Archives for February 2014

Ruth Vause Heyman

February 24, 2014 - Leave a Condolence

Ruth Vause Heyman, 89, passed away quietly at home on February 24th, 2014 (after a long illness) surrounded by her loving family.

She was a longtime member of Ardsley Park Baptist Church, Past President of the Department of Georgia, American Legion Auxiliary and a thirty-year member and Past President of NAWIC.

Preceded in death by her first husband, Woody Vause, she is survived by her husband, Herman Heyman, her sons, Steven of Chesapeake, Virginia & Timothy of Pooler; daughters, Cynthia Valdes of Savannah & Lisa Chambers of Augusta; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

A Graveside Service will be held Thursday at 12:00 P.M. in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens with a Reception following at the Savannah Baptist Temple, 1151 Mohawk Street, Savannah.

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James Clayton Riner

February 23, 2014 - Leave a Condolence

James Clayton Riner, age 93, passed away Sunday, February 23rd, 2014 at Hospice Savannah.

Survivors include his brother, Pharis Riner, niece, Brenda Riner, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, & other family.

The family will receive friends at Families First Funeral Care on Wednesday from 5:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. with Funeral Services to follow at 6:00 P.M..

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Melvin Walter Richardson

February 21, 2014 - Leave a Condolence

Melvin W. Richardson, age 82, of Savannah, passed away on Friday, February 21st, 2014 under the care of Hospice Savannah.

A native of Macclenny, Florida, he was the son of Eullie Richardson and Edith Taylor Richardson.

Preceded in death by his parents, his wife Leonora A. Richardson and several siblings, he is survived by two daughters, Diane Clark (Ricky) of Macclenny, Florida & Brenda R. Anderson (Aksel) of Bloomingdale; a son, Marvin W. Richardson (Hollie) of Savannah; grandchildren, Laura A. Hall of Bloomingdale, Mr. & Mrs. Greg and Brandi Bledsoe, Miss Melissa Anderson, Mr. & Mrs. Lance Griffis, and Mr. & Mrs. Jeremy Griffis; nine great-grandchildren; two sisters, Judy Crews (Buddy) and Helen Byrd (Schell); and one brother, Marvin E. Richardson (Vickie).

The family will receive friends Tuesday, February 25th from 12:00 P.M. to 1:00 P.M. at Families First Funeral Care with Memorial Services to follow at 1:00 P.M.

Donations may be made to assist with the Funeral Arrangements for

Mr. Richardson by clicking here.

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Roy F. Simmons

February 20, 2014 - 5 Condolences

Roy Simmons, a former offensive lineman for the Giants and the Washington Redskins and one of only a handful of N.F.L. players to have said publicly that they were gay — all after their playing careers ended — died Thursday, February 20th, 2014 in his apartment in the Bronx, New York. He was 57.

Roy Franklin Simmons was born on Nov. 8, 1956, in Savannah, Ga., one of six siblings by several fathers. A star at Beach High School, he received scholarship offers from multiple colleges before deciding on Georgia Tech.

After the Giants drafted him, he brought several of his siblings to live with him in the New York metropolitan area, sometimes cooking their meals before he headed to practice.

Simmons lost his starting job with the Giants during the 1981 season and left the team by choice before the 1982 season. After working as a baggage handler at Kennedy Airport, he tried to return to the Giants in 1983 but did not make the team. The Redskins picked him up, and he played in the Super Bowl, which the Redskins lost to the Los Angeles Raiders, 38-9, in Tampa, Fla.

Simmons played one year in the United States Football League before leaving football in 1985.

He was in and out of drug treatment after leaving football. His brother said he believed that Simmons had received public assistance and financial help from the N.F.L., but that he struggled to get by and lived alone in the Bronx. Simmons sometimes volunteered at polling precincts in the Bronx on Election Days, his brother said.

In addition to his brother Gary, his survivors include his daughter, Kara Jackson; a sister, Katherine; three other brothers, Larry, Ricky and LaTawn; and a grandson. His mother, Norma, died several years ago.

Simmons, a born-again Christian, was the subject of a video profile made by the Christian Broadcasting Network focusing on his growing faith and his efforts to stay sober. The profile suggested that Simmons had come to believe that homosexuality was wrong, but his brother Gary said that was not the case.

“At no time has he ever shied away from being who he was,” Gary Simmons said of his brother’s later life. “Those who knew Roy know where he stood. Roy was a gay black man who came out of the South.”

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Robert C. “Bobby” Weiland, Jr.

February 16, 2014 - Leave a Condolence

Robert C. "Bobby" Weiland, Jr., age 85, of Savannah passed away February 16th, 2014 at Hospice Savannah.

Born February 10, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia Bobby was the son of Robert C. Weiland, Sr. and Dorothy Starren Weiland and was a veteran of the U.S. Army.

He is survived by his wife, Sara Jenkins Weiland of Savannah; a step-daughter, Shirley A. White of Statesville, North Carolina; 1 sister, Virginia Fields of Stone Mountain, Georgia; sister-in-law, Lyne B. Weiland & family of Richmond Hill; his aunt, Foncie Edenfield & family of Savannah; and brother-in-law, H.T. Jenkins & family of Sylvania.

Special thanks to Dickie Wohltman & family and Linda Skinner & family for their devoted friendship and to the Staff of Hospice Savannah for their support and care.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, February 22nd, at 1:30 pm in the Chapel of Bonaventure Funeral Home,

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