Shirley Ann Warford's Obituary
Shirley Ann Warford, of Fayetteville, joined her husband Jimmy for his birthday in Heaven on Wednesday, September 28, 2022, at 80 years young. She was born on March 7, 1942, in Fayetteville to James Augustus and Reba Elva (Paschal) Beavers. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of nearly 63 years Jimmy Warford, her sisters Betty Ferguson, Paulette Oliver, and June Wilcox, her brothers Bobby Beavers, Bill Beavers, and Jimmy Lee Beavers, and her daughter-in-law Tamra J. Warford.
Shirley was born into, and raised by, a strong family. At the age of 14, at the Fayetteville Skating Rink on South School, she met the love of her life, Jimmy Warford. While Jimmy was quite the ladies’ man, Shirley was the only one that could catch and tame him. She gave him an ultimatum which he would go on to tell was the best decision he ever made. They were married on November 20, 1959, when she was 17 years old. As well as being a great mother, she owned and operated her own beauty salon out of her garage on Elmhurst Ave. In 1976, she and Jimmy moved their family out to the Harris area to live in the home that they built, where they remained until the very end. In 1979, she quit her job to stay home and take care of her first grandson. As grandkids continued to show up, she continued to help take care of and raise them. She spent the last few years of her life devoted to the care of her husband’s failing health, neglecting her own as she did. She lost her husband Jimmy on June 28, 2022, and her heart could not recover.
Shirley was a long-time member of Central Baptist Church in Fayetteville, where she attended faithfully until health no longer permitted her and Jimmy to make the drive. She last was attending Harris Baptist Church in Elkins. She was valedictorian of her graduating class at Fayetteville High School. She loved to cook, take care of her family, and spend her time reading and doing her crossword puzzles. She was a strong, amazing, and excellent woman. She will be dearly missed by all who love and know her.
Shirley is survived by her three sons, Terry Wayne Warford, James Kevin Warford, and Craig Steven Warford; seven grandchildren, Casey Warford and his wife Kim, LeAnn Skelton and her husband Joe, James Warford and his wife Charissa, Tyler Warford, Emily Meckem and her husband Jordan, Jacob Gunter, and Dylan Warford; her sister Dena Whitehead; and thirteen great grandchildren, Wesley Warford and his wife Nancy, Whitney Hamilton and her husband Austin, Xander Warford, Xyleigh Warford, Grant Skelton, Andrew Skelton, Jerin Warford, Eli Warford, AJ Warford, Peyton Meckem, Cameron Meckem, Gwendalyn Gunter, and Finley Gunter; one great-great grandchild on the way; and many other friends, family, and loved ones.
A visitation will take place at Moore’s Chapel in Fayetteville on Sunday, October 2nd, 2022, from 5PM to 7PM. A graveside service will follow on Monday, October 3rd, 2022, at 10:00 AM at Buckner Cemetery in Fayetteville.
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