| Notes |
- George and Shirley Bassett did not have any children.
Roanoke Times
August 30, 2007
Shirley Mae Brightwell Bassett
(Picture included)
Mrs. Shirley May Brightwell Bassett, 93, of Bassett, died on Wednesday, August 29, 2007 at Memorial Hospital of Martinsville and Henry County. She was born on July 19, 1914 in Della, Virginia, in Russell County, to Laura Thomas Brightwell and Edgar Hill Brightwell. Her father was employed by the Norfolk and Western Railroad. The family lived for a brief time in Bluefield, West Virginia before moving to Roanoke, Virginia in 1916. The Brightwell family were active members of Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church which was near their home on Windsor Avenue. Shirley was a life long member of Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church. She was educated in Roanoke Public Schools where she attended Jefferson High School, graduating in May 1932. She was an honor student and graduated from Roanoke College in May 1936 and then later attended and graduated from Ruth Cornell Business College in Roanoke. Following graduation from Roanoke College, Shirley taught for one year in the high school in Floyd, Virginia. She then moved to Bassett, Virginia, where she taught Latin, French, History, and Civics in the High School from 1937 to 1942. She met her future husband, George Walter Bassett in Bassett whom she married on April 19, 1946. At that time she was asked to work as a secretary in the office of Bassett-Walker Knitting Company starting in 1950. Following this time, she became the librarian of the Bassett Public Library in 1957 where she remained until retirement in April 1982. Shirley devoted much time and effort in developing and improving the collection and circulation. Her interest in and knowledge of history steered her toward establishing and developing an extensive genealogical collection which is widely known and used. She was honored in 1982 by the Bassett Library Board with a reception and naming of the genealogy room, Shirley Brightwell Bassett, in her honor. In the 1990's the original Bassett Public Library building became the Bassett Public Genealogy Library. Besides developing the collection related to many other families in Henry County, she and her husband spend many hours on research related to the Bassett family. In 1992, she was chosen as of 1 of 150 Sesquicentennial Distinguished Alumni of Roanoke College. Shirley was also active in church and community affairs. She was a member of the Henry County Historical Society, a Civil War granddaughter in the Mildred Lee Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, the mission speaker for many years in the Women's Missionary Union of Pocahontas Bassett Baptist Church and for a period of time, served as church librarian. She was also an active member of the Bassett Garden Club. She was preceded in death by her husband, George Walter Bassett; mother, Laura Thoma Brightwell; father, Edgar Hill Brightwell; and brothers, William Edgar Brightwell. She is survived by one nephew and his wife, Stephen and Linda Brightwell; one great-nephew, David Brightwell; one nephew and two nieces by marriage, William H. Bassett, Jr., Cornelia Bassett Boyd, and Mary Ann Bassett DeHaven; and a special friend, Joyce Phillips. Visitation has been scheduled for Friday, August 31, 2007 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Bassett Funeral Service South Chapel. Funeral services are Saturday, September 1, 2007 at 11 a.m. also in the South Chapel of Bassett Funeral Service with interment to follow in the Bassett family plot in Horsepasture Christian Church Cemetery. Donations may be made to the Bassett Historical Center in Memory of Shirley Brightwell Bassett at 3964 Fairystone Park Highway, Bassett, Virginia 24055. Bassett Funeral Service is serving the Bassett family. Online condolences may be made at www.bassettfuneralservice.com.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1914 - 2007 (93 years)