Shirley Logan Tompkins

Shirley Logan Tompkins (May 16, 1935 - April 16, 2025)

Shirley Tompkins almost made it to her 90th birthday, but she was right on time to spend her first Easter in Heaven. She exemplified a life lived with love, purpose, and deep faith.

Shirley was born and raised in the Two Egg/Lovedale community of Florida. She was the youngest of five siblings. The others were: William Alva Stephenson, Hilda Bevis, Norma Dell Jensen, and Fay Logan Chandler. Ms. Tompkins’ parents were Wilbur Jesse Logan and Valda Chappell Logan.

Shirley graduated from Greenwood High School in 1952. She attended Berry College in Rome, Georgia and Florida State Hospital School of Nursing in Chattahoochee, FL, where she graduated in 1956 as a Registered Nurse. Ms. Tompkins enjoyed working in hospitals in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, and Hawaii. Her last job was in the office of the late Dr. Jabe Breland in Marianna, Florida. Even after retirement, Shirley Tompkins kept her license active for many years to be of assistance to neighbors living far from a hospital.

Shirley’s late husband, Francis “Bud” Tompkins, was the love of her life. They were inseparable until his death in 2012. Ms. Tompkins is survived by daughters, Anita Bice in Hilo, HI; Marlene Cole in Lovedale, FL; and stepdaughter, Mary Tompkins Dyess in LaBelle, FL. Upon her death, Shirley’s youngest daughter, Karen Beeler, may have been the first to welcome her to Heaven, having preceded her by 7 months. Shirley is survived by beloved grandchildren, Daniel Beeler, Jesse Beeler, and Sarah Long, and by nieces and nephews she adored.

Shirley loved animals, especially her spoiled dogs and the deer, hummingbirds, and songbirds that visited her yard to eat the food she provided for them. A songbird herself, she was in the Lovedale Baptist Church choir until her voice became too weak in recent years. Others found her voice to be beautiful, but she said it was just loud. As a child she spent as much time outdoors as possible and was told that people heard her belting out songs from far away.

Shirley Tompkins’ favorite pastime was studying the Bible, and she found much joy in teaching a women’s Sunday School class at Lovedale Baptist Church for many years. There is no doubt she is now enjoying meeting the real people she read about in the pages of the Bible all of her life. Shirley loved her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, whose death and resurrection made it possible for her to have a relationship with her Creator. She left behind a request for the following Scripture to be read at her memorial service: “Eternal life means to know You, the only true God, and to know Jesus Christ, whom You sent” (John 17:3). Her relationship with God provided peace and security during difficult times in her life. She prayed daily for a list of people she loved because she longed for them to experience this peace. As much as we who are left behind will miss her love, humor, stubbornness, sassiness, kindness, and prayers, we rejoice that she is now in the presence of the One who has always loved her most.

A memorial service will be held at Lovedale Baptist Church at a date to be determined later in mid-May.

Donations in memory of Shirley Tompkins can be sent to:

Lovedale Baptist Church 6595 Lovedale Rd. Greenwood, FL 32423