Obituaries
Robert Michael Miller JUL 20, 1952 - JAN 11, 2016
Robert Michael Miller, 63, died Monday, January 11, 2016. He was born July 20, 1952 in Warner Robins, GA to Robert G. and Edith Hobbs Miller. Robert retired from the U.S. Army as a helicopter pilot where he served in the Gulf War. Surviving are his two sons, Russell Miller and Benjamin Miller, his two grandsons, Atlas and Maverick Miller, his ex-wife, Janet Baldwin, one brother, Steve Miller, and two sisters, Rhonda Burkhart, and Rita Miller. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, January 16, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at Fox & Weeks, Hodgson Chapel. Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson ...
Catherine Martin Grayson NOV 19, 1955 - JAN 11, 2016
Catherine Martin Grayson, 59, passed away Monday, January 11, 2016 at her residence. Cathy was born in New Orleans and raised in Savannah. She was married to her soul mate, Jimmy Grayson for forty years. Cathy worked in the food service industry at different locations throughout Savannah and was affectionately known as the “Biscuit Lady” at Chic-Fil-A on Mall Blvd. She was currently working at Walmart in Pooler. Cathy and her husband were long time members of the Moose Lodge #1550. She loved animals and playing games on her computer. Most recently she was attending Heaven Bound Baptist Church. ...
Jacqueline Underwood Beasley SEP 25, 1938 - JAN 11, 2016
Jacqueline Louise (Underwood) Beasley, known by most as “Memaw” or “Jackie”, born September 25, 1938 in Savannah, Ga., went to be with our Lord and Savior on January 11, 2016. Her spirit is carried on through her husband, Reginald Alvis Beasley, of 59 years, her 3 children, and 8 grandchildren. She will always be remembered by her wonderful hospitality, great cooking and “memawisms”. We have learned many valuable lessons from her over the years. Always throw salt over your shoulder for good luck, tell those you love them at every opportunity, put a wooden spoon over a spot of boiling water to ...
Eddie G. Chieves OCT 28, 1934 - JAN 11, 2016
Mr. Eddie G. Chieves of Savannah GA died Monday January 11, 2016 of heart failure at the age of 81 at St. Joseph's/Candler Hospital in Savannah. He was surrounded by his family at the time of his death. He was born on October 28, 1934 in Tallapoosa, Haralson County Georgia to parents Paul Herston Chieves and Mary Ruth (Chambers) Chieves. He was a graduate of Talladega High School as well as the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. He resided in various areas of Alabama including Talladega, Leeds, Birmingham, and Tuscaloosa as well as Lilburn and Savannah GA. He worked as an engineer in the pul ...
Martha LeBey Lassiter AUG 01, 1929 - JAN 10, 2016
Martha Lebey Lassiter, 86, passed away Sunday January 10th 2016. Martha “Marty” a life-long resident was born in Savannah August 1st 1929 to Charles Andreu and Amy Gnann Lebey. She graduated from Savannah High School, Attended Salem College, then graduated from Newberry College summa cum laude as a music major in 1950. She was very active with her kids and school as member of the PTA. She taught piano lessons and enjoyed her kids and all their friends. Martha grew up with her sister Naomi Gnann LeBey on the Vernon River, loved shrimping, crabbing, boating and had all her children swimming earl ...
Richard Thomas Robida FEB 13, 1942 - JAN 10, 2016
Richard Thomas (“Rick”) Robida, 73, of Savannah, Georgia, passed away Sunday, January 10, 2016. Proud Canadian and naturalized U.S. citizen, Rick was born February 13, 1942 in Merritton, Ontario. He worked in Toronto and Atlanta as a banking executive with ScotiaBank, Visa Canada, and First Data Corporation. Upon retiring to Beaufort, South Carolina, he turned to his beloved pastime of Drum Corps - marching with dear friends for the storied Toronto Optimists and Hawthorne Caballeros, and serving on the Board of Drum Corps International. He was generous with friends and family and enjoyed playi ...
Luilene NeSmith Gillis - JAN 10, 2016
Luilene NeSmith Gillis, 92, passed away Saturday, January 10, 2016 at the Habersham House. Mrs. Gillis was a born in Nevils, Georgia, daughter of Robert Buie NeSmith and Melrose Futch NeSmith. She lived in Savannah most of her life and was a homemaker. Mrs. Gillis devoted herself to her family as a loving and caring wife, mother and grandmother. She was preceded in death by her husband, Eulene Ray Gillis and son, Hal Ray Gillis. Surviving are two sons, Kirk Gillis (Kim) of Moore, SC; Robert Gillis (Delores) of Augusta, GA; grandchildren, Kelley, Carly and Cole Gillis. A graveside service will ...
Alexander Arthur Lucas MAY 20, 1989 - JAN 09, 2016
Savannah- Alexander Arthur Lucas, 26, passed away suddenly from injuries sustained in an accident January 9, 2016. Alex was born in Lafayette, LA and lived in Savannah most of his life. He worked as an automobile mechanic and was a member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. He was preceded in death by his father, Michael Arthur Lucas. Alex is survived by his mother, Wanda Parrish Lucas, eight siblings and their partners; David Lucas (Loni), Janie Smith (Thomas), Rebecca Lentz (Kenneth), Susan Lucas (Janet), Kimberly Lucas (Bryan Mercier), Anthony Lucas, William Lucas, Phillip Lucas, nieces and ne ...
John Lawson Mabry MAY 16, 1942 - JAN 06, 2016
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC - John Lawson Mabry, 73, passed away on January 6, 2016 after a long battle with cancer. He served in the United States Air Force for twenty years, including three tours in Vietnam. Later in his career he flew Presidential support missions and out of Country primary aid flights. He later lived in Saudi Arabia with his family for seven years while he flew for Saudi Arabian Airlines. His plane was once hijacked by a Syrian separatist who demanded to be taken to Stockholm. The plane did not have sufficient fuel and landed in Turkey and was immediately surrounded by the Turk ...
Coralie Hinely Kelly - JAN 06, 2016
Coralie Hinely Kelly, 93, died Wednesday, January 6, 2016 under the care of Iredell County Hospice at Brian Center in Mooresville, NC. She was born in Savannah on September 25, 1922 to the late Violet Kessler Hinely and Lionel Earl Hinely. She was married for 70 years to William Lloyd Kelly, Jr. of Savannah, a WWII veteran. Having worked for five years as a young secretary for two insurance businesses, Coralie was a homemaker who was active in organizations in which her three children participated, as well as Calvary Baptist and later Bull Street Baptist churches. She was a pink lady volun ...
Shirley Ann Cogdell FEB 03, 1923 - JAN 05, 2016
Shirley Anita Torbert Cogdell, 92, died Tuesday, January 5, 2016, under the care of Hospice Savannah. Mrs. Cogdell was born in Society Hill, AL on February 3, 1923, the daughter of the late John Floyd and Ada Jennings Cline Torbert. Mrs. Cogdell was a longtime member of Grace United Methodist Church, where she served as a children’s Sunday School teacher for several years as well as a co-founder and teacher of the Spiritual Seekers Sunday School Class. With her love of crafts, she was a vital contributor to the annual Grace Fall Festival. She was a member and president of the Kensington P ...
Lila Crout Kilpatrick JUL 06, 1936 - JAN 05, 2016
Lila Crout Kilpatrick, 79, died at St. Joseph's Hospital surrounded by her daughters and family on January 5th, 2016. She was born in Edgefield, SC, and lived in Savannah for most of her life before moving to Richmond Hill, GA. Lila graduated from Draughn's Business College, and was employed until retirement at Thunderbolt Elementary School as Secretary. Her desk collected hundreds of school photos from the children she loved, whose hair she fixed, hurts she consoled, and triumphs she cheered. Lila was a Christ follower and active servant at First Baptist Church of Richmond Hill. She was a car ...
Simon Cols - JAN 05, 2016
Simon Cols, 92, faithful and loving husband of 66 years to Mary Ellen (Trotter) Cols, passed away peacefully at the Hospice of Savannah on January 5, 2016, after a period of declining health. Simon was born in Antwerp, Belgium, the second of six children of Albert Cols and Anne Stoopen Cols. He attended college in Liège, Belgium, and General Motors Institute in Flint, MI, where he met the love of his life, Mary Ellen Trotter. They were married on August 6, 1949, and went to live in Antwerp. They moved back to Flint in 1958 and then to Emerson NJ, San Juan PR, Harpenden UK, and Centerville OH, ...
Marsha Elizabeth Bertran FEB 27, 1955 - JAN 04, 2016
SAVANNAH - Marsha Elizabeth Bertran, age 60, passed away peacefully on the evening of Monday, January 4, 2016, at Hospice Savannah. Marsha was born on February 27, 1955, to parents William and Dorothy (Haynes) Ware in Chattanooga, TN. With her parents and older brother John, she relocated to Tampa, FL, where she grew up and then later met the love of her life, Tony Bertran. After a mutual relocation, they married & settled in Mansfield, TX on September 4, 1982. Together they had their only daughter Stephanie, whom Marsha affectionately called “Stephie”. She received great joy in caring for ...
Lindsay Whitfield Smith FEB 22, 1974 - JAN 04, 2016
Lindsay Whitfield Smith, 41, passed away Monday, January 4, 2016 at Memorial University Medical Center after a long courageous battle with brain cancer. Lindsay was born February 22, 1974 in Savannah and was a 1992 graduate of Savannah Christian Preparatory School, and a 1997 graduate of Armstrong State University. She attended Community Bible Church, and was co-owner of Websmith. Lindsay is survived by her husband, Daniel F. Smith, daughter, Lillian Blythe Smith, parents, Richard and Jill Whitfield, sister and brother-in-law, Raegan and Tayloe Highsmith, and her grandmother, Orie Louis Futch, ...
Bishop Raymond W. Lessard DEC 21, 1930 - JAN 03, 2016
Bishop Raymond W. Lessard, 85, Bishop Emeritus of Savannah, died January 3 at his residence in Boynton Beach, Florida. Bishop Lessard served as Catholic Bishop of Savannah for 22 years from 1973 to 1995. When health reasons made it difficult for him to travel the 37,000 square miles of the Diocese, he retired as Bishop of Savannah and began almost 20 years of service as a spiritual director and professor of ecclesiology at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach. Born in Oakwood, North Dakota, Bishop Lessard was ordained to the priesthood at the Pontifical North American College ...
Jean Sweat Hoover MAR 23, 1932 - JAN 02, 2016
Jean S. Hoover, devoted wife, mother and grandmother, died January 2nd at St. Joseph’s Hospital after a short illness. She was 83. She was preceded in death by her parents David Braxton Sweat, Norwood R. Graham and Bernice Graham; her husband Edward A. (Ted) Hoover; and her eldest son, Ted, Jr. Jean was born and grew up in Charleston, SC. There she met her husband Ted and they were married for 64 years. She moved to Atlanta with Ted and their two young sons in 1959. While occasionally substitute teaching, she spent her time and energy raising her two boys “the old fashioned way.” In 1973 th ...
Thomas Clinton Davis AUG 24, 1935 - JAN 02, 2016
Thomas Clinton Davis, 80, passed away on Saturday, January 2, 2016. He was a native Savannahian who served in the U.S. Army. Mr. Davis retired from CSX Railroad after 51 years of loyal and dedicated service as a conductor. Survivors include his wife of 38 years, Martha Hogan Davis of Savannah, Georgia; one son, Thomas Clinton Davis, Jr. of Savannah, Georgia; one brother, Herbert Delano Davis (Margaret Ann), two sisters, Virginia Davis Mavrikas, and Ann Davis Dubose, all of Savannah, and several nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, January 5, 2016 at Fir ...
Margaret Pacifici JAN 07, 1950 - JAN 01, 2016
Savannah- Margaret Pacifici, 65, passed away at her home on Friday, January 1, 2016 after a two year battle with cancer. Margaret was the sixth of eight children of the late Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Pacifici. She was born on January 7, 1950 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Savannah, Georgia. She was a member of the St. Vincent’s Academy class of 1968. She attended St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing which was then affiliated with Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia, and graduated in 1971. After graduation she worked for St. Joseph’s Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. She later returned home, and ...
Christa Clausen Tear OCT 24, 1939 - DEC 31, 2015
Christa Clausen Tear, 76, of Marietta, GA, passed away December 31, 2015. She was born in Atlanta, GA to parents, Adaline Sample and Carl Gustav Clausen on October 24, 1939. She was preceded in death by her husband, Col. Harry Raymond Tear, Jr. She graduated from Ashley Hall in Charleston, where she met Harry while he attended The Citadel. Mrs. Tear enjoyed traveling the world as the wife of an Army Officer but returned to her beloved hometown, Savannah, upon retirement. She was a past president of the Junior League in Hawaii and a member of St. John's Episcopal Church. She is survived by: so ...
Robert F. Sullivan JUN 19, 1964 - DEC 30, 2015
Robert F. Sullivan, 51, died December 30, 2015 after a long illness. Robert is survived by his wife, Wynn; a daughter, Mallory; a son, Julian; his brothers, Edward, Charlton (Gayle) and Thomas (Pam); and many other relatives. A funeral service will be held Monday, January 4, 2016, at 1:00 p.m. at Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends from 12:00 p.m. until 1:00 p.m. Pallbearers will be Mickey Rountree, Michael Drabek, Hunter Lupton, Gary Hodges, Carl Hutchison, and Chet Carter. The family will be forever grateful to Dr. Grant Lewis for his care and dedicatio ...
F. Vreeland George, Jr. JUL 14, 1924 - DEC 30, 2015
Frank Vreeland George, Jr. passed away at Savannah Squares under the care of Spanish Oaks Hospice. He was born on July 14, 1924 in Savannah, Ga. to Frank V. and Martha George. He graduated from Savannah High School in 1942. He joined the Marine Corps in February 1943 and served with the Marine Air Group 24, VMSB 241 dive-bomber squadron in the Western Pacific Theater during WWII, received the Distinguished Flying Cross, several Air Medals and other awards. Vreeland was recalled to active duty in 1950 with the Marine Corps for the Korean War. In 1951, he served as a Drill Instructor at Parris I ...
William Wallace Sprague, Jr. NOV 11, 1926 - DEC 30, 2015
SAVANNAH - William Wallace Sprague, Jr, 89, died peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on December 30, 2015. He was born on Nov 11, 1926 at Mary Telfair Hospital to William Wallace Sprague and Mary Swan Crowther Sprague. He was educated at St Paul’s School in Concord New Hampshire, served for two years with United States Navy at the end of WWII, and completed his education at MIT and Yale with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 1950. He was Chairman of the Board and CEO of Savannah Foods and Industries, makers of Dixie Crystals sugar, from 1972 to 1994. Under his leadership Savan ...
Dana Ford Everiss AUG 14, 1935 - DEC 29, 2015
SAVANNAH – Dana Ford Everiss, 80, died Tuesday, December 29, 2015, in Savannah. Born in Jacksonville, FL in 1935, she was the daughter of the late Carroll and Leone Ford. Dana graduated from Savannah High School and the University of Georgia and also received a degree from Kennesaw State College. A former resident of Ellijay, GA, she taught school in the Fulton County School System. She was a Master Gardener and also raised and showed German Shepherds. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Walter Everiss and her brother, Bruce P. Ford, Sr. Surviving are her nephew, Br ...
Olin Thompson "T" Smith OCT 11, 1937 - DEC 28, 2015
SAVANNAH - Olin Thompson Smith, also known as “T” Smith, 78, died Monday, December 28, 2015 after a decade-long neurological illness. As the son of the late Julius Angus and Carolyn Olin Thompson Smith, he was a fourth generation Savannahian. “T” was preceded in death by his wife, Ann Davidson Smith and his son Julius Angus Smith. He is survived by his son Tye Davidson Smith, grandsons Tyler Brook Smith and Jonathan Davidson Smith, sister, Gina Smith Sunderland and brother-in-law William Irwin Sunderland, nephews Holden Thompson Hayes and Mose Sim Hayes III (Trey), nieces-in-law Caroline Quarl ...
Jon Mett DEC 13, 1943 - DEC 27, 2015
Jon Hughes Mett, 72, of Savannah passed away on Sunday, December 27th under the care of Hospice Savannah surrounded by his family and favorite dog, Hunter. He was born on December 13th, 1943 to John and Viola Mett in Milwaukee, WI. Jon married Carol Mallard on May 20, 1995 which joined their lives in an enduring journey as soul mates. Jon graduated from La Puente High School (CA) in 1960 where he excelled in water polo and the clarinet; thereafter, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, and served for 6 years while stationed in Germany. Jon, spent much of his working career with General Telephone (CA) ...