Joe Mitchell "Sonny" Phelps of Kingsland, formerly of Douglas, passed away Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013, at his home. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. today at Northside Baptist Church, 2489 Douglas-Broxton Highway, Douglas, with the Rev. Marvin Holladay and the Rev. Mark Gentry officiating. Interment will follow at the Douglas City Cemetery. The following nephews will serve as pallbearers: Glenn Bledsoe, Donald Bledsoe, Kyle Phelps, Rob Bryan, Austin Blanchard, Jerry Elliott, Terry Elliott, Stanley Elliott, Michael Howell, Jeff Salter, Jason Boatright and Scott Boatright. Mr. Phelps was born Sept. 24, 1941 in Turner County to John Mitchell and Bessie Joe Cheek Phelps, both deceased. Two sisters, Linda and Gail Phelps, also preceded him in death. Mr. Phelps was a 1960 graduate of Irwin County High School. He was a retired, self-employed, hard working businessman. He was a charter member of Northside Baptist Church in Douglas and an active member of Westside Baptist Church in Saint Marys. He and his wife, Carlene, founded The Douglas Shopper, Coffee County News and The Advertising Mart. His favorite pastimes were barbecuing, fishing and gardening. Because he was a barbecue enthusiast, he and his wife, along with his special fishing/barbecuing buddy, the late Dr. Donald "Doc" Gillis, launched a competition barbecue cooking team with many Grand Champion trophies, "The Smokehouse." They also began publishing a national monthly publication, the "National Barbecue News," in 1989. In the early 90s, Mr. Phelps served two terms as president of the National Barbecue Association. He and his wife, along their two sons, Mitch and Kell, headed up the National BBQ Festival for 10 years. In 1999, he retired to a lifestyle of traveling, gardening and fishing, along with judging and writing about barbecue. He was known for his generosity and his love of friends and family. When visiting others, he never went empty handed. There was always a container of fish or barbecue in tow as a southern hospitality gift. Mr. Phelps is survived by his wife, Jessie Carlene Salter Phelps, to whom he was married for 50 years in March 2013; his two sons, John Mitchell Phelps Sr. (Shanda) of Douglas and Raymond Kell Phelps (Janet) of Douglas; his grandchildren, John Mitchell Phelps Jr. (Ashlee), Brittney Nicole Phelps, Bailey Joe Phelps and Raylyn Kelli Phelps; a great-grandchild, Abraham "Bram" Kruz Phelps; three sisters, Carol Bryan of Chula, Dot Bledsoe (Royce) of Muzella and Patsy Blanchard (Earl) of Enigma; a brother, Danny Phelps (Mary) of Chula; and four sisters-in-law, Bobbie Elliott (Wayne) of Thomaston, Sylvia Howell (Bruce) of Loganville, Glenda McKinley of Thomaston and Dianne Boatright of Bogart. In lieu of flowers, Joe has requested loved ones to send donations to Operation BBQ Relief, 1502 A-North 7 Highway, Pleasant Hill, MO 64080, or online at www.operationbbqrelief.org. The mission of Operation BBQ Relief is to provide compassion and to offer hope and friendship to those whose lives have been affected by natural disasters across the United States through their expertise in cooking and catering barbecue meals and their ability to quickly mobilize their teams into any area where nature disrupts and tears apart the lives of Americans. This is an organization that Joe, along with family members, volunteered several times during his life. Arrangements are being handled by Albritton-Beaumont Funeral Directors in Tifton. You may sign the online guest registry at www.albritton-beaumontfuneralhome.com.