Kevin Roper, left, president of the Georgia Coroners Association, presents award to Colquitt County Deputy Coroner Kevin Wimberly.

An employee with the Colquitt County Coroner’s Office has been recognized by his peers as the deputy coroner of the year for the state of Georgia.

Kevin Wimberly, who has been a deputy coroner since 2000, received the Harry Pippin Award at the Georgia Coroners Association’s recent annual meeting in Macon.

“I was very honored to receive this award, especially to be chosen by my peers,” Wimberly said. “I strive to serve the citizens of Colquitt County with caring compassion.”

The Harry Pippin Award, first presented in 1992, was created to honor the legacy of the former Lamar County coroner who was not only instrumental in the creation of the Georgia Coroners Association, but led the efforts to bring educational training to the organization, the association said in a news release. District 5 Director Sam Brown nominated Wimberly for the award.

“My fellow colleagues and I really benefit from Pippin’s vision of incorporating educational training as part of this organization,” Wimberly said.

 “The training we receive allows us to keep current with national trends and other issues that allow us to better serve our communities.”

In addition to 13 years as deputy coroner, Wimberly has served as interim coroner prior to the election of Coroner Verlyn Brock in 2008.

He is a math teacher at Williams Middle School and is co-owner of Wimberly Monuments Inc.

He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Valdosta State University and associate’s degree from Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service.

“He’s very deserving of the award,” Coroner Verlyn Brock said. “That’s great.”