Linda Shirley

Linda Paulette Shirley died peacefully Thursday, July 11, 2013, surrounded by her immediate family at her home in LaGrange, Ga., At 64 years old, she lived a blessed and unexpectedly productive life, all the while proudly carrying her Down syndrome banner. A native of Spartanburg, S.C., and former resident of West Point, Ga., and Morgan City, La., she was gainfully employed in the newspaper offices at West Point, Ga./Lanett, Ala., and Morgan City, La., where she opened mail, swept floors, filled soft drink machines, inserted printed and preprinted sections of the newspaper and harassed sports editors for information on one of the loves of her life -- the New Orleans Saints. Linda is survived by her caregivers, Jean Callaway Shirley and Steve Shirley (brother) of LaGrange, Ga., a brother and sister-in-law, Andy and Erin Shirley of Morgan City, La., and a sister and brother-in-law, Becky Shirley Hymel and Kevin Hymel of Asheville, N.C.; nieces and nephews, Dusty and Charlie Shirley of Douglasville and LaGrange, Ga., respectively, Jonathan Shirley of Harvey, La., Christopher Shirley and Allison Shirley of Morgan City, La., and Ashley Hymel Hudson and Jon Eric Hymel of Raleigh, N.C. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Doyle E. "Red" and Lucy Shirley; maternal grandparents Clarence and Gertrude Lowry; and paternal grandparents Jones and Nettie Shirley. The family will greet friends on Friday, July 12, 2013, at McCarthy Funeral Home in West Point, Ga., from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Visitation will be 2:00-4:00 p.m. Sunday, July 14, at Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel, 2075 East Main Street, Spartanburg, S.C. Funeral services will follow at 4 p.m. at the chapel. The Rev. Ken Crabb and The Rev. Brandon Hudson will officiate the services. Burial will be in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, where she will be laid to rest alongside of her mother and father. Services have been entrusted to McCarthy Funeral Home in West Point, Ga., and The J. F. Floyd Mortuary in Spartanburg, S.C. An online guest register is also available at http://www.Mccarthyfuneralhomeinc.com McCarthy Funeral Home & Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Linda Paulette Shirley please visit our Sympathy Store.