Shirley Clark Kendrick

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." ~ Philippians 4:13

A CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR SHIRLEY MARIE (CLARK) KENDRICK

1940 - 2026

Shirley Clark Kendrick grew up under the guiding hands of her parents, Abe Henry and Vada Clark, in the suburbs of Dyersburg, Tennessee. After high school, she moved to Haywood County when she married William E. (Bill) Kendrick in 1960.

She developed a passion for nursing and first worked as a surgical nurse at Brownsville Memorial Hospital and later on at the Welch Clinic on Lafayette Ave. She went on to spend several years at the Haywood County Health Department, developing lifelong friendships with many of her co-workers. Shirley furthered her nursing career by becoming a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. Residents at the former Crestview Nursing Home were fortunate to have her nurturing and expertise as part of their care. Before retiring, she was a nursing home surveyor for the State of Tennessee.

She received her RN degree from Union University and her Pediatric Nurse Practitioner degree from Meharry Medical College.

Young ladies who expressed an interest in nursing as their chosen profession often sought her advice. She would explain the joys and frustrations but would always end with the rewards of the profession. She was a great encourager and mentor to many and eagerly offered her help when asked.

Some of her many joys were traveling (she made a trip to Ireland), cruises and any time a beach outing was planned, she was always ready to go. In her early years she enjoyed sewing (much like her mother), camping and playing cards. An avid reader, you could find her nose in a book most any day. She was active in the choir at Allen Baptist Church for many years before moving to Poplar Corner Baptist Church where she was a faithful member until her health began to fail. In her later years, she truly loved being with her children at family gatherings and simply adored her three grandchildren.

Her courage and faith came into full view when she was diagnosed with cancer and facing surgery. She put her trust in the Lord to carry her through and heal her. Her eyes were focused on the future and she never let the battles in life bring her down. She was a fighter in every respect of the word.

For most who knew her, she didn't mind sharing her opinion or correcting you if she thought you were wrong. The one thing everyone agreed on was that you never had to wonder where you stood with her.

"Mama Shirley" (as many came to know her) spent her life serving and caring for others ... as a mother, as a nurse and as a faithful member of her church. As her life drew to a close, her thoughts turned to "going home" and "being with Jesus." And our family knows that our sister was waiting there at the gates when she arrived saying, "What took you so long?"

One of her final goals was to be able to know her only granddaughter, Carol, graduated high school. By way of a livestream of the ceremonies, she "heard" Carol's name called as she received her degree. In her final hours, she was surrounded by close friends and family.

It is a sad time for her family and friends, but it is a joyous time for her. She is free of the rigors of dialysis, free of pain and she has seen the face of our Lord with healed eyes. God is good.

A special thanks goes out to the staff at Sugar Creek Senior Living Community for the care and attention given to our mom. We couldn't have asked for her to be in a better place, and we will always be thankful to all of you for making her feel at ease, especially in her final months and days.

Knowing her love of the ocean, we felt this passage sums up her life experience:

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other. Then someone at my side says, "There, she is gone!"

"Gone where?"

Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and she is just as able to bear the load of living freight to her destined port.

Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says, "There, she is gone!"... there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout, "Here she comes!"

And that ... is dying ...

Shirley is survived by her sons Kenny Kendrick (Dede) and Mark Kendrick (Dale) both of Brownsville, TN; her sister, Donna Clark, of Ellijay, GA; and three grandchildren, Carol Kendrick, Will Kendrick and Caleb Kendrick. She was preceded in death by her parents, Abe Henry and Vada Marie Wardlow Clark; her daughter, Shelia Kendrick Strickland; and her son-in-law, Mike Strickland.

Pallbearers for the service are Will Kendrick, Caleb Kendrick, Andy Roney, Jay Roney, John Warren and Jesse Dedmon. Honorary Pallbearers are Joe Haynes, Bobby Pigue, Elvin Wells, Chad Kirk and Tracy Rodgers.

Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at 12:00 PM, at the Poplar Corner Baptist Church with Bro. Jon Bell and Bro. Greg Jordan officiating. Burial will follow at 2:30 PM, at the Zion Methodist Church Cemetery in the Rudolph Community. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, at the Poplar Corner Baptist Church.

The family requests that memorials be made to Samaritan’s Purse at Poplar Corner Baptist Church, Shelia Strickland Shoebox Ministry, 1010 Boyd Ave., Brownsville, TN 38012. All arrangements and services are under the direction of the Lea & Simmons Funeral Home.