September 14, 1968 - February 23, 2024
Minister William Leon Kirkland was born on September 14, 1968, in Boston Massachusetts. He entered eternal rest on February 23, 2024, at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, GA. He was 55 years old at the time of his death.
William Leon Kirkland was the son of the late William Brown and his surviving mother Betty Jo Kirkland. He was preceded in death by his sister Nicole Brown.
On November 20, 2004, William Kirkland married Melody Williams in Saint Mary’s, Georgia. They both resided in Guyton, Ga throughout their marriage.
William worked at Coca-Cola as a merchandiser until he retired in 2007. He received his certificate of ordination on November 11, 2011. And which he served the body of Christ faithfully throughout his adult life. He also dedicated his time and efforts to the Southeastern Sarcoidosis Support Group, which he founded on December 14, 2016.
William, affectionately known as “Will”, always did his role as a pillar of the community by giving back through resources supporting social services, health awareness, medical screenings, our community education system, hunger relief for the homeless, and community development by improving and beautifying our local community. He also encouraged diversity and inclusion by building relationships among diverse groups throughout Chatham, Liberty, Effingham, and Burke counties.
William volunteered for several years with Camp Aloha as a camp counselor mentoring children who experienced the death of a loved one. He organized various outreach programs. Will sponsored the Rosa Mae Williams Food Bank and organized the Rosa Mae Annual Health Fair. He partnered with various non-profit and profit organizations through outreach and community service, including LifeLink of Georgia, Hospice of Savannah, QUAD E, Empire Enterprise, the Finkle’s Spice & Tea Exchange, and Augustin Crohn’s Educational Support.
William received various awards throughout the years for his community service, most notably Herb Jones Volunteer of the Year and was also the recipient of the 2022 and 2023 Empire Community Service Award.
He is survived by his wife, Melody Williams Kirkland of Guyton, GA; his mother Betty Jo Kirkland, Snellville, GA; two daughters, Channel Reddick, Statesboro, GA and Jaqua Kirkland, Philadelphia, PA; a son, William L Kirkland, Atlanta, GA; a brother, Johnathan Kirkland, Boston, MA; two sisters, Shanda (Derrick) Heard, Snellville, GA, Jessica (Brandon) Mosely, Savannah, GA; three sisters-in-law, Loretta Washington, Lexington, SC, Caroline Dunning, Cameron, SC, and Victoria Brevard, Norwalk, CT; two brothers-in-law, Carl (Leah) Williams, Blythewood, SC, and Curtis Williams, Brooklyn, NY; six grandchildren, Damon Cooper, Janell Cooper Bralyn Reddick, Zoey Kirkland, Britain Anderson-Bush, and Chayce Kirkland; two aunts, Danita Brown-Gaymon, Dallas, GA, and Cheryl Brown, Sandy Springs, GA; two uncles, Shelton Forney, Meridan, CT, and Tyrone Brown Sr., Stonecrest, GA, a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.
A viewing will be held on Friday, March 1, 2024, at Hill's Mortuary, Inc., from the hours of 4 pm to 7 pm.
The funeral service for Mr. William L. Kirkland, will be held at 11 am., Saturday, March 2, 2024 at the chapel of Hill's Mortuary, Inc., with Pastor Deborah Middleton Oliver Roberts, officiating. Burial will be in the Bulloch Memorial Gardens.
Memorial contributions in William Kirkland's honor may be made to, the Quad E. Corporation, 95 Savannah Road Richmond Hill, Georgia 31324 www.quadecorp.org or Mission for Souls, c/o Evangelist Betty Florence, P.O. Box 3100, Statesboro, Georgia 30459
Final rites have been entrusted to Hill's Mortuary, Inc.
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