Jimmie R. Downs, Sr.

Hinesville

Jimmie R. Downs, Sr., 84, passed away at home surrounded by his family on Saturday, October 7, 2017, after a short illness. 

A lifelong resident of Hinesville, he was retired from the US Air Force after 22 years of service and the Liberty County Sheriff’s Department after 28 years of service.  He was a member and Sunday School Superintendent of Crossroads Holy Church of God.  He enjoyed camping, riding his motorcycle, spending time with his wife and children, and taking family trips to Disney World.     

He was preceded in death by a son, Jimmie R. Downs, Jr.; granddaughter, Crystal DiGiacomo; and grandson, Dustin Downs.   

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Betty Downs of Hinesville; son, Richard Downs (Joann) of Jesup; daughters, Deborah Diamond (Bob), Donna Young (Jeff), and Teressa White, all of Hinesville; brothers, I.B. Downs, Jr., of Allenhurst and Donald Downs (Lenora) of Walthourville; 10 grandchildren, Joel Sherfy, Bryan Diamond, Julie Ratliff, Nick D’Ostroph, Jayson Tapley, Amanda white, Josh White, Heather Downs, Mary Downs, and Jimmie R. Downs, III;  15 great-grandchildren, Alex Hinton, Ari Diamond, Amber Hinton, Chelsea Sherfy, Autumn Sherfy, Chris Sherfy, Allison Sherfy, Emma Sherfy, Kadin Diamond, Abby Downs, Harper Groundwater, Carson Blackman, Jimmie R. Downs, IV, Dustin Conner, and David Conner; and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, October 11, 2017, at Carter Funeral Home Oglethorpe Chapel.  Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m., Thursday, October 12, 2017, at Crossroads Holy Church of God with Pastor Jeptha Newberry officiating.  Burial with Full Military Honors will follow in the Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Glennville at 1pm.

Pallbearers will be Jeptha Newberry, Jason Lee, Dave Towery, Sascha Krumnow, Jesse Cooke, and Dennis Cooke. 

Honorary pallbearers will be Danny Pittman, Dalton Dowd, and ALL of his Sunday School teachers.

Remembrances are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.StJude.org),  501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Carter Funeral Home Oglethorpe Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Online condolences may be made at www.carteroglethorpe.com.