Ellijay Kirkland was the third child and second son of Kiler and Alice Kirkland. He was born on January 27, 1879 in Coffee County, Ga.
He married Mary Laura McGovern, daughter of Thomas and Adaline Ricketson McGovern on July 7, 1901 in Coffee County.
Laura was born October 27, 1881 in Coffee County, Ga. and died on January 10, 1919. She had been nursing several neighbors who had been ill with influenza and she herself came down with it and died as a result. Laura's father, Thomas McGovern, gave each of his children farms in and around the Broxton area. Ellijay moved from the Nicholls area of Coffee County after marrying Laura, and became a member of the Broxton community.
L J, (as he was called, and Laura had twelve children with four of them dying in infancy, including a set of twins.
After Laura died, L J married Belle Hursey on July 17, 1919. Belle was the daughter of William T. and Frances Burkhalter Hursey. She was born August 24, 1886 and died January 27, 1969.
Together, L J and Belle had three children. She brought a child, Billy, to the marriage, whom L J adopted and raised as his own.
LJ died intestate in Coffee County, Ga., on September 21, 1942.
L J, Laura, and Belle are all buried at Reedy Branch Church Cemetery in Coffee County, GA, as are children from both wives as well as a couple of grandchildren.
Photo courtesy of Walter Kirkland, nephew of L J Kirkland. Sketch written by Melody Moore McCook, great granddaughter of L J and Laura Kirkland.
mmccook@alltel.net
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