Peggy Jean Graham Shirah, 81, wife of James S. Shirah Sr., died on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2014, in West Columbia.
Born July 11, 1933, in Pinewood, she was a daughter of the late Milton Allen and Allie Lee Barkley Graham. Mrs. Shirah was a member of New Heights Baptist Church in Columbia. She enjoyed traveling with her husband, good times with her children, bird watching, and spending quiet time collecting and reading many books. She was a private person, devoted to her husband and children, and a great inspiration to her grandchildren. She was greatly loved and will be truly missed.
Memories will be cherished by her husband of 65 years, Sammy Shirah Sr.; four sons, Sam Shirah and his wife, Carol, and Chris Shirah, Frank Shirah and Ryan Shirah and his wife, Stacy, all of Sumter; two daughters, Patricia Shirah Reber and her husband, Bill, of Cayce, and Carol Shirah Richburg of Columbia; two brothers, Joe Graham and his wife, Violet, of Byron, Ga., and Howard Graham and his wife, Reba, of Arabi, Ga.; 10 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. Shirah was preceded in death by a sister, Sadie Graham Hatfield; and four brothers, Hazel Graham, M.A. Graham, Ed Graham and John Graham.
Funeral services for Peggy Jean Graham Shirah will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, 2014, in the chapel of Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home with the Rev. John McDonald officiating. Burial will be in Pinewood Cemetery.
Grandsons will serve as pallbearers.
The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22, 2014, at Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to Pinewood United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 203, Pinewood, SC 29125; the American Diabetes Association, 7021 St. Andrews Road, Suite 100-A, Columbia, SC 29212; or to the American Heart Association, 190 Knox Abbott Drive, Cayce, SC 29033.
Online condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com.
Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad St. in Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements, (803) 775-9386.
