Mr. Kenneth Curley was born to the late Judy Cobbs Walker and Charles Winchester, Jr. on March 29, 1958 in Winston Salem, North Carolina. He graduated from Parkland Senior High School in 1976. While attending Parkland he played football, basketball, ran track and cross country. He loved sports and was a New England Patriots fan.

He joined the Army in 1979 and served for 16 years. He obtained the rank of Sergeant (SGT, E-5) while serving in the military. He took pride in being a soldier. He had many stories to tell about being a soldier and serving in Germany and Korea.

He was employed at Smith-Phillips for a number of years and also worked for Evergreen Cemetery. He loved his old school music and cracking jokes. Kenneth could always brighten up your day with a joke and a smile, and he seemed to have a loophole for everything.

Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents, Judy Cobbs Walker and Charles Winchester, Jr.; son, Michael Ensley; and brother, Vanzie Lee Walker, Jr.; and special friend, Sherea D. Botsford.

He leaves to cherish his memories his wife Barbara Ensley-Curley of Thomasville, NC; brother, Calvin Walker of Winston Salem, NC; sister, Shaunta Harris of Winston Salem, NC; brother, Leander (Diana) Jones of Winston Salem, NC; stepchildren, Anthony Ensley, Shawn Ensley, Stephanie Nicole Botsford-Byrd and Brandon Morgan;

grandchildren, Jayen Michael Byrd, Ava Nicole Byrd, Isaiah Devaun Byrd and Elijah Dante Byrd; special thanks to his uncle, Tom Curlee for all his patience, help and support; and a host of uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, and other family members and friends.

There will be no public viewing at the funeral home on Thursday.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00am Friday, November 6, 2026 at the Russell Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in Salisbury National Cemetery. The family visitation will be held from 10:30am until 11:00am on Friday at the Chapel.