Thursday, September 1, 2016 10:11 am

Janie Hazel Williams Shires, age 99, of Forest City, NC, passed away Saturday, August 27, 2016.

A native of Appling, Georgia, she was the daughter of the late B. D. Williams and Isabella Arrowood Williams, she retired from the public school system where she was a lunch room lady at the Alexander Elementary School, and was a member of the Florence Baptist Church and former member of Alexander Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, M.E. Shires in 1953, a daughter, Betty Shires Hoyle, granddaughter Melanie Dawn Hoyle, two brothers, and seven sisters.

Survivors include a son, Norman Wayne Shires of Forest City, four daughters, Helen Shires Price, Ann Shires Yelton, Martha Shires Lancaster, and Mary Shires Skipper, all of Forest City. There are 16 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren, 20 great-great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-great-grandchild.

Funeral services were held in the Florence Baptist Church with the Reverend Dr. Bobby Gantt and Reverend Eddie Bolin officiating. Interment was held privately in the Alexander Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Rutherford County, PO Box 336, Forest City, NC 28043.

The Padgett and King Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.