Shirley Mae Defer

Shirley Mae Defer, age 84, of Water Valley, MS passed from this life Friday, December 30, 2022, at Baptist Memorial Hospital Oxford in Oxford, MS with family by her side. She was born September 24, 1938, in Water Valley, MS to Harry and Maggie (Nelson) Sartain.

After finishing school, Shirley went to Memphis where she worked for a short time with the phone company. Then she met a person that was to become the love of her life, Lloyd Defer. They married and started a family which became the focus of her existence. She honored and served her family by becoming a homemaker. Shirley loved The Lord and served him at Camp Ground Baptist Church, not only as a dedicated member, but also as a Sunday School teacher and secretary. Shirley also loved taking in the splendor of God’s creation outdoors by fishing when she had time, and working with flowers. She enjoyed watching sports, especially Ole Miss football and baseball, as well as Cowboys Football and Atlanta Braves Baseball. It is said that nobody touched the TV. when the Braves were on. She will be deeply missed by all that knew her.

Visitation is planned for Thursday, January 05, 2023, at Camp Ground Baptist Church from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM. Funeral Service will follow at 11:00 AM with Bro. Billy Childs officiating. Burial will be in Pinecrest Cemetery with Skyler Defer, Randy Simmons, Billy Jones, Ronald “Bubba” Jenkins, Jerry Miles, and Charles Jenkins serving as pallbearers.

Shirley is survived by her three sons, Bubba Defer (Stephanie), Michael Defer (Gena), Tommy Defer (Stacie), all of Water Valley; two grandchildren, Skyler Defer, and Presley Defer.

As well as her parents, Shirley was preceded in death by her husband of sixty years, Lloyd Defer; two brothers, Murray “Sony” Sartain, Harry “Buddy” Sartain Jr; and one sister, Patricia Jenkins.