Jimmie Shirley

Jimmie Arthur Shirley passed away on April 7, 2022 at his home after a long battle with cancer. He was 88 years old.

Mr. Shirley was born on May 10, 1933 in Walstonburg, NC to Clayton and Lena Shirley. He graduated from Walstonburg High School in 1951 and joined the United States Navy where he proudly served on the USS Oriskany and USS Kearsarge during the Korean Conflict. After serving in the Navy, Jim started working at Lockheed Martin Space Corporation in 1959 at Cape Canaveral and retired with Lockheed as Production Manager at Kings Bay in 1991. He attended Kingsland First Baptist Church and always looked forward to his weekly breakfast at Steffen’s with his Men’s Sunday School Class. Jim was a jack of all trades. He enjoyed using his woodworking skills to build gifts for his family, riding on his motorcycle, listening to bluegrass music, and telling people how to do things right.

Mr. Shirley is survived by his beloved wife of 68 years, Catherine Arlene Shirley; his daughters, Teresa (Craig) Mahaffie, Cynthia (Stephen) Banta, Jamie (Darrell) Owings; his grandchildren, Justin (Shauna) Mahaffie, Rayel (Brad) Mulvihill, Savanah (Taylor) Warren, Megan (Cory) Ramsey, Kaitlin Owings, Westly (Dakota) Owings and Shelby Banta. He was “Papa” to his 10 great-grandchildren, whom he cherished deeply.

Visitation with the family will be held on April 13, 2022 at 10:00am at Kingsland First Baptist Church followed by the service at 10:30am with Rev. Vernon Dillingham presiding. Pallbearers are Justin Mahaffie, Brad Mulvihill, Westly Owings, Mike Waddington, Cress Baker, and Taylor Warren. Serving as Honorary Pallbearers is Kingsland First Baptist Church Men’s Sunday School Class. Interment will be at the Jacksonville National Cemetery. Family ask in lieu of flowers donations can be made to GHC Hospice of Brunswick or Tunnels to Towers Foundation.