Newspaper Page Text
The ADVANCE, January 27, 2021 /Page 8A
aHie Ahuance
Obituaries
Ms. Geraldine Johnson
Ms. Geraldine Jarriel
“Jeri” Johnson, age 63, of
the Blue Ridge Commu
nity, died on Wednesday,
January 20, 2021, in Mead
ows Health in Vidalia after
an extended illness.
Ms. Johnson was a na
tive of Toombs County, liv
ing in Blue Ridge most of
her life, and in Micro, NC,
and Jacksonville, FL, for
many years. She was Photo
Lab Manager at Winn Di
xie in Vidalia for several
years. She was a member
of East Gordon Street Bap
tist Church, and attended
First Baptist Church of Vi
dalia with her family. She
was preceded in death by 1
grandson, Silas Edenfield;
her father, Archie Jarriel; her
mother, Verna Lou Moore
Jarriel Blalock; her stepfa
ther, William Blalock; and
1 sister, Bernadine “Bemie”
White.
Survivors include 2
children, Archie Edenfield
and wife Jessica of Blue
Ridge, and Amber Meeks
and husband Dustin of
Cedar Crossing; 1 sister,
Kathy Steransky and hus
band Bob; brother-in-law,
Johnny White, all of Blue
Ridge; 5 grandchildren,
Michael Edenfield, Gideon
Edenfield, Jason Edenfield,
Adelaide Meeks and Alaric
Meeks; and 3 nieces, Jeanna
White, Tammy Brusie and
Nikki Mingle dorff
A graveside memo
rial will be held on Saturday,
January 30, 2021, at 2:00
p.m., at Old Reedy Ceme
tery in the Blue Ridge Com
munity.
In lieu of flowers, me
morial contributions may
be made to Woman’s Mis
sionary Union, East Gordon
Street Baptist Church, P.O.
Box 131, Lyons, GA 30436.
Ronald V. Hall
FUNERAL HOME
"Memories, of a Lifetime of Love"
Mrs. Linda Sharpe
Mrs. Linda Williams
Sharpe, 79, ofVidalia, died
on Tuesday, January 19,
2021, at Meadows Plealth
after a brief illness.
Mrs. Sharpe was a na
tive of Cobbtown, and was
a 1959 graduate of Collins
High School. She was a
graduate ofBolen-Draughn
Business College in Savan
nah and then began her
working career at Depart
ment of Transportation,
later Piggly Wiggly South
ern, and Toombs Proba
tion Office, where she re
tired. She was a member of
the Vidalia Church of God.
She was preceded in death
by her parents, Woodrow
Williams and Roxie Col
lins Williams; her brother,
Wade Williams; and an
infant son, Stephen Elton
Sharpe.
Survivors include her
husband of 51 years, Elton
Sharpe; 2 children, Susan
Horne and Mike Mobley,
and Darrell Sharpe and
wife Christy, all ofVidalia;
and 2 grandchildren, Kay
la Horne and Sarah Kate
Sharpe.
The graveside funeral
service was held on Satur
day, January 23, 2021, at
11:00 a.m., at Sharpe Cem
etery near Alston, with
Pastor Nathan Pittman of
ficiating.
Flowers will be ac
cepted, or memorial con
tributions may be made
to the Ohoopee Regional
Library, 610 Jackson St.,
Vidalia, GA 30474.
Ronald V. Hall
FUNERAL HOME
"Memories, of a Lifetime of Love"
Mrs. Dora Williams
Mrs. Dora Snow Wil
liams, age 53, of Adrian,
died on Tuesday, January
19, 2021, at Fairview Park
Hospital in Dublin.
Mrs. Williams was
born in Fernandina Beach,
FL, and moved with her
family to East Dublin in
1978. She attended East
Laurens High School and
obtained her Nursing Cer
tifications from Heart of
Georgia Technical Col
lege and Macon College
in Macon. She worked at
Fairview Park Hospital in
Dublin, retiring in the mid
2000s. She spent 27 years
working in Obstetrics and
the Nursery. She was a
member of Poplar Springs
United Methodist Church.
She was preceded in death
by her parents, Kenneth
Leroy Drury and Peggy
Faye Snow.
Survivors include her
husband of 33 years, Jerry
F. Williams, 1 son, Doug
las Griffin Williams, and 1
daughter, Cora Elizabeth
Williams, all of Adrian; sib
lings, Kevin Drury (Kar
en), East Dublin, Donna
Wall (David), Dexter, Au
brey Shrader (Sharon), Ha-
zlehurst, Ken Drury, Fer
nandina Beach, FL, Erin
Drury, Fernandina Beach,
FL, and Christy Young
blood (Tom), Yulee, FL;
her stepmother, Claudette
Drury, Fernandina Beach,
FL; and numerous nieces
and nephews, great-nieces
and nephews, and cousins.
Funeral services were
conducted on Saturday,
January 23, 2021, at 2:00
p.m., at Poplar Springs
United Methodist Church,
with Rev. Mark Hardin
officiating. Interment fol
lowed in Poplar Springs
Cemetery.
Sammons Funeral
Home was in charge of ar
rangements.
Mr. Hughes Threlkeld
Vidalia mourns the loss
of its great friend, entre
preneur, city-slicker, ever-
entertaining, one-of-a-kind,
Hughes Threlkeld. He suf
fered a stroke on January 18
and, after a short battle for
his life, passed away peace
fully on the evening of Janu
ary 22. He was surrounded
by his loving wife and
daughters, “his ladies,” and
his brother and sister-in-law.
Howard Hughes
Threlkeld, born in 1947,
was a native of Vidalia. He
will be remembered to
those closest to him as being
an individual
who was loyal
to his fam
ily, funny to a
fault, faithful
to God, and
patriotic to his country and
community. His music and
humor were the threads
throughout those qualities
and became his definitive
trademarks.
He loved his roots and
knew Vidaha like the back of
his own hand. He navigated
the dirt roads and corn fields
like he was Mowgli from the
Jungle Book. Friends sur
rounded him everywhere
he went. Hughes never met
a stranger, and even the
strangers he did meet loved
him, too. Hughes spent his
young adult life working
peanut and tobacco farms
by day and “woo-ing” the
girls with his coronet skills
by night. He could be found
swinging a golf club on the
course or out at “The Farm,”
his little piece of heaven he
once called home, or hunt
ing the backwoods with his
nephews. However, Hughes
left his signature on Vidalia
for over 30 years in the Ford
business. He and his broth
er, Larry, were the co-own
ers of their late father’s, and
grandfather’s before him,
Threlkeld Motor Company,
a Ford Heritage dealership.
Even there, many a compa
ny party was entertained by
Hughes’ songs and stories.
Hughes graduated
from Vidalia High School
in 1965. He went on at
North Georgia Military
College in Dahlonega. After
a couple years, Hughes was
discovered to be a little “too
much” for military school
(he was a riot!), and trans
ferred to the University of
North Carolina at Chapel
Hill. At UNC, he played the
ladies’ hearts out with his
guitar, but not as success
fully as James Taylor, who
was there at the same time.
Hughes finally found his
place at Georgia Southern
University for his remain
ing two years. He fit right in
with the Alpha Tau Omegas
and received his Bachelor
of Business Administra
tion degree in 1972. Before
graduating from college and
after college, Hughes served
his country in the U.S.
Army and Airforce National
Guards.
Everyone who knew
Hughes, knew entertain
ing was a major part of his
life. When Hughes moved
home to Vidalia, he be
came a member of a musi
cal group and the Franklinia
Theater. He truly sang and
danced his way further into
his audiences’ hearts. He
was known for his musical
talents as a member of the
“after hours” group called
“Pickin’ and Grinnin.’” But
Hughes gained huge local
fame with his theatrical an
tics. First, his role as Har
old Hill in the Music Man
left the town wanting more
recitations of “Trouble in
River City.” His second
major role changed his fife.
This is when he met the love
of his fife, his wife, Sherron
Godfrey Threlkeld. Hughes
was cast to play the role of
“King Arthur” in the play
“Camelot,” and Sherron was
cast as “Queen Guinevere.”
The two quickly fell in love
during rehearsals. On stage
on opening night, when
King Arthur and Queen
Guinevere had their first
song together, Hughes pro
posed. She accepted. They
shared almost 40 years to
gether. Hughes and Sherron
have two daughters, Ginny
Hughes Threlkeld Hor
ton, married to Alexander
Charles Horton, and Allie
Susanna Threlkeld Tillery,
married to Jonathan Allen
Tillery.
Hughes, although
raised in the Baptist
Church, joined the Epis
copal Church of the An
nunciation of Vidalia in
the late 70’s and has been a
faithful member ever since.
He served on the Standing
Committee for the Diocese
of Georgia. His love for mu
sic followed him from the
theater to the church, where
he became the associate
organist for the Episcopal
Church. He was active in
Cursillo and served on its
board. His commitment to
all the committees is too nu
merous to mention. Hughes
was a loyal and committed
servant to his faith.
As he served his
church, he also served his
community. Hughes was
the Chairman of the Vida
ha Housing Authority for
20+ years. He was President
of the Kiwanis Club and
served on its Board. He was
on the Chamber of Com
merce Board and an active
member for many years. He
was a member of Friends of
the School, the Franklinia
Playhouse, the Ohoopee
Regional Council for the
Arts, the Vidalia Communi
ty Chorus, the Vidalia Alta-
ma Gallery, as well as many
other community groups
throughout the years.
Hughes is preceded in
death by his father, George
Howard Threlkeld, and his
mother, Pauline “Polly”
Hughes Threlkeld. He is
survived by his wife and
daughters, his brother Larry
Threlkeld and wife Susan,
his aunt Helen Darby, his
uncle Reid Threlkeld and
wife Sheri, his uncle Wade
Threlkeld and wife Leigh,
and many nieces, nephews,
and cousins.
A Memorial Service, a
Celebration of Hughes’ fife,
will be held at a later date
when conditions permit.
In lieu of flowers, do
nations will be happily
received at the Episcopal
Church of the Annunciation
(P.O. Box 1311, 30475),
the Vidalia Altama Gallery
for the Arts (P.O. Box 33,
30475), or Sweet Onion
Animal Protection Society
(P.O. Box 210,30475).
Ronald V. Hall
FUNERAL HOME
"Memories, of a Lifetime of Love"
Full Paid Obituary
Mrs. Carol Kight
Mrs. Carol Kight, age
73, of Lyons, died Wednes
day afternoon, January 20,
2021, at Community Hos
pice of Vidalia. She was a
native and lifelong resident
of Toombs County. Carol
was an LPN at Meadows
Regional Medical Center
for many years and later
worked as a social worker
with Toombs County De
partment of Family and
Children’s Service and the
Toombs County Health
Department. Carol was
Baptist by faith and was
a member of Hammond
Baptist Church.
Carol was preceded in
death by her parents, Wes
ley and Ruby Kight; and
one daughter, Nora Kre-
ider.
Carol is survived by
her husband, Frank Wright
of Lyons; and five sisters,
Velma Williamson of Ly
ons, Mattie Benforado of
Raleigh, NC, Betty Page
of Lyons, Marion Ritch of
Homerville, and Mable
Culpepper of Eastman.
Two special nieces, Gail
Pierce, and Lisa Smith of
Lyons; and four grandchil
dren, JW, Marcus, Nora,
and Shannon also survive.
'Services and Committal
for Mrs. Carol Kight will be
scheduled at a later date at
Lakeview Memorial Gar
dens.
CoQTV'/’p
^Neral HO^
Full Paid Obituary
Mr. Bennie Joyner
Mr. Bennie Joyner,
age 53, ofVidalia, died on
Tuesday, January 19, 2021,
at his home after a sudden
illness.
Mr. Joyner was a life
long resident of Toombs
County. He was a salesman
at the former Stephens
Pontiac of Vidalia and lat
er was a truck driver. He
attended Vidalia Baptist
Temple. He was preceded
in death by his parents,
Dennis Sylvester Joyner
and Eva Laverne Grimley
Joyner.
Survivors include 2
sons, Dennis Lee Joyner
and Charles Ben Joyner,
both of Swainsboro; 1
brother, Dennis Joyner,
and 1 sister, Diana S.
Joyner, both ofVidalia; and
2 nephews and 1 niece.
Family will hold a ser
vice at a later date.
Ronald V. Hall
FUNERAL HOME
"Memories, of a Lifetime of Love"
Mr. Elton Stephens
Mr. Elton Stephens,
age 71, of Tarrytown, died
on Thursday, January 21,
2021, in Meadows Health
in Vidalia after a brief ill
ness.
Mr. Stephens was a
native of
Montgom
ery County,
growing up
in Mt. Ver
non, and was
a 1968 graduate of Mont
gomery County High
School. He served four
years in the U.S. Army
and returned to Mt. Ver
non, where he lived until
he moved to Tarrytown in
1989. He was a truck driver
and worked with South
eastern Paper in Vidalia
until his recent retirement.
He was a member and dea
con of Voice of Grace Min
istries in Vidalia.
Survivors include his
wife, Kathy Stephens of
Tarrytown; 2 sisters, Clau
dette Stephens Drury and
husband Kenneth of Fer
nandina Beach, FL, and
Jessie Stephens Cook and
husband Kenneth of Kilgo
re, TX; 1 brother, William
Stephens of Gwinnett
County; and several nieces
and nephews.
A memorial service
will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, me
morial contributions may
be made to Voice of Grace
Ministries, 1221 Orange
St., Vidalia, GA 30474.
Ronald V. Hall
FUNERAL HOME
"Memories, of a Lifetime of Love"
Mrs. Darene Garcia
Mrs. Darene Lynn
Garcia, age 56, ofVidalia,
died on January 23, 2021,
at Meadows Regional Hos
pital.
Mrs. Garcia was a na
tive of St. Louis, MO. She
was a nurse by trade and
was Lutheran by Faith. She
was preceded in death by 1
son, Christopher Johnson;
her parents, Dave Easton,
Sr., and Barbara Ann Col
lier; and 1 brother, Robert
Easton.
Survivors include 1
son, Michael Anthony
Johnson, Jr.; 1 brother,
Christopher Swaringim; 2
sisters, Tisa Roblero, and
Melinda Aguilar; 3 grand
children, Sierra, Christian,
and Anastasia Johnson;
and many nieces and neph
ews.
Service arrangements
will be made at a later time.
FUNERAL SERVICE