Obituaries
Eve Strong Wood Myers DEC 05, 1930 - JAN 13, 2018
Eve Strong Wood Myers, 87, died Saturday, January 13, 2018, at Buckingham South. A native of Savannah, she was born on December 5, 1930, the daughter of Walter Hartridge Strong and Julie Dancy Eve. A childhood spent on the Vernon River nourished her love of the sea, the outlying barrier islands, their distinctive flora and fauna, and boating with or without sails. She graduated with honors from The Pape School, Armstrong Junior College, and the University of North Carolina with a degree in Psychology/Sociology. Her vocational choices were more often people related: Medical social work at St. V ...
Salvatore Francis Molella JUL 18, 1936 - JAN 13, 2018
Salvatore F. Molella, born July 18, 1936. The oldest son of his deceased parents, Dominic and Amelia Molella, from Millbrook, New York, Sal passed peacefully in the expert and loving care of Hospice Savannah on January 13, 2018. Sal’s sister Beatrice also predeceased him. Surviving Sal are his brothers Lou and Dominic (Chick), their wives Gerry and Gloria, of Savannah, and numerous loving nieces and nephews, and great nieces and great nephews. Sal was a Korean War era, Marine Veteran, and a member of his local VFW, serving as its Commandant. A retired IBM employee, active in organizing commun ...
William "Bill" Seymour, III - JAN 12, 2018
William Seymour III died January 12, 2018 at Hospice Savannah after a brief illness. Bill was born August 11, 1924, in Chicago, Illinois. He and his wife Thelie retired to the Landings in Savannah in 1988. Bill played several sports in high school and varsity basketball at the University of Michigan. His college education was interrupted by military service in World War II but after discharge from the military he graduated from Michigan with a BS degree in engineering. While in the US Army he was assigned to the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos, New Mexico and worked in plutonium recovery. He ...
Ryan Scott Gatch FEB 17, 1974 - JAN 12, 2018
Ryan Scott Gatch, 43, died Friday, January 12, 2018, at his home following a long illness. Ryan was a native and lifelong resident of Savannah and was a former electrician. Surviving are his mother, Janice Tillman Karrh of Savannah; his father, E. Derrick Gatch of Savannah; his sisters, Tammy Gatch and Allyson Downs and her husband, Jim, all of Savannah; his nephews, Brooks Gatch and Christopher Tuck; and nieces, Morgan Payne and Brooklynn Gatch. Also surviving are a number of aunts, uncles, and cousins all of whom loved him dearly. He was predeceased by his brother, John D. Gatch and his step ...
Robert Powell Cassidy AUG 17, 1932 - JAN 11, 2018
Robert Powell Cassidy, age 85, passed away on Thursday, January 11, 2018 at his home surrounded by his family. Robert was born on August 17, 1932 in Newport News, VA. He was predeceased by his parents Robert Aloysius Cassidy and Virginia Powell Cassidy and his sister Beverly Ann Cassidy. He attended the University of Richmond in Richmond, VA 1955-1958 and graduated from Armstrong State College in Savannah, GA. He also graduated from Georgia Banking School in Athens, GA and The Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers, NJ and received his CFP certification in 1995. Bob started his ban ...
Jerry W. Hobbs JUN 19, 1937 - JAN 10, 2018
Jerry Wayne Hobbs, 80, passed away Wednesday, January 10, 2018 in Savannah, GA. He was born in Searcy, AR, son of Herschel M. and Nell Pinkett Hobbs. In 1960, he received a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Arkansas and in 1967 received a master’s degree in business from the University of Missouri. Mr. Hobbs retired from the telecommunications industry working with Western Electric and AT&T after 30 years of service. They moved to Savannah in 2007. He loved his family, was an avid traveler, enjoyed fishing and was of the Baptist faith. Surviving are his wife of 6 ...
Joyce A. Sharpe - JAN 10, 2018
Joyce A. Sharpe passed away January 10, 2018, peacefully at her home on Skidaway Island at the age of 88. She was born December 1, 1929 in Savannah, GA. She graduated from Savannah High School in 1948 and married her high school sweetheart, Billy. Eleven years later, they had their only child, Tonya. She worked for the Savannah Gas Company for 45 years. Upon retirement, she began flipping houses and opened her own rental business. To many she was Aunt Joyce, but to her grandchildren, she was Nana. She absolutely adored them. She loved spending time with family and hosting Christmas parties, al ...
Dr. Theodora L. Gongaware - JAN 09, 2018
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Theodora Lippitt Gongaware, M.D., F.A.C.P. Dr. Theodora Lippitt Gongaware died peacefully at age 74 on the morning of January 9, 2018. T, as she was known, was a physician, horticulturalist, Episcopalian, sister, mother, dear friend, and an activist in the community of Savannah in which she lived for most of her life. T was born in Baltimore on June 8, 1943, and moved with her family to Savannah in 1951. She attended Charles Ellis Elementary School, Savannah Country Day School, and Rosemary Hall in Connecticut. In true Lippitt fashion, her parents, both doctors, brought everyone, including the ...
Paul J. Canney - JAN 07, 2018
Lt. Col. Paul J. Canney (USAF, Ret.), 85, passed away Sunday, January 7, 2018 at Hospice Savannah, Inc. Lt. Col. Canney retired after 25 of service from the United States Air Force where he served as a RF4C pilot during the Vietnam War. His love and passion for flying continued after his retirement as a pilot instructor with Flight Safety training Gulfstream pilots until he retired in 2016 after 30 years. He was a member of the Savannah Volunteer Guard. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Ann C. Canney of Savannah; his loving family in New Hampshire and his close and dear friends in Savann ...
Lola Ruth "Pat" Ward FEB 26, 1924 - JAN 07, 2018
Lola Ruth “Pat” Ward, 93, died Sunday, January 7, 2018 at her residence surrounded by her family. She was born February 26, 1924 in Golconda, NV to the late Grace Olsen Black. She was a member The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Pat was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother and grandmother. A devoted homemaker, she loved most of all spending time with her family. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles E. Ward and her daughter, Patricia Ruth Ward Kapur. She is survived by her two daughters, Jacquelyn W. Cribbs, (Calvin) and Sandra W. Hutton, (Gregory). She is also ...
Christopher Paul Lanman SEP 15, 1982 - JAN 06, 2018
Christopher Paul Lanman – 35. Our loving son, Chris, passed away unexpectedly Saturday January 6th at his home in Savannah. He is survived by his Father Paul, and Mother Sharon, Step-Father Stewart, Grandfather Paul Sr, Grandmother Madeline, plus many Aunts, Uncles and numerous cousins. He was preceded in death by his Brother Zack, Grandfather Roy and Grandmother Cindy. Chris was born September 15, 1982 in Oklahoma City, OK to Paul and Sharon Lanman. Chris graduated from Salem High School, and then went to work for his dad’s cable company. After living in Atlanta for several years, he moved ...
Marjorie S. Finley FEB 28, 1940 - JAN 05, 2018
Marjorie S. Finley, 77, died Friday, January 5, 2018, at her home surrounded by her loving family. A native and lifelong resident of Savannah, she retired from Parker’s after 14 years of service. Surviving are her children, Cheryl Moore (Donnie), Douglas Finley, and Lonnie Finley (Becky); 1 sister, Marie Raum; 1 brother, Brooks Smith, Jr.; 8 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm at Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel. The funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, Jan ...
Col. Robert E. Kleber JUL 07, 1935 - JAN 04, 2018
COL (US Army Retired) Robert Eugene Kleber, aged 82, died on Thursday, January 4, 2018 at Candler Hospital, surrounded by family. He died of complications of COPD, a condition he battled for 15 years. He was born in Buffalo, New York in 1935, the youngest of 8 children to Edward Charles and Laurian Zettel Kleber. The family moved to Massachusetts and was raised in Winchester where he met his wife Ruth Kleber. A graduate of Boston College, he entered the service in 1958 under the ROTC program as a 2nd LT, Medical Service Corp. Subsequent tours took him and his family to Texas, Oklahoma, Ala ...
Deborah Lea Farmer FEB 21, 1955 - JAN 03, 2018
Deborah Lea Farmer, 62, passed away Wednesday, January 3, 3018 at the home of her cousin Tanya Farmer Morrison in Savannah, GA. Deborah, a child of a military father was born in Osaka, Japan to Forester Ray “F.R.” and Dorothy Farmer. At the age of four, her family returned to the states settling in Martinez, GA. She was a graduate of the University of Kentucky and the Medical College of Georgia. During her entire nursing career, Deborah was a passionate and dedicated medical professional working in the field of psychiatry nursing. While living in Clayton, NC, Deborah was affiliated with Dix ...
Melrose Deloach Cole Collins MAY 19, 1926 - JAN 03, 2018
Savannah - Melrose Deloach Cole Collins, 91, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 3, 2018, at her home surrounded by her family. Born on May 19, 1926 in Bulloch County, Georgia, she had lived in Savannah for most of her life. She was preceded in death by her parents, Herbert and Anna Byrd Deloach; her husband, Prince “Jack” Collins, Jr.; sisters, Eloise Moss (Charlie) and Ruby Gravenstine (Eddie); and a brother, James Deloach (Jerri). Surviving are her sister, Claudine Alwine (Ron); her daughter, Debbie Pagan (Tony); two granddaughters, Lori Parrish (Andy) and Christy Hester (James); a ...
Juanita Rose Cole Potter MAR 09, 1925 - JAN 02, 2018
JUANITA ROSE COLE POTTER Her spirit returned to her natural home with the Lord on January 2, 2018. She was born in 1925 in Waycross, GA to Louis H. and M. Louise Lanier Cole. in 1925, however, the family moved to Savannah when she was a baby where she remained the rest of her life. She married Alvis Potter before he shipped out for the South Pacific during WWII and their union lasted 60+ years. She taught children in Sunday School for Memorial Baptist Church for many years, and later became an active member of Coastal Christian Church for over 30 years where she became a spiritual mother to m ...
Thomas "Tommy" Michael Sampson JUN 15, 1990 - JAN 01, 2018
Thomas Michael Sampson, 27, died suddenly on January 1, 2018 at Memorial Hospital. He died peacefully with his loving family at his side. Tommy worked as a bartender for Chart House Restaurant, where he adored his co-workers, boss, and patrons. He had extraordinary people skills and a huge, friendly, loving personality. He truly loved engaging with people and found something to like and admire in everyone he met. To be with Tommy was to laugh with Tommy. He was the personification of a good time. He prided himself on the positive, calming influence he brought to help resolve conflicts. ...
John "Sammy" Moore JUL 06, 1951 - JAN 01, 2018
John Samuel (Sammy) Moore, born in Savannah, Georgia, on July 6, 1951, died at home on the first day of the year 2018, after a prolonged battle with prostate cancer. The son of Harriet Josephine Reynolds and Howard Lee Moore, Sr., he is survived by a brother, Howard Lee Moore, Jr., and more cousins than anyone but Sammy could count. Sammy graduated from Jenkins High School in 1969 and went on to attend college at both the University of Georgia and Armstrong State University. His richly varied work history included several years as an orderly in the emergency room at Memorial hospital and a sti ...
Richard William Hunter OCT 16, 1921 - DEC 31, 2017
Richard William Hunter died December 31, 2017 at the Summer Breeze Retirement Home surrounded by family. He was born 16 October, 1921 in Michigan and lived most of his life in Lake Orion, Michigan before retiring from National Twist Drill in 1982. He moved to Florida so he could play golf every day – first in Fort Lauderdale and then at The Villages. He and his wife moved to Savannah, Georgia in 2014 to be near family. He was a World War II veteran serving in the Army Air Corp. He is survived by his wife, Jackeline Hunter; three children Dr. Gary Hunter of Birmingham, Alabama, Diana Keck (S ...
Harry Louis Sniffen, Jr. JUN 30, 1923 - DEC 30, 2017
Harry Louis Sniffen of Savannah, Georgia, passed away on December 30, 2017. He was born June 30, 1923 to Harry and Amy Sniffen in Monticello, NY. He graduated from Monticello High School in 1941. That same year he was employed by Brown Brothers Harriman, private bankers, in New York City. In 1942 Harry enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving in the Pacific and receiving the Purple Heart on Okinawa. He was recalled by the Marine Corps during the Korean War. Harry was employed by the New York Telephone Co. (Verizon) for 36 years, serving in various positions and locations throughout ...
Dana Graham Wodkowski JAN 16, 1970 - DEC 30, 2017
Dana Graham Wodkowski, 47, succumbed to Huntington’s Disease on Saturday, December 30, 2017. A strong and determined woman to the end, she fought a valiant battle. Though her fortitude came as no surprise to those who knew her, as she always had a fierce tenacity for life. A successful graduate of the University of Georgia, Dana completed her Bachelor’s of Science degree in psychology. She was also active in Greek life as a Kappa Delta. Moreover, campus is where she re-established her connection with her future husband Michael Wodkowski, who she met in high school. Her smile could command ...
Terri Johnson Gilliam AUG 19, 1955 - DEC 29, 2017
Terri Lynn Johnson Gilliam, 62, passed away Friday, December 29, 2017 at her residence. She was born August 19, 1955 in Swainsboro, GA to the late Ray and Marjorie Sherrod Johnson. Terri attended Tabernacle Baptist Church. She is survived by two daughters, Amy Smart and her husband Jerry, and Jessica Dovich, one sister, Karen Jones and her husband Darrel, one brother, Mike Johnson, three grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and one nephew Matthew Jones. A Memorial Service will be 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 2, 2018 at Fox & Weeks, Hodgson Chapel. ...
LCPL Cesar Bautista NOV 22, 1991 - DEC 26, 2017
Cesar was a son, a brother, and a friend. He was born in Lima, Peru on November 22, 1991. He moved to Miami, Florida at age 11 and attended Kinloch Park Elementary and Middle School. He also attended Sebastian Middle School for about 1 year in St. Augustine, Florida and then to Mercer Middle School in Garden City, Georgia. He also went to R. Groves High School next to Mercer Middle School. After graduating from high school in 2010, he started working as a construction helper and as the job was too hard, he then worked part time at Cross Road Center (CRC) as manager and studied at South Univer ...
Lucille Ginter Shubeck - DEC 26, 2017
Lucille Wingfield Shubeck, (85), died December 26, 2017 at her home on Skidaway Island under the care of Hospice Savannah, surrounded by her husband, Don Shubeck and daughter, Wendy Bahnsen. Lucille was born on April 19, 1932 in New Haven, CT and lived in New Haven and Glastonbury for most of her life before moving to Savannah GA. She lived on Skidaway Island for more than 23 years. Lucille went to college at Southern Connecticut to study education. She is a retired teacher and taught first grade in the Manchester school system for 35 years. She was very involved with her community in both C ...
Geraldine F. Wheeler APR 23, 1923 - DEC 26, 2017
Geraldine F. Wheeler, 94, of Savannah, GA passed away Tuesday morning December 26, 2017 at The Effingham Care Center in Springfield, GA. She was born on Billy’s Island near Waycross, GA where her father worked as a lumberjack. She worked in the shipyards in Savannah during WWII. She later worked as a legal secretary and her last job was with WTOC TV when the station first opened in Savannah. She was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Ascension. She was also very active in the PTA and other groups in the Isle of Hope community. Gerri’s gracious personality was reflected in h ...
Mary Elinor Tuttle Coker JUN 30, 1929 - DEC 25, 2017
Elinor Coker Mary Elinor Tuttle Coker, 88 years old, died December 25, 2017 at Memorial Medical Center. She was born in Screven County and graduated from Newington High School. She graduated from Georgia Baptist Hospital School of Nursing in Atlanta, Georgia, where she met her husband Jo Coker. They moved to Savannah in 1951. They were married for 46 years until his death in 1997. She was a devoted member of Isle of Hope United Methodist Church. She is survived by her sister, Wynette Cail of Columbus, GA; her daughters and sons in law Tina and Paul Agrilla and Lisa and Michael McCarthy of Sa ...
Andrew "Jay" Isbell - DEC 24, 2017
Andrew (Jay) Isbell passed away at his residence on Wilmington Island on December 24, 2017, under the care of Hospice. He was 92 years old. Born in Albertville AL, he attended school there until his enlistment in the Navy during World War II. After his discharge he attended Athens College in Athens, AL where he met his wife, Marian Mason of Union, Mississippi. He complete his Bachelor’s in Education at Jacksonville State University, in Jacksonville AL and later his Masters in School Administration from the Peabody College at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. He was an avid University of ...