Inducted November 13, 2004
In High School, Shirley was named to the All District and All Regional
Teams while at Hay Long High School in Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee. At the
time this was the highest honor a high school athlete could achieve.
While at Martin College in 1951 & 1952 and 1952 & 1953 Shirley
help lead the Lady Indians to records of 15-3 and 14-5 respectfully. In
1953 Shirley was voted by her teammates to receive the Jaycee’s “Most
Valuable Player Award”.
During her time at Martin, Shirley was a member of the Student
Christian Association Cabinet, Vice President of the Commercial Club,
Fine Arts Club, Drama Club, “M” Club, and attendant to Basketball Queen
and Campus Royalty.
“Basketball along with Coach Kermit Smith taught me to be a team
player, to get along with others, fairness, honesty, integrity and
leadership, all of which I have tried to apply during my personal,
family and professional life”
After Martin College, Shirley went to work as a secretary, married and
had four children. In 1975 she was appointed Clerk & Master of
Chancery Court in Columbia, Tennessee, where she served until her
retirement in November of 1998. While a Clerk & Master, Shirley
served as President if the Tennessee State Court Clerks Association,
Vice President of the Tennessee County Officials Association and an
officer in the Middle Tennessee Clerks Association.