Mrs. Shirley Louise Thompson Mazzie

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away.” Revelations 21:4 Shirley Louise Thompson Mazzie passed away on Saturday February 15, 2014 after a long battle with multiple myeloma in Columbia, South Carolina. Shirley was born June 13, 1935 in Irmo, South Carolina to Roy Walker Thompson and Nettie Holliday Thompson. She was the third of six children, Roy Walker Jr, Fred Albert, Adell Carlethia, Katheryne Rayette and Edward Desero. After completing elementary school in Irmo, she attended and graduated from Harbison Junior College. Shirley attended Hampton Institute, and she received a two year degree from the Pratt Institute in costume design. Upon leaving school Shirley worked for four and a half years in the garment industry for United Merchants and Manufacturing as an assistant supervisor. She then served the City of New York for 21 years as a Special Inspector for the New York City Transit Authority and also as an Auxiliary Police Officer. Shirley then returned to South Carolina where she retired from the South Carolina Department of Corrections having served as a correctional officer for Kirkland Correctional Institution and as a firearms instructor. Shirley adopted two children that she did a fantastic job of raising on her own; a son Steven P. Mazzie who is an Air Traffic Controller of 23 years in Miami, Florida and a daughter Dr. Dawn D. Mazzie who is an Assessment/Evaluation Specialist for the public school system in Lincoln, Nebraska. She loved sewing and was a talented seamstress and created a great deal of clothing for her children especially for her son who was too tall and skinny for most store bought items. Shirley did all types of handwork including cross stitching, knitting and crocheting. She had a passion for bowling and was a member of the Women’s International Bowling and the United States Bowling Congresses for 35 years. She served as league secretary for various bowling leagues for over 20 years. Shirley won various awards in bowling and in 1986 she was the Amateur Bowlers Association tournament champion. She was inducted into the Columbia Women’s Bowling Association Hall of Fame in June 2001. Shirley was a perfect mother with a kind heart and a generous spirit. She was loved by all those who knew her. She was a compassionate friend and a great listener, a confidant to many. She was a member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Columbia for 32 years. In addition to her parents, Shirley was preceded in death by her brothers, Roy W. Thompson Jr, Fred A. Thompson and Edward D. Thompson, her brother-in-law Benjamin Adams and her sister-in-law Kathleen E. Thompson. Shirley is survived by her two children, Steven P. Mazzie (Miami, Florida) Dr. Dawn D. Mazzie (Lincoln, Nebraska), two sisters Adell T. Adams and Katheryne T. Griffin, brother-in-law Henry Griffin (Columbia, South Carolina) and sisters-in-law Alberta Thompson and Evelyn Thompson (Irmo, South Carolina) and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends that will miss her dearly. Memorial Services will be held 7:00 pm Wednesday, February 19, 2014 at Palmer Memorial Chapel. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society for Multiple Myloma, 128 Stonemark Lane, Columbia, SC 29210. The family request that condolences and other memorials be made on their web page @www.palmermemorialchapel.com.

Mrs. Shirley Louise Thompson Mazzie

June 13, 1935 - February 15, 2014