Benjamin "Ben" Shirah

Mr. Benjamin "Ben" Shirah of Coffee Springs, Alabama went to be with his Lord and Savior Friday, December 21, 2012.  He was 75.

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, December 24, in the Coffee Springs First Baptist Church with Rev. Hubert McWaters and Rev. Ricky Hall officiating.  Mr. Shirah will be placed into the church one hour prior to service time.  Burial will follow in the Mt. Carmel Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery with Sorrells Funeral Home of Geneva directing.  The family will receive friends at the funeral home Sunday, December 23, from 6 until 8 p.m.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Mt. Carmel Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Ethel Thornton, 687 County Rd. 651, Coffee Springs, AL 36318 or to Gentiva Hospice, P.O. Box 1708, Enterprise, AL 36331.

Mr. Shirah was born June 9, 1937, in Geneva County, Alabama to the late A. R. and Ruby Spears Shirah.  After 37 years of service he retired from Fleming Foods as a warehouse supervisor.  Ben served as Mayor of Coffee Springs for eight years.  He was a very faithful and dedicated member of the Coffee Springs First Baptist Church where he also served as a deacon.

In addition to his parents, a son, Benjamin Eric Shirah, a great-grandson, Benjamin Jackson Tindol, as well as five brothers, Albert, Robert, Lambert, Ernest and Billy Shirah, all preceded him in death.

Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Barbara Lay Shirah; three daughters: Lydia Shirah Walters, Debra Rawlings (Thomas), and Karen Cheshire (Tony); five granddaughters: Jessica Mize (Jonathan), Amber Kennedy (Philip), Kristi Tindol (Kelly), Haley and Katie Cheshire; four great-grandchildren: Trevas Strickland, Mikayla Kennedy, Hattie Jewel Tindol and Benjamin Huston Mize; one brother, James Donald Shirah; one sister, Ann Jones (Hudson); three sisters-in-law: Edna Shirah, Ella Wayne Bowdoin and Vivian McCloud; several nieces, nephews, other extended family and a host of friends.