Victoria "Vicky" Ann (Simmons) Irby

Victoria “Vicky” Ann (Simmons) Irby, 66, of Macon, entered into eternal rest with her Lord on Monday, January 2, 2023, following a strong and courageous battle with interstitial lung disease.

Vicky was born in Macon, Georgia and was a graduate of the Northeast High School Class of 1974. Though she loved to lived life to the fullest in her late teens and early 20’s (including engaging in clever ways to stalk and personally meet her favorite rock stars), she was also an adoring and devoted aunt to Deanna (Deborah), Jennifer (Marcia), and Elissa (Deborah). During the summer of 1978, Vicky snagged the love of her life, Gilbert Dawson, whom she married on November 17, 1979. Vicky and Gil welcomed their two sons, Justin, and Spencer, in 1982 and 1984. She later became “Mom” again to Jennifer and Sam, after the loss of their mother, Marcia, in 1995.

Vicky was a kindred soul to all animals and taught Gil a new meaning of “pets;” he never knew what he might come home to after working all day. Her soft spot for children led her to become a para-pro at Butler Early Childhood Center, where she assisted children with special needs from 1996 to 2006, when she retired to devote herself as a fulltime homemaker and grandma to four beautiful granddaughters. She lived her best life, filled with joy and laughter, and made every person feel as though they were the most important thing in the world while in her presence.

She is now a guardian angel to those who cherish her memories: her loving husband of 43 years, Gilbert Dawson Irby; children Justin (Carrie-Anne) and Spencer (Traci); four grandchildren (Sara, Bethany, Liliana, and Annalyse); sister Deborah; her three nieces, Deanna (Ericka) Oliver, Elissa Oliver, Jennifer (Ricky) Farrow, and nephew Sam (Hailey) Lilley; her pets, Dipsy, Pootsie, and Mikie; her Oglesby Place/Wrightsville family, and a host of many other friends and colleagues.

She was preceded in death by her father and mother, M.C. “Smokey” and Martha “Ann” Simmons; her sister Marcia (Danny) Lilley; her paternal grandparents, Pop and Grandmama Upstairs; her maternal grandparents, Grandfather Cox and Grandmother Cox; her maternal aunt and uncle, June and Bobby Reynolds; her paternal uncle, Harry (Virginia) Simmons; and many beloved pets.

Please join us in celebrating her life Friday morning January 6, 2023, at 10:00 a.m., at the Barn chapel of Sardis-Heard Funeral Home, at 6125 Houston Road, Macon, GA. The family will also welcome guests for visitation on Thursday evening January 5, 2023, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., in the Barn chapel at Sardis-Heard Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to All About Animals Rescue at https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=VWMCSSUUSGSB2&fbclid=IwAR1K0mGSy1XmAUDkSk8VQRii5e8V4-w8hfCDq-t5mH4IDnR2oXkqUFguUTI. 

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