Wilton "Sug" Baxley

Wilton “Sug” Baxley, age 93, left us on February10, 2022 while he was at Memorial Health Hospital in Savannah.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Jeanette Baxley; parents, Hilton & Ethel Baxley; son, Robert Baxley; and a grandchild, Jennie Phillips.

Mr. Baxley was a veteran of the United States Navy, having served in active and reserve duty, of which time he saw days of action in WWII and the Korean War. After his service in the military, Mr. Baxley went on to study at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he earned his degree in Engineering.  He was an esteemed employee of the IBM Corporation and spent 34 years applying his knowledge of the field, from 1953 to 1987. After his retirement, Mr. Baxley permanently relocated back to his family’s homestead in Baxley and went to work with the Atkins Agency at the age of 65 and worked faithfully as a licensed appraiser until the day before he entered the hospital on January 24.

During his retirement years, he served on the Appling County Board of Commissioners, was a volunteer for the USDA on the Seven Rivers Conservation and Development Council. Mr. Baxley was a member of Spring Branch Baptist Church and a dedicated member of his community with deep family heritage in Appling County. He will be greatly missed by many and was loved by more.

Survivors include his daughters, Marlyn Phillips of Monroe, Marian Spears of Baxley and Marsha Massey of Decatur; within that family is eight grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, and five great-great grandchildren; sisters, Hazel McFadden of Union, KY and Shirley Lamb of Baxley; and numerous nieces and nephews also survive.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, February 13, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. at Spring Branch Baptist Church with Rev. Tommy Daniels and Rev. Rick Brown officiating. Interment will follow in Carter Cemetery with Masonic Rites and Military Honors.

Active pallbearers will be Andy Massey, Carey Phillips, Jason Massey, Matthew Baxley, Brett Massey and Dustin Cotner.

Honorary pallbearers will be Staff of The Atkins Agency, the Senior Men’s Sunday School Class of Spring Branch Baptist Church, and the Appling Co. Young Farmers.

Visitation will be Saturday, 6-8pm, at Swain Funeral Home.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Swain Funeral Home.