Shirley M. French

May 29, 1933 - May 11, 2016

Shirley M. French, 77, of Benton Harbor, died early Wednesday, May 11, 2016 at Lakeland Medical Center in St. Joseph. Services for Shirley will be held at 1 PM on Monday, May 16, 2016 at the Fairplain Chapel of Florin Funeral Service in Benton Harbor with Rev. William Hughes officiating. Burial will follow at North Shore Memory Gardens. Visitation will be on Sunday, May 15, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Fairplain Chapel. Please share memories, messages or photos at www.florin.net. Shirley was born in Leachville, Arkansas on May 29, 1938 to R.O. and Floy (Banks) Maynard. She married her husband, Billie J. French, on July 3, 1954 and he preceded her in death on March 14, 2011. Together they celebrated 56 years of marriage. She was a member of the First Freewill Baptist Church in Benton Harbor. Shirley was a homemaker. She also worked at Michigan Fruit Canners for 8 years. She enjoyed cooking, fishing and watching baseball. Shirley’s faith was very strong. She was a soft hearted individual who always cared for her family and others. Shirley is survived by her sons, Lee (Barb) French of Stevensville and Jim (Lise) French of Coldwater; her 5 grandchildren; her 4 great grandchildren and her brother, LC Maynard of St. Joseph. She was also preceded in death by her daughter, Charlotte, in 1999 and her brother, JC. Maynard, in 2008.