Shirley Edwards

Shirley Jeanette Whitley Edwards, 83, of Oakboro, passed away Thursday, September 16, 2021 at Atrium Health Stanly in Albemarle.

Shirley was born June 27, 1938 in Stanly County to the late Theron Roosevelt Whitley and the late Minnie June Taylor Whitley.

The family will receive friends from 10:00 am - 10:45 am, Monday, September 20, 2021 at Barbee's Grove Baptist Church in Oakboro. The funeral service to celebrate her life will follow at 11:00 am in the church sanctuary, officiated by Pastor Ed Lowder. She will be laid to rest at Smith's Grove Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Oakboro. She will lie in state from 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm on Sunday, September 19, 2021 at Hartsell Funeral Home of Albemarle. The family requests for everyone to please wear a mask for the safety of her family and friends.

She is survived by her beloved children,  Rickey Edwards, Jeannene (Chris) Gilbert, Greg Edwards, Kevin Edwards, and Marsha (Wes) Hatley; grandchildren, Justin (Heather) Gilbert, Ryan Gilbert, Autumn Hatley; great-grandchild, Tenley Gilbert; soon to be great-grandchild, Ellena Gilbert; aunt, Jane Honeycutt; and numerous cousins.

She was a devoted and loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. She graduated from Oakboro High School in 1956 and Evans Business College. Shirley worked as a streamstress for Stanly Knitting Mill for over 30 years. After retiring, she volunteered at Oakboro Elementary School. She was a devoted member of Barbee's Grove Baptist Church, where she was highly involved in the children's activities. Shirley was also passionately involved with the Oakboro Regional Museum of History. She was a cancer survivor and enjoyed attending Relay for Life. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the light of her life.

Memorials may be made to Barbee's Grove Baptist Church, PO Box 679, Oakboro, NC 28129 or Oakboro Regional Museum of History, 231 North Main Street, Oakboro, NC 28129.

Hartsell Funeral Home of Albemarle is serving the Edwards family.

Online condolences may be made at www.hartsellfh.com