Kathryn Cannon Faircloth, 70, of Fitzgerald, Georgia, died Monday, June 29, 2020, at Dorminy Medical Center in Fitzgerald,
**A celebration of life will be held at 6 PM, Wednesday, July 21, 2021, at Central United Methodist Church in Fitzgerald. All of Kay's friends and family are invited to attend. The family is asking that those whose lives were touched by Kay to please write a letter sharing how she impacted your life, so that these letters may be shared with her grandchildren as they get older. Letters may be dropped off at Paulk Funeral Home or mailed to Paulk Funeral Home, P.O. Box 129, Fitzgerald, GA 31750.**
Kay, as she was known to friends and family, was born July 20, 1949, in Macon, Georgia, to the late Earl Mayes Cannon, Jr. and Ruby Lee Carroll Cannon. She graduated from Wilcox County High School in 1967. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Valdosta State University and her Masters and Specialist Degrees from Georgia Southwestern University.
Kay loved children and spent 40 years teaching Pre-K, kindergarten and second grade in Hawkinsville, Abbeville, Gwinnett County, Fitzgerald, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College and Central United Methodist Church Pre-School. She never forgot any of the students she taught and kept in touch with many throughout the years. She was always quick to provide words of encouragement to the youth of Fitzgerald long after they had left her classroom. She loyally cheered for the Fitzgerald Purple Hurricanes at both home and away games. She attended chorus concerts, high school musicals and supported every fundraiser.
Kay joined Central United Methodist Church when she moved to Fitzgerald with her daughter Jenny. She loved her church family dearly and faithfully uplifted its members in her prayers. One of her greatest joys was being a member of the choir. She treasured the fellowship each week with her choir friends and considered each one to be family. She was always quick to volunteer to help the choir director when she needed anything and demonstrated her love for her church family through her many acts of service. Kay was also a member of UMW Circle #1, served as flower chairperson, and was the Sunshine Chairman for the choir.
After retiring from teaching, Kay found joy in helping brides register at both the Jolly Jeweler and Jenny K’s boutique. She also delighted in directing weddings at Central United Methodist Church. Her favorite part was getting to know the bride and groom so she could make their day special. She always stayed in touch with her brides and enjoyed seeing their families grow.
Kay was a proud resident of Fitzgerald and genuinely cared about everyone in her community. She had a servant’s heart and friends describe her as a kind soul who was always taking care of others. She loved everyone she met and always tried to see the best in people. She was a true Good Samaritan and was a shining light of God’s love. She always kept cards on hand so that she could send them to friends and family when she felt like they needed encouragement. Her thoughtfulness and willingness to help others made her a valued friend to many.
Kay loved her friends and family unconditionally. She will be remembered by her family for her cherished role as a mother and grandmother. She was a loving mother who had high expectations but provided guidance with a loving hand. She poured her love and wisdom into her only daughter, Jenny. She was so thrilled to welcome Matt into the family and thought of him as a son. You could not ask for a better example of what it means to be a great mother.
Her grandsons, Warren and Pace, were her pride and joy. She visited them regularly and never missed a soccer game, flag football game, pre-school program, birthday or any other important event. She followed the loving example of her own grandmother, Mamah, when spending time with “her boys” and had an extra special bond with her grandsons, who called her Gram. Her grandsons said that they loved playing with Gram because she always made them feel special. They loved snuggling with her when she would spend the night and said she gave the best hugs. Gift giving was one of Gram’s love languages and her grandson Pace explained it best when he said “Gram loves giving us presents because it makes her so happy to see us so happy.” Her grandsons say they will miss spending time with their friend and will miss her smile.
One of Kay’s greatest gifts was that you never had to wonder if you were loved by her because she told you and showed you every day. In the eyes of her grandchildren, Gram was famous. While it might not be true in the traditional sense, Kay was famous in her community for her generous giving of love to everyone around her and that is a legacy for which she will be remembered.
She is survived by her daughter, Jennifer Larren Farmer and son-in-law Matthew Farmer of Warner Robins; two grandchildren: Warren Farmer (6) and Pace Farmer (4); two sisters: Susan (Joseph) Cravey and Carolyn (Aubrey) Wilson both of Abbeville, and nephew Cannon (Joanna) Wilson of Athens. She was preceded in death by parents, her sister, Jane Cannon; step-mother, Edna Cannon and grandparents: Earl and Gladys Cannon and Roy and Catherine Carroll.
The family suggests those desiring to send memorials may send them to Central United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 428, Fitzgerald, GA 31750.
Graveside services were held 2 PM, Friday, July 3, 2020, at Stubbs Cemetery in Abbeville, Georgia, with the Rev. Dr. Richard Wright and the Rev. B.J. Funk officiating.