Shirley Ray McConnell

Shirley McConnell

1939 - 2020

Shirley Ray McConnell, 81, of Greenup KY peacefully passed away while surrounded by family, Saturday, December 19, 2020 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Huntington WV. She was born in Greenup KY, January 13, 1939 to the late Raymond and Hazel Greene Jackson. Shirley was a student for 3 years at Booker T. Washington School in Ashland before the de-segregation of Greenup High School.  She was the first black graduate from Greenup High School, and also the first black to take piano lessons from Louise Doran in Greenup.  She went on to attend Portsmouth Business College, graduating with a 2-year degree.

Shirley was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She attended the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Greenup where she was a spiritual rock in her congregation. It brought her great joy to teach others about the Bible.

Shirley loved going on family cruises and traveling abroad, visiting destinations such as: Australia, Chile, Germany, Hungary, England and New Zealand. She enjoyed tending to her flowers, cooking for her family, shopping, and wearing her many many pairs of Birkenstocks.

She was preceded in death along with her parents by her husband of 52 years, Carl McConnell in 2009, her eldest son, Raymond Edward McConnell in 2016, and her sister Mildred June Carter in 2019.

She is survived by one son, Kyle Gregory McConnell of Ashland; seven daughters, Carla Elizabeth Maye of Greenup, Kristy Anne McConnell of Greenup, Deborah Lynn Childress of St. Cloud FL, Alesia Gaye Carter and her husband Brian of Greenville SC, Rebekah Michelle Wallace of Worthington, Emily Jaclyn Montgomery (John) of Greenville SC, Amanda Carin McConnell of Flatwoods; a sister, Jennie Ann Murphy of Springfield OH; 20 grandchildren, including Alexis Scott, whom she helped raise; 22 great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, friends, and her beloved dog, Queen.

A memorial service for Shirley will be via a zoom online presentation by minister Matthew Fitch at 3:00 PM on Saturday, January 9, 2021. The Meeting ID is 811 3938 2853 and the password is 258447. A showing of a memorial slideshow will start and precede the services at 2:30 PM under the same login.
 

Thank you all for the support, prayers, and kind words during this difficult time.

Wright’s Funeral Home in Greenup KY has been entrusted with the arrangements.   

Online condolences may be made at www.wrightsfuneralhome.com.

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