Shirley Wright Sifford

The following obituary is being posted by Norton Funeral Home & Crematory as a courtesy to local family & friends.  Our thoughts and prayers are with Reverend Jeff, Carolyn and the entire Sifford family.  All services have been entrusted to Powles Staton Funeral Home of Rockwell, NC.  

Shirley Wright Sifford, 89, of Rockwell, entered into Glory and joined her Lord and Savior and husband of 64 years, after a brief illness, at home, surrounded by her family on Thursday, August 29, 2024.

She was born February 4, 1935, in Cleveland County, NC, to the late Forrest Clifton Wright and Bessie McSwain Wright. Mrs. Sifford was a graduate of China Grove High School and was employed by Cannon Mills and later Rockwell Christian School where she assisted with after school care for the students. She attended Friendship Baptist Church in Salisbury and loved staying active. She enjoyed attending events at Rufty-Holmes Senior Center and thoroughly enjoyed traveling; from Royal Caribbean cruises to the Bahamas and Hawaii to bus tours with Crossroads, if she was "going," she was happy.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Sifford was preceded in death by her husband, Charles A. "Short" Sifford, who she married May 23, 1953; sisters, Janelle Sifford and Pauline Cooper; and her half-brothers, Stough, Marshall, Tamadge, and Blaine Wright.

Shirley is survived by her children, Donna Sifford Ashley and husband, Steve, of Salisbury and Rev. Jeffrey Lynn Sifford and wife, Carolyn, of Hartsville, SC; grandson, Brandon Dale Sifford of Rockwell; and her nieces and nephews, Nancy Breedlove and husband, Chris, Eric Sifford and wife, Paulette, Mike Sifford and wife, Becky, Ernie Rinehardt and wife, Tanya, and Janie Sifford and husband, Tim.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, September 3, at Brookhill Memorial Gardens in Rockwell, with Rev. Bob Lovett officiating. The family will visit with friends and relatives following the service, at the cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Rufty-Holmes Senior Center, 1120 S. MLK Jr. Avenue, Salisbury, NC 28144.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to Novant Rowan Hospice, Bostian Heights Fire Department, and to their "village," Tom Sifford, Becky Sifford, and Wendy Hunsucker for their assistance when needed and their loving care.

Powles Staton Funeral Home of Rockwell is assisting the family. Online condolences may be made at www.powlesfuneralhome.com.