Shirley Alexander White

1928 - 2022

Shirley Alexander White
December 3, 1928 - June 21, 2022
Madison, Mississippi - Shirley Alexander White, 93, passed away Tuesday, June 21 at her daughter's home in Madison. A loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend, Shirley will be remembered for her beauty, zest for life, great sense of style and love of family, friends and faith.
Born on December 3, 1928 in Union, Shirley had a lifetime of accomplishments beginning in high school where she was a cheerleader and Miss Union High School. She attended Millsaps College where she pledged Kappa Delta Sorority and the University of Southern Mississippi where she was named a Favorite and a Beauty.
Shirley was president of Gulfport Junior Auxiliary, the Mississippi Homebuilder's Auxiliary and Merry Maskers, for whom she also reigned as Mardi Gras Queen. She served on the Biloxi-Gulfport Regional Airport Commission, Citizens' Advisory Committee and on the Building Committee for First Baptist Church of Gulfport where she was an active member for over 50 years. Shirley was blessed with a large circle of dear friends, especially her fellow "Destin Darlings" who vacationed together for twenty years. She also enjoyed reading, traveling and being known as a fashion and shopping superstar.
In addition to her beloved husband, Liddell, Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Clara Gaines Alexander and John Franklin Alexander, Jr. and her brother, John F. Alexander III.
Shirley is survived by her sister, Martha Ball (George); three daughters, Shannon Cavanaugh (Michael), Nancy Perkins (James), and Leslie Parsons (Ted); four grandchildren, Ashley Fava (Trey), Matthew Coker (Stephanie), Anna Culpepper (Charlie), Stephen Coker; and four great-grandchildren, Brooks, Reed and William Fava, and Owen Culpepper.
A visitation will be held at First Baptist Gulfport on Monday, July 11 at 10:00 am followed by a Celebration of Life Service at 11:00 am. A private burial service will be held at Southern Memorial Park in Biloxi. Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport is honored to serve the White family. More information about Shirley's life at www.bokfh.com.