Herald General Baptist Church

OBITUARY Shirley A Walters APRIL 24, 1939 OCTOBER 22, 2020... Obituary of Shirley A Walters Shirley Ann Clark Ash Walters walked her last country road and crossed the small, still waters unafraid, into the waiting arms of her Jesus, with His sheep by His side, entering into His arms and home forevermore. Shirley was born in Hepzibah, West Virginia, Harrison County, on April 24, 1939, to Harold and Esther Davisson Clark. She attended grade school and entered high school in WV. When the family relocated to Warren, Ohio, the unhappy Shirley was permitted to return to WV, to live with her Grandmother Davisson and complete high school with her friends. At the age of 13, she had also been baptized at her church, the Hepzibah Baptist Church. Her special mentor was Mrs. Marshall. Soon afer graduating Shirley joined the U.S. Air Force as an 18 year old. She trained at Lackland Air Base, then at San Antonio, TX, to be a dental technician, before transferring to Montgomery, AL, and on to Elgin Air Force Base in FL. There she married her high school sweetheart, James Ash, a U.S. Marine Corporal stationed at Jacksonville, NC. They moved to Camp Lejeune, NC, then to E’tain, France, where Jim was killed in a car accident. Shirley returned to WV. with her three year old daughter, Tina Louise Ash. Before long, Shirley and Tina moved to Washington, D.C. where she met Larry Walters, who was in the U.S. Army. They were married in Portsmouth, VA and later transferred to Illinois to welcome baby son Steven Dale before moving to St. Louis, MO and various other locations as assigned by the Army. While stationed in Stuttgart, Germany, Larry volunteered for Viet Nam duty. Shirley and the children returned to Warren, OH, where daughter Tracey Diane was born. Somewhere in the midst of the Viet Nam experience, they found time to move to Modesto, CA, and find a house on Dickens Drive. However, Uncle Sam was not ready to release them. Leaving their property in the care of a neighbor and good renters, the family spent some time in Savannah, GA. and West Point, NY, before finally returning to Modesto to stay. Shirley earned he A.A. at Modesto Junior College and ultimately retired from Civil Service at Sharpe Defend Depot. She was a member of Herald General Baptist Church the rest of her life, where she taught a children’s Sunday School Class for many years. She also spent several years volunteering at Memorial Hospital and Modesto Library. Shirley was predeceased by her parents, her daughter, Tracey, her brother, Bill Clark, and her first husband. She is survived by her daughter, Tina Ash-Mahan of Port St. Joe, FL; son Steven (Brenda) Walters, Indiatlantic, FL; grandchildren Calder and Maura Mahan; Sister Betty Cononico, of Ohio; and one niece and two nephews. Services are at Lakewood Memorial Park Monday, Nov. 2nd: graveside service interment 10:00am. And Celebration of Life at Herald General Baptist Church At 11:30am. Masks are required at both locations.

HGB family - In accordance with the change in state mandated guidelines, we are canceling church services until further notice. Thank you for your understanding in these uncertain times. In the mean time; love one another , serve one another and pray for one another.

HGB Family: We will be resuming services at HGB, starting this Sunday, June 7th. We know you are eager to be worshipping together under the same roof and at the same time we want to keep our HGB family and guests safe and healthy when each of you decides that you are ready to worship together. During this time and for the immediate future, we will be adhering to state and local recommendations for church gatherings including the following safeguards: Face coverings will be o...ptional but encouraged, for all who attend in person. We ask all to maintain 6 ft social distancing during your visit. An usher will greet you at the door, offer you a mask/hand sanitizer. Seating will be scattered in varied family-sized groupings. Seating groups will be 6 feet apart. There will be no greeting time. There will be no coffee or doughnuts provided. Hand sanitizing stations will be placed strategically for our members and guests. Choir and Sunday School will be canceled until further notice. Loitering/Socializing before and after service will be discouraged. If you feel the need, please take your conversations outside and maintain a safe distance. (We know this one is hard) Children will remain in the care of those in their household unit and are encouraged to not interact with children of other families. No youth and children's programs will be offered. We will prop or hold doors open during peak periods when congregants/visitors are entering and exiting facilities. We will not be passing offering plates, but we will provide you with an opportunity to present your tithes and offerings in a safe manner. We want you to feel safe and comfortable when you decide you come and worship with us. We love you all and are looking forward to seeing you again (when you are ready) in our church.

Need more books to read during quarantine? Our church library is filled with wonderful books just waiting to read. If you need a book please contact our librarian Eddi Marie to arrange for pick up or delivery.

Our cross is blossoming for Easter!