The Shadow
Shirley Mae Morris Collier
Shirley Mae Morris Collier – lovingly called Meme by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and Shirl by her husband and many beloved friends passed away Friday, March 3, 2023 at the age of 85.
Shirley Mae was born October 12, 1937 in Mallow, Virginia to the late Nina Downey Morris and Robert L. Morris.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James “ Billy “ William Collier in 2018, her mother, Nina Elizabeth and her daughter, Cynthia Mae, both in 2020. Her only brother, Phillip E. Morris, passed away in 1984.
Shirley is survived by her granddaughter, Joy Thompson, whom she and Billy raised as their own daughter, her 2 great-grandsons Wyatt and Jordan Thompson, (all of Virginia Beach), as well as 3 other grandchildren and 6 additional great-grandchildren.
Shirley was a beautiful woman with a kind and loving heart. She enjoyed life, her family, and her friends. She was very engaging, she had a gift for gab. She would oftentimes say “There’s not a stranger I’ve ever met”. Friendships meant so much to her. She stayed very close to her friends of over 60 years, Sam and Dale James, Sally White, and their families. The kinship shared among these lifetime friends was a blessing for them all.
Shirley was in the mortgage business for many years, working her way up to office manager.
After retiring, Shirley, Billy and Joy moved from Norfolk, Virginia to Covington, Virginia. Shirley loved her time in Covington. She enjoyed gardening, quality time with her family and friends, her part-time job at Peebles, attending her granddaughter’s softball games, and supporting any and all of Joy’s endeavors. She made new friendships in Covington that have lasted over 30 years. Her friends Pat and Roger Amos, Ed and Lynn Hemp, and Angie Anderson, and their families meant so much to her.
In 2007, Shirley and Billy came back to Virginia Beach. She became her husband’s full-time caregiver, caring for him in their home, never leaving his side. She made more heartfelt friendships at Seaside Rehabilitation at Atlantic Shores due to Billy’s periodic need for physical therapy. Many of the staff members formed close bonds with both Billy and Shirley, among them were Michele Ashworth, Elizabeth Mawyer and Kay Kozlowski.
The Thompson family would like to thank Dr. Barbara Parks, the staff at Seaside Rehabilitation, and the nurses at Sentara Hospital for their extraordinary care.
A funeral service will be held at a later date in Covington, Virginia. Online condolences may be made to the family at hdoliver.com.
