A. Victor Kirkman Jr.

Dr. Alvin Victor Kirkman, Jr., 85, died peacefully on September 3, 2018. He was born on August 4, 1933 and grew up in Lexington, NC. He was the son of the late Alvin Victor Kirkman, Sr. and Maria Sherwood Beck Kirkman, and brother to the late James Sherwood Kirkman.

Dr. Kirkman graduated from Wake Forest College (when it was located in Wake Forest, NC) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech and Drama. He went on to earn a Masters’ degree in Education from Appalachian Teacher College (now Appalachian State University) and earned his Doctorate of Education from Nova University.

While at Wake Forest, Dr. Kirkman became a disc jockey for WFDD and went on to host the radio program, “Deaconlite Serenade”, becoming Chief Announcer his senior year. He was also briefly a disc jockey in High Point following graduation.

Dr. Kirkman was a veteran of the Army Security Agency where he was trained as a Morse Code intercept operator and was stationed in Germany for two years during the 1950’s.

Known as a very compassionate individual, Dr. Kirkman worked in a variety of positions, primarily with children and teens. He came to Charlotte as a counselor at Garinger High School in 1963 before becoming a counselor at Central Piedmont Community College in 1967, where he worked for 34 years before his retirement.

As writing was his passion, Dr. Kirkman was a member of the Charlotte Writers’ Club for several years. He later self-published several books, including Fleeting Moments (poetry), A Penny’s Worth of Pearls (historical fiction), The Whimsical Pen (short stories), and Talking Trees (children’s stories). For many years, family and friends would look forward to his annual Christmas poem.

At Providence Baptist Church Dr. Kirkman taught the Agape Sunday School Class, sang with the Encore Singers (senior adults) and went on three mission trips to Kentucky to help impoverished teens.

Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Jacqueline Leigh Nolen Kirkman; one daughter, Laura Waddell of Winston-Salem, NC, her husband, Eddie, their children, Jonathan and Victoria; and one son, Michael Kirkman of Greensboro, NC, his wife, Rachel, and their children, Ben and Grant.

A visitation is planned for 10 am Friday, September 7, 2018 at Providence Baptist Church. A funeral service will follow in the sanctuary at 11 am. Internment will be at Sharon Memorial Park on Monroe Road.

Memorials may be sent to the Music Ministry, Providence Baptist Church, 4921 Randolph Road, Charlotte, NC 28211-4000.

He made a difference.