Rev. Kirk Loyless

Reverend Kirk G. Loyless, an ordained minister of the United Methodist Church, passed away peacefully on January 25, 2022 at his residence. A celebration of Kirk’s life will be held on Saturday, January 29, 2022 at 2:00 PM at Friendship United Methodist Church with Rev. Nate Lehman of Friendship United Methodist Church, Rev. Mike Brown of Waycross First United Methodist Church, and Mr. Bill Burke of Donalsonville, GA officiating. Interment will follow at Friendship Memorial Gardens with John Chittom, Chandler Chittom, David Chittom, Rio Oliver, John Loyless, and Scott Hartzog serving as active pallbearers. Visitation will be held on at the church on Saturday, January 29, 2022 at 1:00 PM. Kirk Loyless was born in Anniston, Alabama on November 10, 1950 to Elliott and Sue Loyless. The family moved to Eastman, GA where Kirk graduated high school at Dodge County High School. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from Georgia State University and his Master of Divinity from the Chandler School of Theology at Emory University. In the South Georgia Conference since 1977, Kirk served faithfully as pastor to nineteen individual churches in various stations and charges. He was pastor of Friendship United Methodist Church for ten years. He retired in 2013 to the north Georgia mountains, but returned to Donalsonville in 2018. He became pastor of the Barney United Methodist Church in Barney, Ga. One of the most fulfilling ministries of his life was the Manna Drop, a monthly food ministry that provides hundreds of food boxes to needy families in the community. Another ministry close to his heart was the Navajo ministry, led by his good friend Charles Dennis. Kirk is survived by his wife of 34 years, Martha. He is lovingly remembered by his daughters Deborah Tuttle (Kevin), Carrie Chittom (John), Cathy Shepan, Connie Tallman (AJ), his son John Oliver (Takako) and his twelve grandchildren John Walker Chittom, Chandler Chittom (Amanda), Christopher Chittom (Megan), David Chittom (Hope), Rio Oliver, Bex Shepan, Lydia Chittom, Art Oliver, Henry Tallman, Emily Tallman, Elizabeth Tuttle, and Noah Tuttle. He is also survived by his brother Elliott Loyless (Sara), his sister Raymoth Evans (Danny), his stepmother Greta Loyless and many nieces and nephews. Kirk was preceded in death by his parents. The family wishes to thank Integrity Hospice for the tender loving care they have given to both Kirk and his family through these weeks. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Friendship United Methodist Church for the Thomas House fund.