Clifford Clay Kimsey, Jr., age 94, of Cornelia, Georgia passed away on Tuesday, May 10, 2016, at his residence.
Mr. Kimsey was born on August 3, 1921, in Cornelia, Georgia to the late Clifford Clay Kimsey and Louise Carson Kimsey. He was also preceded in death by his beloved wife, Lucy Stivers Kimsey; sister, Eleanor Kimsey Crow, and brother, Jack Kimsey.
Mr. Kimsey was a 1938 graduate of Cornelia High School where he was Valedictorian and a 1942 graduate of The University of Georgia. He was a 3 year letterman with The University of Georgia football team where he played from 1939-1941 and in 1941 was Co-Captain of the first bowl team in UGA history. After graduation in 1942, he was immediately inducted into the United States Army. He was a World War II Veteran having served in the Pacific Theater.
After the military, he coached football at Cedartown High School where he met his wife, Lucy Kimsey. Mr. Kimsey also coached at Parker High School in Greenville, South Carolina from 1947-1948 and at The University of Kansas from 1948-1953. He moved back to Cornelia at the end of 1953 and began working at Cornelia Bank having a total of 27 years of service. During his tenure he served as President and Chairman of the Board. Mr. Kimsey was a member of First Baptist Church of Cornelia where he served as Deacon, Chairman of Deacons, and a former member of the choir.
Mr. Kimsey was a member of The Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, The Northeast Georgia Hall of Fame, The Habersham County Ring of Honor, and The University of Georgia Chapter of the Gridiron Secret Society and was a former member of The Georgia State Board of Education.
Survivors include his daughter, Lucy Kimsey; sons and daughters-in-law, Cliff C. Kimsey, III and Connie, John Stivers Kimsey and Julie Chapman, and James Stivers Kimsey and Lisa; son, Richard Stivers Kimsey; sister and brother-in-law, Sue Kimsey Blair and Dale Blair; grandchildren, Connie Lussier, Melissa Russell, Alex Boulogne, Jaime Deeb, Jennifer Kemp, Clay C. Kimsey, Jordan Geros, Jaye Kimsey, Brit Kimsey, and Kiley Kimsey; and special family member, Heather Burke Cody; 19 great-grandchildren; special caregivers, Jaye Kimsey, Elaine Maxwell, Tina Gipson, Carrie Beth Koncar, Debbie Satterfield, and Maddie Ash; and a special thanks to Northeast Georgia Hospice.
Memorial services are scheduled for 11:00 am on Tuesday, May 17, 2016, at First Baptist Church of Cornelia with Dr. Eric Spivey officiating.
The family will receive friends from 5-8 pm on Monday, May 16, 2016, at Whitfield Funeral Home, North Chapel, 245 Central Avenue, Demorest, Georgia.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Cliff and Lucy Kimsey Family Scholarship Fund at University of Georgia Foundation, 394 South Milledge Avenue, Suite 100, Athens, Georgia 30602.
Those wishing to send online condolences to the family may visit www.whitfieldfuneralhomes.com.
Arrangements are in the care of Whitfield Funeral Home & Crematory, North Chapel, Demorest, Georgia.
