Funeral services for Shirley Edmondson Crump, 86, will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, August 30, 2024, at Temple Baptist Church. Shirley’s wishes are for her family and friends to celebrate her life with coffee and doughnuts following the funeral service. A private family burial will be held Friday afternoon at Kilpatrick’s Memorial Gardens under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home. Viewing will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, August 29 at Temple.
Shirley passed away peacefully on August 26, 2024. She was born on March 23, 1938 in Gilbert, Louisiana, but lived in Lake Providence, Louisiana until she left home to attend college.
She attended Louisiana Tech University and majored in elementary education. While at Tech, Shirley became very involved in the Baptist Student Union, where she met the love of her life, Kenny Crump. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1960 and began teaching in Tallulah, Louisiana. She and Kenny married in 1961 and moved to Denver, Colorado, where their first child, Faith, was born. Over the next few years, when Tanya and Casey were born, they lived in Bozeman, Montana, and Buffalo, New York. They then settled permanently in Ruston, Louisiana, where Shirley devoted her time to raising their three children. She later completed her Master of Arts in elementary education from Louisiana Tech in 1980.
Shirley loved teaching throughout her life. After her children went to high school and college, she taught at Hillcrest Elementary for ten years and was a Sunday school teacher in the Temple College division for many years. She also had a heart for international students. In 1989, she began teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) as a volunteer with Friendship International, impacting hundreds of students from 36 different countries. Shirley continued to teach ESL for 35 years, and she and Kenny spent 12 summers teaching English in China.
In addition to teaching, Shirley enjoyed working in her garden, reading books, crocheting, playing bridge, drinking coffee with her friends, and traveling. She and Kenny visited all 50 states and traveled the world, visiting over 25 countries.
Shirley enjoyed helping others and volunteered with Christian Community Action, the local hospital, Rolling Hills and Life Choices, and many other organizations. She had a true gift for hospitality and loved having family and friends in her home. She hosted numerous bridal and baby showers, Christmas parties, high school Bible studies, and hundreds of college students and foreign nationals. Her strong faith and love for the Lord led her to Temple Baptist Church, where she was active in several women’s mission groups (her favorite group was Missionary Round Table), taught in the college department for 25 years and the international class for over 20 years, sang in the church choir, and served on many committees.
Shirley was an avid supporter of Louisiana Tech, a founding member of Lagniappe Ladies and a lifetime member of the Louisiana Tech Alumni Association. She enjoyed helping students attend college and left a lasting legacy through a scholarship from the Edmondson/Crump College of Education. In recognition of her contributions to education, she was named the university’s College of Education Distinguished Alumna in 2017. Shirley loved trees, and a plaque on the university campus honors her role in tree planting on Tech grounds. Those who knew Shirley know how much she enjoyed all types of sports, but especially loved cheering for the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and New Orleans Saints.
Shirley lived a full and fulfilling life, but her greatest joy was her family, including Kenny during their 63 years of marriage, her three children and spouses, six grandchildren and spouses, four great-grandchildren and her siblings, and numerous nieces and nephews. Her family and friends remember her for her positive attitude and love of people. Through her loyal devotion, unwavering encouragement and unconditional love, she was a true blessing to her family.
Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Opal and Frank Edmondson; her siblings, Ned Edmondson and his wife Merle; Jerry Edmondson and his wife Patsy; and her son-in-law, Greg Alexander. She is survived by her husband, Kenny Crump; her daughters, Faith Crump Alexander of Ruston, Louisiana; and Tanya Crump Bernard and her husband Bruce of Katy, Texas; her son, Casey Crump and his wife Weiva Sieh of Houston, Texas; six grandchildren: Dustin Alexander and Daniel Alexander and his wife Jenny of Ruston, Louisiana; Emory Bernard of Wilmington, Delaware; Micah Becker and his husband Matous of Akron, Ohio; Jacob Bernard and his wife Shelby of Noblesville, Indiana; and Kenneth Crump of Rice University in Houston, Texas; and four great-grandchildren: Garner and Grayson Alexander; and Ella and Dax Alexander.
In lieu of flowers, please send memorial donations to the Boys & Girls Club of North Louisiana or your local Friendship International.
