In Memory: Jeff Whidby, 50, Georgia Fire & Rescue Supply President

Editor's note: the following obituary was submitted by South Canton Funeral Home.

Jeff Whidby, age 50, of Canton, GA passed away Wednesday, January 04, 2017.

Jeff began in Georgia fire service at age 12 and served through all ranks up to captain at Circle 5 Volunteer Fire Department.

He served through all ranks up to captain for city of Woodstock Fire Department. He was firefighter and fire apparatus operator for city of Atlanta Fire Department. He was a district chief, special operations chief and battalion chief for Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services. He was an instructor for both the public and private sectors where he taught across the entire southeastern region of the United States.

He was a Georgia Fire Academy instructor, a lead instructor for the Georgia Smoke Diver Association, president of Georgia Fire and Rescue Supply and served his community and region in fire services for 38 years.

He was a member of Macedonia Baptist Church, Youth Group Leader, Sunday School Teacher, Sunday School Superintendent, loving father, husband, brother and friend. He was a mentor and a leader who will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 9 at Macedonia Baptist Church, with Rev. Gary Coffey, Rev. Horace Richards and Rev. Kent Samples officiating. Interment will follow at Macedonia Memorial Park. The family received friends Saturday, Jan. 7, Sunday, Jan. 8 and Jan. 9 at South Canton Funeral Home.

He was preceded in death by father, J. T. Whidby; brother, James Whidby; grandparents, Taylor and Myrtie Whidby; grandfather, Dewey Chamlee; grandparents-in-law, Jay Y. and Kate Edwards.

Survivors include wife, Andrea Whidby of Canton; daughter, Katie Whidby of Canton; mother, Barbara Whidby of Canton; brother and sister-in-law, Jason and Sharmon Whidby of Canton; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jason and Cathy Fitts of Canton; mother-in law and father-in-law, Lawrence and Sandra Fitts of Canton; grandmother, Elizabeth Chamlee of Canton; nieces and nephews, Rachel and Marissa Whidby of Canton and Logan and Gavin Fitts of Canton.

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