William “Bill” Harrison Kibbey, age 79, of Blairsville, Georgia, passed away on Tuesday, February 28, 2023, at his home. Mr. Kibbey was born on June 2, 1943, in Jefferson County, Alabama, to the late Bill Harrison Kibbey and Virginia Mae Richards Kibbey.
Bill graduated from Birmingham Southern College and spent most of his life in Coffee County, Georgia, before retiring in the Blue Ridge mountains. He spent many years in the car business managing Kibbey Chevrolet and Village Ford in Douglas. Bill transitioned into the newspaper business when he joined the Coffee County News & Douglas Shopper team. He served as President of the the Coffee County Chamber of Commerce, the Kiwanis Club and the Douglas Rotary Club. He was an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Douglas and First Baptist Church of Blairsville along with the Union County Senior Citizens Center.
He is survived by his three children and their spouses – Kim & Andy Marshall of Watkinsville, Ga., Scott & Kimberly Kibbey of Hartwell, Ga., and Christy & Donald Briola of Savannah, Ga. along with his three grandchildren – Leah, Amelia and Kole, and his niece and nephew – Pam and Ted Outz of Blairsville, Ga. He is also survived by his fur baby, Harley, who was the apple of his eye and cherished companion.
The family will receive friends on Monday, March 6, 2023, from 12:00PM until 2:00PM at Sims Funeral Home.
Graveside funeral services will be held on Monday, March 6, 2023, at 2:00PM, at the Douglas City Cemetery with Rev. Leroy Spivey officiating. Active Pallbearers will be: Kell Phelps, Robert Preston Jr., Bennie Overstreet, Robby Guthrie, Dewayne Gillis, and Jerry Pope. Honorary pallbearers will be Mr. Kibbey’s past colleagues at the Coffee County News and the Douglas Shopper.
Sims Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.