Shirley Petcher Wilkerson, 89, of Bridgewater passed away on May 22 at her home in the Bridgewater Retirement Community.
Born in Citronelle, AL on March 6, 1928, Shirley was the daughter of the late Glen W. Petcher and Edith (White) Petcher. A talented musician, she began a performing career at age 3, singing on the local radio station.
She graduated from Bridgewater College in 1949 with a degree in Piano, where she sang in the Glee Club and the Ladies Quartet, and played on the college basketball team. She met her future husband, the late Edgar Wilkerson through the choral music program and they were married in 1950. The couple returned to Bridgewater in 1953 and Shirley taught piano lessons for many years. She returned to school, received a Master's degree in Library Science from Madison College (now JMU) and became a school librarian in 1967. She worked at North River Junior High School, Bridgewater Elementary and finally, at Port Republic Elementary until she retired.
Shirley was an active member of the Bridgewater Church of the Brethren and the Sunrise Church of the Brethren. She worked in the library at the Bridgewater Church, and was instrumental in the founding and support of the North River Library in Bridgewater. A consummate baker, she often shared up to 40 coffee cakes with family and neighbors each Christmas.
She is survived by her son, Mark and his wife Kim of Falls Church; grandchildren Joseph and Hannah Wilkerson; sisters Dorothy Quimby of Citronelle, AL and Joyce Cline of Staunton, VA and brother Paul Petcher of Millry, AL. Preceding her in death were three siblings, Harold Petcher, Rhett Petcher and Helen Stanford.
A memorial service will be held at the Lantz Chapel at the Bridgewater Retirement Community, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 27. A reception will follow.
Memorial contributions may be made to Heifer International, P.O. Box 8058, Little Rock, AR 72203.
obit from Johnson Funeral Service website
Born in Citronelle, AL on March 6, 1928, Shirley was the daughter of the late Glen W. Petcher and Edith (White) Petcher. A talented musician, she began a performing career at age 3, singing on the local radio station.
She graduated from Bridgewater College in 1949 with a degree in Piano, where she sang in the Glee Club and the Ladies Quartet, and played on the college basketball team. She met her future husband, the late Edgar Wilkerson through the choral music program and they were married in 1950. The couple returned to Bridgewater in 1953 and Shirley taught piano lessons for many years. She returned to school, received a Master's degree in Library Science from Madison College (now JMU) and became a school librarian in 1967. She worked at North River Junior High School, Bridgewater Elementary and finally, at Port Republic Elementary until she retired.
Shirley was an active member of the Bridgewater Church of the Brethren and the Sunrise Church of the Brethren. She worked in the library at the Bridgewater Church, and was instrumental in the founding and support of the North River Library in Bridgewater. A consummate baker, she often shared up to 40 coffee cakes with family and neighbors each Christmas.
She is survived by her son, Mark and his wife Kim of Falls Church; grandchildren Joseph and Hannah Wilkerson; sisters Dorothy Quimby of Citronelle, AL and Joyce Cline of Staunton, VA and brother Paul Petcher of Millry, AL. Preceding her in death were three siblings, Harold Petcher, Rhett Petcher and Helen Stanford.
A memorial service will be held at the Lantz Chapel at the Bridgewater Retirement Community, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 27. A reception will follow.
Memorial contributions may be made to Heifer International, P.O. Box 8058, Little Rock, AR 72203.
obit from Johnson Funeral Service website
Shirley Petcher Wilkerson, 89, of Bridgewater passed away on May 22 at her home in the Bridgewater Retirement Community.
Born in Citronelle, AL on March 6, 1928, Shirley was the daughter of the late Glen W. Petcher and Edith (White) Petcher. A talented musician, she began a performing career at age 3, singing on the local radio station.
She graduated from Bridgewater College in 1949 with a degree in Piano, where she sang in the Glee Club and the Ladies Quartet, and played on the college basketball team. She met her future husband, the late Edgar Wilkerson through the choral music program and they were married in 1950. The couple returned to Bridgewater in 1953 and Shirley taught piano lessons for many years. She returned to school, received a Master's degree in Library Science from Madison College (now JMU) and became a school librarian in 1967. She worked at North River Junior High School, Bridgewater Elementary and finally, at Port Republic Elementary until she retired.
Shirley was an active member of the Bridgewater Church of the Brethren and the Sunrise Church of the Brethren. She worked in the library at the Bridgewater Church, and was instrumental in the founding and support of the North River Library in Bridgewater. A consummate baker, she often shared up to 40 coffee cakes with family and neighbors each Christmas.
She is survived by her son, Mark and his wife Kim of Falls Church; grandchildren Joseph and Hannah Wilkerson; sisters Dorothy Quimby of Citronelle, AL and Joyce Cline of Staunton, VA and brother Paul Petcher of Millry, AL. Preceding her in death were three siblings, Harold Petcher, Rhett Petcher and Helen Stanford.
A memorial service will be held at the Lantz Chapel at the Bridgewater Retirement Community, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 27. A reception will follow.
Memorial contributions may be made to Heifer International, P.O. Box 8058, Little Rock, AR 72203.
obit from Johnson Funeral Service website
Born in Citronelle, AL on March 6, 1928, Shirley was the daughter of the late Glen W. Petcher and Edith (White) Petcher. A talented musician, she began a performing career at age 3, singing on the local radio station.
She graduated from Bridgewater College in 1949 with a degree in Piano, where she sang in the Glee Club and the Ladies Quartet, and played on the college basketball team. She met her future husband, the late Edgar Wilkerson through the choral music program and they were married in 1950. The couple returned to Bridgewater in 1953 and Shirley taught piano lessons for many years. She returned to school, received a Master's degree in Library Science from Madison College (now JMU) and became a school librarian in 1967. She worked at North River Junior High School, Bridgewater Elementary and finally, at Port Republic Elementary until she retired.
Shirley was an active member of the Bridgewater Church of the Brethren and the Sunrise Church of the Brethren. She worked in the library at the Bridgewater Church, and was instrumental in the founding and support of the North River Library in Bridgewater. A consummate baker, she often shared up to 40 coffee cakes with family and neighbors each Christmas.
She is survived by her son, Mark and his wife Kim of Falls Church; grandchildren Joseph and Hannah Wilkerson; sisters Dorothy Quimby of Citronelle, AL and Joyce Cline of Staunton, VA and brother Paul Petcher of Millry, AL. Preceding her in death were three siblings, Harold Petcher, Rhett Petcher and Helen Stanford.
A memorial service will be held at the Lantz Chapel at the Bridgewater Retirement Community, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 27. A reception will follow.
Memorial contributions may be made to Heifer International, P.O. Box 8058, Little Rock, AR 72203.
obit from Johnson Funeral Service website
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
