Atkinson County GaArchives Obituaries.....Kirkland, Jr., Walter Paul May 20, 2002
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Shirley McMillan Durden http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00025.html#0006039 July 18, 2013, 4:13 pm

Atkinson County Citizen - May 2002
Walter Paul Kirkland, Jr. 

Mr. Walter Paul Kirkland, Jr., 69, of Leliaton, Ga., passed away Wednesday, May 
20, 2002. Mr. Kirkland, a native of Manchester, Ga., was born November 10, 
1932, the son of the late Dr. Walter Paul Kirkland, Sr., and Etta White 
Kirkland, both natives of Atkinson County, Ga. He was the paternal grandson of 
the late Jefferson Kirkland and Berta Arrington Kirkland and the maternal 
grandson of the late James Owen White, Sr., and Lila Corbitt White, all of 
Pearson, Ga. Mr. Kirkland had made his home in the Willacoochee area for many 
years, was a member of the Georgia Peace Officers Association, and a member of 
Cornerstone Church in Pearson, Ga. Mr. Kirkland graduated from Manchester High 
School in Manchester, Ga., and Darlington Prepatory School, prior to attending 
the University of Georgia in Athens, where he graduated in 1959 with a degree 
in forestry. During his college days, Mr. Kirkland was accepted into the 
prestigious fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon and played tight-end for the 
University of Georgia Bulldog football team until a knee injury cut short a 
promising football career. Always service-oriented, Mr. Kirkland attended the 
Georgia State Patrol School, graduating as a Trooper in 1969. Following more 
than a 20-year career in law enforcement with the Georgia State Patrol, during 
which time he received several honors and awards, he retired as a corporal from 
Post #36 in Douglas, Ga., then served as Chief of Police of the City of Pearson 
for several years. While serving with the Georgia State Patrol, Mr. Kirkland 
was appointed to serve on the Governor's Task Force -- DUI Squad for two years. 
He was also honored to be selected as a member of the elite Special Security 
Force for then newly-elected President Jimmy Carter during his inaugural visits 
to Plains and Atlanta, Ga. Survivors include: his wife, Aubrey Lee Fender 
Kirkland of Leliaton, Ga.; two sons, Commander Walter P. "Butch" Kirkland, III, 
and wife, Norma, of Papillion, Neb., and John G. Sheffield, Jr., and wife, 
Diane, of Evans, Ga.; two daughters, Cynthia Lane Haisten and husband, Herbert, 
of Troy, Ala., and Joan Aubrey Sheffield Giddens and husband, Hampton, of 
Kirkland, Ga.; one brother, Dr. James Kirkland and wife, Ann, of Dublin, Ga.; 
one sister, Elizabeth "Sis" Sherling and husband, Ed, of Enterprise, Ala.; 
seven grandchildren, several nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held at 
2 p.m., Saturday, June 1, 2002, at Cornerstone Church in Pearson, Ga., with 
Rev. Marvin Goodman and Rev. Bessie Lewis officiating. Special musical 
selections included "I Bowed on My Knees and Cried Holy," rendered by Michelle 
Harrell, and "Farther Along," presented by Michelle Harrell, Jason Fender, and 
Alicia Amerson, with Francine Fender accompanying at the piano. Harriett 
Youngblood, pianist, provided soft music for the prelude and postlude. 
Interment with full honors, conducted with military precision, followed in the 
Willacoochee City Cemetery, Willacoochee, Ga., by the Honor Guard of the 
Georgia State Patrol, with SFC Rick Ogden in charge. Dan Bray in full dress, 
accompanied on the bagpipes, with several selections, including "Amazing Grace" 
and a very moving rendition of "Taps." As a special mark of honor, Post 
Commander Jimmy Stapleton and Trooper First class Mickey Spain of Post #36 of 
the Georgia State Patrol entered their vehicles and did a 107 (Out of Service) 
and 1042 (Ending Tour of Duty) calls on their radios for Mr. Kirkland, whose 
call sign was 706. Active pallbearers were Corporal Collins, Corporal King, 
Corporal Young, Trooper First Class Peck, Trooper First Class Dupont, and 
Trooper First class Vanlandingham. Honorary pallbearers were retired and active 
members of the Georgia State Patrol and area law enforcement officers. Relihan 
Funeral Home of Pearson, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements. 



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