All Obituaries

Leonard Wood (Jack) Childs, Jr., 70, of Metter, passed away suddenly Monday, May 10, 2021 at Candler County Hospital in Metter. Jack was born in Knoxville, Tennessee and was the youngest of three children born to Leonard Wood Childs, Sr. and Nona Needham Childs.  He lived in Knoxville until he was a junior in high school and moved to East Point, Georgia.  Jack graduated from Headland High School in East Point, Georgia in 1968.  He was a graduate of Georgia Institute of...

Joseph Martin “Joey” Bruner, 60, of Metter, died Sunday, May 9, 2021 at Augusta University Medical Center. Born in Metter he was the son of the late Grover Hubert Bruner, Sr. and Vennie Ray Westberry Bruner.  Joey grew up and lived all of his life in Metter and attended Metter High School.  He worked for McCorkle Cricket Farm and later BI-LO Grocery Store in Metter.  He was known for having a huge heart and was always willing to help anyone in need.  He loved...

Emily Hope Smith Daniel, 53, of Metter passed away Wednesday, May 5, 2021 in Augusta. Hope was born in Lenoir County, North Carolina and graduated from South Lenoir High School in 1985.  She was the daughter of Ralph Smith and the late Carol Karam and moved to Metter in 1987.  Hope was a graduate of Georgia Southern University having received a masters’ degree in education and taught Kindergarten at Langston Chapel Elementary School in Statesboro. She was a great teacher and...

Esther Darlene Bolen Newman, 57, of Register, passed away Wednesday, April 28, 2021 at Ogeechee Area Hospice in Statesboro. Born in Bamberg, South Carolina on February 2, 1964 to the late Ryson Bolen and Hazel Bolen Croft.  Esther was a homemaker and lived in Register for most of her life.  She attended Ogeechee Technical College receiving a CNA degree and was a member of the Metter Primitive Baptist Church.  Esther loved spending time with her granddaughter as well as the...

Joan Thompson Bland, 89, passed away Wednesday, April 28, 2021 at her home under Hospice. Mrs. Bland was a Physical Therapy Assistant for many years before retiring. She enjoyed cooking and spending time with her children, grandchildren, family, and friends. Her main passion was spending time with her grandchildren. Mrs. Bland was predeceased by her parents, Layton and Anna Thompson of Miami, FL, her brother, Layton Thompson, Jr. of Tifton, GA, her sisters, Mary Knox, Betty Pass and Ruth...

Blitch Ann Bird, 73, passed away Thursday, April 8, 2021, surrounded by family and friends at Cedar Plantation in Metter, Georgia. She was born December 31, 1947, in Metter, Georgia to the late Joe Maxwell and Jessie Byrd Daniel Bird. There was a New Year’s Eve party going on at the time, and it moved to the hospital to welcome her into this world. She tried to uphold the tradition into which she was born by making everyone who was in her presence feel as if they were always at a...

Tommie (Tommy) Dale Rigdon, 70, passed away April 5, 2021 at his residence in Candler County, Georgia surrounded by his loved ones.  Tommy was a devoted and loving husband, father, son, brother, uncle, grandfather, and friend to many.  He will be greatly missed by all that loved him. Tommy was born in Candler County where he lived his entire life.  He was a graduate of Metter High School, class of 1968.  Upon graduation, Tommy began working in bricklaying and later...

Tony Garza, Jr., 80 years of life returned home Saturday April 3, 2021 to be with the love of his life and son.  He was the son of Antionio and Antolena Garza, Sr. He was one of fourteen children; eight brothers and six sisters. He was a farmer who worked tirelessly for his family.  Upon retiring, he enjoyed yard work and mostly spending time with his children and grandchildren. He was of the Catholic Faith. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Tony...

Rex Albert Stanford, 62, of Metter passed away early Friday, April 2, 2021 at his residence after a brief illness. Born in Metter he was a son of Carl H. Stanford and Mary Lou Collins Stanford Marsh.   Rex was a machinist having worked for RC Machine Shop in Statesboro.  He was a man who loved to work and loved his family and especially loved his grandchildren.  Rex enjoyed the river, fishing, hunting and he would pretty much do anything for anybody.  He was just a...

Steve Leonard Leverett, 65, of Metter, passed away Wednesday, March 31, 2021 at his residence in Metter. Born in Fort Stewart, Georgia, he was the son of Billie P. and Bobbie J. Leverett.  Steve grew up in Hinesville, Georgia and lived many years in New Orleans before retiring to Metter in 2006.  He was retired from Haliburton where he worked as a Completion Specialist in the oil industry.  Steve loved to fish, and he enjoyed nature. Surviving are his son, Preston Leverett...