Shirley Josephine Gillispie Giles, 91, of Emmons Road, Alum Creek, WV, left from her home on a journey to be in the presence of her Jesus…Her Lord and Savior, Wednesday, April 15, 2020.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Pastor Fred Almon Giles, Sr., and her parents, Oscar Lee & Mollie Florence Barker Gillispie, and an infant sister.
Shirley lived her entire life on earth in Emmons, and within a stones-throw of where she grew-up. In 1952 Fred Almon built a new house just across the railroad tracks from her parents’ house, and on banks of The Big Coal River where she resided until her graduation day from planet earth.
In the 1920’s thru 1952 her dad, Oscar Gillispie, owned and operated a country story that provided groceries for families living in Emmons including the areas of Bull Creek, Dartmont, Ashford, Sproul, Fork Creek, and Olcott. As a teenage girl at the young age of 15-17, she would often deliver these groceries for her dad to these families using his Chevrolet stake and platform dual-wheel truck. She did not even have a driver’s license. She would have to cross or ford the river at Emmons to get to Fork Creek, and up many hollows on muddy roads to deliver these groceries. Following her dad’s death, she continued to operate this store for a few years so that families would have a local source of groceries.
She was an avid and efficient farmer, often producing food such as potatoes, corn, cucumbers, tomatoes, and sometimes watermelons too, with her specialty being half-runner green beans for family use, and for friends, and even selling produce from her garden especially the green beans. She also raised pigs for the family. She inherited this interest from her grand-father, Willie Gillispie, who in the late 1890’s thru mid-1950’s, was well-known to be the source of young pigs for families living in the Emmons area who desired to raise them as a source for family food.
Shirley and two very close friends, Delores Meikles Hill, and Anna-Lee Stewart, started their college education at West Virginia State College to earn a degree in elementary education. Her first semester was January 1961 completing five straight semesters with no breaks including the summer. She then began her teaching career while attending school in the evenings, and during the summers; she still graduated in only three years in 1964…Remarkable and Impressive! All of this was accomplished with five children at home, while also planting, caring, and harvesting a family garden, and being very active in the church.
She started her elementary teaching career primarily focusing on 2d graders at Olcott, then Broundland, Hernshaw, and retiring after 18 years at Alum Creek. The young kids who lived and attended school in these areas where she taught, benefited greatly from her educational skills, compassion, and persistence in assisting them to learn. She wanted these kids to grow physically, and mentally, and for them to know who Jesus is. She even paddled her students for misconduct. During past several years her students have told her family that she was the best teacher for them, and she even paddled me when we were “bad”, and we deserved it. She cared! She loved her students.
She was also an honorable and supportive pastor’s wife. Possibly, the ideal pastor’s wife. Looking back now the family can see very clearly her commitment to dad’s calling as a pastor, and to the churches where he was led to serve. All of us were in church every Sunday morning, Sunday evening, Wednesday evening, and Saturday night. She was an outstanding example of how to multi-task, and a commitment to getting things completed, and on time. She had an abundance of energy, was self-motivated, unselfish of her time with, and for others, and using her talents to benefit all of us, and to dad, and to the church. At various times she served as a pianist, church treasurer, clerk, secretary, ladies auxiliary leader, and teacher. Mom was a prayer warrior too. Likely no one with whom she knew during her life on this earth at these various churches dad served as pastor, and in the community where she lived, ever escaped from being on her prayer list for something going on in their life. She was consistent and persistent.
Shirley is survived by her 5 children: Fred, Jr. (Linda) Giles of Charleston, Sharon (Scooter) Withrow of Tulsa, OK, Trena (Fred) Fannin of Columbus, OH, Mike (Kathy) Giles of Beaver, WV, Greg (Dawn) Giles of Calabash, NC; and, 16 grandchildren: Paula Giles Dickson (Barry), Jason Giles (Ashley), Pat Withrow (Kim), Michelle Pino (Luis), Michael Withrow (Chrissy), Jamie Wilson (Steve), Jennifer Williams (Heath), Becky Light (Josh), Mary Bell (Zachary), Merilee Reagan (Stephen), Mollie (Cam) Spain, Brian (Sarah) Giles, Ben (Tawny) Giles, Mark (Tracy) Giles, Jeremy Beasley (Megan), and Daniel (Jennifer) Beasley.
Shirley is also survived by her 35 great-grand-children: Brody, Braydon, Pailyn, Ariana, Alyssa, Cooper, Madeline, Charlie, Reagan, Ryan, Tyler, Avery, Ava, Evan, Leah, Michalyn, Meleah, Mady, Molly, Nic, Emily, Jack, Hannah, Lauren, Ella, Haylee, Morgan, Carter, Gavin, Whitney, Charlotte, Dylan, Brayden, Beckham, and Ellisyn.
A private family service will be held Sunday, April 19, 2020, at Curry Funeral Home in Alum Creek, with her final resting place being Graceland Memorial Park, South Charleston, WV. Her family will be officiating her Celebration-of Life with music, and sharing stories of Mom, Maw Maw, GrandMa, and Grammy!
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the church of your choice In Honor of Shirley Giles.
I loved your mom,dad I was Marvin D Gillipie parter Laurie Pauley 15 yr he rip5 they come hospital all time to see him. But when we lived at emmons up dirt road at the park yellow house jr Holstein mom, dad house that women could cook ,can, make my family dinner on sunday.i learned a lot on this to day Marvin loved both he would talk so highly of them.she got her wings both did God bless your family
I taught with Shirley at Alum Creek Elementary for several years. She was an absolute delight ! Her sense of humor and love for the children under her care was very evident. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Sending our deepest sympathy during this time of your mom’s departure.
We have many precious memories of sister Shirley, worshipping our Lord together in church,
meeting her in Taco Bell, however one that is most precious is when I was in the hospital she
and your dad visited me, wearing their “matching sweaters”. Before your dad prayed for me,
they sang a verse of Amazing Grace.
Prayers, David and Margie Cooper
The West Virginia and Kanawha County Associations of Retired School Employees extend their sincere sympathy to you, the family, in your sorrow. Blessings to all.
we’ll really miss Shirley, she and Almon were our best neighbors for 30+ years, she knitted me (and everyone else) so many pot holders,caps, bag holders and even a little Christmas tree that will always make me think of her, and all the fried apple pies she would bring to Pete, he loved them!! God bless you Shirley…
Sending love and prayers to the entire Giles family. Even though we now live in Kentucky, we still consider WV home. Just know you will see her again. Wish we could be there to grieve with you all.
Deepest sympathy, she was a great woman. I saw her often about the area.
I am sorry to learn of Shirley’s passing. She was great person and will be missed by many!
So sorry for your loss, Mrs. Giles was my second grade teacher at Alum Creek Elementary (50 years ago). She was one of a kind and a remarkable woman. I’m sure she has earned her wings.
She truly will be missed
I’m so sorry for your loss. She was my first teacher (1st grade) at Olcott Elementary. What a wonderful woman God allowed me to have in my life.
Sorry for your loss, a great lady. My grandpa and grandmother lived beside them Clay and Pearl McCallister
I’m so sorry to hear about your loss, Shirley and Mr. Giles were special to my heart. I can remember when Tom Williams passed away and they were at the funeral home and I said he was the one that married me and he said don’t blame that on me. Also Shirley had so many talents.
So sorry for your loss, although she is where she has lived her life to be . She was a very good friend to me and a great inspiration for me. We had some very good times together, and will again soon . Praying for all her family.
Wanda Williams. Proverbs 3:5,6