Willie L. Halstied-Kirk Family and friends will gather at the New Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Saturday, October 22, 2022, adorned in shades of blue, to celebrate the life of Willie L. Halstied-Kirk. My 75-year-old soldier's soul took flight on Friday, October 15, 2022, at 3:35 p.m. from my home, surrounded by my family. Willie Lavern is the name given me at birth, November 8, 1946. I was the 9th of 10 children born to Bessie Mae (Wilson) Halstied and William 'Bill' Halstied. I was born in the Ran Community. The family made Marietta their resident Christmas Eve the same year. A profession of Christ as Savior when I was 12 yrs. old at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, during the leadership of the Pastor Hubert H. Harris, where I was baptized in the Lake Murray Spillway, along with several other youths . I began my education at Douglass Schools until Marietta Schools integrated in 1957. This year I continued with 6th grade students in the previous Douglass school, which housed 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students. I made it to Marietta High School and graduated correspondence courses in 1964, which was offered by Oklahoma State University in Norman. Later in life, I earned my associate degree from Murray State College, then continued studies at SOSU in Durant. I married Ray Donald Douglas in 1964. Two children were born to this union. Dinah LaDale was born with a birth defect and lived from June 7 June 13, 1964, at the Oklahoma City University Hospital. Wanda LaGayle was born December 8, 1965 and provided me health care, as needed, in the home, during my illness. Though the marriage ended in divorce after 11 years, Ray and I remained friends. I was a charter member at New Zion Missionary Baptist Church. I united during the original service conducted by the Pastor K.D. Davis in 1967. I organized the New Zion Youth Department, sang with the Halstied Sisters, in the choir and solo, church clerk & secretary, Sunday school teacher, and mission president. In 1969, I was causation for George Goodrich to allow equality at the Goodrich Funeral Home. I led a protest for black teachers in Marietta in 1977, 20 years after the schools integrated in 1957. I was employed with Marietta Sportswear, Weber Aircraft, Love County Community Action as a social worker, Contemporary Lifestyles Home Builders, and Marietta Dental Office for Dr. Richard Jacobi as a dental assistant for 11 yrs. I married Jobie Lorenzo Kirk on March 22, 1978, in Wichita Falls, TX. Jobie and I owned/operated Kirk Funeral Home until his illness in January 2019, due to Jobie's stroke. I continued to operate Kirk Funeral Home, with my daugther, until my death. I was preceded in death by my first child, Dinah LaDale Douglas; parents; Bessie and William Halstied; my husband; of 41 yrs. Jobie Lorenzo Kirk, siblings; Jimmie McCarroll, Herculee McCarroll, Lorene Foreman, Lovetta Douglass, LaBraska Halstied and Etta Halstied. Niece; Juanita J. McCarroll, nephews; Micah Juan McCarroll, and Gerlando E. Halstied. I leave to forever cherish my memories my God-sent daughter; Wanda LaGayle Douglas, my granddaughter; Angelic Destiny Gurrusquieta, and a special great-great niece; A'ryion Monai Banks. special niece; Succentto Hennesy (Lonnie), siblings; Dorothy Lornes (L.J.), Perry Halstied and Hayze Halstied; brother-in-law; Lewis Douglass. sisters-in-law; Hattie McCarroll, Marie Renfro, Alene Dunlap and Elvya Kirk, many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.