Shirley Ann Babbitt

Shirley Ann Babbitt, 85, of Dyersburg, passed away Sunday, September 14, 2025 at her home.

She was born November 11, 1939 to the late William Erby Garrett and Eliza Jane Garrett. She worked in the cotton carding room for Dyersburg Fabrics for over 30 years. She and her husband were long-time members of Hillcrest Baptist Church. They also are remembered for their participation in the Forked Deer Antique Auto Club shows, where she wore her signature poodle-skirt while showing their 1957 Chevrolet. They were both active amateur radio operators with her call-sign of W4FNN. Shirley is fondly known to many as "Granny" for her loving participation in family and local activities including school band boosters, Cub Scout and Girl Scout leadership and the Dyersburg Fabrics bowling teams. In her free time, she enjoyed sewing, thrift-shopping and even motorcycle riding in her younger years.

Shirley is survived by her daughters, Yvonne Gray and Debbie Hayes (Lonnie) both of Dyersburg, Jo Ann Friend (Stephen Reynolds) of Frog Jump, TN. and Sheila Meeks (Don Crowder) of Humboldt, TN; a son, Brad Babbitt (Courtney) of Dyersburg; a sister, Francis Doss of Dyersburg; two sisters-in-law, Ethel "Babs" Babyak of Marco Island, FL and Danielle Babbitt of Slidell, LA; ten grandchildren; and a host of great and great-great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her husband, John R. Babbitt, Sr; a son, John R. Babbitt, Jr; a brother, James Garrett; two sons-in-law, Jimmy C. Gray and Gary Meeks; and two great-grandchildren, Gavin and Cotton Gray.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, September 21, 2025 from 5-8 p.m. at Dyersburg Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held in the funeral home chapel on Monday, September 22, 2025 at 1 p.m. Interment will follow in Fairview Cemetery in Dyersburg.

Serving as pallbearers will be Jesse Gray, Joseph Melton, Terry Friend, Shane Gray, Will Meeks, Gerald Edgell, Jacob Tribble and Rob McDonald. Honorary pallbearers will be Jacob Tribble, Stephen Hester, Emmett Friend, Ryder Williams, Kamden Gray and Kaleb Gray.

The family ask that memorials be directed to the work of LeBonheur Children's Hospital in lieu of flowers.

To send a flower arrangement in memory of Shirley Ann Babbitt, please click here to visit our sympathy store.