William Lassiter Kirksey

William Lassiter Bill Kirksey, 71, passed away on Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at his home. Bill is survived by his devoted wife of almost 50 years, Nancy Smith Kirksey and is also lovingly remembered by his two sons, Craig (Allison) and Patrick (Pansy) Kirksey and his two daughters, Christa (Dan) Huggins and Joanne (Jeff) Markey; six grandchildren, Rachel and Sarah Kirksey, Katherine and Caroline Markey, and Cameron and Sam Huggins; and siblings Betty Kirksey, Susan Kirksey, Mary Anne Dykes, Nancy Carson, and John Kirksey as well as many cousins and a large extended family. He was predeceased by his brother Richard Rick Kirksey. Bill was born in Richmond, Virginia to Woodrow and Alice Kirksey on August 7, 1941. He graduated from Albany High School in 1959 and went on to earn his Bachelor of Industrial Engineering degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1963. He proceeded to work for IBM in sales and management for over 25 years, followed by employment at two different divisions of National Service Industries. After finally retiring in 2000, he continued to work as an occasional part-time instructor for IBM Global Sales Education until mid-2012. In addition to being a loving husband, father, and Pops, Bill was a committed and recognized volunteer at his church, The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus where he served on the Parish Council for several years, was a Eucharistic Minister and Lector, and established as well as participated in the Greeters' Ministry. He enjoyed hiking, running, and biking; he even competed while in his sixties in a few triathlons with his offspring. His main accomplishment, outside of his family legacy, was hiking the entire Appalachian Trail beginning at age 59 over the course of ten years. He also spent a lot of time and effort in the last decade volunteering with the organization Men Stopping Violence; his mission there included making speeches, lobbying politicians, appearing on television and tirelessly working to make the world safer for women. But his most enjoyable time was spent with family and friends at his vacation home on St. George Island in the Florida panhandle. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bill's memory to The Appalachian Trail Conservancy, P.O. Box 807, 799 Washington Street, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425. A contact number is (304) 535-6331 ext. 119 or Men Stopping Violence, Inc., 2785 Lawrenceville Highway, Suite 112, Decatur, GA 30033. Phone numbers are (404) 270-9894 or (866) 717-9317. Condolences to the family may be offered online at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/billkirksey. The funeral Mass will be held at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at 353 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA on Saturday, May 25, 2013 at 10:00 AM, Monsignor Edward J. Thein officiating. An informal reception will take place in the fellowship hall of the church immediately following the Mass. The family will have visitation on Friday, May 24, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM followed by a Rosary service conducted by Father T. J. Meehan at A. S. Turner and Sons, 2773 North Decatur Road in Decatur, GA




Funeral Home:
A.S. Turner
2773 N. Decatur Road
Decatur, GA
30033