Betsy Ann Shirley

Betsy Ann Shirley was born August 18, 1946 in Talladega, Al to the union of Mr. Willie Bledsoe, Sr. and Mrs. Eula Mae Bledsoe.  Betsy confessed Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age and united with the Mountain Home Missionary Baptist Church. 

She attended R.R. Moton High School in Alabama.  Betsy had three children from a previous marriage.  After relocating to Hamilton, OH, she joined New Hope Baptist Church.  Hamilton is also where she met William “Babe” Shirley and was united in marriage.  To this union, three children were born creating a blended family of six children.  Betsy gave many years of service at Cottingham Retirement Community where she gave “special attention” to all she cared for.  In return, much love was given to her.  The staff hated to see her retire.

Betsy loved her family and extended family which included relatives and friends.  We all loved her homemade skillet cornbread and her special mac and cheese.  She loved “Sunday dinner” and you would find her in the kitchen cooking for an Army.  Betsy was an excellent cook and never turned anyone away. 

Betsy loved sports; basketball, football, tennis and baseball and was knowledgeable about the players, team and stats.  She loved to shop.  Before she became ill, she would be out all-day shopping and then end up at Red Lobster where she loved the cheddar bay biscuits and crab stuff mushrooms.  Later she could be found ordering from HSN, QVC, Amazon and many others with packages arriving daily.

Betsy always supported St. Jude and the United Negro College Fund.  She had a giving heart.  Betsy loved her children and would give her last unselfishly making sure they had what they needed.  While searching through her pictures, we found over 2000 pictures which included family, friends, friends of friends and their families.  But to Betsy, they were all family.

Betsy was preceded in death by her parents, Willie and Eula Mae Bledsoe; her husband, William Shirley; her son, Jeffrey Glenn; her daughter, Jonita Shirley; her grandson, Jeffaun Price and her brother, Willie Bledsoe, Jr.

She is leaving with treasured memories her daughters, Karen (Michael) Gassett and April Shirley both of Cincinnati, OH; her sons, Christopher (Raenell) Glenn of Bellville, MI and William (Billy) Shirley of Fairfield, OH; two sisters, Barbara (Greg) Wilson of Sylacauga, AL and Emma Jean Calhoun of Akron, OH; one brother, Roy Bledsoe of Oxford, OH; 14 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren and a special sister-in-law, Gloria Glenn along with a number of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.