D. Charlotte Kirkland entered the Lord's presence on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009, just five days before her 81st birthday. Her husband of 52 years, Joseph Brackin Kirkland Jr., preceded her in death in 2005.
Charlotte was born in Benjamin, Texas, on Sept. 22, 1928, and spent her childhood years in the Lone Star State. After graduating from Harlingen (Texas) High School in 1946, Charlotte moved to Dallas to work for BF Goodrich, where she met Joe. They married Feb. 26, 1953. Joe's business career took the couple from Texas to Ohio and eventually to Mississippi, where Charlotte owned and operated three businesses: Charlotte's Flowers, My Shoppe, and Charlotte's Hallmark.
The couple eventually retired to Roanoke to be closer to children and grandchildren and enjoyed many years there together. In 2003, however, they decided to move to Leander, Texas, a move that allowed them both the joy of spending their final years in Charlotte's beloved home state.
While in Roanoke, Charlotte volunteered at the Roanoke Historical Society & Museum, and the couple belonged to Raleigh Court United Methodist Church. After their move back to Texas, they joined New Hope First Baptist Church in Cedar Park where the couple was baptized and enjoyed close fellowship with the members of the church's Joy Class.
In 2006, after the passing of her husband, Charlotte moved to Stafford County, where she attended Mount Ararat Baptist Church with her daughter's family, Karen and Veldon Hall. She also enjoyed visiting her son's family, Joe and Beverly Kirkland, in North Carolina. She was the best grandmother and great-grandmother ever to Cortney Kirkland; Brackin Kirkland and his wife, Lindsay, and son Forrest; and Taylor Kirkland, all of Black Mountain, N.C., and Ashley Hall Michael and her husband, Tony, of Longview, Texas; and Tim Hall of Stafford.
In addition, Charlotte is survived by two sisters, Allene Johnson and her husband, Ras, of Corpus Christi, Texas, and Wynell Rafkin of Denton, Texas; as well as an uncle and an aunt, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, at Mullins & Thompson Funeral Home in Stafford, with visitation starting at 1. A graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 21, in Liberty Hill Cemetery near Leander, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to building funds at either Mount Ararat Baptist Church, Stafford, or New Hope First Baptist Church, Cedar Park, Texas.