Lois Parsons Shirley

Lois Parsons Shirley passed away peacefully on September 15, 2019 at her home in Wake Forest, NC, surrounded by her children and grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Charles William Shirley, with whom she enjoyed sixty-one years of loving marriage.

Lois Parsons was born in Elizabethton, Tennessee on September 9, 1931. Early on she showed an interest in learning and teaching, which led to a career in education. In 1951, during her college years, she met and married Charles. After graduation, Lois and Charles dedicated their lives to their Christian beliefs, serving for the next few years as pastors at small churches in Tennessee and Florida before being appointed Foreign Missionaries to Argentina in 1958. They served in Argentina for over 20 years, until their return to the United States in 1979. Upon returning they settled in Atlanta, Georgia where Lois earned a Master and Specialist in Education degree from Georgia State University in 1984. She went on to become a counselor with Gwinnett County Public Schools until her retirement in 1993. During their years in Atlanta, they were blessed in their spiritual quest by their membership in Oakhurst Baptist Church in Decatur, a church known for its creative spirit. In 2005 she and her husband relocated to Wake Forest, North Carolina where she and Charles spent their final years.

The Shirley marriage was graced with four children who survive Lois: Mark Shirley of La Paz, Mexico; Luana McCamy and her husband Bond of Wake Forest, NC; Susan Shirley and her wife of Liberty, NC; Beth Peterson and her husband Steve of Atlanta, GA. Surviving also are five grandchildren: Kristina Van Buskirk and her husband Jay; Rachael Massey and her husband Kenneth; Morgan Shirley; Chris Shirley and his partner Melanie; and James Peterson and his girlfriend Gina. Also surviving are four great-grandchildren.

Lois Shirley was a woman of strong faith and loyalty. She loved her family and God very much. Her life was lived courageously and well. She also loved reading and having good conversations with others. She will be missed.

Her Memorial Service will be held Friday, September 20, 2019 at 2 PM at Wake Forest Baptist Church with reception to follow from 3-5 PM at the McCamy home at 554 S. Main St, Wake Forest, NC.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to a scholarship fund for Argentine Seminary Students in memory of their parents’ ministry at the Seminario Internacional Teolo'gico Bautista in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Check made payable to the IMB (International Mission Board) with a notation “Argentine Seminary” or “F9EPIArgntna” in memory of Lois (and Charles) Shirley.
Send to:
IMB
3806 Monument Avenue
Richmond, VA 23230

For online donations please contact a family member to obtain contact information for proper allocation

A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 405 S. Main St., Wake Forest. (919) 556-5811
www.brightfunerals.com