Longtime Statesboro resident and World War II veteran Kemp Mabry died Thursday morning at the age of 81.
"He was a good friend of mine, someone who I cherish his friendship," said Jack Averitt. "I think he made a real contribution inkeeping the people informed of the historical events in Statesboro."
Dan Good worked closely with Mabry for the past 25 years, first as a colleague at Georgia Southern College and then with him on the Bulloch County Historical Society.
"He was a character, an unforgettable guy," Good said.
"He had a tremendous heart to help those in need," Good said. "I don't think I've ever met a guy more generous with his time and money. He endeared himself to everyone and was loved by everyone."
Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday at Hodges-Moore Funeral Home. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Statesboro First Baptist Church with Dr. H. William Perry and Dr. Byron Twigg officiating.
Born on September 28, 1925, Mabry attained the rank of Eagle Scout before graduating from Marietta High School in 1942. He was drafted by the Army in 1944 to serve in World War II where he rose to the rank of Staff Sgt. and served as high speed radio operator.
Upon returning to the United States, Mabry proceeded to earn degrees from Georgia Tech in 1950, Mercer University in 1960, Georgia Southern in 1963 and Florida State in 1966.
He also became a columnist for the Bulloch Herald (now Statesboro Herald) in 1950, even dictating his final column Tuesday from the hospital. That column will appear in Sunday's Statesboro Herald.
Mabry was also involved in the Bulloch County Historical Society, Bulloch Retired Educators Association, Scottish Heritage Society, American Legion Post 90, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10825 as well as serving on the boards for the Center for Irish Studies, Henderson Library and Georgia Southern Museum.
Del Presley said Mabry influenced the lives of young and old alike.
"He was keenly interested in connecting today's generation with the past," he said.
Presley said he's miss Mabry's phone calls most of all.
"To be his friend is to subject yourself to long and interesting conversations," he said. "He was one of the last great storytellers."
He said Statesboro and Bulloch County will notice his absence, from when there's no column in his regular space on Sunday to when they attend Veterans Day or Memorial Day services.
"He leaves a great void because there are very few people who give completely of themselves as he did," Presley said. "He devoted himself to humanity."
"He was a good friend of mine, someone who I cherish his friendship," said Jack Averitt. "I think he made a real contribution inkeeping the people informed of the historical events in Statesboro."
Dan Good worked closely with Mabry for the past 25 years, first as a colleague at Georgia Southern College and then with him on the Bulloch County Historical Society.
"He was a character, an unforgettable guy," Good said.
"He had a tremendous heart to help those in need," Good said. "I don't think I've ever met a guy more generous with his time and money. He endeared himself to everyone and was loved by everyone."
Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday at Hodges-Moore Funeral Home. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Statesboro First Baptist Church with Dr. H. William Perry and Dr. Byron Twigg officiating.
Born on September 28, 1925, Mabry attained the rank of Eagle Scout before graduating from Marietta High School in 1942. He was drafted by the Army in 1944 to serve in World War II where he rose to the rank of Staff Sgt. and served as high speed radio operator.
Upon returning to the United States, Mabry proceeded to earn degrees from Georgia Tech in 1950, Mercer University in 1960, Georgia Southern in 1963 and Florida State in 1966.
He also became a columnist for the Bulloch Herald (now Statesboro Herald) in 1950, even dictating his final column Tuesday from the hospital. That column will appear in Sunday's Statesboro Herald.
Mabry was also involved in the Bulloch County Historical Society, Bulloch Retired Educators Association, Scottish Heritage Society, American Legion Post 90, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10825 as well as serving on the boards for the Center for Irish Studies, Henderson Library and Georgia Southern Museum.
Del Presley said Mabry influenced the lives of young and old alike.
"He was keenly interested in connecting today's generation with the past," he said.
Presley said he's miss Mabry's phone calls most of all.
"To be his friend is to subject yourself to long and interesting conversations," he said. "He was one of the last great storytellers."
He said Statesboro and Bulloch County will notice his absence, from when there's no column in his regular space on Sunday to when they attend Veterans Day or Memorial Day services.
"He leaves a great void because there are very few people who give completely of themselves as he did," Presley said. "He devoted himself to humanity."