Newspaper Page Text
aHje Ahuance
The ADVANCE, January 19, 2022/Page 7A
Obituaries
Mr. Doyle NeSmith, Sr.
W. Doyle NeSmith,
Sr. age 92, of Lyons, GA,
died at Memorial Hospi
tal in Savannah on Janu
ary 9, 2022. Doyle was
the youngest son of John
Daniel and Mittie Shel
ton NeSmith of Cochran,
GA. Doyle grew up on the
family farm and gradu
ated from high school
in 1946. He graduated
from Middle
Georgia Col
lege in 1949.
He attended
Mercer Uni
versity for
one quarter and was draft
ed into the US Army in
1950. He served 3 years
and finished his career as a
heavy weapons instructor
at Ft. Rucker, Alabama.
In 1951, while still in
the Army, he married his
college sweetheart, June
Walters of Ocilia. Upon
leaving the Army, Doyle,
along with his brother,
opened The Ford Dealer
ship in Forsyth, GA. In
1958, he sold the deal
ership and purchased a
wholesale oil distributor
ship in Lyons. He soon
purchased a water well
drilling business. Pure
Water and Gas Company
was established. The well
drilling company was
eventually sold, but the
oil company evolved into
NeSmith-Traffic Oil Com
pany and continued to
grow into a convenience
store business.
Doyle immersed him
self in civic and religious
activities as a member
of committees and orga
nizations. As a member
of Lyons First Baptist
Church, he has served
in many capacities. He
was President of the Ly
ons Jaycees, Chairman of
Lyons Housing Author
ity, Vice-Chairman and
Building Chairman of the
first Meadows Memorial
Hospital Board, President
of Lyons Lions Club, two
terms on Toombs County
Development Authority,
sixteen years on Brewton-
Parker College Board of
Trustees in addition to
being Chairman of the
Finance Committee for
twelve years. He served on
the Board of Directors of
Darby Bank for a number
of years. He was also on
the Foundation Board of
Middle Georgia College.
In 1998, he was chosen
Lyons Citizen of the Year.
This past December, he
was asked to be the Grand
Marshall of the Lyons
Christmas Parade.
Doyle worked hard,
but Saturdays in the Fall
were reserved for Georgia
Football games. Until last
year they held season tick
ets. They loved traveling
to Athens every Saturday
with their friends and tail-
gating. They even traveled
to out of town games for
many years. In the hos
pital, he told his nurse,
“Make sure I have a TV
on Monday night because
the Dogs are playing.” We
are confident he helped
pull them through. As Sat
urdays were reserved for
football, July was reserved
for Daytona. There are
many happy memories of
our family and friends in
Daytona.
After more than 50
years in business, Doyle
retired and built an office
in Lyons, the NeSmith
Dawg House. This be
came a Man Cave and a
daily hangout for men and
friends to meet and dis
cuss all subjects of interest
- politics, business, world
affairs, local events and a
lot of GA Bulldog news.
He is preceded in
death by an infant daugh
ter, Linda Leigh NeSmith,
one sister, Rubye, two
brothers, Jimmy and Bud
dy.
He is survived by his
wife of 70 years, June Ne
Smith; one daughter, Gin-
nyAnne Lipscomb and
husband Lee of Vidalia;
one son, Willis NeSmith
and wife Beth of Lyons;
five grandchildren, Kara
Martin and husband Ja
mie of Vidalia, Daniel
NeSmith and wife Brandy
of Watkinsville, Kyle Lip
scomb and fiance Kelsey
McLelland of Moores-
ville, NC, Will NeSmith
and Sam NeSmith of
Lyons; and six precious
great-grandchildren, Brin
son, Laney, Harper, Mi-
cah, Jay and Sally.
The funeral was held
on what would have been
his 93rd birthday, Friday,
January 14, at 2:00 p.m.
at Lyons First Baptist
Church with Daniel Ne
Smith and George Hol
comb officiating. Burial
followed at Lakeview Me
morial Gardens.
Pallbearers were Kyle
Lipscomb, Daniel Ne
Smith, Will NeSmith III,
Sam NeSmith, Jamie Mar
tin, and Speck Nobles.
Honorary pallbear
ers were Glenn Durden,
Theron Faison, Bruce
Herndon, Sam Polk, Gene
Jones, Ben Martin, Eddie
Tyson, and Men of Faith
Sunday School Class.
Flowers are welcome,
but memorial contribu
tions can be made to
Robert Toombs Christian
Academy/Playground
Fund, 628 W. Oglethorpe
Ave., Lyons, GA 30436
or to Cornerstone Chil
dren’s Center c/o Vidalia
First United Methodist
Church, P.O. Box 150, Vi
dalia 30475.
Ronald V. Hall
FUNERAL HOME
"Memories, of a Lifetime of Love"
Full Paid Obituary
Mrs. Dorothy Ricks
Mrs. Dorothy Ricks,
known affectionately as
“Dot,” was born on Sep
tember 8, 1934, to the late
Jasper and Nora Brown.
She was baptized July 17,
1975, as one of Jehovah’s
Witnesses. She was a mem
ber of the Vidalia Congre
gation of Jehovah’s Wit
nesses. Dorothy was united
in marriage to Maryland
Gillis, Dennis McNair, and
Preston Ricks, all of whom
preceded her in death.
She was a most-loved
beautician for most of her
life in Vidalia, GA. She
spoke of her God Jeho
vah to her customers and
neighbors every chance
she got. To all those who
knew her well, Dorothy
was a lover of flowers (her
yard spoke to that fact!).
She also loved fishing,
dressing, shopping and her
beloved dog DJ.
Dorothy Ricks fell
asleep in death on Tuesday,
January 4, 2022, at the age
of 87 years old. She was
Dr. Dale Callaway
Dr. Dale Enoch Cal
laway, 67, died on Sunday,
January 9, 2022, at his sec
ond home in Smyrna.
Dr. Callaway was
a long-time resident of
Lyons. He was lovingly
known as “Dr. Dale” and
“Grandpa Dale.” He was
born in Statesboro, grew
up in Pembroke, and grad
uated from Bryan County
High School. He attended
Mercer University and
Georgia State University,
followed by Life Universi
ty College of Chiropractic
Medicine. He was a board-
certified chiropractic spe
cialist, practicing at Lake
side Chiropractic Wellness
Center until his passing.
He was preceded in death
by his father, Enoch Cal
laway; his mother, Mil
dred Boyette Callaway; 1
sister, June Mildred Cal
laway; 1 nephew, Philip
Craig Sapp; 2 brothers,
James Mark Callaway and
Deacon Gary Scott
Deacon Gary L. Scott
of Lyons died on January
4, 2022, at Meadows Re
gional Medical Center on
Vidalia.
Deacon
Scott was a
native of Ly
ons and was
a U.S. Ma
rine Veteran.
He retired from General
Motors in the New Jersey
Plant.
Clark and Shaw Monument Company
856 Lyons Center Road, Lyons, Georgia 30436
Georgia Marble • Granite • Bronze • Mausoleums
Office 912-526-4444
Fax 912-526-0508
Toll Free: 1-866-839-4563
Owners: Bill Clark and Chuck Shaw
email: clarkshawmonu@att.net
preceded in death by two
sons, Wendell and Wyman
Gillis of Vidalia, GA; eight
brothers, Alonzo, Bill,
Booker T (Ruby), Jasper,
Ben, Charlie (Noreen),
James (Juanita) and Thom
as Brown; and two sisters,
Iris (John) Roundtree and
Betty (Ralph) Wright. She
leaves to mourn one son,
Maryland Gillis of Atlanta,
GA; one grandson, Greg
Gillis of Laurel, MD; and
one adopted daughter, San
dra Brown of Long Branch,
NJ; four sisters-in-law, Eliz
abeth (Ben), Bertha (Jas
per), Iris (Bill) and Lavada
(Thomas) Brown; a host of
nieces and nephews; and
many good friends, but
especially Gloria Jackson,
Donnie Gardner, Lillie
Turner, Deborah Adams
and the members of the
Vidalia, GA, English Con
gregation of Jehovah’s Wit
nesses.
A memorial service
will be held on January 29
at 3 p.m. on Zoom. If you
would like to attend online
use the following creden
tials:
Online
Zoom Meeting ID: 835
2488 8205
Passcode: 629399
Phone
Call 646-558-8656
or 301-715-8592
Meeting ID: 835 2488
8205
Passcode: 629399
Full Paid Obituary
Earnest Cleon Callaway;
and 2 brothers-in-law, Jim
Walsh and Billy Fanning.
Survivors include his
wife, Gloria Mize-Calla
way; 1 stepdaughter, Dr.
Heather Sheppard-Till-
man; 3 daughters from a
previous marriage, Holly
Callaway Edge and hus
band Sam, Christi Lyn
Ballagh and husband Bri
an, and Sarah Dale Cal
laway; 3 siblings, Carolyn
Walsh, Wanda Fanning,
and Shelba Davis; 1 broth-
er-in-law, Roy Davis; 1
nephew, Stephen M Sapp;
his grandchildren, Dustin,
Brandon, Katie, Kaylee,
Ava, Braydon, Isabella,
Presley, Jasper, Conor; his
great-grandchildren, Ian,
Aiden, and Alaina; and
many nieces and nephews.
A graveside funeral
service will be held on Sat
urday, January 22, 2022, at
2:00 p.m., at Collins Cha
pel Cemetery in Lyons.
In lieu of flowers, the
family requests memorial
contributions to Guido
Evangelistic Association,
Metter, Georgia, Shriners
Hospitals for Children,
or St. Jude Children’s Re
search Hospital, Mem
phis, Tennessee.
Ronald V. Hall
FUNERAL HOME
"Memories, of a Lifetime of Love"
Survivors include
1 son, Johnathan Scott,
Douglasville; 1 sister, Lau-
ana Hamond, Chicago,
IL; and 3 grandchildren,
Nazhe Scott, Nahshon
Scott, and Nasir Scott.
A memorial service
was held on Saturday, Janu
ary 15, 2022, at 10:00 a.m.,
in the chapel of Vidalia Fu
neral Home.
Tliiialta
Shateral idome
106 Pine St., Vidalia
537-8887
Mr. Frank Toler
Mr. Frank Toler, age
86, of Lyons, died on Sat
urday, January 15, 2022, at
the Community Hospice
House in Vidalia after an
extended illness.
Mr. Toler was born in
Hart County and as a child
moved to Treutlen Coun
ty, where he lived before
moving to Lyons in 1977.
He was a retired mechanic
and welder, and worked
with Stanley Farms and
Herndon Farms for many
years. He was a member
of the former Lyons Pres
byterian Church. He was
preceded in death by his
wife, Geneva Green Sil
vers Toler; 1 daughter, Joy
Lynn Toler; 2 grandchil
dren, Dana Darden and
Dawn Darden; his parents,
William Toler and Willie
Ann Hutcheson; 4 sisters,
Jeanette Pervatt, Lugenia
Beasley, Willie Mae Toler,
and Tinnie Weeks; and 5
brothers, C.J. Toler, Lewis
Toler, Bill Toler, Arthur
Toler, and Bobby Toler.
His family includes
5 children, Kathy White
of Soperton, Debra Ford,
Terrie Darden, and Al
len Toler, all of Vidalia,
and Charles Toler of Eu-
stis, FL; 3 stepchildren,
Carrie Yawn of Hazlehu-
rst, Maxine Silvers and
Donnie Silvers, both of
Lyons; 3 sisters, Sarah
Bickel of Little Rock, AR,
Florence Ann Davis of
Jesup, and Reba Graham
of Soperton; 1 brother,
Robbie Toler of Soper
ton; 14 grandchildren; 16
great-grandchildren; 10
great-great-grandchildren;
and numerous nieces and
nephews.
The funeral service
was held on Tuesday, Janu
ary 18, 2022, at 3:00 p.m.,
in the chapel of Ronald V.
Hall Funeral Home, with
Pastor Albert White and
Pastor Danny Zorn offici
ating. Burial followed in
Lyons City Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers,
memorial contributions
may be made to Grace
Community Presbyterian
Church, P.O. Box 1848,
Vidalia, GA 30475.
Ronald V. Hall
FUNERAL HOME
"Memories, of a Lifetime of Love"
Mr. Fred Lumpkin
Mr. Fred Lumpkin,
age 64, of Adrian, died
on Thursday, January 13,
2022, at Shamrock Health
and Rehabilitation Center
in Dublin.
Mr. Lumpkin was
born in Treutlen County
and was a lifelong resi
dent of Adrian and the
Soperton area. He had
worked in a saw mill dur
ing the 1970s, worked
with Emanual County as
a heavy equipment opera
tor, was an over the road
truck driver, and retired
from the City of Adrian.
He was preceded in death
by his parents, Morris and
Elnor Atkinson Lump
kin; and his siblings, Roy
Lumpkin, Betty Ann Mor-
ison, J.L. Lumpkin and Ed
die Lumpkin.
Survivors include
2 brothers, Johnny and
Jimmy Lumpkin, both of
Soperton; 1 special neph
ew, Wayne Lumpkin and
his wife, Kat, East Dublin;
several other nieces and
nephews; 1 great-nephew,
Cross Lumpkin; and his
pet dog Fuzzy.
Funeral services were
conducted on Monday,
January 17, 2022, at 2:00
p.m., in the Williams Cha
pel of Sammons Funeral
Home, with Rev. L.T.
Logue officiating. Inter
ment followed in Mt. Zion
Cemetery, near Norris
town.
Sammons Funeral
Home in Soperton was in
charge of arrangements.
Mr. Stephen Hammond
Mr. Stephen Lee
Hammond, age 63, died
on January 15, 2022, at
Community Hospice of
Vidalia after an extended
illness.
Mr. Hammond was
known as “Steve” and
“Pop,” and was born in
Greenville, SC. He was a
1976 graduate of Riverside
High School and attended
the University of South
Carolina. He was a mem
ber of the First United
Methodist Church of Vi
dalia and was a small busi
ness owner in the com
munity with The Frame
Gallery. He was a wood
craftsman who was known
for his skill and creativity.
Survivors include his
parents, Robert and Bar
bara Hammond; his chil
dren, Brooks Hammond
(Ashleigh), and SaraBeth
Hammond (Dustin New
man); his grandchildren,
Lennon Hammond, Beck
ett Hammond, and Scout
Newman; 1 brother, Gor
don Hammond (Caro
lyn); and 3 nephews, Brad
Hammond, Ben Ham
mond (Laura), Andrew
Hammond (Jenny); and
their families.
A memorial service
will be held on Thursday,
January 20, 2022, at 2:00
p.m., at Vidalia First Unit
ed Methodist Church.
Prior to the service, the
family will have visitation
starting at 1:00 pm. In lieu
of flowers, memorial con
tributions maybe made to
Mercy Ministries or Com
munity Hospice of Vida
lia.