Shirley Jean Hester Graves, 77, went to be with the Lord on March 16, 2026. Shirley was born July 21, 1948, in Kernersville, NC to Delbert Lee Hester and Dollie Lee Nelson Hester. She was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother & great-grandmother, to her family.
She was a fighter, proving this by beating breast cancer and kidney failure. She was not afraid of hard work and was always ready for a new adventure. She spent her working years at Hanes Hosiery, AT&T, Wachovia and retired from Integon Insurance. After retirement, her days were spent with the love of her life, Johnny.
Shirley was an avid reader & loved Nicholas Sparks books, putting puzzles together, crafts, flowers, crocheting, ceramics, mowing the yard & she loved to travel.
Her family was her greatest joy, and she was always the first to brag on them. She loved them fiercely and unconditionally.
She is survived by her loving husband of 59 years, John C. Graves, her children, Tammie Lingerfelt (Chad), and Forrest Graves (Johanna); two grandsons, Clay Lingerfelt, and Dylan Lingerfelt (Brittany); and three great-grandchildren, Naomi, Isaac, and Miles. She is also survived by her siblings, Anna Bristol, Evon Taffer (Landon), and Wayne Hester (Becky).
There will be a time for family & friends from 1:00pm to 3:00pm on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at Hayworth-Miller Funeral Home, 3950 Macy Grove Road, Kernersville.
2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”
Her children would like to express their sincere gratitude to the staff at Hospice of the Piedmont for the care and compassion they provided their mom.
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