Jack W. Kitchens

Jack W. Kitchens of Oxford, went home to be with the Lord, April 17, 2011, at the age of 84.He was born in March, 1927, grew up in the East Lake area of DeKalb County, and attended Tech High. He served in the Navy during WWII, stationed in the Medical Corps in Seattle, WA. Jack married Mary Born, in 1949. He attended Emory University graduating with a Bachelors of Science degree. After graduation, he began his career with several jobs, but settled in the construction industry employed at Williams Brothers Lumber Company. He began Jack W. Kitchens, Inc., a residential development and construction company, in the mid-1960s. Jack built many homes for people in the Tucker, Dunwoody, and Stone Mountain areas of Atlanta. Following Mary's death in 1991, Jack met Melba Mullins and they married in 1993. A family and civic minded man, Jack served in the churches he attended which included East Lake Methodist, Chapel Heights Baptist, Smoke Rise Baptist, and First Baptist Church of Covington. He was a member of Civitan and Kiwanis International. Jack will be remembered as a person who enjoyed helping people behind the scenes of public attention. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Usher, Sr., and Elon (Van Sant) Kitchens; his first wife, Mary B. Kitchens; and his son-in-law, Tim Kimsey. Survivors include his loving wife, Melba M. Kitchens of Oxford; daughters and sons-in-law, Rebecca (Becky) Kimsey of Fayetteville, Melissa and Tom Chojnacki of New Lenox, IL, Laurie and Ray Evans of Newnan; sons and daughters-in-law, David W. and Judy Kitchens of Rockville, MD, Collier and Cindy Mullins of Longwood, FL, Owen and Cindy Adair of Stockbridge; 15 grandchildren; 1 great-granddaughter; several nieces and nephews. Funeral Services for Mr. Kitchens will be held Wednesday, April 20, 2011, 11:00 AM, at First Baptist Church, in Covington, with Rev. Jason Dees, Dr. Truett Gannon, and Rev. Len Strozier officiating. Interment will be held in Westview Cemetery, in Atlanta, Wednesday, at 2:00 PM. The family will receive friends at Caldwell & Cowan Funeral Home, 1215 Access Road, in Covington, Tuesday, from 5-8 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Baptist Church - Benevolence Fund, 1139 Usher Street, Covington, GA 30014.