Shirley Jane Hyde

Shirley J. Hyde went home to be with her Lord and Savior on December 28th, 2023. Shirley was born on April 8th, 1938 to Lester & Myrtle Gragg in Lenoir, North Carolina. Shirley has one younger sibling, David Gragg. 

On July 23rd, 1955 Shirley married her “sweetie”, Samuel E. Hyde, Sr., in Hampton, Virginia. Samuel and Shirley were blessed to raise five children - Charlene (Jim) Close, Brenda (Chris) Cosentino, Cindy (Clyde) Pilkington, Donna (Wesley) Drew and Sam (Natalie) Hyde, Jr. Additionally, they were blessed with 16 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren, who all lovingly referred to her as “Nanny.” 

Pastor & Mrs. Hyde founded Victory Baptist Church in October 1963, where Pastor Hyde faithfully served until his homegoing on April 25th, 2015. Pastor & Mrs. Hyde felt a burden for the children in our community and started fostering children in 1965. They were quoted as saying, “This is the greatest undertaking in our ministry.” In 1979, Pastor & Mrs. Hyde, along with many faithful church members, were able to start ‘Victory Baptist Children’s Home.’ During those years, they fostered approximately 75 children. 

In 1982, they successfully established Victory Baptist Church School, which is still operating to this day. Mrs. Hyde served as the school supervisor for many years and loved teaching. She was known for her dedication to all her students. 

Shirley was well known for her talent as a skilled seamstress. She used her ability to be a blessing to others. She was pleased to sew full wedding attire for multiple weddings. She passed on her love and skills for sewing to many young girls. Just as she viewed her entire life, she saw this as another way to serve and love those around her.

One of her favorite hobbies was painting. She loved to watch Bob Ross videos and paint in her free time. Many of her students have fond memories of her teaching the methodical and creative techniques involved in both painting, and in life.  

One of the greatest treasures that Mrs. Hyde left behind for her family were her journals and poems. She was faithful in writing a poem, thought, and prayer daily. Her poems were often about Scripture, nature, and life, the three things that she was very passionate about. She also had multiple poems published and won an Editor’s Choice Award for Outstanding Achievement in Poetry.  

Mrs. Hyde’s faithfulness to God is what she is most known for. When we think of her life, II Timothy 4:7 comes to mind… “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” A viewing will be held on January 5th, 2024, at Victory Baptist Church located at 445 Shelton Road in Hampton, Virginia 23663 at 11:00 am. The funeral begins at 12:00, with the burial immediately following at Hampton Memorial Gardens.

Until we see her again in Heaven, the family will remember these words from I Thessalonians 4:13-17 KJV… “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 

The family wishes to extend a special Thank You to Bristol Hospice and all of it’s employees, especially Samantha, Brenda, and Denise for their excellence in end of life care. These people can be the most overlooked and underappreciated, but our family knows they have a special calling and are the real heroes. May God bless them in their day in and day out efforts.

Arrangements are by R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home.