Obituaries

Oscar Benjamin Sikes, 51, died Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011 at Appling Healthcare System. Mr. Sikes was born Feb. 25, 1960 in Appling County and had lived here most of his life. He was a carpenter and a member of the Local Union 256. Sikes was a member of Dunn Memorial Baptist Church and a 1979 graduate of Appling County Comprehensive High School. [Full Story »] 

Kenneth Carroll “Rooster” Spell, Jr., 53, died Friday, Oct. 21, 2011 at his residence. Mr. spell was born April 18, 1958 in Appling County. He was preceded in death by his father, Kenneth Spell, Sr. and two brothers, Dennis and Jimmy Spell. [Full Story »] 

Lillian Lightsey Blanton, 84, died Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011 at her residence. Mrs. Blanton was born May 3, 1927 in Appling County to the late Wildon Cornelius “W.C.” and Myrtice Herndon Rentz. She was a member of Memorial Free Will Baptist Church. Mrs. Blanton was a retired school teacher in Dade County, Florida. [Full Story »] 

Ronnie L. Carter, 58, died Thursday, Oct. 20, 2011 at St. Joseph Hospital in Savannah. Ronnie was born Aug. 29, 1953 in Appling County. He was a member of Dunn Memorial Baptist Church. Mr. Carter was employed as a house mover for 40 years. He was preceded in death by his father, Marvin Carter, a brother, Ricky Conner, grandparents, O. C. and Ocilla Carter and step-father, James Conner. [Full Story »] 

Marie Joyce Collins, 65, died Monday, Oct. 17, 2011 at her residence. Mrs. Collins was born Nov. 29, 1945 in Tift County to the late James William and Nancy Jane McMillan Purvis. She was a member of Memorial Free Will Baptist Church. Marie Joyce was the Girl Scouts Cookie Chairman for six years in Warner Robbins. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Ginger Key and Patricia Jones and two brothers, William and Joseph Purvis. [Full Story »] 

Jesse Tom (Papa T) Dubberly, Jr., 80, of Richmond Hill, died October 11, 2011 at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Tom served in the Korean War with the United States Air Force. Following the Air Force career, he came to Savannah and became the owner of TV Center for 59 years. He was a member of Richmond Hill United Methodist Church. He was also the president of the Southside Optimist Club, as a member, he sponsored and took two young Vietnamese pilots, Cuoang Dang and Thu Hoang who continues to work at TV Center with his wife, Gin. [Full Story »] 

John Ellis Hardesty, 78, died Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011 in Appling Healthcare System. Mr. Hardesty was born March 19, 1933 in Volusia, FL to the late John and Ruth Clark Hardesty. He was a member of First Assembly of God. Mr. Hardesty served five years and six months in the United States Air Force. He was retired from Georgia Power. [Full Story »] 

Johnnie Louise Johnson, 65, died Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2011 in Appling Healthcare System. Mrs. Johnson was born Jan. 26, 1946 in Irwin County to the late John Huey and Estelle Tanner Mathews. She was a member of the Full Gospel Bible Deliverance Church. She was preceded in death by a sister, Mary Roberts. [Full Story »] 

Louise Norris, 83, of Garden City, died Thursday, Oct. 20, 2011 in Westview Nursing Home. Mrs. Norris was born July 22, 1928 to the late William Hester and the late Elizabeth Gilder Hester. She was preceded in death by her husband, R. W. Norris; son Donnie Norris, sister, Willeen Yawn and brothers, Red, Willie and O. V. Hester. [Full Story »] 

E. C. “Short” Reeves, 87, died Monday, Oct. 17, 2011 in Appling Healthcare System. Mr. Reeves was born Feb. 22, 1924 in Appling County to the late John Thomas and Zella Bethune Reeves. He was a member of First Baptist Church. Mr. Reeves was the retired owner of E. C. Reeves Construction. He was a veteran of the United States Army Infantry having served in World War II where he fought in the Battle of the Bulge. [Full Story »] 

C. H. Russell, 67, died Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011 at the Carl Vinson Veterans Hospital in Dublin. Mr. Russell was born Dec. 27, 1943 in Brantley County and had lived in Baxley for most of his life. He was self-employed as a welder and was a veteran of the United States Navy serving in the Vietnam War. C. H. loved his country and wanted to instill his love for the United States in the youth and all the citizens of Appling County. He organized the Veterans Day Parade for many years along with the help of his wife and family made this an event that honored the men and women that served in all the armed forces. Mr. Russell knew there had been many service men that had fought and died for the freedom we have today. He worked tirelessly helping veterans receive the VA benefits they were entitled to. He was a cook in the Navy and loved to cook for large events like Big Buck Day and other community functions. He was the son of the late Joseph Russell and the Clara Hickox Russell. He was preceded in death by a brother, Richard Stanley Russell. [Full Story »] 

Julia Annette Robinson, 59, of Alma, died Saturday, Oct. 8, 2011. Julia was born June 1, 1952 in Winter Haven, FL to the late Leslie Allen Roberson and the late Ruby Dell Clements Roberson. [Full Story »] 

Kathryn McLeighton Sellers, 83, died Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011 at Lumber City Nursing and Rehab Center. Kathryn was born Sept. 19, 1928 to Robert Donald and Hattie McCall McLeighton. She was a resident of Baxley for most of her life, but had lived the last 10 years in Hazlehurst. She was preceded in death by her husband, Wendell Sellers on August 31, 1973. [Full Story »]