James KilgoObituary

Athens Banner-Herald
December 9 2002

Dr. James Kilgo, 61, of 345 Milledge Heights died Sunday, December 8, 2002.

A native of Darlington, S.C., Dr. Kilgo was a son of Caroline Lawton Kilgo of Darlington, S.C. and the late John Simpson Kilgo. He received his B.A. degree from Wofford College and his M.A. and Ph.D. from Tulane University. He came to the University of Georgia English Department in 1967 where he was head of Creative Writing from 1994 to 1996. He was an Honoratus Professor, receiving five outstanding Honors Professor Awards and the Sandy Beaver Award for Excellence in Teaching. He wa sthe author of "Deep Enough for Ivory Bills," "Inheritance of Horses," "Daughter of My People" (for whicch he won the Townsind Prize for Fiction), "The Hand-Carved Creche" and "Colors of Africa' (to be published in March 2003). His works also appeared in various literary journals and anthologies. He retired as a professor in 1999. He was a member of the St. James United Methodist Church since 1968 where he was Sunday School teacher in the Aldersgate Class for over 30 years. He served in various positions at his church and other Christian organizations.

Survivors in addition to his mother are his wife, Jane G. Kilgo of Athens; son and daughter-in-law, John C. and Susan Kilgo of Aiken, S.C.; daughter and son-in-law, Sarah Jane and Michael Joyce of Maryville, Tenn.; daughter, Ann G. Kilgo of Athens; sister and brother-in-law, Caroline K. and Peter Tierney, of Dallas, Texas; sister, Maizie K. Belser of Seneca, S.C.; brother and sister-in-law, John S. and Carolyn Kilgo of Greenville, S.C., and grandchildren Caroline M. Kilgo and Marya A. Joyce. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at St. James United Methodist Church with the Rev. Kent Reynolds and the Rev. Jerry Varnado officiating. Interment will be 2 pm. Thursday at Grove Hill Cemetery, Darlington, S.C. The family will receive friends from 7:00 - 9:00 tonight at Bernstein Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the St. James UMC Mission Fund, 111 West Lake Drive, Athens, GA 30606. Bernstein Funeral Home is in charge of arrangments.