Max L. Kirby

Funeral service for Max L. Kirby, 88, of Jacksonville will be Friday, September 12, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. at Thompson Funeral Home with Rev. Garry Brown and Rev. Tim Zimmerman officiating. Burial with Law Enforcement Honors will follow at Nances Creek Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Friday from 11:00 a.m.– 1:00 p.m. Mr. Kirby passed away Tuesday, September 9, 2025 at his home. Survivors include his loving wife of 56 years, Mary Kirby; four nephews, Steve Hunter, Rickey Hunter, Michael Rockhart and Frank Kirby; three nieces, Holli Higdon, Hayley Spears and Nikki Daniel; and several other family members. Mr. Kirby was preceded in death by his parents, Rev. Emmett "Rube" Kirby and Myrtle "Myrt" Kirby; brother, Franklin D. Kirby; six sisters, Ida Lively, Hazel Daugherty, Kate Brannon, Mozelle Fugatte, Rochelle Elkins and Ruth Hunter. Pallbearers will be Michael Rockhart, Rickey Hunter, Steve Hunter, Sonny Frost, Andy Borders and Joe Sekula. Honorary pallbearer will be Charles Bonner. Mr. Kirby was born in Cherokee County, Alabama and had lived most of his life in Calhoun County. He was of the Baptist faith and was a supporter of the Nances Creek Baptist Church. Mr. Kirby was very dedicated to his 40+ year career in law enforcement. During those years he served as police chief of Austell, Georgia; was a patrolman with the Weaver Police Department, and served as a deputy for the Calhoun County Sheriff's Department where he was later promoted to the rank of Chief Deputy which he held until his retirement in 1999. After retirement he worked Cold Cases for the Calhoun County Sheriff's Department from 1999 to 2015. He, along with his dedicated and hard working partners, solved many cold cases during that time. Mr. Kirby was always known to have a great amount of compassion for the families of the victims. His years of dedicated and professional service to the citizens of Calhoun County is greatly appreciated.