Area Obituaries

Mr. James Edwin Dykes, 87, of Hazlehurst, died Jan. 12 at Hazlehurst Court Care. Mr. Dykes was born April 6, 1935, in Jeff Davis County. He is preceded in death by his parents, Walter Colquitt Dykes and Evie Hayes Dykes, sons, James Tracey Dykes and Anthony Ray Dykes, sister, Margaret Herrington, and brothers, Jimmy Lee…

Surrounded by her family, Joyce “Joy” Merritt, 71, left this world for her eternal reward Jan. 14 after a hard-fought battle with cancer. Her absence leaves a void no one else can fill. Her presence was larger than life and those that knew her were better for it. She is preceded in death by her…

Mrs. Elizabeth Partin, 71, of Hazlehurst, died Jan. 16 at her residence. Ms. Partin was born July 26, 1951, in Valdosta. She is preceded in death by her parents, Marion Harnage, Verdie Alma Powell Harnage, husband, Cecil C. Partin, son, Greg Partin, sister, Thelma Edmonson and brother, Vernon Harnage. She was a homemaker and a…

Mr. J.L. Rentz, 96, of Hazlehurst, died Jan. 11 at Community Hospice in Vidalia. Mr. Rentz was born Feb. 22, 1926, in Jeff Davis County. He is preceded in death by his parents, Joe Lott Rentz Sr. and Fodia Rain Cain Rentz, his wife, Lurene Summerlin Rentz, and his son, Mike Rentz. He was a…

Mrs. Merleen Hamm Shumans, 94, of Hazlehurst died Jan. 12 at Community Hospice in Vidalia. She was born Sept. 30, 1928, in Baxley. Per her wishes, the Rev. Jeffery Spell officiated a private family and friends graveside service at Graham United Methodist Church. Mrs. Shumans was a long-serving member of the church family. Later in…

Mrs. Eula Mae Drawdy, 85, of Hazlehurst passed away Jan. 6 at Lumber City Nursing Home. Ms. Drawdy was born Aug. 21, 1937, in Baxley to the late William Horace Yarbrough and the late Minnie Lee Hall Yarbrough. She was a retired secretary for the engineering department of Amoco Fabrics. She was a member of…

Mr. Charles Michael Dunn, 38, of Snipesville passed away Jan. 5 from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Mr. Dunn was born on June 25, 1984, in Augusta. He had a passion for music and loved to sing and play the guitar. He was also an avid bass fisherman. His biggest pleasure in life came…

Mr. John Michael Stewart, 66, of Hazlehurst, died Jan. 7 at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta. Mr. Stewart was born Jan. 1, 1957, in Jeff Davis County. He is preceded in death by his father, John Daniel Stewart, mother, Lon Dae Norman Stewart, and stepdaughter, Chanda Rena Sears. While attending Jeff Davis High School, he…

Mrs. Ruth Adams, 84, of Uvalda, died Dec. 31 at Memorial Health in Savannah, following a brief illness. She was a native of Jeff Davis County, growing up in Denton, attending Denton school, and was a 1956 graduate of Jeff Davis High School where she maintained perfect attendance for 12 years. She lived in Uvalda…

Miles Funeral Home in Hazlehurst announces the funeral service for Mr. Walter Lee Breedlove Jr., 60, who passed away Dec. 28 at his home in Hazlehurst. Mr. Breedlove was born in Augusta, the son of Walter and Donnie Harrell Breedlove. He is preceded in death by his parents and girlfriend Linda Thigpen. Walter was a…