Shirley Cathryn Hopkins Whitney passed away on February 24, 2026, in Lexington, Virginia.

Born on June 21, 1937, in Long Beach, Calif., Shirley was the salutatorian of her high school class at Holly Springs High School in Holly Springs, Miss.

After her graduation from Birmingham-Southern College in Birmingham, Ala., she moved to Evanston, Ill., to begin her study of chemistry in graduate school at Northwestern University, where she met her future husband, George Whitney. They were married in 1959 and eventually settled in Lexington, where George joined the faculty at Washington and Lee University.

During this time, Shirley raised three children and taught math at Lexington High School and Lylburn Downing Middle School, dedicating over 20 years to the Lexington school system. She later earned her master's degree in education from the University of Virginia.

Shirley volunteered with the League of Women Voters, Project Horizon and Meals on Wheels. Collecting and learning about Native American baskets was her longtime hobby. She sang in the Rockbridge Chorus and in the Kendal Singers.

In her retirement, Shirley enjoyed taking Elderhostel classes in Montana, Minnesota and Colorado. She also traveled to Peru and Alaska.

Shirley is predeceased by her father, Fred Hopkins; her mother, Christy Maclin; her ex-husband, George Whitney; her brother, Robert Hopkins; and her son, Nelson Whitney.

She is survived by her daughter, Rebecca Leedy (Robert) of Maitland, Fla.; her son, Heath Whitney (Beth Daly) of Eugene, Ore.; six grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren.

A celebration of life service will be held on Thursday, July 2, at 1 p.m. in Kendal Hall at Kendal at Lexington, 160 Kendal Drive in Lexington. An interment of ashes service will follow at 3 p.m. at The Meadow, 130 Munger Lane in Lexington.

Donations to Meals on Wheels on Shirley's behalf may be sent to Maury River Senior Services, P. O. Box 145, Buena Vista, VA 24416.

Arrangements were made by Harrison Funeral Home & Crematory.