1917
Mertice
2012
Mertice Kieffer Kirkland
October 30, 1917 — August 21, 2012
Mertice Kieffer Kirkland, 94, passed away on Tuesday, August 21 at Azalealand Nursing Home in Savannah.
Mertice was a native of Effingham County and the oldest living graduate of South Georgia Teachers’ College, now Georgia Southern University. After graduation and teaching school for a time, she decided she preferred the world of business and joined D. Kirkland Co., which would become her family’s business following her marriage to Deppish Kirkland, Jr.
Mertice lived in Savannah for over 70 years. She loved tending her rose gardens and crabbing in her beloved Wilmington River. Her other hobbies were baking cakes for family and friends and watching the up-and-down Atlanta Braves.
She was an active member of Bull Street Baptist Church and Wilmington Island Baptist Church. Upon moving back to Effingham County late in life, she became a member of First Baptist Church of Springfield, whose main sanctuary currently sits high on Kieffer Hill, the property where Mertice’s childhood home originally stood. Mertice was also a life member of the Georgia Salzburger Society.
Before retiring from her second career, she served as Chief Deputy Registrar with the Chatham County Office of Voter Registration.
Mertice was preceded in death by her parents, R.L. (Bobby) Kieffer and Gussie Arnsdorff Kieffer; husband, Deppish Kirkland, Jr.; beloved daughters, Barbara (Babs) Kieffer Kirkland and Lynn Kirkland Deremiah; sisters, Edith Anderson, Susie Epting and Catherine Webb.
She is survived by a son, Deppish Kirkland, III of Los Angeles; granddaughters, Margaret (Maggie) Kirkland Wray of Atlanta and Emily Ayers Kirkland of Fort Lauderdale; sister, Willie Tebeau of Springfield; brother-in-law, Allen Webb of Statesboro; and a dozen or so wonderful nieces and nephews.
Graveside Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday, August 24th in Bonaventure Cemetery with Rev. Earl Best presiding.
Remembrances: Lottie Moon International Missions Offering, c/o First Baptist Church of Springfield, 1435 Highway 119 North, Springfield, GA 31329.
Please leave your condolences and pictures for the family on the Tribute Wall
Bonaventure Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mertice was a native of Effingham County and the oldest living graduate of South Georgia Teachers’ College, now Georgia Southern University. After graduation and teaching school for a time, she decided she preferred the world of business and joined D. Kirkland Co., which would become her family’s business following her marriage to Deppish Kirkland, Jr.
Mertice lived in Savannah for over 70 years. She loved tending her rose gardens and crabbing in her beloved Wilmington River. Her other hobbies were baking cakes for family and friends and watching the up-and-down Atlanta Braves.
She was an active member of Bull Street Baptist Church and Wilmington Island Baptist Church. Upon moving back to Effingham County late in life, she became a member of First Baptist Church of Springfield, whose main sanctuary currently sits high on Kieffer Hill, the property where Mertice’s childhood home originally stood. Mertice was also a life member of the Georgia Salzburger Society.
Before retiring from her second career, she served as Chief Deputy Registrar with the Chatham County Office of Voter Registration.
Mertice was preceded in death by her parents, R.L. (Bobby) Kieffer and Gussie Arnsdorff Kieffer; husband, Deppish Kirkland, Jr.; beloved daughters, Barbara (Babs) Kieffer Kirkland and Lynn Kirkland Deremiah; sisters, Edith Anderson, Susie Epting and Catherine Webb.
She is survived by a son, Deppish Kirkland, III of Los Angeles; granddaughters, Margaret (Maggie) Kirkland Wray of Atlanta and Emily Ayers Kirkland of Fort Lauderdale; sister, Willie Tebeau of Springfield; brother-in-law, Allen Webb of Statesboro; and a dozen or so wonderful nieces and nephews.
Graveside Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday, August 24th in Bonaventure Cemetery with Rev. Earl Best presiding.
Remembrances: Lottie Moon International Missions Offering, c/o First Baptist Church of Springfield, 1435 Highway 119 North, Springfield, GA 31329.
Please leave your condolences and pictures for the family on the Tribute Wall
Bonaventure Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mertice Kieffer Kirkland, please visit our flower store.
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