Shirley A. Tyson

Shirley A. Tyson, 88, died peacefully with family by her side on Monday, November 21, 2022.

Born and raised in Mountain View, she was a lifelong Stafford County resident and lived her entire life within five miles of her birthplace on Stefaniga Road.

A 1952 graduate of Stafford High School, Shirley first worked at Fort Belvoir and retired from the Stafford County Commissioner of the Revenue Office. Her greatest joys were her large family, gardening, quilting and sewing, reading, and travelling to points around the globe. A lifelong member of Ramoth Baptist Church, which was co-founded by her great-grandmother, Shirley had innumerable friends and enjoyed striking up a conversation with anybody and learning their story. A woman of deep wisdom, strong opinions, and great curiosity, you knew exactly where you stood with her.

On the first day of sixth grade, she met Robert Tyson and said “I knew he was the one for me.” They were married for 68 years until October 29, 2022 when he predeceased her. They are together again.

She is survived by her three sons, Brad (Bonnie) of Hartwood, Jeff (Debbie) of Hartwood, and Lee Jay (Susan) of New Kent; seven grandchildren whom she adored, Carrie Hudson (Aaron) of Spotsylvania, Erin Knight of Stafford, Mali Hart (Tyler) of Chesterfield, Niki Farmer (Sean) of King George, Coleman Tyson of Stafford, Carson Tyson (Miho) of Vacaville, CA, and Lilly Tyson of New Kent; brother-in-law George Tyson of Remington; 11 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, and other extended family.

In addition to her husband, Robert, she was preceded in death by her parents, Hawes Coleman Hill of Nelson County and Ruby Gordon Suthard of Stafford; and son Mark Stephen Tyson of Bainbridge Island, WA.  

The Tyson family would like to extend warm thanks to all of those who helped care for Mama, particularly Missy, the staff at Mary Washington Hospital, and the staff at Commonwealth Senior Living. Thanks, too, to the staff of Battlefield Restaurant for years of service to the family.

A service will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, November 29, 2022 at Ramoth Baptist Church with Rev. Paige Bowman and Dr. Richard Harrell officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Pallbearers will be Coleman Tyson, Aaron Hudson, Tyler Hart, Sean Farmer, Camden Knight, and Robert Hudson.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Mountain View Volunteer Fire Department or the Ramoth Baptist Church Cemetery Fund.