MADISON — Shirley Mae Johnson Bufkin went home to be with her Lord on April 30, 2012, while surrounded by family and friends at her home. Her last five weeks of life were marked by a fierce battle with cancer, but her entire 72-plus years of life were filled with a spirit of love of the Lord, her family and friends.

Shirley was born Sept. 30, 1939, in Sharkey County to the late Floyd and Flossie Johnson. She graduated from Satartia High School (1956) and completed her secondary education at Draughan’s Business School in Jackson.

Shirley worked for Phillip Morris Company in Jackson from 1958 until 1963. From 1957 until 1997, she and her husband made their home in Jackson and, since 1997, they have resided in Madison.

Shirley was preceded in death by her infant daughter, Pam Bufkin.

She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Jesse Bufkin; three children, daughter Tina Arnold (Hunter) of Madison, sons Ronnie Bufkin (Tammy Tate) of Madison and Don Bufkin (Stacy McMurtrey) of Bentonia; her sister, Frances Keen (Keith) of Redwood; and grandchildren, Jessica Arnold, Regan Arnold, Sullivan Bufkin, Britton Bufkin, Dani Tate and Tanner Tate, all of Madison.

Shirley and Jesse owned and operated Bufkin Plumbing & Heating Inc. for more than 30 years before retiring in 2000. She then continued to assist the daily operations of her son Ronnie’s business, Bufkin Mechanical Inc.

Shirley was an avid gardener, cook, seamstress and all-around homemaker, and she used all of these pursuits as a lifelong ministry helping friends and family. She was dearly loved as a wife, mother, mother-in-law, sister, sister-in-law and grandmother (Mamaw). She especially enjoyed helping her three children with home-construction projects and being a grandmother, as well as fishing with Jesse, Frances and Keith. Jesse and Shirley have been active members of Broadmoor Baptist Church since 1957.

Visitation will be held tonight, May 2, 2012, from 5 until 7 and Thursday, May 3, 2012, from 10 until 10:45 a.m. Funeral services are at 11 a.m. Thursday; all to be held at Broadmoor Baptist Church Chapel, 1531 Highland Colony Parkway in Madison. Burial will follow at Lakewood Memorial Park in Jackson. All arrangements are being addressed by Wright & Ferguson Funeral Directors of Madison.

In lieu of flowers, the family would be honored by donations to Broadmoor Baptist Church’s G3 Campaign or to Oak Grove Baptist Church in Phoenix, Miss.