All day Thursday Shirley waited for the Lord. The Lord did not rush; neither did gentle, sweet Lady Shirley. Isaiah 30:18 was whispered to her by her husband,Jack.

“Blessed are all who wait for the Lord.”

She lay close to death as Jack and their sons Tom and John loved her into eternal joy. Daughter Alice and her family spoke into Shirley’s ear via cell phone from Michigan. The oldest son, Billy, prayed along from Heaven waiting with open arms to introduce his Mom to Jesus.

At just the right time the Holy Spirit said something like, “OK beautiful Shirley the flowers here are all yellow. The time for waiting is over. The Father, Jesus and I want you here. NOW!”

Long Island was the childhood home of Shirley McWilliams. She and Jack celebrated the Sacrament of Matrimony in 1961. Shirley lived and loved her Catholic faith and while making her final journey to Heaven was nourished by the Holy Eucharist and the Sacrament of The Sick.

Left behind to continue their own journeys to God are Jack, Tom, John, Alice and her husband, Dave; and five grandchildren, Patrick, Shannon, Michael, Brian and Kathleen. Her beloved nieces and nephew, Therese Rogers, and D. A. and David Hayden along with friends beyond measure mourn yet rejoice.

The funeral Mass and Inurnment will be held at Saint Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church in Raleigh Thursday, April 26th, at 11:00 a.m. with a gathering one hour before at 10:00 a.m. and a reception following the Inurnment.

She waited for her Lord Jesus; He came and she is totally healed.