Shirley Janet Welch was born on Monday April 20, 1936, in Humboldt, Tennessee. She went to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, January 13, 2024 after a short illness. She was 87 years old.
Shirley was the youngest of ten children. She was educated in the Humboldt City School System. She played basketball and was a cheerleader for Humboldt High School. Shirley participated in several beauty pageants. She won Miss Gibson County and went on to compete in the Miss Tennessee Pageant.
She was married to James Welch for 55 years, whom she loved dearly. Shirley began her career with Wayne Knitting Mills in Humboldt and later became the front office secretary for East End Elementary School. “Miss Shirley”, as she was affectionately known as, became admired and loved by thousands of children and their families during her over 30 years at East End Elementary School. Never to shy away from work, you could also find Miss Shirley at Wal-Mart as a checker, a position she held for many years.
Shirley had a passion for children and loved keeping the nursery at her church, First Baptist Church of Humboldt, now The Church at Sugar Creek. Shirley was a devoted and dedicated nursery worker at her church for over 30 years. She loved her children and spending time with family. Shirley was a big sports enthusiast and loved watching her Memphis Grizzlies. She also loved a good game of Rook with her children, sisters, nieces, and nephews.
She is survived by a son and a daughter: Alan (Trish) Welch of St. Simons Island, Georgia; Janet (Tim) Sells of Mobile, Alabama; three grandchildren Taylor Welch of St. Simons Island, Georgia; Caitlyn Sells of Kona, Hawaii and Conner Sells of Ft. Worth, Texas.
She is preceded in death by her husband, James Welch of Humboldt, TN; her parents Frank and Nannie Carter of Humboldt, TN; three brothers, John Louis Carter of St. Louis, MO, Booster Carter of St Louis, MO and Travis Carter of Atwood, TN; six sisters, Sue Smith of Milan, TN, Mary Darty of Jackson, TN. Ann Barton of Jackson, TN, Virginia Coppedge of Caruthersville, MO, Jean Goad of Jackson, TN, and Peggy Cooke of Abilene, TX,
The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Church at Sugar Creek, 3400 East Mitchell Street, Humboldt, Tennessee 38343 or the charity of their choice. The family would like to say a special thanks to Dr. Nivedita Prasanna, Dr. Osayawe Odeh, Dr. Victor Nwazue, all the nurses and staff in the ICU at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital for the compassionate care they provided to our precious mother.
SERVICES: Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 27, 2024, at 12:00PM at The Church at Sugar Creek with Senior Pastor Dr. Greg McFadden officiating. The family will receive friends Saturday, January 27, 2024, from 11:00AM until service time at 12:00PM at the church. A private family burial service will be held at Centerville Cemetery.
Arrington Funeral Directors, 148 W. University Parkway, Jackson, TN 38305 731.668.1111, www.arringtonfuneraldiretors.com Facebook/Arrington Funeral Directors.
