Mary Virginia Shirley

Mary Virginia Shirley, age 77 of Sugar Valley, passed away on May 3, 2014 at her residence. Virginia was born in Gordon County, August 20, 1936, daughter of the late Walter Howard Shirley and Lois Shirley. She was a lifetime resident of Gordon County and was a graduate of the Old Sugar Valley High School. She was formerly employed by Herbcraft as a seamstress. She was a member of the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church and had formerly attended the Liberty Baptist Church where she served as church pianist. She originally sung with the Shirley Trio. Later they were known as the Shirley Family. Virginia was preceded in death by her grandparents, Robert Lee Shirley and Kitty Wofford Shirley, Beverly Shirley and Iona Burton Shirley; three sisters, Sara Elizabeth Shirley, Ruby Lee Shirley, and Bobbie Jean Shirley; and a nephew, Samuel Wade Shirley. Virginia is survived by seven brothers and sisters, Raymond Howard Shirley and his wife Shirley, Dorothy Mae Dobson and her husband Bobby, Bettie John Shirley, Agnes Jean Nation and her husband Bud, Ruth Ann Shirley, Robert Allen “Bobby” Shirley and his wife Gennie, Patricia LaVane Brock and her husband Barry. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 PM, Wednesday, May 7 at the Liberty Baptist church near Ranger with the Reverends David Ray, Barry Brock, and Shawn Nation officiating. Michael Hunt and the Pleasant Hill Choir will have charge of music. Pallbearers are Daniel Nation, Chuck Brock, Anthony Dobson, Bobby Shirley, Raymond Shirley, Austin Hardin, and Will Hardin. Burial will be in the Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Tuesday evening from 5:00p.m. until 9:00p.m. at the funeral home. Online condolences may be recorded at www.thomasfuneralhomecalhoun.com. Thomas Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements for the services of Virginia Shirley.