Edith Killgore Kirkpatrick

A beloved matriarch and champion of the arts and education passed away Tuesday morning, April 15, 2014 in the Butterfly Wing of Baton Rouge General Hospital. Edith Kirkpatrick was born on November 14, 1918 In Lisbon, Louisiana and was the second child of Thomas Morton Killgore and Bessie Blanche Melton. Their family resided in the now l55 year old Klllgore House that was farmed for many years and which the family still maintains. Edith's parents instilled in their daughter deep religious convictions and a commitment to education and the arts. She began singing solos in their Baptist Church at the age of 5 and continued to sing in public until right before her 95th birthday. She left home at the age of 16 to attend Louisiana College in Pineville where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts Degree in music graduating as valedictorian of her 1938 class. Shortly after graduation, she was accepted for a 10 week summer session at the Julliard School of Music. In 1965 she received her Master of Arts and Music from LSU. Edith Kirkpatrick was honored as a Distinguished Alumnus by both of her alma maters. It was at Louisiana College that she met Claude Kirkpatrick whom she would marry and with whom she spent the next 59 years of her life. They had four children Claude Kent, Thomas Killgore, Edith Kay and Charles Kris Kirkpatrick. In 1957, the Kirkpatricks were named the first "All American Family" of Louisiana. Anyone who knew this fiercely loyal wife and mother knew that family always came first. Ms. Edith, as many referred to her, was a private voice teacher In Sulphur and then in Jennings from 1939-1959. She taught music at McNeese State University, was choir director for Baptist Churches in Sulphur, Jennings and Baton Rouge, and was a visiting assistant professor at LSU. Edith and Claude were political and civic leaders. In 1975, she was named to the state Board of Trustees for Higher Education and in 1977 to the newly created Board of Regents for Higher Education. Edith served on the board for 12 years and was an advocate for music, art and foreign language. She was a contributing editor to the Louisiana Baptist Message and was also chairman of the editorial board and a writer for Music Clubs Magazine, a national publication based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Edith Kirkpatrick was the secretary of the Executive Board of the National Southern Baptist denomination, also known as the Southern Baptist Convention. Over the years she has been associated with the LSU College of Music and Dramatic Arts, the Baton Rouge Arts Council, the Community Fund for the Arts, the Red Cross, the Young Men's Christian Association, the Parent-Teacher Association, the Baton Rouge chapter of the National Conference of Christian and Jews, since renamed the National Conference for Community and Justice. She was the founder and the first Chairwoman of the Youth Orchestra of the Baton Rouge Symphony and the only board member emeritus of the Baton Rouge Symphony. Edith Kirkpatrick was tireless in her commitment to family, church and community. She was predeceased by her husband, Claude Kirkpatrick; two sons, Claude Kent Kirkpatrick and Thomas Killgore Kirkpatrick and her grandchild, Sandra Karen Kirkpatrick. She is survived by her children, Edith Kay Kirkpatrick and Charles Kris Kirkpatrick and his wife Jane Foshee Kirkpatrick; Sandra Futrell Kirkpatrick, wife of Thomas Kirkpatrick; grandchildren, Mildred (Katie) Kirkpatrick Justice and her husband Richard Todd Justice; Thomas (Kirk) Killgore Kirkpatrick, Jr.; Kristopher Scott Kirkpatrick and wife Heather Dupree Kirkpatrick; Charles Stephen Kirkpatrick and wife Mary Elizabeth Buntin Kirkpatrick; great grandchildren Thomas (Trey) Killgore Kirkpatrick II, Hudson Brandt Kirkpatrick, Abigail Kay Kirkpatrick, Laura Jane Kirkpatrick, Virginia Ann Kirkpatrick, Kristopher Claude Kirkpatrick, Leah Elizabeth Kirkpatrick, Charles Jude Kirkpatrick and Jackson Todd Justice. Pallbearers will be Kristopher Scott Kirkpatrick, Charles Stephen Kirkpatrick, Thomas Killgore Kirkpatrick, R. Todd Justice, Joseph Eugene Juban, John Dudley May and Vance Kirkpatrick. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Youth Orchestra in care of the Baton Rouge Symphony, Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge, Hospice of Baton Rouge or the charity of your choice. Visitation with be from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 17th and again from 10:00 -11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 18th at the University Baptist Church followed by a service at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be at Greenoaks Cemetery.