William Alexander "Kirk" Kirkland III was born to Ann and Bill Kirkland in Lenoir, North Carolina.

Kirk graduated from Albemarle High School in Charlottesville, Virginia, then attended Randolph-Macon College where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta and on The Yellow Jacket newspaper staff. After graduation, he worked for Kirkland Newspapers, Inc as Advertising Director for weekly newspapers in North Carolina and Maine. Later he was employed by Capitol Broadcasting as a Regional Sales Manager and a Senior Account Executive at Curtis Media Group.

He served as President of Rotary Club of the Capital City, was an F3 Board Member, and a fundraiser for Band Together. He enjoyed being the Nations Chief of Y-Guides where he was actively engaged with his three daughters as they earned their patches. Kirk was a member of White Memorial Presbyterian Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. He served as a mentor for each of his daughters confirmation classes.

Most will remember Kirk for his contagious smile, blue eyes, love of being with people, and how he was a huge fan of the University of Virginia's football and basketball teams. He was a loving son, brother, and uncle.

Kirk loved being Dad to his three girls. His daughters have many memories they will always treasure – his love of milkshakes (vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup), how he made up songs on the spot and then sang them loudly, getting up at 3 a.m. to binge watch Stranger Things, and playing Mario Kart (Kirk was always the Shy Guy). He was Coley's running buddy, Mimi's buddy on set in Atlanta, and Kate's buddy in planning to compete in the Amazing Race. He was their best friend, their biggest supporter, and loved them more than words can express. Bling bling!

He leaves to cherish his memory, his three daughters, Coley, Mimi, and Kate; his parents, Ann and Bill Kirkland; his sister, Elizabeth Kirkland Sickles (Robert); his nieces Alexandra and Kari; his nephew, Michael; his aunt and uncle, Jo Lene and Bill Carter; his aunt, Cindy Carter; his cousin, Jo Carter (James Dees); and numerous South Carolina cousins. He was predeceased by his uncle, Bob Carter.

A memorial service will be held at White Memorial Presbyterian Church in Raleigh on Friday, December 10, 2021, at 3:30 p.m.

The family requests that rather than flowers, memorial gifts be made to the YMCA of the Triangle Y Guides program by mail at 801 Corporate Center Drive, Suite 200, Raleigh, NC 27607, by phone at 919-719-9684, or online at YMCATriangle.org

Alternatively, a memorial bench is planned in Kirk's memory at Randolph-Macon College. Gifts may be made to: R-MC to Gift Processing, P.O. Box 5005, Ashland, VA 23005, or online at https://www.rmc.edu/alumni/give-now. Please designate in memory of Kirk Kirkland.

WA-HOO-WA!

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, Saint Mary's St., Raleigh, N.C., brownwynneraleigh.com.

Submitted by Sam Clarke and Allen Carver.