Ms. Shirley Ann Blount

     Ms. Shirley Ann Blount, daughter of the late Horace Blount, Sr. and the late Nellie Blount, was
born on December 29, 1936 in Lumberton, NC. Shirley passed away peacefully on July 7, 2024
at Woodhaven Nursing Center in Lumberton, NC.
     Shirley attended and graduated from J. H. Hayward High School in Lumberton, NC. After high
school, she had several jobs, such as a salesperson at J. C. Penney and a teaching assistant at an
independent head-start program in Lumberton. She also lived in Washington, DC for a short
period of time.
     Since Shirley was interested in teaching, she decided to attend college and get her degree. She
attended Pembroke State University (now called UNC-Pembroke) and received a Bachelor’s of
Science degree in Elementary Education in 1978. She taught at several public schools in
Robeson County from September 1977 to July 2002 (25 years). She taught at the following
elementary schools: W. H. Knuckles, Tanglewood, West Lumberton, and Rowland Norment.
She enjoyed teaching and really loved her students. This was exhibited by tutoring students to
help them succeed with their education. In addition, she was recently recognized and honored
by the Robeson County Chapter of Las Amigas, Inc. for being one of the pillars of education in
Robeson County who made a positive impact in children’s lives.
    Shirley was really active in her church and community. She grew up going to First Baptist
Church. At First Baptist Church, she was a member of the church’s missionary, and visited the
sick and shut-in with the group. In addition, she was also a member of the Susie Scales Flora
Club, Homecoming Committee, and the Women of the Church Committee. Shirley was a
member of the United Order of the Tents where she cared for the sick, the elderly, and the less
fortunate. She was also a member of the National Association of University Women where she
played a role in educational outreach services in South Lumberton. Shirley was an active
member of the Lumberton Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc.
After her mother, Nellie Blount, passed, Shirley took the responsibility of assisting Joseph “Little
Joe” High, as needed.
    Shirley enjoyed dancing and travelling with her family and friends. She always had a smile on
her face. Shirley loved to tell jokes to make her family and friends laugh and she would laugh
along with them. The caretakers at Woodhaven Nursing Center always talked about how she
smiled and laughed all the time. They would say, they “loved Ms. Shirley”.
Shirley was proceeded in death by her parents, Horace Blount, Sr. and Nellie Blount; her three
brothers, Horace Blount, Jr., Henry Blount, and Bernard Blount; her sister, Katie Barnhill; and
her half-sister, Alfreda Augman.

    Left to cherish her memory are her nephew, Horace Blount, III (Judy) of Fairfield, AL; her nieces,
Karen Blount of McCormick, SC, Daphne Gervais (Paul) of Charlotte, NC, Kathy Smith of Upper
Marlboro, MD, Gretel Gibbs of Orlando, FL, and Montese Davis of Largo, MD; her great-nieces,
Miriam Beatty (Christopher) of Knoxville, TN, Alistaire Blount of Chelsea, AL, Marissa
Satterwhite-Tillery (Evan) of Charlotte, NC, and Maya McDonald of Largo, MD; and great great-
niece Paisley Blount-Suggs of Chelsea, AL; a host of family and friends. Some of her special
friends, who were like family to her, throughout her lifetime include Mary Cole, Marjorie
Ingram, Diane Surgeon, and Gail Wilson.

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