Bobby Kicklighter

Bobby Carlton Kicklighter—beloved father, grandfather, and friend to all who knew him—passed away on January 30, 2021, at his home in Glennville, Georgia, at the age of 88. The Tattnall County native was born in Glennville on May 15, 1932, to Carlton Henry Kicklighter and Eva Collins Kicklighter and was delivered by family friend, Dr. G. W. Tootle.

As a child, Bobby became a member of First Christian Church of Glennville after being invited by H. Prentice Kicklighter to attend activities at Playland and Camp Kicklighter at Shellman Bluff. He would remain a lifelong, devoted member of First Christian Church and served as Deacon and Elder for over fifty years. Bobby was a 1948 graduate of Glennville High School, where he played baseball and football.

After high school, Bobby served his country honorably in the United States Air Force from 1952 to 1956, stationed for a time in Greenland, during the Korean War. Conditions in Greenland were harsh and isolated, with no modes of communication to the outside world. Bobby would describe this experience as “the worst year of my life.” He promised that if he could ever get back to his beloved Glennville, he would never leave. That was a promise he would keep.

While home on leave, Bobby married the love of his life, Betty Rhodes Kicklighter, on March 7, 1954. To this marriage were born two sons, Bob and Brant. Following his service, Bobby kept his promise and returned home to Glennville, never to leave again. He then entered the civil service at Fort Stewart and ultimately retired as Chief Civilian Finance Officer after over three decades of dedicated service.

Bobby was an active volunteer in the Boy Scouts and served as Scout Master of Troop 929 for a number of years. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion. Bobby was also an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting and fishing with his sons and grandchildren. He was a member of the Bluff Lake Hunting Club and the Ohoopee Hunting Club.

In recent years, Bobby greatly enjoyed being a member of the Senior Pool Club, and looked forward to playing pool every week with his dear friends, Mike “Dodo” Gutierrez, Elbert Kicklighter, Gerald Strickland, Junior Kirkland, Jared Durrence, and Louis Geiger.

Among his other accomplishments, Bobby was a noted local historian and was proud to serve on the Board of Trustees of the Glennville-Tattnall Museum. In recent years he had taken an active role in the restoration of the historic Glennwanis Hotel as a new home for the museum. He served as Chairman of the original Glennville Centennial Committee, which organized the city’s centennial celebrations in 1994, culminating in the opening of the museum that same year. Bobby was known for his extensive collection of historical photographs of Glennville’s past, and he enjoyed sharing his pictures and recollections with friends and family. His love of his hometown was evident to all, and he became one of its most loved and respected citizens.

Bobby’s greatest joy and blessing in life was his family. He was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife, Betty Rhodes Kicklighter; sister, Betty Kicklighter Purvis; and sisterin-law, Bettye Kicklighter.

He is survived by his sons, Bobby C. “Bob” Kicklighter, Jr. (Cindy) of Johns Island, South Carolina, and Kenneth Brant Kicklighter (Darlene) of Glennville; brother, Dr. Jerry Asbery Kicklighter of Stone Mountain, Georgia; grandchildren, David Powell and Robby Kicklighter III, both of Johns Island, South Carolina, and Kenneth Brant “Kent” Kicklighter, Jr. (Malory) and Kacey Kicklighter Rogers (Brian), both of Glennville; great-grandchildren, Kimber Kicklighter, Korbin Rogers, and Brynlee Rogers, all of Glennville; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services will be held 2:00 pm, Thursday, February 4, 2021 on the outside grounds of the Glennville First Christian Church, 9224 Georgia Highway 23, Glennville, Georgia. Burial will follow at the Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery.  Funeral Services will be live streamed via Brannen-Kennedy Funeral Home Facebook Page. https://www.facebook.com/bkfuneralhome

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be given to First Christian Church of Glennville, 9224 Georgia Highway 23, Glennville, GA 30427; or to Friends of the Glennwanis Hotel, P.O. Box 283, Glennville, GA 30427.

Social distancing of six feet due to Covid 19 will be enforced and masks are asked to be worn on all services.

Care and services are entrusted to Brannen Kennedy Funeral Home of Glennville, Georgia.