Shirley Adriene Pilgrim

Shirley Adriene Blackwell Pilgrim of Fort Worth passed this life on March 18, 2022 at the age of 86. She was born in Graford, TX on August 29, 1935 to Clinton and Tennie Blackwell and was the oldest of five children. She married Werner Pilgrim, her high school sweetheart and the love of her life, on April 25, 1952, and they remained sweethearts until his death on December 11, 2017. They had a happy and strong marriage for 65 years. She was a homemaker and wife, the ultimate by definition, and lovingly took care of her husband in his last years as he battled Parkinson’s disease.

Mother was a faithful Christian, loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She put her family only second to, just a photo-finish behind, the Holy Father and her savior Jesus Christ. She has been a faithful member of the Village Creek church of Christ, formerly known as the Handley church of Christ, since 1956.

Shirley is survived by her son Kevin and wife, Lisa; daughter Kim and husband Johnny, 4 beloved grandchildren and 5 adored great-grandchildren. Her daughter-in-law and son-in-law were hers, just as her children were. She is Mamama to grandsons Keith Pilgrim and wife Miranda, Carter James and wife Marla, Cameron Pilgrim and wife Nicole, and granddaughter, Courtney Henson. She has 5 great-grandsons, Tyler James, Andrew James, Brock James, Bryce Henson, and Wyatt Pilgrim. She is adored.

Mother was an artist, seamstress, cook, cake decorator, gardener, Bible class teacher, and our family author. There was really nothing she could not do and do well, and she did nothing half-way.

Her love language was cooking, and she was known for it. For many years, she cooked huge, delicious Sunday dinners for her family, cooking all day Saturday in preparation and rising early before church to make homemade rolls. She kept that custom from the time her children married until her grandchildren were grown, because it was important to her for her family to gather around her table. Shirley also loved cooking food for friends and outdid herself when she took food to the bereaved, adding in all the love she could muster. She baked and decorated the wedding cakes for her children and grandchildren as a labor of love, and they were each the most beautiful ever seen.

Mother created masterpieces with her sewing machine and needle, creating beautiful custom clothing for herself and others, crafting precious clothes for her grandsons, and beautiful smocked dresses and bonnets for her granddaughter.

In 2021, Mother wrote Mamama’s Story – a Memoir, as a 9th birthday gift to her great-grandson, Brock, because he always begged for family stories. She wrote daily for several hours a day for a month or more, cataloging memories from her childhood. She gifted a copy to her children and grandchildren. It is personal and cherished, and recently Kevin told her she needed to write part two.

Shirley and Werner made their home and garden a masterpiece. To say that Mother loved to garden is an understatement. She could and did outwork most of us, and the hours she worked in her yard, as late as the week before she was hospitalized, can’t be counted. Working in her yard was Mother’s happy place, her therapy.

Shirley Pilgrim was an extraordinary mother and grandmother. She was the ultimate baby whisperer. She gave us her time and used all her talents to make life magical for her family. Mamama and Grandaddy created Camp Pilgrim for their grandchildren, a week each summer dedicated to adventures, Bible studies, cooking, gardening, and playing. Many happy memories were made as the cousins were partners-in-crime at “Mamama’s.” It was her mission to see that she raised her children and grandchildren in a safe and happy home. She succeeded.

Shirley and her beloved husband came to Christ in 1956, and she lived a faithful life until the end. She was a servant to the Lord and was prepared to go to her heavenly home, having lately said that she “is ready, and has been preparing for that date since 1956.” She stood by her husband’s side as he served as a deacon and elder in the Lord’s church, serving quietly and diligently. Shirley taught childrens’ Bible class and Vacation Bible School for many years and influenced countless young people. Shirley Pilgrim was the epitome of a virtuous woman as described in Proverbs 31:10-31.

We loved her dearly. She was beautiful, talented, and fun, and gave freely of herself. She played when she wasn’t working, which was play to her anyway. She was a good friend, a listener, an encourager, and it was said that there was no one who didn’t love her.

Thank you, Mother, for all you have done for us, for the example you are, the legacy you are leaving. Thank you for loving us, protecting us, teaching us. You and Daddy taught us how to live our lives and become good people. We’ll spend the rest of our years trying to make you proud of us. You will never be forgotten.

In lieu of flowers, Shirley would most have appreciated donations be made to Christian Family Counseling. Checks should be made to Village Creek church of Christ with ”Christian Family Counseling” in the memo.