Funding for the digitization of this title was provided by the Burke County Genealogical and Historical Society.
About The true citizen. (Waynesboro, Ga.) 1882-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 8, 2025)
Page 6A— Wednesday, October 8, 2025, The True Citizen Brian Wingate Brian Wingate, 50, entered into rest Thursday, October 2, 2025. He was born in Augusta and has been a longtime resident of Burke County. He worked as a mechanic in indus trial maintenance. Brian was the definition of a provider, a father to all who came under his wing, the ultimate do it yourself man with the paramount ability to lift spirits with his quick wit. He was a steady foundation through the worst of storms, an unyielding rock, and the sword and shield of his family. He was preceded in death by a son, Austin Wingate; and a brother, Kurt Maenner. He is survived by his wife, Lisa Wingate; three children, Tayler Wingate, Matthew Burnside, and Lane Burnside; four sisters, Amy Patterson, April Griffin (Tommy),Nichelle Johnson (Jerry), and Kim Green; 16 nieces and nephews; and 16 great nieces and nephews. Memorial Services will be held 5:00pm Wednesday, October 8 in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Sam Adkins officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. DeLoach-McKerley-Prescott Funeral Home & Crema ¬ tion Service, 220 East 6th Street, Waynesboro, GA 30830 (706- 554-3531) You may sign the guest book at www.deloachfuneralhomes.com. — Deloach X McKerley-Prescott FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION SERVICE John L. Richbourg, Jr. John L.Richbourg, Jr.,93, entered into rest Tuesday, Septem ber 30,2025. He was born in Vidalia and had been a longtime resident of Burke County. He retired from the Air Force, serv ing 23 years and retired from Perfection. John was a member of the VFW. He was preceded in death by his parents, Emma and John L. Richbourg, Sr.; and his wife, Lillian Richbourg. He is survived by his children, grandchildren, great grand children, and several nieces and nephews. Graveside Services were held at 4:00pm Thursday, October 2 at Burke Memorial Gardens with full military honors. Remembrances may be made to St. Jude’s, American Par kinson Disease Association, or Rosemont Baptist Church Vision Fund. DeLoach-McKerley-Prescott Funeral Home & Crema ¬ tion Service, 220 East 6th Street, Waynesboro, GA 30830 (706- 554-3531) You may sign the guest book at www.deloachfuneralhomes.com. — Deloach — McKerley-Prescott FUNERAL HOME x AND CREMATION SERVICE z Brenda Sue Stanford Willis Brenda Sue Stanford Willis, age 63, of Waynesboro and formerly of Vidalia, died Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at Orchard Healtli & Rehab in Pulaski fol lowing an extended illness. She was born on March 1, 1962, in Vidalia to the late Clinton Edward Stanford and Eula Moseley Stan ford, both of whom were from Vi dalia. She attended Vidalia High School, and in 1978, she and her family moved to Waynesboro. She was a 1980 graduate of Burke County High School, she lived in Waynesboro most of her life and was a homemaker. Her family includes one broth er, Carl Stanford and wife Terrie; one sister, Carol Ann Stanford Parnell and husband David; cousins, Betty Stanford Garrett and husband Ralph; nephews, Peter Christian Olsen III and Dexter Stanford and wife Kristin; niece, Missy Dixon and husband Josh; and several grandnieces and grandnephews. Revelation 21:1-4 - “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Memorial contributions may be made to Tunnels to Tow ers by visiting their website at t2t.org, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital by visiting their website at Stjude.org or Shriners Hospitals for Children by visiting their website at donate.lovetotherescue.org. Ruby Lee Rountree Mrs. Ruby Lee Rountree, 90, of Louisville, Georgia, was born on May 22, 1935 and en ¬ tered into rest on October 3, 2025. Family visitation will be held on Friday, October 10,2025 from 2:00-4:00PM and public view ing will be held from 5:00PM- 7:00PM at Phinazee & Son Funeral Home, located at 404 West Sth Street, Waynesboro, Georgia 30830. Funeral services are sched uled for Saturday, October 11, 2025, 11:00AM at Bryant Grove Baptist Church, 5293 GA-24, Waynesboro, Georgia 30830. Interment will be held in the church cemetery. Phinazee & Son Funeral Home is in charge of the services. PHINAZEE & SON OBITUARIES Patrick “Pat” Dewayne Dye Patrick “Pat” Dewayne Dye was welcomed home by his Savior Jesus Christ on Sunday, September 28,2025. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frances and Wayne Dye; and a brother, Daryl Dye. Pat was beloved by all that knew him. He was many things but first and foremost he was a child of God. He was a devoted husband to his wife and best friend of 25 years, Lori, whom he adored and an amazing father to his four children, Kate, Haze, Sadie, and Gracie as well as his “adopted” sons, Jeffrey and Braeden. Pat lived most of his life in Midville, GA. He loved the outdoors and was an avid hunter and fisherman. However, God called Pat to be “a fisher of men”, which he passionately embraced. The Lord delivered Pat from many difficult trials in his life and through that redemption he became a humble server, never boasting about work services or sacrifices that he made for the sake of his ministries. Many can testify to the impact that Pat had on their lives. He would minister witlr men struggling witlr addiction and would share the gospel witlr men behind bars or people living in the streets. It was his “norm” to stop anywhere he felt the need and pray and share the word of Jesus witlr people. He strived to never miss an opportunity, that by God’s grace, may lead someone to healing and knowledge of Jesus. Pat embraced the call on his life to be the pastor at Magnolia Baptist Church in Perkins, GA. The people at Mag nolia became family and he was well loved by his flock there. Pat was deeply loved and cherished during his life, and it stands as a testimony to the man he was. He was blessed by many during his illness, too many to name. He was taken care of by his wife and lifetime friend, Steve Bunn, never leaving his side. He is survived by his wife, Lori Dye; his children, Kate Dye, Haze Jenkins, Sadie Dye, and Gracie Dye; his grandchildren, Hensley, Adaline, and Kain; his brothers and sisters, Howard Dye (Debbie), Vicki Dye Brickey, Angel Dye, Sally Shuford, Steve Blankenship (Ann), and Debbie Dye Willis (David); and numerous nieces and nephews. In a private ceremony, Pat will be laid to rest on his land, which he loved dearly. Pallbearers will be Steve Bunn, Braeden Rachels, Jeffrey Giles Dye, Franklin Bunn, Randy Hebbard, Howard Dye, and John Bunn. A Celebration of Life will be held 2:00pm Sunday, October 12 at First Baptist Church in Waynesboro. Pat didn’t care for black so please wear something witlr color. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the New Be ginnings in Christ in Garfield, GA or trees can be purchased to be planted at his final resting place. It is requested that in choosing a tree, that it be one that will attract wildlife. Trees can be mailed to his wife, Lori, at 201 Kilpatrick St, Midville, GA 30441. The family would like to extend a special thanks to everyone that has prayed, supported, and donated through this entire season. Your kindness and love has been deeply felt and ap preciated. DeLoach-McKerley-Prescott Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 220 East 6tlr Street, Waynesboro, GA 30830 (706- 554-3531) You may sign the guest book at www.deloachfuneralhomes.com. — Deloach X McKerley-Prescott FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION SERVICE Juanita “Nita” Johnson Brightwell After a long and full life, Juanita “Nita” Johnson Brightwell has now joined her beloved husband Skip, angel Angela, and toy poodle Susie in heaven - along witlr the many family members who have preceded her. Born October 19, 1926 in Waynesboro, GA, Nita was blessed to have lived in Signal Mountain for the last 63 years, until passing peacefully on Sep tember 28, 2025, just shy of her 99th birthday. Nita had a deep and abiding love for her family, reading about American and British history and biographies, a passion for genealogy, and enjoying the pleasures of evening bourbon. She was always happy to pass along her deep knowledge of stock market investment tips and her enjoyment of singing hymns and show tunes to those around her. Nita graduated from Mercer University as a member of Phi Mu Sorority. She was active in the community: a long-time member of the Signal Mountain Garden Club, the “Nifty No mads” antiques-study group, the Chattanooga Opera Guild, and Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church as a soloist in the choir. Her presence will be remembered by surviving sister Mary Nell Perry of Augusta, Ga; daughters Lyn Gardiner and Kim Wise of Marin County, CA; stepchildren Tom Brightwell and Betsy Brightwell Edwards of Atlanta; grandgirls Kate Gardiner and Jordan Wise Alvarado, great grands Maggie and Poppy Dance and Ariel Wayne and Diego Alvarado; and all others who knew and loved her. This is just as her life was impacted by the love of those who passed before her, and whose wisdom she passed along: parents Charles Edward Johnson, Sr. and Clara Meyers Johnson, and siblings Charles Edward Johnson, Jr., William Joseph Johnson, and Mildred Johnson Burroughs, all from Waynesboro. Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chat- tanooganorthchapel.com MORE OBITUARIES ON 7A Arlie Jackson Smith, Jr. Arlie Jackson Smith, Jr., 83, passed away peacefully Thursday, October 2, 2025. He was born in Augusta to the late Louise and Arlie Smith, Sr. He and Joyce Runnette were high school sweethearts and have been married for 63 years. He loved woodworking and enjoyed hunting, fishing, and the outdoors. He was a veteran of the US Army, serving from 1964 to 1967. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a grandson, A.J. Allen. He is survived by his wife, Joyce Runnette Smith; two children, Don E. Smith (Debra) and Lynn White (Rob); four grandchildren,Dawn Mahaffey (J.T. Jackson), Devin March- man (Billy), Melissa Barefield (Shawn), and Hadley Coble (Joel); 13 great grandchildren; 2 great great grandchildren; five nieces; and five nephews. The family will receive friends from 3:00pm to 6:00pm Saturday, October 11 at the home of Lynn and Rob White, 211 Spring Valley Rd., Waynesboro, GA 30830. DeLoach-McKerley-Prescott Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 220 East 6th Street, Waynesboro, GA 30830 (706- 554-3531) You may sign the guest book at www.deloachfuneralhomes.com. — Deloach X McKerley-Prescott FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION SERVICE Chavous B. ohnson Funeral Service 885 Waters St., Waynesboro, GA 30830 (706) 554-7843 phone (706) 551-5008 fax “Where Service Is An Everlasting Memory" 16 " ‘A Family Tradition Since 1919” Funeral Director/Embalmer Kelsey M. Phinazee PHINAZEE & SON FUNERAL HOME 706-554-5500 404 West 8th St., Waynesboro, GA www.phinazeesonfh.com Funeral Director/Embalmer Almari K. Phinazee — - , CHANCE & HYDRICK Reuben Chance ■ Phil Hydrick Locally Owned & Operated 706.790.8567 www.chanceandhydrick.com DeLoach McKerley-Prescott FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION SERVICE 220 East 6th Street - P.O. Box 595 Waynesboro, GA 30830 706-554-3531 www.deloachfuneralhomes.com Val Prescott, Steve Sirmons, Jason McKerley 05 Manager Crystal M. Preston Burke Memorial Funeral Home www.burkememorial.com “A Home of Dependable Service" 842 Liberty Street, Waynesboro, GA Family owned & operated George Deloach 706-833-9867 or 706-551-5100
