Shirley Spilman Rawls

Yorktown, VA Shirley Spilman Rawls, 93, claimed the Promise of the Resurrection of Christ on May 5, 2023. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and sister, who leaves behind a legacy of teaching and volunteerism. Born in Alexandria, VA on January 3, 1930, she was the daughter of N. Ralph Spilman and Mattie Reeves. Shirley is preceded in death by her parents, husband, daughter Mona, and brother.
She met her very loving and devoted husband, Jesse Raymond, in Norfolk, while working at a department store, where he would frequent for lunch. They married on March 21, 1949 and were blissfully together for 71 years.
Shirley became a school teacher in Newport News, and later worked in the school system as substitute teacher. She loved to collect things like mice, Hummel figurines, and thimbles. She and Raymond thoroughly enjoyed cruising with her family, and they had great stories to tell about them.
Shirley was a very active member of Seaford Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school for over 30 years. Her love of Christ was a gift that she shared with others and the old hymns were a comfort to her in the final days of her life. She particularly enjoyed the Book of Psalms which gave her much strength.
She served as an Officer of Elections in Newport News prior to moving to York County. She served as the Chief of the Edgehill voting precinct and actually saw the end of the poll tax in the mid-1960’s. Her participation set an example for her son and granddaughter to also become involved as Officers of Elections in York County.
While serving on the Yorktown Historical Committee in the late 1980’s to 1990’s, she helped to coordinate several trips to the County’s sister city, Zweibrücken, Germany. She valued the times she dressed in period colonial dresses and participated in the many parades York County had.
Known to her family as Mom-Mom, Shirley cherished her family which includes her son, Richard (Johanna), her grandchildren, Leslie Hoglund (Todd), Kevin Rawls (Mae Li), and Christi Wilson (Brian). She treasured her great-grandchildren, Quentin, Jasmine, Joel, Elise, Claire, Avery, Riley, and Miles. She is also survived by her sister, Norma Martin, of Spring, TX.
Special thanks are extended to Dr. Zachery Morie of Patriot Family Practice, the Staff at the Hamilton Assisted Living Facility, the Staff at Mary Immaculate Hospital 3 North & 3 South, and the Staff at the York Convalescent Center for all of their compassion, loving care and support.
A graveside service will be held at Peninsula Memorial Park on Saturday May 13, 2023, at 11:00am. Her Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday May 13, 2023 at 1:00pm at Seaford Baptist Church, located at 1311 Seaford Rd, Seaford, VA 23696. Donations may be made to Seaford Baptist Church in her memory. Arrangements are by Amory Funeral Home, Yorktown.