Shirley Birdsley

1935 - 2025

Shirley Ann Birdsley, age 90, formerly of Columbus, Georgia and St. Johns, Michigan, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, in Locust Grove, Georgia.

Shirley was born on August 18, 1935, in St. Johns, MI, the daughter of Earl Edward and Beryl Lucretia (Pilmore) Birdsley. Shirley graduated from Rodney B. Wilson High School with the Class of 1953, and later attended Columbus State University, where she served as president of the national Criminal Justice Honor Society and was Criminal Justice Student of the Year. She received her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Criminal Justice. Shirley married Ronald Ervin Leonard in 1955 and Dale Franklin Hall in 1976.

Shirley dedicated much of her professional life to the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer newspapers, where she worked as an executive secretary, becoming a Certified Professional Secretary in 1981. She received the Ledger-Enquirer Chalice Award of Excellence in 1990.

Shirley enjoyed dancing, camping, fishing, and home improvement, renovating her Stark Avenue home in Columbus into apartments in her later years. She also enjoyed investing, photography, and crochet, and was an avid traveler.

Shirley is survived by her daughter Lynda Meyers of Alexandria, Virginia; son Larry Leonard and wife Joanne of Lawrenceville, Georgia; son Lyle Leonard and wife Tanya of Locust Grove, Georgia; and son Loren Leonard of Forest Park, Georgia; and son-in-law Eric Meyers of Palm City, Florida. She also leaves behind seven grandchildren: Xander Leonard, Zelda Leonard, Sarah Leonard, Hannah (Cody) Cornell, Brady Leonard, Alyssa Meyers, and Christine (Shawn) Hofer-Leonard; and four great-grandchildren: Stetson, Theodore, Bennett, and Otto. She was preceded in death by her parents, Earl Edward Birdsley and Beryl Lucretia (Pilmore) Birdsley; her brother "Jack" (Bonna) Birdsley; and her sisters: Jean Vitous, Gayla (Don) Walters, and June (Robert) Young.

Funeral Services to honor Shirley's life will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes - Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, Michigan, at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 20, 2025. Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, December 19, 2025, at the funeral home. Burial will take place at Mt. Rest Cemetery, St. Johns, Michigan.

In lieu of flowers, charitable donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. (https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html). Online condolences may be sent at www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes - Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, Michigan.