Shirley Ann Martin Tolbert

Shirley Ann Martin Tolbert, age 91, passed away on August 14, 2024.

Shirley was born in Jones County, Georgia on August 28, 1932, to the late Lester & Betty Martin. She was raised in a loving home with her Daddy, Mother, and three younger sisters.

She attended Griswoldville School in Jones County, and graduated from Jones County High School in 1949, in Gray, Georgia.  She was a member of Pitts Chapel Methodist Church until 1965, when she and her family moved to Macon and joined Liberty United Methodist Church.  She was an active member, and was a member of the United Methodist Women for over 50 Years.

Shirley was only 16 when she held her first job at Silver’s Five, Ten & Dollar store in Macon.  While working there she attended night school and took shorthand and typing.  In 1951 she went to work at Robins AFB as a secretary in Maintenance Headquarters. It was there that she met Dave, the love of her life, who was stationed at the base. They were married in June 1954 and she continued to work at the base until she joined him in Germany January 1955.

She had a full and adventurous life. She and Dave were stationed in Germany for two tours. While there, they traveled to Belgium, Holland, France, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and throughout Germany.

She was a homemaker for 70 Years.  She had a blissful married life with her husband Dave, for 59 years.  He always loved and supported her in everything she wanted to do.

Shirley loved her family.  She and Dave had one son, three daughters, nine grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.  Her greatest joy was being a wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother.  She loved being called Mother, Mama, Gama, Gammie, Grandma, Grandmother, Grandma Biscuit, and Grandma Shirley.

She loved her pastor, her church family, and her friends.  They all stood by her when her husband was in Vietnam for a year, and when she lost him in 2013.  She often said, “I fell in love with God all over again when I started going to Liberty.”

Shirley loved to bake, cook, sew, make pictures, take notes, write letters, arrange flowers for church, travel, go to Sunday school and church, and belonging to the United Methodist Women.  Most of all, she loved God for making all things possible for her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Betty & Lester Martin, loving husband David C. Tolbert Jr., sister and brother-in-law, Jeanette & John Tolbert and brother-in-law John Robertson.

Left to cherish her love and sweet memories are her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and sisters.  Children:  Melanie (Tim) Crye of Rossville, Ga., Randy (Sonya) Tolbert of Lizella, Ga., Robin (John) Olliver of Lawrenceville, Ga., Amy (Chad) Tolbert of Milledgeville, Ga.,  Grandchildren:  Brandi (Eric) Ray, Jamie Smith, David (Teshia) Tolbert, Miranda (Brad) Simpson, Tyler (Raina) Tolbert, Matthew Olliver, Lillie Olliver, Anna (Daniel) Taylor, Hunter (Kimberly) Willis.  Great-grandchildren:  Braeden Holland & Bristol Ray, Drue, Jewelee and Xander Simpson.  Sisters:  Joyce (Eric) Miner, and Peggy Robertson.

A celebration of her life will be held Sunday, August 18, at 2:00pm at Liberty Church, with Reverend Jack Osburn presiding. The family will be available to greet visitors in the sanctuary beginning at 1:30pm, and the service will commence at 2:00pm. Following the service, she will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband Dave in the church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Liberty Church, Liberty’s Youth, or to your favorite charity.

Please visit www.sardisheardfunerals.com to express condolences.

Sardis-Heard Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 6125 Houston Road, Macon, GA 31216 has charge of the arrangements.

Liberty Church Macon
6511 Houston Road, Macon GA 31216
Tel: 1-478-788-5343
Web: http://www.libertyumc.org

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