Shirley English Haley

Shirley English Haley passed away on August 9th, 2026, leaving behind a lifetime of memories shared with family and friends who will miss her sharp wit, spirited banter, and genuine interest in the lives of those she loved.

Born in 1945 in Spartanburg, South Carolina, to Col. Donald Lee English and Edith Johnson English, Shirley spent much of her childhood on the move as the daughter of a career Army officer. She lived and attended school throughout the United States and overseas, including Germany and Japan.

Shirley graduated from the University of Alabama in 1967 with a degree in physical therapy and was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. She worked as a physical therapist for several years before choosing to stay home to raise her children.

Shirley married Dr. John Patrick “Pat” Haley, III while he was in dental school. They later moved to Selma, Alabama, where Pat joined his father’s dental practice. Selma was home for 30 years and became an important part of Shirley’s life. She was active in the community and at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, where she taught Sunday School and served as president of the Women of the Church. Shirley valued the friendships she made in Selma, whether through church, weekly lunches, or bridge games. She also briefly worked at a shop owned by friends, a job she enjoyed as much for the company as the work itself. At home, family remained at the center of things. Her annual Christmas Eve party brought together generations and became a tradition many looked forward to year after year.

In 2004, after 6 years of living in their home on Ono Island, Shirley and Pat moved to Fairhope, Alabama, where they joined St. James Episcopal Church, made new friends, and reunited with many Selma friends who had relocated there. Shirley enjoyed being close to her son, Chris, his wife, Heather, and her grandchildren, Patrick, Sam, and Ramey. She rarely missed an opportunity to attend one of their sporting events and played hundreds of hands of gin rummy with them over the years.

Family gatherings often revolved around food and traditions Shirley created and maintained. She loved cooking for her family and hosting Easter brunch, including filling Easter eggs with candy and coins for the grandchildren. Distance did not lessen her involvement in the lives of her daughter, Karen, or her granddaughters, Haley and Kate. She called often, visited when she could, and was far more interested in hearing what was happening in their lives than in talking about herself. She had strong opinions, a quick and sometimes acerbic wit, and a particular appreciation for good-natured banter. She showed her affection less through grand gestures or sentimentality than through attention: remembering what was going on in her children's and grandchildren's lives, asking questions, keeping up with their friends, cooking for them, and showing up for their events.

Shirley is survived by her husband of 59 years, Dr. John Patrick Haley, III; her sister, Judy Brothers of Burleson, Texas; her son, Chris Haley (Heather) of Fairhope, Alabama; her daughter, Karen Haley Padilla (David) of Greenville, South Carolina; and her grandchildren, Patrick (Shelby), Sam, and Ramey Haley, and Haley and Kate Padilla. Her family will remember the traditions she created, the questions she always wanted answered, the witty remarks and opinions she was never reluctant to share, and the countless rounds of games played around the table. Those ordinary things that made Shirley most herself.

The funeral service will be on Thursday, August 13th at noon at St. James Episcopal Church in Fairhope. There will be a visitation at the church before the service at 11:00, and a reception at the home of Chris Haley after the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 210 Lauderdale St, Selma, AL 36701, or The Selma Public Library, 1103 Selma Ave., Selma, AL.

ARRANGEMENTS BY
WOLFE-BAYVIEW
FUNERAL HOMES & CREMATORY, INC.
27409 U. S. HWY. 98, DAPHNE, AL 36526
(251) 625-2900