Shirley Snipes Newton

Shirley Snipes Newton, 66, of the Chesterfield Community passed this life to be alive with her Heavenly Father forevermore on Monday, March 17, 2008, at her residence, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.Born in Burke County on April 16, 1941, she was the daughter of the late Calvin Marion "Junior" Snipes and Louise Franklin Snipes.Shirley was a member of Antioch Baptist Church and a former member of Pleasant View Baptist Church. She was current president of the Burke North Gideon’s Auxiliary and a Director of the Chesterfield Fire and Rescue Department. She has served as Women’s Missionary Union Director, Vacation Bible School Director, Sunday School Director, Sunday School Children’s teacher, Choir member and held various other church related positions.She thoroughly enjoyed serving the public of Burke, Caldwell, McDowell and Catawba Counties as an Insurance Agent for home, auto and life & casualty. She was employed at Stoney-Kistler Insurance Agency, Inc. for 36 years and retired in 2006 from Iris Fox Insurance Agency.Shirley was a Class of 1959 graduate of Morganton High School and of the Caldwell Business School in 1960.She was a beautiful and caring wife, loving mother, special grandmother, dear mother-in-law, precious sister, sister-in-law, aunt and loyal friend. She genuinely loved everyone and was always concerned about others. She enjoyed growing her beautiful flowers and working in her vegetable garden, spending vacations with her family, attending her grandson’s school and athletic events, and visiting with family and friends. She and her mother loved making baskets, quilting and sewing projects and sharing fond memories with their family. Shirley faithfully attended to her mother during her illness prior to her death in 2007. Shirley will long be remembered for her many thoughtful expressions of love, her radiant smile and her Christian faith serving her Lord.Shirley is survived by her husband, Charles; her son, Chris Newton and wife, Sherri of Concord, NC; her daughter, April Newton and special friend, Sunny Liston of West Des Moines, Iowa; and a grandson, Adam Newton of Concord, NC; her brothers, Travis Snipes and wife, Shirley, and Turner Snipes and wife, Jeannie, both of Morganton, NC; and numerous beloved nieces, nephews and extended family.Graveside services will be held at 2:00 pm Thursday, March 20, 2008 at Forest Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Clarence Correll officiating.The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Wednesday evening at Sossoman Funeral Home. At other times the family will be gathered at the residence.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Gideons International, Burke North Camp, PO Box 985, Morganton, NC, 28680, and Christmas Cheer, c/o The News-Herald, Morganton, NC 28655.Sossoman Funeral Home is serving the family.