Shirley Lee (Mauney) Benfield born to Richard Lee Mauney and Doris Dellinger Wickham on February 4, 1939. She left a legacy of love as she went home to be with her Lord Jesus Christ on December 3, 2023.

She left this world surrounded by the love she birthed and nurtured all of her days….laying peacefully under a family-made quilt with a square from each child, grandchild and great-grandchild and with each of her two daughters holding her hands.

Shirley was a proud member of Drowning Creek Baptist Church in Hickory, NC where she enjoyed worshipping with her friends and Pastor Billy Miller and painted murals on the walls for the children to enjoy.

Shirley retired from Mitchell, Blackwell & Mitchell Attorneys at Law in Valdese after over a decade of impeccable and dependable work, incredibly fast typing (over 100 words per minute) and daily egg salad sandwiches at the Rock Drug store. She had moved to Connelly Springs after a 17-year career in administration at Cyanamid in Charlotte, NC after putting herself through business administration courses as a single mother of two.

Shirley will be remembered for her amazing arts and craft talents, her thoughtfulness and generosity, her both sweet and sly sense of humor, her strong and unapologetic sense of self and her life-long embrace of childlike wonder.

Shirley was an amazing artist: she painted, wrote and published poetry, crocheted hats and doll clothes, made entire villages of miniature doll houses and furniture, built string art, designed and refurbished baby dolls and even carved ice sculptures! There was nothing she couldn’t make.

Many of her creations ended up lining the toy bins, wardrobes and walls of her family, friends, and neighbors. She saved special mementos and commemorated special memories for her loved ones with one of her creations, poems, or heartfelt notes. She was everyone’s ‘cheerleader’ and had a great sense of humor, laughing easily at herself and whatever mischief she could uncover amongst the family. If you were lucky enough to be one of the people that Shirley held dear, then you always felt loved and special, believing with her encouragement that anything was possible, and you will cherish your interactions with this wonderful woman for the rest of your life.

Granny Shirley did no apologizing for who she was or compromising on what she liked. She refused to give up her favorite foods or cutting a rug on the dance floor long after her doctors suggested she do so and despite what was printed on the menu. She also refused to give up the joys of childhood, surrounding herself with baby dolls and coloring books through her 84th year. She sure did love the smell of a fresh box of crayons!

Shirley was a beloved Mother to Cindy Stovall and Tammy Russell and Granny to Amanda and Arthur Allen, Dawn and Sumeet Gajri and Ashlee and Matt Lonon. She was a cherished great-grandmother to Xander and Milly Allen, Maya, JJ, Kaira and Chadwick Gajri and Mathias, Memphis, and Ireland Lonon. She was sister to Delores Miller, Beverly Mauney, Ricky Mauney and Lynn Huffstetler.

The family she loved fiercely survives her in a state of bittersweet grief. They mourn her physical presence, one that made each and every one of them feel loved unconditionally every single day, but they “celebrate her home” like the Perry’s song she loved describes. Phillipians 1:23 states “I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.” While they miss her hugs and her antics, they know their Granny is in a better place.

Shirley was a beacon of love that will shine eternally to light our pathway home.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate in Shirley’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org/donate.