Hettie Jean Kilgore Browning, 93, of Columbus, Georgia died Tuesday, July 07, 2026, surrounded by family in Midland, Georgia.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 AM Friday, July 10, 2026, in the Chapel of McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory with Dr. Jimmy Elder officiating. A private Entombment will be held in Parkhill Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Ms. Browning was born October 2, 1932, in Box Springs, Georgia the daughter of the late J. Wood Browning, Jr. and the late Bernice Purvis Browning, she was a lifelong resident of Columbus and a member of First Baptist Church of Columbus, Ga. She began her career alongside her husband Don Kilgore where they owned and operated Kilgore Mortuary. Later she managed the office of Dr. Sonny Galbreath DDS followed by working as a partner with Billy E. McDonald at Professional Creative Marketing selling Insurance until her retirement.

Ms. Browning was a 1949 graduate of Columbus High School. She attended Hunningdon College after graduating high school. She was certified as a chartered life underwriter and loved to play bridge and travel. One of her favorite past-times was tending to her flowers and greeting golfers outside her condo alongside 8 green at Maple Ridge golf course.

Other than her parents, she was predeceased by her brother J. Wood Browning III and her son James Donald Kilgore, Jr.

Survivors included her son, Thomas Browning Kilgore of Fortson, Georgia, Joanie Kilgore Warden (Jack) and Jeanie Kilgore Jefcoat (Doug) of Midland, Georgia. Her grandchildren include Henry Warden (Paige), Benton Warden (Hannah), Hannah Jean Hester (Taylor), Sarah Varner (Jeff), Jenna Lowery (Dan), Norris Kilgore, Tyler Jefcoat (Emily), Stewart Jefcoat (Deann), Shelby Dunn (Sean) and 23 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church of Columbus, Ga or Columbus Hospice at www.columbushospice.com or to your favorite charity.