Shirley Jackson Shirley, 71, of Dawsonville, died May 6, 2011.

Born April 27, 1940 in Hunnington, Ark., to the late George and Freida Jackson, she had lived in Dawson County for more than 30 years, having moved from Pickens County.

A homemaker at her death, Shirley was formerly employed as a certified nursing assistant where she worked in the home health field. A devoted wife, mother and grandmother, her sons, Leslie Shirley, J.L. “Bird” Shirley; daughter, Rhonda Mae Padgett; granddaughter, Brittany Mae Whitt; sister, Bernice Dristrip; and brother, Leon Jackson, preceded her in death.

Survivors include her husband of 54 years, Lester Shirley of Dawsonville; children, Maria and Larry Revella of Liberty, Mo., Bobby Joe Shirley, Debbie Whitt, Penny and Kenneth Evans Candice K. and Wayne Neighbours, all of Dawsonville, Kelly and Jordan Reece, Jaime Shirley, all of Gainesville, Carmen Shirley of Bethlehem; brother, Joe Jackson of Mansfield, Ark.; 12 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; various other relatives also survive.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. May 9 at Bethel Baptist Church with the Revs. Bobby Whitmire and Huey Holloway officiating. Interment followed in the church cemetery.

Bearden Funeral Home of Dawsonville was in charge of the arrangements.