Shirley Corrine Walker West was born Dec. 8, 1927, to James Herschel and Vivian Velder Walker on the family farm at Independence in Tate County, Mississippi. She died April 7, 2021, in a house on the same spot where she was born. She was 93 years old. She graduated from Independence High School and took classes at Northwest Mississippi Junior College in Senatobia. She spent her years as a young wife raising five children and participating in and encouraging all their activities. She was an accomplished seamstress and sewed for herself and her children, teaching her four daughters to sew. At one time she was in real estate, and also worked for the US Census Bureau. Throughout her life, until her health prevented it, she found a Baptist Church in her area and was an active member. She was preceded in death by her siblings: brother Lamar Walker and sisters Marjorie Bryan and Mary Ruth Lindley, and grandson Eric West.
She is survived by her five children: Debby Rutledge of Hernando, MS; Pat Young (Ronnie) of Hernando, MS; Garnett West (Debbie) of Olive Branch, MS; Jackie Walker (Daryl) of Atoka, TN; and Pam Carpenter (Steve) of Independence, MS. She is also survived by fourteen grandchildren: Mandy Gomez, Will Rutledge, Neil Young, Lesley Young, Bert West, Jason West, Abbye West, Darren Walker, Jaclyn Morris, Kristen Ferrell, West Carpenter, Katie Hobson, Kara Treadway, and Walker Carpenter. She also leaves 20 great-grandchildren. A service for immediate family (children and grandchildren) will be held Saturday, April 10 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Independence, MS. A graveside service will follow at 10:30 am at Mt. Zion Cemetery, where friends and all relatives are welcome.
Memorials may be made to the Mt. Zion Baptist Church Cemetery Fund or to a charity of the donor’s choice.
