Shirley Sessoms

Shirley J. Huffman Sessoms, 86, died peacefully Thursday April 29, 2021, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau.

Shirley was born Jan. 11, 1935, in Nashville, Tennessee, the youngest of four children born to Hartwell Franklin and Mable Gallagher Huffman.

She graduated from the all-girls Cathedral High School in 1953, having been both a finalist for Miss Nashville and having beaten out the boys for best baseball player in the city.

Shirley volunteered extensively in Cape Girardeau, for Meals on Wheels, the Girl and Boy Scouts, and at Southeast Hospital's Auxiliary, where she helped found the Cardiac Library. Later, she worked for Francine Seier at Francine's Flowers and subsequently managed the Cape Girardeau Scout Shop for many years until her retirement.

Survivors include two children, Deidre Sessoms (David DeNuzzo) of Sacramento, California, and Hank (Shannon) Sessoms of Cape Girardeau. She is also survived by three grandsons -- Alexander DeNuzzo, Jace DeNuzzo and Trey Sessoms -- in addition to many beloved nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and her sister-in-law, Pat Huffman.

Shirley was predeceased by her parents; a sister, Virginia "Diddy" (Donald) Cox; and two brothers, Frankie (Louetta) Huffman and Russell Huffman.

Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 2 at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

Inurnment will be at Calvary Cemetery in Nashville at a later date.

Memorials may be given to the charity of choice.