Leon “Mann” Kirkland, patriarch of the popular southern gospel vocal group The Kirklands, passed away on Friday, June 2, following complications from a medical procedure at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Jacksonville, Fla. Kirkland, who was at St. Vincent’s for a heart catheterization, began experiencing kidney problems, which ultimately took his life. His unexpected death has left a void in the Douglas-Coffee County community and shocked the Kirkland family’s legions of friends and fans. To say the least, he will be greatly missed.
Kirkland was born on May 11, 1947, in Douglas to the late Curtis Colan Kirkland and the late Myrtice Harper Kirkland. Survivors include: wife, Janie Ruth Paulk Kirkland of Douglas; two daughters, Regina (Keith) Butler of Douglas and Melissa (Keith) Bazemore of Douglas; two sons, Clifford (Cindi) Kirkland of Douglas and Elbert (Tammy) Beasley of Douglas; three sisters, Sweeden Wilkins of Douglas, Bonnie Stone of Douglas, and Patsy Spivey of Douglas; one brother, David Kirkland of Douglas; nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Dexter Kirkland and Bobby Kirkland, and three sisters, Geraldine Lott, Linda Kirkland and Shirley Kirkland.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, June 6, 2017 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Saving Grace Ministries, 1149 Dew Berry Rd., Douglas. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, June 7, 2017 at Saving Grace Ministries with the Rev. George Carroll Paulk, Rev. Glenn Vaughn and Rev. Joe Vaughn officiating. Interment will follow at Salem Holiness Baptist Church Cemetery with Sims Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Sims Funeral Home contributed to this story.