NORTHPORT Shirley Greene Clements, our sweet wife, mother, sister, “Aunt Key”, friend, and “Geebird”, went to be with Jesus June 12, 2012.
Shirley was born to a Northport merchant family, Roy and Angie Greene, on July 20, 1938. They owned and operated Greene Cleaners on Main Avenue. As a child, Shirley tap-danced on a big bass drum in Shirley Temple style for Tuscaloosa County High School halftime shows.
She earned B.A. and M.S. degrees from the University of Alabama and was a teacher of Distributive Education at Tuscaloosa County High School for 31 years.
She was a charter member of St. Mark United Methodist Church, where she was currently serving on the Board of Trustees. Her greatest joy was serving others. She transported friends and church family who needed assistance. She was well known for the love and grace she offered with each famous caramel cake and pumpkin roll she delivered. There were other numerous daily acts of servanthood that were appreciated. She enjoyed her career as a realtor after she retired from teaching.
Shirley is survived by her husband, Louis Timothy “Jack” Clements; her daughter, Angeline Burns and her husband Kenny; and her son, Tim Clements and his wife Susan. She adored her grandchildren, Andrew “Drew” Burns and his fiancée Sydni O'Brien, Alexandra “Alex” Burns McCune and her husband Chris, Julia Whitman Clements, and Timothy Jackson Clements; and her great-grandson who brought sunshine to her last two years, Samuel Kenneth McCune.
Shirley and her husband Jack were one of seven couples honored by the Marriage Ministry of Tuscaloosa County as an example of godly marriage. Their lives were celebrated at the Legacy of Love Banquet on February 23, 2012, at First Baptist Church. They received a commendation proclamation from Mayors Maddox and Herndon and Judge McCollum.
Shirley is also survived by her brother, Jimmy Greene; her nieces and nephews, Jennifer Greene Kelly and her husband Keith, Jay Greene, Parker Kelly, and Caroline Kelly; her aunts, Ann Abbott Rickett and Margie Griffin; her uncle, Tom Moore; and other cousins.
Shirley dearly loved her “pretend sister”, Anita Guerard, and so many close friends. She was preceded to heaven by her sister-in-law and best friend, Wilma Greene. We will miss our Proverbs 31 example, but we take heart in knowing that heaven is for real.
Private family burial will take place Friday. The family will receive friends Friday from 2 to 3 p.m. at St. Mark Methodist Church in Northport. A celebration of life service honoring our Lord will follow at 3 p.m. at St. Mark Methodist Church. Magnolia Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
Published in Tuscaloosa News on June 14, 2012
