Dorothy Beeland Kirkland, 102, a native of Greenville, AL died on Thursday, April 30, 2015. Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday May 2, 2015 at Magnolia Cemetery, Greenville, AL with the Reverend Fred Ziegler officiating and Dunklin & Daniels Funeral Home directing.
Dorothy, "Dot", the eldest child of Jefferson Prather and Maude Pierce Beeland and the eldest grandchild of Robert Alpheus and Louise Prather Beeland was instrumental in suggesting that Greenville would benefit from a municipal recreational park, feeding the idea to her grandfather R.A. Beeland. Dot was educated in Greenville Public Schools, attending Huntingdon and finishing at Wesleyan with a degree in English. Dot married architect, Tom B. Kirkland in 1937. They settled in Montgomery after World War II, having lived in Columbia, SC and Memphis. Dot was a community volunteer and active in church, civic and literary groups: St. Margarets Pink Ladies; Red Cross; Gray Ladies; and Thespian. Though Dot lived in Montgomery most of her life, she always referred to her beloved Greenville as "home". Dot's descriptions of Greenville's many landmarks, characters, and events during her early Twentieth Century were priceless.
Dot was predeceased by her husband, Tom B. Kirkland, sister, Maude Beeland Pipes, and brother, Jefferson P. Beeland, Jr. She is survived by her two sons, Patrick Beeland Kirkland and Jefferson Prather Kirkland (Martha); her grandchildren Thomas Kirkland (Joanna) Elizabeth Segrest (Brett); and Great Grandchildren Will and Thomas Segrest, and Juan and Michael Kirkland. She is also survived by beloved Nephews Wes Pipes; Stewart and Bill Brooker, and Wesley and Casey Pipes.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 2416 W. Cloverdale Park, Montgomery, AL 36106; First United Methodist Church, 112 Adams St., Greenville, AL 36037; or to a charity of one's choice.