Shirley Ann

Thompson

Shirley Ann Givens Thompson, 90, of Santa Fe, Tennessee, passed away on November 9, 2026, surrounded by family and friends after a long illness. She was born at home in Santa Fe on October 25, 1936, and she spent her life in the community she loved, serving it with a generous heart and a tireless pair of hands.

Shirley was the daughter of Jack Givens and Lois Hill Givens. She began her education in the one-room schoolhouse at Sylvan Heights and went on to graduate from Santa Fe High School in 1954. The following year, she married Kenneth Thompson, and together they built a home and a family rooted in faith, hard work, and love.

Shirley knew the value of a hard day's work. She spent 31 years at the Publix Shirt Factory and worked a few other jobs before retiring. Work never slowed her down when it came to her community, though. Known as a local historian and one of the most active people in town, Shirley was a charter member of the Santa Fe Recreation Club, the Santa Fe Square Committee. She raised money for more causes than most folks could count. If there was a need, Shirley was quick to step up.

Shirley and Kenneth loved dancing with Wagon Wheelers and singing with the Family and Friends Choir.

To many in Santa Fe, she was simply "Nannie," and to her Knoxville family, she was known as “Mim,” and “M.” She loved nothing more than spending time with the children of the community. She was also an excellent cook, and few things made her happier than feeding the people she loved. She wrote and published a family cookbook of which she was very proud and the recipes have been enjoyed by many.

Shirley loved sports, especially football and basketball, and she was a loyal fan of Santa Fe High School and the University of Tennessee. Her greatest joy, however, was cheering from the stands as her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren played. Her grandchildren will tell you she was fiercely competitive, and she never let anyone win easily. With Nannie, you earned your victories, and you were better for it.

Above all, Shirley fiercely loved God, her family, and her friends. She was a devoted member of Goshen Methodist Church, where she served on many committees and as chair of the Mission Team. She was co-organizer of the First United Methodist Women’s Night Circle, and for many years she faithfully produced the Prayer Concerns for the Charge, lifting up the needs of others in prayer. Her faith was not just something she spoke of, it was something she lived every day through service to others.

Shirley is preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Thompson and her brother, Wayne Givens. She is survived by daughters, Beverly (Chip) Graham and Dannette (Ronnie) Pack; her grandchildren, Chaz (Heather) Graham, Kyna (Amanda) Graham, Allison (Cole) Goodwin, and Jenna (Hayden) Journey; and her great-grandchildren, Charlie Graham, Chase Graham, Sadie Goodwin, Tatum Journey, and Slaton Journey. Also survived by sister-in-law, Sylvia Givens; nephew, Steve (Anne) Givens, three great nieces Abi, Sarah and Ellie and niece, Sheryl (Dennis) Grooms.

Shirley leaves behind a history of service, a legacy of love, and a family who will proudly carry that legacy forward. Though her absence will be deeply felt, those who knew her take comfort in knowing she is now at rest in the presence of the Lord she served so faithfully.

A funeral service will be held on Sunday, November 15, 2026, at 2:45 PM at Heritage Funeral Home with Pastor Steve Blackwell, Joey Shouse, Randy Gardner, and Brother James Lunsford officiating. Following the service, she will be laid to rest in Santa Fe Cemetery. A visitation will be held on Saturday, November 14, 2026, from 5:00 – 8:00 PM at the funeral home.

Those serving as pallbearers will be Chaz Graham, Cole Goodwin, Hayden Journey, Steve Givens, Guy Derryberry, and Marty Lockhart. Honorary pallbearers will include, Dr. James Cummins Couch and staff, the caretakers at CARIS Hospice, Virginia Potts, Alison Davis, Vickie Butler, Santa Fe High School Class of 1954, and members of Goshen Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Santa Fe Cemetery Fund, the Santa Fe Square Fund, the Santa Fe Recreation Program, or Feed the Santa Fe Needy Children, causes that were close to Shirley's heart.