Delma "Shirley" Irene Moore Miles

Today, we gather to celebrate the life of Delma “Shirley” Irene Moore Miles—a woman whose life was defined by strength, love, compassion, and grace.

Shirley was born on June 12, 1935, in Forsyth County, North Carolina, to Tannard and Maebel Moore. She grew up in Lexington, North Carolina, at the Junior Order Children’s Home alongside her siblings. The experiences and values instilled in her during those early years helped shape the remarkable woman she would become.

Shirley was preceded in death by her sister, Marion Rogers; her brothers, Herman Moore, Kenneth Moore, and Garvey Moore; her husband, Reese Miles; and her granddaughter-in-law, Rita Clements. Survived by brother James “Boozer” Moore and sister-in-law Novella Moore (wife of Kenneth Moore).

She leaves behind a beautiful legacy through her two daughters, Bonnie Culver and Susan Tyler; her eight grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and 16 great-great-grandchildren. Her family was her greatest joy, and the love she gave them will continue through every generation that follows.

In 1971, Shirley relocated to Florida with her family, beginning a new chapter of her life. She went on to work at Disney for 28 years before retiring. But while her career was an important part of her life, Shirley’s greatest work was the love she gave to the people around her.

Shirley had a way of making people feel loved, welcomed, and cared for. Everyone who knew her loved her. She had a gift for leaving every person and every place a little better than she found them. She didn’t need to make a grand gesture or say something profound. Her kindness was simply a part of who she was.

She was strong without being hard, compassionate without expecting anything in return, and graceful in the way she carried herself through life.

Shirley loved the outdoors. She loved listening to bluegrass music, and she especially loved to dance—flat-footing in particular. But if you asked Shirley what she enjoyed most, the answer would have been simple: her family.

She especially loved children. There wasn’t a child Shirley met that she didn’t love, and there wasn’t a child she met that didn’t love her right back. She had that kind of heart. She made children feel safe, seen, and special. Her love for them was genuine and unconditional.

In her later years, Shirley lived with her granddaughter, Renee, who was much more than a granddaughter to her. She was her daughter, her companion, and her best friend. The two of them would say, “We’re peas and carrots.” And they truly were. They danced together. They talked together. They laughed together. They cleaned together. And, more often than not, they somehow managed to do all of those things at the same time. Those moments may seem simple, but they are the moments that become the most precious memories. The laughter in the kitchen. The conversations. The dancing. The little routines that made up their everyday lives. Those are the memories that will stay.

Shirley spent her life giving love to others, and in her final moments, she was surrounded by that same love coming back to her. She was cared for, comforted, and loved just as deeply as she had loved everyone else. That is the beautiful thing about a life like Shirley’s. She didn’t just pass through this world. She left pieces of herself behind in the people she loved.

She lives on in her daughters. She lives on in her grandchildren. She lives on in her great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. She lives on in the children she loved. She lives on in the music, the dancing, the laughter, and the countless memories she gave to the people fortunate enough to know her.

And most of all, she lives on in the love she created—a love that will continue to grow through every generation of her family.

Shirley’s life was filled with love, and her final moments were filled with love too. And perhaps that is one of the greatest gifts a person can leave behind. A life filled with love is a life well spent.

Shirley was deeply loved. She will be deeply missed. And she will never be forgotten. Rest peacefully, Shirley. We love you, and we’ll carry you with us always.

The funeral service will be held on Saturday, August 22nd at 10 am at Vogler Funeral & Cremations. The family will receive friends for a visitation beginning at 9:30am. Burial will follow the service at Forsyth Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation in Mrs. Miles' name to American Children's Home: Donations | ACH. Please send checks to the following address: American Children's Home, PO Box 1288, Lexington, NC 27293.