Rita Shirley

Rita Ann Shirley, age 79, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on Tuesday, April 26,2022. She was born and raised in the Good Hope Community. She moved to Fort Walton Beach, Florida in 1961 with her husband and children before returning to the Good Hope Community in 2003.

Please join us on Saturday, April 30, 2022, from 1:00pm– 1:45pm for visitation at Southside Baptist Church to be followed immediately by a funeral service starting at 2:00 p.m. Burial services will be private.

Rita served the Lord locally and throughout the world as a missionary. She was a part of the Alabama and Florida Baptist Disaster Relief where she used her expertise as a cook to feed those in need. Rita was a Sunday School teacher, a Vacation Bible School teacher, and a member of the Women’s Mission Union. Her talents also included sewing and were utilized to make outfits for children in need around the world. She enjoyed working with Samaritan’s Purse on Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. Her mission work took her throughout the U.S. as well as Spain, Indonesia, India, Poland, Brazil, and the Bahamas.

Rita loved her family and was happiest when they were all on the farm. She is survived by her husband, Bill; daughter, Cindy Pinard (Bob); son, Jim Shirley (Jennifer); granddaughters, Amanda Beshears (Josh), Lindsey Cherry (Robert), Lauren Shirley; grandson, David Shirley, and great granddaughter, Gwyn Beshears.

Rita was preceded in death by her parents, Rudolph and Sallie Hester, and her in-laws, Sanders and Mary Edna Shirley.

We would like to thank the Good Hope Community, Southside Baptist Church, and her many friends for their love and support during this time. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Samaritan’s Purse.