William Wallace Warnick, III

William Wallace Warnick, III, 78, affectionately known as “Bill,” passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 17, 2026 at home.

A resident of Wayne County for the past fifty-six years, Bill was born on September 22, 1947 in Flora, Indiana to the late William Wallace Warnick, II and Genevieve Hanna Warnick.  He spent his early years in Flora where he graduated from Carroll County High School.  After high school, Bill proudly served his country in the United States Army, working as an Aviation Mechanic in Vietnam from 1968-1969.  Upon return to the states, Bill joked that he nearly froze to death even though he was stationed in South Georgia.  He began a career shortly after at Sears where he worked on appliances for twenty-six years and later at Wayne Memorial Hospital in the maintenance department for twenty-seven years before his retirement.  Bill was a hard worker.  He always had jobs on the side in addition to his “regular,” work.  He was instrumental in keeping both theaters in Jesup running using his knowledge of projectors and he also operated his own locksmith and home appliance repair business for many years.  He truly was a jack of all trades and could fix nearly anything.  Bill was an active member of Trinity Baptist Church where he was bestowed the honorable title of Deacon Emeritus.  He was always easy to get along with and had a soft spot in his heart for animals, especially his beloved canine companion, Blue.

Survivors include his wife of thirty-five years, Cheryl Westberry Warnick of Odum; one daughter, Kimberly Alam of Hazlehurst; step daughter, Elaine Greene and husband, Ian of Odum; four grandchildren, Sameer and Aryian Alam and Ellie and Will Greene; two brothers, David Warnick and wife, Cindy of Martinsville, Indiana and Charles “Chuck” Warnick and wife, Carolyn of Thompson Station, Tennessee; brother-in-law, Jim Westberry and wife, Anne of Odum; sister-in-law, Sherry Dowling and husband, Jerry of Odum and two nieces, Elizabeth Landrum and Ashley Coburn.  Numerous extended family members also survive.

Visitation will be from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at Howard & Jones Funeral Home in Jesup.

Funeral services will be at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at Trinity Baptist Church with Reverends Terry Jackson and Hayward Bass officiating.

Interment services will follow in Odum City Cemetery.

Active pallbearers will be John Pope, Will Greene, Ian Greene, Garrison Grantham, Miles Starling and Joe Davis.

Honorary pallbearers will be Deacons of Trinity Baptist Church, Carrol Suggs, Rick Davidson, Orie Herrin, Joseph Arnett, Roger Wiggins and H.L. Spell and Adnan Alam.

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