Area Obituaries

Mr. Alonzo Cheryl Merritt, better known as A.C., 78, of Hazlehurst, passed away April 7 at Coffee Regional Medical Center in Douglas. A.C. was born Oct. 29, 1946, in Coffee County. He is preceded in death by his parents, Alonzo Merritt and Gladys Jackson Merritt, son Mike Merritt, granddaughter Crystal Merritt, and sisters Clydie Faye…

Mrs. Hazel Swain Dyal, 92, of Baxley passed away April 4 at Pineland Personal Care Home in Hazlehurst under the care of Comfort Care Hospice. Mrs. Dyal was born Jan. 17, 1933, in Appling County to the late Dude Swain and the late Odessa Yarbrough Swain. She was a member of Oak Grove Baptist Church…

Ms. Becky Griffin, a beloved nurse and compassionate caregiver, passed away April 3 at East Georgia Regional Medical Center in Statesboro surrounded by her loving family and friends. Becky was born April 30, 1965, in Appling County to the late James Richard Griffin and the late Lucille Rollins Griffin. She dedicated her life to serving…

Mr. Abel Cabrera, 51, of Hazlehurst, passed away March 25. He was born Sept. 1, 1973, in Las Balsas, Guerrero, Mexico. He was a dedicated and hardworking individual who cherished his family and had a special affection for his beloved dogs, Punchi and Zuma. Known for his warm sense of humor, he brought joy and…

Mr. Nicholas Russ Coleman, known fondly as Nick, was born Aug. 16, 1998, in Vidalia. Tinsley Caroline Coleman was born Sept. 2, 2022, in Douglas. Stetson Russ Coleman was born Dec. 2, 2023, in Douglas. Tragically, they all passed away suddenly on March 27 in Hazlehurst. Nick’s radiant spirit and kind personality touched the lives…

Mr. John Douglas Looney, 82, of Rochester, N.Y., passed away March 24 at Strong Memorial Hospital. Mr. Looney was born March 31, 1942, in Johnson City, Tenn. He was a hard worker who was very successful and achieved all the goals he set for himself, graduating from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a degree…

Mr. Mark Durden Rowland, 89, of Griffin passed away March 28. Mark was born July 29, 1935. His parents, George Rowland and Ocie Key Rowland; wife Charlotte Kimbrel Rowland; sisters Nadine Rowland and Georgia Mae Broach; and son Scott Rowland preceded him in death. Mark served in Vietnam before retiring from the U.S Navy and…

Mrs. Joy Keller Peebles, 91, of Alpharetta, passed away March 23 at Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center. She was born June 11, 1933, in Abbeville, Ala., to the late Charles Spurgeon and Eunice Byrd Oldacre Keller. She grew up in Abbeville and later attended college at Auburn University. She married Grover Peebles Jr. in 1951…

Services for Mr. Wilbert Jeremiah Baker were held Jan. 11 at King Brothers Funeral Home in Hazlehurst with Pastor Tara Woody, Janice Brown and “special friend” Cynthia Mackey officiating. Mr. Baker was born in Hazlehurst, the son of the late Alzie Baker and Jeanette Cromartie. He was raised by Christine Walker and attended Jeff Davis…