James Raiford Shirley

GORDO - James Raiford Shirley, age 82, of Gordo, Ala., passed away February 27, 2020 at his residence. Funeral services will be 3:00 p.m. Sunday, March 1, 2020, at Skelton Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Alfred Banks officiating. Burial will follow in Sand Springs Methodist Church Cemetery with Skelton Funeral Home of Reform directing. Visitation will be one hour prior and immediately following the service at the funeral home.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Doris Nell Elmore Shirley; his parents; sisters, Katie Banks (Lewis), Louise Koon, Betty Gray (Elliott), Christine Smith (Clifford) and Magaline Connell (James); brothers, Thomas Shirley, Robert Lee Shirley and Wilford Shirley (Joan) and brothers-in-law, Dawson Elmore, Ralph Elmore, Price Elmore, James Holliman and Rolf Gregory.
Survivors include his daughter, Sheila Shirley Wood (Larry); son, Randall Shirley (Ronda); sisters, Diane Criswell and Geraldine Lowe (Harold); brothers, Joe Shirley (Gail) and Davis Shirley (Linda); six grandchildren, Jennifer Elmore (Luke), Kristen Posey (Stephen), Kaley Grocholski (Seth), Brendan Wood (Kacie), Deanna Wood and Jordan Shaw (Corey); ten great-grandchildren, Emily Grimes, Gracie Elmore, Ryder Elmore, Kaden Posey, Kolten Posey, Kinley Grocholski, Peyton Grocholski, Hunter Wood, Daniel Trawick and Jacob Trawick; and sisters-in-law, Elsie Holliman, Mary Gwin (Bob), Loretta Gregory, Catherine Shirley, June Elmore and Tootsie Ayers.
Mr. Shirley was born June 16, 1937 in Gordo, Alabama to the late Lee Paris Shirley and Wilma Janet Elmore Shirley. He was a member of the Methodist faith, a retired employee of Omnova Solutions in Columbus, Miss. and a lifelong resident of Pickens County.
Pallbearers will be Brendan, Luke, Stephen, Seth, Corey, Daniel, Hunter, Jacob, Ryder, Kaden and Kolten.
Honorary pallbearers are Doctors, Hill, Tactuk, David, Azam, Tucker, Anguiano and Poore, Lisa Pate and all the other nurses that helped care for our Father and staff of Encompass Home Health.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Sand Springs United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Cathy Hudson, Treasurer, 1017 4th Street NE, Gordo, AL 35466 or the American Cancer Society, Mid-South Division, 1100 Ireland Way, Suite 300, Birmingham, AL 35205.