Susan Eugenia Shirley, a beacon of love and generosity, passed away peacefully on May 13, 2024, in Summertown, Tennessee at the age of 90. Born on December 5, 1933, to the late Henry Spears & Ollie Williams Spears, in Hohenwald, Tennessee, Susan was the one of 14 children and the oldest daughter.

For over 30 years, Susan dedicated her skills as a seamstress to Henry I Siegel’s, where she retired. Her work was not just a job but a craft she performed with love and precision. Susan’s involvement in her community and church, the Baugus Church of God, was a reflection of her unwavering faith. She was a big Prayer Warrior, whose spiritual strength was the backbone of her family. She would always say, “If it’s wrong, don’t do it, if it’s right, run to it!”

Susan’s interests were a mirror of her soul: loving, kind, and giving. She was renowned as the best mother and friend, always extending a helping hand to those in need. Her fried pies were legendary, and her love for feeding everyone was matched only by her passion for gardening, canning, quilting, and sewing. Susan’s care for the sick and her genuine nature made her a cherished figure in the lives of many.

She is survived by her son Steve (Tracy) Shirley, daughters Linda Tonguett and Charlotte (Kevin) Underwood, her brother Lawrence (Norma) Spears, and sister Edna (Pete) Potts. She was the proud grandmother to 10 grandchildren Devin Shirley, Angela LaBue, Shane Shirley, LaCole Mast, Audreyanna Smith, Tristan Underwood, Crystal Jolly, Zoie Underwood, Zander Underwood, Alicia Shirley, and 10 great-grandchildren, with two more on the way, who will carry her legacy forward.

She was preceded in death by her husband Linnie “Peanut” Shirley, son Darrell Shirley & 11 siblings.

As the author Helen Keller once said, “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.” Susan lived by these words, touching the hearts of all who knew her with her loving and faith-filled spirit.

Visitation with the family will be held on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 from 4:30 PM to 8:00 PM at the Whispering Hills Church of God in Summertown, TN. Funeral Services will also be conducted at the Whispering Hills Church, on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 beginning at 11:00 AM, with burial to follow in the Baugus Church of God Cemetery.

McDonald Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Shirley family.