Shirley Mae Graves

Shirley Mae Graves, 92, of Havre de Grace, MD, died July 18, 2025. She was born Shirley Mae LaPenotiere on September 17, 1932, in Aberdeen, Md. She was the daughter of Arthur LaPenotiere and Josephine Booth, wife of Harry Clarence Graves, Jr., and beloved mother of Carol Koffinke, Eva Browning, Julie Shaker, Janet Handelman and Christina Graves. At the time of her death, she had been in hospice care at Coastal Hospice in Berlin, Maryland for several months. Married at the age of sixteen to her high school sweetheart, she moved to Havre de Grace in the late '40s and resided there for the rest of her life. Throughout her youth, she dedicated herself to her role as wife to Harry and devoted mother to her five daughters. Over the years, as her daughters gradually gained their independence, she became increasingly involved in supporting various charitable and non-profit volunteer efforts throughout the community. Some of these included assisting her husband, an avid and talented gardener, in the months-long preparation of their yard for the annual Harford County Garden Tour, donating the proceeds to local charities. For a number of years she successfully led teams of local women to raise funds necessary to maintain the Locke House Museum in Havre de Grace, with proceeds generated through silent auctions and the Locke House Museum gift shop. Eventually, she focused her energies on volunteering for the homeless, tirelessly preparing and serving meals for homeless centers and churches throughout Harford County. Toward the end of her life when she could barely see or walk, she still insisted on helping to prepare meals or working in the pantry at Smith's Chapel, until it finally became physically impossible for her to do so. On January 21, 2020 she and her husband were proclaimed Harford County Living Treasures by the Harford County Council, in honor of their many years of volunteerism and its positive impact on the community. Shirley is survived by her five daughters, twelve grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by her husband Harry Clarence, Jr., and grandson William Harry Burkheimer. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, August 2 at 3:00 pm at Smith's Chapel United Methodist Church, 3111 Churchville Rd., Churchville, MD 21028. Shirley's request was that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Smith's Chapel. Online condolences may be made at www.zellmanfuneralhome.com.