Doris Ann Kitchens

Doris Ann (Gillentine) Kitchens, 97, of Marietta, GA, passed away on February 24, 2023. She was the second of four children born to parents Bertha Lavonia (Brackett) and Silas Patrick Gillentine Sr., on July 30, 1925 in Atlanta, GA. Doris was preceded in death by her parents, Bertha and Pat (Sr.) Gillentine; her loving husband of thirty three years, Byron R. Kitchens; her sister and brother-in-law, Josie and Carroll Beasley; her brother and sister-in-law, Pat (Jr.) and Tish Gillentine; and her sister and brother-in-law, Carolyn and Charlie Stevens. Doris is survived by her four children; David Patrick Kitchens, Teresa Ann Kitchens, Kathy Leigh (Kitchens) Bierce, Vicki Diane (Kitchens) Barton and her son-in-law Travis Barton. Her three grandsons, Nathan (Kayla) Bierce, Kyle (Kiki) Bierce and Riley Bierce, her great-granddaughter, Finley Bierce (Kyle & Kiki), her great-grandson, Brooks Bierce (Nathan & Kayla) and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Doris graduated from Girls High School on June 9th, 1943; Doris worked for The Trust Company Bank of Georgia from the time she graduated high school until she moved to Nashville, TN. While working at the bank, she took night classes to get her degree in business. She continued her education at the Atlanta Division of the University of Georgia where she graduated on June 4th, 1950 with a BBA degree. Doris was very active during her college years as a member of the Crimson Key from 1948-1950, serving as Vice-President from ‘49-‘50; as a member of Phi Chi Theta from ’47-’50 serving as Corresponding Secretary from ’49-’50; as a member of Kappa Theta from ’46-’50 and as a member of the Student Council in 1950. As a young lady Doris and her sister Josie were piano pupils of Mrs. Florence Hutchings. They hosted many piano recitals at their family home on Lakeshore Drive in Atlanta including an Easter egg hunt in their garden after one Easter service. As members of the Tetrachord Club they also held recitals at the Chamber of Commerce and the Epworth Methodist Church on McLendon Avenue. Doris was a truly beloved wife and mother. In the late 1940’s Doris met her husband, Byron, whom she married on December 30th, 1950 in Atlanta, Georgia. The pair moved around in their early married life while Byron worked as a civil servant at several different Air Force Bases. In 1952 they started their family while living in Nashville, TN, then on to Maryville, TN, and Macon, GA. Once Doris and Byron moved to Marietta, they settled down in the beautiful Oakton neighborhood to raise their four children. She then began working as a Bookkeeper, in the office of her brother-in-law Dr. Carroll Beasley, M.D., until she retired after 19 years of service. After her retirement Doris volunteered with the Cobb and Bartow AARP Tax-Aid, a service that assists older taxpayers in preparing their taxes at no charge. She was a very giving person and truly enjoyed helping others. As Doris became more involved in her Marietta community, she became an active member of the Wood Violet Garden Club. In 1967 she was honored at the North GA State Fair for one of her creations; receiving a First Place Ribbon in the Flower Show, Artistic Division, for her entry in the “Weeds and Flowers” class. Doris truly loved working with flowers and plants and could often be seen, by her friends and neighbors, gardening in her yard surrounded by the beautiful flowers she planted. Doris and Byron were also members of the Alpine Camera Club, taking pictures all over the world. Doris won an award in the color slide division, for the Club’s first competition of the year, with her photo entitled “Stone Flowers”. In January of 1984 Doris presented a “Travellog” of her trip through the beautiful state of Alaska where, according to Doris, Alaska has it all. “From mountains that dwarf the Alps to fjords that surpass Norway’s; free roaming animals that rival East Africa’s; glaciers that are outnumbered only in Greenland and Antarctica; and bird and marine life that is unmatched anywhere”. After Byron’s passing, Doris joined the Marietta/Cobb ShutterBugs Club, where she again enjoyed many adventures in photography and fellowship. Club Presidents included her brother-in-law, Carroll Beasley, as well as Doris’ dear friend Juanita Southerland. The club held competitions three times a year with Doris once again winning an award for her artistic talents, receiving a Second Place Ribbon for her “Sailing in the Sunset” photo in August of 1993. Doris truly had a love of family; whether it was enjoying time together at their annual family reunions or just spending time with her mom, siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins. She was always ready and willing to help her family whenever it was needed. Including spending six weeks away from her husband to, help her mother, care for her brother after he was seriously injured in an automobile accident. Doris also had a lifelong love of traveling with her family; beginning in 1938 when she traveled all the way to California and back with her sister Josie, her Aunts Mittie, Pauline and Della and her Uncle Carnell as their driver. While one of her Aunts worked on her college thesis, they each wrote wonderful diaries of this trip that we all cherish reading. Doris continued the tradition of keeping diaries of her adventures with Byron and her children. Having an analytical mind, she always kept track of their expenditures during these excursions. It’s an amazing trip back in time to see the cost of a night’s stay during these adventures. In 1962 she went sightseeing around Washington, DC with Byron, David, Teresa and Kathy. Diane was deemed too young for this trip so she stayed with her grandmother “Birdie”. In 1965 the whole family travelled all across the western United States stopping at many wonderful destinations; including Yosemite, Yellowstone, the Petrified Forest, MGM Studios, Disneyland and many more. Then in the mid- 70’s Doris and Byron took their two younger children (Kathy and Diane) to the middle United States; visiting Great Sand Dunes National Park, a gold mine, Albuquerque, New Mexico and many other areas of great interest and history. In 1983 Doris could be found exploring Alaska with her son, David, his friend Joe Southerland, and daughter, Teresa; then in 1990 Doris, David and Teresa adventured throughout Canada; this trio also explored Tennessee in 2011. In 1991 Doris took the Amtrak train to New Orleans, with her daughter, Diane and her young grandsons (Nathan and Kyle Bierce); she also loved going to the beach, at Saint George Island, FL, with her daughter, Kathy and her three grandsons. Many family vacations were taken over the years from Jekyll Island, Ga to California. These are just a handful of the many trips Doris and Byron enjoyed with their family. The pair also travelled abroad to Europe, France and Mexico. Doris didn’t just live life; she made memories to last a lifetime for herself and her family. Doris and Byron were longtime members of the First Presbyterian Church of Marietta, GA and enjoyed worshiping with their Sunday school class often. Her children grew up surrounded by love in a home that was filled with family and friends. All of whom Doris loved and treated as her own. Her kindness and generosity were felt by everyone who knew her. Although she will be dearly missed by them, she left a lifetime of memories for her children, her family and her friends. The family has entrusted Mayes Ward Funeral Home, Marietta, GA, with the arrangements for her burial. Family and friends are invited to attend a visitation for Doris at Mayes Ward at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, and stay for her service in their Chapel directly afterwards at 2:00 p.m. Her service will be officiated by Reverend Dr. Paul Sherwood of The First Presbyterian Church of Marietta. Internment will directly follow her service at Kennesaw Memorial Park. Her family would welcome any who would like to come. To honor Doris, the family ask that in lieu of flowers donations can be made to the charity of your choice.

Doris Ann Kitchens

July 30, 1925 - February 24, 2023