Shirley B. Bard completed her earthly journey on March 26, 2022. Even at 89 she continued to learn, love, and seek new experiences.

Her dreams came true when she married a Baptist minister in 1958; as a pastor’s wife she led Bible studies, played piano or organ, prepared the weekly bulletin, and mentored countless growing Christians. With her husband, Norval Bard, Sr., Shirley raised three children and mothered many more. She prayed daily for her family including her children, grandchildren, their spouses, and her great-granddaughter.

Shirley never stopped learning; she graduated from Georgetown College and later from the University of Louisville earning a Master’s Degree in Education. She enjoyed teaching in the classroom or at the piano for over 60 years and eagerly celebrated her students’ success. She taught herself to sew while in her teens and was later recognized as a gifted seamstress who sewed baby clothes for her daughters and wedding dresses when her babies became brides. She regularly added to her knowledge through Jeopardy, researching the meanings of names, reading on “Kindle,” and learning to play online games like Ticket to Ride. She made a lifelong study of writing and shared family updates each Christmas through fun, concise poems. She was thrilled at 60 to have articles printed in Guidepost and Homelife, and at 80 accomplished a life long goal with the publication of her book, Colors of Trust, detailing her experiences of learning to trust God.

Love flowed through Shirley all of her life. While in high school she often cared for her three rambunctious younger brothers. Her family felt a mother’s love through the organized, calm household she created, and all who spent time with her benefitted from her gift of mercy - family, friends, and all animals-especially little dogs. She shared a love of trains and blueberries with her son and a love of puzzles with anyone who happened by her drafting table with a puzzle in process. Her grandchildren fondly recall her serving waffles of many colors - green, purple, blue and cultivating a love of musicals with them, watching Oklahoma!, The Music Man and My Fair Lady on DVDs. Her loves also included angels, Thomas Kincaid, lemon pound cake, cowboy boots, songbirds, stargazing and banana splits with lots of whipped cream.

Shirley embraced new experiences with determination-she pushed against fear for 10 years before learning to ride a bike or get on a roller coaster and decided to have children in her 30s, even after being advised about risks due to a weakened trachea. At 68 she traveled to Israel to walk where Jesus had and bravely mounted and rode a camel to see what the wisemen experienced on their way to Bethlehem. This quiet adventurer became a hostess to international students during the 1980s, and in her 80s became a Superhost through Airbnb. She developed a fascination with boats after moving from the Midwest to Charleston and seldom turned down an invitation for a boat ride- canoe, speed, or paddle. She piloted (briefly) a Charleston Harbor cruise and last year joyfully took the helm of a 74’ yacht.

Shirley wrote in the closing of her book, “The Lord is my surfboard through these turbulent, awaited waves. I can lie down, sit up or stand as we navigate the waters. I can go fearfully or victoriously as I ride the creaming, curling waters or cruise through the wave troughs. He wants me to lean my whole weight on Him for He knows the pathways through the sea.”

Family and friends can affirm that Shirley’s goodness and mercy followed them all the days of her life, and she will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. 

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