Barbara Stevens Kirkham passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, surrounded by family at Abe’s Garden in Nashville. She was the wife of the late John P. Kirkham for 60 wonderful years, most of them spent in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.
Born November 15, 1933, in Lexington, Kentucky, Mrs. Kirkham was the daughter of Henry and Loree Stevens and the sister of Henry Stevens Jr. and Betty Smith. She graduated from Henry Clay High School in 1952 and the University of Kentucky in 1956, where she was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. She was a lifelong Kentucky Wildcats fan.
Mrs. Kirkham dedicated 42 years to teaching, most of them spent as a first-grade teacher at Millbrooke Elementary School in Hopkinsville. Her impact as an educator endured well beyond the classroom, and students often recognized her around town.
She was a longtime member of Grace Episcopal Church where she led the kindergarten for ten years following her retirement from classroom teaching. She was instrumental in founding the Christian County Humane Society and later in life became a dedicated volunteer with Max’s Hope Rescue. With a deep compassion for animals, Mrs. Kirkham was known for advocating for animal welfare and caring for strays, many of which she adopted as her own.
She was renowned for her Southern hospitality, including her annual Derby Day Parties in her well-manicured backyard and her famous Thanksgiving dumplings—a cherished family recipe passed down from her sister, Betty. She was affectionately known as “Mama K” by her grandchildren, who looked forward to summers at her house for “Camp Kirkham.”
She is survived by her sons, Steven (Lisa) and Mark (Lea), and her beloved grandchildren, Jake and Sara, children of Steven, and Hayden and Hannah, children of Mark. She is also survived by her sister-in-law and lifelong friend, Karen Stevens.
Mrs. Kirkham was preceded in death by her husband, John, as well as her brother, Henry Stevens Jr., sister, Betty Smith, and brother-in-law, Duke Smith.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, September 27, 2024 at Grace Episcopal Church in Hopkinsville, KY. Visitation will be Friday from 10:00 a.m. until the funeral hour. Graveside services will be held at 10:00 a.m. (EST) Saturday, September 28, 2024 at The Lexington Cemetery in Lexington, KY, where she will be laid to rest next to her loving husband and family. Hughart, Beard & Giles Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Max’s Hope Rescue, a cause close to Mrs. Kirkham’s heart.
