The Pike County Journal-Reporter

Mrs. Ursula Thiele Stephens, 86, passed away Monday, August 27, 2018 at WellStar Spalding Regional Hospital in Griffin, Georgia. Ursula was born July 6, 1932 in Göttingen, Germany, to August and Maria Thiele. In 1952, Ursula moved to the United States. That same year, while working at her Uncle and Aunt’s coffee shop, she met Harry Stephens. It was love at first sight and the two were married 6 months later, on New Year’s Eve. They were happily married for 66 years. [Full story »] 

Mr. Charles Granville Way, Jr., age 84, of Pike County, passed away August 29, 2018, at his home. He was born in Swainsboro, son of the late Charles Granville Way, Sr. and Wilma Woods Way. Charles was raised in Swainsboro and attended the public schools there. Upon graduation he joined the U.S. Air Force and served in Texas, Mississippi, and Alabama. He served with the 315th Air Division (Combat Cargo) in Southeast Asia during the last months of the Korean War and as Special Forces Advisor in Vietnam (then called Indochina) to French Forces.  After his discharge from the Air Force, Charles worked with Delta Airlines as a mechanic and an inspector, retiring 32 years later. For many years he trained and showed standard-bred Roadster Horses from his small farm in Pike County. He enjoyed restoring vehicles, watching old westerns and the Falcons on “the tube”, and spending time with family and friends. [Full story »] 

Two men have been sentenced in connection with the 1983 torture murder of Timothy Coggins in neighboring Spalding County after court proceedings this summer but charges remain against three others facing lesser charges.

Franklin ‘Frankie’ Gebhardt was found guilty of murder and other charges after a cold case investigation and was sentenced to life in prison. Just weeks later, codefendant William ‘Bill’ Moore entered guilty pleas on charges of voluntary manslaughter and concealing the death of another. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison and 10 years on probation. [Full story »] 

Pike County Sheriff’s Office Investigators arrested Vincent Godley, 75, for two counts of aggravated child molestation, two counts of aggravated sexual battery and two counts of aggravated sodomy. An investigation ensued after a report concerning Godley and his possible involvement in the molestation of a child. [Full story »] 

William “Bill” Moore entered a guilty plea for the murder of Timothy Coggins on October 7, 1983 in front of judge W. Fletcher Sams on Thursday, Aug. 16. He entered a plea to Voluntary Manslaughter and Concealing the Death of Another and was sentenced to 20 years to serve, followed by 10 years on probation. He is banished from the Griffin Judicial Circuit. The family of Timothy Coggins and law enforcement were all in agreement with the guilty plea. [Full story »]