Obituaries

Annie Merle Bowers, 87, died Sunday, Feb. 19, 2012 at her residence. Mrs. Bowers was born Feb. 3, 1925 in Wayne County to the late Oscar Dennis Herrin and the late Bessie Blanton Herrin. She was a member of Memorial Free Will Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school. Mrs. Bowers was a great cook and seamstress. She was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She was preceded in death by her son, John Edward Bowers; three brothers, Dennis, Earl and J.W. Herrin and six sisters, Estelle Reddish, Verdie Harrison, Vida Pye, Alla Mae Carter, Amie Lee Herrin and Loree Long. [Full Story »] 

Corporal James M. Dixon III, 30, died Sunday, February 19, 2012 at his residence from events related to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder received while serving his country in the U.S. Marine Corps with three tours in Iraq. He was a Purple Heart Recipient in addition to the Combat Action Ribbon, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Meritorious Mast, Navy Unit Commendation, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Certificate of Commendation, Iraq Campaign Medal, National Defense Medal, and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. He graduated from Appling County High School in the top three in his class and went on to Georgia Southern University to receive a Masters Degree in Business Administration. He enjoyed his friends, dog, nieces and military family. [Full Story »] 

Michael Allen Gilkey (“Mic”) left this world peacefully at home Tuesday (Feb. 21,2012) after a fourteen-year battle with Parkinson Disease. Mic was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle, friend, and respected Landscape Architect. [Full Story »] 

Kathryn Viola Harper, 82, of Surrency, died Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012 at Colquitt Regional Medical Center in Moultrie. Mrs. Harper was born Nov. 4, 1929 in Appling County to the late Elvin and Hester Huskey O’Quinn. She was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Ms. Harper was a retired seamstress. She was preceded in death by her husband, Grady Harper, grandson, Scotty Harper and brother, Harold O’Quinn. [Full Story »] 

Henry “Punk” Hutcheson, 79, died Monday, Feb. 13, 2012 in Appling Healthcare System. Hutcheson was born Jan. 1, 1933 in Appling County to the late Roan Hutcheson and the late Leona Roberts Hutcheson. He was a member of Asbury Methodist Church. Hutcheson served in the U.S. Army and was a member of Sons of Confederate Veterans. [Full Story »] 

Kyle Shumans, 25, of Hazlehurst, died Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012. Shumans was born in Augusta, but had lived most of his life in Jeff Davis County. He was employed by Seven Bridges Ministry in Smyrna. He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Leroy Shumans. [Full Story »] 

Lindsey Tharpe, 66, died Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012 in Appling HealthCare System. She was born Oct. 20, 1945 in Oglethorpe and had resided in Baxley for 41 years. Lindsey was a homemaker and a member of the First Baptist Church. She was the daughter of the late John C. Peede and the late Annie Kate Pennington Peede. [Full Story »] 

Starr Elizabeth Davis, daughter of Elton Jay and Breanna Starr White Davis of Baxley, died Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012 in Appling Healthcare System. [Full Story »] 

Barbara Jones, the daughter of the late Ruben and Veler Smith of Baxley, died Feb. 2, 2012 after a short illness. She was born March 19, 1955. Barbara was the ninth child of 13 children. She was a life long native of Baxley. Ms. Jones graduated from Appling County School System. She worked at the Appling County Hospital for many years. After that she worked for Ship-N-Shore until they closed in 1989. Deciding she wanted more education she went to Altamaha Technical Institute in Jesup, receiving her degree in office information. In addition to her parents, a son, Tommy Jones, Jr. and a sister, Ruby Lee James also preceded her in death. [Full Story »] 

Wilma Craven Stone, 85, died Monday, Feb. 6, 2012 in the Pavilion. Mrs. Stone was born Aug. 11, 1926 in Appling County to the late George Craven, Sr. and the late Dealdia Carter Craven. She was a retired hospital switchboard operator in Macon and co-owner of Busy Point Café. Wilma was preceded in death by her husbands, C. P. Coleman, Roy C. Stone, five brothers, Bill, Frank, George, Jr., Sephus and H. C. Craven and four sisters, Alice Dean, Sallie Mae Beecher, Bessie Hicks and Juanita Buffkin. [Full Story »] 

Mother Eddie Mae Gibbs died Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012 at Twin Oaks Convalescent Center in Alma. Mother Gibbs was born in Surrency on Sept. 18, 1929 to the late Ed and Dora Smith Golden. She was educated in the Appling County School System. Eddie Mae was united in marriage to Dewitt Gibbs and to this union two children were born. She served in the medical field for over thirty years both in Florida and Georgia. Ms. Gibbs retired from the Appling Healthcare System in Baxley. She was truly a blessing to all she came in contact with during her journey, whether as an ordained evangelist, Mother of the church or Sunday-School teacher at the Refuge Church of Our Lord in Carol City, FL or while attending Faith Temple Church of God in Christ in Baxley where Elder Norris Williams served as her spiritual leader. Mother Gibbs was loved and respected as a servant of God. [Full Story »]