Finding out about recent losses in a tight-knit place like Tifton isn't just about checking a list. It’s about neighbors, teachers, and the folks you’d see every Tuesday at the grocery store. Honestly, the last month and a half has been a heavy time for Tift County. Since the start of December 2025 and moving into these first few weeks of 2026, we’ve said goodbye to some real pillars of the community.
If you're looking for information on Tifton GA deaths for the last 45 days, you've likely noticed that the news doesn't always travel in one neat package. You get a snippet on Facebook, a phone call from a cousin, or you see the black draped across a storefront downtown.
People want to pay their respects. They want to know when the service at Bowen-Donaldson is, or if the family is gathering at Albritton’s. But more than that, there's a collective feeling of "who are we missing now?" It’s a small-town thing. You notice when the usual truck isn't parked in the usual spot.
Who We've Lost Recently in Tift County
The list of those who have passed away since late November 2025 is long, and it spans across all walks of life. We’ve lost educators who spent decades in the Tift County school system and veterans who served quietly.
Just this past week, the community felt the loss of John "J.W." Wyatt Underwood, a man many knew as "Dindad" or "Uncle Dub." He passed away on January 15, 2026. He was a fixture in the Waterloo community. Losing someone like that—someone who basically felt like everyone's uncle—leaves a hole in the neighborhood that's hard to fill.
Then there was Yvetta Kimmell, who also passed on January 15. She was a Berrien County native but had become a staple at Southern Oaks here in Tifton. When someone has been around since 1939, they carry a lot of history with them.
A Rough Start to 2026
The first few days of the New Year are supposed to be about fresh starts, but for many Tifton families, it’s been a season of mourning.
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- Patricia Ann Brown (passed January 13, 2026)
- Kenneth Douglas "Doug" Saxton (passed January 11, 2026)
- Christopher "Chris" Felton Rutland (passed January 11, 2026 at Emory)
- Donald "Don" Gene Bowers, Jr. (passed January 10, 2026)
- Rudine Lawson Cromer (passed January 8, 2026)
- Evan Scottie "Tank" Merrill (passed January 8, 2026)
Losing "Tank" Merrill at 87 hits hard. He was one of those guys who seemed like he’d always be there. And Doug Saxton, who was 76, had been at Harborview; his passing is another reminder of how much of our local history is tied to that generation.
Remembering the Lives from Late December 2025
If we look back just a few weeks into December, the Tifton GA deaths for the last 45 days include some names that really defined local leadership and spirit.
Coach Luther "Mayo" Tucker passed away on December 29, 2025. If you grew up playing sports or even just followed the Tift County Blue Devils, you knew Coach Mayo. He was 77. You can't replace that kind of mentorship. He didn't just teach the game; he taught kids how to be men.
The same day, we lost Frances Elizabeth Graham Wisham at the age of 93. She’d been at Southern Oaks. Think about that for a second—93 years. She saw Tifton change from a small agricultural hub into what it is today.
Others we said goodbye to during the holiday season included:
- Bobby Eugene Farmer, Sr. (Dec 29)
- Clifton Branam (Dec 29)
- Cynthia Goff Burleigh (Dec 21)
- Virginia "Ann" Gibbs Monk (Dec 19)
- Ray Hall (Dec 19)
It’s always a bit tougher when deaths happen right around Christmas. Families are trying to celebrate, but there's that empty chair at the table. You see it in the obituary notices—the requests for "in lieu of flowers" often going to local churches or the American Cancer Society, reflecting the causes these folks cared about.
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Why Keeping Up With Local Obituaries Matters
You might wonder why people are so focused on these lists. In Tifton, an obituary isn't just a notice; it’s a tribute. It’s where you find out that Willie Mae Walker Baldree (passed Jan 7) was 83 and lived a full life right here at home. Or that Randall Neil Mullis, who was only 53, passed away at Tift Regional on January 5.
Fifty-three is young. It shakes the community when someone in the prime of their life passes. It reminds everyone to hug their kids a little tighter.
When you look at the records from Albritton Funeral Directors, Bowen-Donaldson, and Southview Mortuary, you see a cross-section of Georgia life. You see the "Nana" titles, like Edna Ruth Ring (passed Jan 2), and the dedicated professionals like Ann Kanawha Mitchell "Connie" Lightfoot, a registered nurse who spent 45 years serving the sick before passing on New Year's Day.
How to Find Information and Offer Support
If you are looking for specific details on services or want to send a note to a family, you’ve basically got a few main hubs to check.
Most families in Tift County use one of the long-standing funeral homes. Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals and Albritton Funeral Directors handle a large portion of the arrangements. They usually post full obituaries within 24 to 48 hours of a passing.
Southview Mortuary and Reflection Cremation & Funeral Service also provide detailed updates. If you're looking for someone specific and don't see them on one site, check the others. Sometimes there's a delay depending on when the family finalizes the details.
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What to do if you can't find a notice
- Check the Tifton Gazette website. They often have a "Death Notices" section that is shorter than a full obituary but gets the info out faster.
- Look at the Legacy.com page for Tifton. It aggregates a lot of the local data.
- Search for the person’s name followed by "Tifton GA" on Facebook. Local churches often post about members who have passed before the official obituary is live.
Practical Steps for the Community
Losing this many people in a short window is a lot for a town our size to process. If you want to help the families affected by the Tifton GA deaths for the last 45 days, here is what actually helps:
1. Don't just ask "what can I do?" People are overwhelmed. Instead, tell them, "I'm bringing dinner over on Thursday" or "I'm going to mow your grass this weekend."
2. Share a memory. The families of people like Chris Rutland or Coach Mayo Tucker want to hear the stories you have. Post them on the funeral home’s "Tribute Wall." It means more than you know.
3. Support the local hospice. Many of these recent passings happened under the care of places like Willson Hospice House or at Southern Oaks. These facilities do the heavy lifting, and they always appreciate community support.
4. Check on the seniors. With the recent cold snaps and the flu season, our older population is vulnerable. A quick phone call can make a difference.
It's been a tough 45 days. But if there's one thing Tifton is good at, it's showing up when things get hard. Whether it’s at a graveside service at Oak Ridge Cemetery or just dropping off a pound cake, the way we remember our own is what makes this place home.
Next Steps for Readers:
- Visit the official websites of Bowen-Donaldson or Albritton Funeral Directors to view the full service schedules for this coming week.
- If you're looking for a way to honor a specific person, check their obituary for "Memorial Contributions" to ensure your gift goes where the family requested.
- Consider signing up for obituary alerts from local funeral homes so you don't miss the chance to support a friend or neighbor during their time of loss.