John Kirkland Obituary

John Kirkland
07/05/2025
John Lindsey Kirkland, III: June 24, 1942 – July 5, 2025
Pittsboro – John Lindsey Kirkland, III, M.D., of Fearrington Village, Pittsboro, N.C., passed away peacefully on July 5, 2025, after a long illness with Alzheimer's Disease. He was 83 years old.

After graduating from Durham High School, he went to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, majoring in mathematics. He then enrolled at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, graduating in 1968. He was proud to have then served in the U.S. Navy as a physician.
After his Naval service, Dr. Kirkland began a fellowship in Molecular Endocrinology at the University of Texas. He later joined Pediatric Endocrinology in the Department of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine. He became a full Professor of Pediatrics, teaching and working with endocrine disorders in children.

Dr. Kirkland is survived by his wife, Rebecca Trent Kirkland, M.D. They were married in 1965, and both had successful medical careers aligned with one another. He was predeceased by his parents, Margret Battle Kirkland, originally from Rocky Mount, N.C., and John Lindsey Kirkland, Jr., a Durham native; as well as his sister, Sara Kirkland Purcell of Mt. Pleasant, S.C. He is also survived by his niece, Katherine Purcell; and nephews, Jimmy Purcell and his son, Jimmy, and Michael Purcell (Trish Hutchison) and their children, Anne Claire and Maehler; and his brother-in-law, James Purcell.

A memorial for Dr. Kirkland will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, for those wishing to donate in his memory, he admired the University of North Carolina Department of Applied Mathematics, the Sarah P. Duke Gardens at Duke University, and Alzheimer's Research at the Department of Neurology at Duke Medical Center.

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Published by Houston Chronicle on Jul. 13, 2025.

Memories and Condolences
for John Kirkland

Sponsored by Endswell Funeral Home - Hillsborough.

9 Entries

Jackie Scott

August 23, 2025

I worked with Dr. John Kirkland for many years as an Admissions/front desk staff member in the TCH Endo/DBT clinic. He was a phenomenal Endocrinologist and a great human being. I will cherish the wisdom nuggets and the simplistic views on life that he shared with me. My Sincerest, heartfelt condolences to Dr. Rebecca Kirkland and his family.

Debbie Feigin Sukin

August 19, 2025

Loved our family time with John. Will always remember Thanksgiving and other life moments together. Prayers and blessings.

Sarah Elizabeth Hare.

July 24, 2025

I was a patient of Dr Kirkland when I was a teenager I loved him and Rebecca. I believe Ian still alive due to his help. I am now 53. Doing well thanks to his loving care as a wonderful doctor. Rebecca if u see this please call me at. 325-262-5204. My name is Sarah Elizabeth Hare. I was the tiny little blue eyed
Very little blonde who had Turner´s syndrome. UBoth were very loving and kind to me still think of u often.

Joan Shook

July 22, 2025

John was a wonderful mentor and colleague. He was a terrific teacher and I was always grateful for the insights he had about patient care. I am thinking of Rebecca in this sad time.

Sherry Sellers Vinson, MD

July 16, 2025

My husband, Tom, and I are praying for comfort for Dr. Rebecca and all of Dr. John's family and close friends. We appreciate all he did for children with endocrine problems, including the teaching he did to ensure that future generations of children would have excellent care for their endocrine problems. Dr. John's legacy will live on.

Lawrence E Mallette, MD, PhD

July 16, 2025

John was a friend and a colleague at Baylor College of Medicine. He was a thoughtful and caring physician. I collaborated with John on a number of clinical research projects in the area of calcium metabolism, and he was a co-author on half a dozen of my peer reviewed publications. My condolences to Rebecca and the rest of John's family. A sad day.

Laurie Bricker

July 14, 2025

We extend our deepest sympathy to Dr. Rebecca Kirkland. John was an amazing physician and they were such a power couple. May his memory always be a blessing.

Donald Mahoney MD

July 13, 2025

I had the honor and pleasure of working with John at Texas Children´s Hospital for many years. He was an extraordinary physician, educator, and researcher, and I am grateful for the time that we shared together- first as mentor and then coworker. My sincere condolences to Dr Rebecca Kirkland and all his family

Mark Wallace

July 12, 2025

I had the pleasure of working with John Kirkland for many years at Texas Children´s Hospital. He was an outstanding physician and person. He contributed greatly to helping make Texas Children´s the #1 Children´s Hospital in the nation. He was also an important faculty member of Baylor College of Medicine. John and Rebecca were an extraordinary physician couple. I was very fond of John. I send my condolences to his lovely wife, Dr. Rebecca kirkland.

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