Shirley Childs Pritchard

Shirley Virginia Hermann Childs Pritchard passed away peacefully on Friday, July 21st, 2023, at 9:00 am at Ginger Cove, Annapolis, MD in the loving company of members of her family. She was 103 years old, having been born in Detroit, Michigan, April 10th, 1920, to Colette MacDonald Hermann and Henry Albert Hermann. She had been a resident of Annapolis since 1964.

Shirley was a Registered Nurse receiving her diploma in nursing from the Grace Hospital School of Nursing, Detroit, Michigan in 1943. In addition to nursing, in her early years she was an active participant in the performing arts as an amateur actress on stage, radio, and later on television. With the encouragement of her father, she was also an avid sports fan, especially major league baseball, and when her family moved to Maryland, especially the Baltimore Orioles. Because her husband was posted to the United States Naval Academy, she also became an avid supporter of the Midshipmen, attending countless athletic contests over the years, and feeding countless midshipmen in our kitchen to include a future NFL Hall of Famer, and a future USNA Superintendent.

In 1942, she married Donald Rossiter Childs of Hannibal, MO, a graduate of Northwestern University School of Medicine and a career Navy physician (retired Captain, Medical Corps, deceased 1979). That marriage produced three children, Alan (s. Diane), Brian (s. Ashley), and Janis (s. Marty), all surviving their mother. As a Navy wife she learned to manage and even enjoy the many moves that were required and so was also an excellent cook and hostess. She loved collecting recipes and sharing them with others to include preparing them on several local TV cooking show programs. Navy postings included New Orleans, Great Lakes, Guantanamo, Cuba, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and finally the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD. Throughout her life, Shirley was very active in a number of social and service organizations, almost always rising to leadership positions. These included serving as the president of a group then called the Naval Academy Auxiliary where she led that organization in developing a service project named the Naval Academy Tour Guides, which included recruiting and training local high school and college students to take visitors through the Academy grounds. The money raised was used as scholarships for students going to college or other education. This concept was so successful that several years later this service was taken over by USNA administration and continues to this day. For many years, she was also a proud member of the Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO), an organization committed to helping women pursue higher education. A natural teacher, for several years she helped teach a course in social graces and manners for Midshipmen at the Academy, as well as another to students at Wroxeter on the Severn Academy in Annapolis.

After the death of her first spouse, in 1981 Shirley married C. Albert Pritchard of Annapolis, MD, a retired professor of languages at USNA (d. 2006). As a couple they loved traveling across the country, with extended stays in Florida, but also touring famous locations around the world, enjoying good food and great destinations. With this marriage, she welcomed adult stepsons Mark and Steve to her family and all of its’ activities. And most assuredly, family was her greatest joy. In addition to her children, she cherished her daughters-in-law, Diane, Ashley, and Marty. She loved being a grandmother to Ben (s. Jennifer), Jeff (s. Liz), Caitlin, and Alex (s. Whitney) Childs, and especially as “Gigi” to Landon, Tenleigh, Sam and Elliot Childs. Her grands and great grands were the light of her life. We all miss her so very much but we will always hold our love for her and the love and joy she shared with us, forever in our hearts.

Finally, the family would like to offer its’ deepest gratitude and appreciation to the many people who took care of our mother toward the end of her long, complicated, and triumphant life, and especially to the dedicated, compassionate, patient, and devoted staff at the Ginger Cove assisted living unit. You took care of our mother as if she were your own and that care meant so much to us. More than you can know. Thank you.

Donations in Shirley’s name can be sent to: The First Presbyterian Church of Annapolis, 171 Duke of Gloucester Street, Annapolis, MD 21401, or the Ginger Cove Employee Scholarship Fund, 4000 River Crescent Drive, Annapolis, MD 21401.

Funeral arrangements are through the John M. Taylor Funeral Home, Annapolis, with the family gathering for interment at Hillcrest Cemetery in the fall. Remembrances can be left on Taylor’s website.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.johnmtaylorfuneralhome.com for the Pritchard family.

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