On Thursday, February 13, 2020, Charles Vincent Kirkland, Jr. , loving father, brother, uncle, cousin and friend, passed away at the age of 51, 10 days shy of his 52nd birthday. Vincent was born on February 23, 1968 in Blackville, South Carolina, to the late Charles Vincent Kirkland, Sr. and the late Shirley Copeland Kirkland.

Vincent attended the public schools of Barnwell County, South Carolina, where he graduated from Blackville-Hilda High School in 1986. While in high school, he was an average student, but excelled in sports, particularly football and baseball, which he successfully played from freshman through his senior years and was voted most athletic of his class. After graduating, Vincent attended Orangeburg Technical College in Orangeburg, South Carolina before setting his sights on the big city and relocated to New York City, where he successfully landed a job working at one of the largest wholesale food markets in the country, which is where he remained for almost a decade before moving on to more lucrative opportunities.

Vincent remained in New York City for almost 10 years. During this time, he met one of the loves of his life, Brandy and unofficially gained his adopted daughter, Chantel. Vincent and Brandy went on to have his second and only biological child together, a daughter, Ebony.

Vincent ultimately made the decision to leave New York, but remained an intricate part of his family's life. He returned to his home in Blackville, South Carolina, where he remained for several years before returning to his family, who by that time was living in Charlotte, North Carolina. As luck would have it, Vincent landed a job at the city hospital, where he flourished for several years before once again returning to Blackville, South Carolina. For the last five years of his life, Vincent met and remained with a special friend until his death, Barbara Washington.

Vincent was an humble man who enjoyed life to the fullest as his family and friends can attest. He abided by the universal code of, "You get what you give." He was loyal to friends and family until the end and would give anyone the shirt off his back, but could hold a grudge if you made him angry or in any way, did him wrong.

Vincent was an avid sports fan and was particularly fond of football. His team was the New England Patriots, so, you can imagine how much he enjoyed the Super Bowls in 2015, 2017 and 2019.

Vincent leaves behind - his love child, Ebony Lauren Cheri Kirkland; an adopted daughter, Chantel P. Otto; an adopted grandson, Amari Joshua Young; a longtime friend, Brandy; his only sister, Charlene (Richard) Newton; a niece, Zoie Newton; a nephew, Sterlin Newton; longtime best friend, and "Rock," Bridget Brown; his brothers/cousins: Bruce Sabb and Steve Copeland, who played an amazing role in helping him to be the man that he became, in addition to a host of aunts, uncles, other family, friends and special friend, Barbara Washington.