James Shirley Sr.
Posted: April 23, 2009
WEST POINT — James Arthur “Jim” Shirley, 70, died April 22, 2009, at his residence. Services are Saturday at 10 a.m. at First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Don Bishop officiating. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in West Point. Visitation is Friday from 5-8 p.m. at Calvert Funeral Home in West Point, and the body will be at the church one hour prior to services on Saturday. Mr. Shirley was born July 10, 1938, in West Point to the late Agnes Shepherd and William Travis Shirley. He graduated from West Point High School and received a Bachelor of Science degree from Mississippi State University, where he was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. He attended Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Fla., and received a commission in the U.S. Navy. He was a naval aviator who served for six years on active duty and 20 years in the Naval Reserve, retiring with the rank of Lt. Commander. He served as director of industrial development for Delta Council in Stoneville. He received a Master of Business Administration degree from Delta State University in 1975. He was an educator who taught math in the Lowndes County and West Point public school systems. He was a member of First United Methodist Church and previously served on the administrative board and was a Sunday school teacher. He is survived by his wife, Julia Campbell Shirley; son, Art Shirley of West Point; daughters, Susan Shirley Valentine of Nashville, Tenn., and Beth Shirley Stone of Tupelo; brothers, Milford Shirley of Pensacola, Fla., and Robert Shirley of Madison; sister, Betty Shirley Riser of Jackson, Mo.; and eight grandchildren Pallbearers will be Bob Wyman, Eugene Bailey, Doug and Jimmy Wood, Will Shirley and Carr Valentine. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 200 E. Broad St., West Point, MS 39773.