Kenneth Liddell Tripp

Kenneth Liddell Tripp, 31 of Savannah, Georgia died November 11, 2016.

To my dear and loving Kenneth,

We on earth were only lucky enough to have you in our lives for thirty-one short years, and I only had you for thirteen of those years. We will never be able to understand why we had to lose you, but we know in our hearts that you were meant for greatness and God must be in desperate need of your service.

As a vessel of love from God, your birth, your life, and your death served to heal broken hearts and broken bonds. Your birth filled your family with joy when they needed saving. Throughout your life, you despised conflict yet jumped in to try and heal all divided relationships, even if both parties refused to cooperate. Your death has left us all broken hearted, but you managed to bring us all together, and I am sure that you will be working tirelessly in heaven to ensure that we all stick by each other.

I still agree that your parents gave you the most perfect name, which not everyone knew meant “handsome,” but you embodied that meaning in every sense of the word. From the first moment I saw you, I knew you were the handsomest man I had ever seen or would probably ever see. Your appearance was important to you, and you took the meaning of your name to heart. You also loved compliments, but somehow lacked any sense of arrogance. I’m not ashamed to say that it was these handsome looks that first attracted me to you. Not many on this earth can say that they believe in love at first sight and also achieve it. At a young age, we discovered a kind of love that most can only dream of, and I think we both considered it one of our greatest accomplishments.

I think everyone who met you on this earth felt that you were destined for greatness, either in entertainment, academia, politics, or philanthropy, but you always felt limited by your body and the circumstances of life. Now in heaven there are no limits to the greatness you will attain. You were an accomplished musician, even though you would protest that title. You could pick up any instrument and make beautiful music. That was such an exceptional gift bestowed upon you by your parents. You were also an avid scholar who consumed more knowledge in thirty-one years than most could ever dream of. You sometimes called your wealth of knowledge a nuisance or waste but you always seemed to have just the right truffle of knowledge to get us out of any tight spot. Lately, you had been dreaming of a political future, but I discouraged it as I felt that your kindness and sweet nature would be trampled upon. You always wanted to help others more than you were able. You offered money even if you had none, you offered a shoulder for support even if you were too tired to stand, and you offered words of encouragement and laughter even when your own mind was filled with sadness. I think many will remember you for your humor and your quick wit. The thoughts that came out of your brilliant mind sometimes went right over everyone’s heads, and even I often struggled to keep up with you. You tried on life like many people try on shoes. You tried on many different religions, hairstyles, foods, languages, accents, and experiences during your short life, and even though I was slower at trying new things, I will do my best to continue the adventure.

You were proceeded in death by one of the great loves of your life, your mammy Irene “Tinnie” Tripp, and your Grandfathers Liddell “Spog” Tripp and Marvin Chandler. I know you will also be happy to be greeted by your brother Christopher Tripp, Uncle Jerry Chandler, Aunt Carol Tripp, and Great Grandmother Viola McCoy. You will be survived by me, your wife, Valarie Kite Tripp, your puppy son Gorgeous George Tripp, parents Glenn and Ginny Tripp, little brother Daniel Tripp, half-brother Brian Tripp, grandmother Rebecca Chandler, sisters in-law Megan Kirby Tripp and Rochelle Revels Tripp, and in-laws Mike Kite and Angela Caprara-Kite. You will also be forever loved and remembered by your Aunt and Uncle Margie and Tommy Coward and Joe and Doll Tripp. You had too many loving cousins to name them all here, but please know that they are all sending you their love and prayers for your journey.

For all those who would like to join me in remembering my love Kenneth Liddell Tripp, a memorial service will be held at 11:00 am, on Wednesday, November 16, 2016, at West Vanceboro Church of God. Kenneth knew that I couldn’t take care of plants, so in lieu of flowers please make donations to the Blue Ridge Boxer Rescue.

Arrangements by Cotten Funeral Home & Crematory

Online condolences may be made to the Tripp Family