Shirley will be greatly missed. She was a great friend of mine for many years. Every november we both celebrated our birthdays by going out to dinner. We both loved the olive garden. I use to walk nightly with shirley and our neighbors around the neighborhood and talk about what was going on. We shared a lot of wonderful times together. Shirley was a devout Christian. She lived what she believed. She loved everyone she meet. Friend or foe, she shared Jesus with them. I could write forever. I will miss her, but I know I will see her in heaven. I too believe that Jesus died for me. I accepted him as my savior at a young age. See you soon shirley.

Mom was an incredible woman.  Her faith, generosity and unconditional love drew people to her.  We will miss her......but we know we will be together again in heaven.

"My sweet grandma passed away early this morning at the age of 92. She was a strong and independent little lady. She had such a good sense of humor, never taking life too seriously. I spent so much of my childhood with her. We laughed together, so much. She taught me how to play Rummy. My love of tea came from her. Most Friday nights I would spend the night and we would stay up watching movies while eating ice cream. Then Saturday mornings we’d get breakfast biscuits from Hardee’s and take them back to her house. When she wasn’t looking I’d always give her the smallest biscuit and take the biggest one for myself. Years later, I eventually told her I did that. We had a good laugh about it after. I would always ask her to “tell me stories from when you were a little girl”. I loved hearing those stories. Her faith was very important to her. Towards the end all she wanted was to go home to be with Jesus. 

She’s finally home."

On April 23, a Wednesday morning, on the other side of midnight, a gentle storm moved through the neighborhood as my mother, Shirley Barkley, began knocking on heaven’s door. Mom didn’t rage against the dying of the light; she went gently into the night as flights of angels sang her to her rest. No longer suffering the indignities of dementia, or the pain of her body quietly shutting down after 92 years of running the race. 

When I could, I would take mom out on little adventures of our own, we would explore the places I’d already been to, and I tell her stories of the places and people. It gave us time together that wasn’t bound by the necessities of being a caregiver. My sister Terry and her husband Warren came down from Massachusetts to give me a break and spend time with her. They took her everywhere. Their love knew no bounds.

God was kind to her in that He allowed her to keep her sense of humor, and she never forgot our names. And we were allowed to do for her what I always promised her – she passed in her own bed, in her own home, surrounded by her children. 

That is a good death.

 A death she did not fear because its sting had been removed by a Savior on a cross who when He said, “It is finished” swallowed up the curse of the garden in the victory of Golgotha.

OBITUARY

Shirley Mae Barkley

November 26, 1932 – April 23, 2025

Smith & Williams Funeral Home/Kempsville

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