A Life Story

Michael Joseph Winters, Sr. died peacefully at home on June 24, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. Mike was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend. Mike was born on June 18, 1941, at St Joseph’s Hospital to Sarah and Aloysius Winters, Sr. He attended Sacred Heart Parochial School, where he was an altar server and played on the football team. He attended Benedictine Military School and is a proud graduate of the class of 1960. After graduation, Mike enlisted in the United States Air Force, where he served our country for four years. During his years in the military, he served most of his time overseas in a Special Operations unit in Pakistan and Okinawa supporting operations in Vietnam. Returning home to Savannah, he worked for several years in the transportation industry, with H. J. Baker & Co., Old Dominion Freight Lines, and Eastern Express Line. Mike then went to work for Colonial Oil Industries, now Colonial Group, and served 35 years as the Marine Department Manager. He loved his Colonial family and made many lifetime friends there. While still at Colonial he established Hostess City Services a commercial cleaning business which he owned for several years. Mike retired in 2005 from Colonial. In his retirement, Mike loved working in the yard and had a green thumb. He could fix anything and had a special affinity for Duct Tape! Mike was a voracious reader, enjoyed mysteries, and had a love for Science Fiction Novels. In 1968, Mike married a lifelong friend and the love of his life, Bernadette Anne McDonough. Mike and Bernadette were blessed with 8 wonderful children. Mike adored his children and was very involved in their school, church, and sports activities at Sacred Heart. Mike was active in Parish life at Sacred Heart. He served as a member of the Parish Council for many years and was a member of the Savannah Parochial League Committee. He served as a Eucharistic Minister at Sacred Heart and later at St James Church. Mike is a member and faithful communicant of St. James the Less Parish in Savannah. He has been a member of the Knights of Columbus, Council 631, for 65-plus years. Mike loved and was endlessly proud of his Irish heritage and was a member of the St Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, where he served on the Executive Committee and was a member of the Adjutant Staff for over 50 years. He was a member of The Irish Heritage Society, where he served as President, and was a proud member of the Hibernian Society of Savannah. Mike worked in tandem with his wife, Bernadette, in coordinating the Tara Feis Celebration, held annually in Emmet Park the Saturday before St Patrick’s Day for 26 years. One of Mike’s most cherished activities was being a member of the “BC Boys Lunch Out Class of 1960” that continues today. This BC Class has continued meeting and having Class Reunions since their graduation in 1960. Mike loved music, his favorite singers being Nat King Cole and Dean Martin. He loved musicals, classical, popular, and country music. On their many road trips, he would put in the CD, and he and Bernadette would sing most of the way to their destination. He loved to sing in Church as well. Mike and Bernadette were members of the Friends Supper Club group, which met every other month for 20-plus years. Mike was a member of the Savannah Quarterback Club for many years. As a dedicated DAWG Fan, he began anticipating annually the opening of the College Football Season in late summer. He had happy memories of attending the UGA games in Athens, Ga, and as a member of the Quarterback Club, enjoyed the organization's bus trips to many College and NFL Games over the years. Of all his loves and interests, none was as important as spending time with his family. His wife, children, and grandchildren were the loves of his life. His constant quote to them all was always “Family First”. He was always there to help at home, assist a friend, help with a children’s sporting event, or just lend a helping hand where needed. Mike was a very kind and caring man to the end. He had a great love of his God, his Family and Friends, and a deep and passionate love of his Country and its Flag. Surely at the Heavenly Gates the Lord will say, “Well done, My good and faithful servant” Mike is pre-deceased by his parents, Sarah and Aloysius Winters, his sister, Patricia Winters Halligan, and brother –in- law Tony Halligan; his brothers, Aloysius Winters, Jr. And his wife Barbara Burns Winters, Kirby Joseph Winters Sr, his niece, Melissa Winters; His father and mother-in-law, Clara and Joe McDonough, His dearest friend and brother-in-law, Michael McDonough, his sisters-in-law Kathleen McDonough, Theresa (Sr Clare McDonough, L.S.P) McDonough, and Clara McDonough Russo. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Bernadette McDonough Winters, Eight Children: Michael Joseph Winters, Jr. (Karen) John Patrick Winters (Emily) Theresa Anne Winters Bayman (Sean) Regina Marie Winters (Ken) Daniel Brian Winters (Christina), Bernard McDonough Winters, Stephen Matthew Winters (Kate) and Andrew Doyle Winters (Liza). His brother Jimmy Winters, his sister-in law, Rita Winters, and His Brother-in-Law, Charlie Russo. Ten Grandchildren: Mary Kathleen Winters, Emma Irene Winters, Michael Joseph Winters, III, Clara Elizabeth Bayman, Logan Anthony Bayman, Amelia Grace Winters McVay (George) , Daniel Brian Winters, Jr., Cooper Thomas Winters, Caroline Rose Winters and Benjamin Gleason Winters; Nieces and Nephews: Maureen Halligan Ryan, Anne Therese Halligan, Anthony Halligan, Jr., (Varushka) Aloysius Winters, III, Anthony Winters (Penny) Christopher Winters (Kelly), Kirby Winters, Jr. (Heather) Allison Winters Avinger (Matthew), Gage Winters (Riley), Logan Winters, Carson Winters, Owen Winters, David Winters (Ashley) Kathleen Russo Coppage (Ronald) Bridget Russo Moore (Craig) Julia Russo Maxey (Gene) Cecilia Russo Turner (Bob) Charles J. Russo, III (Cami) and many great nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews, and his beloved friend and caretaker, Katrina Edwards. The family would like to thank the following for their diligent attention and loving care given to Mike and all of the family over these past few months: Administration and Staff of The Savannah VA Clinic, Dr Edward Reed; Hospice of Savannah, especially Nurse Patricia Alderman; Dr Andrew Michigan, Dr Michael Melroy, Dr. Ryon Poston and the staff of St Joseph’s Candler Hospital; The wonderful administration and staff of Fox and Weeks Funeral Directors. The family requests any donation remembrances be made to Benedictine Military School 6209 Seawright Drive, Savannah, GA 31406 or to the Bernadette Winters Music Scholarship Fund at St Vincent’s Academy, 207 East Liberty Street, Savannah, Georgia 31401 Pall Bearers will be Michael Beytagh, Jerry Hogan Jr., Neal Owens, Anthony Winters, Christopher Ryan, Bourke Cannon, Gene Maxi and Brandon Mell. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Benedictine Class of 1960 and The Hibernian Society of Savannah. Visitation will be 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Sunday, June 28, 2026 at St. James the Less Catholic Church, with the Rosary at 6:30 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m., Monday, June 29, 2026 at St. James the Less Catholic Church with the Rev. Joseph Smith and the Rev. Msgr. J. Gerard Schreck officiating. Burial will be in the Catholic Cemetery.