Shirley Jean Shockley

A memorial service is planned for Saturday, November 18, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. in the chapel of Little & Davenport Funeral Home. Rev. Rick Taylor and Rev. Mark Russell will officiate. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until the memorial service hour.

Survivors include her sister and brother-in-law, Beverly and Jerry Tuttle, Vidalia; nephew, Jeremy (Emmie) Tuttle, Atlanta; and niece, Elizabeth Tuttle, Spearfish, SD. She is also survived by special friends, Carolyn Rouse and Tom and Joy Lockman, as well as her Autumn Breeze family.

Shirley graduated from River Bend High School and North Georgia College. She earned graduate degrees from the University of Georgia. She spent most of her career as a classroom teacher at River Bend Elementary School, Lanier Elementary and Sardis Elementary. She also worked with district curriculum in Hall County and Cedartown.

After retirement, Shirley operated a successful tutoring service. Nothing gave her more pleasure than helping a struggling student to learn. She was keenly aware of learning differences and dedicated herself to finding the best way to teach an individual. She was an amazing reading teacher and had a knack for making it fun to learn. 

Shirley was a longtime member of Riverbend Baptist Church in Gainesville where she was a Sunday School teacher for many years. Later she was a member of the Combo’s Sunday School class. Her life was a testament to Christian love. The courage and grace she exhibited during a long illness was inspirational.

Shirley was a member of both Delta Kappa Gamma and Alpha Delta Kappa. She had the honor of being selected by her peers as Teacher of the Year. She was also named Young Woman of the Year by the Altrusa Club. One of her favorite associations for many years was her water aerobics group. She loved to travel and if Neil Diamond was performing in the southeast, she and her friends were there.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105; Legacy Link, P. O. Box 1480, 4080 Mundy Mill Road, Oakwood, GA 30566; Cure Alzheimer’s Fund, 34 Washington St., Suite 200, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481; or the charity of your choice.

Special thanks to the staff of Encompass Hospice for kindness and helpfulness during a difficult time.

Those wishing to send online condolences to the family may do so at littledavenport.com.

Little & Davenport Funeral Home and Crematory, 355 Dawsonville Highway, SW, Gainesville, Ga. 30501 is in charge of arrangements.