Carolina "Kirby" Simpson Kirby-Smith

Carolina “Kirby” Simpson Kirby-Smith, beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, died peacefully surrounded by family on Sunday, April 27th, 2025, in Atlanta, Georgia after a brief illness. She was 84 years old when she joined our Lord and Savior in His heavenly realm.

Kirby was born in Washington, DC, on November 12, 1940, to the late Dr. Hayden West Kirby-Smith and Frances Darlington Simpson, who imprinted many of the values that would serve Carolina during her lifetime, including her love for art, travel, and all things Italian. She attended Academy of the Holy Cross which both established her strong faith in God and that she felt was the genesis of her rebellious nature, one of her most defining and endearing characteristics. Some of her happiest childhood memories were of the summers she and her older sister Virginia spent in Mexico City visiting her father’s family. While in Mexico, she gained fluency in Spanish and a lifelong appreciation of Mexican people and culture.

Carolina left home to study at the University of Florida in Gainesville where she met her future husband Don Lee Deal. Kirby and Don moved to St. Petersburg, Florida for Don’s first post-graduation job. There they welcomed the birth of their children Don Jr. and Elisabeth. The family followed Don’s successive jobs, first back to Gainesville, and then to Hattiesburg, Mississippi. There, Kirby graduated with a bachelor’s in fine arts degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and began a long career as a school teacher, first teaching Art and, later, Spanish. She completed her teaching career in Greenville, South Carolina before retiring in Atlanta, Georgia in 2000 to be closer to children and grandchildren who were living there. Kirby was a talented artist, devoted student of the Bible, and a wonderful mother, friend and neighbor.

Kirby was a unique and unforgettable soul. Unmatched in kindness and empathy, she had a generous heart and giant personality. She attracted new friends wherever she went and brightened the lives of others with her unbridled humor and sincere caring. Her intensity for living was a light that lifted up those around her. Kirby never met a stranger, never missed a party, and never missed an opportunity to make people laugh. She had an uncanny gift for making people feel important and know that they mattered to her. By any measure, Kirby led a fulfilled life. She left this world not with fear but with faith, hope and excitement to embark on her heavenly adventure, confident she was leaving a durable legacy of faith, family, and friends.

Faith was indelible part of Kirby’s life. She was an ardent student of scripture and shared her mission to inspire faith through church service, mission trips to Guatemala, and volunteer positions at La Amistad and Northside Hospital. She was a Stephen Minister and was active in several churches in the Atlanta area. She believed in the power of prayer and often saw God working in her life.

Kirby is survived by her children Don Lee Deal, Jr. and Elisabeth Kirby-Smith Hermann, her brothers Lee Kirby-Smith, Reynold Kirby-Smith, and Stefan Onacewicz, her grandchildren Charlotte and William Hermann, and many loving cousins and extended family. She was preceded in death by her sister Virginia Kirby-Smith, brothers Hayden and Edmund Kirby-Smith, and ex-husband Don Lee Deal.

A celebration of life ceremony for Kirby will be held on June 28th 1:30 at St. James United Methodist Church in Atlanta, GA.