Shirley

Werts

Shirley Jones Werts was born on August 18, 1933, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to the late John Henry Jones Sr. and Dora Harper Jones. On November 4, 2026, at the age of 93, she departed this earthly life, leaving behind a beautiful legacy of education, faith, creativity, and love.

Shirley attended Winston-Salem Teachers College, now known as Winston-Salem State University, where she earned her degree in education. For 30 years, she devoted her life to educating, inspiring, and nurturing young minds. She taught first through third grades at Oak Summit Elementary School, Walkertown Elementary School, and Carver School. Her dedication to education helped shape generations of students and left a lasting impression on the community she faithfully served.

A woman of remarkable talents, Shirley possessed a deep appreciation for music and the arts. She played the piano, clarinet, and guitar, sharing her musical gifts as a member of a band at the Moravian Church in Old Salem. Music was another beautiful expression of her creativity and a way she connected with those around her.

Shirley was also an accomplished quilter whose artistry, patience, and attention to detail earned her numerous awards, including recognition at the Dixie Classic Fair. As a member of a quilting guild, she shared her passion for the craft and helped preserve the timeless tradition of storytelling through fabric. Each carefully stitched creation reflected her creativity and dedication.

Her faith was an important part of her life’s journey. Shirley attended Mount Zion Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Dr. Serenus T. Churn Sr. She shared her love of music through her participation in the church’s handbell choir, bringing together two of the gifts that enriched her life: faith and music.

Throughout her life, Shirley was blessed with a family whose love and memories became an enduring part of her story. She was united in marriage to Henry Campbell and later to Louis Werts. Through these chapters of her life, her family grew into a beautiful legacy spanning generations.

Shirley was preceded in death by her loving parents, John Henry Jones Sr. and Dora Harper Jones; her beloved husbands, Henry Campbell and Louis Werts; her siblings, Duwood A. Jones Sr. (Faye Jones) and Gwendolyn Harper Jones Wynn (Robert J. Wynn Sr.); her cherished daughters, Iris Jean Campbell Penn (William) and Pamela J. Werts; and her precious granddaughter, Malikah Rice.

Her love and legacy live on through her beloved children, Barry Wade Campbell, Henrietta Campbell Floyd, Patrenia Werts Onuoha (Dr. Nnamdi C. Onuoha), and Louis S. Werts Jr. (Cheryl A. Werts); and her dear brother, John Henry Jones (Lois Jones).

She is also lovingly remembered by her grandchildren: Uhuru Allen; Kevin E. Werts; Brandon Campbell, Joy Parsons, and Jeremy Parsons; Chinyere Onuoha Nebolisa (Kyrone Nebolisa), N. Alexander Onuoha (Alyssa Cuffie Onuoha), I. Julian J. Onuoha, John Chiderah Onuoha, and Andrew P. A. Onuoha; and Christina A. Werts and Louis S. Werts III.

Shirley also leaves to cherish her memory a host of loving nieces and nephews, extended family members, former students, fellow educators, cherished friends, and all those whose lives were enriched by her kindness, wisdom, and presence.

Shirley’s legacy will forever be woven into the lives she touched. Through the lessons she taught, the music she played, the quilts she created, and the love she shared, her memory will continue to inspire generations. Like the beautiful quilts she so carefully crafted, her life brought together individual threads of faith, family, wisdom, and love to create something lasting and meaningful.

Though her earthly journey has come to an end, the beauty of her life remains in the hearts of all who were blessed to know her.

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”

2 Timothy 4:7 (KJV)

A viewing will be held from 1:00pm until 5:00pm Thursday, November 12, 2026 at Russell Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00noon Friday, November 13, 2026 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church. Interment will follow in Piedmont Memorial Gardens. The family visitation will be held from 11:30am until 12:00noon on Friday at the Church.