Shirley Dean Farr Gillespie

Shirley Dean Farr Gillespie, age 89, passed away March 30, 2026, at her home in Americus, Georgia. Funeral services will be held 11:30 A.M, Thursday, April 2, 2026 in the Chapel of Aldridge Funeral & Cremation Services. A visitation will be held Thursday, April 2, 2026 from 10:30 – 11:30 A.M. Internment will follow the service at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Brother Steve Morris will officiate these services.

Shirley was born on January 11,1937 in Schley County to Elgin and Mildred Farr. The oldest of seven children, Shirley grew up in Americus and graduated from Americus High School in 1955. In that same year she married the love of her life, Durward Earl Gillespie, a young Army soldier from Grady County, Georgia. Shirley and Earl had three daughters, Cindy, Becky and Sheila Kay (deceased) and were happily married for 54 years, until Earl passed away in 2009.

Shirley loved travel and as an Army spouse she lived in Germany as well as Washington, DC before settling in Columbus, GA where Earl retired as a Sergeant Major. After forty years in Columbus, she made her last big move with her daughters to Little Rock, AR, before returning to Americus to be with her sisters and brothers. Family was always the center of her world, and she loved being part of two big families - the Farrs and the Gillespies.

Although it is a common saying that “you can’t have it all,” Shirley did. Loving, smart, poised, hard-working and with incredible strength of character and purpose, Shirley gave her two daughters a happy home, constant love and encouragement, and instilled in them a belief that they could achieve anything. She taught Sunday School at Macon Road Church of the Nazarene, where she also served as Secretary on the Board. Professionally, Shirley had two careers. Her first was with Sears, starting as a switchboard operator and advancing to senior management before retiring. Her retirement, however, would be brief.

In 1985, she began her second career, this time in government and politics, when U.S Congressman Richard Ray asked her to lead his Columbus office. One of her projects in this role was the federal legislation to create the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site, just outside her childhood hometown of Americus. In 1993, Congressman Mac Collins convinced Shirley to join his team as District Director, overseeing the Third District of Georgia. Shirley retired from federal service in 2005. An active member of the Columbus Rotary, Shirley was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow.

Shirley’s home always included a very lucky dog or two; her pets were part of the family and treated as such. An avid gardener, she was known for sharing her incredible collection of daylilies and unique plants with friends and family. Shirley was happiest working outside in her garden with Earl, watching hummingbirds fight over her feeders.

In addition to her husband Earl and daughter Sheila Kay, Shirley was preceded in death by her brother Clifford Farr.

She is survived by her daughters Cindy Gillespie and Becky Gillespie; her siblings Janette Carden, Emily Alford, Millard Farr, Christine Odum, and Walter (Carmen) Farr; her sisters-in-law Loette Burger and Sharon Rawls Bullen; her grand-dogs Ricky and Lucy, and dozens of nieces and nephews she loved dearly.

Her family is grateful for the care and support provided throughout her illness by Phoebe Sumter Hospice and for the many caregivers, including Danielle Johnson, Tara Leverett, Angel Cole, and Barbara Daniels who helped her remain in her home and independent for as long as possible. LaDaisy "Kitty" Battle, her constant companion, friend and support through her long illness, was a compassionate angel watching over Shirley and managing her care.