Mrs. Shirley Stone Harris passed away at Beacon Place, AuthoraCare Collective, in Greensboro NC, on October 1, 2023. She moved to Greensboro from Atlantic Beach, NC, in 2019 and lived in independent living at Abbotswood for almost five years.
Shirley was born in Rocky Mount, NC, to Elmo and Elaine Stone, on June 17, 1935. After growing up in Rocky Mount, she met the love of her life, George Harris, and they married in 1957 after she attended Peace College. Their love story took them to various towns in eastern NC, and they landed in Snow Hill in 1964, where they lived for 20 years. There, Shirley enjoyed supervising the building of their family home and raising their three children. Volunteering with the Garden Club and Beautification Committee were among her pastimes. Shirley and George attended Calvary Memorial United Methodist Church, where she also served as church secretary. For several years, Shirley also worked as a reading lab assistant at Snow Hill Primary.
In 1984, Shirley and George returned to their hometown of Rocky Mount, and Shirley worked for the Edwards Jr. High Band and Rocky Mount Sr. High Band. After years of devoted service, she retired in 1997. Atlantic Beach was one of their favorite vacation spots, and Shirley and George spent as much time there as possible throughout their lives. They retired to their cottage at Atlantic Beach in 1998. While residing on the coast full time, Shirley enjoyed volunteering at the NC Aquarium and at Ann Street Methodist Church in Beaufort. Together, Shirley and George reconnected with many old Rocky Mount friends by helping organize a Beach Bums group several times a year in Morehead City.
Their seven grandchildren became another "hobby" as Nana and Big George loved to visit and host the grandchildren at their cottage, where some of the fondest memories were made for the entire family, especially the Fourth of July gatherings.
In addition to her parents, Shirley was preceded in death by her husband George Mitchell Harris Jr. in 2005, and her sister Joyce Mullineaux of Morehead City, NC. Shirley is survived by her children: Leigh Pridgen (Jeff) of Nashville, TN; Kim Cain (Lance) of Greenville, NC; George Harris (Terri) of Greensboro, NC; and grandchildren: Courtney Pridgen of Nashville, TN; Samuel Pridgen (Ashton) of Nashville, TN; Matt Cain (Audrea) of Santa Fe, NM; Andrew Cain (Melissa) of Wilmington, NC; Katherine Cain of
Austin, TX; Mitchell Harris of Greensboro, NC; and Spencer Harris of Raleigh, NC. Shirley also had six great grandchildren: Hadley Larkin, Whit, Collins, and Shepherd Cain, Everleigh Harris, and Nolan Cain, and two more are on the way.
More blessings in Shirley's life were her caregivers who became family to Shirley and her family. She was a gracious and kind patient and always kept her sense of humor.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, November 25, 2023, at New Garden Friends Meeting, 801 New Garden Road, Greensboro NC 27410. The family will receive friends immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations are welcomed to: AuthoraCare Collective/Greensboro Office, 2500 Summit Ave., Greensboro, NC 27405; NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, 1 Roosevelt Blvd., Pine Knoll Shores, NC 28512; or Calvary Memorial United Methodist Church, 107 Greene St., Snow Hill, NC 28580.