Shirley Louise “Nana” Wicker, 91, of Somerset, Kentucky, peacefully passed from this world to her eternal life, in the arms of Jesus Christ her Lord and Savior, in her home on March 19, 2026. Shirley was born on May 8, 1934, in Hindman, Kentucky, to loving parents, Mark and Allie Combs. Shirley lived her life exemplifying her love for her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, her dedication to her family, her church community, and so many close, lifelong friends, that are cherished and adopted as family.
Shirley grew up in Hindman, Kentucky with her four sisters and one brother: Vivian Amburgy, Joyce Terry, Ennis Davidson, Madilyn Fields, and Rex Combs. Shirley knew from a very young age that she wanted to be a wife, mother, and a teacher. She pursued her education at Alice Lloyd College located in Pippapass KY, where she met the love of her life, Clyde Wicker. The two were married on December 26, 1952, by the Justice of the Peace in Alexandria, Virginia when Shirley was just 18 years old. Their marriage, of 67 years, centered on Christ, enduring devotion, and the life they built together, until Clyde’s passing, is a testament to their commitment to their faith, family, and their church friends and community.
With a devotion to daily Bible reading, Shirley was a lifelong learner, avid reader, and dedicated educator at home, at church, and as a school teacher. Shirley was able to fulfill her childhood dream of teaching, first as a mother, second as a lifelong Sunday School teacher, as well as teaching third and fourth grade in Norwalk, Ohio, where Clyde and Shirley resided for thirty years. They retired together and moved to Winter Garden, Florida where they continued to co-teach fourth and fifth grade for twelve years at Foundations Academy, a Christian School that was a part of the First Baptist Church they attended. Shirley taught her favorite subjects, reading and The Bible. Through teaching, Shirley enriched the lives of countless students and their families that still call her “Nana.”
Shirley and Clyde devoted their lives to the building up of the Church and the continuous fellowship of believers in Jesus Christ. They were founding members of Victory Baptist Church in Norwalk, Ohio. They were active members at First Baptist Church in Winter Garden, Florida, and became members, at its infancy, at Potters Place Church in Somerset, Kentucky where they remained active in service to the church for over three decades. Shirley and Clyde were devoted servants to the Lord, empowered by the strength, joy, and peace they found grounded in their praise and worship for all things, to God. Shirley and Clyde ran their race of endurance together and they finished well.
Shirley is also known for her blessed admiration for all things beautiful, and her pure enjoyment of the beauty of creation around her. She loved all things pink, and she loved flowers. Her most favorite flower was any flower that was pink. She loved birds and enjoyed bird watching and naming them from her living room window in the last home Clyde built for them as they lived out their retirement years together. Clyde and Shirley enjoyed traveling together, and they made a point to stop and smell the flowers and watch the birds throughout their traveling adventures. They loved and enjoyed being entertained by their fur babies Isaac and Beau. She loved words, and if she didn’t have a book in her hand, she was writing stories, prayers, and memories in her journal, or writing handwritten letters to those she loved. Shirley enjoyed listening to sermons and Christian music, and was often heard singing or humming her favorite hymns throughout the house. Two of her favorite hymns were “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” and “It is Well with My Soul” which reflect her deeply rooted hope in her coming eternal reunion with her Lord and those she missed that had gone home before her. In the midst of all of her joys and all of her grief this life brought, she would humbly remind us, that “Momma always told me life is like an uphill climb up a mountain railroad,” but “It is Well with my Soul.”
Shirley’s legacy is carried forward: daughters Angelia Wicker, Lisa Grimes and Son-in-Law, Scott Grimes; granddaughters Tiffany Miller, Vanessa Wicker, Rachel Bell; grandsons Shepard Grimes and Elijah Wicker; great-grandchildren Nickolas Hires, Ryan Martin, Meghan Baker, Aspen Thomas, Alaia Thomas, Easton Thomas, Remington Bell, Casen Grimes; and great-great-grandchildren Lance Hires, Phoenix Martin, Magnus Martin, Miles Hires, Wren Daly, Atlas Martin, Reese Daly, Ellie Wicker, Titus Martin. She was preceded in death by her husband Clyde Wicker, her youngest daughter Michelle Sutherland; great-grandson Aaron Spurlock, and her siblings.
May Shirley Louise “Nana” Wicker’s Life and memories we hold dear remind us of the peace, kindness, and comfort He provided through Shirley because she allowed her life to be used as an instrument in the hands of her Savior, loving all that were blessed to know and love her.
Please join us as we celebrate Shirley’s Life on Tuesday March 24th 2026, for visitation from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. The Celebration of Life Service will follow directly after at 1:00 pm. with Bro. Kevin Hampton and Bro. Thomas Howard officiating. Visitation and Service will be at Southern Oaks Funeral Home, 2110 KY-914, Somerset, KY 42503. Burial will follow in Southern Oaks Cemetery.
Southern Oaks Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements for Shirley Louise “Nana” Wicker.