Edna Kirkpatrick

Edna Byrd Kirkpatrick, 99, passed away peacefully on October 18, 2025, at the home of her daughter, Judy Whichard.

A memorial service will be conducted on Tuesday, October 21, at 2 p.m. at St. Paul's Episcopal Church. A second service will be conducted in Edna's hometown, Hendersonville NC, on Saturday, October 25, at First United Methodist Church. Rev. Stephen James, Edna's son-in-law, will officiate.

Edna was born on March 16, 1926, in Metter, Georga. She was the daughter of Ruth Arlene Payne and Lonnie Byrd and the 8th of their nine children, Johnson, Nanie, Elminia, William, Lottie, Milard, Ivey, and Nona Bell. Her family moved to Lake Wales, Florida, in her early childhood.

During World War II, Edna moved to Miami to live with her brother and sister-in-law. It was there that she met Craig Mason Kirkpatrick, a Navy sailor. When Kirk was assigned to Portland, Oregon, Edna followed him by train. It was there that they married. When Kirk's ship set sail, Edna went to Greeneville, Tennessee, to live with Kirk's parents on their farm and gave birth to her first child, Craig Mason Kirkpatrick, Jr. At the end of the war, Kirk left the Navy and he and Edna moved to Oklahoma where their second child, Judith Kirkpatrick Whichard was born. Kirk then joined the Coast Guard which took them to Mayport, Florida, then Cape May, New Jersey, where their third child, Vivian Kirkpatrick James, was born. Their Coast Guard life was full of fun, friends and moves to California, Hawaii, Virginia, and Maryland. They moved to the Saluda and Hendersonville area in 1968.

Edna loved her church homes and was a faithful member of Saluda and First United Methodist Churches in Hendersonville. She was a member and Worthy Matron of the Eastern Star. Her support in the communities in which she lived was constant. She was a true believer in giving her time and energy to many causes. She modeled for her children the gifts of fellowship with friends, involvement in life in the community and love of family.

Edna is pre-deceased by her mother and father, her siblings, her husband, and her son-in-law, David Whichard.

She is survived by her children, daughter-in-law, Elaine Walker Kirkpatrick, and son-in-law, Stephen David James and her five grandchildren, Craig Mitchell Kirkpatrick, Scott Walker Kirkpatrick, Ryan Mason Kirkpatrick, Amanda James Seidenfeld and Taylor David James. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren Cameron McKlain Kirkpatrick, Michelle Emma Kirkpatrick, Jordan Kimble Kirkpatrick, Carter Mason Kirkpatrick, Joshua Mitchell Kirkpatrick, Walker Drake Kirkpatrick, Penelope Scott Payne, Helen Carter Payne, Beatrix Couch Payne and a great-great grandchild, Isabelle Annalise.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church, 204 Sixth Ave W, Hendersonville, N.C. 28739. Shuler Funeral Home has the honor of serving the family.