Mary Dillard Kitchens

Mary Dillard Kitchens, 78, passed away on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Memorial services will be held at 1:00PM, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Hart’s Jones County Chapel with the Reverend Jason Dillard officiating. The family will receive friends from 11:30AM to 1PM prior to the service.  A further memorial will be held at No. 3 Railroad in Arnoldsville, Georgia on Saturday, March 23, 2024, and is open to all to attend.

Mrs. Kitchens graduated from Oglethorpe County High School in 1963, as class Salutatorian, and from the University of Georgia School of Home Economics in 1967.  She served briefly as County Extension Agent for Twiggs County, after which she devoted her time rearing her children until she eventually returned the workplace.  She then obtained her Master of Library Sciences from the University of South Carolina, where she maintained a 4.0 GPA and then worked at the Georgia College and State University Library as their Acquisitions Librarian until her retirement in 2010.

She was known for her peaceful demeanor, her sage advice, and her ability to find commonality with people from all walks of life.  She was an incredibly gifted seamstress, having sewn countless wedding, prom, and bridesmaid’s dresses, as well as most of her children’s clothes during their childhoods.  She was also a prolific quilter and enjoyed being a part of both the Peach Blossom Quilters and the Heart in Hand quilt guilds.

Mrs. Kitchens was a longtime member of Cross Keys United Methodist Church until its closing in 2012, after which she joined Gray Methodist Church, where she made many friends as part of the Sunshine Class and in Women in Mission.

Mrs. Kitchens was predeceased by her husband, Charles Felton Kitchens, her parents James Osborne Dillard and Ethel Bell Dillard, and a brother, Alex Dillard.

She is survived by a daughter Cheryl Marie Spires (David) of Jesup, Georgia; a son, Alan Felton Kitchens (April) of Jones County; six grandchildren: Christy Beckom (Keith), Nathan Spires (Faith), Brandon Spires, Taylor Pollock, Caleb Pollock (Misty), and Haleigh Pollock; four great-grandchildren: Travis Spires, Piper Rose Pollock, Eliana Morgan Pollock, and Sylvie Jo Pollock; sisters: Frances Lester (Whit) and Elizabeth Smith; brother Joseph Dillard (Joan); and several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to Gray Methodist Church, 117 Jefferson Street, Gray, GA 31032.

Please visit www.hartsmort.com to express condolences.

Hart’s Jones County Chapel, Hart's Mortuary and Cremation Center, 307 Pecan Lane, Gray, GA 31032 has charge of the arrangements.

Gray Methodist Church
117 South Jefferson Street, Gray GA 31032