Bobby Miller Martin, 88, of Jesup died peacefully surrounded by her loving family November 16 at Hospice of South Georgia Inpatient Unit in Jesup. A native of Wayne County, she was predeceased by her parents, Barney F. and Inez Miller; brothers Don and Edward Miller; and her former husband, Earl Martin.

Survivors include her daughters Bev Deal and Nancy Martin both of Jesup; grandchildren Miki Deal Thomaston (Jody) of Jesup, and Chad Deal (Jessica) of St. Augustine, Fla.; great grandchildren, Jackson and Greyson Thomaston of Jesup and Lilly Deal of St. Augustine; and sister-in-law, Jackie Miller of Jesup.

Born December 18, 1935, Bobby graduated from Odum High School in 1953, where she played basketball for four years, was named most talented, class secretary, member of the FHA ,4-H, and she served on the staff of the school newspaper and yearbook.

Bobby delayed furthering her education to be a wife and mother, and she worked as a secretary at ITT Rayonier for a number of years. But she never gave up on her dream of going to college. In the early 1980s, she began classes at Brunswick Junior College, where she was the editor of the college's What's Happening newsletter. She served as assistant editor and then editor of Seaswells literary magazine in 1981, and was the first place recipient of the American Scholastic Press Association Leadership Scholarship in 1982.

After transferring to Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Bobby went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Arts/Journalism in 1984 at the age of 48. While at Georgia Southern she served as assistant editor of the college yearbook in 1983 and then as editor of The Reflector in 1984. She was a member of Gamma Beta Phi, a national honors and service society, and was a special initiate of Phi Mu. In addition, she received recognition for the highest score award on the Regent's Exam and was chosen as Who's Who in 1983 in America's Colleges.

With a great joy for learning, Bobby was a member of Mensa, the international high-IQ society comprised of people in the top 2 percent of intelligence test scores. She was an avid writer and enjoyed attending fiction writing workshops led by authors including Eugenia Price.

Professionally she served  as editor of The Ludowici News, as a writer for The Press-Sentinel in Jesup and as an instructor at Altamaha Technical College. She served as editor of The  Wayne County History Book published in 1990. She also worked with Fair Haven in Jesup and as a secretary at Odum Baptist Church.

Bobby loved spending time with her family, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She enjoyed shopping and fashion, manicures, eating out with her family and the holidays. She was also excited about the upcoming birth of her fourth great grandchild, Daisy Deal. The final years of her life were spent in nursing homes, and the family extends tremendous gratitude to her compassionate caregivers Teresa Davis, Barbara Hill, Alfreda West and Jean Latham.

Funeral services will be 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 19, 2024 at Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home Chapel with Elder Jason Deal, Miki Deal Thomaston, and Rev. Stanley Todd officiating. Interment will follow in Pinecrest Memorial Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be Kermit, Bruce, Timmy and Dale Buie, Mark McGregor, and Jody Thomaston. Honorary pallbearers will be the employees of Harborview, Hospice of South Georgia, and Cotton Grove Estates.

Family will receive friends from 2:00-3:00 p.m. prior to services at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of South Georgia, 1625, Sunset Blvd, Jesup, GA 31545.

Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home of Jesup is in charge of arrangements.