Obituaries
Jack C. Wray JUN 03, 1945 - AUG 18, 2023
Jack Wray, 78, of Savannah, GA, passed away on August 17, 2023 in the presence of his loving wife Karen, after a multi-year battle with dementia. Jack was born on June 03, 1945 to Wade N. and Nadine H. Wray in the city of Burlington, NC. After Jack graduated from Walter N. Williams High School in 1963, he pursued a degree in mathematics at Lenoir Rhyne College, Hickory, NC . In 1969, he met Karen on a blind date while in seminary, and they married in 1971 after graduation. Jack and Karen have one son, Derek. After graduation, he attended Lutheran Theo ...
Cecelia Bostick Williams JAN 09, 1981 - AUG 16, 2023
Miss Cecelia Bostick Williams “Her Life Was A Special Occasion” Savannah, Georgia ---She was a devoted daughter of the South, born into a Savannah family whose roots were established in 1734, a bit of history she was proud to share. Cecelia, known to all as Cece was the spirited firstborn child of Charles Lawton Williams and Julia Bostick Jones Williams and big sister to Molly. She came quietly into the world on January 9, 1981, and since that time she has been anything but. When Cece entered a room, everyone knew it as her voice preceded h ...
Elmer C. (E.C.) Painter, III - AUG 16, 2023
The family of Elmer C. Painter, III (E.C.) of Wilmington Island, Georgia is saddened to announce his passing on August 16, 2023 at the age of 67 years. E,C. will be lovingly remembered by his wife of over forty years, Judith Gail McCrary; mother, Jean Painter; sister and brother-in-law, Susan and Scott Noakes; nephew, Alex Noakes; nieces, Emily Noakes and Amber Shahan; mother-in-law, Jackie McCrary; brother and sister-in-law, Don and Linda McCrary; and nephews Ryan and Brett McCrary. E.C. was predeceased by his loving son, Evan Painter; father, Elmer Painter, Jr; and brother, Philip Pa ...
Denise O'Brien Garbarino APR 02, 1945 - AUG 15, 2023
Denise O’Brien Garbarino, 78, of John’s Island, SC, passed away peacefully on August 15, 2023. Denise was born on April 2, 1945, to Dennis and Edna (Steinberg) O’Brien in Teaneck, NJ. At the age of four, Denise sadly lost her father Dennis, to a brain aneurysm. A few years later her mother, Edna, remarried to Russell Armstrong, who quickly became known as “Daddy Russ” and who many will tell you was an amazing father to Denise and whom she loved and cherished dearly. Denise graduated from The Dwight-Englewood School in 1963 and was a graduate of Endicott ...
Mark Sharpe AUG 28, 1957 - AUG 12, 2023
Mark Stephen Sharpe, 65, passed away unexpectedly August 12, 2023 with his family by his side. Mark was born in Savannah, Ga on August 28, 1957 to the late Wyman H. Sharpe and Frances C. Sharpe. Mark was a lifelong resident of Savannah, attending Benedictine Military School and Georgia Southern University, while earning a bachelors degree in criminal justice. This would eventually lead Mark into a career with the Chatham County Police Department, serving honorably as a detective with the Department for 11 years. Mark, previously, was a custom home builder in Savannah. Mark, then, went on to ...
Star Corporal Benjamin Douglas (Twin) Herron DEC 17, 1966 - AUG 11, 2023
Click here to view livestream of service beginning at 10:45 Click here to view the committal service and rending of honors for Star Corporal Benjamin Douglas Herron. The livestream will begin at 12:30 p,m. with the service expected to begin at approximately 12:45 p.m. Benjamin Douglas “Twin” Herron, 56 passed away on August 11, 2023 doing what he enjoyed most, working. He was the husband of Sherry Herron with whom he shared 33 years of marriage. This native Savannahian was born December 17, 1966. Doug was not alone, his twin brother Ben Junior who entered this world a few ...
Sandy Bolen - AUG 11, 2023
Sandra “Sandy” Diane Mercer Bolen, 68, passed away Friday, August 11, 2023, at Memorial Health. She was born October 30, 1954, in Louisville, Kentucky to Forrest and Juanita Henderson Mercer. Sandy moved to Tampa, Florida in 1981 before settling in Savannah in 1989. She was employed by Compassion Christian Church for 10 years, where she also loved worshiping Jesus. She is preceded in death by her brothers Donny Mercer, Kenny Mercer, and Tim Mercer. Sandy is survived by her loving husband, Pastor Jim Bolen, two daughters, Stephanie Woodruff (Todd), and ...
Phyllis Johnson Parham MAY 15, 1932 - AUG 11, 2023
Phyllis J. Parham, age 91, passed away August 11, 2023, in Savannah, Ga. Phyllis was born on May 15, 1932, in Griffin, Ga, the only child of Luther Echols Johnson of Carrolton, GA, and Ella Gray Stapleton Johnson of Griffin, Ga. The family moved in 1946 from Griffin to Tavares, Fl, and then to Savannah, where Phyllis attended Commercial High School. A longtime resident of both Thunderbolt and Wilmington Island, she was an intelligent and personable woman who co-owned and operated businesses with her husband and owned several businesses of her own for many years. She later wor ...
Willa Katie McKenzie DEC 21, 1932 - AUG 10, 2023
Willa Katie McKenzie, 90, entered heaven on August 10, 2023. Katie was born on December 21, 1932, to the late Sarah and Joe McKenzie. She enjoyed her job as an administrative assistant for New England Life insurance company, where she worked for many years. Katie loved shopping, cooking desserts, entertaining, and spending time with her friends and family. Her joy came out of helping people. She was a member of The Sanctuary, her faith and trust in God provided strength and help in her life. Katie is preceded in death by her father, Joe McKenzie; mother, Sarah McKenzie; and brothers, Hartwe ...
Harold J. Collins - AUG 09, 2023
Harold J. Collins, 96, passed away August 9, 2023 at his residence. No local service will be held at this time. ...
Carolyn Ernest DEC 13, 1940 - AUG 08, 2023
Carolyn Dexter Ernest died peacefully on August 8, 2023, with her family at her bedside after a short but courageous fight with brain cancer. Carolyn, 82 years old, was born in Worchester, MA, to E. Lewis and Gertrude Loring Dexter. Carolyn’s father died in 1945 when she was four and her sister, Cynthia was seven. Their mother raised the girls working as an elementary school teacher in nearby Auburn. At school, Carolyn loved math, science, and sports. After high school, Carolyn went to nursing school and became a registered nurse in 1961. Her first nursing position was in Boston, at t ...
Gregory Scott, Sr. SEP 20, 1956 - AUG 08, 2023
Gregory Scott Sr. died on August 8th, 2023. Greg was a Savannah native who was born on September 20th, 1956. As a young man, Greg served as a Sheriff’s Deputy for Chatham County. He went on to complete a criminal justice degree at Armstrong State University and an MBA at Savannah State University. Greg spent many years working as a claims specialist before ultimately becoming the Risk Manager for Chatham County. While he is known to many through his jobs, Greg was, first and foremost, a family man. With Angela, his wife of forty years, he raised Gregory, Jr. and Melissa. He was also t ...
Janet Joyce Brennan - AUG 07, 2023
Janet Marie Joyce Brennan Jan was born in Savannah, GA June 3 rd, 1946 to the late J. Read “Sunshine” Joyce and Margaret Weimar Joyce. She passed away at home surrounded by her family on August 7th, 2023. Jan attended Blessed Sacrament Catholic School and St. Vincent’s Academy until she was asked by the administration to please continue her education elsewhere. She ended up graduating from Savannah High School in 1965. Jan married Joe Brennan, also of Savannah, in 1971 and promptly moved to Taichung, Taiwan where Joe was stationed during the Vietnam War. She gave birth to ...
Gertrude "Trudie" Andrea St. Thomas Sabogal - AUG 07, 2023
Gertrude “Trudie” Andrea St. Thomas Sabogal,70, died on Monday August 7, 2023. Trudie was born in Perth Andover, New Brunswick, Canada. She was the daughter of the late Hubert and Daphan (Baker) St. Thomas. She attended the University of New Brunswick and the University of Missouri where she received a Bachelor's Degree in Medical Technology. At the age of 21, she moved to Savannah, Georgia where she has called home for the past 49 years. Trudie worked at Summit Cancer Care for over 40 years where she was a dedicated medical techn ...
Pat Kleinpeter MAR 26, 1941 - AUG 06, 2023
Charles Patrick “Pat” Kleinpeter, 82, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, August 6, 2023. Pat was born in White Plains, NY on March 26, 1941 to Patrick Waddell Kleinpeter and Beatrice Youmans Kleinpeter. He had one brother, William “Bill” Leslie Kleinpeter. As a young boy, he played football, basketball, and baseball for the Tiger Club and took dance lessons from Marylin Youmans School of Dance. He graduated from Savannah High School in 1959 and received his Bachelor of Business Administration from Georgia Southern College. In 1966, Pat married Anita Louise ...
Meta Maria Hogge Wright JAN 23, 1930 - AUG 06, 2023
Meta Maria Hogge Wright “Mimi” passed away peacefully on August 6, 2023, at her home at The Oaks Assisted Living in Pooler. She was born in Atlanta, Georgia on January 23, 1930, to Bertie Rafael Hogge and Cornele Smith Hogge. Mimi spent her youth in several Central American and Caribbean countries where her father worked for United Fruit Company. Mimi and her sister, Betsy, came to the United States to attend high school at Mount De Sales in Macon, Georgia during WWII. After graduation, she attended LSU where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. Later, she attend ...
Karen Sanders Kitchell JAN 09, 1952 - AUG 06, 2023
Karen Sanders Kitchell (KK) entered Heaven and joined all the saints and angels on Sunday, August 6, after a heroic three-year battle with breast cancer. Karen was born January 9, 1952, and lived all her life in Savannah. She was always a hard worker and at the age of 13, she and friends helped run the Tiger Gym skating rink on Bee Road. She graduated from Savannah High in 1970 and worked in the chemical industry for most of her career where she was a rock star of customer service, untangling missed orders and handling crisis calls at all hours of the day and night. KK loved fishing, ...
Madeline Cetti AUG 01, 1944 - AUG 04, 2023
Madeline VonWaldner Cetti, 79, died peacefully on Friday, August 4, 2023, surrounded by her loving family. Madeline was born in Savannah, one of four sisters, to John A. and Marie (Rosignol) VonWaldner. Predeceased by her big sister Elaine Smith and survived by younger sisters Anna Settipanni of Flint, Michigan and Marilyn VonWaldner of Portland, Oregon. She graduated from H. V. Jenkins high school. She was a loving wife, mother, granny and friend, loved by everyone whose lives she touched. Madeline married the ...
Jose Rivera NOV 25, 1966 - AUG 03, 2023
Jose Rivera, 56, died peacefully on Thursday, August 3rd, 2023 surrounded by his loving family. Jose was born in Brooklyn, New York, the 5th son of Maria C. Rivera and the late Otilio Rivera. He was educated at Jonesboro-Hodge High School, Jonesboro Louisiana class of ‘86. While attending, he joined the Louisiana National Guard. After becoming a high school graduate, he became a soldier in the United States Army. During those service years, Jose started as an Ammunitions Specialist before ending his service career as a Fire Support Specialist. He was medically discharged in 1999. Moving ...
Mary Odom Grosse FEB 13, 1931 - JUL 30, 2023
Sunday, July 30, 2023, Mary Odom Grosse died peacefully in her sleep at Spanish Oaks Retreat in Savannah, Georgia at the age of 92. Born in Evans County, Georgia, Mary worked for the FBI in Washington, DC, where she met her husband Richard (Dick) Grosse. Together they lived in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Germany, New York State, and finally the last 60 years on Tybee Island, Georgia. Mary was predeceased by her husband Richard, who she loved amazingly. Her advice on marriage was this: “Love is good and sex is great, but you really have to like a person in order to have a succes ...
Virginia Jackson Simmons JUL 05, 1920 - JUL 30, 2023
Virginia Jackson Simmons, 103, died peacefully on Sunday, July 30, 2023. Elizabeth is survived by her children, Fred, Diane, and Cindy; grandchildren, Sandy and Edward; and great-grandchildren, Anneke and Marijke. ...
Eileen Lobel - JUL 30, 2023
Eileen Lobel passed away July 30, 2023, at Oaks at Savannah, under the care of hospice. Eileen Luchow Lobel, born June 13, 1929, grew up in Brooklyn, NY. She met the love of her life, Hugh Lobel in Jr High School. They married, September 9, 1951. After having two children, they moved to White Plains, NY in 1956. In her White Plains years, Eileen served the community as President of the PTA, girl scout leader, real estate broker and business owner. In 1993, Eileen and Hugh moved to The Landings, in Savannah, GA. After the death of their son, David, Eileen started “Parties with a Purpose&r ...
Charles C.J. Fritz APR 04, 1967 - JUL 30, 2023
Charles Justin (CJ) Fritz was born April 4, 1967, in Rockledge, FL to Jane Drinkhouse and Charles F. Fritz. He grew up in Merritt Island with his mother and his older brother William Edward (Eddy) Fritz. As a child, CJ enjoyed playing baseball, roller skating, and digging tunnels in the neighborhood sandlot. In 1983, his mom remarried, and CJ gained a stepfather, Thomas DeMars, along with stepsisters Tina DeMars and Amy DeMars. CJ graduated from Merritt Island High School in 1985. In 1989, he married Susan and became a father to her 5-year-old son, Danny. The next year, they were blessed ...
John M. Vergoz SEP 09, 1935 - JUL 30, 2023
John McCaffer Vergoz, 87, died on July 30, 2023, from complications of dementia in the presence of his wife Gail and daughter Robin. John was born on September 9, 1935, in Brooklyn, New York, to Agnes and Arthur Vergoz who were originally from Glasgow, Scotland. He had one brother, Ronald Arthur Vergoz who predeceased him, and one sister, Nancy Vergoz Gadzinski who survives him. He grew up in Babylon, NY, and attended public schools there. He spent a great deal of time on the Great South Bay fishing and digging clams to earn money while in school. After high school, he joined the ...
Deanna Rose Kinnaman FEB 19, 1944 - JUL 29, 2023
Deanna was born on February 19, 1944 in New Rochelle, NY to Mary and Victor Cossio. She passed away peacefully at Azalealand Nursing and Rehab in Savannah, GA on July 29, 2023. She was preceded in death by both of her parents, her dear Aunt Rose Smitarello and her brother Victor Cossio. She is survived by her husband of 51 years, John Kinnaman, and nieces, Dina Cossio and Kara Cossio, a nephew, Craig Cossio, cousins in the US and Italy and beloved godson, Matthew Happel. Deanna graduated from College of St. Elizabeth in Convent Station, NJ. She worked in various professional capacitie ...
Avalyn Fisher Heitmann AUG 12, 1949 - JUL 28, 2023
Avalyn F. Heitmann, 73, died peacefully on Friday, July 28, 2023 at Hospice House Savannah. The lifelong resident of Savannah was born on August 12, 1949. She was the daughter of the late William Joseph Fisher and Mildred Haygood Fisher. Surviving are her husband, William F. Heitmann, Jr.; and a son, William F. “Freddy” Heitmann, III, both of Savannah. To honor Avalyn's wishes, there will be no funeral service. The family invites you to please privately celebrate her memory in your own way. We know that she will be with us all i ...
Charles W. Osonitsch - JUL 24, 2023
Charles William Osonitsch, a pioneering aerospace engineer and devoted family man, passed away on July 24th, 2023, at the age of 81 in Savannah, Ga. He was born on March 26th, 1942, in Queens, New York, to his loving parents Hartwin Osonitsch and Mary Osonitsch. Charles leaves behind a rich legacy, his wife, Virginia Osonitsch as well as his four beloved children: Annmarie Caccavale, Kerianne Miller, Vincent Osonitsch, and Alexander Osonitsch. Educated at New York University, Charles achieved great heights in his academic journey, earning both a Bachelor of Science and a Master' ...
Patsy St Lawrence NOV 27, 1945 - JUL 24, 2023
Patsy St Lawrence died peacefully in her daughter’s home on Monday, July 24, 2023. Patsy was born on November 27, 1945, in Jesup, Georgia. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Kimberly and Bill Newbold; her daughter-in-law, Sherree Teston; her four much-beloved grandchildren, Katie Niven (Michael), Eva Newbold, Michael Teston, and Will Newbold; and her four much-adored great-grandchildren, Hunter Anderson, McKenzie White, Bentlee Niven, and Axel Niven. Patsy was predeceased by her son, Kerry Teston; her husband and soulmate, Al St Lawrence; her parents, Henry and Eva ...
Agatha M. (Aggie) McCullough - JUL 23, 2023
Agatha (Aggie) Morrison McCullough passed away on Sunday, July 23, 2023 surrounded by the love of her family. For nearly 90 years, Aggie McCullough made the world a better place and touched the lives of everyone she met. Aggie was born in Ridgeland, S.C., on August 13, 1933. In 1950, she graduated from Ridgeland High School. After moving to Savannah, she studied nursing at St. Joseph's Hospital and subsequently graduated with her nursing degree in 1953. She served on the board for Hancock Academy and was a longtime member of the Savannah Yacht Club. Aggie was precede ...
Jacqueline Elizabeth Hood - JUL 23, 2023
Jacqueline Elizabeth Graham Hood, 89, passed away Sunday, July 23, 2023. She was born March 18, 1934, in Denver, Colorado to the late Harold and Elizabeth Graham. Mrs. Hood was a longtime member of White Bluff Methodist Church, where she sang in the choir, and was a member of the Mary and Martha Circle. She worked in the office of the church, and for Crawford & Company for many years. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Wade Lee Hood. She is survived by her sons, Randell Hood (Rose), and Mike Hood (Judy), her daughter, Wendy C ...