Newspaper Page Text
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William Douglas Grubbs
December 28, 1939 - July 22, 2022
William Douglas Grubbs ("Bill"), 82
of Wilmington Island, Ga„ passed away
peacefully in the hospital on July 22,2022
after a battle with cancer, with his spouse
and daughters by his side. Bill was born in
Macon, son of Johnnie Durham and Ethel
(McKinley) Grubbs and was the youngest
of five children. In 1958, Bill graduated
from Mary Persons High School in For
syth. Following, he attended and gradu
ated from University of Georgia (Go Dawgs!) in 1962
with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. After serving in the
Air National Guard, he began his work career which was
spent, in large part, in the insurance field. He retired from
his sales position with DuPont Corian Carapace Corpo
ration in 2008. An active member of Wilmington Island
Presbyterian Church, Bill served in a variety of roles and
capacities including Elder, Deacon, choir member and on
various committees too numerous to count. He enjoyed
life and had many hobbies that he shared with his wife
Betty. He loved music and was a wonderfully gifted piano
player. He also enjoyed gardening, tennis, golf, boating,
travel and a glass of wine and a chat with friends. Bill
never met a stranger and made friends wherever he went.
He gave the best hugs and a strong handshake. His won
derful smile and spirit and his talent for storytelling will be
missed by so many. Bill is survived by his best friend and
spouse of almost 59 years, Betty (Arnall) Grubbs, his three
children: Fee Michael Grubbs in Saint John, FF (spouse
Jen), Bethany Fane Grubbs in Savannah, and Nancy
(Grubbs) Jacobsen in Fouisville, Ky. (spouse Chris). He
is also survived by 6 grandchildren, Katie, Jake, Fuke and
Dylan Grubbs (Mike and Jen) and Colbin and Brody
Jacobsen (Nancy and Chris). He is also survived by older
brother Jimmy Grubbs in Cordova, Tenn. A memorial
service was held on Friday, July 29,2022 at Wilmington
Island Presbyterian Church in Savannah. Inurnment was
at the WIPC Memorial Garden, followed by a reception
in Fellowship Hall. In Feu of flowers, donations can be
made to the Wilmington Island Presbyterian Church
Remembrance Fund, 450 N. Cromwell Road, Savannah,
GA 31410.
Gladys Chambliss
February 8, 1949 - July 24, 2022
Graveside services were held Monday,
Aug. 1,2022 at St. Paul AME Church
Cemetery, 571 Rumble Road, Smarr,
Georgia 31216. Reverend Anthony
Stewart officiated. Freeman Funeral
Home, Forsyth, was in charge.
Robert James Dumas
June 10, 1940 - July 25, 2022
Graveside Services for Mr. Robert James
Dumas were held Sunday, July 31,2022 at
Wrights Grove Baptist Church, 3056 Old
Atlanta Highway, Forsyth, Georgia 31029.
Pastor Henry D. Feonard, Sr. officiated.
Freeman Funeral Home, Forsyth, was in
charge.
,Jkr ^Reporter
www.mymcr.net
^Reporter
Steve Butler
August 31, 1957-July 27, 2022
Steve Butler, 64, passed away peace
fully, surrounded by his loving family on
Wednesday July 27,2022. Steve was born
on Aug. 31,1957 in BarnesvFle but Fved
most of his life in Monroe County, where
he was loved and respected by many.
He is survived by his loving and de
voted wife of 45 years, Vicky Butler, his
beloved and committed daughter Barbara
(Chris) Wheeler and his one and only grandson, Cody
“Tonto” Wheeler, who was his pride and joy, his oldest sister
Kathy Bryant, his baby brother Preston (Amanda) Johnson
and his cherished and beloved grand dog, Roscoe.
Steve served his country in the National Guard and the
United States Army where he learned and mastered his
trade as a diesel mechanic. He could fix and drive anything
with wheels, just ask anyone who knew him.
Steve was employed by the City of Forsyth for 38 years
as a Vehicle Maintenance Supervisor. During his time at
the City of Forsyth, he helped numerous people and their
famiHes by fixing their vehicles, equipment and when they
needed a helping hand or a ride during the snowstorms,
bad weather and torrential storms. He loved his job and
never wanted to leave it but he had to retire in the summer
of2021 due to his declining health. During his journey with
his health, his loving family never left his side and put him
as their first priority; which in itself is such a statement of
the wonderful and outstanding man that he was.
Steve loved the outdoors and was an avid fisherman and
hunter, thus earning the nickname “Snappy”. He spent
many days and nights on the lake fishing and many days in
the woods hunting aF while making tons of memories with
the ones that he loved and cherished the most. Steve loved
camping out at the Nascar races with his family, where
they shared many laughs, lots of love and unforgettable
memories; even during the COVID span they camped in
their own back yard. Steve was always willing to go above
and beyond to help anyone who had a need at any time and
was a man of his word. If he told you he was going to do
something, you better beFeve that it would be done. He was
a friend to many and never met a stranger. Cooking was
one of his passions especially for his family and friends. He
was famous for his boiled peanuts, taters and onions and
many cabbage recipes. Steve enjoyed spending time with his
family while watchuig “Mountain Men” (Useless Eustace),
“Swamp People” and old cowboy movies. He enjoyed sitting
on the back porch, teFing stories, laughing and making
memories with those he loved the most. He would always
tell people “What is said on the back porch stays on the
back porch”.
Steve was preceded in his death by his mother, Barbara
Jean Woodard, his brother Bobby Ray Johnson and his
youngest daughter Brandy Zellner. He will be missed tre
mendously by aF who love him, especiaFy his family who
meant the world to him. Once you met him, youd never
be able to forget him and no one would ever want to. His
love extended to some very special people in his Ffe, who
he adopted as his own; his best and most loyal friend, Clyde
(Janet) Parker, adopted grandson, Dalton Bruce, adopted
daughters, Jaqi Holloway and Jennifer Harris Puckett.
Special thanks and love for Sacred Journey Hospice and his
angel on earth nurse, Jennifer McBurnette.
A memorial to honor the Ffe of Steve Butler will be held
at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 6, with visitation starting at 10
a.m. in the Chapel at Monroe County Memorial Chapel.
In Feu of flowers the family request donations to our local
Camp Kaleo Retreat Center, to encourage the children of
our community to learn, embrace and share the love of
the outdoors as Steve did. Please visit www.monroecoun-
tymemorialchapel.com to express tributes. Monroe County
Memorial Chapel has charge of arrangements.
Call your local Monroe County representative
Scott Harrell
478-256-3586
or toll free: 800-551-1102
3250 Vineville Ave., Macon, GA 31208 r
August 3, 2022
CHIEF
Continued from Front
the Reporter that Harris
had been reFeved of his
position.
Harris had been the
chief for 6 years, replacing
Keith Corley in 2015. He
has been with the poFce
department for 38 years.
With the department
down to about 7 road of
ficers, the Reporter called
HaU last week to ask about
the situation. HaF sug
gested the Reporter contact
Chief Harris. However caFs
to Harris went to his voice
maF, which was fuF. When
the Reporter told HaF
about that, she said she told
the chief to caF the newspa
per back. When Harris did,
he said it was HaF, not he,
who was to blame for the
department’s problems. He
said HaF’s efforts to micro
manage the department
made people not want to
work there. Harris said it’s
a sad day because the city
manager wasn’t letting hun
run his department and
didn’t have the officers’
backs. But Harris told the
Reporter he hoped to be
able to stay on as chief to
fix what was wrong Fi the
department. But apparently
Hall, who has authority un
der the city charter to Jure
and fire city department
heads, felt otherwise.
HaF had interviewed aF
city officers back in the
spring. Based on those
interviews HaF gave Harris
a list of changes to make to
the department HaF told
the Reporter that Harris
didn’t mind her efforts to
help. But apparently it did
cause friction.
One of the officers who
recently left the depart
ment, Darius Patterson,
told the Reporter he left be
cause he didn’t have proper
equipment the entire time
he was there. He said he
tried to go through proper
channels, so he told Maj.
Daniels he wanted to talk
to Chief Harris to discuss
the situation. Patterson said
Daniels told Jdm to teF the
chiefhimself.
Patterson said when
he did teF Harris he was
planning to leave, the chief
didn’t ask why. He said
“OK” and shrugged his
shoulders.
“He just showed me he
didn’t reaFy care about me
leaving,” said Patterson.
Patterson said he saw
in the Reporter last week
that Harris blamed the city
manager for the depart
ment’s woes, and said he
doesn’t think blamuig other
people is good leadership.
Patterson, who is now a
fireman in Jones County,
said he liked serving
in Forsyth and would
consider returning to the
poFce department if better
leadership was in place. He
said he didn’t want to speak
out about the situation but
felt he had to because cur
rent employees cannot say
anything for fear of their
jobs.
However another officer
who left recently and only
talked to the Reporter on
the condition of anonym
ity said he had no problem
with Harris and his leader
ship.
Reached by phone, the
Reporter asked Harris if it’s
true he talked to HaF about
turning in his retirement.
He said that’s not what they
talked about but would not
elaborate.
City councF met on
Monday but the poFce
chief situation was not
discussed pubFcly. City
councFman JuFus Stroud,
a former miFtary poFce
officer, motioned to go into
executive session to discuss
personnel, seconded by
councFman John Howard,
a former city poFce officer,
and approved unanimously.
CouncF took no action af
ter the closed-door session.
HaF said she knows the
new interim chief, Daniels,
plans to retire by the end
of the year. There’s specula
tion that former Monroe
County sheriff Ft. Stacey
Penamon, now with the
poFce department, could
eventuaFy be hired for the
position fuF-time.
FYING PAN
Continued from Front
Hardy, who had a hammer
fastened around his waist.
Hardy said the hammer
was for protection.
A famFy member, Tera
Hardy, was at the house
bleeding above her left eye
and was in need of stitches.
She said that Bobby was
pitching a fit and throwuig
food from a pan every
where. Then, he threw
the pan at her. Two other
family members, Barbara
and Timothy Hardy, said
that they saw the Bobby
throw the pan and hit her
in the face.
Tera then pointed to
the a hole in the waF that
Bobby had done with
his hammer and that he
threatened to bum the
house down. Bobby Hardy
was taken to Monroe
County JaF and on the
way there, told officers that
they would be called back
when he got out. He then
said “that’s not a threat.
That is a promise.”
Hardy was charged with
aggravated assault, famFy
violence and terroristic
threats.
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