Gary Kirkland

Collins GA

Gary Kirkland, age 65, passed away on Tuesday May 19, 2015 at Community Hospice Inpatient Facility in Vidalia GA after an extended illness.  The Manassas native lived most of his life in Evans County.  Leaving school early, he joined the US Army and served 2 tours of duty in Vietnam.  He was a decorated soldier earning multiple medals for his service including a Purple Heart and National Defense Service Medal.   After returning home; he began his life anew; ultimately having 3 children and 6 grandchildren; which are the light of his world.   In his free time his favorite hobbies were fishing, target shooting, and riding 4-wheelers.   He is preceded in death by his parents Maynard and Lula Mae Kirkland, a grand-daughter Heidi Watson, 2 brothers Buck and Junior Kirkland, and a sister Lala Whitaker.

Left to mourn his memory are his wife, Rachel Kirkland of Collins; a son, Michael (Patricia) Kirkland of Reidsville; 2 daughters, Angie (Tim) Hodges of Glennville and Lily Mae Kirkland of Collins; 2 brothers, Talmadge (Jean) Kirkland of Citrus Heights CA and Clifford Kirkland of Reidsville; 4 sisters, Jeanette Rushing of Register, Beatrice Blocker of Goosneck Community, Jean Kicklighter of Claxton, and Ann Kirkland or Reidsville; 6 grandchildren, Destiny Kirkland, Dakota Kirkland, Serenity Kirkland, Brittany Cloud, D.J. Watson, and Courtney Powell; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends also survive.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday May 20, 2015 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. from the Bradley B. Anderson Funeral Home & Crematory in Reidsville GA.

Funeral Services will be held on Thursday May 21, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. from the Chapel at Bradley B. Anderson Funeral Home and Crematory.  Burial will follow in the Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery Glennville, with military honors rendered.

Bradley B. Anderson Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Kirkland family.