Kirby Drummond Johnston

Memorial services for Kirby Drummond Johnston will be held Saturday, September 21, 2019, at 11:00 a. m. from First United Methodist Church in Philadelphia with Rev. Chris Young officiating.  Visitation will be Saturday at the church from 9:00 a. m. until time of service.  McClain-Hays Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.  Kirby Drummond Johnston, 57, of Mooreville, MS, passed away on Friday, September 13, 2019, in White Plains, Kentucky. Kirby was born on August 15, 1962, in Atlanta, GA.  He resided there until his family moved to Memphis, Tennessee in 1974.  While in Memphis, Kirby graduated from Harding Academy and later attended the University of Memphis and Florida State University.  Following college, Kirby became a licensed charter boat captain and spent several years guiding deep-sea fishing adventures out of Panama City Beach, Florida. After relocating to Philadelphia, Mississippi in 1990, Kirby received a degree in forestry technology and business and spent several years working in various aspects of the timber industry.  For the past twelve years he has been employed by H & M Construction Company in Meridian, Mississippi as a Lead Surveyor.  Kirby was the consummate sportsman, having spent time hunting and fishing around the United States and various international locales as well.  He is remembered by his friends and family as an exceptional outdoorsman with a fervent, skilled approach to all hunting and fishing expeditions.  He was happiest, though, when sharing these adventures with his son Clay Johnston.  Kirby was blessed to have a wealth of friends that shared his love of the great outdoors, and he treasured their friendship and time spent together in the woods, or at sea. Kirby is survived by his son, Robert Clayton (Clay) Johnston of Jackson, MS; sister, Shaw Johnston Lane (Michael) of Dunnellon, FL; and brother, Ron Johnston, Jr. (Adrianna) of Atlanta, GA.  He is also survived by several nieces and nephews, Drew Robertson (Tina) of Apalachicola, FL, Todd Clark (Molly) of Gluckstadt, MS, Kip Clark of Birmingham, AL, Kirsha Dudenhausen (Will) of Pittsboro, NC, Gabe Johnston Mills (Brient), Laurie Johnston Howerton (Nathan), both of Franklin, TN, Emma Clark of Nashville, TN, and Mason and Sam Daniel of Iuka, MS.  Kirby was preceded in death by his parents, Ronald Emmett Johnston, Sr., and Elinor Shaw Johnston.