Shirley Ann (Lockhart) Ingram

Shirley Ann Lockhart Ingram was born April 11, 1936 to very loving parents, Frances (Snooks) and Houston (Bud) Lockhart. She was blessed with loving grandparents, Edgar and Emma Woodside and John and Zona Lockhart and she spent much time with them.

Shirley had one sister, Charlotte Barnard. The two were very close and spent a lot of time together. Shirley helped Charlotte raise her children, Robin (Kristie) Driver and Wendy Humphreys, as well as her grandchildren and great grandchildren, Ashton Campbell, Derek Driver, Ethan Absher, Eli Humphreys, Kiana, Taylan, Robert and Kiera Driver.

Shirley was a good student, receiving the Citizenship Award at her high school graduation. She went on to attend MTSU and did graduate work at Scarritt College for Christian Workers in Nashville. She worked as the Director of Education at the Mt. Pleasant First United Methodist Church, Lebanon First United Methodist Church, and Donelson Heights United Methodist Church in Nashville. It was during this time, while a counselor at church groups, that she met Reverend Clifford Ingram, a dashing young preacher; the rest is history.

They began dating and were married on November 11, 1982. She was an asset to him as she started doing children’s messages, conducting bible schools, and other church activities. She was his assistant and jointly they went on to serve the Gainesboro Church for seven years. Eventually, they retired to his farm in Cumberland County where they enjoyed life until selling the farm and transplanting to Pleasant Hill.  In one of their last journeys together, they moved to Shirley’s family’s farmhouse in Smithville where Cliff lovingly filled in as a preacher at several churches.

Cliff had two children from a previous marriage – Mark and Susan. His son, Mark, passed due to an accident. Susan had one daughter, Amanda Sherwood and grandson, Lucas.

Cliff and Shirley set up a scholarship fund to help students from his churches and as a result, they proudly helped many students to achieve a college education. Cliff and Shirley were a very loving and compatible couple who had a strong compassion to help people across the Tennessee Conference.

Later in life, Shirley moved from the family farmhouse to her parents’ home across the field and enjoyed living next door to her sister on Sparta Highway. While living there, Cliff passed away and Shirley continued her church work at her home church in Smithville and other nearby churches.

Funeral services will be 1:PM Friday at the Smithville First United Methodist Church with Rev. Leland Carden officiating and interment will follow at DeKalb Memorial Gardens.  Visitation will be Friday 11:AM until the time of the service at 1:PM at the Church.  Due to Covid-19 and social distancing guidelines, we ask for the health and safety of everyone, that you please exercise social distancing.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Smithville First United Methodist Preschool, in memory of Ms. Shirley.

DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.  

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