Henry Richard Kirby
1873-1926
[need photo]
Gospel Advocate Obituary
H. R. Kirby was born on August 24, 1872, and died on February 10, 1926. He was married on January 10, 1901, to Miss Georgia Tobias, and was baptized into Christ about sixteen years ago. He leaves a wife and one daughter, with a host of relatives and friends, to mourn his death. Ten or twelve years ago Brother Kirby moved to Bay Minette, Ala., where he was supervisor on the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, in which capacity he served faithfully until death called him home. At the time Brother Kirby moved to Bay Minette there was a small band of Christians meeting the courthouse to worship. In a short time the Baptists moved into their new building and offered for sale their old one. Brother Kirby mortgaged his home and bought the house. From that time on, under the leadership of this God-fearing, Christian man, they prospered and grew. Once before, in Opp, Ala., Brother Kirby sold his home and built a meetinghouse in which he and a few humble followers of the Lord could meet and worship as "it is written." It was my good fortune to be thrown with this good man in a meeting at Bay Minette. Since then it has been my pleasure to visit Brother and Sister Kirby several times. I have always been benefited by this sweet association and encouraged by his unselfish devotion to the cause of Christ. A true and loving husband and father and a loyal Christian has been taken from us, but our loss is his gain. Funeral services were conducted by Brother J. H. Hines and the writer assisted by Brethren I. L. Boles and F. M. Little, at the residence of J. A. Windham, Montgomery, Ala. His body was laid to rest in *Oakwood Cemetery.
-D. E. MASON. Gospel Advocate, April 8, 1926, p.329.
*Note: The obituary above states that H.R. Kirby was buried in Oakwood Cemetery. He was actually buried at Greenwood Cemetery. Refer to info below.
Webeditor's Comments: Many thanks to C. Wayne Kilpatrick for making us aware of the life and work of H.R. Kirby. While many of his contributions yet await unfolding, some things we are most grateful for about his contributions to the Restoration Movement. As mentioned above, his wife was the former Miss Georgia Tobias. She was educated at the Highland Home School under the tutelage of J.M. Barnes, a noted gospel preacher and educator, also buried in the cemetery at Greenwood. Brother and Sister Kirby had one daughter, Ferrill. Ferrill became the wife of another well known gospel preacher, A.R. Hill. Both A.R. and Ferrill made tremendous contributions to the settling of restoration churches in the south. Read more about Ferrill Hill on another link on this website.
Directions To The Grave of Henry R. Kirby
Henry Kirby is buried in the beautiful Greenwood Cemetery in Montgomery, Alabama. Just east of central Montgomery, take I-85 to Exit 3, Ann St. Exit, and go north. Go five streets to Highland and turn right. Go to the stop sign and you will be facing the entrance to Greenwood Cemetery. Enter the cemetery and go to the top of the hill. As you go up the hill you will bear to your second left turn. Then again, take your second left turn. Then take the first right turn. Turn right and note that Section 1 is on your left. When you come into a huge circle to your right, stop the car. The Kirby plot is to your left in Section 1. There are at least a dozen preacher of the gospel buried in this cemetery. Go here for a listing.
GPS Location
32.374077,-86.258287
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Billy Kirby Hill
June 26, 1928
July 29, 1978
Billy was a grandson of Henry and Tobias. A.R. and Ferrill Kirby Hill were his parent.
Billy was born with special needs, and was long cared for institutionally.
His parents are buried in Florence.
KIRBY
Georgia E. Tobias
wife of
H.R. Kirby
December 22, 1872
September 23, 1930
Mother-Father
Henry Richard Kirby
August 24, 1873 - February 10, 1926
Thy memory shall ever be
A guiding star to Heaven
Photos Taken 03.05.2013
Page produced on 03.15.2013
Courtesy of Scott Harp
www.TheRestorationMovement.com