MERLE SHINGLER

We regret to announce the passing of Mrs. Merle Reed Shingler, age 89, of Cedar Springs, GA who passed away Friday evening, March 23, 2007 at her residence. Funeral services for Mrs. Shingler will be held on Tuesday, March 27, 2007 at 11:00 AM at Friendship United Methodist Church in Donalsonville, GA with Rev. Douglas Clewis, Rev. Luther Hastey, and Rev. Kirk Loyless officiating with interment to follow in Friendship Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 9:00AM-11:00 AM on Tuesday morning at Friendship United Methodist Church. You may share your thoughts with the family by visiting our website at www.evansskipperfh.com. Mrs. Shingler was born in Early County on October 19, 1917 to the late Early Alfonso and Ludie Mae Sheffield Reed. She lived her entire life in Early and Seminole counties. She graduated from Seminole County High School in 1935, where she was a star basketball player for Coach N.P. Malcolm's women's basketball teams. Upon graduation, she attended Georgia Southwestern in Americus, GA and later earned her teaching degree from Georgia College for Women in Milledgeville, GA. She was married on Christmas Day, 1943 to Sidney H. Shingler and began her Seminole County teaching career at teh FDR School in the 1940s and later moved into the Donalsonville Grammar School as an English teacher. Her career lasted about 34 years. Mrs. Shingler was an active member of the Friendship United Methodist Church for sixty-four years, having joined that congregation in 1943. She was a member of the Addie Brigham Sunday School Class and the Pierce-Webb Circle. Mrs. Shingler leaves to cherish her memory, two sons, Ronald Reed Shingler and his wife Renee of Cedar Springs, GA and Sidney H. Shingler, Jr. and his wife Sue of Goose Creek, SC; five grandchildren, Ryan Reed Shingler, Rachael Shingler Holloman, Ashley Shingler Payne, Matthew Fletcher Shingler, Sidney H. Shingler, III, Joshua Ryan Jacobs, and Jason Rickie Jacobs; four great grandchildren, Emma Reed Holloman, Kaitlyn Grace Shingler, Sydney Abigail Shingler, and William Daniel Marsh; and one sister, Eugenia Reed Baughman of Atlanta, GA. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Sidney H. Shingler. Active pallbearers will be Tommy Holloman, Jason Jacobs, Josh Jacobs, Micah Payne, Matthew Shingler, Ryan Shingler, and Tres Shingler. Members of the Addie Brigham Sunday School Class of Friendship United Methodist Church will serve as honorary pallbearers. Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to the Merle Shingler Memorial Fund c/o Friendship United Methodist Church PO Box 305 Donalsonville, GA 39845 or to Wiregrass Hospice 432 East Shotwell Street Bainbridge, GA 39817.