Iris Bradfield Shealy

Mrs. Iris Bradfield Morris Shealy, 91 of Quitman passed away Thursday, June 17, 2021 at her home with her loving family around her. Mrs. Shealy was born in Atlanta, GA on January 6, 1930 to the late Ralph Milledge Morris and Iris Jarrell Morris. The family moved to Gainesville, GA in 1933 and shortly thereafter to Greenville, SC. In 1936 they moved to Charlotte, NC. In Charlotte she lived across from the Graham Brothers Dairy Farm where Billy Graham lived, and she told fond stories of growing up there.

In 1940 she moved to Columbia, SC with her family and lived on Forest Lake. She attended Davis High School and the University of South Carolina. She always pulled for the Gamecocks unless they were playing the Georgia Bulldogs.  She received her Radiologist Technical degree from Charlotte Memorial Hospital in Charlotte, NC. It was there she met Dr. L. M. Shealy. They were married on July 7, 1951, at Bethel Methodist Church in Columbia SC.

In 1952 they moved to Quitman, GA where Dr. Shealy practiced medicine until his death in 1984. In 1958 they purchased the Royal and Edna Cain Daniel house on North Court Street, and it was there she raised her three children; lived for the rest of her life and began her love for camellias.  She was activity Director at the McIntosh Retirement Center for many years after Dr. Shealy died.  Once she left the Retirement Center she enjoyed being with her grand and great grandchildren and working with her camellias. She also enjoyed going to many of the camellia shows in the area and being with her three dogs.

She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Presbyterian Women of the Church, the Quitman Garden Club, the Wiregrass Camellia Society, the Hannah Clark Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and Chapter 112 of the Georgia Division of the Daughters of the Confederacy.

She was predeceased by her husband Dr. L. M. Shealy and her two brothers Ralph M. Morris, III, and Joseph J. Morris. She is survived by her three children, Luther Mack Shealy, Jr. and his wife Bonnie, Bradfield Morris Shealy and wife Annette, and her daughter Iris Nancibeth Shealy. Her two grandchildren, Belinda E. Beatty and her husband Kip, and Anna C. Kenerly and her husband Eric. Her five great grandchildren, Kaden and Kason Beatty, and Fletcher, Daisey, and Roscoe Kenerly. She is also survived by her dogs Sammy, Bee and Shiloh.

A celebration of life will be held Monday, June 21, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at the Quitman First Presbyterian Church with Pastor Jaque Asbel officiating. Interment will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery. The family will be receiving friends Sunday evening from 6-8 p.m. at Maxwell - Purvis Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that a memorial be made to Hospice of South Georgia, Post Office Box 1727, Valdosta, GA 31603-9939 and American Camellia Society, 100 Massee Lane, Fort Valley, GA 31030.

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