Elwin Kennedy

Elwin Kennedy, age 85, of Bulloch County, Georgia, passed away peacefully on Friday, November 14, 2025, surrounded by his devoted family. Born on May 23, 1940, in Bulloch County, Georgia to the late Hiram Elwood Kennedy, Sr. and Oveda Beasley Kennedy, Elwin grew up in Savannah, Georgia, where his family relocated during World War II. He graduated from Savannah High School in 1958 and continued his education at Armstrong Junior College.

Elwin went on to build a successful career as a Locomotive Railroad Engineer with the Central of Georgia Railroad, later part of the Southern Railway System and ultimately the Norfolk Southern Corporation. Throughout his career, he served with great dedication as Secretary and Treasurer of both the Coastal Division of the International Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, and the State of Georgia Legislative Board of the International Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, holding each office for 30 years. He was also honored to serve as a Delegate to the 1996 International Convention of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. A committed Mason for more than 50 years, Elwin was a Master Mason (Emeritus) at Landrum Lodge No. 48 and a member of the Grand Lodge of Georgia Free and Accepted Masons. He proudly served as a Scottish Rite Mason, and he was a dedicated Shriner and a member of Alee Shriners. He was a former member of the Savannah Golf Club, Forest Heights Country Club, and Black Creek Golf Club. Elwin was a loyal and dedicated supporter of Georgia Southern University and his presence was a familiar sight at numerous athletic events. He was a former member of Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church in Savannah, Georgia and a faithful member of Pittman Park United Methodist Church in Statesboro, Georgia.

Elwin is survived by his beloved wife of 64 years, Lane Biggs Kennedy; his children, Elwin Biggs Kennedy (Malissa) of Thunderbolt, Georgia, and William Altman Kennedy, Sr. (Leslie) of Middleburg, Florida; and his grandchildren, Jacquelyn Elizabeth Kennedy of Savannah, Georgia, and William Altman Kennedy, Jr. of Middleburg, Florida. He is also survived by his brother, Hiram Elwood Kennedy, Jr. (Gay) of Elizabethtown, North Carolina; his sister, Karen Kennedy Warnell (Herbert) of Claxton, Georgia; sisters-in-law Pam Biggs Dumas (David) of Rincon, Georgia, and Grace Talley Biggs of Orange Park, Florida; along with many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family will receive friends on Monday, November 17, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home in Statesboro, Georgia.

A service celebrating his life will be held on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Pittman Park United Methodist Church in Statesboro, Georgia, followed by interment at Eastside Cemetery in Statesboro.

Jamey Cartee, Aaron Hollar, Richard Kennedy, Derrel Melton, Cory Parker, and Chad Smith will serve as pallbearers.

Retired Norfolk Southern Corporation employees will serve as honorary pallbearers.

The family requests memorial contributions be made to Pittman Park United Methodist Church, 1102 Fair Road, Statesboro GA 30458, the Georgia Southern University Foundation or the Georgia Southern University Athletic Foundation, PO Box 8115, Statesboro, GA 30460, or the Shriners Children's Hospital in c/o Alee Shriners, PO Box 14147, Savannah, GA 31416.

Friends may sign the online register book at www.joineranderson.com.

Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home and Crematory of Statesboro is in charge of the arrangements.

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