Former Weakley County Executive (Mayor) Kerry Killebrew passed away Wednesday (3/20/24) following a short illness. He was 73.
The two-term county mayor served from 1986 to 1994. His time in office in Weakley County mirrored Governor Ned McWherter’s tenure at the State Capitol in Nashville Mr. McWherter kept in touch with Mayor Killebrew regularly so he could keep up with things going on back home in Dresden.
County Mayor Jake Bynum said “Mayor Killebrew was a dedicated servant for all of Weakley County and made it a point to communicate with all towns across the county.”
Dresden Mayor and former State Representative Mark Maddox said “Kerry always listened to the people and was a strong advocate for the best education for our school children.”
Mayor Killebrew is survived by his wife Martha and their children, Scott Killebrew and Adam Killebrew and their families. He was also the owner of Killebrew Advertsing.
Services will be held at Dresden Cumberland Presbyterian Church this weekend. Bowlin Funeral Home will handle the arrangements.
Kerry Scott Killebrew was born May 25, 1951 to “Pappy” Eugene and Maybelle Killebrew. Kerry grew up in Latham with his brother Richard Killebrew and sister Patty Killebrew.
He attended and graduated from Dresden High School in 1969 and worked at Hall Printing while in school at UT Martin. He also sold cars for Mr. Dell Stallings. He enlisted into the United States Army in 1971 to 1972 as he was stationed in Germany. He was also stationed in Fort Jackson and Fort Lee. Mr. Killebrew returned home and graduated in 1976 at UT Martin.
On October 24th 1970 Kerry married Martha Lee Reavis. They have two sons Scott Killebrew who married to Jinny and Adam Killebrew who married to Jennifer.
During his professional career he began with Robert Shannon Insurance, was a Weakley County Bank loan officer and later worked at Production Credit Association as a farm loan officer. He later was elected to the office of Weakley County Executive (Mayor) from 1986 to 1994. He then worked for Newton Manufacturing Company known as Kerry Killebrew Advertising in Dresden.
He played on the PCA softball team in Dresden with team friends Charles Alley, Johnny Oliver and others and he made golf his favorite sport.
