Shirley Faye Gunter, age 79, passed away Wednesday, January 1, 2020, at St. Dominic Memorial Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi. Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Saturday, January 4, 2020, in the Nowell Massey Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Billy Higginbotham officiating. Visitation will be the day of the service from 12:00 p.m. until service time at Nowell Massey Funeral Home in Louisville, Mississippi. Interment will follow in Sardis Cemetery.
Shirley was born February 17, 1940, to James and Betty Haggard White in Louisville. She was one of the last known living members of Sardis Baptist Church. Shirley retired from Cal-Jac Factory in Macon, Mississippi, where she worked for 40 years. She was an avid reader and gardener; she loved her flowers; and collecting angels and tea pots.
Mrs. Gunter is survived by her husband Sammy Gunter of Lena, Mississippi; and her children: Sandra Ann Stewart and husband Ricky of Hazlehurst, Mississippi; Billy L. Higginbotham and wife Patsy also of Lena; and Larry T. Higginbotham and wife Anita Kay of West Point, Mississippi. One of her greatest joys was being “Granny” to her four grandchildren: Ashley (Sumer) Howard, Summer Burkes, Cindy (Lee) Vreeland, and Natalie Kay Higginbotham; and her nine great-grandchildren: Nicholas Howard, Heaven Howard, Autumn Howard, Ali Montgomery, Dawson Butler, Carson Butler, Stoney Burkes, Hudson Boykin, and Kruz Vreeland. She is also survived by her nieces and nephew Bettye and Charlie Higginbotham; Bobby (Dorothy) White; and Ethel Hunt as well as a host of great-nieces, great-nephews, and friends. Shirley is preceded in death by her parents; and her siblings: J. C. (Christine) White, Gerald White, R. A. (Addie Lee) White, Lamar (Anna Belle) White, and Sylvia White Vowell.
Serving as pallbearers are Dawson Butler, Johnny Hemphill, Ashley Howard, Nicholas Howard, Ricky Stewart, and Lee Vreeland. Honorary pallbearers are Charlie Higginbotham and Bobby White. Memorials in honor of Mrs. Gunter may be given to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Tribute Program, P. O. Box 1000 Department 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142.
Services are under the direction of Nowell Massey Funeral Home, 724 North Columbus Avenue, Louisville, MS. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family by signing the guest register at www.nowellmasseyfuneralhome.com.
