Shirley LeRoy Gunter

Shirley LeRoy Gunter passed away peacefully on August 29, 2026, at the age of 91. She was born on March 9, 1935, to William Grady LeRoy and Bertha Ree Denard LeRoy at their home in Tignall, Georgia. She grew up in Tignall, attended school there, and graduated in 1953.

From an early age, Shirley’s musical aptitude was apparent and was fostered by her piano and voice teachers. Along with her older sister, Evelyn, she became well-known as a soloist, singing for many community activities and churches in Wilkes County.

Following high school, Shirley attended Georgia State College for Women (GSCW) in Milledgeville, where she was a member of Sigma Alpha Iota music fraternity and received her BS in Music Education in 1957. Throughout her time there, she was a devoted member of GSCW’s Acapella Choir, serving as president of the group in her senior year.

On July 5, 1958, at Tignall First Baptist Church, where Shirley had grown up, she married Calvin “Boots” Gunter, her high school sweetheart and the love of her life. They began their married life by moving to Washington, Georgia, where they became fixtures in the community and raised their family.

After teaching public school music in Hart and Wilkes counties for several years, Shirley had a forty-four-year career in banking, the majority of which was spent at Washington Loan & Banking Company. She culminated her banking career at Farmers State Bank as Assistant Vice-President, becoming the first manager of the bank’s Washington branch. Shirley was a dedicated member of Washington First Baptist Church, and she was active in numerous community organizations including the Washington Jaycettes, Wilkes Academy PTO, Washington Chamber of Commerce, and the Downtown Development Authority, often serving in leadership positions.

Shirley was most known, however, for her beautiful and distinctive soprano voice. Continuing the path she started as a child, she sang at countless weddings and funerals throughout her life and was an active and devoted member of the Washington First Baptist Church Choir for more than sixty years. She also cherished her association with the Washington Little Theater, where she was a cast member in several productions and director of many Christmas Children’s Choruses. She was perhaps most proud of the three productions she directed of Handel’s Messiah, which brought together singers and musicians from throughout the community. In 2012, she received the Little Theater’s Starz Award for Best Director for The Messiah.

Shirley loved Washington, its people, its downtown, and its unique small-town culture. Contributing to the life of the community through her work at the bank, her civic involvement, and her music brought her so much joy.

Shirley was especially passionate about her family. She and Boots were married for sixty-one years before his death. They were blessed with two daughters, Allison and Alicia; two sons-in-law, Bill and Cread; and four grandchildren, who affectionately knew her as “Muv,” Emmeline, Isabelle, Luke, and Porter. She was so proud of all of her family and loved celebrating their interests, activities, and accomplishments.

Shirley’s survivors include her two daughters, Allison Hale and husband Bill of Athens, and Alicia Brown and husband Cread of Clermont; grandchildren Emmeline Hale Gardiner and husband Ryan of Washington, D.C., Isabelle Hale of Atlanta, Luke Brown of Clermont, and Porter Brown of Clermont; nieces and nephews John Fortson (Olivia) and Laura Fortson Elam (Russ) of Charlotte, NC, Susan Chafin (Mack) of Washington, GA, Mary Martin (Jerry) of Beech Island, SC, and Julie Anne Gibb (Gerry) of Fort Valley, GA. Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Boots, by her parents, and her sister, Evelyn LeRoy Fortson (Norman) of Charlotte, NC, and nephew Allen Gunter (Sylvia) of North Augusta, SC.

Shirley’s family thanks the administration and staff of The Orchard of Athens for the loving care they gave her during her final months. Donations in Shirley’s honor may be made to the Washington Little Theater Company P.O. Box 803,Washington, GA 30673