Please join us on Sunday, December 7th at 2:00 pm, at Avent Ferry United Methodist Church, as we celebrate the life of Dr. Adrianna Kirkman.
Adrianna Boone Grant Kirkman, PhD, Associate Dean Emeritus
Adrianna was born in Rocky Mount, NC, on July 27, 1948, the third child of Henry Boone Grant, MD, and Elizabeth Applewhite Grant. As a child, she excelled in school, eventually graduating from Rocky Mount High School. She attended what is now UNC-Greensboro her first two years, and transferred to North Carolina State University in Applied Math for her junior year.
She met her future husband, William Benson Kirkman (Benson), her first week in Raleigh at the Raleigh Wesley Foundation, and it was close to love at first sight. They courted through leadership at the Foundation, with Benson becoming president and Adrianna as his constant advocate and helper. Late one night in the Raleigh Rose Garden, Adrianna looked up at Bensos and asked, “Aren’t you ever going to ask me to marry you?” On bended knee, he asked, and they committed their love. At their marriage, they substituted “forever” for “til death do us part”.
Adrianna began her career as a lab technician in the Department of Wood and Paper Science after graduation, having been rejected for other jobs because she was “a young attractive single woman”. She soon started helping teach labs for courses while becoming a master in the laboratory. Several of the professors in the department recognized her abilities and convinced herto enroll in graduate school while continuing to retain her lab duties. As a graduate student, she started working with computer simulation to help the paper mills become more economically efficient as well as more environmentally friendly. She taught them that being good environmental stewards was actually more profitable. After finishing her PhD, she became recognized as one of the leading scholars in her field.
Adrianna quickly became a leader in her department, her college, and eventually at the university level, often becoming the peacemaker during faculty disagreements. She was a tough teacher, but she wanted every student to succeed. She would take any time needed to help any student learn what they needed, and many of her students credited her with their success after graduation. Multiple former students made statements like, “Dr. Kirkman’s classes were tough, but she taught us what we needed to know to succeed in our professions”.
One of Adrianna’s primary teaching principles was that students should learn from their mistakes. Adrianna was encouraged to apply for the position of department head, but she declined because she didn’t want to “play the politics”. Her work with students and her academic priorities led to being chosen as the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. She excelled in that position since her priority was always focused on academic success for students at every level. She was eventually chosen as the NCSU Associate Deans Council, and was hailed as the best chair they had ever had. Adrianna was encouraged to apply for the position of Dean of the College of Natural Resources at one point, but again she declined, this time saying that the students needed her where she was.
As Adrianna’s expertise became known internationally, she and her husband received invitations to share their knowledge overseas. They literally travelled around the world, with Adrianna working with paper mill employees and Benson working with foresters and environmental staff.
At Adrianna’s retirement ceremony, her siblings, her siblings announced the creation of the Adrianna Grant Kirkman Scholarship. As an enduring tribute, Benson plans to create two more academic scholarships at NCSU on his death.
Adrianna’s love of her family and her church never wavered. When she and Benson took a psychological test with the Wesley Foundation director, they failed the compatibility aspect. The campus minister told them that many of the most successful marriages he had performed failed that test, advising “You just have to give and take a little more.” Adrianna and Benson will celebrate 55 years of commitment to each other and God on January 3, 2026.
Adrianna and Benson both served as officers at their beloved Avent Ferry United Methodist Church. She served as Worship Committee chair, and she developed a special relationship with her pastors.
Adrianna was preceded in death by her older brother, Henry Boone Grant, Jr. and her beloved older sister, Elizabeth Grant (Betty). In a recent cognitive moment, Adrianna said “I will be back with Betty soon.” She is survived by her beloved husband, William Benson Kirkman, PhD, her loving sister, Ann Grant Winstead and brother, James W. Grant, MD, along with multiple nieces, and nephews as well as multiple grand nieces and nephews and her beloved cat, King Tigre.
Adrianna asked that a brief memorial service be held at Avent Ferry United Church to celebrate her life, but she wanted everyone to leave smiling.
We want thank her multiple caregivers during her decline as well as the medical team at the UNC Geriatric Center for their loving care.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Adrianna Grant Kirkman Scholarship at NCSU, Avent Ferry United Methodist Church, or the Triangle Land Conservancy.