Author: Submitted

Downtown Holiday Open House will be held in downtown Douglas on Sunday, November 23, 2014. Holiday Open House is celebrated each year on the Sunday prior to Thanksgiving and gives shoppers an early glimpse of what to expect in home decorations and accents for the holidays, as well as an opportunity to preview wonderful gift selections. “Many merchants have participated for the past 21 years by opening their doors on this particular Sunday for shoppers and browsers to stop by to enjoy holiday music and refreshments,” says Pattie Merritt, Main Street Coordinator. Exhibitors will be located on the sidewalk of…

Jeffrey Stuart Hutchison, age 33, of Douglas, GA passed away on Monday, November 17, 2014, at Coffee Regional Medical Center following a brief illness. Mr. Hutchison was born on February 18,1981 in Douglas, GA to Larry Hutchison and Sue Lynn Miller Hutchison. Survivors include: his wife, Kaci Louise Yaughn Hutchison of Douglas, GA; son, Miller Hutchison of Douglas, GA; parents, Larry and Sue Hutchison of Douglas, GA; two brothers, Spencer (Kacie) Hutchison and Ryan Hutchison both of Douglas, GA; grandmother, Wanell Hutchison of Douglas, GA; mother-in-law, Deborah Parker of Douglas, GA; brother-in-law, Chris (Christi) Yaughn of Douglas, GA; and several…

Benjamin “Benjie” Roy Dyal, 50, of madison, FL, passed away suddenly on November 17, 2014, at Madison County Memorial Hospital in Madison. Benjie was born February 20, 1964 in Wauchula, FL, to James and Francis (Floyd) Dyal. Benjie was the pastor at New Home Baptist Church in Madison County for the last ten years. He loved his family and church family. He enjoyed fishing and was the Head Coach of the Southern Starz Travel softball team. He also loved talking and being around people. Benjamin was preceded in death by his parents James and Francis Dyal, his sister Diane Dyal…

Christopher Joyce is enjoying his senior year at Coffee High School. Even though it’s football season, the third baseman has his eyes set on baseball season and his future. While finishing his senior year, Joyce has enrolled at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College through the ACCEL program. Students under the ACCEL program are able to get a jump start on earning post-secondary academic core credit and high school credit at the same time. This semester, Christopher will earn college credit while taking a college degree level Political Science class through Wiregrass Tech and plans to take English 1101 this spring. “I…

Brandi Nicole Harper, age 32, of Douglas, GA passed away on Wednesday, November 12, 2014 at Coffee Regional Medical Center following a brief illness. Ms. Harper was born on July 27, 1982 in Coffee County to James Ricky Harper and Beverly Carter Harper. She is survived by her children: Harper Litner and Keegan Litner of Baltimore, Maryland and one Daughter: Mallory Cribb of Willacoochee, GA, her father: James Ricky Harper and her Mother: Beverly Carter Harper., Grandparents, several nieces, nephews and cousins. Visitation will be held Sunday, November 16, 2014 from 6 to 9 Pm at Sims Funeral Home. Graveside…

Rose Marie Barnes, age 69, of Douglas, GA passed away on Thursday, November 13, 2014, at her residence following an extended illness. Mrs. Barnes was born on May 16, 1945, in Douglas, GA to the late Charlie Roberson Spivey and Georgiann Leavens Spivey. Survivors include: her husband, Harold Barnes of Douglas, GA; three daughters, Wendy (Michael) Spikes, Synda (Buddy) Carver, and Trish Gillis all of Douglas, GA; six grandchildren, Annslee Spikes, Heidi Spikes, Ethan Carver, Whitley Carver, Tristan Gillis, and Jordan Gillis all of Douglas, GA; sister, Geneva Youngblood of Pearson, GA; two brothers, Bobby Spivey of Jacksonville, FL and…

Helen McKinnon, age 74, of West Green, GA passed away on Friday, November 14, 2014, following an extended illness. Mrs. McKinnon was born on April 22, 1940, in Hazlehurst, GA to the late Ivy Rowell and Lola Bell Lewis Rowell. Survivors include: her husband, Aubrey McKinnon of West Green, GA; two sons, Randall (Vicki) McKinnon of Douglas, GA and Randy (Janice) McKinnon of West Green, GA; daughter, Sabrina (Dennis) Chambers of Fitzgerald, GA; two grandsons, John (Joe Cornelius) McKinnon of Douglas, GA and Britt (Donna) McKinnon of Waxahachie, TX; granddaughter, Jessica McKinnon of Savannah, GA; five sisters, Trelis Moore of…

Gloria Christine Stapleton, age 81, of Douglas, GA passed away on Sunday, November 16, 2014, at Coffee Regional Medical Center following an extended illness. Mrs. Stapleton was born on March 21, 1933, in Waycross, GA to the late Nolan Jackson McLean and Nora Pricilla Burkett McLean. Survivors include: her four sons, Horace (Ann) Stapleton of Douglas, GA, Roger Stapleton of Mora, GA, Gary (Darlene) Stapleton of Mora, GA, and Eric (Denton) Stapleton of Douglas, GA; daughter, Mary Noreen Stapleton of Douglas, GA; brother, Gilbert Dee (Reba) McLean of Hilliard, FL; dedicated grandsons, Scott and Ted Perkins; seven grandchildren, seven great…

Instructors at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College have nominated 31 of their students for the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) competition, according to Lydia Hubert, coordinator for the college’s GOAL program. GOAL, a statewide program of the Technical College System of Georgia, honors excellence in academics and leadership among the state’s technical college students. GOAL winners are selected at each of the state’s 24 technical colleges as well as one Board of Regents college with a technical education division. Chosen for recognition by their instructors are Bruce Bassett (Coffee), Robert Cannon (Lowndes), Michelle Clark (Berrien), Allison Cooper (Lowndes), Trey Cureton…

The City of Douglas, Douglas-Coffee County Chamber of Commerce, and the Coffee County Commission are proud to announce the Grand Marshal for the 51st Annual Festival of Lights Christmas Parade. Douglas industry, Southwire, will be the Grand Marshal for the parade, which will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Coffee County Courthouse on December 6. “Southwire was chosen because of their many community outreach and generous donations to local charities,” says City Manager Terrell Jacobs. In Douglas, Southwire provides over 230 jobs and is active in supporting many local organizations including the Boys and Girls Club of Coffee County Region,…