Wayne Underwood

Wayne Underwood, age 75, passed away unexpectedly at Memorial University Medical Center in Savannah, Georgia, on Monday, December 1, 2025, after suffering medical complications. A native of Toombs County, Georgia, he was born in Lyons on April 29, 1950, to Cuba Mirah Pittman and Rufus Green Underwood.  Having lived in Savannah for the past 40 years, he was happy to return to Toombs County to live.  Wayne is a member of Lyons Community Church where many of his friends and classmates attend.

Wayne was a 1968 graduate of Lyons High School. Throughout high school, he was a member of several sports teams including football, basketball and track.  As a senior, he was a captain of the football team, an All-State Honorable Mention and was voted Best Looking.  During high school, Wayne participated in Key Club, Hi-Y, L-Club, and Student Council.

After high school, Wayne graduated from Brewton Parker and attended the University of Georgia. In 1974, he joined CSX Rail Transport as a Signalman and retired as a Signal Technician from CSX’s Depriest Signal Shop in Savannah, Georgia. Wayne always followed his beloved hometown sports teams and was thrilled when Toombs County Bulldogs won the state championship in football.  He was an avid fan of college football, especially the Southeastern Conference teams.  Since his heart belonged to the Georgia Bulldogs, he was extremely excited when the Dawgs recently won two National Championships in football. Wayne loved boating and water skiing, and was a member of the exclusive Ohoopee Canoe Club in Toombs County.  He enjoyed watching sports, classic westerns and old movies on television.  He could often quote actors’ lines from movies and recall scores and events of all of his high school games.  He always said he knew a lot of unimportant things.  Being around friends and family was important to him.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, siblings R.J. Underwood, David Underwood, Carl Underwood, Vera Underwood Parker, and Gwen Underwood Causey and several fur babies. He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Jana; his brother, Gene (Sylvia) Underwood of Bluffton, SC; brother and sister-in-law, Bud and Gayle Corley; several nieces and nephews; and his fur babies, Wild Bill and Harry Marble. 

Visitation will be held on December 9, 2025, from 6:00 until 8:00 pm at Ronald Hall Funeral Home in Vidalia, Georgia. 

The funeral service will be held on Wednesday morning, December 10, 2025, at 11:00 in the chapel of Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home with Pastor Brian Durden officiating. Interment will be at Lakeview Memorial Gardens in Vidalia.

Pallbearers are Larry Williams, Danny Bowen, Michael Mullings, Kevin Hill, Jay Mosley, and Tommy Alexander.

Honorary pallbearers are members of the Lyons High School Class of 1968.

In lieu of flowers, consider making donations to the Sweet Onion Kitten Club, PO Box 305, Vidalia, GA 30475; Sweet Onion Animal Protection Society (SOAPS), PO Box 210, Vidalia, GA 30475; Lyons Community Church, PO Box 71, Lyons, GA 30436; Toombs County Bulldog Booster Club by visiting their website at toombsboosters.com; or the University of Georgia Athletic Association General Fund, PO Box 1472, Athens, GA 30603.

Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home of Vidalia is in charge of arrangements.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Wayne Underwood, please visit our floral store.