Vince Hilliard

Vinston L. Hilliard, 81, of Bainbridge, GA, passed away Friday, January 21, 2011 at his residence. The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 24, 2011 at First Baptist Church with Rev. Paul Medley and Mr. Sam Sirmons officiating and will conclude at the church. Interment will be at West Bainbridge Cemetery with Tommy Hilliard, Timmy Hilliard, Chris Hilliard, Eric Hilliard, Matthew Hilliard, and Tyler Grimes serving as active pallbearers. The family will receive friends from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 23, 2011 at Ivey Funeral Home. Online visitors may sign the guest register at www.iveyfuneral.com . Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Southwest Georgia, 1323 East Shotwell, Suite #2, Bainbridge, GA 39819. Mr. Hilliard was born January 5, 1930 in Sparks, GA, the son of Thomas Jackson Hilliard and Sadie Hill Hilliard. He was a graduate of Sparks High School and was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. Mr. Hilliard was an insurance salesman, a member of First Baptist Church and the Penny Lambert Sunday School Class. He was a member of the Bainbridge Lions Club, past president of the Blakely Lions Club, a member of Orion Lodge # 8 F. & A. M., Bainbridge Shrine Club, Hasan Shrine Temple, and was a former member of Bainbridge and Blakely Rotary Clubs. Mr. Hilliard was preceded in death by his sister, Theresa H. Newman. Survivors include his wife of 29 years, Carolyn Cleveland Hilliard of Bainbridge, GA; his sons, Vic Hilliard and his wife Beth of Pelham, GA, Greg Hilliard and his wife Camille of Venice, FL, Scott Hilliard of Panama City, FL, Neal Hilliard and his wife Nichole of Pelham, GA; his daughters, Liz Thigpen and her husband Ray of DeLand, FL, Lee Grimes and her husband Joel of Suwanee, GA, Jill Black and her husband Steve of Atlanta, GA, and Amy Ford and her husband Stewart of Savannah, GA; his brother, Bobby Hilliard of Sparks, GA, his grandchildren, Brooke, Casie, Eric, Hillary, Taylor, Dawson, Matthew, Courtney, Meghan, Tyler, Jason, and Neil; and his great-grandchildren, Noah and Ansley.