Shirley Donnelly: From The Beginning

Going through old WV newspaper archives, it is telling of his popularity that so many announcements of funerals, wedding ceremonies, luncheons all note Rev Donnelly as officiating or the speaker of the event. This clipping though – it’s a little more interesting. It is always amazing, to me, the things that were reported in the 30s to 50s in small town WV newspapers.

Col. Donnelly To Address Gideon Group On Dec. 16

Col. Clarence Shirley Donnelly, of Oak-Hill, now on terminal leave after five years of service as an Army chaplain, will speak at a field day to be conducted in the Beckley area on Sunday, December 16, by the state association of Gideons, it was announced Sunday night by J. C. Gingrich, secretary of the Beckley Gideons.

Approximately 50 members of Gideons associations throughout the state, Gingrich said, will take over morning and evening worship services during the day.

Col. Donnelly and Howard M. Jewel, internationally known evangelistic song leader will appear at a special afternoon service at The First Baptist church.

Others who will speak will be Marvin Steffin, zone director of six states for the Gideons, Bailey Harris, chief of the Huntington city police; and L. S. Smith, of Huntington.

Governor Clarence W. Meadows has indicated he expects to be present and take an active part in the program.

Donnelly and Jewel will be in Beckley on Saturday afternoon, their activities to be announced later.

Practically all churches in the Beckley area including those at Mt. Hope and Oak Hill, Gingrich said, are cooperating in the field day activities.

Tentative plans for the field day were made at a meeting of the Beckley organization Friday night by D.O. Totten, local president, and Thomas Campbell, state president.

OAK HILL WV–Clarence Shirley Donnelly, 87, of Oak Hill, Baptist minister and newspaper columnist, died Tuesday in Beckley Veterans Administration Hospital.

A native of Jackson County, he was an ordained Baptist minister and a graduate of Union Theological Seminary, Richmond, Virginia. He was pastor of Oak Hill Baptist Church for 21 years and of Crab Orchard Baptist Church from 1946 to 1971. He was chaplain of Beckley Veterans Administration Hospital until 1976. The author of a book of historical columns published last year, (1981) “Yesterday, and Today, a Keepsake”, he continued writing until about six weeks ago. He wrote more than 20 publications as well as historical notes on Fayette County history and the founding of Oak Hill. He also wrote books on the Hatfields and the McCoys and on David Creigh, a Greenbrier County martyr.

He founded the Fayette County Historical Society, serving as its president for 12 years. He had been president of the West Virginia Historical Society and the Oak Hill Historical Society. He was a member of the board of directors of the Merchants and Miners National Bank of Oak Hill from 1957 until his resignation in 1981. Subsequently, he was named honorary director for life. He was a member and a charter member of Oak Hill Rotary Club.

Surviving: wife, Mrs. Lessie Keffer Wooten Donnelly, stepson, Willis Walter Wooten of Dallas, Texas, stepdaughters, Mrs. Pat Ramsey of Charleston, WV, Mrs. Lana Cunningham of Parkersburg, WV, sister, Mrs. Mossie Jones of Charleston, WV; four step grandchildren.

Service will be 2 P. M. Friday in Oak Hill Baptist Church with the Rev. Randolph F. Johnson, the Rev. David White, and Sen. Robert C. Byrd officiating. Entombment with full military honors will be in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Prosperity, WV. Friends may call from 1 to 9 P. M. today at Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill, and at the church one hour before the service.

From the Charleston Gazette, August 1982