Shirley McWilliams

Shirley G. McWilliams, age 75, of Cambridge, MD passed away on August 2, 2010 at Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital in Richmond, Virginia. She had resided at St. Mary’s Woods in Richmond, VA since April 2008 to be near her daughter and son-in-law.

Born on August 14, 1934 in Golden Hill, Dorchester County, MD, the former Shirley Mae Gootee was the daughter of the late Copeland and Maybelle Riggins Gootee. At a very young age, her family moved to Cambridge. She attended public schools in Dorchester County and graduated from Cambridge High School, Class of 1952. She attended Western Maryland College, graduating Cum Laude, Class of 1956.

An educator for 33 years, Mrs. McWilliams began her career in Towson, MD but the majority of her tenure was with the Dorchester County Board of Education. While a teacher, she was elected president of Dorchester Educators for three terms and chosen by the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) as History Teacher of the Year. She was also selected as Dorchester County Teacher of the Year in 1990.

Mrs. McWilliams was an active member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church for over fifty years. She was also a devoted member of the Gleaners Sunday School Class.

Mrs. McWilliams was elected Dorchester County’s first woman County Commissioner in 1990 and served as Commission President from 1990 to 1994. After retiring from teaching, Mrs. McWilliams served on several organizations and boards, including the Cambridge Zoning Board; Cambridge Millennium Board; Richardson Maritime Museum Board; Sailwinds Park; American Cancer Society Board; Department of Social Services Board; DAC Board (Dorchester Arts Center, now the Dorchester Center for the Arts); Senior Council County Board which she chaired for five years; member of the Dorchester Historical Society where she also served on the Board of Trustees; director on the MAC, Inc. Board (Maintenance on Aging in the Community) for the lower counties; a dedicated Auxiliarian, volunteering thousands of hours at the Dorchester General Hospital and where she also served as Auxiliary President for three years and seven years on the Dorchester General Hospital Board of Directors; member of Cambridge Elks Lodge #1272; former member of the Cambridge Quota Club; and devoted member of the Cambridge Rotary Club where she became a Paul Harris Fellow, served as president (1998 – 1999), was on the Board of Directors and chaired multiple committees. Most recently, she was President of the St. Mary’s Woods Residents Council from June 2009 – June 2010.

Surviving are two children, Bruce Patrick McWilliams and his wife Amanda of Cambridge, MD and Donna McWilliams Orr and her husband Richard of Richmond, VA; granddaughter Kailee Bullock; two nieces in Hurlock, Anne North and Debbie North Stafford and her husband Jack, and many cousins.

In addition to her parents, preceding her in death were two sisters, Betty Pepper and Jean North.

The family will receive friends at the Curran-Bromwell Funeral Home on Friday, August 13, 2010 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 14, 2010, where the family will also receive friends an hour prior to the service. Officiating at the service will be The Rev. Fred Bahr and The Rev. Dale Brown. Burial will follow at Dorchester Memorial Park. A memorial service will be held at St. Mary’s Woods on August 24, 2010 at 4 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. McWilliams’ memory to the Cambridge Rotary Club Scholarship Fund, PO Box 703, Cambridge, MD 21613 or to the Dorchester General Hospital Foundation, PO Box 439, Cambridge, MD 21613. Memorial donations may also be made to St. Mary’s Woods, 1257 Marywood Lane, Richmond, VA 23229 or to Ridge Baptist Church, Attn: Transportation Ministry, 1515 Eastridge Road, Richmond, VA 23229.

Pallbearers will be Jack Stafford, Jimmy Hoffman, Larry Dail, Roger Harrell, Phil Reed, Jeff Hurley, Jerry Walsh, Jay Harrington, Rob Collison, Gage Thomas.

Honorary Pallbearers will be members of the Cambridge Rotary Club and the Gleaners Sunday School Class. In memory of her beloved dog, Riggins, Kenneth Burgwin, DVM, and Joanna McCoy, DVM are also honorary pallbearers.