Mrs. Shirley J. Green

Mrs. Shirley Jean Smith Green of 412 East 12th Avenue, Cordele, Georgia, died Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at Crisp Regional Hospital in Cordele, Georgia.

The funeral service will be held on Saturday, August 29, 2026, at 2:00 PM in the chapel of the J. W. Williams Funeral Home in Cordele, Georgia. The burial will follow at the Spring Hill Church Cemetery in Cordele, Georgia.

Shirley Jean Smith Green, affectionately known to all who loved her as “Shelly,” was born on February 14, 1943, in Cordele, Crisp County, Georgia. She was the beloved daughter of the late Booker T. Smith and the late Bertha Murray Smith. Following her mother’s passing, she was lovingly reared by her father and the late Ora Mae Smith.

Shelly received her education in the public schools of Crisp County, attending A. S. Clark High School. A woman of deep faith, she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, uniting with Spring Hill Baptist Church, where she served faithfully as an Usher.

Shelly was a woman of vibrant joy and infectious warmth who personified love in every way. An avid, die-hard Atlanta Braves fan, she proudly proclaimed herself their #1 supporter. Evenings were often filled with her favorite game shows, “Family Feud” and “Wheel of Fortune”. Above all else, her children were her entire world. She found her greatest happiness in cooking hearty meals, sharing deep laughs, and bringing her family together. Whether traveling to events with her beloved crew—her "Road Dogs": her sister Ruth, "Pig", Lillie, Nellie, and Bobbie Ann—or sitting quietly on the porch enjoying good conversation with Caldon, she lived surrounded by genuine fellowship and enduring love.

On August 19, 2026, Shelly peacefully transitioned into eternal rest. She was preceded in death by her parents; two children, Jennifer Green and Ricky Smith; and four siblings, Ella Mae Everett, Mary Smith, Eugene Grant, Billy Grant, Curtis Everett, Easter Smith, and Frederick Smith and her former husband, Eddie Lee Green.

Her beautiful legacy and cherished memories will forever live on in the hearts of her loving children: Mary (Desi) Green, Zobbie Smith, Eddie Green, and Steven (Nikki) Green, all of Cordele, Georgia; her grandchildren, two of whom she reared, Latoya (Mike) Walker of Miami, Florida, and Ontario Green of New York; Latasha, Lachandra, Latosha, Precious, Shannon, Rusty, Constance, Kerrica, Shakerria, Keidra, Brittany, Kayla, Cameron, Steven Jr., George Jr., Zorria, Eddie Jr., Ricky Jr., Bryce, Jaden, and Joziah; 24 great-grandchildren; her loving sister, Ruth Smith of Cordele, Georgia; her caring brother, Charles (Vikki) Smith of Pahokee, Florida; two special nephews, Cleveland (Tammy) Smith and Johnny Smith of Cordele, Georgia; her bonus children: Shirley Faye Green, Sonya Green, Tiffany Gray, Demetria Shon Oliver, April Jones, Verlena Grant, Corey (Shekie) Reese, Faye Green, Benjamin Green, Anthony Green, Kermit (Lillian) Green, and Keiska Jones; her daughters of love, Michelle Smith and Patricia Green both of Cordele, Georgia; her special friends, Deacon Eddie Byron, Lillie Mathis, Nellie Shivers, Bobbie Ann Paul, and her porch buddy, Caldon Wallace The Byron Family, Anthony West, Adrian West, Alex West, the entire Spring Hill Baptist Church Family, her Ramada Inn Crew: Bernice, Hattie, Puddin’, & Pat; a host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and sorrowing friends.