Thomas Lee Kirkland, Sr. Services for Thomas Lee Kirkland, Sr. will be held Monday at 11:30 February 13, 2012 at Robert Barham Family Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Gary Blair and Dr. Greg Massey officiating. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery. Mr. Kirkland, age 90, gave up his life here on earth in exchange for a more glorious one in the presence of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on February 11, 2012 after a brief illness. He was preceded in death by his soul mate and wife of 56 years, Eloise Walker Kirkland; his parents, David Burt Kirkland and Alice Hobbs Kirkland, and brother, Robert Eugene Kirkland. He is survived by his daughter, Barbara Kirkland Hamilton (Ed) of Brandon, Miss. and son Thomas Lee Kirkland, Jr. (Gay) of Jackson, Miss; six grandchildren, Lisa Hamilton Batchelor (Jason) of Dothan, Ala., Laurie Hamilton Smith (Rob), of Flowood, Miss., Lindsay Carol Hamilton of Brandon; Trey Kirkland, Mary Jordan Kirkland and Kathleen Krikland, all of Jackson; five great-grandchildren, Joshua and Hannah Frances Batchelor, Stone, Kirkland, and Houston Smith; his sister-in-law Joan Foster of Meridian, Miss; nieces, Sue Buchanan of Meridian, Miss. and Mary Ann Cox (Dwain) of Hattiesburg, Miss., and nephews, David Foster(Kathy) of Meridian, Miss., W.B, Davis (Faye) of Madison Miss., Gene Kirkland of Raleigh, N.C. and Charles Kirkland of Madison, Ala.: and great nephew, Steve Buchanan of Birmingham, Ala. Tom was born on Oct. 6, 1921 in Energy, Illinois but grew up in Alabama. He served in the Army Air Corps in World War II and after the war, settled in Meridian where he was a member of the Meridian Police Dept. for 27 years. Upon his retirement there in 1972, he was Chief of Security for Meridian Community College, retiring for a second time in 1987. He was a man who loved deeply. He loved his Lord and found great comfort and encouragement in reading long passages from God's Word every day. He loved his family and felt great pride in their accomplishments. He always welcomed the opportunity to talk about each one even if he had to make that opportunity. He loved his church, Central Baptist Church in Meridian, where he enjoyed serving alongside of and fellowshipping with Christian friends. He especially enjoyed traveling with them. Tom was the "eternal optimist," always seeing the glass as "half-full" rather than "half-empty." The deep joy he felt in life was reflected in his ever-present, positive attitude. "Everything is lovely!" he would always say, regardless of difficulties or trials he might be experiencing. He will be greatly missed by his family and countless friends. He was a good son, and a faithful husband, a loving father, a proven friend, and a child of God. The Apostle Paul's words are appropriate for his entire life, especially the last few weeks before his death " I have fought the good fight; I have finished my course; I have kept the faith" (II Tim. 4:7). Pallbearers will be James Jenkins, Frank Brewer, Bruce Gibson, Tommy George, Pete Bertrand and Danny Palmer. Honorary pallbearers are the members of the Scrap Iron Sunday School Class and Jimmie Evans. Family and friends may sign the online guest book at www.robertbarhamffh.com Visitation will be held Sunday 4:00 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. at the funeral home.
