The Shadow
Shirley Rebecca Broughfman Perkins
Shirley Rebecca Broughfman Perkins, 85, of Falling Spring, passed away on Saturday, February 28, 2026.
Born April 15, 1940, in Rockbridge County, she was the daughter of the late Earl Clifton Broughfman, Sr. and Nellie Staton Broughfman.
Shirley worked for many years at the Jane Colby sewing factory. She was happiest outdoors in her garden or in her kitchen, where she was a master baker best known for her famous Orange Creamsicle cake. When she wasn’t working in the dirt or baking, she almost always had her nose in a book as she loved to read.
She has now been joined in death with her husband of more than 60 years, Thomas Gilbert Perkins, who passed away in March 2025. In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by her son, Thomas Edward Perkins, Sr.; and her sister, Daisy Broughfman Durham (James); two brothers-in-law, Johnny Graham and James Durham.
Survivors include her grandson, Thomas Edward Perkins, Jr. (Ashley Lee) of Frankford, WV; three great-grandchildren, Jonathan, Lucy, and Lilly Perkins; two sisters, Darlene (William) Meadows and Peggy Graham; three brothers, Earl (Jeanie) Broughfman, Curtis Broughfman, and Jesse (Jenny) Broughfman; and a number of nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held at Arritt Funeral Home, with Rev. Mike Matlack officiating on Friday, March 6, 2026, at 2:00 PM with burial to follow at Alleghany Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends on Friday beginning at 1:00 PM at the funeral home.
Arritt Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Friends wishing to send condolences online may do so at arrittfuneralhome.com.
