June 18, 1956 – April 1, 2016

NATCHEZ — Services for Michael L. Shirley, 59, who died Friday, April 1, 2016, in Thompson’s Station, Tenn., will be 1 p.m. Thursday at Natchez Church of God on McNeely Road with the Rev. Linus Vaughn of Murfreesboro, Tenn., a life-long friend and brother in the Lord, the Rev. Julius Roberts, former pastor of Natchez Church of God and the Rev. Brian Monehan, pastor of Natchez Church of God, officiating.

Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Young’s Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. today at the church.

Mr. Shirley was born June 18, 1956, the son of L.D. Shirley and Robbie Rogers Shirley.

Mike was by profession a financial advisor and planner. He was also an ordained minister and served all of his adult life working with his wife, Margaret, in the music ministry. He loved the Lord and his passion was praise and worship music and had written a number of songs.

He was an accomplished musician and played a number of instruments, but loved his keyboard which he played regularly.

Mike was well known, admired and respected professionally, but was also known as a loving husband and father.

Mike never met a stranger and had a passion for people. He loved taking his daughter and disabled veterans hunting. He often told Margaret that he loved to just to the woods for the solitude, peace and time that he could spend communing with the Lord.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a close uncle, the Rev. Don Rogers; his maternal and paternal grandparents; and his in-laws, Stewart and Myrtle Holland, who he was a special son-in-law to.

Survivors include his wife, best friend and sweetheart, Margaret Holland Shirley; his daughter who was his pride and joy, Julie Anne Shirley; a special brother, Gary L. Shirley of Natchez; his brother and sister-in-law, Scott and Betty Taylor of Vidalia; two nephews, Neil S. Taylor of Bossier City, La., and Brad S. Taylor and wife, Scottye Byrne Taylor, of Natchez; one uncle, Robert Shirley and wife, Linda; special aunt, Bobbie Rogers Thomas and husband, Jesse; great-nephew, Lee S. Taylor; three great-nieces, Courtney Taylor-Schilling and husband, Ryan, and Haley Taylor, all of Bossier City, La., and Morgan Taylor of Natchez.

Mike also had a number of other family members including aunts, uncles, cousins, as well as a number of close friends, business associates and clients; special neighbors, Larry and Janice Lloyd and Gary and Gena Rogers of Thompson’s Station, who have been friends to Mike and the family during some rough times in the last couple of years, including the night of Mike’s death.

Pallbearers will be Neil Stewart Taylor, Brad Scott Taylor, Lee Scott Taylor, Whest Shirley, Pate Shirley and Tom Moore.

Honorary pallbearers will be the Rev. William H. Seale, Gary Messer, Brent Adkison, J.D. Whitehead and members of J&J Outdoors in Tennessee.