Toombs County History & Genealogy

Toombs County History & Genealogy
Vidalia - The Sweet Onion City

Friday, July 20, 2012

Missing Guyton man walks into sheriff's office | savannahnow.com

Missing Guyton man walks into sheriff's office | savannahnow.com

Larry Fennell, a 38-year-old Guyton resident and first cousin of the man found shot to death in Pooler on Tuesday, walked into the Effingham County sheriff's office Wednesday night.
He'd been missing for more than 36 hours.
Pooler police chief Mark Revenew said Fennell is not considered a suspect in the killing of 27-year-old Timothy Moore, of Pooler.
“We’re following all leads, but there’s nothing to indicate any correlation” between Fennell’s disappearance and Moore’s killing, Revenew said.
Effingham County sheriff’s office spokesman David Ehsanipoor said Fennell called a family member and “indicated he was in distress” near the intersection of Interstate 95 and Ga. 204 about 6:30 a.m. Tuesday. Citing the pending investigation into Fennell’s disappearance, Ehsanipoor said he couldn’t provide information on what sort of distress Fennell indicated to a family member.
Ehsanipoor said law enforcement and Fennell’s family searched the Interstate 95 and Ga. 204 area Tuesday and Wednesday. The sheriff's office sent out an alert Wednesday afternoon, seeking Fennell's whereabouts.
Fennell walked into the Effingham County sheriff’s office about 8 p.m. Wednesday. Ehsanipoor said he was in good health but he couldn’t say where Fennell had been. 

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

The Herald-Sun - The words of former slaves told at Historic Stagville plantation

The Herald-Sun - The words of former slaves told at Historic Stagville plantation Tempie Herndon, the Rev. Squire Dowd, Fanny Cannady, Henry Bobbitt, Andrew Boone, Thomas Hall and Dave Lawson all began their lives in slavery in North Carolina. Actor Kashif Powell portrays Henry Bobbitt, a former slave from Warren County. His narrative is combined with Bobbitt’s brother Clay. Bobbitt shared his memories of beatings, slave sales and his wife being sold off. “I really enjoy [Henry Bobbitt] and his narrative. I feel like he got through slavery and got through the hardship of it through humor, as a lot of slaves did,” Powell said. He said an important aspect of slavery that’s overlooked is the coping mechanism of humor. 

Monday, September 13, 2010

Mrs. Kathy Sue Curtis Gunn (Dec 28, 1957-September 11, 2010)


Mrs. Kathy Sue Curtis Gunn (Dec 28, 1957-September 11, 2010)



VIDALIA - Mrs. Kathy Sue Gunn, 53, died Saturday. Survivors: husband, Marvin M. Gunn; daughter, Sarah Jane McGann (Jon); son, Aaron Jacob Gunn; her parents, John and Mary Curtis; brothers, John Curtis, Joe Curtis and Jerry Curtis; one nephew. A memorial service will be held Tuesday, September 14th at 11:00 am in the Oaks Baptist Church with Reverend Josh Hughes officiating. Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home, Vidalia. Savannah Morning News September 13, 2010. Please sign our Obituary Guest Book at http://www.SavannahNow.com/obituaries Published in Savannah Morning News on September 13, 2010.

"May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow." Cheryl and Lindy Williams, GA
"You are in my thoughts & prayers." Jean Wrenn, GA
"Kathy was a very special lady... May God bless your family with the peace and..."
"Marvin, God Bless you and your family, we are praying for you. Your friends at Meadows..." Janet Hamilton, GA.

http://www.Legacy.com/obituaries/savannah/obituary.aspx?n=kathy-sue-gunn&pid=145306033

Vidalia, Mrs. Kathy Sue Gunn, age 53 of Vidalia, died Saturday, September 11, 2010 in the Community Hospice House in Vidalia after an extended illness. She was a native of the Detroit, Michigan area. Upon marriage in 1977, Kathy's husband joined the Navy, and the two went on to live in several states before settling in Vidalia in 1986. She was a graduate of Georgia Southern University and earned a Master's Degree in Biology. She taught science for five years at J.R.Trippe Middle School in Vidalia, but her passion was the education and protection of sea turtles which led to her becoming the coordinator of the Magnolia Midlands Georgia Youth Science and Technology Center with East Georgia College in Swainsboro. She was an active member of The Oaks Baptist Church in Lyons where she taught the Youth Sunday School Class. She also was active in Women’s Missions and Relay For Life.

Mrs. Gunn is survived by her husband of thirty-three years, Marvin M. Gunn of Vidalia; one daughter, Sarah Jane Gunn McGann and her husband Jon of Pawley’s Island, South Carolina; one son, Aaron Jacob Gunn of Atlanta; her parents, John and Mary Curtis of Jonesboro, TN; three brothers, John Curtis of Wyandotte, Michigan; Joe Curtis of Southgate, Michigan; and Jerry Curtis of Jonesboro and one nephew.

A memorial service will be held Tuesday, September 14th at 11:00 am at the Oaks Baptist Church with Reverend Josh Hughes officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Pretty in Pink Foundation, PO Box 2755, Vidalia, GA 30475; Relay For Life, Toombs County, http://www.GARelayForLife.org/ The Oaks Baptist Church Building Fund, PO Box 388, Lyons, GA30436; or the Ossabaw Foundation Costal Center of Savannah, 305 MLK Jr. Blvd., Savannah, GA 31401.

http://www.RonaldVHall.com/obituaries/obituary.php?id=39876

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Virgil D. Odom (July 30, 1941 - Aug 28, 2010)


Lyons, Mr. Virgil D. Odom, age 69 of Lyons, died Saturday, August 28, 2010 in the Meadows Regional Medical Center in Vidalia after an extended illness. He was a lifelong resident of Lyons, and retired as a supervisor with the Georgia Power Company after thirty years of service. He served in the National Guard, was a member of Vidalia Masonic Lodge #330, and was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Lyons.

Mr. Odom is survived by his wife, Birdie Odom, one daughter, Lisa Odom-Miller, one son, Devlan Odom, and one brother, Ronald Odom all of Lyons, two sisters, Joyce Morris of Aiken, South Carolina, and Wanda Bass of Milledgeville, two grandchildren, Chase Miller and Brinley Miller both of Lyons, and several nieces and nephews.

Graveside funeral services will be held Monday, August 30th at 11:00 am in the Lyons City Cemetery with Reverend Owen Williams and Reverend Barry S. Giddens officiating.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday evening from 6:00 until 8:30.

Those desiring may make memorial contributions to the American Cancer Society, 515 Denmark St., Suite 500, Statesboro, GA 30458.

http://www.RonaldVHall.com/obituaries/obituary.php?id=39041

Find A Grave Memorial# 57835695.
http://www.FindAGrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=57835695

http://www.FaceBook.com/#!/pages/Toombs-County-History-Genealogy-Project/119221454755996?v=wall&ref=ts

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Mrs. Marie Williams Cartwright Davis (Dec 28, 1931 - Aug 28, 2010)


Long Pond Community, Mrs. Marie Williams Cartwright Davis, age 78 of the Long Pond Community, died Saturday, August 28, 2010 in the Meadows Regional Medical Center in Vidalia. She was a native of Telfair County, and moved to Montgomery County in 1974. She was a professional seamstress, retired from Uvalda Manufacturing and was a member of the Snow Hill Church of God near Glenwood. She was preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Mary Lee Cameron Williams, two sons, Lawayne “Peebo” Davis and Jack Denny Cartwright, one sister, Nell Rainwater, and two brothers, Walter and Jack Williams.

Mrs. Davis is survived by her husband of thirty-six years, Leon W. Davis of Long Pond, six children, Bobby Cartwright and Donna of Oak Park and Lovejoy; Marie “Crickett” Conner of Soperton; Joyce Carver of Vidalia; Irwin Davis of McMinnville, Tennessee; Billy Cartwright and Peggy of Glenwood; and Mary Nell Fletcher and David of Columbus, North Carolina, nineteen grandchildren, twenty-six great-grandchildren will also miss her.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, September 2nd at 1:00 pm in the chapel of Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home with Reverend Henry Dowd officiating.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 515 Denmark St., Suite 500, Statesboro, GA. 30458.

http://www.ronaldvhall.com/obituaries/obituary.php?id=39042

https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1Bf_qrQ0ber5PbZCWe3a8HOnzNjVfd8YiHRlhL8iJ1fM

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Willis, Glenn Russell (1959-2010)


Glenn Russell Willis, 50, of Two Rivers, Alaska, died Friday, July 2, 2010, at Madigan Army Medical Center, Ft. Lewis, WA, while recovering from surgery for kidney cancer.

Glenn was born in Vidalia on November 28, 1959, to R.W. and Murline Willis. Like his father, Glenn was an accomplished musician; he played saxophone in the Vidalia High School marching band and played acoustic and electric guitar with friends throughout his life.

Glenn joined the U.S. Air Force upon his graduation from VHS in 1977 and soon decided to make the military his career, retiring after 17 years at the rank of Senior Master Sergeant. His career took him to many duty stations, including Statesboro, Texas, Mississippi, Kentucky, Montana and Colorado. He most enjoyed his six years in Germany, where he served in support of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm.

Glenn received numerous honors and medals, including the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Air Force Good Conduct Medal with four oak leaf clusters, and the Air Force Longevity Service Award with 3 oak leaf clusters. He attended the USAF Leadership School, NCO Academy and Senior NCO Academy. He also earned an associate’s degree while in service.

Upon his retirement in 1994, Glenn accepted the position of assistant project manager for Lockheed Martin’s ground-based radar bomb scoring contract at Eielson Air Force Base near North Pole, Alaska. Later he took advantage of the VA’s education program and achieved the status of Microsoft Certified Professional, Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer and Microsoft Office Master Instructor. He used these skills in his computer consulting business and contracted with the State of Alaska to teach Microsoft Office to inmates at the Fairbanks Correctional Center.

Glenn enjoyed living in Alaska's rugged environment and delighted in telling stories of life in the “Great Refrigerator” to friends back home in Georgia. He taught himself to fly fish and spent many hours fishing from a canoe as his wife paddled. Glenn also loved his home on 10 acres of spruce woods in the tiny community of Two Rivers, 30 miles from Fairbanks. He delighted in working on his hobby farm, where he raised pheasants, chickens, guinea fowl and geese.

Glenn was active in several veterans’ organizations, including the American Legion, the 40&8 and the Disabled American Veterans. He held many offices at American Legion Post 11 in Fairbanks, including Post Adjutant and Commander.

Glenn was preceded in death by his father, R. W. Willis; maternal grandparents, Matthew and Clara Mae Hester Morris; paternal grandparents, Wade and Ila Willis; an aunt and several uncles.

He is survived by his wife, Kristin Summerlin of Two Rivers, Alaska; daughter, Kristy Willis of Pevely, MO; two sons, Kristopher and Benjamin Willis of Jefferson, Ohio; his mother, Murline Morris Willis of Vidalia; and sister and brother-in-law, Susan and Jones Hart of Vidalia. He is survived by one granddaughter, Madison Slaton of Pevely, MO; two nephews, Ryan and Logan Hart of Vidalia; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 10, at Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home in Vidalia, the Rev. C.M Sheffield officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at Pinecrest Cemetery.

The family will receive visitors at the funeral home Friday evening from 6 to 8 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made in Glenn’s name to the Ft. Lewis Fisher House, 9999 Wilson Avenue, Ft. Lewis, WA 98433.

http://www.RonaldVHall.com/obituaries/obituary.php?id=33010
Glenn Russell Willis (November 28, 1959-July 9, 2010)

TWO RIVERS, AK - Glenn Russell Willis, Retired Sr. Master Sergeant, 50, died Friday, July 9, 2010. Survivors: wife, Kristin Summerlin; daughter, Kristy Willis; sons, Kristopher Willis and Benjamin Willis; and other relatives. Visitation: 6-8 pm Friday at the funeral home. Funeral: 2pm Saturday at the funeral home. Interment: Pinecrest Cemetery with Military Honors. Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home, Vidalia Savannah Morning News July 9, 2010.

http://www.Legacy.com/obituaries/savannah/obituary.aspx?n=glenn-russell-willis&pid=143981411

Find A Grave Memorial# 54731833.
http://www.FindAGrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=54731833

Clara Mae Hester Morris (Feb. 20, 1913-April 20, 1997)
Find A Grave Memorial# 55056543.
http://www.FindAGrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=55056543

Matthew H. Morris (October 5, 1903-September 12, 1967)
Find A Grave Memorial# 55057385.
http://www.FindAGrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=55057385

Murline M. Willis (1937-) Married Ruben W. Willis June 23, 1956. Find A Grave Memorial# 55057529.
http://www.FindAGrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=55057529

Ruben W. Willis (1935-1990) Married Murline M. Willis June 23, 1956. Find A Grave Memorial# 55057634.
http://www.FindAGrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=55057634