Obituary of Millie Armstrong Shirey

Mrs. Millie Ruth Shirey died January 1, 2007, at the age of 84. During the last few months of her life, she lived with her daughter, Wanza Shirey, in Montgomery, Alabama. Funeral services will be 10:00 A. M. Thursday, January 4, 2007, in the Chapel of Holman Funeral Home in Ozark. Interment will follow in Ariton Cemetery, Holman Funeral Home of Ozark directing. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5:00 P. M. until 7:00 P. M. Wednesday. Mrs. Shirey was born in Elamville, Alabama on April 17, 1922. "Miss Millie" was married to Chaplain (COL) Ervin L. Shirey for 61 years. Chaplain Shirey preceded her in death in August 2003. Their sixty-one year marriage spanned many military moves, and ministry venues. Her close friends and family recognized her as the strength behind the scenes and a vital prayer warrior throughout their life together. A little known fact about Miss Millie is she was in the first group of women who identified the need to start a more formal women's ministry within the military chapel community. The early 1950's meetings, which took place in her living room in Germany, eventually led to the formation of Protestant Women of the Chapel, a ministry to military wives. PWOC has since expanded to an international organization impacting the lives of military wives and active duty women worldwide (www.pwoconline.org). Helping others was the joy of her life. Her contributions included playing the piano for church services, teaching Sunday school, making clothes for her and others, preparing meals for the many guests in her home, to putting up vegetables from the huge garden that always seemed to be a part of her husband's life. Her family cherished and relied on her constant prayer over each member. Her motto was, "How can I help you?" Mrs. Shirey is survived by her daughter, Wanza Shirey, of Montgomery, Alabama, and her son, Chaplain (COL) Ervin L. (Lou) Shirey, Jr.(Retired)and his wife, Becky Shirey, of Centerville, Georgia. Her grandchildren are Randall Stanton of Montgomery; Stephanie Clark of Montgomery; Hope Shirey Jones of Macon, Georgia; Jonathan Shirey of Amman, Jordan; and Amy Shirey McDonald of Boston, Massachusetts. Her great grandchildren are Kyle and Nicholas Clark and Sam, Anna Grace, and Grey Jones. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Emmanuel College, P. O. Box 129, Franklin Springs, Georgia 30639, or to Ariton Cemetery Fund, C/O Mr. Earl Thompson, 7147 Hwy 51, Ariton, Alabama 36311. Service Information