Shirley Frances Lewis Harding

January 9, 1951 – January 2, 2026

After battling a long-term illness, Shirley Harding passed peacefully with family by her side on January 2, 2026, a week before her 75th birthday. She was preceded in death by her parents, H.G. “Bobby” Lewis and Ruby Lee Lucile Lewis (née Griffin); her niece Beth Brooks; her nephew Greg Lewis; and her sister in law Joann Revell Lewis.

Born and raised in Tallahassee, Shirley grew up with her siblings surrounded by stories of service, ingenuity, creativity, and adventure. Her mother worked at Dale Mabry Field, while her father served in the U.S. Army Air Corps overseas. He later returned as a decorated World War II veteran.

Shirley’s father was hired as a sheet metalist at Florida State College for Women (FSCW), he later volunteered for the draft, after WWII he continued as Head of Maintenance during the college's transition into Florida State University (FSU). In the 1950s, he began supporting, designing, and building circus apparatuses for the Florida State Flying High Circus that are still used by artists in many circuses today. He was also an integral part of the circus’ European tour in the 1960s, a trip later featured on CBS Sports Spectacular. He retired from FSU in 1975. Shirley’s mother, a talented seamstress, singer, cook, and designer, taught Shirley valuable skills that later became her creative outlets.

This early exposure to creativity, athleticism, and performance left a lasting mark, shaping Shirley’s enduring sense of wonder, love of adventure, and the free-spirited nature she carried throughout her life.

Shirley graduated from Florida High School in 1969, where she explored her connection to music and movement by bowling, fishing, camping, playing softball, and playing the clarinet in the high school marching band.

After attending some college, Shirley became a clerk with the Florida Department of Transportation, where she met her soon-to-be husband, Rick Harding, in 1972. They later welcomed two children, Christina (born 1976 in Tallahassee, Florida) and Justin (born 1981 in Gainesville, Florida). Though Shirley and Rick later divorced in 1990, they remained friends.

Shirley, Rick, and Christina moved to Gainesville in 1978, where Shirley returned to longtime hobbies; including, bowling, painting, sewing, knitting, and crocheting. She later worked as a bank teller until the birth of her son, Justin. In the early 1980s, she became a grants specialist with the College of Engineering at the University of Florida. Through her connection with the college, she was able to attend several shuttle launches in the early 1990s—an experience she had dreamed of since high school.

In 1998, following the death of her father, Shirley returned home to Tallahassee to be closer to her mother, sister, brother, extended family, and high school friends. She began working as a grants specialist for Florida State University within the College of Social Work. Here she became more involved in the community, including working directly with the Tallahassee Boys’ Choir. She retired from the state university system in 2002.

Throughout her life, Shirley loved bowling, dancing, cooking, painting, and playing music on the guitar and clarinet. She was fascinated by astronomy and drawn to wide-open places and distant horizons. She cherished travel, particularly to the Caribbean and the Desert Southwest. She always remained true to her roots—she was never one to pass up a tailgate, an oyster party, or a crawfish boil.

Shirley is survived by her children, Christina Harding (Tampa, Florida) and Justin Harding (Jacksonville Beach, Florida); her granddaughter, Madison Harding (Woodville, Florida); her sister, Barbara Brooks (Tallahassee, Florida); her brother, Howell Gary “Buddy” Lewis (Panacea, Florida); her nephews, Jeff Lewis (Panacea, Florida) and Charles Brooks (Tallahassee, Florida); and her grandnephews, Jeffrey Lewis (Panacea, Florida), Christian Brooks (Tallahassee, Florida), Gaige Lewis (Bristol, Florida) and Kelsey Brooks (Rapid City, South Dakota).

Shirley will be remembered for her originality, creativity, and the sense of wonder she carried throughout her life. The family would like to thank friends and family for their support and care over the past few years, as well as the staff in the ICU at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital and the compassionate team at Big Bend Hospice (First Commerce Center for Compassionate Care) for the comfort and kindness they provided at the end of Shirley’s life.

The family will hold a private memorial. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Shirley’s memory to Big Bend Hospice.