Celebration of Life For Kirk Jermaine Maddox, July 28, 1972-December 13, 2009, Friday, December 18, 2009, 11:00 a.m., Ben Hill United Methodist Church, 2099 Fairburn Road, S.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30031, The Reverend Richard D. Winn, Sr., Senior Pastor, Officiating

9rty Insurance With qocf
I have insurance with Jesus; I know that it's marked paid.
For Jesus is the premium, and He His own life gave. I took out an insurance for heaven; the best that could be found. Now I have an insurance with Jesus, and for heaven I am bound. I have an insurance with Jesus that won't lapse or fail to seed; For the premiums are paid daily, by my actions and my deeds. The Board of Directors are Angels, and the President is God. Jesus Christ is my Collector; all He wants is the pure heart. My life is insured by Jesus; my all promise to give. I promise to live as a Christian, to love,
forget and forgive. In tum, Jesus gave me insurance;
Salvation was my benefit. And now I have the assurance, somewhere around the throne I'll sit. When my life is ended, weep not, just let it be said; I've cashed my insurance for heaven, by divine hands now I'm led. My way lies onward and upward,
to heights above the skies. My insurance with Jesus will carry me safely
o'er the roaring tide.

06ituary
f"''..J 11(jrk:Jennaine :Maddox_ I f"''..J
This obituary is written in the spirit of the person whose life we celebrate today. Kirk Jermaine Maddox, born July 28, 1972, was called home to Glory on December 13, 2009 (maybe just as the Sanctuary Choir sang the "Hallelujah Chorus"). HALLELUJAH!!!
Kirk (affectionately called "Boo" by family) was an AWESOME middle child, born to Aubrey and Betty Maddox. The story of God's intervention in his birth was the first sign of the AWESOMENESS that God wanted him to share with the world, for a season. God gave him a quiet, questioning, pure heart that was very transparent to children. You could even call him a "Pied Piper" for children. As early as a young teen, his cousins and other young children would flock to his side with many questions to which they expected answers from Kirk. As a teacher that attraction continued. As they grew, this attraction continued. They would give us a quick "hello" and run off to Kirk's room to explore and ask new questions, seeking answers. Children recognize the "pure in heart" in the pureness of their innocence. In his present teaching assignment, one of his students was convinced by his mother to "appreciate" his glasses because Mr. Kirk wears glasses. We, his parents, came to appreciate his head loaded with knowledge on top1cs from medicines: side affects and benefits, to sports figures and other well-known personalities, etc. When we couldn't think of the name of a person, we said, "Ask Kirk, he knows" as he'd go to Barnes and Nobles and sit and read for hours, then purchase additional books; comics and inspirational books to continue that reading at home.
Kirk's father described him better than anyone as he says that Kirk was a "pure spirit" who knew no evil and could not understand human beings mistreating each other. He often had questions about faith and wanted to be right in all that he did, especially as it relates to others.
Kirk graCiuated from Therrell High School and received his Bachelors Degree from Morris Brown College. He later received his Masters Degree from National University. Kirk was a contributor to the book written by S. Sirderis Smith entitled, What Black Educators Want Black Parents to Know, an endorsed reading by many school systems.
Kirk was employed by Atlanta Public Schools for ten years (most at A. D. Williams Elementary Sohool in Bowen Homes) and served the last year and a half with the Howell Station Pre-School Academy in Duluth as he sought to continue to make a difference in the lives of the very young.
Kirk was born after his parents became members of Ben Hill United Methodist Church and was nurtured, as he grew up in Ben Hill, through Sunday School, the Children's and Youth choirs. As an adult, he sang with the Male Chorus in its early years. A year or so ago, he decided to teach Sunday School, again, becoming the beloved of children whom he loved in return.
God created him, loaned him to us for a season and then called him home. Knowing God, who knows how much Kirk loved his sister, Tazanya (Tee), I wouldn 't be surprised at all if He permitted her to meet him and welcome him HOME. HALLELUJAH!!!
Kirk leaves to cherish his memory, along with us (his parents), his brother, Eric of Atlanta; Grandmother, Mrs. Susie H. Jessie of Columbus, Georgia; aunts, Joyce (Charles) Zachery of Atlanta and Mrs. Anne (Calvin)Goss of Sparta, Georgia; Iris Jessie ofRiverdale, Georgia and Mrs. Aileen Cole of Ft. Valley, Georgia; an additional uncle, Rev. Richard Jessie of Columbus, Georgia; great-aunts, Mrs. Sarah Harris of Ft. Valley, Georgia, Mrs. Beulah (Coleman) Lovett of Macon, Georgia, Mrs. Grace Kilgore of St. Louis and seven beloved first cousins; Donita Cardwell, Shonda (Joseph) Wheeler, Alfred Bernard (Dawn) Jessie, Jr., all of Atlanta, Georgia; Richard Walker of Memphis, Tennessee, Victoria Suzann and Rachel Alexandria Jessie of Riverdale, Georgia and Loretta M. Cole of Minneapolis, Minnesota and a host of other beloved cousins, relatives and friends.

I'dLik. ~o flhin~
I'd like to think when life is done That I had filled a needed post, That here and there I'd paid my fare With more than idle talk and boast; That I had taken gifts divine, The breath of life and manhood fine, And tried to use them now and then In service for my fellow men.

Orcfer of Ce{e6ration

Prelude

Processional

Hymn

"We'll Understand It Better By and By"................ .............UMH#525

Scriptures Readings: Old Testament: Psalm 121 .........................................Rev. Dr. Michael D. Stinson New Testament: Revelation 21: 1-6 .... . .........................................Rev. Gigi A. Warren

Prayer...............................................................................Rev. McCallister Hollins

Ministry of Music [Obituary Read Silently] .........................C.L. Henderson Male Chorus

Reflections: Former Principal. ................................Dr. Clifton Tinsley Friend..................................... . . . .....Mr. Bryan Stephens Family ................... . ........................Rev. Richard Jesse (uncle) Former Ben Hill Clergy.... ....................Rev. Paul Easley Rev. Sharma Lewis Rev. Byron Thomas

Solo..... . ... . .... . . . ...... ... .......... . .............. .................... . ............. . ...Mr. Keith Wilson

Eulogy..... . .......................................................................Rev. Richard D. Winn, Sr.

Musical Tribute..........................................................................Mr. Jarvis Wilson

Acknowledgements

Recessional

Interment: Lincoln Cemetery 2275 Simpson Road, NW Atlanta, Georgia 30314

Repast immediately following interment at Ben Hill UMC in the fellowship hall

)fctive cpaff6earers
Friends from Therrell High School . Friends from Morris Brown College
rt'fower Ladies
Jewels & Partners
1 will lift up mine eyes unto the hill, from whence cometh my help.... " Your love, devotion and friendship shown in countless ways during the recent death of our loved one helped to ease our pain and sorrow. We acknowledge with deep gratitude your generous expressions of sympathy and we sincerely thank each of
you for caring and sharing.