. We have been discussing in-school meeting times with teachers and principals and students will be notified by their teacher of their meeting time. However, our students in 7th and 8th grades (Junior 4-H members) hold their meetings twice a month at the 4-H office. Their first meeting will be on Thursday, August 23, from 4 to 5 PM. The 9th-12th grade students (Senior 4-H members) also meet at the 4-H office twice…

Linda McReady, age 72, of Wray, Georgia passed away on Monday, August 6, 2018, at her residence following an extended illness. Mrs. McReady was born on January 14, 1946, in Telfair County, Georgia the son of the late Walter David Tucker and Rosa Lee Gilcrease Tucker. She was a homemaker and a member of New Hope Baptist Church, Ambrose, Georgia. Mrs. McReady was preceded in death by: a brother, Kenneth Tucker; and a sister, Martha Tucker. Survivors include: her daughter, Polly McReady of Wray, GA; son, Oscar McReady and wife Cynthia Melissa of Willacoochee, GA; grandchildren: David McReady of Willacoochee,…

Stephanie Ginger Thomas Whiddon, age 46, of Douglas, Georgia passed away on Monday, August 6, 2018, at her residence. Mrs. Whiddon was born in Alma, Georgia the daughter to Ottis Harold Thomas and the late Jackie Jean Gattis Thomas. She worked as an office manager for Coffee Regional Medical Center in the Surgical, Industrial Medicine and Urology Departments. Survivors include: her husband, James Brian Whiddon of Douglas, GA; daughter, Jamie Caitlin Whiddon of Douglas, GA; son, Cameron Blake Whiddon of Douglas, GA; father, Ottis Harold Thomas of Nicholls, GA; brother, Marty Thomas of Nicholls, GA. Funeral services will be held…

Dorothy M. Bliss, age 89, of Douglas, Georgia passed away on Sunday, August 5, 2018, at her residence following an extended illness. Mrs. Bliss was born on October 13, 1928, in Geneva, Florida the daughter of the late Calvin Alexander Oldham and Ellen Doane Oldham. She was a homemaker and a member of St. Mark United Methodist Church where she served as a Sunday school teacher and was a treasurer for the United Methodist Women’s Group. Mrs. Bliss was preceded in death by her husband, Vincent Howard Bliss. Survivors include: her son, Richard L. Henderson Sr. of Douglas, GA; sister,…

Frankie Lou Harper Kirkland, age 96, of Ambrose, Georgia passed away on Saturday, August 4, 2018, at her residence following an extended illness. Mrs. Kirkland was born on March 31, 1922, in Ambrose, Georgia the daughter to the late Dave Harper and Durcilla Merritt Harper. She was a homemaker and a member of Second Baptist Church, Warner Robins, Georgia. Mrs. Kirkland was preceded in death by: her husband, Russell Kirkland; daughters: Barbara Gail Kirkland and Mechel Kirkland; son, Russell K. Kirkland; brother, George Harper; and sisters: Ava Harper, Gertie Paulk, Annie Harper, Eunice Carver, Narciss Caves, Myrtice Harper, Macy Lee…

Bessie W. Pharis, age 97, of Ocala, Florida formerly of Douglas, Georgia passed away on Friday, August 3, 2018, in Ocala, Florida following an extended illness. Mrs. Pharis was born on February 27, 1921, in Coffee County, Georgia the daughter of the late Jim Wilkerson and Nancy Metts Wilkerson. She worked as a beautician and was a member of College Avenue Baptist Church. Mrs. Pharis was preceded in death by: her husband, John “Paul” Pharis; son, Glenn L. Pharis; and a granddaughter, Felicia Burchette. Survivors include: her son, Benny Pharis and wife Lora Ann of Jasper, GA; daughters: Judy Burchette…

Margaret Ann Merritt, age 57, of Douglas, Georgia passed away on Tuesday, July 31, 2018, at Coffee Regional Medical Center following an extended illness. Mrs. Merritt was born in Douglas, Georgia the daughter of the late William “Billy” Riggins and Lovie Ann Thomas Riggins. She was a quality inspector for Pilgrim’s Pride and was a member of Saving Grace Ministries. Mrs. Merritt was preceded in death by a sister, Becky Teresa Anderson. Survivors include: her daughter, Jessica Spivey and husband Roy of Douglas, GA; son, Joseph Merritt and wife Jana of Douglas, GA; sister, Sandra Chaney and husband Danny of Douglas,…