Dewey Donald "Don" Kennedy

Dewey Donald “Don” Kennedy, 79, of Metter died Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at Ogeechee Area Hospice with his family by his side. He was the much loved son of James Roy and Bonair Durrence Kennedy, who preceded him in death. Growing up in the Cedar Creek community, he enjoyed a lifetime of deer hunting on the family farm, working with his Missouri Fox Trotter horses and riding a tractor every chance he could. Don was a 1965 honor graduate of Collins High School where playing basketball was his favorite sport.

His senior year of high school, he became a part time employee with Hooks Mortuary in Metter. After high school graduation, he enrolled in John A. Gupton School of Mortuary Science in Nashville, TN and graduated in the fall of 1966. After a three year apprenticeship, he became a licensed embalmer in 1969 and a licensed funeral director in 1970.

Upon returning to Metter, he worked with Hooks Mortuary and Taylor Funeral Home. In 1971 at age 24, he wanted to serve his local community with funeral service and opened Kennedy Funeral Home in Cobbtown. Working long hours day and night was required as funeral homes, also provided ambulance service to the community. Six months after opening his funeral home in Cobbtown, he purchased Taylor Funeral Home in Metter. For the next 25 years, he reared his family in an apartment adjoining the funeral home. It was a family business with everyone helping out.

Don was a member of the Metter Primitive Baptist Church, Metter Kiwanis Club, Cobbtown Lions Club, and the Roger Wood Masonic Lodge #438 in Cobbtown. He loved the adventure of hunting wild game in Colorado and pheasant hunting in South Dakota. Don received his small plane pilot’s license in the early 1990’s.

Don was an entrepreneur at heart. A few years after building and buying the funeral homes, he opened and operated Kennedy Monument Company in Metter. In 1995, he sold the funeral homes and monument company only to repurchase six years later. His new venture was receiving his insurance license and opening an office in Metter for Parker Associates of Stockbridge. Don returned to the funeral business in 2007 as a partner in Kennedy-Brannen Funeral Homes in Glennville and Reidsville and later Metter and Cobbtown. He retired in 2022 and was very proud of being a licensed funeral director for 55 years.

He is survived by his wife, Cathy Coleman Kennedy of Metter; a son, Donny Kennedy and wife, Michelle of Sugar Hill; a daughter, Tina Kennedy Rigdon and husband, Steven of Metter; a step-son, Hunter Whitfield (Taylor) of Statesboro; three grandchildren, Ramsey Rigdon Waters (Loy), Leah Rigdon (Tyler) and Braxton Kennedy; a sweet little great-granddaughter, Kennedy Jane Waters; a sister, Pam Lee (Wayne) of Metter; the mother of his children, Faye Wildes Kennedy Smith (Alton); a brother-in-law, John Coleman (Carla) of Tarrytown; several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, May 2, at 2:00 pm, at the Metter Primitive Baptist Church with Elder Mike Newman officiating.

Visitation will be Friday evening, 5:00-7:00 pm, May 1, 2026, at Kennedy Funeral Homes, Hooks Chapel in Metter. Burial will follow in the Lake Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Nick Lee, Greg Lacock, Joey “JoBo” Jarriel, Chad Jarriel, Jamie Calloway, Jody Calloway and Brian Tootle.

Honorary pallbearers will be fellow Funeral Directors and previous staff associates.

Remembrances may be made to Ogeechee Area Hospice, Post Box 531, Statesboro, Georgia 30459 or to the Masonic Children’s Home, 1417 Nottingham Dr, Macon, GA 31211.

Kennedy Funeral Homes, Hooks Chapel, of Metter is in charge of the arrangements.