Roscoe Warren Purvis, Jr.

Roscoe Warren Purvis, Jr., 77, passed away Thursday, December 1, 2022 at home under the care of Hospice of South Georgia and his loving family.

Warren was born January 4, 1945 in Jesup to the late Roscoe Warren Purvis, Sr. and LaTrelle Greene Purvis.  A graduate of Jesup High School, Class of 1963, Warren was a four year Letterman in football and track.  He was named to the Georgia All State Team and played in the North-South Georgia All Star Game.  Warren received a full scholarship to Mississippi State University earning a starting position in his freshman year.  A year later he returned home to marry the love of his life, Dinah Odom.  Shortly after the couple moved to Kentucky to attend college where Warren earned another full scholarship to Morehead State University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education.  He was a member of the 1966 Ohio Valley Championship Team.  After graduation, Warren returned to South Georgia where he taught school and coached High School Football, eventually landing a head coaching position at Charlton County High School where he lead the team to their first ever region championship.  Warren’s work ethic was second to none.  While in High School, he delivered groceries from his parents store and also worked in the family timber business in addition to his athletic accomplishments.   He opened his Cotton States Insurance agency in 1973 and operated it for over thirty years until retirement in 2004.  He is  a member of the 2003 and the 2012 Wayne County High School Sports Hall of Fame. 

Warren had a huge heart and loved helping people.  He was a former county commissioner and had served on the board of directors for the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce.  Warren was also a member of the Rotary Club of Jesup, the Jesup Jaycees, the Wayne County Touchdown Club and was a lifelong member of the Jesup First United Methodist Church where he attended the Drop in Sunday School Class.  

He was heavily involved in the Wayne County Production's version of the Hee Haw Show and The Jesup Jollies. He also coached little league football.  

In his spare time, Warren enjoyed saltwater fishing, bird hunting, cooking especially BBQ and entertaining friends.  He will be fondly remembered for his generosity, quick wit and storytelling abilities.   

In addition to his parents, his sisters, Dorothy Esser and Rita White, both preceded him in death.  

Survivors include his wife of fifty-eight years, Dinah Purvis of Jesup; daughter, Cynthia Purvis of McIntosh County; two brothers, Mike (Brenda) Purvis of Jesup and Fred (Joy) Purvis of Mansfield, brothers-in-law, Bob White of Monroe and Foster Odom of Savannah and two sisters-in-law, Sue Odom Tuten of Gardi and Linda Odom Phillips of Tybee Island.  A host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear Great God Children, survive.

Visitation will be from 3:00 until 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 4, 2022 at Howard & Jones Funeral Home in Jesup.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 5, 2022 at the Jesup First United Methodist Church with Reverends Rebecca Duke-Barton and Stanley Todd officiating.

Private Interment services will be held at Screven City Cemetery.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Drop In Sunday School Class of Jesup First United Methodist Church and the members of the Graduating Class of 1963, Jesup High School.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Jesup First United Methodist Church, 205 E. Cherry St., Jesup, GA 31546 or Hospice of South Georgia, 1625 Sunset Blvd., Jesup, GA 31545. 

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