George Bennett Kilgore, 99, of Fitzgerald, Georgia, died Sunday, April 13, 2014, at the Quality Health of Fernandina Beach.
Funeral services will be held 2 PM, Thursday, April 17, 2014, at Crossview Baptist Church in Fitzgerald, with the Rev. David Fisher and the Rev. Jeff Parmer officiating. Interment will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends Wednesday evening from 6 to 8 at the funeral home in Fitzgerald.
Mr. Kilgore was born August 27, 1914, in Turner County to the late Dotson B. and Irene Dryden Kilgore. He lived most of his life in Irwin and Ben Hill Counties. He graduated from Mystic High School and was President of his 1933 Senior Class. Mr. Kilgore was a farmer and served on the Agriculture Stabilization Conservation Service/ Ben Hill Committee. He was a former employee of Fitzgerald Cotton Mill and Modern Fibers. Mr. Kilgore was very active in the Ben Hill-Irwin Baptist Association. While attending Northside Baptist church, he served as Trustee for 25 years, clerk for 22 years and was chairman of four major building programs. He was currently a member at Crossview Baptist Church. He also served as Secretary of the Ben Hill- Irwin Baptist Brotherhood Association. Through his philanthropic effort, he established a fund to help children. Mr. Kilgore was also a member of the Gideon’s International and Woodmen of the World.
Mr. Kilgore is survived by several nieces and nephews, including Jean Barnes Taylor (who was raised as his own daughter); a son-in-law: Jimmy Ray Taylor of Fernandina Beach, Florida; four grandchildren: Glynn & Debi Taylor of Jacksonville, Florida, Mike & Susie Taylor, Stephen & Mandi Taylor and Sissy & Brent Lyle all of Fernandina Beach, Florida; two great grandsons: Hunter and Nathan Taylor; a sister-in-law: Tilma Portivent of Fitzgerald and a special friend Barbara Owens. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 37 years: Gladys Hughes Kilgore.