Jeff Maxon Kirby

Jeff “Maxon” Kirby, Jr. was born September 8, 1950 to the late Mack & Lille Kirby.

Maxon was first born to his hard-working Christian country folks, living in the small south GA town of Thomasville. His father “Mack” was a deacon at Freewill Baptist Church and he worked construction some during the day and at Coats & Clark Thread Mill at night. His mom “Willie” worked shifts at the Sunnyland meats processing plant. With raising a large family money was always tight.

By age 12 he was working weekends in the tobacco fields, broiling in the heat for $10 per day, from sun- up to sun-down; or working at Tanner’s Grocery bagging groceries for tips just to have a little pocket money which he usually spent on clothes. His work ethic was established early in life out of necessity.

1st sharp turn: He was a jokester from early on and even more as he aged. He enjoyed making people laugh and he guffawed at his own jokes___ others called it a possum gin. Besides music and muscle cars, he loved football and played for Central High in Thomasville. Around 1964 his father, blessedly, got hired at the General Motors plant in South Atlanta and the family was more financially stable. But the family had to move to Atlanta and that angered Maxon, leaving his life-long friends and teammates going into junior year. He had no desire to play for the Fulton High team so he began working at Burger King on Moreland Ave at night. $1.25 an hour and all the Whoppers and Shakes he could handle. He thought he had hit the jackpot!! By the next year (1968) he was assistant manager and had purchased his dream car, a 1967 Plymouth GTX- a real cool car!! He graduated in 1968 and went to full-time manager at Burger King on Candler Road.

2nd bend in the road: In 1970, just as Vietnam War was winding down, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. That delayed the wedding plans with Sherry but they did finally marry months later. They left to live in Germany near Mannheim, expecting to be there the next two years.

3rd curve: But God had another plan. After the first year their daughter Ginger was born needing immediate, complicated surgery to save her life. After several months in the ICU she was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. God’s mercy allowed her to be with us 29 years, virtually unheard of back then! Maxon was ultimately awarded a compassionate reassignment back to the US. He was Motor Pool Sergeant at Fort McPherson in Atlanta. The family built a home in Stockbridge and have been there ever since. Maxon was discharged from active duty as E5 in 1973, and ultimately released from the reserves in 1976.

4th curve: He returned to the same Burger King Franchise for a number of years, managing up to three stores at a time. In 1978 he accepted an offer for OJT with the owner of the HVAC/R CO that did repairs and maintenance for the Burger King franchise. He accepted the offer, went to Atlanta Technical School at night and worked in the field during the day. In 1984 he bought the company, changed the name to MK Refrigeration and continued to service mostly commercial customers in the nine county area. He as the “go to” tech when no one else could figure out the problem.

5th bend: He did this up until 2002. Ginger had passed in 2001 from complications of the cystic fibrosis. He worked for another HVAC contractor for two years, mostly doing the refrigeration and other systems for the new CDC building under construction on the Emory campus. In 2004 he re-opened MK Refrigeration and worked consistently til April 2015 until a terrible OTI injury nearly took his life. Despite much medical intervention he would never recover his abilities to work, or even care for himself. Over the next 7 years he dedicated himself to the Lord and fulfilled the promise he had made to Jesus during a NDE experience while in the operating room. Jesus told him to “go back, tell them I am real and time is short.” Maxon agreed and lived it out 7 years. He knew he was precious to God and that He was in control. Even until the end, bed-bound and unable to communicate or move, eat, he was brave, never bitter or angry, not questioning or accusing as to why God allowed this to happen. He is now with the triune, God, Jesus & Holy Spirit, for eternity rejoicing and praising , and having a beautiful union with his daughter, parents and other loved ones and friends who had given their hearts and allegiance to Jesus during their life on Earth.

While he could speak he said he wanted on his bronze burial marker this, ----“To God Be All Glory”! Amen, and come soon Lord Jesus.

In addition to his parents, Mack & Lille Kirby, Jeff was preceded in death by his daughter, Ginger L. Kirby.

He leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife of 52 years, Mrs. Cynthia "Sherry" Kirby; his siblings Terry, Dewayne, Blane and Tim Kirby, and Myra Kirby Burch; along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family.

A visitation of family and friends for Jeff will be held Saturday, December 10, 2022 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Horis A. Ward - Fairview Chapel, 376 Fairview Rd, Stockbridge, Georgia 30281. A celebration of life will occur Saturday, December 10, 2022 at 1:30 PM, 376 Fairview Rd, Stockbridge, Georgia 30281. A graveside military honors and committal service will occur Saturday, December 10, 2022 at 2:30 PM at Fairview Memorial Gardens, 164 Fairview Road, Stockbridge, Georgia 30281.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.horisawardfairviewchapel.com for the Kirby family.