Mr. Harry Talton Kemp, Sr.
Augusta, GA – Entered into rest Thursday, January 5, 2012, Mr. Harry Talton Kemp, Sr., 88, husband of the late Mrs. Mary Alice Bailey Kemp.
Born in Lawrenceville, GA on December 30, 1923 Harry was the son of Earnest and Gertrude Kemp. He grew up in Lakeland, FL where he graduated from Lakeland High school in 1942. Harry and his twin brother Larry attended their first year in college at Carson Newman College in TN. They then joined the Army to serve in WW II. After receiving their basic training at Camp Wheeler in Macon, GA they received orders to proceed to New York where they were shipped overseas to join the 14th Armored Division in France. In the winter of 1945 their Division was moving forward towards the French and German border. On January 15th his brother Larry was killed by a German Sniper. Harry with his platoon took the building the sniper was in, killing all of the German soldiers inside. During his service he received the Purple Heart; multiple Bronze Star’s and was one of the few and possibly the only citations, Private First Class Soldier in Europe to receive a battle field commission direst to 2nd Lieutenant. Shortly thereafter he was wounded and returned in the summer of 1945 to Oliver General Hospital in Augusta. That is where he met his future bride, Mary Alice Bailey. They were married September of 1946. They returned to Lakeland, FL where he graduated from Florida Southern College. After graduation he went to work for Bibb Juice Company as Treasurer of the Company. In the 1960’s they moved to Atlanta where he became a teacher in the Gwinnett County School System. Later he took a position at Middle Georgia College and then moved to Augusta and was a counselor in the Richmond County Schools.
Family members include sons and daughters-in-law: Harry Jr. and Gayle Kemp of Cumming, GA, Richard and Heidi Kemp of Brentwood, TN; grandchildren: Andrea, Katie, and Max Kemp.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, January 8, 2012 at 2:00 P.M. in the Chapel at Thomas Poteet & Son with Rev. Jim Bailey and Rev. LeRoy James officiating. Interment will follow at Savannah Valley Memorial Gardens in Thompson, GA.
Honorary pallbearers will be Friends from Cracker Barrel.
In Lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to The Alzheimer’s Association at 1899 Central Avenue, Augusta, GA 30904-5755
The family will receive friends Sunday, prior to the service at 12:00 P.M. at Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at www.thomaspoteet.com