Area Obituaries

Mr. Raymond Tillon Smith, 78, of Hazlehurst, passed away Nov. 22 at Jeff Davis Hospital. Mr. Smith was born July 2, 1946, in Metter to the late Sam Tillon Smith and Louise Dowd Smith. He proudly served his country in the United States Navy, retiring after 24 years of active duty as a Chief Gunner’s…

Mrs. Sara Jo Thomas, 89, of Hazlehurst, passed away Nov. 30 at Community Hospice in Vidalia. Mrs. Thomas was born Oct. 27, 1936, in Jeff Davis County. She was known for her warm, outgoing spirit and the kind of friendliness that made everyone feel welcome — truly, to know her was to love her. She…

Mr. Stephen Chad Mims, 44, of Hazlehurst, passed away Nov. 21 at HCA Florida Memorial Hospital, after an extended illness. Stephen was a lifelong resident of Hazlehurst and a member of Mims Baptist Church. He loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing, racing ATVs, and offshore boat racing. He also loved spending time with his fiancée and…

Mr. Jeffrey Lane Lovett, 64, of Hazlehurst passed away Nov. 22 at Jeff Davis Hospital. Mr. Lovett was born Sept. 23, 1961, in Savannah and was a member of Grace Community Church of God. He enjoyed gospel singing, was a self-taught pianist, and sang with various Southern Gospel Quartets. He was a maintenance foreman for…

Mr. Terry Allen Crawford, 60, of Hazlehurst, passed away Nov. 16 at Hazlehurst Court Care and Rehabilitation Center. Terry was born Feb. 23, 1965, in Hazlehurst to the late Verlyn Wade Crawford and Betty Ann Wood Crawford. He was a lifelong resident of Jeff Davis County and attended Hazlehurst Church of God of Prophesy. Terry…

homas Richard Hursey, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend, passed away peacefully Jan. 11, 2025, at the age of 90 as a resident of Auburn, GA. Born Jan. 10, 1935, in Beaumont, Tezas, Richard lived a life marked by faith, generosity and service to others. Richard earned his diploma from Jeff Davis High…

Mr. Edward Yawn, 82, of Denton, passed away Nov. 21 at Lumber City Nursing Home. Mr. Yawn was born Oct. 8, 1943, in Bacon County to the late Clifford Hebron Yawn and Mary Margarette Davis Yawn. He was a lifelong resident of Denton, a veteran of the United States Army, serving a four-year term, including…

Mr. Stanley Green “S.G.” Austin Jr., 93, of Denton passed away Nov. 10 at his residence. Mr. Austin was born June 15, 1932, in Jeff Davis County to the late Stanley Green Austin Sr. and the late Lena Clifton Austin. He was a member of Union Springs Baptist Church where he served as a Deacon…

Maverick Paul Carelock, infant son of Matthew Carelock and Marli McLellan of Hazlehurst, passed away Nov. 14 at Memorial Health Dwaine & Cynthia Willett Children’s Hospital of Savannah. In his short but meaningful time on earth, Maverick proved to be a brave, feisty fighter, meeting each day with a strength far greater than his tiny…