About The Forest-blade. (Swainsboro, Ga.) 1996-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 10, 2021)
Larry James Kea, 77 Tomlinson Funeral Home announc es the death of Mr. Larry James Kea, 77, of Swainsboro. He passed away Tuesday, February 2, 2021, at Augusta University Medical Center in Augusta following a sudden illness. Private memorial services for Mr. Kea will be held Saturday, February 13, at 6 p.m. from the chap el of Tomlinson Funeral Home with Reverend Louis Pearce officiating. The family will receive friends at Tomlinson Funeral Home Saturday, February 13, from 4 until 6 p.m. During the visi tation, social distancing and the use of a face covering is required. Mr. Kea was born November 3, 1943, in Savannah, to the late George Robert Kea and Lila Frances Hooks Kea. In 1945, at the age of two, his family relocat ed to Swainsboro while Kea's father was sta tioned in Japan during World War II. While in Emanuel County, he met and married Margaret Neal of Twin City. From this union came one son and one daughter, Tim and Melissa. Mr. Kea managed Swainsboro Sportswear before mov ing to Union, South Carolina, where he managed LeTIGRE for many years. He later moved to Estill, South Carolina, and managed BEST Manufacturing. While in Estill, Mr. Kea met and married Lynn Ruth of Hampton, South Carolina. From this union came one daughter, Jami. In addi tion to Mr. Kea's roles in management, he was also a GED instructor. He was a member of KEA the Shriners Club and the Jaycees, as well as a member of Sandy Run Baptist Church in Hampton, South Carolina. He later returned to Swainsboro in 2010, where he resid ed until his death. Mr. Kea was a master car penter and avid Coca- Cola collector. In his spare time, he enjoyed woodworking, fishing, and participating at the Senior Citizen Center in Swainsboro. Mr. Kea is proceeded in death by his parents. Survivors include three brothers, Wayne Kea, Phil (Carrol) Kea, and Gene (Ann) Kea; one sister, Barbara "Bo" (Bill) Williams; three children, Timothy Allen (Terri Williams) Kea, Melissa Kea (Anthony) Frost; and Jami Kristina Kea; three stepchil dren, Rachael (Bryan) Ruble, Rebecca Lee, and Heather (Thomas) Summerlin; grandchil dren, Allen Kea, Abigail Kea, Ashleigh Williams, Peyton Williams, Hendrix Shelton, Michael Ruble, Hayden Ruble, Trevor Ruble, Thomas Summerlin, Kyleigh Summerlin, and Bradley Summerlin; and a host of uncles, cousins, nieces, neph ews, and friends. Tomlinson Funeral Home of Swainsboro is in charge of arrange ments. Angelia (Angie) Handberry Walker, 77 Mrs. Angelia (Angie) Handberry Walker, 77, of Garfield, passed away Saturday, January 30, 2021, at the Emanuel Medical Center follow ing a brief illness. Grave side services were held on Saturday, February 6, at 2 p.m. in the Mt. Zion Cemetery with Pastor Matthew Davis, Sr., officiating and Rev. Johnny L. Branch pre siding. Mrs. Walker was born October 17,1943, in Jen kins County. She was the eleventh child of twelve children born to the late Rev. George Willie Handberry and Mrs. Elizabeth Malone Handberry. Angelia was a graduate and educator in the Eman uel County Schools. She attended Savannah State University, where majored in Compre hensive Business Edu cation. Mrs. Walker furthered her educa tion at the university of Georgia, Georgia State WALKER University, and Georgia Southern University. She was well known in several counties where she taught school, and was a huge influencer to the lives of many. Mrs. Walker is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Johnny Evans Walker, Sr.; two sisters; and eight brothers. Survivors include one son, John E. Walker, Jr. of Garfield; sister, Marie Burroughs of Gar field; grandchildren; a great-grandchild; and a host of other relatives and friends. Mosley's Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. SEND A CARD TO SOMEONE EXPERIENCING THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE. The Forest-Blade • www.EmanuelCountyLive.com Mitchell L. Mr. Mitchell L. Wilson, 59, of Twin City passed away Saturday, February 6, 2021 at Comfort Care in Wadley following an extended illness. Memo rial Service will be pri vate at a later date. Mr. Wilson was born in Macon on March 7, 1961, to Irvin J. Wilson, Sr. and Ora Lee Bennett Odom. He was a graduate in Santa Monica, California. Mitchell liked spending time with family, being outdoors, and listening to music. Mr. Wilson is preceded in death by his father, Irvin J. Wilson, Sr. and brother, Andrew K. Wilson. Survivors include his mother, Ora Lee Odom of Midville; brother, Irvin J. Wilson, II of Twin City; Wilson, 59 WILSON sister, Cynthia (Michael) Meeks of Oak Park; niece, Rosalee Wilson of California; nephews, Christopher C. Rickerson of Midville, Justin C. Allen of Oak Park, and Mathew Wilson of Cali fornia. Chapman Funeral Home of Swainsboro is in charge of arrange ments. Robert Kirkland, Tr., 74 Mr. Robert Kirkland, Jr., age 74, passed away January 27, 2021. He was laid to rest on February 6, in Swan Cemetery in Garfield with Rev. Amos Handsom officiating. Mr. Kirkland, effec tively known to some as little Rob through his young adult years and life in Twin City, and oth ers as "Papa". He was born in Swainsboro on September 22,1946, to the late Robert Kirkland, Sr. and Rose Lee Kirkland. Robert was the young est of five children. He is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Jessie Smiley; and brother, Booker T. Kirkland. Mr. Kirkland leaves to cherish his beloved wife, Annie I. Kirkland; three stepdaughter, Shellie Miller, Latosha Waters, and Elder Chayntina (Pastor Jamaal) Thomas; step son, Cornelius Johnson; Godson, Pastor Northern KIRKLAND Dunbar, Jr.; three grand sons, Torrance, Donovan, and Nzimiro; six grand daughters, Dekalia, Ariel, T'Naya, Ty'Anna, Aaliyah, and Hadassah; two great-grads, Rain Layany and David IV; two sisters, Ruby Bigham of Augusta and Betty (Robert) Washington of Blythe; James Register of Hollywood, FL; six sisters-in-law; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and classmates. Mosley's Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Emanuel County's Covid-19 virus and vaccine update According to the coun ty commissioners' up date on Tuesday, Feb ruary 9, the total active cases of COVID-19 in Emanuel has increased from 47 to 49 since last week's COVID-19 up date report. The report on Febru ary 2 was as follows: • 47 active cases • 2,310 confirmed cas es • 2,193 recovered cas es • 70 deaths This week's most up dated information made available on February 9 is as follows: • 49 active cases • 2,357 confirmed cas es • 2,228 recovered cas es • 80 deaths Statics reported in the February 2 and Ternary 9 reports reveal a increase of 2 active COVID-19 cases; an increase of 47 confirmed cases; an increase of 35 re coveries; and an increase in death by 10. Newly implemented into the social media postings of Emanuel County Board of Com missioners is the Eman uel County Weekly COVID-19 Vaccination Update. This data is the most up to date and is provided in a joint effort by the Emanuel Med ical Center, East Geor gia Healthcare Center, Emanuel County Health Department, Shop- Rite Pharmacy, and the Emanuel County Board of Commissioners. The most recent report regarding 1A+ vaccina tions was made Tuesday, February 9, and was as follows: • Total vaccina tions administered: 2,220 • Total to have re ceived the first vaccina tion: 1,963 • Total to have re ceived the second vacci nation: 257 Please Note: Emanu el County Board of Com missioners strive to give Emanuel County the most up-to-date and correct information, with data coming from different state-wide sources. Please understand that sometimes information is delayed, and the county office will up date information as soon as it is received. Be sure to follozo the Emanuel Count Board of Commissioner's Facebook page and turn your notifications "ON". • Swainsboro, Georgia • February 10, 2021 5A JAMEY AND JENNI CHALKER Hometown Public Servant: Jamey Chalker This week's Hometown Public Servant is Jamey Chalker. Having served our country for a com bined 20 years of ser vice with the Army and National Guard, Chalker has been stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan and many other places. He was highlighted in CMT's American Soldier trib ute, as well as in the "20 Under 40" publication of The Forest-Blade. In addi tion to serving our coun try, Chalker has found many ways to give back to his community, including serving as the 2016 Jaycees president and the 2020 Shrine Club president. During a recent inter view with Chalker, he gave credit for his willing ness to serve to time spent in the military, where he was ranked as Sergeant First Class. "After leaving the mili tary, I felt a void in my life that needed to be filled. I chose to fulfill that void by serving our local com munity through the fire department. It's the thrill involved, I guess you could say, when respond ing in times of crisis. I love my community and being able to serve local ly," Chalker stated. Chalker has found ful fillment through working with the Swainsboro Fire Department and serving as chief of the Nunez Fire Department. According to Chalker, he has dedicated 10 years of volunteer fire services to the Swainsboro Fire Department and has also served in a fulltime capacity at the local sta tion for the past four years. Apart from serving both nationally and locally, Chalker also fulfills the duties of a husband and father. He and his wife, Jenni, share love for five children who they are proud of, Colby Butler (19), Jarred Chalker (16), Jacob Chalker (14), Jade Anna Chalker (4), and the late Jaylen Chalker. "What I love most about being able to serve our county versus our coun try is being able to see my family more. They don't like me being gone at night but accept that my dedication to the local community has to include nights away from home," Chalker stated. When speaking on his current roles to the local community, Chalker's advice is simple, and that is to support your local public servants. "It's important that local first responders, police, EMS, firefighters, Emanuel County 911 dis patch and other emer gency personnel have the support from those that we serve. It can be hectic on us at times not know ing what emergency we will be responding to next and what we're going into, but we do it because that's what we signed up for. It's not for the money, but to support and serve the community. I encour age all members of the community to give a little more support to your local emergency personnel. We take stride in what we do and can only do so much with what we have but we use it to the best of our ability, and the sup port received from locals goes a long way," Chalker concluded. Submit your nomina tions for Hometown Public Servant by emailing Whitley Clifton at forestbladere- porter@gmail.com. Valentine's Day Gift Baskets Balloons Candy Bouquets Large selection of cards, candy, gifts and chocolates t and more! Stop in today, you just might be surprised as to what you might find! x 'Shop RiPe PHARMACY * QifPs Mon - Fri 8:3( Sat 8:30-12 Closed Sun 605 W Main St • Swainsboro • 478.237.7032
