Author: Submitted

Billy Deron Merritt, age 60, of Douglas, GA passed away on Tuesday, June 7, 2016, at his residence following a brief illness. Mr. Merritt was born on November 11, 1955, in Douglas, GA to the late Myrtle Maxine Merritt. Survivors include: his three sons, Billy Wayne Merritt of Douglas, GA, George Dustin Merritt of Douglas, GA and Tyler Merritt of Douglas, GA; two sisters, Marie Holder of Douglas, GA and Kathy Carter of Douglas, GA; three grandchildren, Case Merritt of Douglas, GA, Chloe Merritt of Douglas, GA and Lydeah Merritt of Douglas, GA; and several nieces and nephews. He was…

Wiregrass Technical College will be accepting new student applications for Fall Semester on Free Application Day, June 23. Any new student who applies in person on this day will have the application fee waived. Free Application Day will be held on the Ben Hill-Irwin Campus, Coffee Campus, Cook County WDC Campus, Moody AFB Extended Campus, and the Valdosta Campus from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Fall Semester classes begin on August 22. Students interested in taking classes during Fall Semester should apply in person that day and complete an application for admissions, and apply for financial aid if needed. New…

South Georgia State College women’s soccer has announced the addition of six talented players to the defending GCAA Championship finalist program. Jaycee Anderson (Def; Douglas, Ga./Coffee County High School), Mariah Aspinwall (Def; Blackshear, Ga./Pierce County High School), Taylor Booth (Fwd; Jacksonville, Fla./Terry Parker High School), Allyssa Ross (Def; Savannah, Ga./Islands High School), Anessia Rucker (Fwd; McDonough, Ga./Luella High School), and Faith Shelton (Fwd; Conyers, Ga./Heritage High School) have all committed to SGSC’s soccer program for 2016-2017. Anderson played central defense and midfield for the Coffee High School program under Coach Clay Davis. She was honored at Coffee High with the…

Georgia Republicans passed eight resolutions at their state convention Satur­day, including a “Back to Basics” Republican Principles and Educational Resolution. The convention was held in Augusta June 3 and 4. The 3,500 party regulars also elected 31 delegates to their national convention in Cleveland next month, which also included a delegate from Coffee County. The votes came during the second day of the confab at the Augusta Convention Cen­ter. Party Chairman John Padgett said the convention had more rallies, receptions, dinners and auxiliary meetings than any state GOP convention in the country. “This has been a great convention,” he said.…

Mr. James Adrian Deen, age 74, of Douglas passed away Sunday, June 5, 2016, at his residence, following an extended illness. He was born November 5, 1941 to the late George Deen and the late Clara Stone Deen. Survivors include: His Wife, Lera Mixon Deen of Douglas, GA; Children, Dewayne (Sandra) Deen, Debra Deen, Johnny Hester, Patricia (Jimmy) Hester, Bobby Hester, Becky Hester, Patricia Arnold, Stephanie Davis (Tracey Wimberly) all of Douglas, GA, Tammy (Scott) Merritt of Broxton, GA and Vickie (Billy) Benefield of West Green; Siblings, Johnny Deen of West Green, GA, James Deen and Clayton Deen, both of…

Elizabeth “Libba” Dockery Burch, age 82, of Douglas, GA passed away on Friday, June 3, 2016, at her residence following an extended illness. Mrs. Burch was born on August 22, 1933, in Douglas, GA to the late George Washington Dockery and Phoebe Lott Dockery. Survivors include: her daughter, Peggy Burch (Mike) Greene of Thomaston, GA; granddaughter, Marie Elizabeth Greene (Karl) Broder of Brooks, GA; grandson, Anthony Michael (Heather) Green of Anderson, SC; great granddaughter, Margrit Caroline Broder of Brooks, GA; great grandson, Daniel Anthony Greene of Brooks, GA; brother, Benny (Waunell) Dockery of Broxton, GA; and several nieces and nephews.…

4-H SHOTGUN TEAM WINS STATE The Coffee County 4-H Shotgun Team traveled to Savannah for the weekend of May 28th-29th to compete in the Georgia 4-H Trap and Skeet Match. The match was held at the Forest City Gun Club. Coffee 4-H had two Senior 4-H Teams (grade 9-12) and two Junior 4-H Teams (7th & 8th graders) to compete. Team members included Timmy Rewis, Huntington Smith, and Barron Thomas on one team and Jordan Davis, Brice Grantham, Lance Ricketson, and Blakely Tanner on the other. Teams can be composed of three to four members. The Junior 4-H Teams included…

Jimmie Ray Wooten, age 63, of Broxton, GA passed away on Wednesday, June 1, 2016. Mr. Wooten was born on July 1, 1952, in Broxton, Georgia to the late Knivelton Brinson Wooten and Ida Lucille Stapleton Wooten. Survivors include: Wife, Shirley Salter of Broxton, GA; Daughter, Shannon Kirkland of Douglas, GA; Granddaughter, Jasmine Kirkland of Douglas, GA; Brother, Carlos Wooten of Litha Springs, GA; Brother, K Wooten, Jr of Locusr Grove, GA; Brother, Jerry Wooten of Denton, GA; Brother, Quitman Wooten of Broxton, GA; Brother, Richard Wooten of Broxton, GA; Sister, Pricilla Harrison of Sparks, GA; Sister, June Davis of…