Birth Date: 04/27/1952
Deceased Date: 08/14/2017
Shirley Morgan Whitley, age 65, of Smithfield passed away on August 14 at Wake Medical Center. Born in Johnston County on April 27, 1952, she was the daughter of the late Felton and Lucille Parrish Morgan.
Mrs. Whitley attended Johnston Community College where she earned an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Development. She also attended N. C. State University and later N. C. Central University, where she earned a B.S. Degree in Human Sciences and a Master’s Degree in Family and Child Development. Mrs. Whitley taught Early Childhood Development part time at Johnston Community College. She has worked with Johston-Lee Community Action for 44 years, becoming Director in 1984, a position she still held. She was a member of the N.C. Headstart Association, the N.C. Community Action Association and served on the Early Childhood Associate Program Advisory Committee at Central Technical College. She was a Board Member of NC Partnership and served as Treasurer of the NC Headstart Association. Mrs. Whitley was an active member of Sardis Baptist Church, serving as Adult Sunday School Teacher, assistant Church Treasurer, and was a member of the Choir.
Funeral services will be held Thursday at 11:00 AM in the chapel of Parrish Funeral Home in Selma with burial following in the Sardis Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Thursday from 9 – 11 AM.
Surviving are her husband, Merton Joseph Whitley, Jr.; sisters Hilda M. Creech and husband Larry of Benson, Rhonda Mooneyham and husband Ronald of Clayton; and several nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Sardis Baptist Church, c/o Linda Massey, 480 Pollard Rd., Smithfield, NC 27577.
Condolences may be sent to the family at parrishfh.com.
