Alice Sanford Kirkland

Alice S. Kirkland, age 84, wife of Billy J. Kirkland since 1958, of Hillview Drive, Graniteville, SC, entered into rest on Sunday, January 26, 2025.

She was born in Sequim, Washington to the late Hilton and the late Edith Chism Sanford. She was preceded in death by her brother, James Larry Sanford, and sister, Patti (Earl) Sanford Husley. She is survived by her two sons, Kenneth (Jennifer) of Simpsonville, SC, and David (Sandy) of Decatur, AL, and one daughter Alyson (Terry) O’Banion of Graniteville SC. She has six grandchildren: Brittany (Ben) Sass of New York City, NY, and Michael Kirkland of Simpsonville, SC; Meagan (Kurtis) Poole of Rock Hill, SC, and Matthew O’Banion of Graniteville, SC; and Katelyn and Ashlyn Kirkland of Decatur, AL. She has one great-grandchild Blake Sass of New York City, NY. She also has two nieces in AL and one nephew in SC.

Alice moved with her parents from Jasper, AL, to South Carlina in 1952 and graduated from Graniteville High School in 1958. She received an associate degree from USC-Aiken in 1969, received her Bachelor of Arts in history/secondary education from Augusta College in 1971, and received her Master in Education Administration from USC Columbia in 1975. She taught government/economics and was Beta Club sponsor at Langly-Bath-Clearwater High School (1971-1980), served as assistant principal at Schofield Middle School (1980-1983), and principal of Jackson Middle School (1983-1987). She served as the Grants Facilitator/Administrator for the Aiken County School District from 1987 until her retirement in 2003. Since 2003 she served as a mentor to first-year teachers for the Aiken County School District; a grant program facilitator for Aiken Technical College; and as a Supervisor of Student Interns for USC-Aiken. She was a former member of the Langley Nazarene Church (Midland Vally Community). She was an active member of the Warrenville Church of God since 1958 and was a Sunday school teacher and church organist since 1959.

She was a past president, program chair, and member of the Graniteville Leisure Years Club; member and past president of Delta Kappa Gamma, Beta Delta Chapter in Aiken; member and past scholarship chair of the Aiken County Educators Association-Retired; member of SC Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa; member of the Warrenville Community Christian Council; served on the Aiken Salvation Army Advisory Board; was a member and alto saxophone player in the CSRA New Horizon Band; and was a former USC-Aiken Alumni Board member.

A funeral service celebrating her life will be held on Sunday February 2, 2025 in the chapel of Napier Funeral Home in Graniteville, SC at 4:30pm. Visitation will be from 3pm until the time of the service at the funeral home. A graveside ceremony will be held following the service at the Historic Graniteville Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be her grandchildren and their spouses: Brittany Sass, Michael Kirkland, Meagan Poole, Matthew O’Banion, Katelyn Kirkland, and Ashlyn Kirkland. Honorary pallbearers will be members of her Sunday School class: Danny Ray Johnson, Tim McCain, Mike Thomas, Robbie Boatright and Randolph Hamlet.

We would like to thank Trinity Hospice and Napier Funeral Home for the care and services provided during the final days prior to her death and for the arrangements of the services.

Napier Funeral Home & Crematory has been entrusted with these arrangements.