About The Millen news. (Millen, Jenkins County, Ga.) 1903-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 31, 2025)
themillennews.com The Millen News Wednesday, December 31, 2025 - Page 5 OBITUARIES Robert Lee Golphin March 2, 1956 - December 22, 2025 It is with profound sadness that the staff of Christopher Young Funeral Home announces the earthly transition of Mr. Robert L. Golphin Viewing for Mr Golphin was held Saturday, December 27,2025, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Christopher Young Funeral Home. Celebration of life service was held at 12 on p.m. Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, at Williams Grove Mis sionary Baptist Church with inter ment following at Williams Grove Baptist Church cemetery. Henry Boynton May 5, 1962 - Dec. 25, 2025 Henry “Bo Dilly” Boynton, 63, died peacefully at his home on Thursday, December 25,2025 after an extended illness. He attended Jenkins County High School and worked for Shockley Plumbing and A&W Oil Company as a truck driver. He enjoyed spending time with his loving family and fishing but most of all enjoyed his time with his son and grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Totsy Sikes Boynton and Thomas Boynton; sister, Mary Boynton; and nephews, Brian Mc Clain and Keith Reddick. He is survived by his wife, Donna Dudley Boynton; son, Dudley Boynton; grandchildren, Cotton Boynton, Kryslin Rain Callaway and Chris Clarke of Baxley, GA; sisters, Lottie Bell McKinney, of Waynesboro, GA and Diane Hall (Don) of Beach Island, SC; brothers, Ray Boynton (Cherdale) and Mickey Boynton, both of Millen, GA; sister- in-laws, Susan Myers, Margaret (Darrell) Clifton and Jackie Boynton; brother-in-laws, George (Brenda)Dudley and Andy (Sheryl)Dudley all of Millen, GA. Graveside services were held at 3 p.m. Sunday, December 28, 2025 at Green Fork Baptist Church Cemetery. Crowe-Fields Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Dennis Haskel Bumbalough 1957 - 2025 Lane Grove Missionary Baptist Church Lane Grove Missionary Baptist Church is located at Hwy. 121, Millen, Ga. Services are held the 1st Sunday of every month at 11 a.m. and Sunday School at 10 a.m. Bible Study every Thursday at 7 p.m. Millen Baptist Church Dennis Haskel Bumbalough of Millen, Georgia, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, December 25,2025. Born on July 4, 1957, in Sanford,Florida, Dennis lived a life marked by devotion to God, love for his family, and faith ful service in the church. Dennis loved spending time out doors, especially fishing, but his true passion was serving the Lord and His church, where he poured out his time, energy, and heart in service to others. His faith shaped everything he did, and those who knew him will remember his kindness, his integrity, and his quiet, steady walk with Christ. He enjoyed a long and fulfilling career with Florida Power & Light Company, retiring as a Materials Manager, where he was known for his dedication, leadership, and strong work ethic. He is survived by his beloved wife of 50 years, Deneice; his son, Steve; and his daughter, Valerie Aponte. He is also survived by four cherished grandchildren: Kelsey, David, Abby, and Josue, who each brought him great joy. Dennis is further survived by his mother, lorene Bumbalough; his sisters Marjorie, Debra, Carolyn, and Reana; and many ex tended family members and friends who will miss him dearly. He was preceded in death by his father, Haskel Bumbalogh. A memorial service will be held on Friday, January 2, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the Longwood Church of Christ in Longwood, Florida, where family and friends will gather to honor his memory and give thanks for his life in Christ. His family rests in the comfort of the promise of eternal life and the blessed hope of being reunited again in the Lord’s presence. Crowe-Fields Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Wanda Diane McMillan November 15, 1963 - December 21, 2025 Wanda "Diane" McMillan passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 21, 2025, after a long battle with cancer. She was a native of Jenkins County, Georgia, where she was employed with Scotbilt Homes until her sickness forced her to retire. She was an avid reader who also enjoyed playing cards with family and crafting in her free time. She is preceded in death by her mother, Cecilia Bailey McMil lan; her father, Odell McMillan; her sister, Marian McMillan; her brother, Joseph Burke and her twin brother William "David" McMillan. She is survived by her daughter, Debbi Bost, and her husband of Whiteville, North Carolina; her son Christopher Joyner and his significant other, who reside in Statesboro, Georgia; as well as her sisters, Elizabeth Burke Alvis of Middleburg, Florida and Angie McMillan of Millen, Georgia; three granddaughters, five grandsons, one great-granddaughter and several nieces and nephews. At the request of the family, no services will be held at this time. Crowe-Fields Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. OUR POLICY This section is a complimentary service for Jenkins County churches hosting free public services. We will run your church news for two weeks. Church bake sales, yard sales, out-of-county events or events with an admission fee may be included for $10 per week, paid in advance. Email announcements to millennewstoday.com, or drop them off at our East Cotton Ave. office. OUR DEADLINE IS NOON FRIDAY. Deep Creek Free Will Baptist Church 5614 West Old Savannah Road. Rev. Butch Taylor, Pastor. Sunday School, 10 a.m. Morning Worship 11 a.m. Sunday Youth, 6: 00 p.m. Evening Worship 6: 30 p.m. Wednesday Bible Study, 7: 00 p.m. Call 982-1206. Dickey Grove Missionary Baptist Church 1415 Hiltonia Road, Sylvania, GA 30467. Rev. James Waltower, Pastor. Regular services 2nd, 3rd, 4th & Sth Sundays. Sunday School 9 a.m. (all ages). Morning Worship 10: 30 a.m. Bible Study each Tuesday 6: 30 p.m. Choir Rehearsal each Tuesday 7: 30 p.m. Call 912-829-3346. Pastor’s home 706-833-3429. Elam Baptist Church 5199 Elam Road, Millen GA 30442: Sunday School meets at 9:45 a.m. and Sunday worship service begins at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday activities begin at 5:45 p.m. with a meal; Team Kid, Youth and Bible study begin at 6:30 p.m. For more information, please send emails to elambaptistchurch@gmail.com. Fair Haven Church 1126 N. Herndon Rd., P.O. Box 1096, Millen, GA 30442. Rev. Jose Velasquez, pastor. Sunday School held at 9 a.m. and Sunday Morning Worship at 10 a.m. Phone: 912-429-9472. First Baptist Church 507 Old Waynesboro Rd., Millen, GA 30442. Pastor: Frederick Williams. Sunday School every Sunday - 10 a.m. Church Services 2nd & 4th Sundays-Ha.m. Phone: (478) 982-3371. Green Fork Baptist Church 1569 Green Fork Church Rd. Sunday School begins at 10 a.m. and morning worship at 11 a.m. Sunday night worship at begins at 5: 30 p.m. and Wednesday night services are at 7 p.m. The Rev. Jesse Sadler, Pastor. Gordon Grove Baptist Church Located on 4950 East Old Savannah Road, Millen, GA 30442. Rev. Cecil Dunlap, Pastor; YaLanda G. Ruffin, Music Director.1st, 3rd, and Sth Sundays: Sunday School, 9 a.m.; Morning Worship, 10 a.m. For more information contact, Janette Newton, 4115 East Old Savannah Road, Millen, GA 30442. 912-682-8321. Hurricane Branch Missionary Baptist Church 4120 Hurricane Branch Road. Services every 1st and 3rd Sunday at 9 a.m. Sunday School 10 a.m. Worship Service Bible Study every Wednesday Night at 7 p.m. Pastor: Jerrokwee Powell 478-279-7177. Church phone: 478-982-5422. Kelsey Chapel Baptist Church 1025 Hiltonia Road, Millen. Services are every 3rd Sunday. Sunday School begins at 10 a.m. Worship begins at 11 a.m. 478-982-3138, 478-299-1644 or 706-360-5999. Lewis Church Jenkins County's only Primitive Baptist Church Worship 11 a.m. on 3rd Sunday & 7 p.m. on 3rd Saturday. 6 p.m. on 4th Sunday. Meeting house is located off Hwy. 23 South on Lewis Church Road. Contact Elder Sam Bowen at 912-865-2795 for information. Living Word Ministry “Impacting Lives... One Home at a Time”. 623 Cotton Avenue, Millen, GA 30442. Services Every 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Sunday. Sunday School at 9: 30 a.m. Worship Service at 10: 30 AM. Hour of Power on Wednesday's at 7: 00 p.m. Pastor is Elder Steve Carr Sr. 219 Gray Street, Millen. Brad Asbury, Pastor; Cam Wiggins, Youth Minister; Sandy Becton, Minister of Music. Sunday School at 9: 45 a.m. Morning Worship at 11 a.m. Call the church office at 478-982-5411. Millen New Testament Church 4532 Lewis Church Road, Millen, GA 30442 912-690-0772. David A. Godbolt, Pastor Services held: 2nd & 4th Sundays(Sunday School starts at 10:00 a.m. Worship Service starts at 11:00 a.m.) Bible Study: Thursdays after 2nd & 4th Sunday @ 6:30 p.m. Millen Methodist Church 413 North Gray Street; Rev. John Drake, pastor; Anna Burch, Minister of Music; Sunday School, 10 a.m.; Morning Worship, 11 a.m.; church phone, 478-982-2664. Miracle Temple Church of Deliverance located at 640 Millen By-Pass, Millen, GA 30442.Pastor: Joseph Radlift. Worship services every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Contact Ekijah Coney at 478-455-1844 for more infiormation. Mt. Olivet Baptist Church 1593 Mt Olivet Church Rd,, Garfield, GA 30425. Phone: 478-763-2411. Pastor: J. Randy Graham.Sunday School: 10:00 a.m. Sunday Worship: 11:00 a.m.Wednesday Night Worship: 7: 00 p.m. Wednesday Children & Youth Groups: 7: 00 p.m. A View From a Hearse STARTING A NEW YEAR WITHOUT THEM Jake Futch January 1 has a way of sound ing hopeful to people who haven’t lost much. New calendars are hung. New planners are opened. Gym memberships are purchased with good intentions. Every where you look, someone is talking about fresh starts and clean slates. But from the seat of a hearse, January 1 doesn’t always feel new at all. For many families, this is the first day of a year they never wanted to enter without someone they loved. The calendar changed, but their heart didn’t get the memo. Grief doesn’t reset at midnight. It doesn’t care about fireworks or resolutions. I’ve watched widows wake up on New Year’s Day and reach across the bed, only to remember—again—that the other side is cold. I’ve seen par ents realize this will be the first full year they won’t hear their child’s voice. Adult children quietly acknowledge this is the year they will be older than the parent who once guided them. From the hearse, I notice how January is quieter at cemeteries. The decorations from Christ ¬ Nannie E. Williams United Methodist Church 440 Old Waynesboro Road, Millen, GA - Rev. Charles Way - Pastor. Sunday School every 4th Sunday at 10: 30 a.m. Worhsip at 11: 30 a.m. Bible study every 2nd Wednesday and 4th Wednesday at 6: 30 p.m. Needful Baptist Church Needful Baptist Church, 289 Kelsey Road, Millen, GA 30442. Rev. James Waltower, pastor. Regular service every 1st Sunday - Sunday School 10 a.m. and Worship Service - 11 a.m. Rev. James Waltower, 706-833-3429. Oak Hill Baptist Church 3233 Oak Hill Church Road-4 miles east of Millen. Brother Joshua Johnson-Pastor. Christian Walton, Student Pastor. Sunday School 10 a.m. and Sunday Morning Worship Services at 11 a.m. No Sunday Night Services. Wednesday Night - Adult Bible Study, Youth Group & Team Kid at 7 p.m.. Please call 478-982-1616 or visit www.oakhillmillen.com for more information. Ogeechee Free Will Baptist Church 4961 West Old Savannah Road, Millen, GA 30442. Rev. Edwin Taylor, Pastor. Sunday School 10 a.m. Morning worship 11 a.m. Evening worship 6 p.m. Wednesday prayer meeting 7: 00 p.m. Call 982-5970. Rocky Ford Baptist Church RFBC, here for the Gospel! 132 Main Street, Rocky Ford, GA 30455, 912-863-4288. Pastor: Wayne Bragg. Sunday School, 10 a.m.; Morning Worship, 11 a.m.; Sunday Evening Service, 4:30 p.m.; Wednesday Night Children/Youth Program, 6-7:30 p.m. www.rockyfordbaptist.com. www.facebook.com/rockyfordbaptist Scarboro Baptist Church Hwy 17 S. Scarboro Church Loop, Millen. Rev. Perry Hearn. Sunday School, 10 a.m.; Sunday morning service, 11 a.m.; Sunday evening service, 6 p.m.; Wednesday Bible Study, 6 p.m. For more information please call 478-982-3545. Skull Creek Missionary Baptist #1 4371 East Old Savannah Road, Millen, GA 30442. Services 2nd Sunday of each month; Sunday School - 10:30 a.m.; Worship Service - 11 a.m. Rev. Levi Sapp, Pastor True Born Church of Christ Deliverence Center MLK Blvd, Millen. Services are 1st and 4th Sunday at Noon. Wednesday Bible Study 7: 30 p.m. Prophet Melvin Bynes 478-982-2017. West Millen Baptist Church Hwy. 25 North, Drexel Avenue, Millen. Sunday School 9: 15 a.m. Sunday morning worship 10: 30 a.m. Sunday night service 6 p.m. Wednesday night prayer service 7 p.m. Call 478-351-0661. Zion Baptist Church 1068 Old Sylvania Road, Millen, GA 30442. P.M. Broomfield, Pastor. Sunday School 10: 00 a.m. Morning Worship 11: 00 a.m. Bible Study 2nd and 4th Wednesday 7: 00 Church News Pastoral Installation First Baptist Church, 307 Old Waynesboro Rd., will host its Pastoral Installation of Rev. Paul C.W. Reeves, Jr. at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. The guest pastor will be the Rev. William B. Blount of Greater Young Zion Baptist Church, Augusta. The public is invited. Daily Lunch & Nightly Specials! Dine-in or take-out 537 East Winthrope, Millen 478-982-2390 mas are still there, but the visi tors are fewer. Life has moved forward for most of the world, yet some families are standing still, learning how to breathe in a year that feels unfamiliar and unfair. People say, “It’s a new year. Things will get better.” Some times they do. Sometimes they don’t. What usually happens instead is that people learn how to carry what cannot be fixed. Grief doesn’t mean you failed to heal. It means you loved deeply. As funeral directors, min isters, and caregivers, we see this every January. We see the strength it takes just to show up. We see the courage it takes to keep going when the future looks nothing like the plans that were made together. So if today feels heavy, you’re not behind. If you’re not ready for resolutions, you’re not broken. And if all you can manage on this first day of the year is to get out of bed and face the morning, that is enough. From a view from a hearse, I can tell you this: time doesn’t erase love. A new year doesn’t replace who was lost. But love has a way of walking with us—quietly, faithfully—into whatever comes next. And sometimes, simply step ping into the new year is the bravest thing a grieving heart can do.
