Funeral services for Palmyra (Pal) Shapley, 94, of Madison and formerly of Greenville will be 1:00 p.m., Sunday, October 10, 2021 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Greenville. She passed away on Thursday, October 7, 2021 at her home in Madison. Burial will be in the Leland-Stoneville Cemetery under the direction of Boone Funeral Home, Greenville.
She was born July 11, 1927 in Clarksdale, MS to Rosalie and Anthony Tuminello, Sr. Pal graduated from Clarksdale High School in 1945, attended Mississippi State College for Women in Columbus her freshman year and transferred to Delta State her sophomore year. There she met her future husband, Ely P. Shapley of Leland who had just returned from serving three years in the Army in England, France and Germany. They married in 1947 and lived their first ten years in Leland, moving in 1957 to Greenville, their home for 51 years.
Pal remained a homemaker until all four of her children were in school then worked for four years at Lighting, Inc. as secretary, followed by twelve years at Mississippi Unemployment Security Commission. She was active at both St. Joseph School and Washington School serving in many capacities including, Substitute Teacher, President of the Parents Club, Cub Scout Den Mother and adult reading tutor. Gardening and reading were her favorite hobbies.
She and her husband never missed a game or any activity in which her children were involved and their home was always open and welcoming to their children’s many friends and to their own friends as well.
Pal was preceded in death in 2008 by Ely, her husband of 61 years; her brother Richard in 1945; her sister Doris Mansour in 2013, her brother Anthony Tuminello, Jr. (Sonny) in 2015, and her sister Mayrene Messer in 2018.
Survivors include daughter, Melanie Flowers, sons Richard (Sandi); Chris (Mary); Mark (Mary) as well as nine grandchildren, Dr. Christopher Shapley (Meredith), Richard Shapley (Katie), Jeffrey Shapley (Melissa), Andrew Shapley (Ashley), Anna Flowers Garner (Chris), Jesse Flowers, Amy Shapley Miller (Mark), Elizabeth Shapley and Price Davis (Fenly). Also sister-in-law Lola Tuminello and Kathleene Shapley, mother of Christopher and Jeffrey Shapley. Survivors also include twelve great-grandchildren, Jack, Catherine and Will Shapley; Mitch and Joseph Shapley; Katelyn and Audrey Shapley; Weston, Sawyer, and Bennett Shapley; Leland Miller, Paschal and Kellum Davis. Also many beloved nieces and nephews.
There will be a visitation from 12:00-1:00 p.m. on Sunday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Greenville. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Blair Batson Hospital or to a charity of your choice.