Jerry Wayne Kirby, Sr. 1955-2010

We were saddened to lose our cousin Jerry Kirby to a long battle with cancer this past weekend.



He and I were the only boy cousins in our generation so I have many memories, good memories, from our childhood. We played "Cowboys and Indians" and "Cops and Robbers" together for hours upon hours; we tried to sing like the Beatles with mops and broom handles for mikes; he was faithful to bring me my homework when we were in 6th grade together while I was sick in bed for about four months; he let me shoot his B-B gun since my parents would not buy me one; he stood up for me when the bullies came around; good memories that make you wish we did not have to grow up, but life goes on...



Many years have past since then, but I am glad we got to see Jerry several times over the past few years; at Christmas Eve parties at cousin Judy's; at birthday parties for my mom and dad. We are sad to see him leave us at such a young age. It reminds me once again that we are only on earth for a short time. We hope to see Jerry again in Heaven some day along with his mother, my Aunt Emily and so many others who have gone before us.



****Click to read Obituary from the newspaper

Jerry Wayne Kirby, Sr. (Obituary from newspaper)

CHESNEE, SC-- Jerry Wayne Kirby, Sr., 55, of 214 Dana Drive, died Saturday, December 4, 2010, at Mary Black Memorial Hospital. Born July 5, 1955, in Spartanburg, he was the son of the late Oren Lee Kirby and Carrie Emily Franklin Kirby Jones. He was formerly employed as a supervisor with Pentex Corporation, attended Buck Creek Baptist Church, and was an avid racing fan.

Survivors include his wife, Teresa Lynn Kirby, two sons, Jerry W. Kirby, Jr. and his companion, Ashley Duncan of Chesnee and Jeffrey Smith of the home; a stepdaughter, Elizabeth Smith of Spartanburg; four grandchildren; and a sister, Pat F. Brown of Cowpens.

Graveside services will be held at 1:00 PM Monday, December 6, 2010, in Daniel Morgan Memorial Gardens. Visitation will follow the service at the graveside.

Memorials may be made to the Jerry W. Kirby, Sr. Memorial Fund, P.O. Drawer 1530, Spartanburg, SC 29304.

The family is at the home of his sister, Pat Brown, 150 Carson Drive, Cowpens, SC.

Baggett Memorial Concrete bench

In honor of Cindy's dad, J.L. Baggett, Jr., who worked in the concrete construction industry, we added a bench to our flower garden this spring. Her brother, John Dale Baggett, also worked in for concrete companies across the country before his death almost five years ago. JL was proud of his work and was the man they called to finish the job, or correct someone's mistake. He was especially proud of his work completing the Denver stadium. (Cindy and her mom, Winnie pictured above)

Rajaan Bennett, local high school athlete

I was deeply saddened to read about the death of a fine young athlete a few weeks ago. As I have read and listened to the news after his death, I have realized this young man was special. At the age of 10, his dad died and he had to become the man of the house. He spent time helping his younger "special needs" brother, and also became a star football player at McEachern High School, while maintaining a high grade point average. He was recruited by several colleges and recently signed to play at Vanderbilt. But that was before the morning of Feb 18th, when he was killed by his mother's ex-boyfriend in the early morning hours. Why? We will never know the answer to that question because his killer then turned the gun on himself. Rajaan Bennett was a special young man, and it seems he affected the lives of all 2000 students at McEachern High. We are left to wonder what his life would have been like, and his mother, sister and brother are left to wonder how they will live without him. There are many articles about Rajaan on AJC.com - here is the link to one about the special memorial service at the high school last week.

Just 8 days before he died, Rajaan turned in a literature assignment -an essay on "Strength". This was published in Sunday's AJC and since I can not find a link to the article, I will post it below:

"Somebody once told me that 'I can do all things through Christ who strenthens me.'(Phillipians 4:13)

Life hasn't been a walk in the park for me, but I'm thankful for the obstacles, hardships, and accomplishments that God has provided for me. If it wasn't for Him, I wouldn't be the Rajaan Bennett that you know today. I wouldn't have things any other way.

Strength is the ability to do or bear things in the state of being strong. In the year 2000, I moved from the streets of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to the suburbs of Powder Springs. A year later, my dad died in a horrible car wreck, and as a 10-year-old, I knew he wasn't coming back. This tragedy rattled me to the core. I felt as if there was no need for me to live. I wanted to be as happy as the kids with dads and moms.

Some days I would wonder - why me? But eventually, I realized that it was my turn to become a man. As I became older, I came to notice that in life you use strength as a blanket to protect you from this cold world.

I am the oldest of three and I have a brother with special needs whom I have to take care of. I have to balance school, sports, friends and family - and it gets so hard, but I push myself. I push myself like a sprinter who is neck and neck with an opponent with 10 meters left. With the strength that I possess, I feel that I'm Hercules.

I matured faster that all my friends - and there will never be a time that I will give up. I may complain, I may refuse, and I may even cry about it, but I know I have to do what I have to do.

I work hard at whatever I do - just for that Man upstairs to smile down on me with the rays of the sun...and they feel so warm. My drive cannot be stopped or even slowed down, because every obstacle has a way around it. Every day I become stronger from the weights physically, the books mentally, and life emotionally.

There is no limit to my strength and at the end of the day, I want to be known as the strongest.