Mrs. Eunice Mae Bateman Kirkman, age 95 of Stuart, Virginia passed away at the Blue Ridge Therapy Connection in Stuart on May 30, 2021. She was born in Alamance County, North Carolina on April 24, 1926, to the late Willie Bryon Bateman and Rose Agnes Robertson Bateman. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Steven Tony Turner; her second husband, James Douglas Kirkman; one sister, Lucille Parks; and one brother, Jack Bateman.
Mrs. Kirkman was a graduate of Rockingham Community College nursing program; she enjoyed a successful career as a registered nurse and also worked as an administrator of a nursing home. She was one of the original members of Fairystone Baptist Church. Eunice was known for her love of history; she was the curator of the Patrick County Historical Museum for many years, she did extensive ancestry tracing for original Patrick County families and later donated all her research to the museum. She was a devoted member of the Patrick County Historical Society, Daughters of the American Revolution; and the Wolf Creek Cherokee Indian Tribe of Virginia. She also raised and showed Morgan horses, with several horses taking best in show.
Mrs. Kirkman is survived by two sons, James Turner and wife, Jing Jia Turner of Bassett; and Roger Bryon Turner of Stuart; six grandchildren, Ron Eugene Turner of Winston Salem, North Carolina, James S. Turner, Jr of Bassett, Steven Turner of Detroit, Michigan, MaryKate Turner of Winston Salem, North Carolina, Kelly Turner of Detroit, Michigan, and Ceri Elizabeth Turner of London, England; one sister, Marie Stone of Sanville; and several nieces and nephews.
All Celebration of Life services will be private. Moody Funeral Home in Stuart has been entrusted with the services and online condolences may be sent by visiting www.moodyfuneralservices.com.
