Shirley Vassas Paris

Early on the morning of Monday, October 2, 2017, Shirley Vassas Paris, 85, passed away peacefully at her home.

Mrs. Paris was born on July 27, 1932, in Macon, Georgia to the late Charles L. and Thelma Guest Williams. She spent her early years in Bonaire, Georgia before relocating with her family to Wellston, Georgia where she was raised by Charlie and Ivelyn Williams. Voted “Most Friendly” in the class of 1948, she graduated from Warner Robins High School and attended Mercer University where she received her degree in education. Mrs. Paris began her career as an elementary English teacher in Atlanta, but she soon moved back to Warner Robins to work for her father as a Licensed Insurance Agent for the Charlie L. Williams Agency in insurance and real estate.

Known to her friends as “Miss Magnolia,” community service was of great importance to Mrs. Paris, and she worked hard to support the mission of Robins Air Force Base through her community involvement. She was one of the first female members of the Rotary Club and also served as the first female president of the Warner Robins Chamber of Commerce. She served two terms as a member of the Houston County Board of Education. A longtime, faithful member of First Baptist Church of Warner Robins, she more recently considered Christ United Methodist Church to be her church home. She was preceded in death by her first husband, John Vassas; her granddaughter, Mary Elizabeth Paris; and her brother, Charles L. Williams, Jr.

Her memory will forever be treasured by her beloved husband of 21 years, Warner Paris; her children, Laurie Brewer (Greg) of Buford, Georgia, Warner Paris, Jr. (Jan) of Warner Robins, Steve Paris (Mandi) of Milton, Georgia, Mike Paris (Tiffany) of Kathleen; her grandchildren, Kristin Cisewski, Ashton Paris, Will Paris, Maddy Paris, Whit Paris, Chloe Paris, Molly Kate Paris, Lainey Paris, Bo Brewer, and Sierra Brewer; her brother, George Wallace Williams; her nephews, Charles L. Williams III, Christopher Williams, and Chan Williams; her nieces, Vicki Nash and VaRee Harrell; and many other loving family members.

Visitation with Mrs. Paris’s family will be Tuesday, October 3, 2017. from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at McCullough Funeral Home. The funeral service celebrating her life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 4, in the chapel of McCullough Funeral Home with the Rev. Dr. Matt Stewart officiating. Following the service, Mrs. Paris will be laid to rest in Magnolia Park Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that memorial contributions be made to United For A Cure Fund, c/o CURE Childhood Cancer, 1117 Perimeter Center West, Suite N-402, Atlanta, Georgia 30338 or online at www.curechildhoodcancer.org/united.

Friends may go to www.mcculloughfh.com to sign an online registry for the family. McCullough Funeral Home and Crematory has the privilege of being entrusted with Mrs. Paris’s arrangements.