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The ADVANCE, February 3, 2021 /Page 9A
Obituaries
Mr. Hardy Thomas, Jr.
Mr. Hardy Thomas, Jr.,
age 86, of Lyons, died Sun
day, January 17, 2021, in
Candler Hospital in Metter
after a brief illness. He was
a native of Telfair County
and was a 1951 graduate
of Milan High School. He
earned an Associate degree
from Abraham Baldwin
Agricultural
College in
Tifton and
a Bachelor’s
degree from
the Univer
sity of Geor
gia, both in Agribusiness.
He served four years in
the U.S. Army and in the
Army Reserve. He worked
as Store Manager of Pig-
gly Wiggly in McRae and
in Burke County where he
met his wife. Hardy moved
to Toombs County in 1962
and worked for Kaiser
Chemical for several years.
He was co-owner of Mead
ows & Thomas Gin Fertil
izer in Lyons and later be
came sole owner. In 1986,
he started with the Georgia
Department of Correc
tions at Joe Kennedy Farm
and retired in 2007. He was
a member and deacon of
the First Baptist Church
of Lyons, the Men of Faith
Sunday School Class, and
served on numerous com
mittees in the church. He
was a Mason for sixty-two
years and was a member
of Lyons Masonic Lodge
#49. He was past President
of the Lyons Jaycees, and
longtime member of the
Lyons Lions Club, serv
ing as Tail Twister several
times. He served on the
first board of directors
for both Robert Toombs
Christian Academy and
Meadows Memorial Hos
pital. Because of Hardy’s
love for his community,
he was chosen Lyons Citi
zen of the Year in 1984. He
was preceded in death by
his parents, Joseph Hardy
Thomas, Sr., and Sallie
Scarboro Thomas; four
sisters, Dorothy Thomas,
Mary Vonnell Thomas, Ro
berta Thomas and Gloria
Thomas Collins; and one
brother, Edison Thomas.
Survivors include his
wife of sixty years, Mamie
Thomas; three children,
Joe Thomas of Lyons, Den-
ese Thomas Callaway of
Metter, and Michael Thom
as and wife Julie of Lyons;
one sister, Julia Thomas
Smith of Burke County;
four grandchildren, Bran
don Thomas of Savannah,
Adam Callaway and wife
Caroline of Metter, Camer
on Thomas of Metter, and
Shelby Thomas of Lyons;
one great-granddaughter,
Kinsley Thomas, and sev
eral nieces and nephews.
A graveside funeral
service was held Thursday
at 12:00 noon, at Lakeview
Memorial Gardens with
Pastor Dannie Williams
officiating. Masonic Rites
followed.
In lieu of flowers, me
morial contributions may
be made to Candler Coun
ty Hospital, P.O. Box 597,
Metter, GA 30439.
Ronald V. Hall
FUNERAL HOME
"Memories, of a Lifetime of Love"
Full Paid Obituary
Mr. John Howell
Mr. John Daniel
Howell, age 73, of Vida-
lia, passed away Sunday,
January 24, 2021. He was
a native of Montgomery
County and had resided
in Toombs County for the
past thirty-nine years. He
was a 1965 graduate of
Montgomery County High
School and a
1978 gradu
ate of Brew-
ton-Parker
College. He
was a veteran
of the United States Army
while serving during the
Vietnam conflict. He was
a master carpenter and
owned his own business,
JDH Vinyl Siding, until he
retired. He was also a wiz
ard with figures and num
bers. Mr. Howell was Bap
tist by faith and attended
Emmanuel Baptist Church
in Lyons. He was an avid
sports fan, especially of
the University of Geor
gia and Georgia Southern
University. He loved talk
ing to his many friends and
former classmates. He also
cherished his time on the
phone reminiscing with his
former Army buddies. His
biggest joy was spending
time and bragging about
his grandchildren. Mr.
Howell was preceded in
death by his parents, Tom
mie andErline Howell; one
brother, James; two sisters,
Eulene and Joy Faye; and
a granddaughter, Cassie
Meadows.
Survivors include his
wife of thirty-nine years,
Sharon Brantley Howell;
two sons, Tracy Wilkes of
Vidalia and Tommy How
ell and wife Leigh Ann
of Gray; two daughters,
Denise Wilkes and Tona
Howell, both of Vidalia;
one brother, Ellis Howell
and wife Sandra of Vidalia;
seven grandchildren, Bran
di Bishop, Brandon Wilkes,
Beth McCarty, Cameron
Bishop, Taylor Meadows,
Clayton Meadows, and
Haleigh Howell; ten great
grandchildren; and several
nieces and nephews.
A graveside service
was held Tuesday, Janu
ary 26, at 2:00 p.m. at the
Center United Method
ist Church Cemetery with
Pastor Danny Zorn offici
ating.
Pallbearers were
Dustin Brantley, Logan
Brantley, Billy Clark, Tom
my Howell, Bill James and
Brandon Wilkes.
Honorary pallbearers
were high school class
mates from his graduating
class.
Ronald V. Hall
FUNERAL HOME
"Memories, of a Lifetime of Love"
Full Paid Obituary
Mr. Huey Morris
Mr. Huey Long Morris
was born April 12, 1936,
in Toombs County, Geor
gia, and died January 21,
2021, at home in Glynn
County. Huey was a rascal
who grew up to be a hard
working man. He worked
at Best Wall for ten years,
shrimped and crabbed for
30 years, then bought and
ran A&A junkyard in Ster
ling for nearly 25 years.
He was friendly to every
one and would give you
the shirt off his back if you
asked him. His mother’s
prayers were answered
when he accepted Jesus this
week. Huey was preceded
in death by his parents,
George Herman and Flon-
nie Thompson Morris, and
five brothers, Rod, Reggie,
Johnny, Jimmy, and Mike.
He was also preceded in
death by his wife, Molly
Marlene Mosley Morris;
three sons, Andy, George
Huey, and Huey Marlon;
stepson, James Losley; and
two grandsons, one great-
granddaughter, one great-
grandson, and one great-
great-grandson.
He is survived by three
daughters, Brenda Mor
ris Foskey and husband
Steve of Lyons, Mollie Pur
cell of Vidalia, and Janice
Morris of Springfield; one
son, Marty Morris and
wife Donna of Brunswick;
and 11 grandchildren, 19
great-grandchildren, 10
great-great-grandchildren,
four sisters-in-law, and one
brother-in-law.
A memorial service
was held on Sunday, Janu
ary 24, 2021, at 3:00 p.m.,
at Christian Renewal
Church, with Pastor Mark
Linton officiating.
Full Paid Obituary
Mr. Wilbur Heath
Mr. Wilbur Glenn
Heath, age 74, of Hazlehu-
rst, died on Thursday, Janu
ary 27, 2021, at Serenity
Hospice Place in Dublin
after an extended illness.
Mr. Heath was a native
of Dickson County, TN,
and lived all his life in Jeff
Davis County. He worked
as an assistant
manager and
engineer for
WVOH and
retired after
40 years. He
was a U.S. Air Force veter
an and a member of Eureka
Baptist Church in Hazle-
hurst. He was preceded in
death by his parents, Gor
don W. Heath and Bonnie
Williams Heath.
Survivors include his
wife of 45 years, Brenda
Bradshaw Heath; 4 chil
dren, Kristy Heath, Jimmy
Heath and wife Ashley,
all of Alamo, Angie Heath
O’Neal and husband Joey
of Alston, and Kevin Heath
of Hazlehurst; 2 broth
ers Billy W. Heath and
wife Debbie of Waycross,
Tommy L. Heath and wife
Melissa of Warner Rob
ins; 1 sister, Sue Berry and
husband Phil of Tennille; 9
grandchildren; and 1 great-
grandson.
The graveside funeral
service was held on Sat
urday, January 30, 2021,
at 4:00 p.m., at Pinecrest
Cemetery in Vidalia, with
Pastor Bobby Thompson
officiating.
Pallbearers were Kyle
Wiggins, Jordan McFad-
den, Brandon Lewis, Brent
Lewis, Jason Taylor and
Trevor Gibbs.
In lieu of flowers, me
morial contributions may
be made to the charity of
your choice.
Ronald V. Hall
FUNERAL HOME
"Memories, of a Lifetime of Love"
Mr. Herbert Burns
Mr. Herbert E. Bums,
(USAR) age 94, of Scott,
died on Saturday, January
30, 2021, in Fairview Park
Hospital in Dublin after a
brief illness.
Mr. Burns was a native
of Toombs County, where
he lived until he joined the
U.S. Army. He was a veteran
of World War
II, serving
in the Euro
pean Theater,
the Korean
War, Viet
nam War, and retired as a
Master Sergeant in 1969
after 25 years of service.
He moved to Wildwood
Lake in Johnson County
and worked with the Gil-
lis’s for 16 years, and lived
in Scott since 1987. He was
a member of Harmony Ma
sonic Lodge #405 in Sop-
erton. He was preceded in
death by his parents, John
Lee Burns and Nettie Phil
lips Burns; and 3 brothers,
Phillip Burns, Julius Burns
and Pierce Burns.
Survivors include his
wife of 68 years, Lieselotta
Burns of Scott; 1 brother,
Clement Burns of Dub
lin; and several nieces and
nephews.
A graveside funeral
service was held on Mon
day, February 1, 2021, at
12:00 noon, at Pinecrest
Cemetery, with Pastor B.L.
Horne officiating.
In lieu of flowers, me
morial contributions may
be made to the Scottish
Rite Children’s Hospital
by visiting their website at
choa.org.
Ronald V. Hall
FUNERAL HOME
"Memories, of a Lifetime of Love"
Mr. James Wilson
Mr. James W. Wil
son, age 85, of Lyons, died
Sunday, January 17, 2021,
at the Community Hos
pice House in Vidalia after
an extended illness. He
was a lifelong resident of
Toombs County, living in
Lyons most of his life. He
was a builder and general
contractor; working for
Harvey Cochran, Wilson
Collins, and Randall Car-
roll; he was self-employed
until his retirement in
2000. He was a member of
Liberty Baptist Church in
Lyons where he sang in the
choir.
He enjoyed wood
working, and was a self-
taught accomplished gui
tarist. He was preceded in
death by his parents, John
Wesley Wilson and Mag
gie Mae Sanders Wilson;
two sisters, Gloria Wilson
Kersey and Joyce Wilson
Connell; and a grandson,
Anthony Lynn Wilson.
Survivors include his
wife of sixty-sixyears, Mary
Ellen O’Neal Wilson of Ly
ons; five children, Ronnie
Wilson and wife Ginger
of Lyons; Debbie Wil
son Maddox and husband
Rodney of Snellville, Kay
Wilson Barnes and hus
band Bill ofVidalia, Brenda
Wilson Mills and husband
James of Lyons, and Tim
Wilson and wife Sue Ann
of Marietta; eight grand
children, Jennifer Clark
and husband Tommy,
Jeremy Wilson and wife
Jamie, Katlyn Halterman
and husband Travis, Brad
Perkinson and wife Dana,
Justin Hix, Grace Wilson,
Hannah Wilson and Cole
Holiday; nine great-grand
children, and several nieces
and nephews.
A graveside funeral
service was held Thursday,
January 21, at 2:00 p.m. at
Lakeview Memorial Gar
dens with Pastor Michael
Plowman officiating.
Memorial contribu
tions may be made to
Liberty Baptist Church
Building Fund, P.O. Box
410, Lyons, GA 30436,
or the Community Hos
pice Foundation, P.O. Box
2277, Vidalia, GA 30475.
Ronald V. Hall
FUNERAL HOME
"Memories, of a Lifetime of Love"
Full Paid Obituary
Mrs. Flossie Ricks
Mrs. Willie V. “Mrs.
Flossie” Ricks died on
Thursday, January 28,
2021.
Mrs. Ricks was born
in Kite in Johnson Coun
ty. She and her husband
founded Ricks Glass Co.
of Adrian in the 1950’s.
She was preceded in death
by her husband, Clyde L.
Ricks; her parents, Willie
Elias Powell and Ester Lee
Townsend Powell; and 4
siblings.
Survivors include
1 daughter, Linda R.
(Wayne) Jones of Macon;
2 sons, Ronnie Ricks and
Kennon “Ken” (Wendy)
of Adrian; 6 grandchil
dren, Michele Jones Bur
gess (Jay) and Michael W.
Jones, Jr. (Heather) of Ma
con, Jeremy Ricks (Kel
ly) of Swainsboro, Nikki
Ricks Williams (Talon) of
Statesboro, Kaley Ricks
of Adrian, and Kyle Ricks
of Swainsboro; 10 great
grandchildren, Lindsay
Marie Burgess (Macon),
Madelyn Grace Jones,
Hannah Catherine Jones,
Leah Denise Jones and
Michael W. Jones III of
Macon, Nash Ron Ricks
and Alba Marie Ricks of
Swainsboro, Cam Michael
Williams and Brynn Wil
liams of Statesboro, and
Kenli Brooke Anderson of
Adrian.
Funeral services were
conducted on Tuesday,
February 2, 2021, in the
Williams Chapel of Sam
mons Funeral Home, with
Rev. David Oliver of the
First Baptist Church of
Adrian officiating. Inter
ment followed in Ricks-
ville Cemetery
In lieu of flowers, con
tributions may be made
in her memory to The
Aplastic Anemia & MSDS
Foundation, Adrian Bap
tist Church, The Ameri
can Cancer Association,
Serenity Hospice, Seren
ity Place in Dublin, or the
charity of one’s choice.
Sammons Funeral
Home in Soperton was in
charge of arrangements.
Mr. Joseph Brand
Mr. Joseph Harvey
(J.H.) Brand, age 82, died
on January 26, 2021, fol
lowing a brief illness.
Mr. Brand was born in
Montezuma and lived in
the Toombs and Tattnall
County area for the last 40
years. He was preceded in
death by his parents, Na
than C. and Myrtle Brand.
Survivors include 3
sons, Allen (Candace)
Brand, Augusta, Michael
(Kelly) Brand, Vidalia, and
William “Bill” (Bridgette)
Brand, Lyons; 1 sister,
Wanda Brand, Vidalia; 9
grandchildren; 8 great
grandchildren; and several
nieces and nephews.
The family will have a
private ceremony honoring
his life.
In lieu of flowers, do
nations may be made to the
church or charity of your
choice.
Low Country Cre
mation and Burial was in
charge of arrangements.