Shirley Juanita Broome Rivers

Shirley Rivers, 84 miraculous years old, passed from this earthly body into her heavenly body in the Light of her loving Savior on Wednesday, January 13, 2021. Shirley was miraculous, because she was born with what doctor’s termed then as a blue baby, born with a deformed heart. The doctor’s told her parents she would not live past 13 years of age; but only God knew the number of her days. She lived a delicate but fighter’s life until the end. Shirley had open heart surgery in 1965 while pregnant with her son. A total reconstruction of her heart was completed and allowed her to live a full and faithful life for The Lord. Shirley moved to Ocean Springs from Columbia, MS at age 3. She graduated from Ocean Springs High School in 1956. She married the love of her life, James Dwight Rivers, after his mother, Necia Tidwell Rivers, introduced them. Shirley worked for many years at Keesler Air Force Base, and then as a substitute teacher and the ISI teacher for Ocean Springs School District. She was an active member of First Baptist Church of Ocean Springs, serving in many capacities. Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Wylie Thomas, Sr. and Dovie Marcella Haddox Broome; siblings, Itaska Fountain, Helen Lamas, Curmis Broome, Georgia Nell Heffner, Wylie Thomas Broome, Jr; and nephews, Patrick Broome, Danny and Doug Broome, Mark and Brian Heffner, and Patrick Kilgore. Shirley is survived by her loving husband, Dwight; three children, Debbie (Mark) Mohler, Brenda (Tom) Allen, and Charles (Traci) Rivers; seven grandchildren, Mark Mohler, Jr., Aaron (Christina) Mohler, Brandon Mohler, Zach (Lexi) Allen, Meagan Allen, Ryson Rivers, and Sheldon Rivers; three great-grandchildren, Alexa Mohler, Brody Mohler, and Jax Mohler; two siblings, Pat (Den) Knecht and Scotty (Cindy) Broome; and too many nieces and nephews to count. In lieu of flowers the family would like donations to the American Heart Fund. A private family service will be held at First Baptist Church Ocean Springs. Interment will follow at Crestlawn Memorial Park. For viewing of the service, it will be live on YouTube on First Baptist Church Ocean Springs on Monday, January 18, 2021 at 11:00 AM. The link to the channel is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUWh6eheR9jc7z-bxVAtgJA Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, Ocean Springs is honored to serve the Rivers family.