Sympathy Saturday

    Sympathy Saturday will be where I share the obituaries and my condolences for members of my family tree who passed recently.  When you get to be a certain age, you begin to read the obituaries every day.  As the days go by, you read about more and more of your friends and family members who have died.  You compare their age to your own and get a jolt. "That could have been me." 

    For genealogists, checking obituaries and visiting cemeteries is as normal as breathing. I learn so much from an obituary, i.e., maiden names, parents' names; children's' and grandchildren's' names, funeral and burial locations, sometimes even a cause of death.  I want to learn these things not for any purpose but to put it on the family tree for future generations to see and learn about the family that went before them. I admit, most of these relatives I have never met, but I think it is important to share that they were here on this Earth, and they were important.

    So I am signed up with at least three funerals homes from Swainsboro, Vidalia, and Wrightsville to get daily notices of obituaries sent to my email.  Every day, I peruse them and with the help of the family tree, figure out who is related to me and add any new information to the tree. Some weeks there are several, and some weeks there are none. This week there are two that actually passed away in the Spring. I got behind on email for while.

    Please join me in offering condolences to their families and holding them in the light.

Robert Wayne Kea

October 11, 1941 - March 05, 2026

Swainsboro, Emanuel County, Georgia, USA

Mr. Robert Wayne Kea, 84, of Swainsboro passed away Thursday, March 5, 2026, at Emanuel County Nursing Home. He was born October 11, 1941, in Swainsboro to the late George Robert Kea and Frances Hooks Kea. Wayne was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Larry Kea.

Survivors include his daughter, Sherry Riner (Jason Howard) of Swainsboro; brothers, Phillip Kea (Carol) of Atlanta, Gene Kea (Ann) of Swainsboro); sister, Barbara Williams (Bill) of Register; grandchildren, Amanda Rich and Justin Riner, both of Swainsboro; great-granddaughter, Stella Riner.

No arrangements have been made at this time.

Condolences may be expressed at www.chapmanfhofswainsboro.com

Chapman Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements for Mr. Robert Wayne Kea, 84, of Swainsboro.

 

Henry Brady 'Bud' White Jr
August 20, 1953 - April 13, 2026

Mr. Henry “Bud” Brady White, age 72, of Tarrytown, died Monday, April 13, 2026, at his home following an extended illness. He was born on August 20, 1953, in Candler County to the late Henry Brady White and Mary Emma Collins White. The family returned to Tarrytown in 1959, and he graduated from Montgomery County High School, Class of 1972. After high school, he worked many years with the Georgia Department of Transportation. In 1996, Bud moved to Fairbanks, Alaska, working as a diesel mechanic for the Fairbanks School System before returning to Tarrytown in 2016. As a younger man, he was a member of Ruth’s Chapel Church. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, Georgia football and the NFL.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by a son, Anthony Shane White; and a brother, George Jeffery White.

He is survived by one son, Chris H. White of Vidalia; three stepchildren, Angie Barfield Jackson of Dublin, Quinton Barfield, and Richie Barfield and wife Sam, all of Fairbanks; one sister, Gail White Parrish of Tarrytown; one brother, James White and wife Chelia of Ailey; two nephews and two nieces.

A graveside funeral service will be held on Thursday, April 16th, 2026, at 12:00 noon at Tarrytown City Cemetery with Pastor Paul Beasley officiating.

The family will receive friends at the cemetery from 11:00 until just prior to the service.

Flowers are accepted, or memorial donations may be made to Diamonds in the Ruff, PO Box 771, Soperton, GA 30457.

Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home of Vidalia is in charge of arrangements.