Joseph Craig Kitchings

Joseph ("Joe") Craig Kitchings, Sr., 63, passed away peacefully at 10:49 p.m., on December 31, 2014, at Memorial Hospital in Savannah, Georgia, following a hard fought battle with cancer. Joe, a native of Hinesville, Georgia, was born to Robert and Pearl (Mallard) Kitchings on April 13, 1951, Friday. He spent his childhood in Hinesville where he developed cherished boyhood friendships that have spanned his lifetime. Joe prided himself on achieving his goal of becoming an Eagle Scout in 1967 at the age of 16, as well as being named as a member of the Mensa Society. Following his graduation from Bradwell Institute, he received his degree in Business from Georgia Southern College and then went on to earn his Juris Doctorate from the Atlanta Law School in Atlanta, Georgia. He passed the bar on November 8, 1976, and began his legal career as a criminal defense attorney with the Atlantic Judicial Circuit Public Defender's Office in Pembroke, Georgia. Following several years with the Public Defender, Joe opened his solo legal practice, eventually settling with his family in his beloved hometown of Hinesville, where he followed in the footsteps of his parents as a faithful steward of the community he loved. He had a long and successful career as a "small-town" garden variety lawyer -- working hard to "fight injustice" and "save the little man". In 1998, he became legal partners with his friend and longtime mentor, Richard D. Phillips and remained such until Richard's death in 2010. Joe continued to work as a managing partner of Phillips & Kitchings until he became ill in July of 2014. If there is one word to sum up Joe Kitchings, it would be -- BIG. He lived life to the fullest in everything he did -- his mantras were "waste not want not" and "Go big OR Go home"! In 2002, Joe became Papa Joe when his first grandchild was born. At the time of his death, Joe was the proud "Papa Joe" to seven additional grandchildren. Joe will forever be remembered as a lover of music - there was no Bob Dylan song he didn't love - and his grandchildren. His greatest joy was being host of our annual family beach trip to the King and Prince on Labor Day weekend. "The Beach Trip" was family, fun, food, and football -- all the things he LOVED most in this life. The final two months of Joe's life were happily spent with his lifelong friend Freddy Fairman, and Freddy's wife, Blenda, who graciously provided hospice care for him during the end stages of his valiant fight. Although his battle was ultimately lost, our family was welcomed into the Fairman home and given the gifts of spending both Thanksgiving and Christmas with our Papa Joe at a home and not in a hospital. He is survived by his four children: Melissa Blackwell (Vance) of Live Oak, FL, Carrie Bryant (Aaron) of Travelers Rest, SC, Joseph "Craig" Kitchings, Jr. (Jenny), of Columbia, SC, and Billie Rae King (Jimmy) of Athens, Ga; grandchildren, Caleb (13), Dylan (10), Logan (9), Eli (7), Harrison (4), Julia Anne (2), Ethan (2), and Lucy Claire (6 months); brother, Billy Kitchings (Mary) of Hinesville; sisters, Sylvia Spears of Richmond Hill, and Nancy Aspinwall of Hinesville; eight nieces and nephews, numerous great-nieces and -nephews; and long-time companion, Loretta Blanco of Hinesville. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2014, at 11:00 a.m., in the chapel at Carter Funeral Home. The family will be receiving those who wish to pay their respects immediately preceding the service from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Memorials may be may be made to the American Cancer Society of the Coastal Empire, 6600 Abercorn Street, Suite 206, Savannah, Georgia 31405. Flowers may be sent to Carter Funeral Home Oglethorpe Chapel at 308 West Oglethorpe Boulevard, Hinesville, Georgia 31313. Carter Funeral Home Oglethorpe Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Online condolences may be made at www.carteroglethorpe.com. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Joseph Craig Kitchings, please visit our flower store.