Pearson-Dial Funeral Home

Pearson-Dial Funeral Home Pearson-Dial Funeral Home is Pierce County's oldest family owned & operated funeral home.

Our family has been proudly serving families in our area since 1966 with the most compassionate care.

Congratulations to Pierce County's 2025 Community Stars recipients! Thank you for all you do for our community!
04/03/2026

Congratulations to Pierce County's 2025 Community Stars recipients! Thank you for all you do for our community!

Private Bennett Hubert Waters, a native of Blackshear, Georgia, was born on October 17, 1917, the son of James Lester Wa...
03/30/2026

Private Bennett Hubert Waters, a native of Blackshear, Georgia, was born on October 17, 1917, the son of James Lester Waters and Minnie L. Bennett Waters (later Kelly). He was raised alongside his siblings, James Woodrow Waters, Jewel Eliza Waters Futch, and Geneva Waters Lamb.

Prior to Private Waters remains being located, his nephews Bobby Hugh Futch, Al Lamb, and Wendell Waters, and his niece Sheila Lamb have also passed. Living relatives are his nieces Laura Waters Anderson of Blackshear, Matilda Waters Dukes of Quitman, GA, Nell Waters Clanton of Jesup, GA, Joann Futch Smith of Blackshear, GA, Pam Lamb Solt of Springfield, GA and numerous great nieces and nephews, great, great nieces and nephews, and great, great, great nieces and nephews.

During World War II, Bennett Hubert Waters served in the United States Army Air Forces as a Private assigned to the 17th Bombardment Squadron, 27th Bombardment Group. His unit arrived in the Philippines in October 1941, shortly before the Japanese attack on Clark Field and the subsequent invasion of Luzon.

Following the fall of the Philippines, Private Waters was captured and taken as a prisoner of war on April 9, 1942, after the surrender of U.S. forces on the Bataan Peninsula. He was initially held at the Cabanatuan Prisoner of War Camp, where he remained during the summer of 1942. In 1943, he was assigned to a labor detail to assist in rebuilding Nichols Airfield under harsh conditions.

In the summer of 1944, as Japanese forces began evacuating prisoners of war from the Philippines, Private Waters was among those transported aboard Japanese vessels as part of this effort. He ultimately died while still a prisoner of war on January 9, 1945, in Takao, Formosa (present-day Taiwan), at the age of 26.

For decades, Bennett Hubert Waters was listed as missing in action. In a significant development, his remains were officially accounted for and identified by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency on June 18, 2025, bringing long-awaited closure to his family after nearly eighty years. His service and sacrifice have since been recognized through official records and memorials honoring his dedication and loss.

Bennett Hubert Waters is remembered for his service to his country and the endurance he demonstrated under the most difficult circumstances. His story stands as a testament to the sacrifices made by members of the Greatest Generation during World War II.

Funeral service is Saturday morning, April 4, 2026, at 11 o’clock at First Baptist Church in Blackshear, GA.

Interment will be in the City of Blackshear Cemetery with full military honors provided by the Honor Guard from Ft. Stewart.

Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online guestbook at www.pearsondial.com.

Pearson-Dial Funeral Home is honored to serve the Waters family during this time.

Please join us in lifting up the Alderman family in prayer as they cope with the loss of their companion, father, grandf...
03/29/2026

Please join us in lifting up the Alderman family in prayer as they cope with the loss of their companion, father, grandfather, great, grandfather, brother, and uncle. Our deepest condolences to the family during this time.

Mr. Michael Anthony Alderman, 62, of Blackshear, passed away Monday morning, March 23, 2026, at Memorial Satilla Health in Waycross.

Born in Savannah, GA on April 4, 1963, he lived in Pierce County most of his life. Michael was a 1981 graduate of Blackshear High School and went on to graduate from South Georgia College. He was a salesman for Southern Outdoor Sports in Waycross. Michael was a huge sports enthusiast with playing golf and watching the Georgia Bulldogs being pretty high on his list. He was of the Baptist faith.

He was the son of the late William M. & Barbara Jean Brown Alderman.

He is survived by his companion, Shirley Cauthen of Blackshear; his sister and brother-in-law, Angie & Thomas DuBose of Iron Mountain, MI; his children Jenny (Justin) Strickland of Blackshear and David (Marti) Cauthen of Patterson; grandchildren, Raechel Cauthen, Raegen Cauthen, Jon Strickland, Thomas Cauthen, Julian Strickland, and Oliver Strickland; a great grandchild, Oaklynn Cauthen; nephews, two nephews, Benji and Buck; and several other relatives and friends.

The family will be receiving friends at the funeral home on Tuesday afternoon, March 31, 2026, from 2 to 4 pm.

Memorialization will be by cremation.

Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online guestbook at www.pearsondial.com.

Pearson-Dial Funeral Home is honored to serve the Alderman family during this time.

03/28/2026

I would like to thank everyone that helped make Pvt. Waters's homecoming memorable. The Duval County Sheriff's Office & Sgt. Wise & Sgt. Howell, the Nassau County Sheriff's Office, the Georgia State Patrol - Post Commander Miles Cooper, the Charlton County Sheriff's Office, the Brantley County Sheriff's Office, the City of Hoboken, the Pierce County Sheriff's Office, the Blackshear Fire Department & the Blackshear Police Department did an amazing job. Thank you to the Patriot Riders for all you did. We, the staff of Pearson-Dial Funeral Home, wish to thank Pvt. Waters's family for allowing us this huge honor of not only getting him home but laying him to rest next to his family. Pvt. Waters - thank you for your sacrifice. Rest well now soldier. You're home. 🇺🇸🙏🏻

Please join us in lifting up the Davis & Carter families in prayer as they cope with the loss of their son, grandson, gr...
03/28/2026

Please join us in lifting up the Davis & Carter families in prayer as they cope with the loss of their son, grandson, great grandson, nephew, and cousin. Our deepest condolences to the family during this time.

Mr. William Kyle Davis, 22, of Blackshear, passed away Thursday morning, March 26, 2026, at Memorial Satilla Health in Waycross. Kyle passed away on the one-year anniversary of his brother, Connor’s, passing.

Born in Waycross, GA on September 25, 2003, he lived in Pierce County all his life. Kyle was a 2022 graduate of Pierce County High School. He enjoyed several hobbies including collecting Hot Wheels cars, putting puzzles together, drawing, and playing on his PlayStation. Kyle also enjoyed going to the movies and the beach. He loved spending time with his family and playing ball for the Miracle League. He attended New Life Assembly of God.

In addition to his brother, Connor, Kyle was also preceded in death by his paternal grandmother, Ava Mathis; his maternal great grandfather, Mackie Turner; his aunt, Christina Turner; and two cousins, Baby Brixton Beau Ogden and Kimberly Warren Guess.

He is survived by his parents, William “Bill” Davis and April Michelle Carter both of Blackshear; his maternal grandmother and caretaker, Linda Turner Carter of Blackshear; his maternal grandfather, Roger Carter of Waycross; his great grandmother (Mema) Janice Melton Turner of Blackshear; his aunts, Melinda (Jason) Long of Waycross and Scarlett (Bud) Walker of Florida; his uncle, Roger Lee Carter of Blackshear; his cousins, Alissa Carter, Caleb Alexander, Trent Roberson, Dennis Duncan, Dakota Davis, and Alex Mcghin; and several other relatives and friends.

Funeral services for Kyle will be Friday, April 3, 2026, at 3:00 o'clock from the Pearson-Dial Funeral Home Chapel.

Visitation will be held Thursday evening from 6 until 8 at the funeral home.

Interment will be in the Waters Cemetery.

Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online guestbook at www.pearsondial.com.

Pearson-Dial Funeral Home is honored to serve the Davis family during this time.

03/28/2026

Pvt. Bennett Hubert Waters will be arriving at the funeral home around 11:15 this morning. Please come out to welcome him home!

Help us honor Pvt. Bennett Hubert Waters as he arrives back to his hometown. We are estimating his time of arrival in B...
03/27/2026

Help us honor Pvt. Bennett Hubert Waters as he arrives back to his hometown. We are estimating his time of arrival in Blackshear to be between 11:15 - 11:45 tomorrow morning, Saturday, March 28th. What an honor it is to witness Pvt. Waters's homecoming. I hope everyone that can, will come line the street to welcome him home.

Please join us in lifting up the Edwards family in prayer as they cope with the loss of their mother, grandmother, great...
03/26/2026

Please join us in lifting up the Edwards family in prayer as they cope with the loss of their mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend. Our deepest condolences to the family during this time.

Mrs. Linda Diane Sheffield Edwards, 72, of Blackshear, passed away Friday evening, March 20, 2026, at the Hospice Satilla Hospice House in Waycross.

Born in Jacksonville, FL on January 8, 1954, she had lived most of her life in Florida until moving to Blackshear from Callahan five years ago. She loved shopping online, singing karaoke, and playing church music on her piano, but her greatest joy was time spent with family, especially her grand and great-grandchildren. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Along with her parents, Green Benjamin and Christine Johnson Sheffield, she is also preceded in death by her husband, Dewey Jefferson Edwards, and a daughter, Brenda Denise Francis.

She is survived by her daughter, Amanda Martin (Josh Duave) of Blackshear; 8 grandchildren, Laurie Langner, Joseph (Kimberly) Langner, Johnny Ray (Fabiana) Revels, Aubree Gibson, AJ Gibson, Kenneth (Kendra) Betts, Kyle Martin, and Mary Francis (Alex) Stone; 20 great-grandchildren; her best friend, Janet Dyal of Callahan, FL; and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

A Celebration of Life will be held Sunday afternoon, March 29, 2026, at 2 o’clock at her daughter’s residence at 1875 Williamson Road, Blackshear, GA.

Memorialization will be by cremation.

Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online guestbook at www.pearsondial.com.

Pearson-Dial Funeral Home is honored to serve the Edwards family during this time.

Please join us in lifting up the Hodge family in prayer as they cope with the loss of their wife, mother, grandmother, g...
03/23/2026

Please join us in lifting up the Hodge family in prayer as they cope with the loss of their wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and brother. Our deepest condolences to the family during this time.

Dartha Nell Hodge, aka Dot, Mom, Memaw, and friend, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, March 19, 2026. Dot was born at home in Blackshear, Georgia to John Riley and Mary Thrift on August 6, 1940. She was the youngest of five children and the only daughter.

Dot graduated from Blackshear High School in 1959. She met her husband, Rommie, while in school and they married on November 18, 1960. Rommie was in the Navy and thus her adventure as a military wife began. While stationed in Great Lakes, Illinois in 1971, she decided she wanted to become a cosmetologist. She eventually opened her own shops in Pensacola, Florida: Colonial Beauty Salon and M.D. Hair Designs, retiring in 2022 after 51 years of doing what she loved. Her clients were more than customers; they were her friends.

Some of Dot’s hobbies were working in her flower garden, jewelry-making, square dancing, scrapbooking, and traveling with great friends: Frank and Carleen Hansford and Marshall and Delores Welford.

Dot gave her life to Jesus at a young age and served him faithfully until the very end. She attended Gonzalez Baptist Church where she was involved in many areas of ministry, including teaching Sunday School. She most recently attended Harvest Christian Center where she was well loved.
She is preceded in death by her parents; John Riley Thrift and Mary Mock Thrift; and her brothers, Charles, Casper “Cap” and Carroll Thrift.

Dot is survived by her husband of 65 years, Rommie; her son, Wayne (Robbie) Hodge; her daughter, Mary Ann (Anthony) Harris; four grandchildren, Kendal, Jimmie, Billie, and Riley; five great grandchildren, Trey, Laedin, Zaylin, Josie, and Harrison; and her brother, Ray Thrift.

Funeral services for Mrs. Hodge will be Friday afternoon, March 27, 2026, at 3:00 o’clock from the Pearson-Dial Funeral Home Chapel with Bishop R. B. Gaskins officiating.

The family will be receiving guests in the chapel one hour prior to the service.

Burial will follow in Blackshear City Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Kendal Hodge, Jimmie Trawick, Billie Trawick, Riley Hodge, Laedin Jordan, and Trey Trawick.

Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online guestbook at www.pearsondial.com.

Pearson-Dial Funeral Home is honored to serve the Hodge family during this time.

Please join us in lifting up the Hickox family in prayer as they cope with the loss of their mother, daughter, and siste...
03/20/2026

Please join us in lifting up the Hickox family in prayer as they cope with the loss of their mother, daughter, and sister. Our deepest condolences to the family during this time.

Ms. Susen Ramona Hickox, 49, of St. Marys, passed away suddenly at her residence on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.

Born in Mainz, Germany on September 26, 1976, she had lived most of her life in Camden County. She had worked as a cake decorator in the Publix bakery in both St. Petersburg and Kingsland but had most recently worked for Visiting Angels as a home health aide. She loved her pet dogs and birds, and spending her spare time thrifting and shopping at the local Goodwill. Prior to her health decline, she loved to spend time with her daughters going to the beach and amusement parks. She was of the Baptist faith.

Survivors include her parents Layton and Petra Mueller Hickox of St. Marys; daughters, Madelynn Knight of Titusville, FL, Alexis Caouette, Elizabeth Caouette, and Morgan Caouette, all of Rochester, NH; a sister, Jenny Hickox of Richmond Hill; a brother, Daniel (Amie) Hickox of Murrayville, GA; several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

Funeral services for Ms. Hickox will be held Tuesday morning, March 24, 2026, at 11:00 o’clock from the Pearson-Dial Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Bryan Gill officiating.

Visitation for Ms. Hickox will be held at the funeral home chapel one hour prior to the service.

Interment will be in the New Home Cemetery.

Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online guestbook at www.pearsondial.com.

Pearson-Dial Funeral Home is honored to serve the Hickox family during this time.

Please join us in lifting up the Stokes family in prayer as they cope with the loss of their father, grandfather, great ...
03/20/2026

Please join us in lifting up the Stokes family in prayer as they cope with the loss of their father, grandfather, great grandfather, and brother. Our deepest condolences to the family during this time.

Mr. George Colonel “G.C.” Stokes, 70, of Blackshear, passed away early Thursday morning, March 19, 2026, at Memorial Satilla Health in Waycross.

Born in Homerville, GA on July 10, 1955, he lived in Pierce County most of his life. G.C. was a paramedic having worked for Pierce County EMS for many years. He was a loving father and grandfather and had the heart of a servant, for he was always there to help anyone he could. G.C. loved to fish, watch westerns, and make people laugh. Animals, farming, and mechanics were also some things he loved to do. He was of the Church of God faith.

He was a son of the late A. Kiser & Frances White Stokes. He was also preceded in death by a son-in-law, Jonathan Bennett; and two brothers, Jimmy Lee Stokes and James Franklin Stokes, Sr.

Survivors include two daughters, Mandy Alvey of Blackshear (Shawn Swallows of St. Augustine) and Tenesa (Charlie) Lightsey of Blackshear; four sons, Lyn (Ashley) Day of Blackshear, Ashley (Angela) Stokes of Blackshear, Bryan Stokes of Atlanta, and Austin Stokes of Atlanta. A brother, Kiser Stokes, Jr. of Blackshear; 12 grandchildren, Madalyn Lovell (Ian Lee), Nate Lovell (Kynslie Aldba), Matthew Day, Kalee Day, Ansley Stokes (Jacob O’Steen), Amiya Stokes, Maggie Stokes (Caiden Johns), Zakary Stokes, Christian Stokes, Karsyn Bennett, Charlie Hugh Lightsey, and Michaela Lightsey; a great grandchild, Amron Johns; and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

Funeral services for G.C. will be held Monday morning, March 23, 2026, at 11:00 o’clock from the Pearson-Dial Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Andy Peacock and Bro. John Alvey officiating.

Visitation for G.C. will be held at the funeral home chapel one hour prior to the service.

Interment will be in the White Cemetery in Axson at 3:00 o’clock on Monday afternoon.

The family kindly requests employees of Pierce County EMS serve as honorary pallbearers. Please meet at the funeral home chapel by 10:30 Monday morning.

Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online guestbook at www.pearsondial.com.

Pearson-Dial Funeral Home is honored to serve the Stokes family during this time.

Please join us in lifting the Simpson family up in prayer as they cope with the loss of their wife, mother, grandmother,...
03/13/2026

Please join us in lifting the Simpson family up in prayer as they cope with the loss of their wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Our deepest condolences to the family during this time.

Mrs. Lynda Faye Clark Simpson, 75, of Jacksonville Beach, passed away early Friday morning, March 13, 2026, at the Hospice Satilla Hospice House.

Born in Baxley, GA on May 10, 1950, she grew up in Waycross but lived in Jacksonville Beach for the past 37 years. Mrs. Simpson was a 1968 graduate of Waycross High School. Over the years she had worked at the Georgia Welcome Center as well as worked in the insurance industry as an administrative assistant and later as an insurance adjuster. She worked as a secretary for AT&T prior to her health declining. In her free time, Mrs. Simpson enjoyed floral arranging, decorating for the holidays, reading, crocheting, and doll collecting – all while sipping on her Cherry Vanilla Mr. Pibb. She was of the Baptist faith.

She was the daughter of the late William Henry & Doris Courson Clark. She was also preceded in death by both of her sons, Charles Raymond Lee, III and Danny Wayne Dixon, II; and all three of her brothers, Edgar Lee Clark, Sr., James Clark, and Larry Clark.

Survivors include her husband, John Simpson of Jacksonville Beach; her daughter and son-in-law, Sabrina & Mark Williams of Blackshear; 5 grandchildren, Joshua Lee (Christina) Williams, Johnnie Mark “Tra’” (Corrie) Williams, III, Caleb Dalton (Regan) Williams, Azrael Lee, and Julieann Lee; 7 great grandchildren, Cayden Anthony Braddock, Wesley Osbin Carter, Jace Lee Williams, Raiden Mark Williams, Reese Oliver Williams, Renly Gray Williams, and Tripp McCollum Williams; and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

Funeral services for Mrs. Simpson will be held Monday afternoon, March 16, 2026, at 4:00 o’clock from the Pearson-Dial Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Andrew Fountain officiating.

Visitation for Mrs. Simpson will be held at the funeral home chapel one hour prior to the service.

Memorialization will be by cremation.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hospice Satilla Hospice House, 811 Beacon Street, Waycross, GA, 31501.

Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online guestbook at www.pearsondial.com.

Pearson-Dial Funeral Home is honored to serve the Simpson family during this time.

Address

659 Main Street/PO Box 375
Blackshear, GA
31516

Telephone

+19124496626

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