Author: Submitted

Matthew Jerald Guthrie, age 30 of Dublin, passed away Sunday, July 6, 2014. Matthew was born November 3, 1983, in Douglas. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Douglas and a former firefighter with the City of Douglas. Currently, he resided in Dublin, and was employed as a correctional officer with the Treutlen PDC. Matthew was also a member of the Laurens County Sportsman Club. Survivors include his wife, Amanda B. Guthrie of Dublin; parents, Jerald and Peggy Guthrie of Douglas; sisters, Christy (Guy) Smith and Jeanie Levan, both of Florida; mother-in-law, Teresa Barron of Dublin; father-in-law,…

Lou Annie McKinnon Tanner, age 91 of Douglas, passed away Saturday, July 5, 2014, at Shady Acres Health and Rehabilitation Center following an extended illness. Mrs. Tanner was born December 2, 1922, in Douglas to the late Dennis McKinnon and Annie Gillispie McKinnon. Survivors include her daughter, Mary Tanner Bowen of Douglas; stepson, William D. Tanner of Moore, SC; grandson, Samuel Mark Bowen of Douglas; brother, Henry Lloyd McKinnon of Douglas; sister, Mozelle Fish of Douglas; special niece, Donna O’Berry of Blackshear, and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dewey Tanner; infant son, McCoy…

Mr. Mathew Franklin Hayes, age 26 of Douglas, passed away suddenly Thursday, July 3, 2014, at his residence following a brief illness. He was born September 15, 1987, to Franklin D. Hayes and Angie Hinton Hayes. Mr. Hayes, a native of Atlanta, had lived in the Douglas area most of his life. He was a certified welder by trade. Mr. Hayes was a member of the First Methodist Church. Survivors include his parents, Franklin D. and Angie Hinton Hayes of Douglas; two sisters, Lauren Hayes of Jacksonville, Florida and Caitlin Hayes of Atlanta; paternal grandmother, Margaret Hayes of Douglas; maternal…

V. Vernon Eckleberry, President and CEO of Guiding Star Cinema, LLC, states there are still some cast and crew opportunities open for upcoming production of The Last Pedestrian, which is scheduled to be filmed in Douglas July 24-26. The film centers on a corrupt mayor and his city council as they seek to rescue their town from bankruptcy by obtaining a government grant for the purpose of studying and improving pedestrian safety. In order to qualify for the grant, however, their city must have a higher than normal rate of pedestrian deaths among other cities being considered for the grant.…

Commander Ricky McIver is a native of Wray, Georgia, and graduated from Broxton High School in 1981. He enlisted into the U.S. Navy in April, 1981, in the delayed entry program and was subsequently selected for promotion to Chief Petty Officer in 1991. In 1993, he applied and was selected for a commission via the Navy’s Limited Duty Officer Program as a surface communications specialist. In 2008, Commander McIver laterally transferred to the Information Professional Community. During his time in the Navy, Commander McIver successfully completed numerous operational and shore tours and, along the way, achieved significant education milestones. Commander…

Little Master Colton Dewayne Lewis of Douglas passed away Monday, July 1, 2014, at Memorial Hospital following a brief illness. Little Master Colton Lewis was born on July 1, 2014, in Savannah to Ashley Dewayne Lewis and Brittany Paige Merritt. Survivors include his parents, Brittany Paige Merritt and Ashley Dewayne Lewis of Douglas; brother, Skyler Dewayne Lewis of Douglas; grandparents, Jennifer Lewis of Nicholls, Belinda Merritt of Douglas, and A.L. Merritt of Baxley; great grandparents, Pauline Mullins of Alma and Gordon and Magdalene Lewis of Douglas, and several aunts, uncles, and cousins. Funeral services will be held Thursday, July 3,…

William Edwin Youngblood, age 71 of Douglas, passed away Sunday, June 29, 2014, at Tift Regional Hospital in Tifton following an extended illness. Mr. Youngblood was born on May 18, 1943, in Pearson to the late Henry Edison Youngblood and Blannie Metts Youngblood. Survivors include his wife, Winnett Miller Youngblood of Douglas; son, Anthony “Monk” (Cindy) Youngblood of Ambrose; three grandchildren, Michael Youngblood, Ray Youngblood, and Clay (Breanna) Youngblood all of Ambrose, and several nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held Tuesday, July 1, 2014, from 6 to 9 p.m. Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, July 2, 2014,…

Mr. Christopher Robin Railey, age 41 of Ambrose, passed away Sunday, June 29, 2014, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Sandy Springs following an extended illness. He was born March 31, 1973, in Douglas to Cecil Railey and the late Shirley Mae Butler Railey. He is survived by his wife, Pamela Futch Railey of Ambrose; his children, Atlas and Kayla Hough of Douglas; two grandchildren, Kallaway Hough and A. B. Hough, both of Douglas; father, Cecil Railey of Ambrose; three brothers, Johnny Railey and Brenda of Douglas, Michael Railey and Cathy of Denton, and Lamar Railey of Ambrose; one sister, Shanta’…

Over the weekend, the Southern Elite 11U travel baseball team played in the GA USSSA Final Four in McDonough. SE earned a berth to the event by winning the USSSA South State tournament on June 15. On the eve of the tournament, the SE players attended the Gwinnett Braves game where they were honored as the “Team of the Night”. Each Southern Elite player got to go on the field to get autographs from Braves players like Joey Terdoslavich, Tyler Pastornicky and Christian Bethancourt and then run onto the field with a Braves player as he took his position to…

School is out, the weather is hot, and the City of Douglas Police and Fire Departments want to urge citizens to practice water safety. Swimming is a popular summer activity and drowning can happen quickly and suddenly. “Anyone watching children who are in or around water must understand that drowning can happen without notice,” says Chief Gary Casteloes. “Constant supervision of children should be maintained anytime around water.” Citizens should understand the risks of water activities. Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 1 to 14 years. Drowning can happen in…