Kirk was born in Winston-Salem, NC to James Richmond Shepherd and Mary Louise “Babe” Collier Shepherd. Kirk attended Reynolds High School where she made lifelong friends.
Kirk met her husband Bill in Atlanta, GA and shortly after they married moved to Raleigh. She was a devoted member of Christ Episcopal Church. Kirk’s joy throughout life was her family and many close friends.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, James William “Bill” Dempsey; her son, James Edward Shepherd “Shep” Dempsey; and her sister, Logan Vaught Hurst.
Kirk is survived by her daughter, Trish Dempsey Garrabrant and husband Raiford, and her two grandsons Raiford and Pete Garrabrant.
A funeral service will be held at Christ Episcopal Church, 120 E. Edenton Street, Raleigh, at 2pm on Thursday, March 30, 2023, with a reception to follow at the church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests gifts of remembrance be made to Christ Episcopal Church (ccral.org).
Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary’s St. Raleigh, NC 27605, is assisting the family; www.brownwynneraleigh.com
