IRMO - Celebration of life services for Ken Wayne Kirkland, 70, will be held 3:00 pm, Sunday, March 11, 2018 at Southside Baptist Church. A gathering of family and friends will be held 1:00 pm until 2:45 pm, Sunday, March 11, 2018 at the church and all other times at the home.
A native of Columbia, Ken was born April 7, 1947, the son of the late Walter E. and Wilma Trotter Kirkland. He was a member of Southside Baptist Church and also attended Gateway Baptist Church in Irmo. Ken graduated from Olympia High School where he lettered in four sports, Anderson Junior College, where he played baseball; the University of South Carolina and he received his Masters of Education from South Carolina State University. For 45 years, Ken taught high school and coached multiple sports including; football, baseball and softball. After retirement he continued to coach and mentor young athletes at Irmo and Dutch Fork High Schools. He was honored to coach in both the North/South All Stars Football Game and the Shrine Bowl. Ken was a lifelong Carolina Gamecock fan.
In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his maternal grandparents, Ira and Lizzie Trotter, paternal grandparents, Willie and Laura Kirkland and a beloved niece, Hollye Vaughan. Survivors include his wife of 25 years, Sherri Mellette Kirkland, a daughter, Kimberly Kirkland Tuten (Daniel), a son, Jay Alexander Kirkland, two granddaughters, Victoria-Grace and Neely Wren Tuten, siblings, Lynn Kirkland Diggle (Bob), Dwane Kirkland (Merrie), sister –in-law, Sharlene McMickell (David), nieces and nephews, Kris Kirkland (Sherry), Toni Day (Dustin), Ashleigh Schexnayder (David), Jeffrey McMickell (Laura), great nieces and nephews and a host of extended family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Ken’s honor to Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation at www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org or to the Dutch Fork Baseball Program in c/o Casey Waites.
Please sign the online guestbook at www.dunbarfunerals.com.
