Shirley Mae Durham Jones

KERNERSVILLE - On the morning of October 28, 2013, Shirley Mae Durham Jones passed away in High Point, North Carolina while surrounded by adoring family and friends. She was 80 years old. Shirley was born in Wilkes County, in the mountains of North Carolina, on September 9, 1933. She was the second of five children of Conrad Glenn and Nellie Stone Durham. Shirley once said to her grandson, Jeremy Whitley, ""…I love to travel and see all that the Lord has made."" She and her sisters were privileged to travel with their brother, Harold Durham, to England, Greece, and other destinations that only aggrandized her love of this world and the beauty in it. She had a passion for family, fellowship, music, and storytelling. Her jobs varied throughout her life. She was a pre-school teacher for some time and owned '2300 Hosiery Outlet'; however, she would tell anyone that her primary job was being ""Mom"" or ""Memaw."" Shirley was an adept story teller and would share stories of her life as a child to anyone ready to listen. Her children and grandchildren can recall stories of her life as a young girl in the mountains of North Carolina, dancing to gospel bluegrass music and learning to carve her path as a follower of Christ Jesus. Everyone that knew her could predict what would happen as soon as a banjo started to sing. Her eyes would light up, a smile would cross her face, her hands would clap and her feet would stomp. She told stories of listening to her grandmother singing about the gospel while tending to daily activities, and that this was the beginning of her love of music. Shirley enjoyed dancing the ""Flat Foot Susie."" Music was a very important part of her life and fellowship with others that shared her sentiments in Christ. Shirley was a long-time member of Kerwin Baptist Church in Kernersville, North Carolina. She always loved her church family and spending time with her Lord. She had a passion for helping the ladies of the church who had lost their spouses and volunteered many hours to assist them. Any listener could tell that the time she spent with her family was her most prized possession. She spent a great deal of her time raising her children and grandchildren, teaching them to pray for the compassion, strength, wisdom, love, and grace to be the future vessels of His plan. Her Faith, life experience, and her understanding of Christ's message made her a pillar of strength when the earth shook, and an anchor in angry seas. In addition to her parents, Shirley was preceded in death by her sisters, Mary Chambers and Nina Stone. She is survived by her loving husband, Norman Gray Jones. She leaves two sons, James, and his wife Roxie Whitley, and Jerry Dean Whitley. She leaves one sister, Margie Whitley and one brother, Harold Durham. Her legacy is not left there, as she is survived by four grandchildren: Emily Cochran, Betsy Miles, Jeremy Whitley, and Jonathan Whitley. She was blessed to see the budding lives of her great grandchildren: Ethan and William Cochran, Emma and Abbey Miles, and Gianna and Logan Whitley. The family of Shirley Jones gives special thanks to Hospice of the Piedmont for providing end-of-life care that held family values above all, and the Parkinson's Foundation, as a memorial to Shirley and others like her. The family will receive friends from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 29, at Kerwin Baptist Church in Kernersville, NC. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at the church with Rev. Daniel Hawtree, Rev. Joe Myers and Rev. Mitchell Miles officiating. Burial will follow at Eastlawn Gardens of Memory. Hayworth-Miller Kernersville Chapel is assisting the family. Memorials may be made to Kerwin Baptist Church - Mission Fund, 4520 Old Hollow Road, Kernersville, NC 27284 or Hospice of the Piedmont, 1801 Westchester Drive, High Point, NC, 27262.

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