Nov. 26, 1945 – June 4, 2018

NATCHEZ — Services for Shirley Mae Phipps Mayberry, 72, of Natchez, who died Monday, June 4, 2018, at Merit Health Natchez, will be noon Monday at Christian Hope Baptist Church, with the Rev. John Scott Jr. officiating.

Burial will follow at 1:30 p.m. at Natchez National Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Marshall Funeral Home Natchez Chapel and from 11 a.m. until service time Monday at the church.

Ms. Mayberry was born on Nov. 26, 1945, in Natchez, the daughter of George Evans Phipps Sr. and Katie Bell Phipps.

She was educated in Adams County, where she graduated from Sadie V. Thompson High School. Shortly after high school, Shirley briefly attended Nursing School in New Orleans. After several months in nursing school, she decided to return home to Natchez and embark on another career. Shirley began her new career as a dispatcher for The Palace Cab Company. After working as a dispatcher for many years, she was promoted to the position of manager, a position she held until the company halted its operations. Mrs. Mayberry also worked at several businesses as a clerk and manager, and this experience provided her the knowledge to go forth and become a business owner.

Shirley was a very sweet, hardworking, dependable, energetic, trustworthy, honest and stubborn person with a heartwarming smile who was always ready and willing to help others.

She was baptized on Sept. 6, 1959, and became member of King Solomon Baptist Church until 1994, when she became a member of Christian Hope Baptist Church.

Shirley was united in holy matrimony to Rayford E. Mayberry Sr. on Nov. 26, 1964, and to this union two sons and a daughter were born.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one daughter, Roletta M. Mayberry; two brothers, George Phipps and Claiborne Fleming; and three sisters, Elosie Jones, Juanita Christmas and Marilyn White.

Survivors include her husband, Rayford E. Mayberry Sr.; two sons, Rayford E. Mayberry Jr. and Donald Mayberry, both of Natchez; four grandchildren, Jab’ari J. Smith, Ja’Kari D. Mayberry and Ja’kerria A. Mayberry of San Antonio, Texas, and Sandie Sadler of Las Vegas; two great-grandchildren, Jaida B. Smith and Jamir J. Smith, both of San Antonio; four brothers, Herman Phipps, Clyde Phipps and Larry Williams, all of Natchez, and Raydell Phipps of Margate, Fla.; four sisters, Georgia Ann Granger and Rosetta Phipps, both of Natchez, Brenda Jackson of Vidalia and Loretta Bruson of Miami; and a number of nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and close friends.