Shirley J. Shelley

Shirley J. Shelley, 96, of Alexandria, VA, was called to be with the Lord on June 27, 2019.  She passed away peacefully in the comfort of her own home with her family members by her side. 

Shirley, born Janet Shirley Johnston (named for her paternal grandmother) in Lakewood, Ohio near Cleveland, was a Professor Emerita of Music Education and Early Childhood Development at the University of Maryland at College Park where she taught for nearly 30 years.   She has been a member of the Maryland Music Education Hall of Fame since 1994, honored for pioneering work in her field.  She was a graduate of the University of Michigan earning both Bachelor and Master Degrees in Music Education as well as being a saxophonist in Michigan’s Concert Band.  She was a graduate of Staples High School, in Wilton, Connecticut, where she excelled in academics, music, basketball, and field hockey.

Shirley had numerous hobbies over the years including quilting, hand-made lace, travelling, being with her family, horseback riding when she was younger, and all forms of music especially directing the Celtic Cross Ringers at her church.  Shirley was very active in Westminster Presbyterian Church, of which she was a member for over 50 years after moving to Alexandria in 1966.  Over the past few years, she was a fixture in her neighborhood and was often seen sitting outside her home on warm days and greeting all passersby, especially her four-legged friends.

Her parents, George S. Johnston, an architect originally of Kilmarnock, Scotland, and Annie W. Campbell, originally of Glasgow, Scotland, preceded Shirley in death as did her husband Robert C. Downes and brother, George W. Johnston, both formerly of Alexandria.   Her parents originally moved separately from Scotland to Montreal, Quebec then after a re-acquaintance married and moved to Ohio where Shirley and her brother were born.  Family moves then took them to Philadelphia, Mount Vernon, New York, and eventually southwestern Connecticut.  After graduation from Michigan and starting her family, Shirley began teaching in the Detroit Public School System.  She would move to the Baltimore Public School System before settling at the University of Maryland.

Shirley is survived by her three sons, Bruce (Barbara Otte) Shelley of South Barrington, Illinois, Scott Shelley of Hume, Virginia, and Gordon (Donna) Shelley, of Alexandria.  Her granddaughters Kayla and Brittany Shelley of Alexandria, and her grandson Christopher (Brittany) LaBille and great grandson Rhett LaBille, of LaPlata, Maryland also survive her, as do numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives across  Canada, and especially friends.

A gathering for Shirley will be on 9 August at Everly-Wheatley Funeral home, 1500 W. Braddock Road, Alexandria, from 6-8 PM.  A Memorial Service for Shirley will be on 10 August at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2701 Cameron Mills Road, Alexandria, at 1:30.

The family asks that In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to The Virginia Quilt Museum,

c/o Susan Farmer, 301 S. Main St., Harrisonburg VA 22801

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