Shirley Burnett Gillespie

July 9, 1942 – November 1, 2022

Shirley Burnett Gillespie, 80, passed away peacefully on November 1, 2022. She was proceeded in death, by her parents, Wilton W. Burnett and Odessa Linton Burnett. She is survived by her husband, John Hall Gillespie; her brother, Wilton W. Burnett, Jr.; her daughter, Leigh Gillespie Holbrook (Don); and son, Thomas Andrew (Drew) Gillespie. Shirley was born on July 9, 1942 in Louisa, Kentucky. Her family moved to the Nashville area during her grammar school years. Shirley attended Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville and was a lifelong Vols fan.

Shirley was active in the Lealand Garden Club and Charles Brindley’s Fine Art class. She enjoyed gardening, oil painting, cooking, good wine, antiques, and travel. Shirley was a loving wife, attentive mother, great homemaker, and a dear friend.

After John’s retirement, they moved to the Heritage at Brentwood, a senior living community, in January 2019 where they cocooned along with everyone else during Covid. Shirley’s Alzheimer’s disease began to progress more rapidly in 2022 and she entered long term care on August 15, 20022 where she got loving care at Somerfield Health Center until she passed.

Shirley’s memorial service will be at 3 P.M. November 11, 2022 at Stanford Chapel, First Presbyterian Church, located at 4815 Franklin Rd. Nashville with visitation from 1 until 3 P.M. in Cheek House, adjacent to the chapel. Shirley’s remains will be interred in the church Columbarium. In lieu of flowers, a contribution to the Alzheimer’s Association of Middle TN would be appreciated (ww:alz.org/tn).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Brentwood-Roesch-PattonFuneralHome.com for the Gillespie family.