James R. "Poppy" Sills

Mr. James R. “Poppy” Sills, age 84, of Lyons, died Thursday, December 24, 2020, in the Community Hospice House in Vidalia after a brief illness.  He was born September 29, 1936, in Mount Dora, Florida to the late Raymond Sills and Amanda Dees Sills.  He grew up in Jacksonville, Florida and attended school there.  He enlisted in the U.S. Marines where he served twenty-three years, retiring as a Gunnery Sergeant.  He was a Korean War veteran, and served three tours of duty in Vietnam where he was the recipient of the Gallantry Cross.  He also served in the Fleet Marine Corp Reserve.  He was a lifetime member Veterans of Foreign Wars and was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Lyons.  He enjoyed building, tinkering, and technology.  He was preceded in death by his first wife, Sharon Bryant Sills; a daughter, Donna Watson; and four siblings.  

Survivors include his wife, Olivia W. Sills of Lyons; seven children, Tommy Sills and wife Michelle of Nashville, Tennessee, Tracy Harden and husband Danny of Panama City, Paula Watson and husband Joe of Vidalia, Frank Watson and wife Marsha, Timmy Watson and wife Dee, Robin Dorsey and husband Mark, and Lisa Mead and husband Paul, all of Lyons; one sister, Annie Laura Palmer of Charleston, South Carolina; twenty grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

A private funeral service will be held Wednesday, December 30th, at 3:00 p.m. in the chapel of Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home with Pastor Thomas Anderson officiating.  Burial will follow in the Lyons City Cemetery with military honors.

An opportunity for friends to pay their respects will be on Wednesday from 12:00 noon until 2:00 and all friends are welcome to attend the committal service at the cemetery. 

Those desiring may make memorial contributions to the Community Hospice Foundation. P.O. Box 2277, Vidalia, GA 30475.

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