Shirley Ann Jernigan, 86, of Selmer, Tennessee, passed away on November 11, 2026. Born in Selmer on July 26, 1940, to the late John Carrol Dicks and Louise Coln Dicks, Shirley lived a vibrant life marked by boundless energy, entrepreneurial spirit, and deep devotion to her family.
On June 14, 1958, Shirley married the love of her life, David Jernigan. Together, they built a life filled with adventure, hard work, and plenty of laughter. A true entrepreneur at heart, Shirley never met a business venture she couldn’t tackle. She opened Harlow’s Donuts in both Selmer and Corinth, Mississippi—memorably surprising David one day with the news that his new job was running a donut shop. Her knack for business also led her to establish Shirley’s Outlet, which began with a single trailer load of clothes sold to friends and steadily grew from there. A talented seamstress, she crafted custom purses and Bible covers that are still cherished and used today. Her business-minded nature knew no bounds; in a favorite family story, she was so determined to make a sale that she even sold David’s own wedding ring right off his finger.
In many ways, Shirley was the epitome of the Proverbs 31 woman—industrious, resourceful, and fiercely dedicated to those she loved. Outside of her business endeavors, she was a passionate gardener whose stunning flower beds were admired by all. Her devotion to her plants was unmatched: every winter, she had David dig up her banana trees to store safely beneath the house, and whenever they moved to a new home, her beloved flowers were dug up and moved right along with them. Ever thoughtful and organized, she even left behind a detailed notebook with instructions on how to care for her flowers. Shirley also loved the outdoors and was an avid angler, always keeping her fishing pole in the truck so she could have David pull over at a moment’s notice whenever she spotted a promising fishing hole.
She was preceded in death by her parents, John Carrol and Louise Coln Dicks; four siblings; and her grandson, Chris Vandiver.
Left to cherish her memory is her devoted husband, David Jernigan, her children, daughter Pam Vandiver (John), son Jack Jernigan (Amy), daughter Pat Ray (Michael), and son John Jernigan (Tara); her grandchildren, Scotty Vandiver (Niki), Rusty Jernigan, Brad Ray (Valerie), Niki Winton (Seth), Patrick Ray, Abigail Jernigan, Emma Jernigan, and Caleb Jernigan; her granddaughter-in-law, Beth Vandiver; and her great-grandchildren, Trinity Vandiver, Lathen Vandiver, Jayden Vandiver, Benjamin Vandiver, Mady Ray, Toby Ray, and Emeline Winton.
