All Obituaries

Mrs. Beth A. Smith Vanderford, age 89, of Fredericksburg, Virginia, died Thursday, April 11, 2024, at The Oaks Bethany in Vidalia after an extended illness.  She was a native of Toombs County, a graduate of Toombs Central School and lived most of her life in Augusta until moving to Fredericksburg, Virginia to be near her son.  She was a telephone operator with Southern Bell and was a member of Rocky Creek Baptist Church in Lyons while she lived in Toombs County, and later was a...

Mrs. Ruth Koehler Rockett, age 87, of Lyons, died Tuesday, April 9, 2024, at Piedmont Healthcare in Athens.  She was born September 20, 1936, in Ceylon, Minnesota to the late Meta Elizabeth Nolte Koehler and Louis Carl Christian Koehler. She was a 1954 graduate of Fairmont High School in Fairmont, Minnesota. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband of sixty years, Sam Rockett and five siblings Herbert Koehler, Rosemary Sorensen, Jeanette Koehler, Joy Koehler...

Mr. Timothy “Timmy” Holbrook, age 34, of Montgomery County, died Monday, April 8, 2024.  He was a native of Uvalda and lived there and in Alston all his life.  He was a 2007 graduate of Montgomery County High School, and he attended East Georgia College in Swainsboro.  Timmy enjoyed music, drawing, building and “mechanicing”, but he especially loved spending time with his daughter.  He attended Cedar Crossing Baptist Church.  He is preceded in...

Mrs. Clara Faye Harrison Lewis, age 83, of Vidalia, died peacefully at her residence with her family by her side on Thursday, April 11, 2024, under the care of Community Hospice.  She was a native of Toombs County and a 1959 graduate of Toombs Central School.  She worked at Brunswick Manufacturing, and then moved to Nashville in 1970 with her husband, Homer, while he was in mortuary school. In Nashville, she worked for Massey Seating. She would later go on to work in the carpet...

Mr. Ian “E” Patrick John McRee, age 36, of Ludowici, passed away Monday, April 8, 2024, in a house fire attempting to save his animals. He was a native of Jacksonville, Florida and lived most of his life in Jacksonville. He graduated from Eagles View Academy in Jacksonville. “E” served in the United States Army and served one tour in Iraq. While in the Army, he received the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense...

Mrs. Lucy Sikes Coleman, age 83, of the Ponderosa Community, died Tuesday, April 9, 2024, at Memorial Health in Savannah from injuries sustained in an automobile accident in Toombs County on Sunday.  She was a native of Tattnall County, living most of her life in Toombs County and at Ponderosa since 1961.  She was a 1958 graduate of Collins High School where she played basketball and was coached by Anson Callaway.  She was a homemaker and retired as a school bus driver for the...

Mrs. Shirley Maxine Tootle Helms, age 81, of the South Thompson Community, died Saturday, April 6, 2024, at The Oaks Bethany in Vidalia, following an extended illness.  She was a lifelong resident of Toombs County and retired after forty years from Oxford Industries Vidalia.  She was a member of Edmond Chapel Church of God where she taught Sunday school.  She enjoyed sewing, flowers, and talking on the phone.  She is preceded in death by her husband, A.J. Helms, parents,...

Mr. Elmer “Elmo” Claude Powell, age 68, of Mount Vernon, died Monday, April 8, 2024, at Memorial Health Meadows Hospital in Vidalia, after a brief illness. He was a native of Wheeler County and lived most of his life in Montgomery County. He was a 1973 graduate of Wheeler County High School and worked as a logger with White Rose Trucking. In his spare time he enjoyed working outside, riding the buggy and working around cows. He especially loved spending time with family and...

Barbara Ann Hightower Taylor, age 83, of Lyons, died Sunday, March 31, 2024, at the Community Hospice House in Vidalia, following an extended illness.  She was a native of Toombs County and lived in Lyons most of her life.  She was a 1958 graduate of Reidsville High School where she played basketball, and a 2000 graduate of Southeastern Technical College.  She was a member of Elza Baptist Church.  She was one of the first Oxford Industries employees in Vidalia, and when...

Mr. Edward “Eddie” White, age 65, of Vidalia, died Monday, April 1, 2024, at his home, following an extended illness.  He was a lifelong resident of Vidalia and attended Vidalia High School.  He was a cook at Captain’s Corner, he worked in construction, and was a floor covering installer.  Eddie was Holiness by faith.  He is preceded in death by his parents, Marvin White and Janie Norris White; and a sister, Debbie White Loyd. His family includes six...