William G. E. Kerr

William Gene Emanuel Kerr was born on January 9, 1927 in St. David’s, Ontario, Canada to John Kerr and Nellie Deborah Stewart Kerr.

He met and married Joan Lois Smith. A marriage made in Heaven, together they loved each other tremendously and cared for their children, Judy, Susan, Bill, Jim and Arlene. They held their sacred vows seriously and remained that way until her passing.

William played professional baseball with the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Dodgers were established in 1883 in the city of Brooklyn, which later became a borough of New York City, the team joined the NL in 1890 as the Brooklyn Bridegrooms and assumed several different monikers thereafter before finally settling on the name Dodgers in 1932. From the 1940s through the mid-1950s, the Dodgers developed a fierce cross-town rivalry with the New York Yankees as the two clubs faced each other in the World Series seven times, with the Dodgers losing the first five matchups before defeating them to win the franchise's first title in 1955. It was also during this period that the Dodgers made history by breaking the baseball color line in 1947 with the debut of Jackie Robinson, the first African-American to play in the Major Leagues since 1884. William was a proud former teammate of Jackie Robinson. He was a left batter and an outfielder. In 1949, he was named the Minor League, Rookie Batting Champion, with a batting average of 401.

After his baseball career, he was auto mechanic, boiler maker and later retired from the General Motors Corporation after 22 years of service.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Nellie Kerr and his beloved wife, Joan Lois Smith Kerr.

William led a Godly life and absolutely loved his family. Cherished memories will remain forever in the hearts of his five children, Judy Coffee (Roy, Sr.) of Springhill, Tennessee, Susan Kerr of Stockbridge, Georgia, Bill Kerr (Tina) of Jacksonville, Florida, Jim Kerr of Baxley, Georgia and Arlene Brooks (William) of Carrollton, Georgia; eighteen grandchildren, Roy Coffee, Jr. (Michelle) of Lyles, Tennessee, James Coffee of Springhill, Tennessee, Brandon Coffee (Michelle) of Springhill, Tennessee, Jessica Ciarimboli (Jeffrey) of Jacksonville, Florida, Jeremy Joiner (Jenny) of Jacksonville, Florida, Shaun Kerr (Nicol) of Newnan, Georgia, Kimberleigh Mueller (Mike) of McDonough, Georgia, Chrissey Vizcarra (Ron) of Senoia, Georgia, Sherry Brown (Alex) of Newnan, Georgia and Holly Harris of Kennesaw, Georgia; twenty-two great-grandchildren, Savannah Fisher (Jordan), Sierra Hibbard (Chris), Tyler Coffee, Carter Coffee, Kolton Coffee. Kayla Cowan, Malayna Vizcarra, Brendan Vizcarra, Tristen Brown, Braxley Brown, Amelia Brown, Luke Ciarimboli, Logan Ciarimboli, Samantha Joiner, Spencer Joiner, London Mueller, Lenox Mueller, Marrah Harris, Skylar Barnhill and Peyton Barnhill; four great-great-grandchildren, Allie Coffee, Declan Coffee, Grayson Barnhill and Rylan Hibbard; a host of other relatives and family friends.

A Gathering of Family & Friends will be held on Saturday, December 31, 2022 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM at Stockbridge Community Church, 4401 GA-155 N, Stockbridge, Georgia 30281. The Celebration of Life for William G. E. Kerr will begin at 1:00 PM.

A Private Inurnment will occur on Monday, January 2, 2023.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.horisawardfairviewchapel.com for the Kerr family.