Obituaries
Jimmy Valenzuela Velez JAN 31, 1944 - DEC 16, 2023
Jimmy Valenzuela Velez, 79, died peacefully in his home on Saturday, December 16, 2023. Jimmy was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico on January 31, 1944, to Teofilo and Luz Maria (Velez) Valenzuela; he was one of many siblings. After Jimmy graduated high school, he joined the United States Army. Serving through multiple wars and conflicts, Jimmy was a proud Master Sergeant when he retired after 36 years. On January 9, 1981, Jimmy married Guiselle Venegas in Lawton, Oklahoma, and they raised four children together. He loved to dance to salsa and country music. After his retirement, he could be fo ...
Dr. Harvey "Happy Jack" Murphy - DEC 15, 2023
Harvey “Happy Jack” Murphy March 27, 1937-December 15, 2023 Savannah surgeon Harvey “Jack” Murphy, who passed into eternity on December 15, 2023 from metastatic pancreatic cancer, lived a remarkable, full, and complete life. Jack was born on March 27, 1937 in his family’s mountain cabin in Pendergrass, Jackson County, Georgia. The oldest child of Groze Murphy and Fannie Lou Ellis Murphy, brother to Jon, Jo and Chipper Murphy, Jack lived in Jackson County unt ...
Phyllis Sica Brown - DEC 15, 2023
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Phyllis Sica Brown, who peacefully departed this life on Friday, December 15, 2023, at the age of 83. Phyllis, born in Hartford, Connecticut, was the cherished firstborn of Francis Nelligan Camilarri and William Sica. Phyllis dedicated a significant portion of her life in service to her community. Her professional journey included roles at the Hartford Police Department and Aetna, but her most cherished role was that of a devoted and loving stay-at-home mother to her two daughters. Her spiritual journey was equally profound. Phyllis ...
John R. Wetherbee - DEC 14, 2023
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Longtime WTOC meteorologist John Wetherbee died Thursday morning, December 14, 2023. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 6, 2024 at Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist with Monsignor Gerard Schreck celebrating. ...
Anne Wattles Constantine JAN 19, 1950 - DEC 14, 2023
Anne Pepper (Wattles) Constantine, of Savannah, Georgia, 73, a retired teacher, reading specialist, and devoted servant of her Lord Jesus Christ, died on December 14, 2023, at Buckingham South Assisted Living in Savannah, Georgia. Anne was born on January 19, 1950, in Charles Town, West Virginia. Her parents were Walter Commons Wattles and Eugenia Kendall (Pepper) Wattles. “Anne Pepper” or “Anne Pep,” as her Father affectionately called her, lived the majority of her life in Atlanta, Georgia, until Anne and her husband Robert retired to h ...
Mary Fulton Finocchiaro - DEC 13, 2023
Mary Fulton Finocchiaro ,94, passed away peacefully on December 13, 2023. She was born March 30,1929 to Thomas and Dolores Fulton. She was predeceased by her brother Tom, another brother David, a granddaughter, Theresa, and her beloved husband Frank Finocchiaro. She is survived by her children, Thomas A Finocchiaro (Melanie), Michael D Finocchiaro (Pam), Mary F Sweeney (Neal) and Ann F LaRossa, her grandchildren Christina Gill (Matt), Maria Finocchiaro, David Finocchiaro (Lauren), Monica Yeckley (Ty), Daniel Sweeney (Stephanie), Clare VanMeter (Browning), Moira Roberts (Sea ...
Michael Emmett Brewer - DEC 12, 2023
Michael Emmett Brewer, 79, passed away Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at Hospice Savannah. He was born September 7, 1944, in Savannah, GA to the late Willard Emmett Brewer and Gertrude Marie Louis Brewer. He was a machinist for many years, having worked for Savannah Machine and Foundry, and was a member of the I.A.M. Union. Mr. Brewer served in the National Guard. He was also a member of Ryan Excavator’s, and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Mr. Brewer was a longtime vendor at Keller's Flea Market, he enjoyed meeting customers and making lifelong friends.&nb ...
Ann Elizabeth Black Davis JAN 18, 1924 - DEC 11, 2023
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Ann Elizabeth Black Davis, 99, passed away peacefully on Monday, December 11, 2023 at Memorial Health University Medical Center with her loved ones by her side. Ann was born on January 18, 1924 to Charles Coleman and Maude Lloyd Black. She was the youngest of four children and a lifelong resident of Savannah. After graduating from Savannah High School, Ann worked for ten years at the Central of Georgia Railroad, a job that she loved, until she “retired” to take care of home and family. She was married to her childhood sweetheart, Jimmy, for 66 years. She was a Christian and unti ...
Derrial Marisha Hopkins - DEC 10, 2023
Derrial Marisha Hopkins, 63, passed away Sunday, December 10, 2023 in Melbourne, Florida. She was born February 14, 1960 in Savannah, to the late Lawrence Hopkins and Martha Earle Hopkins. Marisha worked for many years at Memorial Health before moving to Melbourne, Florida. She was of the Christian faith. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Laura O'Conner. Surviving are her son, Joel Teston (Kyle Merritt) of Highland, N.C., her sisters, Sandi Hopkins of Sylvania, GA, Dawn Linkenhoker (Curt) of Savannah, her brother, ...
Juan Carlos Gallo JUL 23, 1980 - DEC 10, 2023
A livestream and recording of Juan's service will be available by clicking the following link: https://my.gather.app/remember/juan-carlos-gallo Juan Carlos Gallo, 43, died suddenly on Sunday, December 10, 2023 from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Juan was born on July 23, 1980 in Lima, Peru to the late Javier Gallo and Juana Gallo. The Gallo family immigrated to New Jersey in 1996. After graduation from John F. Kennedy High School in Patterson, NJ, Juan enlisted in the U.S. Army. He heroically served his country through four deployments. He retired as an artillery in ...
Eva Manoff Russo OCT 03, 1941 - DEC 10, 2023
Eva Manoff Russo, 82, died peacefully on Sunday, December 10, 2023 in Savannah, Georgia. Eva was born to her parents Ruth and Arnold in New York City on October 3, 1941. She lived her entire childhood in the Van Cortland Park area of The Bronx. She later moved to Manhattan where she lived most of her adult life before retiring to Georgia. Eva was married to Joseph Anthony Russo on February 6, 1965. Joseph passed away on September 17, 2000. Eva attended the prestigious High School Of Music and Art, graduating in 1958. While she attended the school ...
Edgar J. Field JAN 05, 1940 - DEC 09, 2023
Edgar J. Field, only child of Winifred and Edgar J. Field Sr. was born January 5, 1940 in London, England. Ed was raised and educated in the United Kingdom and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1978. He graduated from Highbury County Grammar School for Boys and Norwood Tech in London. In 1965 he joined the Colgate-Palmolive Company where he enjoyed a successful career spanning 31 years. As President of the International Business Development Group, he travelled extensively and visited over 100 countries. Ed met his wife, Maureen (Mo) while living in Barbados. They were married in 1967 and ...
Charlotte McDevitt FEB 15, 1940 - DEC 09, 2023
Mrs. Charlotte LaVerne McDevitt, 83, a Savannah native passed away Saturday, December 9, 2023. She was born February 15, 1940, daughter of the late Clyde Burroughs and Evelyn Helmly. She was a member of the Catholic faith. LaVerne was a member of the Savannah Jyanette’s, and was president of the Rape Crisis Center. She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Michael McDevitt; children, Erin Gibbs (Joe), Greg McDevitt (Patricia) and John McDevitt (Yvette); eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; and a brother, Ron Burroughs (Mary). And a special thank you to her cousin Phyllis ...
William (Freddie) F. Heitmann, III - DEC 09, 2023
William (Freddie) F. Heitmann, 52, of Pooler, GA, passed away Saturday, December 9, 2023, at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Freddie was born December 29, 1970, in Savannah, the only son of Billy and Avalyn (Fisher) Heitmann of Thunderbolt. Freddie was a graduate of Benedictine Military School, class of 1989. He went on to receive his Bachelor of Liberal Arts from Mercer University, and his Juris Doctorate from John Marshall Law School. He was a member of the Georgia State Bar Association for 23 years, Savannah Golf Club, and an avid supporter of Getalong Dachshund ...
Casey Howell Thompson NOV 05, 1976 - DEC 09, 2023
With heavy hearts, we announce the death of Casey Howell Thompson of Savannah, Georgia, who passed away on December 9, 2023, at the age of 47. Casey was the son of Catherine Brooks Martin and Walter H. Thompson. Casey grew up on Wilmington Island, Georgia, where he spent time exploring the rivers and waterways. His home away from home was Daufuskie Island, South Carolina. Casey was of the Catholic faith. He attended Nativity/ St. Peter the Apostle Catholic School, Benedictine Military School, and Armstrong State University. He was the owner of Thompson Home Imp ...
Tracey Gray Stewart OCT 12, 1968 - DEC 07, 2023
Tracey Stewart left this world to be with the Lord in heaven on Dec 7th surrounded by her family after a 2-year battle with cancer. Tracey was born on October 12th, 1968, in Goldsboro NC. She grew up on Tybee Island. She graduated high school from Sol C. Johnson High in 1987. She was the middle child of a family of five children in the Gray household. She met the love of her life in 8th grade. Stephen and Tracey were always as one. As much as she loved Stephen, he knew he had to share that love with her papa, mama, her 3 sisters and her brother. All her phone conversations with her parents wou ...
Nani Parks JAN 04, 1927 - DEC 06, 2023
Herminia Parks, 96, of Savannah, passed away Wednesday, December 6, 2023. She was daughter of the late Ignacio Villalobos and Herminia Smith Villalobos, and wife of John B. Parks. Herminia "Nani" Villalobos Parks was born January 4th, 1927 in Los Angeles California. After graduating from Hollywood High school she met her forever and lifetime love John B. Parks, United States Marine. John “Jack” predeceased his adoring wife in 2010. Nani loved fashion, decorating, cooking, and above all else her family. Nani's famous authentic Mexican food left an impressi ...
William "Will" Frederick Caswell - DEC 06, 2023
William “Will/Billy” Frederick Caswell, 55, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, December 06, 2023, at St. Joseph’s Hospital. The family is deeply saddened and shocked by his sudden death. Will was born on September 20, 1968, in Brooklyn, New York to William S. Caswell and Patricia Johnson. He grew up in Stony Point, Rockland County, New York and graduated from North Rockland High School in 1986. From an early age, Will had a strong affinity for all things cars. So much so that he started building his skills by helping his uncle Rick rebuild a car engine at the kitchen t ...
Lorna Kolasheski - DEC 06, 2023
On December 6, 2023, Lorna Kolasheski, a superb mother of two children and distinguished Busia to 5 grandchildren, passed away at the age of 83. She was preceded in death by Richard Kolasheski, her devoted husband of nearly 60 years, who passed away in September 2021. Lorna was born on March 10, 1940, in Cleveland, Ohio to John and Doris Teany. She had one brother, Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Gene Teany who survives her. She graduated from the University of Montevallo in Alabama and earned a Master’s in Education from the University of Georgia. Lorna spent ove ...
Joan Hunter Christensen - DEC 05, 2023
Joan Hunter Christensen was born on August 3, 1935 in the village of Aspy, Cumbria, England to Mary Williamson Hunter and Sidney Hunter. She passed away peacefully on December 5, 2023. Joan grew up walking the fells of England's Lake District and especially loved riding her bicycle with friends to Loweswater on Sunday afternoons. As a young woman, she moved to Eleuthera, Bahamas where she met and married an American cattleman, Edward Christensen. They raised two daughters, Anna Christensen Wasden and Jane Christensen Aderhold. After spending 20 years in the Bah ...
Ruth Folsom Pierce - DEC 04, 2023
Betty Ruth Folsom Pierce, 89, passed away peacefully Monday December 4th, 2023, at Spanish Oaks Retreat in Savannah, Ga. Ruth was born in Nashville Georgia in 1934 and was one of four children of Dr. William Folsom and Lilla Folsom. Ruth attended school in Nashville from primary through high school at Berrien County Schools. She spent her younger years watching the tobacco trucks roll through town with her girlfriends and spent a lot of time at her father’s dental office and drug store on the Nashville Town Square. Ruth went on to Georgia Teachers College ...
Peter Francis Brown JUL 23, 1957 - DEC 04, 2023
In loving memory of Peter Francis Brown; a remarkable man, born on July 23, 1957, in Brooklyn, NY, to parents Teresa and Francis Brown. Peter grew up in Rosedale, Queens, New York alongside his siblings Joseph, Robert, Timothy, Alice, and Patrick, bringing warmth and joy to his family. Peter found the love of his life, Kathleen Mulligan, in the bustling 6 World Trade Center, where he dedicated himself as a chemist for US Customs Service. Together, they embarked on a beautiful journey that led them to settle in Savannah, GA, and blessed them with three children: Ma ...
Carolyn C. Bumgardner - DEC 04, 2023
Carolyn Ann Campbell Bumgardner, 80, passed away Monday, December 4, 2023 at home with her family by her side. She was born January 31, 1943 in Savannah to the late Ed and Ruby Bollinger Campbell. She retired after 35 years of service from Savannah Sugar Refinery, and later worked for Savannah Speech and Hearing for 4 years. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her son-in-law, Jonathan Waters, and her brother, Bobby Campbell. She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Ed Bumgardner, daughter, Tami Waters, grandsons, Drake, Peyton, and Marshall Water ...
Gail Rosen Rosenzweig SEP 29, 1932 - DEC 03, 2023
A livestream and recording of Gail's service will available by clicking the following link: https://my.gather.app/remember/gail-rosen-rosenzweig The ninety one year voyage from the 600 block of Habersham Street to the 6400 block of Habersham Street with stops in Ardsley and Kensington Parks came to an end on December third with the death of Gail Rosen Rosenzweig. She passed away surrounded by her family. She was born to Raymond and Millie G. Rosen and spent her early Savannah years in the Habersham and Huntingdon streets where she knew what street cars were going by from t ...
Nancy Elizabeth Peters Vermilyea - DEC 02, 2023
Nancy Elizabeth Peters Vermilyea, a cherished wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, left this world peacefully at her home in Savannah, Georgia, on December 2nd, 2023, at the age of 74. Nancy was born on July 15, 1949, in Asheville, North Carolina, to the late Charles Cline Peters and Mary Sullivan Peters. She is now in heaven with her husband of 45 years, Richard "Dick" H. Vermilyea, who went before her. Nancy's journey began in Riegelwood, NC, where she enjoyed horse riding, basketball, and cheerleading. She had a big heart for animals, especially dogs. ...
John Anthony Grieco NOV 26, 1932 - DEC 02, 2023
John Anthony Grieco, 91, of Savannah, Georgia, went home to be with the Lord on December 2, 2023, after a brief illness, surrounded by his loving family. John was born on November 26, 1932, in Brooklyn, New York, the oldest of 3 children of Rocco & Marian Grieco. Later the family moved to Rego Park (Queens), New York and John attended Forest Hills High School, where he met Pat, who was the love of his life. He was a gifted athlete, playing baseball and lettering in gymnastics. After graduating high school, John was employed at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, where he play ...
Lawrence "Larry" Miner Austin JUN 19, 1930 - DEC 01, 2023
Lawrence “Larry” Miner Austin, 93, died peacefully at home on Friday, December 1, 2023, after a valiant fight with cancer. Larry was born June 19, 1930 in Bryn Mawr, PA, to John and Helen Austin. After attending St. Albans School in Washington, D.C. during World War II and enjoying summer camp at Lake Allagash on Moosehead Lake in Maine as a camper and counselor, Larry graduated from The Episcopal Academy in Philadelphia, PA and went to Princeton University where he played 150 lb. football and was in the Cottage Club. Upon graduation from Princeton, Larry enlisted with the U. ...
Louis Fernand Parent, Jr. - DEC 01, 2023
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Louis Fernand Parent, Jr. on Friday, December 1, 2023. Louis was our dearly loved husband, father, grandfather, father-in-law, and uncle, and will be greatly missed by his family and close friends. The New Bedford, Massachusetts native lived in Savannah since 1964. He was a graduate of St. Anthony’s Prep School in New Bedford, Mass, and in 1961 graduated from Fairfield University in Fairfield, CT. He served in Korea with the U.S. Marine Corps. He retired in 1995 as Executive Vice-President of Car ...
John Heitman AUG 27, 1944 - NOV 29, 2023
John Heitman, 79, a native of Savannah, passed away Wednesday, November 29, 2023, at his home. John was a very quiet and private person but was dearly loved by his family and friends. To know him was to love him. John was born August 27, 1944, to Cord Lee Heitman and Clothilde (Swinford) Heitman. He attended Cathedral Day School, Chatham Junior High, and Savannah High School. At a young age, John served as an altar boy at The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. While spending his entire life in Savannah, he enjoyed his career working in the auto paint and body field. He loved fishing, ...