Obituary of Kirby Eugene Southerland

Funeral services for Kirby “Gene” Southerland, age 76, of Wedowee will be held on Wednesday, March 15, 2017, at 2:00 PM from Zion Baptist Church with Rev. David Daniel officiating. Burial will follow in the adjoining cemetery with Benefield Funeral Home of Wedowee in charge of arrangements. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5:00-8:00 PM on Tuesday, March 14, 2017. Mr. Southerland will lie in state at the church for one hour prior to services beginning on Wednesday. Mr. Southerland passed away Sunday, March 12, 2017, at East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika. Survivors include his wife, Gearlene “Jerrie” Southerland of Wedowee; two daughters, Angie Gurley (husband, Roger) of Dallas, Ga, and Kim Denton (husband,, Dorsey) of Douglasville, Ga; two sons, Kirby Eugene Southerland, Jr. (wife, Sherri) of Powder Springs, GA, and Jamie Young of Roanoke; 13 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Mildred Parson of Villa Rica, GA, Betty Mae Clark (husband, Howard) of Hiram, GA, and Evelyn Hewett (husband, Doug) of Dallas, GA; and one brother, Junior Southerland (wife, Brenda) of Steinhatchee, FL. Pallbearers will be Mr. Southerland’s grandsons. Honorary pallbearers will be the A&M Volunteer Fire Department. A Cleburne County native, Mr. Southerland was born on April 16, 1940, the son of Albert Ezra and Addie Ivey Southerland. He was a member of Zion Baptist Church and was retired from General Motors. Mr. Southerland was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Jodie Paskwietz; and one brother, Fermon Southerland.