Hiram Spencer Newsome

Mr. Hiram Spencer “Spence” Newsome, 79 of Blackshear, passed away Wednesday morning, February 24, 2021 at the Hospice Satilla Hospice House.

Born in Savannah, GA on March 2, 1941, he had lived in Fernandina Beach, FL for several years prior to moving to Blackshear 25 years ago.  Mr. Newsome was a graduate of Palatka High School and went on to enlist in the US Army where he served for 3 years.  He attended Jr. College and then started his career in the newspaper business for The Palatka Daily News where he worked in sales.  Mr. Newsome would go on to work for The Savannah Morning News followed by the Fernandina Beach News Leader where he would retire as their Sales Director.  He loved wood carving and building furniture, was a huge Atlanta Braves fan, would never pass up a good piece of cake or a slice of pecan pie, and cherished his memories of family gatherings at their former river cabin in Brantley County.  Mr. Newsome was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Blackshear where he was in the Susannah Wesley II Sunday school class which he had taught for many years.  He was very passionate about evangelism and was the chairman of the Evangelism Committee.     

Mr. Newsome was a son of the late John Hiram & Annie Pauline Towns Newsome.  He was also preceded in death by his brother, Lee Newsome.

Survivors include his wife of 34 years, Martha Knox Newsome of Blackshear; two daughters, Jackie Newsome (Neal Partain) of Pooler and Mechele Higginbotham (Rodney Symonds) of Palatka; two sons, Jack Newsome of Orlando, FL and Ron Hiram Newsome of Palatka; a step-daughter, DeAnn S. (Paul) Komanecky of Pooler; 2 brothers-in-law, Johnny Knox and Robert Knox both of Blackshear; 10 grandchildren, Tabitha (Robert) Swagert, Brandon (Erin) White, David Anderson, Devin (Sydney) Armand, Joshua Higginbotham, Jacob (Amira) Higginbotham, Jared Higginbotham (fiance’, Kelsey), David (Sharon) Komanecky, Lara Komanecky, and Autumn Newsome; 8 great grandchildren; niece, Carol Newsome (husband Jack Mania) of Emerald Isle, NC; nephews, Danny (Dawn) Newsome of Thomasville and Cory (Penny) Knox of Watkinsville; and several other relatives and friends.   

A memorial service for Mr. Newsome will be held Sunday afternoon, February 28, 2021, at 2:00 o’clock at the First United Methodist Church in Blackshear.

The family will visit with friends immediately following the service.

Memorials may be made to the Hospice Satilla Hospice House, 811 Beacon St., Waycross, GA  31501 or to the Evangelism Committee at First United Methodist Church, PO Box 127, Blackshear, GA  31516.

Due to COVID-19, social distancing guidelines as well as the use of facemasks will be required by all in attendance. 

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

Pearson-Dial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

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