Mrs. Shirley Jennings
07/05/1936 - 10/22/2023
Mrs. Shirley A. Jennings, a resident of Valley, AL, died Sunday, October 22, 2023 at East Alabama Medical Center, Opelika, AL.
Funeral Services are scheduled for Monday, October 30, 2023 at 11:00 A.M. (EST) from Rehoboth Baptist Church, 206 Huguley Road, Valley, AL, Rev. Karanja Story, Pastor, Rev. Robert Jones, Eulogist.
Interment will follow in the churchyard cemetery. Davis Memorial Mortuary of Valley directing.
Public Viewing is scheduled for Sunday, October 29, 2023 from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Davis Memorial Mortuary Chapel.
Shirley’s Entrance
Chambers County, Alabama was blessed with the sweet, spunky, sassy, yet classy, Shirley Ann Jennings on the awesome day of July 5, 1936. Her parents, Bennie Wallace and Elizabeth Morgan Wallace, raised her to be affectionate, giving, strong-willed, and God-fearing. Shirley spent her childhood in Fairfax, Alabama. As a child, she enjoyed playing with her siblings. At a young age, she accepted Christ as her Savior and joined Rehoboth Missionary Baptist Church.
Shirley Builds A Family
In her young adult years, Shirley met and married Homer Jennings Sr. Shirley bragged to friends and family about her love with Homer and the enjoyment she got from traveling with him on work trips. Shirley lovingly mothered seven children. She expressed to her children the importance of faith, love, and togetherness. As years passed, Shirley affectionately became known as Granby to her 17 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild and one on the way. Although the number of family members kept expanding, Shirley made it her personal duty to send love, birthday greetings, and money for the birthday of each grandchild, great-grandchild, and great-great-grandchild. Not only did she love her biological children, but Shirley also “adopted” many nieces and nephews as her children. She also included several fur babies in her family. Shirley’s love for family was a love much like that mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13. Her love for her family was patient, kind, preserving, hopeful and never failing.
Shirley Shares Her Gift with the World
Shirley blessed the world in more ways than just by being a mother and wife. She also used the knowledge she obtained from Lanier High School and Auburn University Montgomery to mold and sculpt little brains at Rehoboth Head Start, Cusseta Head Start, and Bowen East Head Start.
She loved and nurtured youth as the Boy Scout Den Mother of the Cub Scouts and was a Sunbeam Director in the church. As a missionary, she hosted the Lucy Bedell Circle at her home and then continued being involved when meetings were moved to the church. Shirley was also an active member of the Women’s Ministry. She truly had a passion for educating youth. Even after she retired, Shirley passed her passion for education down to her children and grandchildren by encouraging and inspiring them to become phenomenal educators.
Shirley’s Transition
On October 22, 2023 at East Alabama Medical Center, God called Shirley home. Our world may seem a little darker and colder with the transition of our Moma and Granby. However, we should rejoice because the light of her life has truly warmed the hearts of many.
She was preceded in death by her father, Bennie Wallace; mother, Elizabeth Morgan Wallace; her loving husband, Homer Lee Jennings, Sr; brother, Lonto Wallace; and her very best friend in the world, Addilaye Florence.
Wonderful memories of her will be cherished by her children: Deborah Woody, Donald W. Jennings, Homer L. Jennings, Jr, and Rennie Sheree Core, all of Valley, AL; Sonya (John) Jennings Lacy, Snellville, GA; Orlando Dewayne Jennings and LaWanda Jennings Middleton, both of Valley, AL; her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren; two half-sisters: Dorothy A. Dickens, Cleveland Heights, OH, and Ruthie M. Pickett, Philadelphia, PA; a special friend, who always visited, celebrated holidays and encouraged her, Ruth Johnson, Valley, AL; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
“We Love You More Than Yesterday,
But Not As Much As We Will Tomorrow”
Funeral Services by Davis Memorial Mortuary of Valley.
Public Viewing
Davis Memorial Mortuary
305 W. F. Burns Drive
Valley Alabama, AL 36854
Funeral Service
Rehobeth Baptist Church
200-210 Huguley Rd
Valley, AL 36854