Shirley Black McDonald

Mrs. Shirley Black McDonald, age 81, of Cleveland, passed away Saturday, November 29, 2014.

Mrs. McDonald was born to the late Carl and Rosamond Ashe Black and grew up in Cleveland and Atlanta. She was retired from the White County Health Department and served White County throughout her life in many capacities, including being a member of Woodmen of the World, the Legion Auxiliary, Vice Chairman of the Library Board of Trustees, the Regional Library Board of Directors, Secretary and Treasurer of the Cleveland Cemetery Fund, Chairman of the Loudsville Campmeeting Memorial Service, served on the HEMC Operation Round Up, was a member of the Friends of the Library, and a member of Cleveland First Baptist Church.

Mrs. McDonald was a member of the White County Historical Society, where through her works was proclaimed by the White County Commissioners as the "Official White County Historian."

She was a stand in for Susan Heyward in the movie "I'd Climb the Highest Mountain" that was filmed in White County in 1950. Mrs. McDonald was a columnist for the White County News and Telegraph for 19 years and has written her "Looking Back" article on the history of White County.

She was preceded in death by her husband Cleve McDonald and brothers Richard Black and Charles Black.

Survivors include son Craig McDonald and his fiancé Shelly James, Cleveland; son and daughter-in-law, Clark and Jan McDonald, Cleveland; grandchildren, Craig (Chip) and Kiesha McDonald, Cleve and Anna McDonald, Chance McDonald, Molly and Justin Sutton, Clark Janson (C.J.) McDonald, and Callie McDonald; great-grandchildren, Xavier Bostinto McDonald, Sierra McDonald, Carson McDonald, Ava Sutton, and Lilah McDonald; brother Lamar (Pinkey) Black, Cleveland; and brother and sister-in-law, Bill and Conchita Black, Cleveland.


Funeral services are scheduled for 3 PM Tuesday, December 2, 2014 from the Chapel of Barrett Funeral Home. The Rev. Dennis Turner, Rev. Doug Merck, and Rev. Gary Heffner will officiate. Interment will follow in Gateway Memory Park. The family will receive friends from 6-8 PM Monday and 1-3 PM Tuesday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the White County Historical Society or to the Cleveland Cemetery Fund, both at Post Office Box 1139 Cleveland, GA 30528.

Barrett Funeral Home, Cleveland, Georgia. Visit us online at www.barrettfh.com to sign a condolence to the family.