George Kenneth (Ken) Dillard

George Dillard Obituary George Kenneth Dillard, known affectionately as Ken, was born in Tifton GA on February 16, 1945, to George K. Dillard, Sr. and Frances Withrow Dillard. He met his Savior in Heaven on Monday August 20,2018 at his home in Arabi, GA after a short illness. He is survived by his wife Jane M. Schum of Arabi. A proud Marine, Ken and Jane were married in Arabi on November 10, 2012, a Marine Corps Birthday. Dillard was an early lifetime resident of Tift County, attending Tift County Schools. He attended ABAC for two years before Uncle Sam encouraged him to join the Marine Corps. He did a tour of duty in Vietnam as a gunner in the helicopters. On his honorable discharge, he returned to Tift County, and received his bachelor’s degree in business management from GA Southwestern College in Americus. He joined the management team of FMX (Gold Kist) and later owned Big K Homes in Tifton. Before his retirement, he was on the management team at Walmart in Tifton, a position he especially enjoyed. He had several other jobs which he enjoyed, i.e. building and delivering pallets. Ken was preceded in death by his parents, his brother-in-law Hugh Hambrick, a niece Laura Roland Royal, and Laura’s husband, Chris. Ken is survived by two sons and a daughter, Bruce and Gina Dillard of Enigma, GA, Chris Dillard and DeWayne Earnest of Thomasville GA, and Elizabeth E. Lawry of Sheboygan Falls, WI. He is also survived by step children from a former marriage, Darren and Barbara Hall of San Antonio TX, Jason Hall and April Shiflett of Thousand Oaks, CA. His grandchildren include Emily and Jacob Dillard, Jessica Weeks, Marah Earnest, Alyssa and Hailey Lawry, Emma and Khloe Jones. Dillard leaves his two sisters, Carol Hambrick of Aberdeen NC, and Dianne and Jerry Roland of Americus, GA. Nieces and nephews are Heather Dunn and Deirdre Williamson, and Taylor Hambrick of NC, and Jennifer Ledger of Americus GA, and Jerry Roland Jr. of Fort Valley GA. He also leaves a sister-in-law, Ruby, wife of Dr. Edward Craft of Chattanooga, TN, and a brother-in-law Gary and Dianne Cosby of Signal Mountain, TN. A devout Christian, Ken was once a member of Brookfield Baptist Church where he was ordained a deacon, First Baptist Church of TyTy, GA, Arabi United Methodist Church, and at his death, High Hill Baptist Church in Turner County off Amboy Road. He was a long-time member of the Gideons, and traveled on multiple mission trips for the churches he served. He loved working in the yard, and helping anyone he could. The family would like to recognize the support team at Reflections of Cordele Hospice, as well as a team furnished by the VA, Alive Home Healthcare of Albany GA, Dr. Moneer Sohail, his VA primary in Valdosta, Randall Campbell his civilian primary in Ashburn, and Dr. James E. Milner, his oncologist in Tifton. Special thanks to Al Douglas, his neighbor, for his attention and support during his illness, and for building his urn of pallet lumber, at Ken’s request. We also would like to thank Billy McCard, Jimmy Hawkins, his pastor, and the rest of the good folks at High Hill Baptist, and the many friends from Tifton, TyTy, and Arabi, and all over the world who have supported him with visits, cards, prayers, and other needs during his illness. We also wish to thank the VA for taking care of him for many years following his service to his country. A Celebration Service will be held at High Hill Baptist Church off Amboy Rd in Turner County on High Hill Road, 11:00am Friday August 24,2018, with the Reverend Jerry Cooper officiating. There will not be a viewing. A private interment will follow at a later date at the old family farm in Cusseta, GA, and at Liberty Hill Baptist Church in Cusseta. In lieu of flowers, the family asked that donations be made to the Dillard Family Cemetery Fund at Dilland, Inc., 502 Patterson Rd, Cusseta GA 31805, or to High Hill Baptist Church, mailing address at 1383 Williford Road, Rebecca, GA 31783. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of George Kenneth (Ken) Dillard, please visit our floral store. Read More

George Kenneth (Ken) Dillard

February 16, 1945 - August 20, 2018