Donnie Wheelis, 73, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 25, 2026 at home surrounded by his loving family under the care of Hospice of South Georgia.

Donnie was born on December 2, 1952 in Savannah Georgia.  He spent his early years in Appling County where he was raised by his grandparents, the late Johnny David Wheelis and Ida May Dubberly Wheelis.  After he met and married the love of his life for over fifty seven years, the late Deborah Ann Boatright Wheelis, the two relocated to Screven in 1969.  He farmed for nearly twenty years before buying a semi-truck that he owned and operated for Fleet Transport for many years, eventually giving up trucking to open his own repair shop, Wheelis Repair Service.  A longtime member of Ritch Baptist Church, Donnie was a faithful servant of the Lord who practiced the principals of Christianity by loving others and putting the needs of his family before his own.  He was strong, yet loving and he always enjoyed a good practical joke or prank.  Donnie loved the sport of truck pulling. For many years he could be found pulling trucks and later on working as the tech man with the Southern Pullers Association.   When he wasn’t working, Donnie enjoyed adding to his collection of model cars and tinkering with things around the house but above all, he enjoyed the time spent with those he loved the most, his family.  In addition to his parents, grandparents and wife, his sister, Laverne Spell, also preceded him in death.

Survivors include his children, Johnny Wheelis and wife, Missy of Odum, Buffie Morales and husband, Vincent of Screven, and Jody Wheelis of Screven; grandchildren, Kassi Odom and husband, Dawson, Kaylee White and husband, Rylee, Kensley Copeland and husband, Micah, Rileigh Morales, Kylie Wheelis, and Kasey Morales; two great grandchildren, Rhett and Reese and another great grandbaby, Charlotte, on the way.  Four sisters, Sandra Daniels of Jesup, Nell Williams of Villa Rica, Georgia, Carolyn Rice of Albany, Georgia and Faye Wheelis of Albany, Georgia also survive along with a host of nieces, nephews cousins and other extended family members.

Visitation will be from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Monday, July 27, 2026 at Howard & Jones Funeral Home in Jesup.  

Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 28, 2026 at Howard & Jones Funeral Home in Jesup with Reverends Calvin Anderson and Bryan Gill officiating.

Interment will follow in Ritch Baptist Church Cemetery.

Active pallbearers will be Jordan Hooks, Matthew Hayes, Tony Carter, Marcus Roberson, Mackey McReady, Delma Moseley, Caleb Tyre and Clay Brewton.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Southern Pullers Association.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Hospice of South Georgia, 1625 Sunset Blvd, Jesup, GA 31545.