Shirley Billings Murphy

Shirley Ann Billings Murphy, 76, of State Road, received her healed body Thursday, November 16, 2023, surrounded by her children and grandchildren.

Shirley was born on October 16, 1947, in Wilkes County to Sherman and Sarah Billings.

Shirley attended Surry Central High School and worked a long career at Chatham Manufacturing, retiring in 1998. After retirement, she excelled in loving and caring for people, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. If she met you once, she made you family. Shirley was a member of Welcome Valley Baptist church and enjoyed helping with Vacation Bible School. Every opportunity she could spend with a child was a moment she cherished. Along with working in her flowers and garden, she enjoyed cooking, baking, and experimenting with recipes.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by an infant son, Christopher Lynn Murphy; sisters, Carol Williams and Nellie Minton; brothers, Rickey Billings and Lester Billings; and a brother-in-law, Windell White.

Survivors include: a daughter, Angie Murphy of State Road; sons and daughters-in-law Kevin Murphy of State Road, Dustan Murphy and his wife Kayla of Dobson, and Melanie Murphy of Eden; grandsons Channing Murphy and his wife Geni, Cody Murphy and his wife Hannah, Logan Murphy, Kasen Murphy, and Aiden Murphy; great-grandchildren Phoenix Murphy, Oakley Murphy, Evie Dowd, Elly Dowd, Buffy Dowd, and Brynn Dowd, Lane Murphy, and sisters Doris Hall of Mount Airy, Joann White of Elkin; sister-in-law Becky Billings of Jonesville; brother-in-law Russell Williams of State Road, and a special great-niece and nephew, William and Savannah Cross.

A funeral service will be conducted at 2 pm on Sunday, November 19, 2023, at Welcome Valley Baptist Church with Bro. Heath Reece officiating. Interment will follow in Mount Herman Baptist Church Cemetery in Dobson.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at Welcome Valley.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the National Breast Cancer Foundation in honor of special niece Theresa Reece and sister Nellie Minton. National Breast Cancer Foundation 28 West 44th Street, Suite 609, New York, NY 10036, or donate online by clicking here .

The family would like to express sincere gratitude to Hugh Chatham Health, Mountain Valley Hospice staff, and to Kayla Murphy for extraordinary care and compassion.