Shirley Jean (Adcock) Lancaster

Shirley Jean Adcock Lancaster was born to J.C. and Carrie Bell Adcock on December 6, 1936 in Rutledge, Georgia.  She graduated from Morgan County High School in 1954 and went on to Georgia Baptist School of Nursing where she graduated with a Diploma in Nursing in 1958.  Shirley spent her life raising their three sons and one daughter and working full time caring for others.  She worked at St Mary’s Hospital in Athens until she moved to Forest Park, Georgia.  After her first son was born, she lived briefly in Covington, Georgia and then moved to the family dairy farm in Madison to raise her children.  Shirley was the first night shift charge nurse on the floor when Madison opened the doors of their first hospital, Morgan Memorial Hospital.  She also worked for the well-known and well-loved Dr. Ken Lewis in his office and then became the Director of Nursing when the new nursing home opened right across the street from the hospital.  She eventually went on to work as the charge nurse on the medical surgical floor of Newton General Hospital in Covington, Georgia.  She retired from there in 2005, the same year her husband passed away.  She was an active member for the Fairview Friendship Club (formerly the Fairview Demonstration Club) and a member of the First Baptist Church of Madison until her health declined.

When she was no longer able to care for others or herself, she became a well-loved resident of the Memory Care Unit of At Home Senior Living in Thomson, Georgia where she frequently commented she was ready for the Father to take her home.  After multiple falls and surgeries, she was admitted to Pruitt Creekside for her rehab where she died peacefully.  Prayers for God to take her home and stop her suffering were finally answered and after years of care and service to others she is now at peace.

Shirley is preceded in death by her husband Buddy Lancaster, parents J.C. and Carrie Bell Adcock, sisters Juanita Harrison and Kay Lariscy and grandson Anthony Cesarini.

Shirley is survived by her children, Mark Lancaster (Brenda), Lynne Cesarini (Dino), Mike Lancaster (Angela), Jay Lancaster, brother William “Billy” Adcock (Ginger), sister Donna Knighten (Joe), five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren (with another soon on the way), many nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, and friends.

A Big Thank you to At Home Senior Living staff and Creekside (Pruitt) Rehab for the wonderful love and care shown to our mom.

Her family will receive friends on Saturday, June 27 from 1:30 - 3:00 pm at A.E. Carter Funeral Home.  The funeral service will be held at 3 pm in the chapel.  Interment will follow at Faith Memorial Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Madison Baptist Women's Ministry in Shirley's memory.

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