Shirley M. Howard

Shirley M. Howard

Shirley Mae Thompson Howard, 72, of Sheffield, Alabama, born Oct. 12, 1942, departed her life on Dec. 12, 2014, at Helen Keller Hospital, Sheffield, Alabama.

The celebration of life will be held on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2014, at Smithsonia Church of Christ, Florence, Alabama at 11 a.m. Mrs. Howard will be placed in the church one hour before the service. Burial will follow in Smithsonia Church Cemetery, Florence, Alabama. Her viewing will be held today at Thompson and Son Funeral Home, Florence, Alabama, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

She is survived by her husbands of 51 years, Samuel A, Howard; one devoted, special daughter, Sherry (Ed) Key Jr., of Birmingham metro area; stepdaughters, Loretta (Wiley) Dean and Debra (Ron) Johnson; stepson, Jim Howard, Texas, Sam Howard, and David (Shelia) Howard, all of Jena, Lousiana; granddaughter, Aleisha J. Key; grandsons, Marcus D. Key and Jerrell Key, all of the Birmingham metro area; three sisters, Martha (Hoke) Hampton, of Florence, Alma Embry, and Doris Cloud of Lima, Ohio; four brothers, Earley (Sazzie) Thompson, Jack (Lucille) Thompson, Lee A. "Toe Bo" (Willa Sue) Thompson, and Hugh L. Thompson, all of Florence, Alabama; and one aunt, Lucy Iron, of Florence, Alabama; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends.

Thompson and Son Funeral Home, Florence, is directing.