Rev. Edward Dixon Kirkland

Dixon Edward Kirkland Jr. was born on October 9, 1940 to the union of Dixon and Thelma (Whitener) Kirkland at the Cincinnati General Hospital.

Edward and his sister Eleanora grew up in the West End of Cincinnati. He was baptized in 1948 by the Reverend A. L. Collings at the New Prospect Baptist Church and served on the Jr. Usher Board.

 He attended Sixth District Elementary School- (K-6); Rothenberg Junior High School- (7-9); and he graduated June 1958 from Robert A. Taft Senior High School – (10-12).

 Besides his loving sister, Eleanora he was blessed with four older siblings, Percy Kirkland, George Kirkland, Dixon Kirkland Jr. and Rose Mary Greene from two of his father’s previous relationships.

However, the United States Government (via the United States Army), changed his name to Edward Dixon Kirkland, because there was the other older son, also named Dixon Jr. who served in the military and was now living in Detroit Mich.

Edward was very industrious and believed in an honest day’s pay for an honest day’s work.  At the nine years old of age, he sold the evening Time Star newspaper on the corner of Findley St. and Central Avenue. Also during this time, he delivered the Sunday morning Enquirer in the lower West End. Later, at the age of eleven, after school he rode the transit bus to Avondale to set pins at the Avon Lanes bowling alley. He also selected parking spaces for tips at the Reds games at the old Crosley field as well doing area clean up at the old Coney Island Park. At Fourteen he became a stock boy at Ralph’s  Pharmacy on Central Avenue, a job which he held until he went into the Army.

On December 1, 1958, he took the courageous step to serve our country by joining the U. S Army and he was stationed at Fort Knox Kentucky; Fort Leonard Wood Missouri; Fort Bliss Texas (El Paso) and Camp De Los in Paris, France. He was honorably discharged from the Army in February, 1962. Afterwards he served in the U.S. Navy Reserves.

In 1960 while driving a dump truck in Paris, France, he heard a voice three times saying, “Edward, loveth thou me – feed my sheep.” Feeling very disturbed by hearing this voice three times, he had took counsel, with the base Chaplain, where it was explained to him, by the Chaplain, that he was being called into the LORD’S ministerial service.

After his discharge from the Army, he held employment positions with many local companies including 5/3 Bank as the First African American bank teller in Cincinnati; Lodge & Shipley Co as an accounting clerk; Procter & Gamble Co as a Cost Accountant. After retiring from Procter & Gamble in 1997, he worked for Rumpke Waste Service in the General Accounting Department, then after retiring from Rumpke, he worked as a Security Guard with Merchants Security Service until 2022, after developing vison problems. His strong work ethics and adaptability with a diverse and dedicated background were as much a part of his legacy as his later service to the LORD.

Edward met and married Bertha Krystal Roberson in 1962 and to this union was born a son Kyle Kirkland. After a divorce with Krystal, he married Patricia (Smith) Burkes and adopted her two sons, La Monte and Darrin, and with his daughter Delores Nelson, they all moved to Avondale.

During this period, he obtained a BS Degree in Accounting (with a Minor in Religion and philosophy) from the University Of Cincinnati Evening College in June 1975.

In 1977, after the premature death of his beloved mother Thelma, the Lord again got his attention to do His work, and Edward finally confessed his "called" to the Ministerial work of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ at the Golden Gate Baptist Church, where he was ordained in 1978 – and where he faithfully served as an Associate Minister. Later he accepted the call by the Christ Like Baptist Church to serve as their Assistant Pastor, under Rev. A. L. Goodwin, because of the Pastors failing health. Then in 1982, he accepted the call to be the Pastor of the Greater Harvest Baptist Church.

Rev. Kirkland was a kind, unselfish, and generous man. He would do anything he could for not only his family, but for others. When someone called upon him for his services, such as taxes, weddings, funerals, etc.  His answer was always yes, never expecting anything in return. I do not think he knew how to say no.

He was a financially supportive member of “MEAK” Madisonville Education and Assistance Center and served as treasurer for the Bethlehem District Association for many years.

 In 2008, he married Lizzie Allen Sluder and accepted her three children and two granddaughters as his own. They have been happily married for 18 years.

 He retired from being the pastor of Greater Harvest in 2016, he and his wife Lizzie united with Golden Leaf Baptist Church, where he served as an Associate Minister.

Preceding him in death: SONS: Kyle Kirkland Jones, La Monte Kirkland; DAUGHTER: Delores Nelson Thomas; BROTHERS: Percy Kirkland (Janie) George Kirkland (Ethel), Dixon Kirkland Jr.  SISTERS: Rose Mary Green FRIEND: Vera Nelson.

He Leaves behind to Cherish his memory:    WIFE: Lizzie Ellis Allen-Kirkland; SONS: Darrin Kirkland (Stephanie), Antonio (Tony) Allen, Donte Allen; DAUGHTER: Lisa Allen Bridges; GRANDSONS: Thad Nelson (Komeka), Jason Sheffield (Kendra), Ryan Kirkland, Derrick Jett, Darrin Kirkland Jr, Dean Kirkland; GRANDDAUGHTERS: Kayla Kirkland, Mearah Bridges, Destin Allen; SISTER: Eleanora Moreland AUNT: Ruby Hodges Ingram; UNCLE: Willie Edward Hodges;  BROTHER IN LAW: Edward Ellis;  SISTERS IN LAW: JoAnne Kirkland, Geraldine Ellis Roberson, Delores Ellis Hagins (Will) ; And a host of Great Grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

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