Shirley E. McNabb

Shirley Ethel McNabb born October 19, 1940, in Columbia Mississippi. And passed away July 17, 2026, at Lakeshore the Meadows-Bellevue Nashville Tennessee.

She is preceded in death by parents, Mamie Ethel McNabb and Shirley Zeno McNabb; sister Carolyn (McNabb) Greer, and brother William McNabb; nephews, Brian and Scotty Bratten. Remaining family members include Mary (McNabb) Bratten and husband Stephen, Mike McNabb, David McNabb, and Joseph Greer; Cortney (McNabb) Wilkes, and husband, Robert; Travis McNabb, and wife Kayla; Kayla McNabb, and husband Jonathan, and Chris McNabb.

Shirley was a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi where she studied nursing. She moved to Nashville where she worked in Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital as a R.N. until her retirement.

She was a faithful member of the Church of God and attended several different congregations in the Nashville area.

Visitation and funeral for Shirley will be at Western Hills Church, 7565 Charlotte Pike Nashville.

The visitation will be from 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM on Friday July 24^th, 2026, then again from 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Saturday July 25^th, 2026.  The Funeral will follow at 11:00 AM on Saturday July 25^th, 2026, all at Western Hills Church. Her burial will follow at Harpeth Hills Memory Gardens, 9090 Hwy 100 Nashville.

Shirley was always a kind, generous, thoughtful person to her family, friends, and her faith. As the oldest of six children, she was second Mother to her Sisters and Brothers. As a member of the Church of God, she provided physical, moral and financial support to her church.

She was known to her family as Shaful because our Sister Carolyn, as a child, couldn’t say Shirley Ethel. So from that time forward she was Shaful or Aunt Shaful.

Shirley was always there with medical advice, doctor recommendations, or just someone to talk to. She provided financial help if needed, support during your child’s illness, a place to stay if you were sick, a driver if you shouldn’t be alone for a doctor’s visit, or a home base if you didn’t have one at that time. She remained the primary caregiver for our mother, living in the family home with her until Mother passed.

Shirley loved working as a pediatric nurse. She especially loved working at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital giving care and comfort to children and their families that were forced to deal with catastrophic conditions. She often would make room for a parent from out of town to stay overnight if they couldn’t afford a hotel or the drive home was too long.

Shirley’s faith was very important to her. She supported the Church of God by working as the staff R.N. for camp meeting, contributing to missions, participating in ladies’ groups fundraisers, and assisting the church in any way she could.

Shirley’s hobbies included cooking, baking, sewing, embroidery, country music, and gadgets. She loved celebrating holidays, in particular Christmas and Thanksgiving. Nothing pleased her more than preparing a holiday meal for the family and having everyone come and enjoy that meal. If you were special to Shirley, you received Christmas cookies or other treats and cards. She collected cookbooks of all kinds, Christmas decorations, angels, and jewelry.

People who knew Shirley at different stages in her life will remember her for specific traits that she demonstrated during their friendship. As someone who knew her all my life, I will remember her as a sister and a person that always took others best interest into consideration when she did something. She gave of herself and her time for family regardless of the consequences.

Shirley will be remembered as a sweet, friendly, and kind friend to all those who knew her.

Arrangements in the care of Compassion Funeral & Cremation Services, 6949 Charlotte Pike, Suite 104  (615) 857-9955. We are proud to be West Nashville & Bellevue’s only locally owned and operated burial & cremation provider.