Betty Donaldson Shirley

She was born in Corinth, MS on August 8, 1923 to Mattie Lee Donaldson Sweat and William Commodore Sweat. She attended Ward Belmont College, the University of North Carolina and received her Master of Social Work Degree from Tulane University.

She married Robert Lee Shirley on April 8, 1947 and they had two daughters. Her calling as a social worker led to fulfilling jobs as a Red Cross worker, a Department of Human Services supervisor, a School Social Worker and an adoption caseworker. She served as an elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Florence, AL, where she led Disciples Now bible studies and sang in the choir. She also participated in community choruses and musicals, and music remained important to her all her life. She had a keen appreciation for nature, a love of life and a generous and gracious spirit that touched all she met. She is survived by her daughters Ellen Weems and her husband Ray and Lee Parrott and her husband, Charles. She is also survived by 6 grandchildren – Melissa and Mitchell Robinson, Michael and Taylor Weems, Nelson Parrott (his wife Mitra) and Robert Parrott, and, also, by many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Robert Lee Shirley, and her brothers Dr. Andrew Sweat, W.C. Sweat, and Dr. Jonathan Sweat.

Visitation will be held at Northminster Baptist Church, 3955 Ridgewood Road, Jackson, MS on Saturday January 16th at 1 pm followed by a Celebration of Life at 2 pm.

Memorials in lieu of flowers may be made in Mrs. Shirley’s name to The Help Center or Safe Place in Florence, AL, Northminster’s Wider-Net Ministry or the Mississippi Kidney Foundation.

The family would like to thank the staff of St. Catherine’s Village for 12 years of loving care. The family would also like to thank Northminster’s Caregiving Committee for their many visits, prayers and cards over the years.