Daisy (Rentz) Kirkland

Daisy Rentz Kirkland, 83, of Bamberg, SC passed away peacefully at home on Friday, November 28, 2025. She was the widow of Cecil Eugene “Gene” Kirkland to whom she was married for 56 years.

Born May 2, 1942, in Fairfax, SC, she was a daughter of the late Ray Rentz and Catherine Copeland Rentz. At an early age, their family moved back home to Ehrhardt, SC where Daisy was raised and where she attended school. She graduated from Ehrhardt High School and Palmer Junior College in Columbia, SC with a Business Degree. She worked in banking, served as librarian at Andrew Jackson Academy, and retired from Bamberg County Schools after many years of serving as school secretary.

She was a member of Pleasant Hill Methodist Church and a previous member of Colston Branch Baptist Church where she served as church organist and choir director for many years. Her greatest joy was found in spending time with her grandchildren. She cherished the many trips they took with her to Edisto Beach making many memories they now cherish.

She is survived by her three children, Gina Garrick and her husband Dwayne of Barnwell, SC, LeVerne Calvert of Grand Rapids Michigan and Guy Kirkland his wife, Angie of Bamberg, SC. Her grandchildren include Tamyn and Lauren Garrick of Charleston, SC, Cannon and Celie Jordan of Florence, SC, Robert and Hayley Calvert of Lowell, MI, Ryan and Kimberly Woodard of Columbia, SC, and Ryan Calvert of Grand Rapids, MI. She was very proud of her great grandchildren Emme Jordan, Cole Woodard, Paul Calvert, and Lily Woodard. Daisy is also survived by her sister Patricia Rentz Bottorff and her husband Gary of Fairfax, Virginia; sister-in-law Evelyn Rentz of Ehrhardt; sister-in-law Lillian Kirkland Bamberg and her husband Henry of Bamberg, SC; brother-in-law Don Nummy and Debbie of Hendersonville, NC and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. She also leaves behind a very dear friend Stephanie Rickenbaker.

In addition to her husband and parents, Daisy was predeceased by her brother, William Franklin Rentz, a sister-in-law Dee Nummy and her mother-in-law Elma “Pingsy” Nummy.

The family would like to express their appreciation to those who have helped take care of their Momma over the past year: Stephanie Rickenbaker, Amedisys Hospice and Staff including Cierra Smith, Kayla Pate, Dawn Nix, and Josephine Patterson, Sarah Jimenez, Deshondria Abney and Pastor Tony Christie; her loving and dedicated caregivers Diane Behling, Priscilla Washington, Karen Wright, Georgia Gilmore, and Shirlene Dortch. To all of these, we will forever be grateful.

The family request that memorials be sent to Pleasant Hill Methodist Church, 2330 Ehrhardt Road, Ehrhardt, SC 29081.

Graveside services will be held at eleven o’clock a.m., Monday, December 1, 2025 at the McMillan Family Cemetery, Spider Road Colston Community, Bamberg, SC with Pastor Tony Christie, Pastor Karen Wright and Jacob Parker officiating. The family will receive friends after the service at the cemetery on Monday.

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