Kirston Nacole "Kissy" Planter

Kirston Nacole "Kissy" Planter, of Pocomoke City, Maryland, passed away on Monday, April 7, 2025, at TidalHealth Peninsula Regional Hospital in Salisbury, Maryland, after a long and courageous battle with Sickle Cell Disease.
Born on September 13, 1978, in Nassawadox, Virginia, to Rosemary Tull and Tommy Brown, Kissy came out feisty, headstrong, and sure of herself from the start. Bossy and a little sassy, she was a true spitfire and made her way in this world prepared to fight the hard battles that life would bring. Diagnosed with sickle cell at the age of 3, she was in for quite a battle, but she never gave up easily. Doctors told her many times that she wouldn't live past 30. She wasn't having that-no one would write a chapter in the book of Kissy, BUT Kissy.
Growing up in Temperanceville, Virginia, Kissy went to Arcadia High School (Class of '96) and developed friendships that would last a lifetime. Always willing to help someone down on their luck, she had a natural gift for taking care of others. Throughout the years, she took in many friends of her children, many who still call her "Ma." She studied nursing at the Eastern Shore Community College and Thomas Jefferson Community College, eventually earning her pharmacy technician license. She worked for Omni Healthcare until April of 2024.
Kissy was a great daughter, sister, auntie, and friend, but where she truly found her strength and calling was being a mother. Nyja, KeeKee, and Isaac were her very reason for living. She was well known for doing anything and everything she could to ensure that they would have everything they needed or wanted-that included buying just about every reptile for Nyja when he was young, saving up so that KeeKee could have her first car to drive to college, and laying the groundwork for Isaac to have a stable future. She would often talk to her friends and family about the dreams she had for them. Her grandbabies were just as important, and she loved to spoil them-especially at Christmas and on their birthdays. Anyone who came for a visit, knew that the grandbabies ruled the roost. They took over her bed, her phone, and ate the food right off of her plate, but she wouldn't have it any other way.
Taking care of the family meant feeding her babies. She was a great cook and always took chances with new recipes. Her salmon and rice, chicken tacos, and apple pie ranked high amongst the babies in the family. When she needed some down time, Kissy was certainly on the phone with one of her girls, watching a scary movie, getting her hair done by Miss Evette Curtis, or listening to some '90s R&B.
Kissy left us all way too soon, but her strength, kindness, and love are rooted in her children and grandchildren. She was an amazing mother, adoring grandmother, loving daughter, proud sister, fun auntie, and inspiring friend.
Kissy is survived by her mother, Rosemary Tull of Temperanceville, VA; stepfather, Albert Tull (Laura Tull) of Salisbury, MD; children, Keeyonie "KeeKee" Planter, Tristan "Nyja" Planter, and Isaac Planter, all of Pocomoke City, MD; grandchildren, Kingston Planter, Jayden Planter, and Journee Planter; sisters, Shenika Tull (Robert Bailey) of Temperanceville, VA and Sheena Armstrong of Bloxom, VA; brother, Jermaine Brown, of Princess Anne, MD; step-grandmother, Martha Tull of New Church, VA; aunts, Brenda Planter of Parksley, VA, who was like a second mother to her, LaKeshia Jones (Marlon) of Delmar, MD, Claudia Tull of Salisbury, MD, and LaToya Tull of Salisbury, MD; uncles, Bruce Planter of Vermont, ME, McKinley Tull (Debbie) of Salisbury, MD, Jimmy Lee of Parksley, VA, and Eric Tull of Randallstown, MD; nieces, Jayda Tull of Temperanceville, VA and Shaniya Tull of Bloxom, VA; nephews, Ayden Bailey of Temperanceville, VA, Troy Planter, Jr. of Pensacola, FL, and Da'Shaun Tull of Bloxom, VA; cousin/"sister," Sharika Townsend of Horntown, VA; close cousin, LouLou Brown of Atlantic, VA; best friend, Ciara Smith of San Antonio, TX; special friends, Angie Crutchley and Marlo Core; special family friends, Montross Family; and a host of nieces, nephews, siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her father, Tommy Brown; brother, Troy Planter, Sr.; aunt, Bernadine Townsend; grandmother, Lillie White; and grandfather, James Planter.
Memorial donations in Kissy's name may be made to the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc. at https://sicklecelldisease.app.neoncrm.com/forms/givescdaa
Though deeply missed, she is now joyfully reunited on that glorious shore with her beloved brother, Troy, and all the family that went before her.
A Facebook post Kissy made in 2019 summarized her battle with sickle cell: "This may sound crazy to some but atp in my life I feel like I'm winning this battle.I've lived past all the "DEADLINES" the doctors have given me, I've had healthy kids when the doctors said we would both die, I've beat crisis after crisis, came out on top after multiple surgeries, I've graduated (from high school & college), I work & I'm a full-time mom/grandma I've done & continue to do what I want! And I'm sure there's more to come. If I leave this world tomorrow, SCD U still lost!" ~Kirston Planter (October 22, 2019) To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Kirston Nacole "Kissy" Planter, please visit our Tree Store.