Shirley Deakins, 85, of West Palm Beach, FL, a former resident of Fort Myers, FL and Chattanooga, TN, passed peacefully Sunday, January 21, 2018 in Trust Bridge Hospice at Good Samaritan Hospital after a lengthy illness. She had also previously lived in South Pittsburg, TN, and Alexandria, VA.

Shirley was born on April 1, 1932, graduated from Girls Preparatory School (GPS) in Chattanooga in 1949, and attended colleges in Florida, Virginia, and Tennessee to earn a degree in nursing in 1981. She was active in Habitat for Humanity of NE Georgia and Chattanooga and was a past member of Christ Episcopal Church in South Pittsburg.

The daughter of the late Ivo Clayton and Vera Johnson Deakins, she was also preceded in death by a daughter, Kathryn Smith McGarrity, and brother, Carl Rogers Martin.

She is survived by a son, Derek Alan Smith, of Palm Beach, Florida; two granddaughters and several nieces and nephews.

There will be a memorial service at Christ Church Episcopal in South Pittsburg on Monday, February 5, 2018 at 4:00 PM central time with Rev. Kim Hobby officiating.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Christ Church Episcopal, P.O. Box 347, South Pittsburg, TN 37380.