REIDSVILLE - Deaconess Shirley Ann Blackwell Graves, age 82, entered eternal rest on Thursday, August 8, 2024 at 7:00 p.m., in the comfort of her home surrounded by her immediate family.

Public viewing will begin on Wednesday, August 14, 2024 from 12 until 8 p.m. at McLaurin-Harris Funeral Home, 721 East Morehead Street, Reidsville, NC.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, August 15, 2024 at 1 p.m. at Rocky Ridge Missionary Baptist Church, 1694 US-158, Reidsville, NC. The family visitation will begin at 12:30 p.m., Pastor Troy Wallace officiating.

The committal and interment will follow in the Rocky Ridge Baptist Church Cemetery.

You may live stream the service via https://www.youtube.com/@McLaurin-Harris_Live

Shirley Ann Blackwell Graves, daughter of the late Doc Blackwell and Louzenia Cummings Blackwell Bushnell was born on February 28, 1942, in Reidsville, North Carolina.

Shirely was reared in Reidsville, North Carolina. She attended public school in Rockingham County and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School, class of 1961. On October 14,1961, after graduating from high school, Shirley married her high school sweetheart Ernest Alexander Graves, Sr., and from this union four children were born.

She was employed by IEM Plastics for several years until she made a career change, landing a job at Belk Department Store for fifteen plus years, until retirement. Shirley was known throughout the community as an energetic, kind, and respectful woman who would lend a helping hand to anyone in need. After retirement, Shirley used her God given gift of assisting others by serving as a home health aide, to several individuals, until the recent declining of her health. She was a diehard Redskins fan. The accessories in her car and much of her personal paraphernalia reminded you daily of where she stood in the sports world.

Shirley accepted Christ at an early age at Rocky Ridge Baptist Church, Reidsville, North Carolina where she served all her life and she was ordained by the church as a Deaconess. Deaconess Shirley Graves loved the Lord with all her heart and labored faithfully at her church. Deaconess Graves served on the choir, usher board, technology ministry, kitchen committee, floral committee, transportation ministry and the pastor's aide committee.

She leaves to cherish her loving memories her devoted husband of sixty-three years, Ernest Graves Sr., of the home; two sons: James Alexander Graves (Rev. Evelyn), Geensboro, NC, Ernest Graves, Jr. (Goldie), Greensboro, NC; two daughters: Annette Graves-Barley, Harrisburg, PA and Gail Deneise Graves (Craig), High Point; thirteen grandchildren and twenty-three great-grandchildren.

Deaconess Graves also leaves to cherish her loving memories a devoted and loving brother and sister-in-law, Samuel Blackwell (Lena), Reidsville North Carolina; three sisters-in-law: Sarah Perkins (Willard) Baltimore, MD, Loretta Graves, Reidsville, NC and Dorothy Blackwell, Philadelphia, PA; two brothers-in-law: Tom Graves, Eden, NC and Sampson Graves, Baltimore, MD; a long-time special friend, Deaconess Katherine Cogdell of Reidsville; a host of special nieces, nephews cousins and friends.

Deaconess Graves was preceded in death by her parents, Doc Blackwell and Louzenia Cummings Blackwell Bushnell; three brothers: Conrad Blackwell and John Blackwell, Stormy Blackwell and Herman Blackwell; two sisters: Roberta Stacy, Hulene Totten; and three grandsons: James Alexander Graves, Jr, Phillip Micheal Graves and Stephen Lloyd Graves.

Service by McLaurin-Harris.