Shirley Ann Bray Taylor

Shirley Ann Bray Taylor, 69, of Manila formerly of Blytheville, the widow of Luther Justin Taylor, died Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009, at the NEA/Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jonesboro. Born in Manila, she was the daughter of the late William Enoch and Mary Lucille Wright Bray and had been a lifelong resident of Northeast Arkansas.

She was a 1958 graduate of Manila High School and began playing professional basketball at the age of 18 for the All American Redheads. She went into the nursing profession in 1967 and worked in the surgery department of the former Chickasawba Hospital in Blytheville until 1990. From 1990-1995 she worked in ICU, PCU Home Health. She served as Director of Nursing from 1995-2003. She then worked as Health Service Administrator from 2003 until her retirement.

She once stated her favorite memory was winning the State Softball Championship in 1960s. She enjoyed reading stories about the Old West, Civil War and the American Revolution. She was member of the Blackwater Baptist Church near Manila.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by a brother, Bobby Bray.

She is survived by a son, David Taylor and his wife Thea of Manila; three sisters, Ellen White of Manila, Betty Bray of Manila and Ruby Sutton of Tampa, Fla.; and a grandson, Zackary Taylor.

Funeral services were 2 p.m. Monday in the Howard Funeral Chapel in Manila with Rev. Jerry Pentecost officiating. Burial was in the Manila Cemetery. The family received visitors Monday from noon until service time.

Online guest register is www.howardfuneralservice.com.