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Shirley Rae Harrison Culpepper, 76, passed away peacefully in her sleep in the early morning hours of October 5, 2026.
Shirley was born on January 14, 1950, and grew up in Lake, Mississippi. She made her home in Florence, Mississippi, for many years before moving to Magee during the final months of her life.
Those who knew Shirley knew her as a remarkably independent, caring, and strong-willed woman. Physically challenged throughout her life and living with only one leg, Shirley never allowed those circumstances to keep her from living life on her own terms. She lived independently for many years, maintained her own home, took care of herself, and was rarely content to sit still when there was something she could be doing.
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Shirley took pride in her home. Her apartment in Florence was always cared for, and outside she could often be found tending to her flower beds. She loved flowers and plants of nearly every kind, both indoors and outdoors, and enjoyed the simple satisfaction of watching something she had cared for grow and bloom.
Her creativity extended well beyond her garden. Shirley enjoyed making crafts and creating things with her hands. She could sew and took care of much of her own mending. She enjoyed cooking, particularly when she had someone she loved to cook for. Some of the meals that meant the most were the ones she prepared when her son, Tim, came to eat with her.
Shirley’s Baptist faith was an important part of her life. A talented pianist, she played piano for many years at Dry Creek Baptist Church and Lifeline Baptist Church. She had a deep love for gospel music, and the music of her faith remained something she enjoyed throughout her life.
She also had a special fondness for angels and collected glass angels and other angelic pieces that she found beautiful or interesting.
Another important companion in Shirley’s later years was Jill, her Chinese Crested. Jill, now approximately 15 years old, was a familiar part of Shirley’s life and is now being cared for by her son, Tim.
Above all, Shirley was a woman who kept going. She adapted. She figured things out. She took care of herself. She found things to do, things to make, things to grow, and people to care for.
Her physical limitations were part of her life, but they were never the measure of it. Her independence and determination allowed her to live life in a way that was distinctly her own.
Shirley is survived by her son, Tim Culpepper(Mandy); her daughter, Amy Coke; five grandchildren, John Christopher Culpepper, Cayce Luchi, Steven, Leigha, and Justin; and her sister, Sandra Collins and her husband, Ronald.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Jean Harrison; her sisters, Betty Jo Parker and Barbara Ladner; and Ed Culpepper, the father of her children.
Shirley’s life was not always an easy one, but she lived it with determination, independence, faith, and an enduring desire to stay busy and make the most of what she had. Her flowers, her music, her creations, the meals she prepared, and the home she so carefully maintained were all expressions of the same thing: a woman determined to live her life for herself and to care for the people and things she loved.
She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.
A memorial service celebrating Shirley’s life is being planned, with arrangements expected to include an online memorial so that family and friends in different locations may participate without the burden of extensive travel. Additional details will be announced when arrangements are finalized.
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