Conny H. Shirley, 85, of Clarkesville, passed away Monday, May 2, 2016.
Mr. Shirley was born April 18, 1931, in Rabun County to the late Milford and Loma Taylor Shirley.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Barbara Jordan Shirley and son, Anthony Lee Shirley.
Mr. Shirley was a graduate of Piedmont College and Western Carolina University. He began his career serving as a teacher, counselor and principal in the Rabun County School System. Afterward, he served as the dean of students and later vice president of student affairs at North Georgia Technical College for over 25 years.
Mr. Shirley served on the Board for State Accreditation for Technical Colleges of the Southeast Region. He set up all Head Start Programs in the Ninth District. Additionally, Mr. Shirley served as DJ on WCON for seven years.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served in the Korean Conflict.
Mr. Shirley was a member of Bethel Baptist Church and was a member of the Clarkesville Lions Club, having held every office; and received the Melvin Jones Fellow Award, the highest honor bestowed upon a Lions Club Member. Mr. Shirley served as a Lions Club district governor from 1982-83 and served as a director of Georgia Lions Lighthouse. He was a member of the Joseph Habersham Chapter Sons of the American Revolution.
Survivors include his loving wife of 36 years, Beverly Lovell Fry Shirley, of Clarkesville; daughter and son-in-law, Tammy Shirley and David Vashakidze, of Suwanee; daughter, Amanda Jill Fry, of Clarkesville; sons and daughters-in-law, Tim and Teresa Shirley, of Clarkesville; Robert and Lisa Fry, of Garden City, Michigan; son, Danny L. Fry, of Clarkesville; daughter-in-law, Kim Couch, of Mt. Airy; 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He was the last of his immediate family.
Funeral services are scheduled for 3 p.m., Friday, May 6, 2016, at Whitfield Funeral Home, North Chapel with Pastor Mike Cochran and the Rev. Grady Waldon officiating. Interment will follow in Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery in Tiger, with military honors provided by the U.S Army.
The family will receive friends from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Mr. Shirley’s Memory to North Georgia Technical College Foundation, P.O. Box 69, Clarkesville, Georgia, 30523.
Arrangements are in care of Whitfield Funeral Home & Crematory, North Chapel, 245 Central Ave., Demorest, Georgia, 706-778-1700.
Those wishing to express online condolences to the family may do so by visiting our website at www.whitfieldfuneralhomes.com.
The Clayton Tribune, May 5, 2016