Shirley Temple Griffin, 89, of Ellisville, Mississippi, passed away Wednesday, December 11, at her

residence attended by her daughter and her wonderful caregivers.

Shirley was born in Laurel, MS, on February 23, 1935. She attended George S. Gardner High School.

After graduation, Shirley was a nursing student at South Mississippi Charity Hospital. She lived in a dorm

at the hospital while she was in school and working at the hospital. There she met the love of her life,

James C. Griffin, Jr., a handsome slightly older Medical Technologist. Jim and Shirley secretly married so

that she would be allowed to remain in nursing school. Their secret was discovered, and Shirley was

dismissed from school! She persevered and eventually returned and graduated. After graduation, she was a public health nurse until 1969 when she became a nursing instructor at Jones County Jr. College.

During the time she worked at JC, Shirley continued her nursing education at USM where she attained a

BSN in 1973. Always striving for more knowledge, Shirley attained her MSN with an emphasis in

maternal/infant from the University of Mississippi Medical Center. She loved nursing, and she loved

teaching nursing. Shirley was the Director of the RN Program at JCJC from the 1973 until her retirement

in 1993. Our darling Mommy was a member of various clubs and societies through which she made many friends. She was the Vice President of the Mississippi Nurses Association in the '70's.

Shirley was the mother of David, Julie, and Marty. She was a loving, kind, fun, and funny mother. She was

the cherished grandmother of Emily, Melissa, and Ethan Laird and Lauren Griffin. She was the beloved

great-grandmother of Ainsley, Finley, Eloise, and Amelia Maeve Sutherland, as well as Griffin Hynum.

She was also eagerly awaiting the arrival of great-grandchildren Eleanor Clayton and baby girl Hynum.

Shirley was preceded in death by the man who swept her off her feet and out of nursing school (for a

short time), Jim Griffin. She is survived by her son David Griffin, her daughter Julie and son-in-law Randy

Laird, her son Marty Griffin and daughter-in-law Angie.

Shirley's siblings Dorothy Johnson, H. B. Temple, and Bobby Temple preceded her in death, as did her

parents, Nonnie Holloway Temple and Hardy Benjamin Temple. She is survived by her siblings Jimmy

Temple and Louise Hill.

Shirley was an active member of First Baptist Church of Ellisville for 60 years. She loved her church and

her many friends, and she appreciated how caring her church was to her when she became unable to

attend regularly.

Our mother was so very grateful to the following ladies that she and we believe were sent by God to help her: Irene Nobles, Tiffany Dobbins, Deborah Richardson, Lakesha Blair, and Cynthia McGee. These

women took care of and loved our mother as though she were theirs. Mommy's avocation was nursing,

and nursing came to her in her home for the past 2 1/2 years in the form of these angels. Thank you,

ladies, you are much loved and appreciated.

The pallbearers will be Ethan Laird, Richard Clayton, Mike Sutherland, Seborn Hynum, Johnny Hill, and

Todd Temple.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, December 14, 2024 from 3:00PM until 3:30PM at First Baptist Church of Ellisville in 302 E Holly St, Ellisville, MS. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 14, 2024 at 3:30PM at First Baptist Church of Ellisville in Ellisville, MS. Burial will follow in Ellisville City Cemetery in Ellisville, Mississippi. Bro. Robert Fennel will officiate. Ellisville Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. 601-477-3797.

An online guestbook may be signed at www.ellisvillefuneralhome.com