Dorothy Shirley

Dorothy's Journey

A Life Dedicated to Spreading the “Good News” and Encouraging People Through Music

Born July 11, 1938 in Henderson, Kentucky to Dorothy Lucille Burris and Jack Wheat Shirley, Dorothy Jean Shirley accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior at an early age at First Missionary Baptist Church. She was a member in musical service and various roles for Greater St. James Missionary Baptist Church, First Ebenezer Baptist Church, and Metropolitan Seventh-Day Adventist Church before returning to First Baptist where she was a mother of the church.

Affectionately known as “Little Dot,” Dorothy developed a love of the piano at an early age. A self-taught pianist, she began playing for the church choir around the age of 12. Many years later, she added the organ to her musical repertoire, allowing her to create more colorful choral arrangements. For over 60 years, Dorothy directed and played for numerous choirs, churches and organizations in the tri-state area. In the midst of all of her choir work, Dorothy was also a founding member of the Voices of Glory gospel ensemble which, in 2003, was awarded the “Pioneer Award” for extraordinary contributions to gospel music by the Evansville chapter of the Gospel Music Workshop of America (GMWA).

Additionally, Dorothy was inducted into the Evansville chapter of the GMWA Hall of Fame, an honor she cherished and appreciated. When presented with the recognition award, she was appropriately described this way:

"In her nearly [60] years of playing the piano, she has played for many churches, but never played in a 'roadhouse'. She admonished the young musicians to continue to play gospel music and to stay with the church."

In addition to spending time with her children of whom she was most proud, Dorothy shared her musical gifts by teaching others how to play the piano, especially the “young folks.”

Dorothy worked in administration for McLean Trucking Co. and Atlas Van Lines in Evansville, from where she retired to care for her mother, faithfully, for 7 years.

She leaves to cherish her memory a brother, John Gilbert Shirley of Evansville, Indiana, four children: Sherrilynn Mitchell Tolliver (Gerald) of Capitol Heights, Maryland, Daryl Allen Mitchell of Evansville, Indiana, Pamela Horn Hall (Ricco) of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, and Timothy Ray Horn (Ayana) of Portland, Oregon; five grandchildren: Paul Allen Osei Mitchell, Winston Cloye Tolliver, Jaylan Carnell Hall, Amiri Paul Horn and Imani Rose Horn; and a host of loving cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

She is preceded in death by her father, Jack Wheat Shirley, mother, Dorothy Burris Shelton, stepfather, Luvall Oswald Shelton, and brothers Robert Lee (Bobby) Shirley and William Donald (Billy) Shirley.

Dorothy will be remembered for her strong faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, her ability to listen to those who sought advice, comfort and solace, her love for others, her beautiful singing and piano/organ playing, her love of elegant home décor, and her stylish fashion.

Even in her winter season, Dorothy praised God all day long for “His grace and mercy that never ends.”

Tribute Hymns

Dorothy's "mental Rolodex" of hymns and gospel songs was immense, and her ability to recall, play and orchestrate any song that anyone wanted to sing was unparalleled. However, over the years, Dorothy held a particular few hymns close to her heart, and it is those hymns we share in tribute to her:

"Jesus Keep Me Near The Cross"

(Verse 1)
Jesus, keep me near the cross,
There's a precious fountain;
Free to all, a healing stream,
Flows from Calv'ry's mountain.
(Verse 4)
Near the cross! I'll watch and wait,
Hoping, trusting ever;
Till I reach the golden strand,
Just beyond the river.
(Refrain)
In the cross, in the cross
Be my glory ever,
Till my ransomed soul shall find
Rest, beyond the river.

"Blessed Assurance"

(Verse 1)
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.
(Verse 3)
Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with his goodness, lost in his love.
(Refrain)
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior, all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.

"How Great Thou Art"

(Verse 1)
O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder
consider all the works thy hand hath made,
I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,
thy power throughout the universe displayed;
(Verse 4)
When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration
and there proclaim, "My God, how great thou art!"
(Refrain)
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee:
how great thou art, how great thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee:
how great thou art, how great thou art!

"At The Cross"

(Verse 1)
Alas! and did my Savior bleed,
and did my Sovereign die!
Would He devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?
(Verse 5)
But drops of tears can ne'er repay
the debt of love I owe.
Here, Lord, I give myself away;
'tis all that I can do.
(Refrain)
At the Cross, at the Cross,
where I first saw the light,
and the burdens of my heart rolled away.
it was there by faith,
I received my sight,
and now I am happy all the day!

"We’re Marching To Zion"

(Verse1)
Come, we that love the Lord,
and let our joys be known;
join in a song with sweet accord,
and thus surround the throne.
(Verse 4)
Then let our songs abound,
and ev'ry tear be dry;
we're marching through Emmanuel's ground
to fairer worlds on high.
(Refrain)
We’re marching to Zion,
beautiful, beautiful Zion!
We’re marching upward to Zion,
The beautiful city of God!

"All To Jesus I Surrender (I Surrender All)"

(Verse 1)
All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.
(Verse 3)
All to Jesus I surrender,
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power,
Let Thy blessing fall on me.
(Refrain)
I surrender all, I surrender all;
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.