William Lloyd (Buddy) Kemp, Jr. passed away surrounded by his family on March 21, 2025. He was born on June 11, 1936 to the late William Lloyd Kemp and Henrietta King Kemp Underhill. He was also preceded in death by his sister Faye (Ray) Smith.
He is survived, and will be forever loved and missed by, his daughter Stephanie (Fred) Miller, son Keith (Terika) Kemp, granddaughters Olivia Miller and Grace Kemp, former wife JoAnn Risner, niece Jovonna (Tommy) Reeves and nephew Eric (Nini) Smith.
Buddy was a Christian and longtime member of Grace Bible Church. In recent years he attended First Baptist church.
He was a US Army veteran who served in Panama in the early sixties.
Buddy was a Master Electrician and lifetime member of the IBEW Local 1701. He worked construction jobs all over the country, and boy did he have some tales to tell!
He was an avid golfer who was still organizing his weekly group outings until last year. He loved to travel and was always up for an adventure, whether snorkeling in Cozumel or riding rollercoasters at Disney World.
He did and saw a lot in his 88 years but found his true vocation and favorite title in the last 2 decades of his life as Grandbud to the lights of his life, his granddaughters. Nothing was more important to him than his family. He loved us all fiercely and we knew it. That devotion extended to his little four-legged girls, first Suzie and then Sugar.
He was a good friend, a hard worker, a straight shooter, a little rough around the edges “Scrapper” with a great laugh, mischievous smile, a tender heart and a kind soul.
Visitation will be on Wednesday, March 26 from 3:00 to 6:00 pm with service to follow at 6:00pm at James H. Davis Funeral Home.