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Shirley May Dunston of “Little” Washington, North Carolina has died at the age of 93 years, following a massive heart attack. She suffered no prolonged physical illness or lengthy hospital stay.

Shirley was born on November 4, 1928, in Little Rock, Arkansas to parents Rupert Merlin Dunston and Myra Thigpen Hodges. Yet it was early in Shirley’s childhood that the family relocated back to her mother’s birthplace of Washington, North Carolina, and it was here where Shirley spent her formative years and made Little Washington her lifelong home.

As the youngest of three girls, Shirley recalled being a bit of a tomboy—always wanting to climb trees and do the things that the little boys were doing. That adventurous spirit carried over into adulthood and followed her throughout her whole life.

Shirley graduated from Washington High School in 1946, after which she attended the Woman’s College at the University of North Carolina. She graduated from WCUNC in the Commercial Class of 1948.

After graduating from college, Shirley returned to Washington and began working for the Bank of Washington as a bank teller.

On August 21, 1954, Shirley married her “buddy,” longtime sweetheart, Raymond Carroll Glover. The pair enjoyed a long and happy marriage, giving life to a daughter, Ann Kimberly Glover, in 1958, and a son, Stephen Carroll Glover, in 1959. The family relocated all around the Carolinas, including to Greenville, South Carolina and later, Raleigh, North Carolina, but it was Little Washington which retained Shirley’s heart. Well after their children had entered adulthood, Carroll and Shirley returned to Washington to reside in The Harbor.

Later in life, Shirley moved to Laurel Crest Retirement Community in Columbia, South Carolina, where she could enjoy more time with her daughter. Even after Kym passed, Shirley was able to spend time with her son-in-law and grandchildren.

Life presented many challenges for Shirley, including the loss of her parents, sisters, husband, and her daughter. But throughout her long life, she maintained a pragmatic and indominable spirit which carried her from one challenge to the next with great force of will.  Shirley valued above all else, her family.  Nothing was more important to her than spending time with her loved ones.

Shirley is preceded in death by her mother (Myra Thigpen Hodges Dunston), her father (Rupert Merlin Dunston), her sister (Anna Claire Dunston), her sister (Jean Marie Dunston Bellamy Caldwell), and her daughter (Ann Kimberly Glover Bowden).

She is survived by her son (Steve), her sister-in-law (Barbara), her son-in-law (Andrew), her grandson (Andy), and her granddaughter (Kate), She was well-loved and will be sorely missed by all those who were lucky enough to have her in their lives.

Graveside services will be held 1:00 PM Thursday, February 10, 2022 at Oakdale Cemetery in Washington.

Online condolences may be offered to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com

Paul Funeral Home & Crematory in Washington is honored to serve the Glover family.