Oloh Community/Sumrall
Funeral Home
Hulett Winstead Funeral Home
Visitation
Hulett Winstead Funeral Home, Hattiesburg, MS, at 9-10 AM on February 18, 2023
Service
Hulett Winstead Funeral Home, Hattiesburg, MS, at 10 AM on February 18, 2023
Obituary
Honoring a Fallen Hero, Who Served Within the Mississippi National Guard. “Fallen, Yet Not Forgotten”
In recognition of our proud American tradition of honorable service which our military men and women have given to their country and our State, we honor a Fallen Hero. Our nation, our state, and the National Guard Association of MS (NGAMS) regard the memorializing of its retired military deceased as an honorable and sacred obligation.
Another great Soldier and Fallen Hero has been released from duty, passed from our ranks on February 7, 2023, and has moved on to his heavenly home. LTC(Ret), Sidney E. Killebrew, age 92, a retired member of the MS Army National Guard and served within the Shelby ISU as the Post Engineer Officer during 1971-79, has departed and gone to a better place with our good Lord. Killebrew was a Korea and Vietnam veteran.
It takes a special person to serve within the military for their country, giving up their family time, comfort, and safety for their country, ultimately for all Americans to enjoy their freedoms, safety, and way of life. We now applaud you for your service to our country. A special message from General Douglas McArthur remains applicable today for our servicemen that have passed: “Old Soldiers never die; they just fade away”.
Rest in Peace Soldier. We applaud your patriotism and brave efforts in serving our country and your family for their support of your service. We thank you for your service. Without your efforts and your families’ support, our country would not stand so boldly, shine so bright and live so free.
You now have earned a rest, so go fly with the Angels, go rest high on that mountain; your work on earth is done. Go to heaven a-shoutin’ Love for the Father and the Son.
Fallen, Yet Not Forgotten”
Obituary, visitation, and service details:
Lieutenant Colonel Sidney Eugene Killebrew, 92, of Oloh Community, MS passed away February 7, 2023. Sid was born in Sidon, MS on June 11, 1930, to the late James Raiford Killebrew and Pauline Wood Killebrew.
Lieutenant Colonel Sidney E. Killebrew began his military career in 1948 with a football scholarship to Sunflower Junior College (now named Mississippi Delta Community College). Worried that some of the players might be drafted for the Korean War, the coach encouraged the team to enlist in the local Mississippi National Guard unit, and then lost the entire team when that unit was called to active duty in January 1951. Sidney Killebrew was married to Peggy Hartley shortly before his initial assignment as a field artilleryman at Fort Jackson, Columbia, SC. He was commissioned through Officer Candidate School (OCS) at Fort Belvoir, VA.
During his 20-year Army career, Colonel Killebrew commanded 10 engineer companies and the Engineer School Brigade, lived in 27 homes, and was stationed in five foreign countries and seven different states. He served nine years overseas and eleven years in the United States. The time overseas included two years in combat zones: Korea and later Viet Nam with the First Cavalry Division. Colonel Killebrew’s awards and commendations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal and campaign ribbons for Korean and Viet Nam.
After retirement from active duty, Colonel Killebrew served as the Post Engineer at Camp Shelby 1971-1979. During this time, he also farmed and raised cattle and raised and trained, registered quarter horses, which his daughters showed. He also taught adult Sunday School for 6 years and announced the Sumrall High School home football games. He served on the PTA, Sumrall Band and Football Boosters, and on the board of the West Lamar Water Association.
Camping was always a favorite activity, from tent camping in Italy and Spain while stationed in Germany, to RV camping across much of the United States. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, and frequently combining a hunting trip out west with the RV camping trips. He coached Little League baseball (winning the Washington DC district in 1967 for 9-12 year-olds), and was President of the Aschaffenburg Rod and Gun Club in 1958-59.
Sid is survived by his four children, Russell Killebrew (Nita) of Lilburn, GA, George Killebrew (Gay) of Elizabethton, TN, Gail Godwin (Steve) of Centerville, GA, and Christal Joyner (Kent) of Oloh, MS; ten grandchildren, Nicole Godwin Marchman (Kyle), Candace Joyner Weathers (Ben), Holly Godwin MacDonald-Doyle (Stewart), Amanda Killebrew Marge (Tim), Sydney Killebrew Norris (Joshua), Kirk Joyner (Karena), Meaghan Godwin Messer (James), Cara Joyner Fonokalafi (Josh), Melissa Godwin Ramirez (Angel), Kacey Joyner (Amy); and eleven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Peggy, parents, one brother (George who died as an infant) and two sisters (Katherine Lorenz and Margaret Moss).
A man of great faith which he passed on to his children and grandchildren, Sid was a humble servant of Jesus Christ, his Lord and master. In the sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ we commend him to Almighty God.
Visitation will be held at the Hulett Winstead Funeral Home in Hattiesburg, MS at 9:00 AM on February 18, 2023. The funeral service celebrating the life of Sidney Killebrew will at the same location at 10:00 AM. He will be interred at the Coxburg Cemetery in Coxburg, MS at 3:00 PM later that day.