Shirley Mason Poole

Mr. Shirley Mason Poole, 89, of Pulaski died February 26, 2019 at Hewitt House / Keystone Assisted Living Facility. Born May 24, 1929 in Diana, Tennessee, he was the son of the late Burris A. Poole and Mary Margie Poarch Poole. Mr. Poole graduated from Beech Hill High School in 1947 as Valedictorian of his class. He attended Martin Junior College in Pulaski after high school and later earned his Bachelor's Degree in Biology from Middle Tennessee State College in 1951. In 1952 he was inducted into the United States Army after a brief teaching job in Collinwood, Tennessee. While on leave from the Army in September of 1952 he married Frances Faulkenberry of the Pisgah Community. Upon being Honorably Discharged from the Army he taught one year in Savannah, Georgia before moving back to Giles County, where he became Biology and Chemistry teacher at Elkton High School. He later became principal and coach of both women's and men's basketball teams and was a well-known and respected basketball referee for Giles County and surrounding district. He continued his lifelong pursuit of learning by earning his Master's Degree and Education Specialist (EDS), also from Middle Tennessee State University. In 1962 Mr. Poole accepted the position of Supervisor of Instruction for the Giles County School System, also serving as Assistant Superintendent until his retirement in June of 1994. He was an active member of the Pulaski Exchange Club, serving that organization in various capacities. He was a member and officer of the Tennessee Association of School Supervisors, a member and advisor to the local education television station in Nashville, he spearheaded the accreditation of all Giles County schools and the Central School Office by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), providing local systems recognition by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education and became an advisor and mentor to other Tennessee school systems in their pursuit of accreditation. Mr. Poole was a member of Mt. Pisgah United Methodist Church, holding office in several capacities with the church. He is preceded in death by his parents and his wife of 54 years. Mr. Poole's sister-in-law, Brownie Faulkenberry West of Pulaski, a confidant and friend for over 50 years survives. He is further survived by three children: Debra Poole (Don) Tillman, Mary Ann Poole (Johnny) Bass and Dennis Poole. His grandchildren include Christian Grepperud of McMinnville, Tennessee, Erik Grepperud of Pulaski, Chad Long and wife Lauren of Hendersonville, Rebecca Virula and husband Eliott of Nashville, Seletha Periman and husband Loren of New Jersey, and Sarah Poole of Knoxville. Great grandchildren are Hunter Grepperud, Shelby Long, Addison Long, Hayden Long, Mason Virula and Ofelia Virula. Visitation for Shirley Mason Poole was to be Wednesday, February 27, 2019, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Bennett-May & Pierce Funeral Home and Crematory. Funeral service, also at Bennett-May & Pierce, were too be held on Thursday, February 28, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. with Paul McKinney officiating and attended by Caroline Farmer, Pastor of Mt. Pisgah United Methodist Church. Burial was to be in Pisgah Cemetery beside his loving wife. He loved his God, his family and his friends. He was a remarkable man and he will be missed. Bennett-May & Pierce Funeral Home and Crematory in charge of arrangements for Mr. Shirley Poole.

Shirley Mason Poole

May 24, 1929 - February 26, 2019