John D. Shirley

Mr. John D. Shirley, 91, of Altamonte Springs, FL, and formerly of Dyersburg, TN, passed away on December 21, 2010, in ORMC of complications from an auto accident. A memorial service will be held at the Palm Springs Drive Church of Christ (where he capped half-a-century of Bible teaching) on Tuesday, Dec. 28 at 7:30pm. Visitation will be at 7. A graveside service will be held at the Granville Cemetery in Granville, TN, on Thursday, December 30, at 2 P.M. He was born in Granville, TN, and was the son of the late Berry P. and Mary Flossie Shirley. He lettered in basketball, baseball, and track at David Lipscomb, attended Pepperdine University and graduated from UT-Knoxville with a B.S. in Business Administration, which began a 70-year Volunteer obsession, in ALL of their athletic incarnations. He served in Italy during WWII as a U.S. Army Quartermaster. He was employed by Dyersburg Fabrics from 1948 until he retired in 1976 as Vice President and Director. During his Dyersburg years, Mr. Shirley was also a sports journalist, a residential and commercial real-estate developer, and a breeder of Angus cattle. A perpetual coach/mentor to young people, he helped organize Dixie Youth League baseball (grade school), the Babe Ruth League (junior high), and the Connie Mack League (high school). For a decade, he served on the Florida College board of directors. A lifelong stamp collector, Mr. Shirley was a past Director (2005-2006) and past President (2006-2007) of the Central Florida Stamp Club, from which he received an Honorary Lifetime Membership. He is survived by two brothers, Paul K. and Berry N. Shirley, and one son, John Shirley, Jr. In lieu of flowers, Mr. Shirley requested donations be made to the Florida College Adopt-A-Student program. Funeral Home Anderson Upper Cumberland Funeral Home, Inc. 2131 S. Grundy Quarles Hwy. P.O. Box 398 Gainesboro TN - 38562 US 931-268-1550 931-268-1552