Shirley Ann McNair Newsome, 79, of Palatka, passed from this life on Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at Putnam Community Medical Center following an extended illness. Born in Lyons, (Toombs County) Georgia, Shirley attended Savannah High School as the Class of 1959. She moved to Palatka in 1964 from Augusta, GA. Shirley was a hairdresser for 45 years. Over the years, she had worked at Carmen’s Coiffures; opened and managed the Regis Hair Salon in the Palatka Mall then became a Regional Manager. She yearned to be back with working with her clients and opened her own Salon, First Impressions. After selling her salon, she joined the staff of Leta & Company where she worked until her retirement under the new name and ownership of Salon St. Johns. Shirley loved working on her clients, listening and sharing life with them, and helping people feel good. Her passion for this led her to donate her time and talent of hairstyling to patients at Putnam Pines and nursing homes. It was not uncommon that she would spend her days off traveling to St. Augustine or Jacksonville hospitals to give someone a haircut and blow dry because they were not able to come to the beauty shop. She happily served her clients to which she always called them friends and enjoyed being able to help others. She also served for a period of time on the Cosmetology Department Board for St. Augustine Technical Center. Shirley was of the Baptist faith and was a member and taught Sunday School at Tabernacle Baptist Church. Later in life she attended Crossroads Community Church in East Palatka. In her leisure time, Shirley enjoyed reading, fishing, cooking, gardening, and in years past, sewing. Above all and most dear to her was raising her children and spending time with her family.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Wofford McNair and Edith A. Hunt McNair and a brother, Ronald McNair.
Shirley is survived by Her children: Jack Newsome of Orlando; Jackie Swinson (Neal) of Savannah, GA; Mechele Higginbotham (Rodney Symonds) and Ron Newsome (Lisa Thiede) of Palatka. Her grandchildren: David Anderson of Dallas, TX, Tabitha Anderson Swagert (Robert) of Savannah, GA, Brandon White (Erin) of Ft. Payne, AL, Devin Armand (Sidney) of Ft. Lauderdale, Josh Higginbotham of Palatka, Jacob Higginbotham (Amira) of Palatka, Jared Higginbotham (Kelsey Wilkinson) and Autumn Newsome of Palatka. Her great-grandchildren: Gage Anderson and Kenn-Leigh Anderson, both of Dallas, TX; Cole, Caden, and Madleine Swagert, all of Savannah, GA; Kendall White of Ft. Payne, AL; Nicky and Aiden Armand of Ft. Lauderdale; Presley Higginbotham, Jaxson Mielke-Newsome and baby Higginbotham due July 30 all of Palatka. Her sister: Joan Quarterman of Savannah, GA; and many cousins, nieces and nephews, as well as the ladies of Salon St. Johns in Palatka.
No local services are planned at this time. Her wish of a family celebration of life will be held in Savannah, GA at a favorite childhood locale.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be sent to the National Kidney Foundation, 1040 Woodcock Road, Suite 119, Orlando, FL 32803.
Memories and condolences may be expressed to the family at Shirley’s Book of Memories page at www.johnsonoverturffunerals.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to Johnson-Overturf Funeral Home in Palatka.