Shirley May Berry Currie

08 NOV 1922 - 27 FEB 1993, Today marks the 15th anniversary of my mother's death. It's hard to believe she's been gone that long. Momma was a pleasant woman ready to serve her family. For 20 years she worked as a Nurse's Aide at St. Joseph Hospital, on the third shift. While we were at school she was at home sleeping. By the time we made it home from school, she had already started dinner. Everything was made from scratch. Chicken 'n Dumplings, Pinto Beans and Cornbread, Lemon Meringue Pie with homemade crust, assorted cakes made from scratch, and just so we didn't get bored she would prepare something like Veal Parmesan. Every Sunday we had Pot Roast, Mashed Potatoes, a green vegetable and homemade rolls. The nurses on Momma's shift would say, "Currie why don't you just give them TV dinners?" The closest we ever came to having TV dinners were the times my Daddy would go out of town on business. Momma would have fried shrimp and frozen cream pies. It was exciting for us kids knowing we would get to eat those special treats! The three of us kids would sit down at the dinner table. She was taking the last of the shrimp out of the frying pan. She would count out the shrimp so that we each had the same portion. She was always fair.

After she retired her goal was to identify all the trees on the 52 acre property, to read a biography of each President, sew, and do volunteer work of some kind. She was a docent for the Memphis, TN Wonders Series, Catherine the Great and Splendors of the Ottoman Sultans.

She spoiled me after the birth of Anna and Samuel. She would come over everyday at 5 PM for about 2 weeks and bring a full course meal.

She was much beloved by her siblings. Being the oldest girl she was almost like a second mother to them.

I miss her when the spring comes. She enjoyed gardening and was always puttering around the yard, even enjoying mowing the lawn. She was a birdwatcher, great cook and loving grandmother too.