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 who actually passed away a few weeks ago as I got behind on email for while. All caught up now!
Please join me in offering condolences to their families and holding them in the light.
Barney Eugene Kea
09 Jan 1945 - 24 Aug 2026
Mr. Barney Eugene Kea, 81, of Swainsboro, passed away Monday, August 24, 2026, at his residence. He was born on January 9, 1945, to the late Franklin Eugene Kea and Jacqueline Whitehead Kea.
Barney Kea was a man who enjoyed the simple things in life and made the most of the time he had with family and friends. He loved being outdoors, especially hunting and fishing, and was a proud member of the Boggy Bottom Hunting Club. Barney was also an avid sports fan and enjoyed following his favorite teams.
One of the things he enjoyed most was coaching his sons during their Dixie Youth years and later in rec football. He loved being involved and watching his boys grow, both on and off the field. Mr. Barney worked at J. A. Youngblood Oil for 40+ years where he retired.
Barney proudly served his country in the United States Navy and later gave back to his community as a volunteer firefighter. He was a man of strong faith and was of the Baptist faith. Through his love for family, his service to others, and the things he enjoyed, Barney leaves behind many memories that will be cherished by all who knew and loved him.
Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Mrs. Patricia Kea of Swainsboro; sons, Rusty Kea (April), Benjie Kea, both of Swainsboro; brother, Donnie Kea (Nancy) of Elberton; sister, Patricia Kuhnert (Jack) of Eatonton; grandchildren, Cameron Kea (Jency), Emily Kea; great-grandson, Beckham Kea; nieces, Tammy Cochran (Steven), Megan; nephews, Jeffrey McCarty (Janet), Dusty Kuhnert; special family friend, Magda Juarez and many other friends.
Funeral Services will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 26, 2026, in the chapel of Chapman Funeral Home with Reverend Jack Whitehead officiating.
Interment will be in Mt. Zion Primitive Baptist Church cemetery.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to services.
Pallbearers are Mitch Riner, Jeff Lane, Jeremy Faircloth, Jody Womack, Gene Hall and Gene Kea.
Honorary pallbearers are members of the Wednesday Night Supper Club.
Condolences may be expressed at www.chapmanfhofswainsboro.com.
Chapman Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements for Mr. Barney Eugene Kea, 81, of Swainsboro.
05 Jul 1936 - 27 Aug 2026
James Carlton “Jimmy” Flanders, age 90, passed away at his home on Thursday, August 27, 2026 surrounded by his family. Mr. Jimmy was born July 5, 1936 to the late Jesse Miller Flanders and Mossevie Sikes Flanders. Weighing a whopping 3 pounds, 4 ounces, his dad said he was the ugliest baby he had ever seen. They placed him in a coffee can for the first few months of his life and sat the can by the fire to keep him warm.
As a very young boy, maybe four to five years old, Jimmy sold the Savannah newspaper and was the shoeshine boy for the WWII sailors that were in the port of Savannah. His brothers, Paul and Perry, made sure he got set up at his station in Wright Square and helped him with his money because he was too young to know how to make change. As a teenager, Jimmy was a professional featherweight boxer and weighed in at 135 pounds. He fought many boxing matches under the name of Sweet Pea. The first time he got knocked out, he decided boxing wasn’t for him. He was drafted by the Pittsburg Pirates to play short stop in the minor leagues but soon found out they didn’t pay enough.
At the ripe old age of 19, Mr. Jimmy moved to Swainsboro and met the love of his life, Thomasene Lawson Flanders. They eloped after dating for only a few months and were married in Allendale, SC, just 20 days after Mrs. Thomasene turned 16 years old. They were happily married for almost 70 years. And they said it would never last.
After returning to Swainsboro, he was employed by the Georgia Power Company and retired with over 30 years of service. During that time, he was a volunteer firefighter and retired with 33 years of service. Mr. Jimmy was also an open water search and rescue diver. He served as Secretary and was Past Master of the Swainsboro Masonic Lodge. He was also a proud member of the Alee Shrine Club.
Mr. Jimmy is survived by his wife, Thomasene Lawson Flanders of Swainsboro; three daughters and two sons-in-law, T’Lene Allen (Larry) of Hawkinsville, Sherri Flanders Clifton (Jim) of Eatonton, Emmie S. Flanders of Swainsboro; one son and daughter-in-law, Tommy Perry Flanders (Julie) of Claxton; 15 grandchildren, T’Neil Williams, Ryan Phipps, Brandon Bouchillon, Casey Yarbrough, Carly Tucker, Cody Clifton, Makenzie Clifton, Kaleb Allen, Bethany Allen, Lydia Jones, David Allen, John Mark Allen, Micah Allen, Marianna Noel and Joseph Allen; 24 great grandchildren; and was anticipating the birth of his first great-great grandchild; three nieces and a nephew.
Mr. Jimmy is predeceased by his parents, Jesse Miller Flanders and Mossevie Sikes Flanders; brothers, Perry Flanders and Paul Flanders; brother-in-law, Tommy Lawson; mother and father-in-law, Thomas and Juanita Lawson.
Visitation will be held Monday, August 31, 2026 from 6-8 p.m. at Chapman Funeral Home in Swainsboro. Funeral service will be held Tuesday, September 1, 2026 at 11 a.m. in the chapel of Chapman Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Swainsboro City Cemetery with Masonic rites.
Active pallbearers will be Tommy Perry Flanders, Jim Clifton, Larry Allen, Jack Williams, Sam Williams, Brandon Bouchillon, and Ryan Phipps.
Honorary pallbearers will be Brad Williams, Mickey Flanders, Jeremy Hulen, Calvin Bell, Casey Yarbrough, Johnny Tuten, Kendall Gross, Cody Clifton, the Swainsboro Masonic Lodge, current and former Georgia Power employees and current and former employees of the Swainsboro Fire Department.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Masonic Children’s Home, 811 Mulberry St. Macon, GA 31201 or to your local animal shelter. The family would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Ogeechee Area Hospice for all the care and concern they showed our daddy and our family during his illness.
Condolences may be expressed at www.chapmanfhofswainsboro.com
Chapman Funeral Home of Swainsboro is in charge of the arrangements for Mr. James Carlton "Jimmy" Flanders, 90, of Swainsboro.
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