Shirley Wilkes McRae

1933 - 2018

Shirley Wilkes McRae

Memphis, TN

Shirley Wilkes McRae passed away May 18, 2018 in Memphis, TN at the age of 84. Born in 1933, she was the daughter of Carlton Wilkes, a prominent Memphis attorney, and Gladys Wilkes, a church organist. She received her B.S. from Texas Woman's University and her M.A. and M.Ed. from the University of Memphis where she was Professor Emerita in the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music.

With a worldwide reputation in the specialized field of Orff Music, she was a composer, music clinician, children's choir conductor as well as the author of two textbooks, Directing the Children's Choir and Tutoring Tooters. Lesser known was her accomplishment as a classical concert pianist. Over her extensive career, she composed numerous choral works, both sacred and secular, for unison and mixed choirs as well as eight books of compositions and arrangements for Orff music classes. Her compositions and arrangements have been widely performed by school, university, community, and professional ensembles across the United States. The Tennessee Legislature designated her song, "The Song Inside of Me," as the official state school song for the Tennessee Bicentennial in 1996. Her professional honors include ASCAP awards four years in a row and the Dean's Creative Achievement Award 1991, University of Memphis. Four of her compositions have been commercially recorded by groups including the Rhodes College Singers, the Denver Women's Chorus, and the Memphis Boychoir and Chamber Choir.

She is survived by her two children, Teresa and Stephen, with whom she shared the beauty of life, the wonder of music, and a keen unfailing wit. The family will receive friends from 4 p.m. until the memorial service begins at 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 24 at Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Avenue. Following her service, all are invited to join the family for a reception at the Parkside Event Center on the grounds of Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that any memorials be directed to the newly-established Shirley W. McRae Music Education Scholarship Fund, c/o Dr. Ryan Fisher at the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music, University of Memphis, 3775 Central Avenue, Memphis, TN 38152-3370.