Glenda Gayle Kirkland

After living in Tallahassee, Florida for over 40 years Glenda “Gayle” Edwards Kirkland, age 72, was gathered into the loving arms of her heavenly father on Sunday, March 30, 2014. Gayle was born on April 4, 1941 in Jacksonville, Florida. She was the daughter of Carl Edwards and Versie Virginia von Spreckelsen. Charles Albert von Spreckelsen was who she considered to be her father, as he raised her from a young age, with her mother.

She was preceded in death by her dad, Charles von Spreckelsen; her sister Deborah Lynn von Spreckelsen and her brother Lee Earl Edwards (Jean and Jason). She leaves behind her mother Virginia von Spreckelsen; her son James Garrett Kirkland and daughter Cynthia Ann O’Meara. She also had 7 grandchildren: Charley Kirkland (Bianca), James G Kirkland, Billy O’Meara, Kathrine O’Meara, Anna O’Meara, Sean O’Meara and David O’Meara as well as 2 great grand children: Rayna and Leela Bell.

Gayle was a strong and humble person, who always put her family first. She lived her life giving to others. She was open to all people and never was known to be judgmental. She loved working in her yard, tending to her roses and plants and liked to collect sea shells.

Gayle graduated from Landon Senior High School in 1959, Jacksonville, FLA. She attended Jacksonville University and was a Dolphinette while there. JU is where she met her former husband, James Carol Kirkland.

Gayle was an active member of First Christian Church, Tallahassee, Fla where she was very devoted to helping others. Much of her spare time was spent at the church where she fed the congregation on Wednesday nights; helped with church camps and Vacation Bible School and she coordinated an annual garage sale that helped fund the youth ministry.

She spent most all of her working years in the banking field. She was employed at Barnett Bank for many years and went on to finish out her working years at Capital City Bank, from which she retired.

While working she was a member of the local Civitan and Toastmasters Club.

After retirement you could often find her working in the yard. Yard work and gardening were her favorite pastimes and no one could do it as good as she. Besides her own yard she was well known for tending to the yards around her. Her yard was her treasure, her therapy and her way of getting away from reality.

She was an aspiring painter and was a member of the Florida World Organization of China Painters; Tallahassee, Florida.

After fighting several medical complications for 2 years she finally fell to ill and passed to her eternal home. A memorial will be held at Culley’s Meadow Wood Funeral Home located at 1737 Riggins Road, on Sunday, April 13, 2014 at 2pm.