Shirley Bennett Milligan

Shirley Bennett Milligan, 76, passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her beloved family on January 15, 2019. Born March 5, 1942 in Salisbury and raised in Sharptown, she was the eldest daughter of the late Fred Bennett (Isabelle) and Erline Bennett Bailey (Elbert) of Sharptown. She was also preceded in death by her sister, Rebecca "Becky" Adshead. She graduated from Mardela High School in 1960. She is survived by her husband Roland Milligan, whom she married January 21, 1967, almost 52 years ago; her daughter Shelly Milligan Hall and husband, Fred; her sister Joanne Jones and brother David Bennett; nieces Sharon Bramble, Michelle Savage, and Ashley Bennett; aunts Jessie Coleman and Sylvia Stalnaker; and several cousins. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Emma and Ethan Hall, whom she adored. Emma and Ethan cherished their time spent with their grandmother. Nearly every Sunday afternoon was designated “family day,” during which she and Roland visited with Shelly, Fred, Emma, and Ethan. She was also present at almost every milestone and activity in her grandchildren’s lives. Shirley’s career was spent caring for others, mostly in the medical field, beginning with the Peninsula General Hospital Lab where she served as a phlebotomist in the early 1960’s. From there she went on to work for pediatricians, Drs. Morgan, Kolls, and Anderson for 15 years before moving to the Wicomico County Health Department, from which she retired in 2004, with over 20 years of service. During her retirement, she was very active and served in many roles within Sharptown Asbury United Methodist Church. She was a member of the Roelma Chapter 113 OES for 48 years and served as Grand Officer for the state of Maryland Eastern Star. The family would like to express their deepest appreciation for the superb care she received from Coastal Hospice staff, as well as from Dr. Feras Abdul Khalek and Dr. John Mansueti and their staffs at the Richard A. Henson Cancer Centers in Ocean Pines and Salisbury. They would also like to express their sincerest gratitude for the love and support of the Asbury /Mt. Vernon Church family, the Sharptown community, the Delmar Elementary School staff, and the dear close friends who helped us along this journey. A visitation will be held on Friday, January 18, 2019 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Short Funeral Home in Delmar. An Order of the Eastern Star service and funeral service will be held at Asbury United Methodist Church in Sharptown on Saturday, January 19, 2019 at 11:00 a.m., with visitation one hour prior to the service. The Rev. David Bennett will officiate the service. Interment will be immediately following at the Sharptown Firemens’ Cemetery. Friends and family are then invited to join the family at a luncheon at the Asbury United Methodist Fellowship Hall in Sharptown. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Coastal Hospice, P.O. Box 1733, Salisbury, MD 21802 or Asbury United Methodist Church P.O. Box 585, Sharptown, MD 21861. Arrangements are in the care of Short Funeral Home in Delmar.

Shirley Bennett Milligan

March 5, 1942 - January 15, 2019