Shelly Rae (Garrow) Birdsong 1964-2023
Shelly Rae (Garrow) Birdsong, of Mineola, loving mother of four, passed away on July 1, 2023 in Tyler at Christus Mother Frances Hospital. Although she was only 58, she lived a full life. She was very loved and will be missed terribly.
Shelly was born on Aug. 3, 1964 in Contra Costa County, Calif. to Bragdon and Carol ‘Chicki” Garrow.
She was preceded in death by her father, Bragdon Garrow, and her partner, Tony Wallace.
She is survived by her mother, Chicki Garrow, Palm Desert, Calif.; brother, Brad Garrow, Palm Desert, Calif.; children, Raye Birdsong-Fair and wife Amy Fair, Mary Birdsong and husband Blake Wilson, Sherman Birdsong and Lowell Birdsong and partner Gwynn Hennessey; and grandchildren, Journie, Bentley, Jackson and Parker. Shelly also leaves behind many dear friends who thought of her as mom and Grammé.
She attended Linfield Christian High School in Temecula, Calif. In 1982, she moved to Dallas to attend Miss Wade’s Fashion Merchandising College. Shelly married Irwin Earl Birdsong in 1988 and they moved to California in 1989, where Raye, Mary and Sherman were born. She and Earl moved back to Texas in 1998, where Lowell was born.
Shelly worked as a pharmacy technician from 1989 to 2013. She worked in the baby room at First Assembly of God in Quitman, where she also attended church for 15+ years. And she worked as teacher and cook at Guiding Light Child Care Learning Center from 2014-2022.
Shelly will be remembered as a strong woman of faith, who loved spending time with her family, friends and chihuahuas. She was a happy, giving, inspiring person, who was always encouraging others even in her darkest moments. She never met a stranger and never passed judgment on others.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Southwest Transplant Alliance at organ.kindful.com or an animal shelter in your area.
Dear God, please let mom know that we love her and we’re happy she is living among Your angels. Please continue to bless her in heaven and bestow Your grace to us, her children, who miss her everyday.
