Shirley Marie Bland Forbis

     Shirley Marie Bland Forbis of Green Cove Springs, Florida went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Sunday Morning, March 26, at 6:41 am. She was born to John Walton and Eva Mae Bland December 14, 1952 in Bremerton, Washington.

     She graduated from Clay High School of Green Cove Springs, June, 1971. She also retired from Clay High School, December, 2016, where she worked in staff support. She had previously worked at Holiday Inn of Orange Park, FL and Maidenform of Jacksonville, FL.

     She and Robert Michael Forbis of the Westside of Jacksonville, were married in Kingsland, GA, September 9, 1977. They have two sons, Ted William and Terrence Michael. They had been married 45 years.

     She had been a member of Hickory Grove Baptist Church of Green Cove Springs from the age of 1. She had been active in GA’s as a teenager. She also attended Sunday School for a number of years.

     She had a great love of her family. This includes not only her immediate family, but also her siblings who remained close, both in proximity and emotionally, throughout their adult lives. She loved her four grandchildren, dearly, and had been blessed with two great-grandsons in recent years.

     She enjoyed reading Debbie Macomber novels. She went through one wordsearch book after another. She sewed on occasion, making throw-pillows and curtains for her bedroom. She was creative in latch-hook. Her prized creation was a giraffe. She cared for her potted-plants. Her favorite were her roses.

     She and her family traveled extensively on vacations. She had been to Canada and the Bahamas and everywhere in between. Three of the most memorable trips have been two different trips involving travel on Amtrak, and the Bahamas cruise. She even got to visit the state of Washington, once, where she was born. Her family had moved back from there to Florida, when she was only one-year-old.

     She will be remembered for her witty smile, her generosity, her love of family, and her strong work ethic. Anything she put her mind to do, she poured everything into it. She gave it her all. Everyone who met her or knew her loved her instantly.

     She is preceded in death by her father, John Walton, her mother, Eva Mae, her sister, Cheryl, and her brother James, an Army Veteran.

     She is survived by her husband, Robert Michael, sons, Ted William Spencer and Terrence Michael Forbis (Michelle), brother Raymond Bland (Faye), brother Keith Bland (Joyce), all of Green Cove Springs, FL and sister Patricia Campesi of Marrero, Louisiana. She is also survived by four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, and many cousins and nieces and nephews.

     Viewing will be Thursday, March 30, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm in the Broadus-Raines Chapel. The funeral service will be Friday, March 31 at 11:00 am at Hickory Grove Baptist Church, Green Cove Springs. Service will be officiated by Rev. Dr. Russell Franklin. There will be a graveside service following at Hickory Grove Cemetery, a short ride from the church.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105

www.stjude.org/donatetoday