Rev. Kenneth Lanier "Pops" Abernathy, age 74, of Stoners Chapel Road, Adairsville, passed away Friday, December 12, 2014 at his residence.

He was born in Adairsville, Georgia, December 26, 1939, son of the late Waldon Felix Abernathy and Mattie Louise Freeman Abernathy. Rev. Abernathy graduated from Adairsville High School, class of 1957. He was an active member of Pleasant Valley Baptist Church. He was a licensed minister and taught Sunday school nearly fifty years. He retired from Bartow County Electrical Maintenance Department after working many years in the freight industry. As an avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting, fishing and spending time with his family. He belonged to Tent City Hunting Club and Talbot Hunting Club. Pops also enjoyed watching NASCAR and the Georgia Bulldogs. If you had the pleasure to meet him, you loved and respected him. He was kind, gentle, humble and giving. He will be remembered as an amazing husband, father, and grandfather. Mr. Abernathy was preceded in death by his parents; sons, Jared Abernathy and Damon Abernathy; sister, Faye Siniard.

Survivors include his wife, Tricia Jordon Abernathy of Adairsville; sons and daughters-in-law, Byron and Janet Abernathy of Calhoun, Todd Abernathy of Adairsville, Kevin and Kim Abernathy of Cartersville; step-children, Chris and Julie Nesmith of Adairsville, Cary Nesmith of Adairsville and Elizabeth and Sean Cox of Dalton; 15 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren; sisters, Annelle and Auburn Smith of Marietta, Sarah and Bradley Lanham of Adairsville, and Hilda and the late Bradley Parker of Adairsville; brothers, Dillard and Joyce Abernathy of Adairsville, and Earl and Brenda Abernathy of Adairsville; several nieces and nephews also survive.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, December 16, 2014 at 2:00 PM at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, Adairsville with Rev. David Baker, Rev. Randy Jackson, and Rev. Brent Tatum officiating. Interment will follow in Stoner Chapel Church Cemetery, Adairsville. Derek Cochran, Aaron Williams, Kelly Abernathy, Rodney Parker, Michael Abernathy, Barry Bennett, Chantry Gulledge and Jeremy Jones will serve as pallbearers and honorary pallbearers will be the deacons of Pleasant Valley Baptist Church.

The family will receive friends on Monday from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Barton Funeral Home.

Please sign the guestbook, share fond memories and leave online condolences at www.BartonFuneralHome.net

R. Dudley Barton & Son Funeral Home, Adairsville, will be in charge of funeral arrangements for Rev. Kenneth Lanier Abernathy.