Joe Kitchens, Sr.

Mr. Joe Kitchens Sr., age 87, of Tennille, passed away Thursday, December 23, 2021 at the Georgia War Veterans Home following an extended illness.  A funeral service to celebrate his life will be held on Monday, December 27th at 11:00 a.m. at Tennille Christian Church with burial in Zeta Cemetery.  Reverend Tripp Hodges and Reverend Barry Clanton will officiate.  Pallbearers will be Richard Jackson, Beryl McNeely, William Bridges, Gene Sheppard, Chad York, Julian Mullis, Marshall Lovett and Christian Gutierrez.  Members of the Joyful Senior Band will sit as an honorary group.

Mr. Kitchens was born in Glascock County and reared in Washington County, the son of the late Jim Edward Kitchens and the late Estelle Brown Kitchens.  He graduated from Tennille High School where he excelled in sports.  Following high school, Joe proudly served his country in the US Navy serving on the SS Yorktown.  He began his working career in textiles working for J.P. Stevens and Washington Manufacturing prior to beginning a thirty plus year career in the kaolin industry retiring from ECCI as a machine operator.  Joe was a longtime active member of Tennille Christian Church, where he served as the church song leader for over 50 years.  Joe served his church in numerous leadership roles throughout his life.  He possessed a lifelong love of music and enjoyed being a member and performing with the Joyful Senior Band.  Joe loved to hunt and had a passion for fishing.  He was an avid fan of the WaCo Hawks, Georgia Bulldogs and Atlanta Braves.  Joe is predeceased by his wife, Evelyn Brown Kitchens.

Survivors are his sons, Joe Kitchens, Jr. and his wife Penny, Stacy Kitchens and his wife Jackie and Jim Kitchens and his wife Crystal all of Sandersville; grandchildren, Amy K. York and her husband Chad, Erica K. Mullis and her husband Julian, Morgan Kitchens, Haley Kitchens and Lindsey Kitchens; great grandchildren, Zooey York, Bailey Tingle, Madison Steiner and Waylon Carter Kitchens and his longtime companion, Geraldine Hodges of Davisboro.

The family will receive friends on Sunday from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. at May and Smith Funeral Home in Sandersville. Donations may be made to the Tennille Christian Church, P.O. Box 275 Tennille, Ga. 31089.

May and Smith Funeral Directors is in charge of these arrangements.  Online condolences may be made at www.mayandsmithfuneraldirectors.com