Shirley Marie Belden

Shirley Nichols Belden, devoted wife, beloved mother cherished grandmother, loving sister, and friend to many, passed away on December 29, 2024, after a courageous battle with cancer. Shirley was 78 years old.

Born on October 27, 1946, in Athens, Georgia to James Roy and Rebecca Nichols. Shirley lived a life defined by love, compassion and unwavering dedication to her family. Shirley trained as a radiologic technologist after graduating from Sylvan Hills High School in Atlanta but soon shifted gears when she was selected to be a Delta Airlines flight attendant during the glamorous days of air travel in the late 1960s. During her time with Delta, Shirley enjoyed living in Los Angeles, California and Miami, Florida before returning home to Atlanta.

In 1974, Shirley began work as a radiologic technologist at Grady Memorial Hospital where she met and began dating a radiologist named Rick. Shirley and Rick married in 1978 and settled in Nashville where they started a family. Together they raised two children Mandy (Nick) Yaeger and Stephen Belden. Shirley’s greatest joy came from being MiMi to her six grandchildren: Ella, Hunter, Luke and Hayley Yaeger; and Vivienne and Wright Belden. 

In 2013, Shirley and Rick retired to Amelia Island, Florida where they enjoyed golfing, beach walks and dinners with friends but nothing brought her more happiness than having her grandchildren visit, filling her home with laughter and love. She made each visit magical with days at their pool, visits to the beach club, and of course, the fudge and ice cream shops.

In recent years, Shirley and Rick spent their summers traveling to Europe, visiting locales like Greece, Italy and Spain.

Shirley was known for her beautiful smile, effervescent personality, and ability to make everyone feel special. Her immaculately decorated home was wonderful for holiday celebrations and made everyday visits feel like special occasions. Her classic style and sophisticated taste remained timeless, much like her beauty. 

Even during her illness, Shirley maintained her characteristic grace and optimism, inspiring all who knew her with her strength and resilience. She never missed an opportunity to tell her family how much she loved them or to celebrate life’s simple pleasures. 

Shirley is survived by her loving husband of 46 years, Rick; her two children Mandy Yaeger and Stephen Belden; her six grandchildren; and her beloved sister Ann Nichols. She was preceded in death by her parents. 

Shirley will be deeply missed, but her legacy of love, kindness, strength and generosity will live on through all those whose lives she touched. She showed us all what it means to be a loving wife, sister, mother, grandmother, and friend, while creating beauty in everything she touched.