Shirley Ann Thorburn

Shirley Ann Thorburn, of Wrightsville Beach, NC, passed away from a long illness on September 10, 2011. Please join her family for a service in celebration of life at 11 am on Saturday, September 17, 2011 at St. Andrew’s On-the-Sound Episcopal Church in Wrightsville Beach. A graveside service will follow in the churchyard. The family will receive friends after the service in the Parish Hall.

Mrs. Thorburn was born in Greenville, NC on September 22, 1934, one of ten children of John and Olga Saieed. Her beloved husband, Robert William Thorburn V, preceded Mrs. Thorburn in death. She is survived by their three children, Kit, Robert VI, and Kelly; their daughter-in-law Sona; son-in-law Scott and five grandsons; Kyle, Kohl, Robbie, Theo, and Christopher as well as her five brothers, John Jr., Dan, Mitchell, Tom, and Frank Saieed and over 30 nieces and nephews.

She attended ECU in Greenville, NC, UNC in Chapel Hill, NC and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Akron University in Ohio. During her 33 years living in Akron, she played a leading role in developing the infrastructure for one of the first professional youth ballet companies in the country. Also, she was instrumental in bringing a dance education and performing series program, designed to expose children to the wonderful world of fine arts, into the public school system.

After her husband retired, they moved “home” to Wrightsville Beach in 1989 and felt most fortunate to build on the lifelong friendships they so cherished in both Akron and Wrightsville Beach. As an active member of St. Andrew’s, she devoted her time to the church community and the Wrightsville Beach Museum, of which her husband served on the board.

Shirley always spread infectious joy with an outpouring of love and support to all she came in contact with. She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother that taught her family more than she’ll ever know. She treasured every moment with her family, especially those times with her grandsons, and left an amazing legacy.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Hospice of Wake County, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607 and St. Andrew’s On-the-Sound Episcopal Church, 101 Airlie Rd., Wilmington, NC 28403. Special thanks are extended to Mrs. Thorburn’s caregivers of the last 9 months Lakeia Robertson, Linda Bonner, Faustina Gyawu, Haddy Sillah, and Jettie Iwuoha as well as everyone at Hospice of Wake County.