Shirley Louise Ranson

Shirley Louise Ranson, 85, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and sister, passed away at her home on Monday, September 5, 2022 after a courageous battle with multiple myeloma.

Born in East Finley, PA, she was the eldest child of the late Charlie Hearld and Sarah Geneive Stollar Cummins.

Growing up on a farm in rural Washington County, Shirley learned about hard work and dedication at an early age and became skilled at the domestic tasks of daily life.

As a young woman, Shirley married and was blessed with five children within seven years. She cared for them during the day and worked at night as a certified nurse’s aide at the local hospital. Her philosophy was to do whatever was needed to provide for her young family. Her notable skill and professionalism caught the attention of a prominent oral surgeon who hired and trained Shirley to assist him with his office procedures. She enjoyed her new position and worked in his practice for 20 years.

While in his early 50s, Shirley’s husband Bob was diagnosed with ALS and over time needed her full care and support. She vowed to keep him at home and with the help of her son and daughter-in-law, Gary and Sarah, was able to keep her promise. After Bob’s death in 1990, Shirley learned to drive and carefully considered the next chapter in her life.

She relocated to Greenville, SC to be closer to her youngest son and daughter-in-law, Kelly and Beth. Having their support was important as Shirley was still grieving and learning her way around a new city. In time she went to work at St. Francis Hospital as a nurse’s aide and was instrumental in founding the hospital’s first ALS Support Group in Greenville County.

Shirley attended Hampton Park Baptist Church with her son’s family and soon met and befriended William “Bill” Ranson and his wife. After Bill’s wife passed away, the two became closer and married in September of 1993.

Shirley and Bill traveled around the country visiting family and friends as well as many places she had only dreamed about. In addition to Hampton Park Baptist Church, they attended Trinity Bible Church for several years where they continued to grow as Christians.

After Bill became ill, Shirley once again vowed to care for him at home and retired from nursing. She thanked God every day for the blessing of this man and the special years they shared together.

In 2012 Shirley faced great emotional strain when she and her sister and brother were all diagnosed with cancer. This was a scary time, but she summoned her faith in God and understanding of science and medicine to ask the necessary question: what must be done? Shirley was not afraid and met each appointment and treatment with a sense of calm and enormous courage. Her favorite saying which provided her a feeling of control was simply, “This too shall pass.” Shirley was a believer and optimist who trusted in the Lord and lived each day to the fullest.

In her final years, she was blessed to have her son and daughter-in-law, Joe and Joanne, living with her and caring for her needs. She was a role model who taught her children how to care for people. Even in her final days, Shirley’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren spent precious moments gathered at her bedside continuing to learn from their beloved matriarch.

Shirley’s memory is forever cherished in the hearts of her children, Robert W. Riggs and his wife Belinda, Joseph Dale Riggs and his wife Joanne, Gary Lee Riggs and his wife Sarah, Holly Michelle Rosenau and her husband Roger, and Kelly Warren Riggs and his wife Beth; 12 grandchildren; two step-grandsons, Andrew and Vanessa Ranson and Joey Ranson; 18 great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Connie Cummins; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Shirley loved and mourned two husbands, Robert W. Riggs and William Thomas Ranson. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Harold Cummins; a sister, Loretta King-Lindsay; and a grandchild.

Visitation will be held Saturday, September 10, 2022 from 1:00 p.m. until 1:45 p.m. at Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes, Downtown followed by a funeral service at 2:00 p.m. A private burial will be held at Salisbury National Cemetery in North Carolina.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Wren Hospice, 955 W. Wade Hampton Blvd Ste 3A, Greer, SC 29650.

Friends are encouraged to leave condolence messages for the family by clicking on the button labeled “Leave A Message, Share A Memory” below.