Shirley Delk Delk Downs

Shirley Delk Downs, 83, of Memphis, Tennessee, died Monday, March 21, 2011 at St. Francis Hospital in Memphis. She was a clerk and typist for the U. S. Government and later retired from FedEx. She was also a member of Central Church. Visitation will be on Wednesday, March 23, from 9:00 a.m. until service time beginning at 10:00 a.m. all at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens on Poplar Avenue. Mrs. Downs, the last of eleven children of John and Mary Delk, was preceded in death by her great-grandchildren Austin Earwood and Callie Clay. She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Jack E. Downs; children Jackie Downs Nichols (Jim) of Memphis, son Greg E. Downs of Cordova, TN, and Cathy Mansel (Wayne) of Olive Branch, MS; grandchildren James Nichols, Jr., Scott Eggleston, Jennifer Earwood, Whitney Clay and Jessica Mansel; and nine great-grandchildren. Any memorials may be sent to Central Church or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The family would like to offer a special thanks to the staff at Bright Glade Nursing Home who cared for her the past six years. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.memphisfuneralhome.net.