Kirby, William "Bill" L., 64, Columbus, Georgia, died Tuesday, March 6, 2012. Funeral service: Saturday, March 10, 2012, 3 p.m, Chapel of Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, Columbus, Visitation at funeral home Friday, March 9, 2012 from 5-7 p.m.


The following article appeared in the March 8, 2012, Columbus Ledger-Enquirer.

William L. “Bill” Kirby II, a Columbus attorney known for his confrontational style in the courtroom and an ability to defend even the least sympathetic of criminals, died Tuesday after a lengthy bout with cancer. He was 64.
Funeral services are scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday at Striffler-Hamby in Columbus. Visitation is set for 5-7 p.m. Friday, according to the funeral home.
Despite his illness, Kirby continued to fight for his clients until shortly before his death. He appeared in federal court as recently as Feb. 23 for the sentencing of a Fort Benning soldier who sexually abused a young girl.
 
William L. Kirby II died Tuesday after a battle with cancer.
“Bill was an advocate and a very good lawyer and a fighter, so he always took up whatever the challenge was as difficult as it was at times,” said Richard A. Bunn, Kirby’s former law partner.
In the court appearance last month, Kirby cross-examined and challenged a therapist in a manner that belied his weakened state. Testifying for the government, the therapist said the victim in the case would require a lifetime of counseling after being abused and videotaped.
Kirby, whose client was on the hook to foot the bill of the treatment, suggested the counseling could have the unintended consequence of rehashing the victim’s trauma, a bold if unpopular stance that friends said was typical of Kirby.
“Bill took strong stances in all his hard cases,” Bunn said. “Bill was very intense when it came to practicing law and he was very confrontational.
“He was a very intelligent man,” he added. “Usually by the time I would see him in the early mornings, he’d already read three newspapers and had an opinion about just about everything he read.”
Frank K. Martin, a former Columbus mayor and a fellow defense attorney, said he admired Kirby’s “down-to-earth rapport” with juries.
“Bill, to my knowledge, had no enemies,” Martin said. “Considering he was a lawyer, that’s amazing. He was always very nice to everybody, and has left his law practice in good hands with his son, Will.”
A graduate of Baker High School, Kirby completed his undergraduate studies at the University of North Carolina, and he remained an avid Tar Heels basketball all his life, Bunn said.
Kirby received his law degree from the Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law and worked as an attorney for more than 37 years.
One of Kirby’s main wishes once he got cancer was to live long enough to see his son, Will Kirby, become a lawyer, Bunn said. His wish came true, and the two went into practice together.
Kirby was involved in a number of high-profile murder cases over the years. In 1984, he served as the first court-appointed defense attorney for Carlton Gary, the convicted Stocking Strangler who now sits on Georgia’s death row.
Superior Court Judge Bobby Peters said Kirby was respected by local judges, who “worked with him on schedules around his medical treatments.
“You never die as long as someone remembers you,” Peters said. “Through his son, Bill Sr. will be remembered and missed for many years to come. He was a good man whom everyone enjoyed being around and associating with.”

William "Bill" L. Kirby
October 16, 1947 - March 6, 2012
Columbus, Georgia- William "Bill" L. Kirby, II, age 64, resident of Columbus, died on Tuesday, March 6, 2012 at Columbus Hospice House. Funeral services are scheduled at the Chapel of Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 4071 Macon Road, Columbus on Saturday, March 10, 2012, 3 p.m. with Reverend Bob McCombs officiating. Entombment will follow at Memorial Mausoleum, Parkhill Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday, March 9, 2012 from 5-7 p.m.
Mr. Kirby, son of the late Dr. Frederick Willard Kirby and Dr. Thelma Ruth Thompson Kirby, was born October 16, 1947 in Nashville, TN. He was a 1965 graduate of Baker High School and later graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Mercer Law School. Mr. Kirby faithfully served the Columbus community as an attorney for over 37 years. He was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church, Columbus Bar Association, and also Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
Mr. Kirby is survived by his wife of 32 years, Jean Kirby of Columbus; one daughter, Laura Rodier and her husband Bart of Windermere, FL; one son, William "Will" L. Kirby, III of Columbus; step-sister, Dr. Renee Mallory and her husband John of Columbus; step-brothers, Bill Hutchinson of Columbus and Clay Hutchinson and his wife Diana of Rome, GA.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to John B. Amos Cancer Foundation, 1831 5th Ave., Columbus, GA 31904 or Columbus Hospice at www.columbushospice.com. Condolences may be offered at www.shcolumbus.com.