Raymond Yates Chauncey, Sr., died Feb. 3 at East Georgia Regional Medical Center in Statesboro. He was 83.

A native of Duval County, Chauncey was a member of Zoar Baptist Church in Baxley before being ordained in 1944 at Ten Mile Creek Baptist Church.

A graduate of Brewton-Parker College, Mercer University, and Southern Seminary, Chauncey was the first pastor at Dunn Memorial Baptist Church in Baxley. He also served as pastor at Second Baptist in Tifton, Alamo Baptist, Anderson Drive Baptist in Jesup, Ohoopee Baptist, Miles Chapel Baptist in Baxley, and Zoar Baptist churches. He also was a state chaplain at the state prison at Reidsville.

Chauncey is survived by his wife, Evelyn Jowers Chauncey of Baxley; daughters, Harriet McCoy and Betty Sauls, both of Baxley; son, Raymond Chauncey, Jr.; sisters, Lois Thornton of Jesup and Rita Croom of DeBary, Fla.; ten grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

 

James Wilcox, of Hazlehurst, died Feb. 20. He was 87.

Wilcox was a lifelong resident of Jeff Davis County and member of First Baptist Hazlehurst. After ordained as a pastor in 1955, he went on to serve Oak Dale and Antioch Baptist churches in Laurens County; Oak View, Eureka, Oakland, and Mt. Pleasant Baptist churches in Jeff Davis County; Friendship and Big Creek Baptist churches in Bacon County; Phillipi Baptist in Appling County; Red Hill Baptist in Wayne County; Hope and Mt. Galilee Baptist churches in Wheeler County; Burkett Baptist in Coffee County; and Providence Baptist Church in Toombs County before retiring after 56 years of ministry.

He was preceded in death by a son, Waymon Wilcox, and sister, Lucille Hutchinson. Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Mildred Schell Wilcox; daughter Janell Squires; sons Larry Wilcox, Malcom Wilcox, and Jimmy Wilcox; brothers Edward Wilcox, Odis Wilcox, Bo Wilcox, and Theo Wilcox; 12 grandchildren; 25 great grandchildren; and four great great grandchildren.