Funeral services for Mrs. Theda Rae Buckels Kirkland will be on Friday, July 17, 2020, at Brookhaven Funeral Home (894 Natchez Drive) in Brookhaven, MS, at 3:00 PM with burial to follow in the New Salem Baptist Church Cemetery in McCall Creek, MS. Rev. Emory May and Rev. Tim Williams will be officiating the services with Brookhaven Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Visitation will also be at Brookhaven Funeral Home on the same day from 1:00 PM until time of the service at 3:00 PM.

Mrs. Kirkland, 89, of McCall Creek, MS, passed from this life on Tuesday, July 14, 2020, at her son's home in Bogue Chitto, MS with her loving family by her side.  She was born on July 24, 1930 in McCall Creek, MS, to Edgar and Cordie Smith. She was the Treasurer for 50+ years of New Salem Baptist Church in McCall Creek, MS.  She also served as pianist for the church many times over the years.  She was known for her cooking & hospitality.  Anytime there was dinner on the grounds at church, her dishes of fried chicken, cream corn, huckleberries, chocolate pies, and biscuits were all favorites.  She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Willie Ray Buckels; her brothers, Cedric Hugh Smith and Shelton Lamar Smith; and her sisters, Dorothy Smith Livingston and Maxine Smith Pritchard.

Survivors are her husband, James William Kirkland; sons, Willie Buckels and wife Nancy, Ricky Buckels and wife Debbie, and Joey Buckels and wife Renae; her daughter, Cheryl Buckels Jordan and husband Joe; her step-daughter, Donna Kirkland Woods and husband Gary; her sister, Nancy Boswell and husband Charles; her grandchildren, Bradley S. Jordan, Bryan M. Jordan, Beth Jordan Domingue, Joshua L. Buckels, Jessica Buckels Langley, Monica Buckels Cooper, Will D. Buckels, Jake P. Buckels, Holly Buckels Walker, Marley Buckels Duck, Ashley Buckels Corban;  her special brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Roy and Mary Buckels; 21 great-grandchildren; and a host of family and friends.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff of Compassus Hospice.