Obituaries
Harold Nease - JAN 21, 2018
Harold Ray Nease passed peacefully on Sunday, January 21, 2018 surrounded by his beloved family. He was 82 years young. Ray was one of the most memorable natives Savannah has ever had. The youngest of seven children, he attended Savannah High School where he was a member of the ROTC, as well as a trumpet player in the band. After graduating in 1955, he joined the Air Force, where he ranked as a sergeant. After basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio,Texas he was stationed at Homestead Air Force Base in Florida, Guam, Greenland, and Japan. After the Air Force his career took hi ...
Michael M. Sancomb, Jr. JUL 20, 1963 - JAN 21, 2018
Michael Moore Sancomb, Jr., 54, passed away Sunday, January 21, 2018 at Memorial University Medical Center after a short illness. He was born July 20, 1963 in Savannah, and worked along with his father at Tidewater Boatworks. He is survived by his son, Michael Moore Sancomb, III, of Savannah, his mother, Shirley Rotureau Sancomb, of Savannah, two sisters, Daina Sheffield and her husband Christopher, of Savannah, and Sharon Ballinger and her husband Joe, of Helen, GA, and also numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Visitation will be 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Thursday, January 25, 2018 at Fox & We ...
Daryl Robert Lusk, Sr. SEP 29, 1956 - JAN 21, 2018
Command Sergeant Major (Retired) Daryl Robert Lusk Sr., 61, passed away peacefully January 21, 2018 surrounded by his family at home under the care of hospice. Daryl was born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania on September 29, 1956 to Genevieve Smith. As an Army brat, he grew up at numerous Army posts in the United States and Europe. He entered the Army in October 1975 and served his country honorably for 32 years. He participated in numerous combat and contingency operations throughout his distinguished career including Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, Bosnia, and ...
Henry Dana Stevens, III FEB 14, 1921 - JAN 20, 2018
Henry Dana Stevens III, 96, died peacefully at home on Saturday, the 20th of January. Henry was known to his family and friends as a kind gentle man who carried himself with grace and character. Henry was born February 14, 1921. He was the son of the late H. Dana Stevens Jr. and Eliza Lamar Hull. He was born in Savannah and was a lifelong resident. He attended Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia, and Georgia Tech. He was a veteran of World War II. He graduated from the Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia, was commissioned a second Lieutenant and was a member of the 776th Amphibian ...
Clifford L. Heaslip, Jr. MAR 29, 1927 - JAN 19, 2018
Clifford Leslie Heaslip Jr. peacefully died January 19, 2018 at Memorial Hospital, Savannah, GA after a very brief illness. He was born on March 29, 1927 in Yonkers, NY to Clifford and Frances Heaslip and graduated from Roosevelt High School. He served in the Army as part of the occupation forces in Paris and graduated from Colgate University in 1950, where he was a member of Sigma Chi, leader of the Colgate 13, and member of Konosioni Honor Society. He married Meredith Jones of Bradley Beach NJ in 1951. Upon graduation he was employed by Sealright Packaging Company, where he worked for 31 yea ...
Bessie Deal O'Berry APR 07, 1930 - JAN 18, 2018
Bessie Deal O'Berry, 87, passed peacefully at her home January 18, 2018 with her nephew Jerald at her side. She and her husband Lester owned O'Berry trucking company in Savannah until his death in 1993. Bessie was a devout Catholic and member of Sacred Heart since 1952. Never having children of her own she doted on her nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband Lester E. O'Berry, and 7 siblings. Surviving is one sister Bonnie Phillips of Port Wentworth, and several nieces and nephews, to note, Jerald Phillips of Rincon Ga, Linda Richey of Lakeland FL and Angie Deal of Savannah ...
Sharon Holleman Akers OCT 29, 1943 - JAN 18, 2018
Sharon Holleman Akers, 74, of Tybee Island, Georgia, passed away Thursday morning, January 18h, 2018. She was born in Byron, Georgia, to Cliff Holleman and Frances Hudson Holleman and was their youngest child. In 1961, she married Russell Akers of Byron, Georgia. They were married for 57 years. Sharon was retired from the Henry County Sheriff’s Office with 33 years serving the citizens of Henry County in both Sheriff’s Office and Police Department positions. She held the unique distinctions of being the first female deputy in the Henry County Sheriff’s Office and the first female superior offi ...
Margaret Vandivere Warren FEB 12, 1915 - JAN 17, 2018
Margaret Vandivere Warren, 102, passed away Wednesday, January 17, 2018. She was born in Macon, Georgia, daughter of Joseph Alfred Vandivere and Margaret Purcell Shipman Vandivere. From the age of two Mrs. Warren was a lifelong resident of Savannah and retired from CSX Railroad formerly known as Seaboard Coastline Railroad after 27 years. She was formerly a member of Calvary Baptist Temple. Her husband, Linton Edwin Warren of Pulaski, GA and sisters, Dorothy V. Ringwald and Mary V. Johnson preceded her in death. Surviving are her son, Joseph Vandivere Warren and his wife, Carolyn of Pinehu ...
Jerdon Oliver (J.O.) Brown OCT 22, 1925 - JAN 17, 2018
Jerdon Oliver (J.O.) Brown died peacefully at his home on January 17, 2018 surrounded by his wife and children. He was 92 years old. Originally from Soperton, GA his family moved when he was young to Savannah, GA and he remained there for the rest of his life. That isn't to say he didn't see the world. When the United States entered World War II he enlisted in the Merchant Marines, serving from 1942-1946. During this time he visited numerous foreign places and most of Europe. When he returned home he went to work for International Paper, retiring in 1985 after 45 years with the company. ...
Dr. Jack F. Meeker JUL 11, 1927 - JAN 16, 2018
Dr. Jack F. Meeker, 90, 7-11-27 to 1-16-18. Passed away at the Oaks on Skidaway Island. He was born in Cleveland Ohio and moved to Detroit Michigan to live with Rhea and Carl Bloch, his aunt and uncle when he was eleven. He played on his high school championship basketball team, was president of the National Honor Society and president of his high school graduating class. Jack attended Wayne State University for his under-graduate degree and went to medical school in Chicago. While in medical school he married Jean M. Wright in 1950. Jack and Jean had two daughters Pamela Cooper and Karla Gold ...
Edward O. Bundy MAR 19, 1944 - JAN 16, 2018
Edward O. Bundy, 73, passed away Tuesday, January 16, 2018 at St. Joseph’s Hospital surrounded by his family. He was born in Berkley, California, son of Edward A. and Evelyn E. Bundy. He grew up near Chicago, IL and attended Bradley University. In 1982, Mr. Bundy moved to Savannah where he was a Real Estate Agent with the Landings Company for 34 years. During his time in real estate, he was recognized and received numerous awards. He retired in 2016. Mr. Bundy was a member of Skidaway Island Presbyterian Church. His former wife, Lynn Bundy preceded him in death. Surviving are his child ...
Bernice Andrews Waters JAN 23, 1927 - JAN 16, 2018
Bernice Andrews Waters of Savannah, 90, widow of James H. Waters, died Tuesday, January 16, 2018. A native of Tattnall County, Georgia, she was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. After graduating from Metter High School in 1944, she moved to Savannah, where she graduated from the Draughon’s Business College. She met and married returning Army World War II combat veteran James H. Waters. They were married for 40 years until his death in 1988. Mrs. Waters worked at the Savannah Public Library for almost 30 years, and was devoted to her sons’ education. Most days she woul ...
Rose vonWaldner Sims JUL 11, 1925 - JAN 15, 2018
Rose vonWaldner Sims, 92, died on January 15, 2018, at Hospice Savannah. Born July 11, 1925, in Savannah, GA, Rose lived her whole life in Savannah. Rose attended Commercial High School. She married Luke Hampton Sims, Sr., on September 9, 1942. She raised a wonderful family, drove a bus for St. James Catholic School, and played in a bowling league for many years. She and her husband were strong supporters of Bethesda Home for Boys, where Luke lived from the age of 9 until 18. Rose was preceded in death by her beloved husband Luke Sr., son Luke Jr., grandson Russ, and son-in-law Shealy. Sh ...
Sidney Lanier Houser - JAN 14, 2018
Sidney Lanier Houser, 77, passed away Sunday, January 14, 2018 at Memorial University Medical Center. He was born October 8, 1940 in Orangeburg, SC to the late T. Norwood and Cornelia Culler Houser. Sidney was a 1964 graduate of Clemson University. He retired from Swift & Company after 30 years of service and also worked for CarMax for 11 years. He attended Compassion Christian Church. Surviving are his wife of 48 years Linda Warren Houser of Savannah, one son, Christopher W. Houser of Savannah, one brother, T.N. “Nordie” Houser, Jr. of Orangeburg, SC, one sister, Mary Neal Plyler of Green ...
Lee T. Ellis, Jr. APR 15, 1945 - JAN 13, 2018
Lee T. Ellis, Jr., age 72, died on January 13, 2018 in Savannah, Georgia, after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was preceded in death by his parents Ellen and Lee Ellis, and his wife of 48 years, Paula. He is survived by daughters Lynn Hency of St. Louis and Louisa Gorton of Denver and their husbands Bill and Dan, grandchildren Julia and Billy Hency and Olivia and Audrey Gorton. Also, he is survived by a sister, Jayne Shaver of Midlothian, Virginia, and her husband Kevin. He was god father to Arthur Schweitzer of Alexandria, Virginia, and Michael Shaver, active duty United States Navy, Graysl ...
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 ...